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diff --git a/3439-0.txt b/3439-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..20357fc --- /dev/null +++ b/3439-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19966 @@ + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 5, by Richard F. Burton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 5 + +Author: Richard F. Burton + +Release Date: July 5, 2001 [EBook #3439] +Last updated: December 11, 2022 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS *** +******************************************************************* +THIS EBOOK WAS ONE OF PROJECT GUTENBERG'S EARLY FILES PRODUCED AT A +TIME WHEN PROOFING METHODS AND TOOLS WERE NOT WELL DEVELOPED. THERE +IS AN IMPROVED EDITION OF THIS TITLE WHICH MAY BE VIEWED AS EBOOK +(#54257) at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54257 +******************************************************************* + + + + +This etext was scanned by J.C. Byers and proofread by Doris Ringbloom. + + + + + +THE BOOK OF THE + THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT + + + +A Plain and Literal Translation + +of the Arabian Nights Entertainments + + +Translated and Annotated by + Richard F. Burton + + + +VOLUME FIVE + + +Privately Printed By The Burton Club + + + +To Doctor George Bird. + + + +My Dear Bird, This is not a strictly medical work, although in places treating +of subjects which may modestly be called hygienic. I inscribe it to you +because your knowledge of Egypt will enable you to appreciate its finer +touches; and for another and a yet more cogent reason, namely, that you are one +of my best and oldest friends. + + + +Ever yours sincerely, + + + +Richard F. Burton + + + +Athenæum Club, October 20, 1885. + + +Contents of the Fifth Volume + + + 59. The Ebony Horse + 60. Uns Al-Wujud and the Wazir's Daughter Al-Ward Fi'l-Akmam or Rose-In-Hood + 61. Abu Nowas With the Three Boys and the Caliph Harun Al-Rashid + 62. Abdallah Bin Ma'amar With the Man of Bassorah and His Slave Girl + 63. The Lovers of the Banu Ozrah + 64. The Wazir of Al-Yaman and His Younger Brother + 65. The Loves of the Boy and Girl at School + 66. Al-Mutalammis and His Wife Umaymah + 67. The Caliph Marun Al-Rashid and Queen Zubaydah in the Bath + 68. Harun Al-Rashid and the Three Poets + 69. Mus'ab Bin Al-Zubayr and Ayishah His Wife + 70. Abu Al-Aswad and His Slave-Girl + 71. Harun Al-Rashid and the Two Slave-Girls + 72. The Caliph Harun Al-Rashid and the Three Slave-Girls + 73. The Miller and His Wife + 74. The Simpleton and the Sharper + 75. The Kazi Abu Yusuf With Harum Al-Rashid and Queen Zubaydah + 76. The Caliph Al-Hakim and the Merchand + 77. King Kisra Anushirwan and the Village Damsel + 78. The Water-Carrier and the Goldsmith's Wife + 79. Khusrau and Shirin and the Fisherman + 80. Yahya Bin Khalid the Barmecide and the Poor Man + 81. Mohammed Al-Amin and the Slave-Girl + 82. The Sons of Yahya Bin Khalid and Sa'id Bin Salim Al-Bahili + 83. The Woman's Trick Against Her Husband + 84. The Devout Woman and the Two Wicked Elders + 85. Ja'afar the Barmecide and the Old Badawi + 86. The Caliph Omar Bin Al-Khattab and the Young Badawi + 87. The Caliph Al-Maamum and the Pyramids of Egypt + 88. The Thief and the Merchant + 89. Masrur the Eunuch and Ibn Al-Karibi + 90. The Devotee Prince + 91. The Unwise Schoolmaster Who Fell in Love by Report + 92. The Foolish Dominie + 93. The Illiterate Who Set Up For a Schoolmaster + 94. The King and the Virtuous Wife + 95. Abd Al-Rahman the Maghribi's Story of the Rukh + 96. Adi Bin Zayd and the Princess Hind + 97. Di'ibil Al-Khuza'i With the Lady and Muslim Bin Al-Walid + 98. Isaac of Mosul and the Merchant + 99. The Three Unfortunate Lovers + 100. How Abu Hasan Brake Wind + 101. The Lovers of the Banu Tayy + 102. The Mad Lover + 103. The Prior Who Became A Moslem + 104. The Loves of Abu Isa and Jurrat Al-Ayn + 105. Al-Amin Son of Al-Rashid and His Uncle Ibrahim Bin Al-Mahdi + 106. Al-Fath Bin Khakan and Al-Mutawakkil + 107. The Man's Dispute With the Learned Woman Concerning the Relative Excellence of Male and Female + 108. Abu Suwayd and the Pretty Old Woman + 109. The Emir ali Bin Tahir and the Girl Muunis + 110. The Woman Who had a Boy and the Other Who had a Man to Lover + 111. Ali the Cairene and the Haunted House in Baghdad + 112. The Pilgrim Man and the Old Woman + 113. Abu Alhusn and His Slave-Girl Tawaddud + 114. The Angel of Death With the Proud King and the Devout Man + 115. The Angel of Death and the Rich King + 116. The Angel of Death and the King of the Children of Israel + 117. Iskandar Zu Al-Karnayn and a Certain Tribe of Poor Folk + 118. The Righteousness of King Anushirwan + 119. The Jewish Kazi and His Pious Wife + 120. The Shipwrecked Woman and Her Child + 121. The Pious Black Slave + 122. The Devout Tray-Maker and His Wife + 123. Al-Jajjaj and the Pious Man + 124. The Blacksmith Who Could Handle Fire Without Hurt + 125. The Devotee To Whom Allah Gave a Cloud for Service and the Devout King + 126. The Moslem Champion and the Christian Damsel + 127. The Christian King's Daughter and the Moslem + 128. The Prophet and the Justice of Providence + 129. The Ferryman of the Nile and the Hermit + 130. The Island King and the Pious Israelite + 131. Abu Al-Hasan and Abu Ja'afar the Leper + 132. The Queen of Serpents + a. The Adventures of Bulukiya + b. The Story of Jansha + + + +The Book Of The + +THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT + + + +THE EBONY HORSE.[FN#1] + +There was once in times of yore and ages long gone before, a great and +puissant King, of the Kings of the Persians, Sαbϊr by name, who was the +richest of all the Kings in store of wealth and dominion and surpassed +each and every in wit and wisdom. He was generous, open handed and +beneficent, and he gave to those who sought him and repelled not those +who resorted to him; and he comforted the broken-hearted and honourably +entreated those who fled to him for refuge. Moreover, he loved the poor +and was hospitable to strangers and did the oppressed justice upon the +oppressor. He had three daughters, like full moons of shining light or +flower-gardens blooming bright; and a son as he were the moon; and it +was his wont to keep two festivals in the twelve- month, those of the +Nau-Roz, or New Year, and Mihrgαn the Autumnal Equinox,[FN#2] on which +occasions he threw open his palaces and gave largesse and made +proclamation of safety and security and promoted his chamberlains and +viceroys; and the people of his realm came in to him and saluted him +and gave him joy of the holy day, bringing him gifts and servants and +eunuchs. Now he loved science and geometry, and one festival-day as he +sat on his kingly throne there came in to him three wise men, cunning +artificers and past masters in all manner of craft and inventions, +skilled in making things curious and rare, such as confound the wit; +and versed in the knowledge of occult truths and perfect in mysteries +and subtleties. And they were of three different tongues and countries, +the first a Hindi or Indian,[FN#3] the second a Roumi or Greek and the +third a Farsi or Persian. The Indian came forwards and, prostrating +himself before the King, wished him joy of the festival and laid before +him a present befitting his dignity; that is to say, a man of gold, set +with precious gems and jewels of price and hending in hand a golden +trumpet. When Sabur[FN#4] saw this, he asked, "O sage, what is the +virtue of this figure?"; and the Indian answered, "O my lord, if this +figure be set at the gate of thy city, it will be a guardian over it; +for, in an enemy enter the place, it will blow this clarion against him +and he will be seized with a palsy and drop down dead." Much the King +marvelled at this and cried, "By Allah, O sage, an this thy word be +true, I will grant thee thy wish and thy desire." Then came forward the +Greek and, prostrating himself before the King, presented him with a +basin of silver, in whose midst was a peacock of gold, surrounded by +four-and-twenty chicks of the same metal. Sabur looked at them and +turning to the Greek, said to him, "O sage, what is the virtue of this +peacock?" "O my lord," answered he, "as often as an hour of the day or +night passeth, it pecketh one of its young and crieth out and flappeth +its wings, till the four-and-twenty hours are accomplished; and when +the month cometh to an end, it will open its mouth and thou shalt see +the crescent therein." And the King said, "An thou speak sooth, I will +bring thee to thy wish and thy desire." Then came forward the Persian +sage and, prostrating himself before the King, presented him with a +horse[FN#5] of the blackest ebony-wood inlaid with gold and jewels, and +ready harnessed with saddle, bridle and stirrups such as befit Kings; +which when Sabur saw, he marvelled with exceeding marvel and was +confounded at the beauty of its form and the ingenuity of its fashion. +So he asked, "What is the use of this horse of wood, and what is its +virtue and what the secret of its movement?"; and the Persian answered, +"O my lord, the virtue of this horse is that, if one mount him, it will +carry him whither he will and fare with its rider through the air and +cover the space of a year in a single day." The King marvelled and was +amazed at these three wonders, following thus hard upon one another on +the same day, and turning to the sage, said to him, "By Allah the +Omnipotent, and our Lord the Beneficent, who created all creatures and +feedeth them with meat and drink, an thy speech be veritable and the +virtue of thy contrivance appear, I will assuredly give thee whatsoever +thou lustest for and will bring thee to thy desire and thy wish!"[FN#6] +Then he entertained the sages three days, that he might make trial of +their gifts; after which they brought the figures before him and each +took the creature he had wroughten and showed him the mystery of its +movement. The trumpeter blew the trump; the peacock pecked its chicks +and the Persian sage mounted the ebony house, whereupon it soared with +him high in air and descended again. When King Sabur saw all this, he +was amazed and perplexed and felt like to fly for joy and said to the +three sages, "Now I am certified of the truth of your words and it +behoveth me to quit me of my promise. Ask ye, therefore, what ye will, +and I will give you that same." Now the report of the King's daughters +had reached the sages, so they answered, "If the King be content with +us and accept of our gifts and allow us to prefer a request to him, we +crave of him that he give us his three daughters in marriage, that we +may be his sons-in-law; for that the stability of Kings may not be +gainsaid." Quoth the King, "I grant you that which you wish and you +desire," and bade summon the Kazi forthright, that he might marry each +of the sages to one of his daughters. Now it fortuned that the +Princesses were behind a curtain, looking on; and when they heard this, +the youngest considered her husband to be and behold, he was an old +man,[FN#7] an hundred years of age, with hair frosted, forehead +drooping, eyebrows mangy, ears slitten, beard and mustachios stained +and dyed; eyes red and goggle; cheeks bleached and hollow; flabby nose +like a brinjall, or egg- plant[FN#8]; face like a cobbler's apron, +teeth overlapping and lips like camel's kidneys, loose and pendulous; +in brief a terror, a horror, a monster, for he was of the folk of his +time the unsightliest and of his age the frightfullest; sundry of his +grinders had been knocked out and his eye-teeth were like the tusks of +the Jinni who frighteneth poultry in hen-houses. Now the girl was the +fairest and most graceful of her time, more elegant than the gazelle +however tender, than the gentlest zephyr blander and brighter than the +moon at her full; for amorous fray right suitable; confounding in +graceful sway the waving bough and outdoing in swimming gait the pacing +roe; in fine she was fairer and sweeter by far than all her sisters. +So, when she saw her suitor, she went to her chamber and strewed dust +on her head and tore her clothes and fell to buffeting her face and +weeping and wailing. Now the Prince, her brother, Kamar al-Akmαr, or +the Moon of Moons hight, was then newly returned from a journey and, +hearing her weeping and crying came in to her (for he loved her with +fond affection, more than his other sisters) and asked her, "What +aileth thee? What hath befallen thee? Tell me and conceal naught from +me." So she smote her breast and answered, "O my brother and my dear +one, I have nothing to hide. If the palace be straitened upon thy +father, I will go out; and if he be resolved upon a foul thing, I will +separate myself from him, though he consent not to make provision for +me; and my Lord will provide." Quoth he, "Tell me what meaneth this +talk and what hath straitened thy breast and troubled thy temper." "O +my brother and my dear one," answered the Princess, "Know that my +father hath promised me in marriage to a wicked magician who brought +him, as a gift, a horse of black wood, and hath bewitched him with his +craft and his egromancy; but, as for me, I will none of him, and would, +because of him, I had never come into this world!" Her brother soothed +her and solaced her, then fared to his sire and said, "What be this +wizard to whom thou hast given my youngest sister in marriage, and what +is this present which he hath brought thee, so that thou hast +killed[FN#9] my sister with chagrin? It is not right that this should +be." Now the Persian was standing by and, when he heard the Prince's +words, he was mortified and filled with fury and the King said, "O my +son, an thou sawest this horse, thy wit would be confounded and thou +wouldst be amated with amazement." Then he bade the slaves bring the +horse before him and they did so; and, when the Prince saw it, it +pleased him. So (being an accomplished cavalier) he mounted it +forthright and struck its sides with the shovel-shaped stirrup-irons; +but it stirred not and the King said to the Sage, "Go show him its +movement, that he also may help thee to win thy wish." Now the Persian +bore the Prince a grudge because he willed not he should have his +sister; so he showed him the pin of ascent on the right side of the +horse and saying to him, "Trill this," left him. Thereupon the Prince +trilled the pin and lo! the horse forthwith soared with him high in +ether, as it were a bird, and gave not overflying till it disappeared +from men's espying, whereat the King was troubled and perplexed about +his case and said to the Persian, "O sage, look how thou mayest make +him descend." But he replied, "O my lord, I can do nothing, and thou +wilt never see him again till Resurrection-day, for he, of his +ignorance and pride, asked me not of the pin of descent and I forgot to +acquaint him therewith." When the King heard this, he was enraged with +sore rage; and bade bastinado the sorcerer and clap him in jail, whilst +he himself cast the crown from his head and beat his face and smote his +breast. Moreover, he shut the doors of his palaces and gave himself up +to weeping and keening, he and his wife and daughters and all the folk +of the city; and thus their joy was turned to annoy and their gladness +changed into sore affliction and sadness. Thus far concerning them; but +as regards the Prince, the horse gave not over soaring with him till he +drew near the sun, whereat he gave himself up for lost and saw death in +the skies, and was confounded at his case, repenting him of having +mounted the horse and saying to himself, "Verily, this was a device of +the Sage to destroy me on account of my youngest sister; but there is +no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the +Great! I am lost without recourse; but I wonder, did not he who made +the ascent-pin make also a descent-pin?" Now he was a man of wit and +knowledge and intelligence; so he fell to feeling all the parts of the +horse, but saw nothing save a screw, like a cock's head, on its right +shoulder and the like on the left, when quoth he to himself, "I see no +sign save these things like buttons." Presently he turned the +right-hand pin, whereupon the horse flew heavenwards with increased +speed. So he left it and looking at the sinister shoulder and finding +another pin, he wound it up and immediately the steed's upwards motion +slowed and ceased and it began to descend, little by little, towards +the face of the earth, while the rider became yet more cautious and +careful of his life.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Prince +wound up the sinister screw, the steed's upward motion slowed and +ceased, and it began to descend, little by little, towards the earth +while the rider became yet more cautious and careful of his life. And +when he saw this and knew the uses of the horse, his heart was filled +with joy and gladness and he thanked Almighty Allah for that He had +deigned deliver him from destruction. Then he began to turn the horse's +head whithersoever he would, making it rise and fall at pleasure, till +he had gotten complete mastery over its every movement. He ceased not +to descend the whole of that day, for that the steed's ascending flight +had borne him afar from the earth; and, as he descended, he diverted +himself with viewing the various cities and countries over which he +passed and which he knew not, never having seen them in his life. +Amongst the rest, he descried a city ordered after the fairest fashion +in the midst of a verdant and riant land, rich in trees and streams, +with gazelles pacing daintily over the plains; whereat he fell a-musing +and said to himself, "Would I knew the name of yon town and in what +land it is!" And he took to circling about it and observing it right +and left. By this time, the day began to decline and the sun drew near +to its downing; and he said in his mind, "Verily I find no goodlier +place to night in than this city; so I will lodge here and early on the +morrow I will return to my kith and kin and my kingdom; and tell my +father and family what hath passed and acquaint him with what mine eyes +have seen." Then he addressed himself to seeking a place wherein he +might safely bestow himself and his horse and where none should descry +him, and presently behold, he espied a-middlemost of the city a palace +rising high in upper air surrounded by a great wall with lofty +crenelles and battlements, guarded by forty black slaves, clad in +complete mail and armed with spears and swords, bows and arrows. Quoth +he, "This is a goodly place," and turned the descent-pin, whereupon the +horse sank down with him like a weary bird, and alighted gently on the +terrace-roof of the palace. So the Prince dismounted and ejaculating +"Alhamdolillah"—praise be to Allah[FN#10]—he began to go round about +the horse and examine it, saying, "By Allah, he who fashioned thee with +these perfections was a cunning craftsman, and if the Almighty extend +the term of my life and restore me to my country and kinsfolk in safety +and reunite me with my father, I will assuredly bestow upon him all +manner bounties and benefit him with the utmost beneficence." By this +time night had overtaken him and he sat on the roof till he was assured +that all in the palace slept; and indeed hunger and thirst were sore +upon him, for that he had not tasted food nor drunk water since he +parted from his sire. So he said within himself, "Surely the like of +this palace will not lack of victual;" and, leaving the horse above, +went down in search of somewhat to eat. Presently, he came to a +staircase and descending it to the bottom, found himself in a court +paved with white marble and alabaster, which shone in the light of the +moon. He marvelled at the place and the goodliness of its fashion, but +sensed no sound of speaker and saw no living soul and stood in +perplexed surprise, looking right and left and knowing not whither he +should wend. Then said he to himself, "I may not do better than return +to where I left my horse and pass the night by it; and as soon as day +shall dawn I will mount and ride away."— And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth the king's +son to himself, "I may not do better than pass the night by my horse; +and as soon as day shall dawn I will mount and ride away." However, as +he tarried talking to himself, he espied a light within the palace, and +making towards it, found that it came from a candle that stood before a +door of the Harim, at the head of a sleeping eunuch, as he were one of +the Ifrits of Solomon or a tribesman of the Jinn, longer than lumber +and broader than a bench. He lay before the door, with the pommel of +his sword gleaming in the flame of the candle, and at his head was a +bag of leather[FN#11] hanging from a column of granite. When the Prince +saw this, he was affrighted and said, "I crave help from Allah the +Supreme! O mine Holy One, even as Thou hast already delivered me from +destruction, so vouchsafe me strength to quit myself of the adventure +of this palace!" So saying, he put out his hand to the budget and +taking it, carried it aside and opened it and found in it food of the +best. He ate his fill and refreshed himself and drank water, after +which he hung up the provision-bag in its place and drawing the +eunuch's sword from its sheath, took it, whilst the slave slept on, +knowing not whence destiny should come to him. Then the Prince fared +forwards into the palace and ceased not till he came to a second door, +with a curtain drawn before it; so he raised the curtain and behold, on +entering he saw a couch of the whitest ivory, inlaid with pearls and +jacinths and jewels, and four slave-girls sleeping about it. He went up +to the couch, to see what was thereon, and found a young lady lying +asleep, chemised with her hair[FN#12] as she were the full moon +rising[FN#13] over the Eastern horizon, with flower-white brow and +shining hair-paring and cheeks like blood-red anemones and dainty moles +thereon. He was amazed at her as she lay in her beauty and loveliness, +her symmetry and grace, and he recked no more of death. So he went up +to her, trembling in every nerve and, shuddering with pleasure, kissed +her on the right cheek; whereupon she awoke forthright and opened her +eyes, and seeing the Prince standing at her head, said to him, "Who art +thou and whence comest thou?" Quoth he, "I am thy slave and thy lover." +Asked she, "And who brought thee hither?" and he answered, "My Lord and +my fortune." Then said Shams al-Nahαr[FN#14] (for such was her name), +"Haply thou art he who demanded me yesterday of my father in marriage +and he rejected thee, pretending that thou wast foul of favour. By +Allah, my sire lied in his throat when he spoke this thing, for thou +art not other than beautiful." Now the son of the King of Hind had +sought her in marriage, but her father had rejected him, for that he +was ugly and uncouth, and she thought the Prince was he. So, when she +saw his beauty and grace (for indeed he was like the radiant moon) the +syntheism[FN#15] of love gat hold of her heart as it were a flaming +fire, and they fell to talk and converse. Suddenly, her waiting-women +awoke and, seeing the Prince with their mistress, said to her, "Oh my +lady, who is this with thee?" Quoth she, "I know not; I found him +sitting by me, when I woke up: haply 'tis he who seeketh me in marriage +of my sire." Quoth they, "O my lady, by Allah the All-Father, this is +not he who seeketh thee in marriage, for he is hideous and this man is +handsome and of high degree. Indeed, the other is not fit to be his +servant."[FN#16] Then the handmaidens went out to the eunuch, and +finding him slumbering awoke him, and he started up in alarm. Said +they, "How happeth it that thou art on guard at the palace and yet men +come in to us, whilst we are asleep?" When the black heard this, he +sprang in haste to his sword, but found it not; and fear took him and +trembling. Then he went in, confounded, to his mistress and seeing the +Prince sitting at talk with her, said to him, "O my lord, art thou man +or Jinni?" Replied the Prince, "Woe to thee, O unluckiest of slaves: +how darest thou even the sons of the royal Chosroes[FN#17] with one of +the unbelieving Satans?" And he was as a raging lion. Then he took the +sword in his hand and said to the slave, "I am the King's son-in-law, +and he hath married me to his daughter and bidden me go in to her." And +when the eunuch heard these words he replied, "O my lord, if thou be +indeed of kind a man as thou avouchest, she is fit for none but for +thee, and thou art worthier of her than any other." Thereupon the +eunuch ran to the King, shrieking loud and rending his raiment and +heaving dust upon his head; and when the King heard his outcry, he said +to him, "What hath befallen thee?: speak quickly and be brief; for thou +hast fluttered my heart." Answered the eunuch, "O King, come to thy +daughter's succour; for a devil of the Jinn, in the likeness of a +King's son, hath got possession of her; so up and at him!" When the +King heard this, he thought to kill him and said, "How camest thou to +be careless of my daughter and let this demon come at her?" Then he +betook himself to the Princess's palace, where he found her slave-women +standing to await him and asked them, "What is come to my daughter?" "O +King," answered they, "slumber overcame us and, when we awoke, we found +a young man sitting upon her couch in talk with her, as he were the +full moon; never saw we aught fairer of favour than he. So we +questioned him of his case and he declared that thou hadst given him +thy daughter in marriage. More than this we know not, nor do we know if +he be a man or a Jinni; but he is modest and well bred, and doth +nothing unseemly or which leadeth to disgrace." Now when the King heard +these words, his wrath cooled and he raised the curtain little by +little and looking in, saw sitting at talk with his daughter a Prince +of the goodliest with a face like the full moon for sheen. At this +sight he could not contain himself, of his jealousy for his daughter's +honour; and, putting aside the curtain, rushed in upon them drawn sword +in hand like a furious Ghul. Now when the Prince saw him he asked the +Princess, "Is this thy sire?"; and she answered, "Yes."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Sixtieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Price +saw the King rushing in upon them, drawn sword in hand, like a furious +Ghul he asked the Princess, "Is this thy sire?"; and she answered, +"Yes." Whereupon he sprang to his feet and, seizing his sword, cried +out at the King with so terrible a cry that he was confounded. Then the +youth would have fallen on him with the sword; but the King seeing that +the Prince was doughtier than he, sheathed his scymitar and stood till +the young man came up to him, when he accosted him courteously and said +to him, "O youth, art thou a man or a Jinni?" Quoth the Prince, "Did I +not respect thy right as mine host and thy daughter's honour, I would +spill thy blood! How darest thou fellow me with devils, me that am a +Prince of the sons of the royal Chosroes who, had they wished to take +thy kingdom, could shake thee like an earthquake from thy glory and thy +dominions and spoil thee of all thy possessions?" Now when the King +heard his words, he was confounded with awe and bodily fear of him and +rejoined, "If thou indeed be of the sons of the Kings, as thou +pretendest, how cometh it that thou enterest my palace without my +permission, and smirchest mine honour, making thy way to my daughter +and feigning that thou art her husband and claiming that I have given +her to thee to wife, I that have slain Kings and Kings' sons, who +sought her of me in marriage? And now who shall save thee from my might +and majesty when, if I cried out to my slaves and servants and bade +them put thee to the vilest of deaths they would slay thee forthright? +Who shall deliver thee out of my hand?" When the Prince heard this +speech of the King he answered, "Verily, I wonder at thee and at the +shortness and denseness of thy wit! Say me, canst covet for thy +daughter a mate comelier than myself, and hast ever seen a stouter +hearted man or one better fitted for a Sultan or a more glorious in +rank and dominion than I?" Rejoined the King, "Nay, by Allah! but I +would have had thee, O youth, act after the custom of Kings and demand +her from me to wife before witnesses, that I might have married her to +thee publicly; and now, even were I to marry her to thee privily, yet +hast thou dishonoured me in her person." Rejoined the Prince, "Thou +sayest sooth, O King, but if thou summon thy slaves and thy soldiers +and they fall upon me and slay me, as thou pretendest, thou wouldst but +publish thine own disgrace, and the folk would be divided between +belief in thee and disbelief in thee. Wherefore, O King, thou wilt do +well, meseemeth, to turn from this thought to that which I shall +counsel thee." Quoth the King, "Let me hear what thou hast to advise;" +and quoth the Prince, "What I have to propose to thee is this: either +do thou meet me in combat singular, I and thou; and he who slayeth his +adversary shall be held the worthier and having a better title to the +kingdom; or else, let me be this night and, whenas dawns the morn, draw +out against me thy horsemen and footmen and servants; but first tell me +their number." Said the King, "They are forty thousand horse, beside my +own slaves and their followers,[FN#18] who are the like of them in +number." Thereupon said the Prince, "When the day shall break, do thou +array them against me and say to them"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Sixty-first Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth the +Prince, "When day shall break, do thou array them against me and say to +them: 'This man is a suitor to me for my daughter's hand, on condition +that he shall do battle single-handed against you all; for he +pretendeth that he will overcome you and put you to the rout, and +indeed that ye cannot prevail against him.' After which, leave me to do +battle with them: if they slay me, then is thy secret surer guarded and +thine honour the better warded; and if I overcome them and see their +backs, then is it the like of me a King should covet to his +son-in-law." So the King approved of his opinion and accepted his +proposition, despite his awe at the boldness of his speech and amaze at +the pretensions of the Prince to meet in fight his whole host, such as +he had described to him, being at heart assured that he would perish in +the fray and so he should be quit of him and freed from the fear of +dishonour. Thereupon he called the eunuch and bade him go to his Wazir +without stay and delay and command him to assemble the whole of the +army and cause them don their arms and armour and mount their steeds. +So the eunuch carried the King's order to the Minister, who +straightaway summoned the Captains of the host and the Lords of the +realm and bade them don their harness of derring-do and mount horse and +sally forth in battle array. Such was their case; but as regards the +King, he sat a long while conversing with the young Prince, being +pleased with his wise speech and good sense and fine breeding. And when +it was day-break he returned to his palace and, seating himself on his +throne, commanded his merry men to mount and bade them saddle one of +the best of the royal steeds with handsome selle and housings and +trappings and bring it to the Prince. But the youth said, "O King, I +will not mount horse, till I come in view of the troops and review +them." "Be it as thou wilt," replied the King. Then the two repaired to +the parade-ground, where the troops were drawn up, and the young Prince +looked upon them and noted their great number; after which the King +cried out to them, saying, "Ho, all ye men, there is come to me a youth +who seeketh my daughter in marriage; and in very sooth never have I +seen a goodlier than he; no, nor a stouter of heart nor a doughtier of +arm, for he pretendeth that he can overcome you, single-handed, and +force you to flight and that, were ye an hundred thousand in number, +yet for him would ye be but few. Now when he chargeth down on you, do +ye receive him upon point of pike and sharp of sabre; for, indeed, he +hath undertaken a mighty matter." Then quoth the King to the Prince, +"Up, O my son, and do thy devoir on them." Answered he, "O King, thou +dealest not justly and fairly by me: how shall I go forth against them, +seeing that I am afoot and the men be mounted?" The King retorted, "I +bade thee mount, and thou refusedst; but choose thou which of my horses +thou wilt." Then he said, "Not one of thy horses pleaseth me, and I +will ride none but that on which I came." Asked the King, "And where is +thy horse?" "Atop of thy palace." "In what part of my palace?" "On the +roof." Now when the King heard these words, he cried, "Out on thee! +this is the first sign thou hast given of madness. How can the horse be +on the roof? But we shall at once see if thou speak the truth or lies." +Then he turned to one of his chief officers and said to him, "Go to my +palace and bring me what thou findest on the roof." So all the people +marvelled at the young Prince's words, saying one to other, "How can a +horse come down the steps from the roof? Verily this is a thing whose +like we never heard." In the meantime the King's messenger repaired to +the palace and mounting to the roof, found the horse standing there and +never had he looked on a handsomer; but when he drew near and examined +it, he saw that it was made of ebony and ivory. Now the officer was +accompanied by other high officers, who also looked on and they laughed +to one another, saying, "Was it of the like of this horse that the +youth spake? We cannot deem him other than mad; however, we shall soon +see the truth of his case."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Sixty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the high +officials looked upon the horse, they laughed one to other and said, +"Was it of the like of his horse that the youth spake? We cannot deem +him other than mad; however, we shall soon see the truth of his case. +Peradventure herein is some mighty matter, and he is a man of high +degree." Then they lifted up the horse bodily and, carrying it to the +King, set it down before him, and all the lieges flocked round to look +at it, marvelling at the beauty of its proportions and the richness of +its saddle and bridle. The King also admired it and wondered at it with +extreme wonder; and he asked the Prince, "O youth, is this thy horse?" +He answered, "Yes, O King, this is my horse, and thou shalt soon see +the marvel it showeth." Rejoined the King, "Then take and mount it," +and the Prince retorted, "I will not mount till the troops withdraw +afar from it." So the King bade them retire a bowshot from the horse; +whereupon quoth its owner, "O King, see thou; I am about to mount my +horse and charge upon thy host and scatter them right and left and +split their hearts asunder." Said the King, "Do as thou wilt; and spare +not their lives, for they will not spare thine." Then the Prince +mounted, whilst the troops ranged themselves in ranks before him, and +one said to another, "When the youth cometh between the ranks, we will +take him on the points of our pikes and the sharps of our sabres." +Quoth another, "By Allah, this a mere misfortune: how shall we slay a +youth so comely of face and shapely of form?" And a third continued, +"Ye will have hard work to get the better of him; for the youth had not +done this, but for what he knew of his own prowess and pre- eminence of +valour." Meanwhile, having settled himself in his saddle, the Prince +turned the pin of ascent; whilst all eyes were strained to see what he +would do, whereupon the horse began to heave and rock and sway to and +fro and make the strangest of movements steed ever made, till its belly +was filled with air and it took flight with its rider and soared high +into the sky. When the King saw this, he cried out to his men, saying, +"Woe to you! catch him, catch him, ere he 'scape you!" But his Wazirs +and Viceroys said to him, "O King, can a man overtake the flying bird? +This is surely none but some mighty magician or Marid of the Jinn or +devil, and Allah save thee from him. So praise thou the Almighty for +deliverance of thee and of all thy host from his hand." Then the King +returned to his palace after seeing the feat of the Prince and, going +in to his daughter, acquainted her with what had befallen them both on +the parade-ground. He found her grievously afflicted for the Prince and +bewailing her separation from him; wherefore she fell sick with violent +sickness and took to her pillow. Now when her father saw her on this +wise, he pressed her to his breast and kissing her between the eyes, +said to her, "O my daughter, praise Allah Almighty and thank Him for +that He hath delivered us from this crafty enchanter, this villain, +this low fellow, this thief who thought only of seducing thee!" And he +repeated to her the story of the Prince and how he had disappeared in +the firmament; and he abused him and cursed him knowing not how dearly +his daughter loved him. But she paid no heed to his words and did but +redouble in her tears and wails, saying to herself, "By Allah, I will +neither eat meat nor drain drink, till Allah reunite me with him!" Her +father was greatly concerned for her case and mourned much over her +plight; but, for all he could do to soother her, love-longing only +increased on her.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Sixty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the King mourned +much over his daughter's plight but, for all he could do to soothe her, +love-longing only increased on her. Thus far concerning the King and +Princess Shams al-Nahαr; but as regards Prince Kamar al-Akmar, when he +had risen high in air, he turned his horse's head towards his native +land, and being alone mused upon the beauty of the Princess and her +loveliness. Now he had enquired of the King's people the name of the +city and of its King and his daughter; and men had told him that it was +the city of Sana'α.[FN#19] So he journeyed with all speed, till he drew +near his father's capital and, making an airy circuit about the city, +alighted on the roof of the King's palace, where he left his horse, +whilst he descended into the palace and seeing its threshold strewn +with ashes, though that one of his family was dead. Then he entered, as +of wont, and found his father and mother and sisters clad in mourning +raiment of black, all pale of faces and lean of frames. When his sire +descried him and was assured that it was indeed his son, he cried out +with a great cry and fell down in a fit, but after a time coming to +himself, threw himself upon him and embraced him, clipping him to his +bosom and rejoicing in him with exceeding joy and extreme gladness. His +mother and sisters heard this; so they came in and seeing the Prince, +fell upon him, kissing him and weeping, and joying with exceeding +joyance. Then they questioned him of his case; so he told them all that +had passed from first to last, and his father said to him, "Praised be +Allah for thy safety, O coolth of my eyes and core of my heart!" Then +the King bade hold high festival, and the glad tidings flew through the +city. So they beat drums and cymbals and, doffing the weed of mourning, +they donned the gay garb of gladness and decorated the streets and +markets; whilst the folk vied with one another who should be the first +to give the King joy, and the King proclaimed a general pardon and +opening the prisons, released those who were therein prisoned. +Moreover, he made banquets for the people, with great abundance of +eating and drinking, for seven days and nights and all creatures were +gladsomest; and he took horse with his son and rode out with him, that +the folk might see him and rejoice. After awhile the Prince asked about +the maker of the horse, saying, "O my father, what hath fortune done +with him?"; and the King answered, "Allah never bless him nor the hour +wherein I set eyes on him! For he was the cause of thy separation from +us, O my son, and he hath lain in gaol since the day of thy +disappearance." Then the King bade release him from prison and, sending +for him, invested him in a dress of satisfaction and entreated him with +the utmost favour and munificence, save that he would not give him his +daughter to wife; whereat the Sage raged with sore rage and repented of +that which he had done, knowing that the Prince had secured the secret +of the steed and the manner of its motion. Moreover, the King said to +his son, "I reck thou wilt do will not to go near the horse henceforth +and more especially not to mount it after this day; for thou knowest +not its properties, and belike thou art in error about it." Not the +Prince had told his father of his adventure with the King of Sana'a and +his daughter and he said, "Had the King intended to kill thee, he had +done so; but thine hour was not yet come." When the rejoicings were at +an end, the people returned to their places and the King and his son to +the palace, where they sat down and fell to eating and drinking and +making merry. Now the King had a handsome handmaiden who was skilled in +playing the lute; so she took it and began to sweep the strings and +sing thereto before the King and his son of separation of lovers, and +she chanted the following verses:— + +"Deem not that absence breeds in me aught of forgetfulness; * + + + What should remember I did you fro' my remembrance wane? + + +Time dies but never dies the fondest love for you we bear; * + + + And in your love I'll die and in your love I'll arise + + + again."[FN#20] + + + +When the Prince heard these verses, the fires of longing flamed up in +his heart and pine and passion redoubled upon him. Grief and regret +were sore upon him and his bowels yearned in him for love of the King's +daughter of Sana'a; so he rose forthright and, escaping his father's +notice, went forth the palace to the horse and mounting it, turned the +pin of ascent, whereupon bird-like it flew with him high in air and +soared towards the upper regions of the sky. In early morning his +father missed him and, going up to the pinnacle of the palace, in great +concern, saw his son rising into the firmament; whereat he was sore +afflicted and repented in all penitence that he had not taken the horse +and hidden it; and he said to himself, "By Allah, if but my son return +to me, I will destroy the horse, that my heart may be at rest +concerning my son." And he fell again to weeping and bewailing +himself.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the King again +fell to weeping and bewailing himself for his son. Such was his case; +but as regards the Prince, he ceased not flying on through air till he +came to the city of Sana'a and alighted on the roof as before. Then he +crept down stealthily and, finding the eunuch asleep, as of wont, +raised the curtain and went on little by little, till he came to the +door of the Princess's alcove-[FN#21]chamber and stopped to listen; +when lo! he heard her shedding plenteous tears and reciting verses, +whilst her women slept round her. Presently, overhearing her weeping +and wailing quoth they, "O our mistress, why wilt thou mourn for one +who mourneth not for thee?" Quoth she, "O ye little of wit, is he for +whom I mourn of those who forget or who are forgotten?" And she fell +again to wailing and weeping, till sleep overcame her. Hereat the +Prince's heart melted for her and his gall-bladder was like to burst, +so he entered and, seeing her lying asleep without covering,[FN#22] +touched her with his hand; whereupon she opened her eyes and espied him +standing by her. Said he, "Why all this crying and mourning?" And when +she knew him, she threw herself upon him, and took him around the neck +and kissed him and answered, "For thy sake and because of my separation +from thee." Said he, "O my lady, I have been made desolate by thee all +this long time!" But she replied, "'Tis thou who hast desolated me; and +hadst thou tarried longer, I had surely died!" Rejoined he, "O my lady, +what thinkest thou of my case with thy father and how he dealt with me? +Were it not for my love of thee, O temptation and seduction of the +Three Worlds, I had certainly slain him and made him a warning to all +beholders; but, even as I love thee, so I love him for thy sake." Quoth +she, "How couldst thou leave me: can my life be sweet to me after +thee?" Quoth he, "Let what hath happened suffice: I am now hungry, and +thirsty." So she bade her maidens make ready meat and drink, and they +sat eating and drinking and conversing till night was well nigh ended; +and when day broke he rose to take leave of her and depart, ere the +eunuch should awake. Shams al-Nahar asked him, "Whither goest thou?"; +and he answered, "To my father's house, and I plight thee my troth that +I will come to thee once in every week." But she wept and said, "I +conjure thee, by Allah the Almighty, take me with thee whereso thou +wendest and make me not taste anew the bittergourd[FN#23] of separation +from thee." Quoth he, "Wilt thou indeed go with me?" and quoth she, +"Yes." "Then," said he, "arise that we depart." So she rose forthright +and going to a chest, arrayed herself in what was richest and dearest +to her of her trinkets of gold and jewels of price, and she fared +forth, her handmaids recking naught. So he carried her up to the roof +of the palace and, mounting the ebony horse, took her up behind him and +made her fast to himself, binding her with strong bonds; after which he +turned the shoulder-pin of ascent, and the horse rose with him high in +air. When her slave-women saw this, they shrieked aloud and told her +father and mother, who in hot haste ran to the palace-roof and looking +up, saw the magical horse flying away with the Prince and Princess. At +this the King was troubled with ever-increasing trouble and cried out, +saying, "O King's son, I conjure thee, by Allah, have ruth on me and my +wife and bereave us not of our daughter!" The Prince made him no reply; +but, thinking in himself that the maiden repented of leaving father and +mother, asked her, "O ravishment of the age, say me, wilt thou that I +restore thee to thy mother and father?": whereupon she answered, "By +Allah, O my lord, that is not my desire: my only wish is to be with +thee, wherever thou art; for I am distracted by the love of thee from +all else, even from my father and mother." Hearing these words the +Prince joyed with great joy, and made the horse fly and fare softly +with them, so as not to disquiet her; nor did they stay their flight +till they came in sight of a green meadow, wherein was a spring of +running water. Here they alighted and ate and drank; after which the +Prince took horse again and set her behind him, binding her in his fear +for her safety; after which they fared on till they came in sight of +his father's capital. At this, the Prince was filled with joy and +bethought himself to show his beloved the seat of his dominion and his +father's power and dignity and give her to know that it was greater +than that of her sire. So he set her down in one of his father's +gardens without the city where his parent was wont to take his +pleasure; and, carrying her into a domed summer-house prepared there +for the King, left the ebony horse at the door and charged the damsel +keep watch over it, saying, "Sit here, till my messenger come to thee; +for I go now to my father, to make ready a palace for thee and show +thee my royal estate." She was delighted when she heard these words and +said to him, "Do as thou wilt;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the maiden was +delighted when she heard these words and said to him, "Do as thou +wilt;" for she thereby understood that she should not enter the city +but with due honour and worship, as became her rank. Then the Prince +left her and betook himself to the palace of the King his father, who +rejoiced in his return and met him and welcomed him; and the Prince +said to him, "Know that I have brought with me the King's daughter of +whom I told thee; and have left her without the city in such a garden +and come to tell thee, that thou mayst make ready the procession of +estate and go forth to meet her and show her thy royal dignity and +troops and guards." Answered the King, "With joy and gladness"; and +straightaway bade decorate the town with the goodliest adornment. Then +he took horse and rode out in all magnificence and majesty, he and his +host, high officers and household, with drums and kettle-drums, fifes +and clarions and all manner instruments; whilst the Prince drew forth +of his treasuries jewellery and apparel and what else of the things +which Kings hoards and made a rare display of wealth and splendour: +moreover he got ready for the Princess a canopied litter of brocades, +green, red and yellow, wherein he set Indian and Greek and Abyssinian +slave- girls. Then he left the litter and those who were therein and +preceded them to the pavilion where he had set her down; and searched +but found naught, neither Princess nor horse. When he saw this, he beat +his face, and rent his raiment and began to wander round about the +garden, as he had lost his wits; after which he came to his senses and +said to himself, "How could she have come at the secret of this horse, +seeing I told her nothing of it? Maybe the Persian sage who made the +horse hath chanced upon her and stolen her away, in revenge for my +father's treatment of him." Then he sought the guardians of the garden +and asked them if they had seen any pass the precincts; and said, "Hath +any one come in here? Tell me the truth and the whole truth or I will +at once strike off your heads." They were terrified by his threats; but +they answered with one voice, "We have seen no man enter save the +Persian sage, who came to gather healing herbs." So the Prince was +certified that it was indeed he that had taken away the maiden,—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Prince +heard their answer, he was certified that the Sage had taken away the +maiden and abode confounded and perplexed concerning his case. And he +was abashed before the folk and, turning to his sire, told him what had +happened and said to him, "Take the troops and march them back to the +city. As for me, I will never return till I have cleared up this +affair." When the King heard this, he wept and beat his breast and said +to him, "O my son, calm thy choler and master thy chagrin and come home +with us and look what King's daughter thou wouldst fain have, that I +may marry thee to her." But the Prince paid no heed to his words and +farewelling him departed, whilst the King returned to the city and +their joy was changed into sore annoy. Now, as Destiny issued her +decree, when the Prince left the Princess in the garden-house and +betook himself to his father's palace, for the ordering of his affair, +the Persian entered the garden to pluck certain simples and, scenting +the sweet savour of musk and perfumes that exhaled from the Princess +and impregnated the whole place, followed it till he came to the +pavilion and saw standing at the door the horse which he had made with +his own hands. His heart was filled with joy and gladness, for he had +bemourned its loss much since it had gone out of his hand: so he went +up to it and, examining its every part, found it whole and sound; +whereupon he was about to mount and ride away, when he bethought +himself and said, "Needs must I first look what the Prince hath brought +and left here with the horse." So he entered the pavilion and, seeing +the Princess sitting there, as she were the sun shining sheen in the +sky serene, knew her at the first glance to be some high-born lady and +doubted not but the Prince had brought her thither on the horse and +left her in the pavilion, whilst he went to the city, to make ready for +her entry in state procession with all splendor. Then he went up to her +and kissed the earth between her hands, whereupon she raised her eyes +to him and, finding him exceedingly foul of face and favour, asked, +"Who art thou?"; and he answered, "O my lady, I am a messenger sent by +the Prince who hath bidden me bring thee to another pleasance nearer +the city; for that my lady the Queen cannot walk so far and is +unwilling, of her joy in thee, that another should forestall her with +thee." Quoth she, "Where is the Prince?"; and quoth the Persian, "He is +in the city, with his sire and forthwith he shall come for thee in +great state." Said she, "O thou! say me, could he find none handsomer +to send to me?"; whereat loud laughed the Sage and said, "Yea verily, +he hath not a Mameluke as ugly as I am; but, O my lady, let not the +ill-favour of my face and the foulness of my form deceive thee. Hadst +thou profited of me as hath the Prince, verily thou wouldst praise my +affair. Indeed, he chose me as his messenger to thee, because of my +uncomeliness and loathsomeness in his jealous love of thee; else hath +he Mamelukes and negro slaves, pages, eunuchs and attendants out of +number, each goodlier than other." Whenas she heard this, it commended +itself to her reason and she believed him; so she rose forthright;—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Sixty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Persian +sage acquainted the Princess with the case of the King's son, she +believed him; so she rose forthright; and, putting her hand in his, +said, "O my father, what hast thou brought me to ride?" He replied, "O +my lady, thou shalt ride the horse thou camest on;" and she, "I cannot +ride it by myself." Whereupon he smiled and knew that he was her master +and said, "I will ride with thee myself." So he mounted and, taking her +up behind him bound her to himself with firm bonds, while she knew not +what he would with her. Then he turned the ascent-pin, whereupon the +belly of the horse became full of wind and it swayed to and fro like a +wave of the sea, and rose with them high in air nor slackened in its +flight, till it was out of sight of the city. Now when Shams al-Nahir +saw this, she asked him, "Ho thou! what is become of that thou toldest +me of my Prince, making me believe that he sent thee to me?" Answered +the Persian, "Allah damn the Prince! he is a mean and skin-flint +knave." She cried, "Woe to thee! How darest thou disobey thy lord's +commandment?" Whereto the Persian replied, "He is no lord of mine: +knowest thou who I am?" Rejoined the Princess, "I know nothing of thee +save what thou toldest me;" and retorted he, "What I told thee was a +trick of mine against thee and the King's son: I have long lamented the +loss of this horse which is under us; for I constructed it and made +myself master of it. But now I have gotten firm hold of it and of thee +too, and I will burn his heart even as he hath burnt mine; nor shall he +ever have the horse again; no, never! So be of good cheer and keep +thine eyes cool and clear; for I can be of more use to thee than he; +and I am generous as I am wealthy; my servants and slaves shall obey +thee as their mistress; I will robe thee in finest raiment and thine +every wish shall be at thy will." When she heard this, she buffeted her +face and cried out, saying, "Ah, well-away! I have not won my beloved +and I have lost my father and mother!" And she wept bitter tears over +what had befallen her, whilst the Sage fared on with her, without +ceasing, till he came to the land of the Greeks[FN#24] and alighted in +a verdant mead, abounding in streams and trees. Now this meadow lay +near a city wherein was a King of high puissance, and it chanced that +he went forth that day to hunt and divert himself. As he passed by the +meadow, he saw the Persian standing there, with the damsel and the +horse by his side; and, before the Sage was ware, the King's slaves +fell upon him and carried him and the lady and the horse to their +master who, noting the foulness of the man's favour and his +loathsomeness and the beauty of the girl and her loveliness, said, "O +my lady, what kin is this oldster to thee?" The Persian made haste to +reply, saying, "She is my wife and the daughter of my father's +brother." But the lady at once gave him the lie and said, "O King, by +Allah, I know him not, nor is he my husband; nay, he is a wicked +magician who hath stolen me away by force and fraud." Thereupon the +King bade bastinado the Persian and they beat him till he was well-nigh +dead; after which the King commanded to carry him to the city and cast +him into jail; and, taking from him the damsel and the ebony horse +(though he knew not its properties nor the secret of its motion), set +the girl in his serraglio and the horse amongst his hoards. Such was +the case with the Sage and the lady; but as regards Prince Kamar +al-Akmar, he garbed himself in travelling gear and taking what he +needed of money, set out tracking their trail in very sorry plight; and +journeyed from country to country and city to city seeking the Princess +and enquiring after the ebony horse, whilst all who heard him marvelled +at him and deemed his talk extravagant. Thus he continued doing a long +while; but, for all his enquiry and quest, he could hit on no new news +of her. At last he came to her father's city of Sana'a and there asked +for her, but could get no tidings of her and found her father mourning +her loss. So he turned back and made for the land of the Greeks, +continuing to enquire concerning the twain as he went,— And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Sixty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the King's son +made for the land of the Greeks, continuing to enquire concerning the +two as he went along, till, as chance would have it, he alighted at a +certain Khan and saw a company of merchants sitting at talk. So he sat +down near them and heard one say, "O my friends, I lately witnessed a +wonder of wonders." They asked, "What was that?" and he answered, "I +was visiting such a district in such a city (naming the city wherein +was the Princess), and I heard its people chatting of a strange thing +which had lately befallen. It was that their King went out one day +hunting and coursing with a company of his courtiers and the lords of +his realm; and, issuing from the city, they came to a green meadow +where they espied an old man standing, with a woman sitting hard by a +horse of ebony. The man was foulest-foul of face and loathly of form, +but the woman was a marvel of beauty and loveliness and elegance and +perfect grace; and as for the wooden horse, it was a miracle, never saw +eyes aught goodlier than it nor more gracious than its make." Asked the +others, "And what did the King with them?"; and the merchant answered, +"As for the man the King seized him and questioned him of the damsel +and he pretended that she was his wife and the daughter of his paternal +uncle; but she gave him the lie forthright and declared that he was a +sorcerer and a villain. So the King took her from the old man and bade +beat him and cast him into the trunk-house. As for the ebony horse, I +know not what became of it." When the Prince heard these words, he drew +near to the merchant and began questioning him discreetly and +courteously touching the name of the city and of its King; which when +he knew, he passed the night full of joy. And as soon as dawned the day +he set out and travelled sans surcease till he reached that city; but, +when he would have entered, the gate-keepers laid hands on him, that +they might bring him before the King to question him of his condition +and the craft in which he was skilled and the cause of his coming +thither-such being the usage and custom of their ruler. Now it was +supper-time when he entered the city, and it was then impossible to go +in to the King or take counsel with him respecting the stranger. So the +guards carried him to the jail, thinking to lay him by the heels there +for the night; but, when the warders saw his beauty and loveliness, +they could not find it in their hearts to imprison him: they made him +sit with them without the walls; and, when food came to them, he ate +with them what sufficed him. As soon as they had made an end of eating, +they turned to the Prince and said, "What countryman art thou?" "I come +from Fars," answered he, "the land of the Chosroλs." When they heard +this they laughed and one of them said, "O Chosroan,[FN#25] I have +heard the talk of men and their histories and I have looked into their +conditions; but never saw I or heard I a bigger liar than the Chosroan +which is with us in the jail." Quoth another, "And never did I see +aught fouler than his favour or more hideous than his visnomy." Asked +the Prince. "What have ye seen of his lying?"; and they answered, "He +pretendeth that he is one of the wise! Now the King came upon him, as +he went a- hunting, and found with him a most beautiful woman and a +horse of the blackest ebony, never saw I a handsomer. As for the +damsel, she is with the King, who is enamoured of her and would fain +marry her; but she is mad, and were this man a leach as he claimeth to +be, he would have healed her, for the King doth his utmost to discover +a cure for her case and a remedy for her disease, and this whole year +past hath he spent treasure upon physicians and astrologers, on her +account; but none can avail to cure her. As for the horse, it is in the +royal hoard-house, and the ugly man is here with us in prison; and as +soon as night falleth, he weepeth and bemoaneth himself and will not +let us sleep."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the warders +had recounted the case of the Persian egromancer they held in prison +and his weeping and wailing, the Prince at once devised a device +whereby he might compass his desire; and presently the guards of the +gate, being minded to sleep, led him into the jail and locked the door. +So he overheard the Persian weeping and bemoaning himself, in his own +tongue, and saying, "Alack, and alas for my sin, that I sinned against +myself and against the King's son, in that which I did with the damsel; +for I neither left her nor won my will of her! All this cometh of my +lack of sense, in that I sought for myself that which I deserved not +and which befitted not the like of me; for whoso seeketh what suiteth +him not at all, falleth with the like of my fall." Now when the King's +son heard this, he accosted him in Persian, saying, "How long will this +weeping and wailing last? Say me, thinkest thou that hath befallen thee +that which never befel other than thou?" Now when the Persian heard +this, he made friends with him and began to complain to him of his case +and misfortunes. And as soon as the morning morrowed, the warders took +the Prince and carried him before their King, informing him that he had +entered the city on the previous night, at a time when audience was +impossible. Quoth the King to the Prince, "Whence comest thou and what +is thy name and trade and why hast thou travelled hither?" He replied, +"As to my name I am called in Persian Harjah;[FN#26] as to my country I +come from the land of Fars; and I am of the men of art and especially +of the art of medicine and healing the sick and those whom the Jinns +drive mad. For this I go round about all countries and cities, to +profit by adding knowledge to my knowledge, and whenever I see a +patient I heal him and this is my craft."[FN#27] Now when the King +heard this, he rejoiced with exceeding joy and said, "O excellent Sage, +thou hast indeed come to us at a time when we need thee." Then he +acquainted him with the case of the Princess, adding, "If thou cure her +and recover her from her madness, thou shalt have of me everything thou +seekest." Replied the Prince, "Allah save and favour the King: describe +to me all thou hast seen of her insanity and tell me how long it is +since the access attacked her; also how thou camest by her and the +horse and the Sage." So the King told him the whole story, from first +to last, adding, "The Sage is in goal." Quoth the Prince, "O auspicious +King, and what hast thou done with the horse?" Quoth the King, "O +youth, it is with me yet, laid up in one of my treasure-chambers," +whereupon said the Prince within himself, "The best thing I can do is +first to see the horse and assure myself of its condition. If it be +whole and sound, all will be well and end well; but, if its motor-works +be destroyed, I must find some other way of delivering my beloved." +Thereupon he turned to the King and said to him, "O King, I must see +the horse in question: haply I may find in it somewhat that will serve +me for the recovery of the damsel." "With all my heart," replied the +King, and taking him by the hand, showed him into the place where the +horse was. The Prince went round about it, examining its condition, and +found it whole and sound, whereat he rejoiced greatly and said to the +King, "Allah save and exalt the King! I would fain go in to the damsel, +that I may see how it is with her; for I hope in Allah to heal her by +my healing hand through means of the horse." Then he bade them take +care of the horse and the King carried him to the Princess's apartment +where her lover found her wringing her hands and writhing and beating +herself against the ground, and tearing her garments to tatters as was +her wont; but there was no madness of Jinn in her, and she did this but +that none might approach her. When the Prince saw her thus, he said to +her, "No harm shall betide thee, O ravishment of the three worlds;" and +went on to soothe her and speak her fair, till he managed to whisper, +"I am Kamar al-Akmar;" whereupon she cried out with a loud cry and fell +down fainting for excess of joy; but the King thought this was +epilepsy[FN#28] brought on by her fear of him, and by her suddenly +being startled. Then the Prince put his mouth to her ear and said to +her, "O Shams al-Nahar, O seduction of the universe, have a care for +thy life and mine and be patient and constant; for this our position +needeth sufferance and skilful contrivance to make shift for our +delivery from the tyrannical King. My first move will be now to go out +to him and tell him that thou art possessed of a Jinn and hence thy +madness; but that I will engage to heal thee and drive away the evil +spirit, if he will at once unbind thy bonds. So when he cometh in to +thee, do thou speak him smooth words, that he may think I have cured +thee, and all will be done for us as we desire." Quoth she, "Hearkening +and obedience;" and he went out to the King in joy and gladness, and +said to him, "O august King, I have, by thy good fortune, discovered +her disease and its remedy, and have cured her for thee. So now do thou +go in to her and speak her softly and treat her kindly, and promise her +what may please her; so shall all thou desirest of her be accomplished +to thee."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Seventieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Prince +feigned himself a leach and went in to the damsel and made himself +known to her and told her how he purposed to deliver her, she cried +"Hearkening and obedience!" He then fared forth from her and sought the +King and said, "Go thou in to her and speak her softly and promise her +what may please her; so shall all thou desirest of her be accomplished +to thee." Thereupon the King went in to her and when she saw him, she +rose and kissing the ground before him, bade him welcome and said, "I +admire how thou hast come to visit thy handmaid this day;" whereat he +was ready to fly for joy and bade the waiting-women and the eunuchs +attend her and carry her to the Hammam and make ready for her dresses +and adornment. So they went in to her and saluted her, and she returned +their salams with the goodliest language and after the pleasantest +fashion; whereupon they clad her in royal apparel and, clasping a +collar of jewels about her neck, carried her to the bath and served her +there. Then they brought her forth, as she were the full moon; and, +when she came into the King's presence, she saluted him and kissed +ground before him; whereupon he joyed in her with joy exceeding and +said to the Prince, "O Sage, O philosopher, all this is of thy +blessing. Allah increase to us the benefit of thy healing +breath!"[FN#29] The Prince replied, "O King, for the completion of her +cure it behoveth that thou go forth, thou and all thy troops and +guards, to the place where thou foundest her, not forgetting the beast +of black wood which was with her; for therein is a devil; and, unless I +exorcise him, he will return to her and afflict her at the head of +every month." "With love and gladness," cried the King, "O thou Prince +of all philosophers and most learned of all who see the light of day." +Then he brought out the ebony horse to the meadow in question and rode +thither with all his troops and the Princess, little weeting the +purpose of the Prince. Now when they came to the appointed place, the +Prince, still habited as a leach, bade them set the Princess and the +steed as far as eye could reach from the King and his troops, and said +to him, "With thy leave, and at thy word, I will now proceed to the +fumigations and conjurations, and here imprison the adversary of +mankind, that he may never more return to her. After this, I shall +mount this wooden horse which seemeth to be made of ebony, and take the +damsel up behind me; whereupon it will shake and sway to and fro and +fare forwards, till it come to thee, when the affair will be at an end; +and after this thou mayst do with her as thou wilt." When the King +heard his words, he rejoiced with extreme joy; so the Prince mounted +the horse and, taking the damsel up behind him, whilst the King and his +troops watched him, bound her fast to him. Then he turned the +ascending-pin and the horse took flight and soared with them high in +air, till they disappeared from every eye. After this the King abode +half the day, expecting their return; but they returned not. So when he +despaired of them, repenting him greatly of that which he had done and +grieving sore for the loss of the damsel, he went back to the city with +his troops. He then sent for the Persian who was in prison and said to +him, "O thou traitor, O thou villian, why didst thou hide from me the +mystery of the ebony horse? And now a sharper hath come to me and hath +carried it off, together with a slave-girl whose ornaments are worth a +mint of money, and I shall never see anyone or anything of them again!" +So the Persian related to him all his past, first and last, and the +King was seized with a fit of fury which well-nigh ended his life. He +shut himself up in his palace for a while, mourning and afflicted; but +at last his Wazirs came in to him and applied themselves to comfort +him, saying, "Verily, he who took the damsel is an enchanter, and +praised be Allah who hath delivered thee from his craft and sorcery!" +And they ceased not from him, till he was comforted for her loss. Thus +far concerning the King; but as for the Prince, he continued his career +towards his father's capital in joy and cheer, and stayed not till he +alighted on his own palace, where he set the lady in safety; after +which he went in to his father and mother and saluted them and +acquainted them with her coming, whereat they were filled with solace +and gladness. Then he spread great banquets for the towns-folk,—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Seventy-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the King's son +spread great banquets for the towns-folk and they held high festival a +whole month, at the end of which time he went in to the Princess and +they took their joy of each other with exceeding joy. But his father +brake the ebony horse in pieces and destroyed its mechanism for flight; +moreover the Prince wrote a letter to the Princess's father, advising +him of all that had befallen her and informing him how she was now +married to him and in all health and happiness, and sent it by a +messenger, together with costly presents and curious rarities. And when +the messenger arrived at the city which was Sana'a and delivered the +letter and the presents to the King, he read the missive and rejoiced +greatly thereat and accepted the presents, honouring and rewarding the +bearer handsomely. Moreover, he forwarded rich gifts to his son-in-law +by the same messenger, who returned to his master and acquainted him +with what had passed; whereat he was much cheered. And after this the +Prince wrote a letter every year to his father-in-law and sent him +presents till, in course of time, his sire King Sabur deceased and he +reigned in his stead, ruling justly over his lieges and conducting +himself well and righteously towards them, so that the land submitted +to him and his subjects did him loyal service; and Kamar al-Akmar and +his wife Shams al-Nahar abode in the enjoyment of all satisfaction and +solace of life, till there came to them the Destroyer of deligights and +Sunderer of societies; the Plunderer of palaces, the Caterer for +cemeteries and the Garnerer of graves. And now glory be to the Living +One who dieth not and in whose hand is the dominion of the worlds +visible and invisible! Moreover I have heard tell the tale of + + + + +UNS AL-WUJUD AND THE WAZIR'S DAUGHTER AL-WARD FI'L-AKMAM OR +ROSE-IN-HOOD.[FN#30] + +There was once, in days of yore and in ages and times long gone before, +a King of great power and lord of glory and dominion galore; who had a +Wazir Ibrahim hight, and this Wazir's daughter was a damsel of +extraordinary beauty and loveliness, gifted with passing brilliancy and +the perfection of grace, possessed of abundant wit, and in all good +breeding complete. But she loved wassail and wine and the human face +divine and choice verses and rare stories; and the delicacy of her +inner gifts invited all hearts to love, even as saith the poet, +describing her, + + "Like moon she shines amid the starry sky, * + + + Robing in tresses blackest ink outvie. + + + The morning-breezes give her boughs fair drink, * + + + And like a branch she sways with supple ply: + + + She smiles in passing us. O thou that art * + + + Fairest in yellow robed, or cramoisie, + + + Thou playest with my wit in love, as though * + + + Sparrow in hand of playful boy were I."[FN#31] + + + +Her name was Rose-in-Hood and she was so named for her young and tender +beauty and the freshness of her brilliancy; and the King loved her in +his cups because of her accomplishments and fine manners. Now it was +the King's custom yearly to gather together all the nobles of his realm +and play with the ball.[FN#32] So when the day came round whereon the +folk assembled for ballplay, the Minister's daughter seated herself at +her lattice, to divert herself by looking on at the game; and, as they +were at play, her glance fell upon a youth among the guards than whom +never was seen a comelier face nor a goodlier form; for he was bright +of favour showing white teeth when he smiled, tall-statured and +broad-shouldered. She looked at him again and again and could not take +her fill of gazing; and presently said to her nurse, "What is the name +of yonder handsome young man among the troops?" Replied the nurse, "O +my daughter, the dear fellows are all handsome. Which of them dost thou +mean?" Said Rose-in-Hood, "Wait till he come past and I will point him +out to thee." So she took an apple and as he rode by dropped it on him, +whereupon he raised his head, to see who did this, and espied the +Wazir's daughter at the window, as she were the moon of fullest light +in the darkness of the night; nor did he withdraw his eyes, till his +heart was utterly lost to her, and he recited these lines, + + "Was't archer shot me, or was't thine eyes * + + + Ruined lover's heart that thy charms espies? + + + Was the notched shaft[FN#33] from a host outshot, * + + + Or from latticed window in sudden guise?" + + + +When the game was at an end, and all had left the ground, she asked her +nurse, "What is the name of that youth I showed thee?"; and the good +woman answered, "His name is Uns al-Wujud;" whereat Rose-in-Hood shook +her head and lay down on her couch, with thoughts a-fire for love. +Then, sighing deeply, she improvised these couplets, + + "He missed not who dubbed thee, 'World's delight,' * + + + A world's love conjoining to bounty's light:[FN#34] + + + O thou, whose favour the full moon favours, * + + + Whose charms make life and the living bright! + + + Thou hast none equal among mankind; * + + + Sultan of Beauty, and proof I'll cite: + + + Thine eye-brows are likest a well-formed Nϊn,[FN#35] * + + + And thine eyes a Sαd,[FN#36] by His hand indite; + + + Thy shape is the soft, green bough that gives * + + + When asked to all with all-gracious sprite: + + + Thou excellest knights of the world in stowre, * + + + With delight and beauty and bounty dight." + + + +When she had finished her verses, she wrote them on a sheet of paper, +which she folded in a piece of golf-embroidered silk and placed under +her pillow. Now one of her nurses had seen her; so she came up to her +and held her in talk till she slept, when she stole the scroll from +under her pillow; and, after reading it, knew that she had fallen in +love with Uns al-Wujud. Then she returned the scroll to its place and +when her mistress awoke, she said to her, "O my lady, indeed I am to +thee a true counsellor and am tenderly anxious on thy account. Know +that love is a tyrant and the hiding it melteth iron and entaileth +sickness and unease; nor for whoso confesseth it is there aught of +reproach." Rejoined Rose-in-Hood, "And what is the medicine of passion, +O nurse mine?" Answered the nurse, "The medicine of passion is +enjoyment" Quoth she, "And how may one come by enjoyment?" Quoth the +other, "By letters and messages, my lady; by whispered words of +compliment and by greetings before the world;[FN#37] all this bringeth +lovers together and makes hard matters easy. So if thou have aught at +heart, mistress mine, I am the fittest to keep thy secret and do thy +desires and carry thy letters." Now when the damsel heard this, her +reason flew and fled for joy; but she restrained herself from speech +till she should see the issue of the matter, saying within herself, +"None knoweth this thing of me, nor will I trust this one with my +secret, till I have tried her." Then said the woman, "O my lady, I saw +in my sleep as though a man came to me and said: 'Thy mistress and Uns +al-Wujud love each other; so do thou serve their case by carrying their +messages and doing their desires and keeping their secrets; and much +good shall befal thee.' So now I have told thee my vision and it is +thine to decide." Quoth Rose-in-Hood, after she heard of the dream,—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Seventy-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Rose-in- Hood +asked her nurse after hearing of the dream, "Tell me, canst thou keep a +secret, O my nurse?"; whereto she answered, "And how should I not keep +secrecy, I that am of the flower of the free?"[FN#38] Then the maiden +pulled out the scroll, whereon she had written the verses and said, +"Carry me this my letter to Uns al-Wujud and bring me his reply." The +nurse took the letter and, repairing to Uns al-Wujud, kissed his hands +and greeted him right courteously, then gave him the paper; and he read +it and, comprehending the contents, wrote on the back these couplets, + + "I soothe my heart and my love repel; * + + + But my state interprets my love too well: + + + When tears flow I tell them mine eyes are ill, * + + + Lest the censor see and my case fortell, + + + I was fancy-free and unknew I Love; * + + + But I fell in love and in madness fell. + + + I show you my case and complain of pain, * + + + Pine and ecstasy that your ruth compel: + + + I write you with tears of eyes, so belike * + + + They explain the love come my heart to quell; + + + Allah guard a face that is veiled with charms, * + + + Whose thrall is Moon and the Stars as well: + + + In her beauty I never beheld the like; * + + + From her sway the branches learn sway and swell: + + + I beg you, an 'tis not too much of pains, * + + + To call;[FN#39] 'twere boon without parallel. + + + I give you a soul you will haply take. * + + + To which Union is Heaven, Disunion Hell." + + + +Then he folded the letter and kissing it, gave it to the go- between +and said to her, "O nurse, incline the lady's heart to me." "To hear is +to obey," answered she and carried the script to her mistress, who +kissed it and laid it on her head, then she opened it and read it and +understood it and wrote at the foot of it these couplets, + + "O whose heart by our beauty is captive ta'en, * + + + Have patience and all thou shalt haply gain! + + + When we knew that thy love was a true affect, * + + + And what pained our heart to thy heart gave pain, + + + We had granted thee wished-for call and more; * + + + But hindered so doing the chamberlain. + + + When the night grows dark, through our love's excess * + + + Fire burns our vitals with might and main: + + + And sleep from our beds is driven afar, * + + + And our bodies are tortured by passion-bane. + + + 'Hide Love!' in Love's code is the first command; * + + + And from raising his veil thy hand restrain: + + + I fell love-fulfilled by yon gazelle: * + + + Would he never wander from where I dwell!" + + + +Then she folded the letter and gave it to the nurse, who took it and +went out from her mistress to seek the young man; but, as she would +fare forth, the chamberlain met her and said to her, "Whither away?" +"To the bath," answered she; but in her fear and confusion, she dropped +the letter, without knowing it, and went off unrecking what she had +done; when one of the eunuchs, seeing it lying in the way, picked it +up. When the nurse came without the door, she sought for it, but found +it not, so turned back to her mistress and told her of this and what +had befallen her. Meanwhile, the Wazir came out of the Harim and seated +himself on his couch; whereupon behold, the eunuch, who had picked up +the letter, came in to him, hending it in hand and said, "O my lord, I +found this paper lying upon the floor and picked it up." So the +Minister took it from his hand, folded as it was, and opening it, read +the verses as above set down. Then, after mastering the meaning, he +examined the writing and knew it for his daughter's hand; whereupon he +went to her mother, weeping so abundant tears that his beard was +wetted. His wife asked him, "What maketh thee weep, O my lord?"; and he +answered, "Take this letter and see what is therein." So she took it +and found it to be a love-letter from her daughter Rose-in-Hood to Uns +al-Wujud: whereupon the ready drops sprang to her eyes; but she +composed her mind, and, gulping down her tears, said to her husband, "O +my lord, there is no profit in weeping: the right course is to cast +about for a means of keeping thine honour and concealing the affair of +thy daughter." And she went on to comfort him and lighten his trouble; +but he said, "I am fearful for my daughter by reason of this new +passion. Knowest thou not that the Sultan loveth Uns al- Wujud with +exceeding love? And my fear hath two causes. The first concerneth +myself; it is, that she is my daughter: the second is on account of the +King; for that Uns al-Wujud is a favourite with the Sultan and +peradventure great troubles shall come out of this affair. What deemest +thou should be done?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Seventy-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir, after +recounting the affair of his daughter, asked his wife, "What deemest +thou should be done?" And she answered, "Have patience whilst I pray +the prayer for right direction." So she prayed a two-bow prayer +according to the prophetic[FN#40] ordinance for seeking divine +guidance; after which she said to her husband, "In the midst of the Sea +of Treasures[FN#41] standeth a mountain named the Mount of the Bereaved +Mother (the cause of which being so called shall presently follow in +its place, Inshallah!); and thither can none have access, save with +pains and difficulty and distress: do thou make that same her +abiding-place." Accordingly the Minister and his wife agreed to build +on that mountain a virgin castle and lodge their daughter therein with +the necessary provision to be renewed year by year and attendants to +cheer and to serve her. Accordingly he collected carpenters, builders +and architects and despatched them to the mountain, where they builded +her an impregnable castle, never saw eyes the like thereof. Then he +made ready vivers and carriage for the journey and, going in to his +daughter by night, bade her prepare to set out on a pleasure-excursion. +Thereupon her heart presaged the sorrows of separation and, when she +went forth and saw the preparations for the journey, she wept with sore +weeping and wrote that upon the door which might acquaint her lover +with what had passed and with the transports of passion and grief that +were upon her, transports such as would make the flesh to shiver and +hair to stare, and melt the hardest stone with care, and tear from +every eye a tear. And what she wrote were these couplets, + + "By Allah, O thou house, if my beloved a morn go by, * + + + And greet with signs and signals lover e'er is wont to fly, + + + I pray thee give him our salams in pure and fragrant guise, * + + + For he indeed may never know where we this eve shall lie. + + + I wot not whither they have fared, thus bearing us afar * + + + At speed, and lightly-quipt, the lighter from one love to + + + fly: + + + When starkens night, the birds in brake or branches snugly + + + perched * Wail for our sorrow and announce our hapless + + + destiny: + + + The tongue of their condition saith, 'Alas, alas for woe, * + + + And heavy brunt of parting-blow two lovers must aby': + + + When viewed I separation-cups were filled to the brim * + + + And us with merest sorrow-wine Fate came so fast to ply, + + + I mixed them with becoming share of patience self to excuse, * + + + But Patience for the loss of you her solace doth refuse." + + + +Now when she ended her lines, she mounted and they set forward with +her, crossing and cutting over wold and wild and riant dale and rugged +hill, till they came to the shore of the Sea of Treasures; here they +pitched their tents and built her a great ship, wherein they went down +with her and her suite and carried them over to the mountain. The +Minister had ordered them, on reaching the journey's end, to set her in +the castle and to make their way back to the shore, where they were to +break up the vessel. So they did his bidding and returned home, weeping +over what had befallen. Such was their case; but as regards Uns al- +Wujud, he arose from sleep and prayed the dawn-prayer, after which he +took horse and rode forth to attend upon the Sultan. On his way, he +passed by the Wazir's house, thinking perchance to see some of his +followers as of wont; but he saw no one and, looking upon the door, he +read written thereon the verses aforesaid. At this sight, his senses +failed him; fire was kindled in his vitals and he returned to his +lodging, where he passed the day in trouble and transports of grief, +without finding ease or patience, till night darkened upon him, when +his yearning and love-longing redoubled. Thereupon, by way of +concealment, he disguised himself in the ragged garb of a Fakir,[FN#42] +and set out wandering at random through the glooms of night, distracted +and knowing not whither he went. So he wandered on all that night and +next day, till the heat of the sun waxed fierce and the mountains +flamed like fire and thirst was grievous upon him. Presently, he espied +a tree, by whose side was a thin thread of running water; so he made +towards it and sitting down in the shade, on the bank of the rivulet, +essayed to drink, but found that the water had no taste in his +mouth;[FN#43] and, indeed his colour had changed and his face had +yellowed, and his feet were swollen with travel and travail. So he shed +copious tears and repeated these couplets, + + "The lover is drunken with love of friend; * + + + On a longing that groweth his joys depend: + + + Love-distracted, ardent, bewildered, lost * + + + From home, nor may food aught of pleasure lend: + + + How can life be delightsome to one in love, * + + + And from lover parted, 'twere strange, unkenned! + + + I melt with the fire of my pine for them, * + + + And the tears down my cheek in a stream descend. + + + Shall I see them, say me, or one that comes * + + + From the camp, who th' afflicted heart shall tend?" + + + +And after thus reciting he wept till he wetted the hard dry ground; but +anon without loss of time he rose and fared on again over waste and +wold, till there came out upon him a lion, with a neck buried in +tangled mane, a head the bigness of a dome, a mouth wider than the door +thereof and teeth like elephants' tusks. Now when Uns al-Wujud saw him, +he gave himself up for lost, and turning[FN#44] towards the Temple of +Meccah, pronounced the professions of the faith and prepared for death. +He had read in books that whoso will flatter the lion, beguileth +him,[FN#45] for that he is readily duped by smooth speech and gentled +by being glorified; so he began and said, "O Lion of the forest! O Lord +of the waste! O terrible Leo! O father of fighters! O Sultan of wild +beasts! Behold, I am a lover in longing, whom passion and severance +have been wronging; since I parted from my dear, I have lost my +reasoning gear; wherefore, to my speech do thou give ear and have ruth +on my passion and hope and fear." When the lion heard this, he drew +back from him and sitting down on his hindquarters, raised his head to +him and began to frisk tail and paws; which when Uns al-Wujud saw, he +recited these couplets, + + "Lion of the wold wilt thou murther me, * + + + Ere I meet her who doomed me to slavery? + + + I am not game and I bear no fat; * + + + For the loss of my love makes me sickness dree; + + + And estrangement from her hath so worn me down * + + + I am like a shape in a shroud we see. + + + O thou sire of spoils,[FN#46] O thou lion of war, * + + + Give not my pains to the blamer's gree. + + + I burn with love, I am drowned in tears * + + + For a parting from lover, sore misery! + + + And my thoughts of her in the murk of night * + + + For love hath make my being unbe." + + + +As he had finished his lines the lion rose,—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that as Uns al- Wujud +ended his lines, the lion arose and stalked slowly up to him, with eyes +tear-railing and licked him with his tongue, then walked on before him, +signing to him as though saying, "Follow me." So he followed him, and +the beast ceased not leading him on for a while till he brought him up +a mountain, and guided him to the farther side, where he came upon the +track of a caravan over the desert, and knew it to be that of +Rose-in-Hood and her company. Then he took the trail and, when the lion +saw that he knew the track for that of the party which escorted her, he +turned back and went his way; whilst Uns al-Wujud walked along the +foot-marks day and night, till they brought him to a dashing sea, +swollen with clashing surge. The trail led down to the sandy shore and +there broke off; whereby he knew that they had taken ship and had +continued their journey by water. So he lost hope of finding his lover +and with hot tears he repeated these couplets, + + "Far is the fane and patience faileth me; * + + + How can I seek them[FN#47] o'er the abyssmal sea; + + + Or how be patient, when my vitals burn * + + + For love of them, and sleep waxed insomny? + + + Since the sad day they left the home and fled, * + + + My heart's consumed by love's ardency: + + + Sayhun, Jayhun,[FN#48] Euphrates-like my tears, * + + + Make flood no deluged rain its like can see: + + + Mine eyelids chafed with running tears remain, * + + + My heart from fiery sparks is never free; + + + The hosts of love and longing pressed me * + + + And made the hosts of patience break and flee. + + + I've risked my life too freely for their love; * + + + And risk of life the least of ills shall be. + + + Allah ne'er punish eye that saw those charms * + + + Enshrined, and passing full moon's brilliancy! + + + I found me felled by fair wide-opened eyes, * + + + Which pierced my heart with stringless archery: + + + And soft, lithe, swaying shape enraptured me * + + + As sway the branches of the willow-tree: + + + Wi' them I covet union that I win, * + + + O'er love-pains cark and care, a mastery. + + + For love of them aye, morn and eve I pine, * + + + And doubt all came to me from evil eyne." + + + +And when his lines were ended he wept, till he swooned away, and abode +in his swoon a long while; but as soon as he came to himself, he looked +right and left and seeing no one in the desert, he became fearful of +the wild beasts; so he clomb to the top of a high mountain, where he +heard the voice of a son of Adam speaking within a cave. He listened +and lo! they were the accents of a devotee, who had forsworn the world +and given himself up to pious works and worship. He knocked thrice at +the cavern-door, but the hermit made him no answer, neither came forth +to him; wherefore he groaned aloud and recited these couplets. + + "What pathway find I my desire t'obtain, * + + + How 'scape from care and cark and pain and bane? + + + All terrors join to make me old and hoar * + + + Of head and heart, ere youth from me is ta'en: + + + Nor find I any aid my passion, nor * + + + A friend to lighten load of bane and pain. + + + How great and many troubles I've endured! * + + + Fortune hath turned her back I see unfain. + + + Ah mercy, mercy on the lover's heart, * + + + Doomed cup of parting and desertion drain! + + + A fire is in his heart, his vitals waste, * + + + And severance made his reason vainest vain. + + + How dread the day I came to her abode * + + + And saw the writ they wrote on doorway lain! + + + I wept, till gave I earth to drink my grief; * + + + But still to near and far[FN#49] I did but feign: + + + Then strayed I till in waste a lion sprang * + + + On me, and but for flattering words had slain: + + + I soothed him: so he spared me and lent me aid, * + + + He too might haply of love's taste complain. + + + O devotee, that idlest in thy cave, * + + + Meseems eke thou hast learned Love's might and main; + + + But if, at end of woes, with them I league, * + + + Straight I'll forget all suffering and fatigue." + + + +Hardly had he made an end of these verses when, behold! the door of the +cavern opened and he heard one say, "Alas, the pity of it!"[FN#50] So +he entered and saluted the devotee, who returned his salam and asked +him, "What is thy name?" Answered the young man, "Uns al-Wujud." "And +what caused thee to come hither?" quoth the hermit. So he told him his +story in its entirety, omitting naught of his misfortunes; whereat he +wept and said, "O Uns al- Wujud, these twenty years have I passed in +this place, but never beheld I any man here, until yesterday, when I +heard a noise of weeping and lamentation and, looking forth in the +direction of the sound, saw many people and tents pitched on the +sea-shore; and the party at once proceeded to build a ship, in which +certain of them embarked and sailed over the waters. Then some of the +crew returned with the ship and breaking it up, went their way; and I +suspect that those who embarked in the ship and returned not, are they +whom thou seekest. In that case, O Uns al-Wujud, thy grief must needs +be great and sore and thou art excusable, though never yet was lover +but suffered love-longing." Then he recited these couplets, + + "Uns al-Wujud, dost deem me fancy-free, * + + + When pine and longing slay and quicken me? + + + I have known love and yearning from the years * + + + Since mother-milk I drank, nor e'er was free. + + + Long struggled I with Love, till learnt his might; * + + + Ask thou of him, he'll tell with willing gree. + + + Love-sick and pining drank I passion-cup, * + + + And well-nigh perished in mine agony. + + + Strong was I, but my strength to weakness turned, * + + + And eye-sword brake through Patience armoury: + + + Hope not to win love-joys, without annoy; * + + + Contrary ever links with contrary. + + + But fear not change from lover true; be true * + + + Unto thy wish, some day thine own 'twill be. + + + Love hath forbidden to his votaries * + + + Relinquishment as deadliest heresy." + + + +The eremite, having ended his verse, rose and, coming up to Uns +al-Wujud, embraced him,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the eremite +having ended his verse, rose and coming up to Uns al-Wujud embraced +him, and they wept together, till the hills rang with their cries and +they fell down fainting. When they revived, they swore +brotherhood[FN#51] in Allah Almighty; after which said Uns al-Wujud, +"This very night will I pray to God and seek of Him direction[FN#52] +anent what thou shouldst do to attain thy desire." Thus it was with +them; but as regards Rose-in-Hood, when they brought her to the +mountain and set her in the castle and she beheld its ordering, she +wept and exclaimed, "By Allah, thou art a goodly place, save that thou +lackest in thee the presence of the beloved!"[FN#53] Then seeing birds +in the island, she bade her people set snares for them and put all they +caught in cages within the castle; and they did so. But she sat at a +lattice and bethought her of what had passed, and desire and passion +and distraction redoubled upon her, till she burst into tears and +repeated these couplets, + + "O to whom now, of my desire complaining sore, shall I * + + + Bewail my parting from my fere compellθd thus to fly? + + + Flames rage within what underlies my ribs, yet hide them I * + + + In deepest secret dreading aye the jealous hostile spy: + + + I am grown as lean, attenuate as any pick of tooth,[FN#54] * + + + By sore estrangement, absence, ardour, ceaseless sob and + + + sigh. + + + Where is the eye of my beloved to see how I'm become * + + + Like tree stripped bare of leafage left to linger and to + + + die. + + + They tyrannised over me whom they confined in place * + + + Whereto the lover of my heart may never draw him nigh: + + + I beg the Sun for me to give greetings a thousandfold, * + + + At time of rising and again when setting from the sky, + + + To the beloved one who shames a full moon's loveliness, * + + + When shows that slender form that doth the willow-branch + + + outvie. + + + If Rose herself would even with his cheek, I say of her * + + + 'Thou art not like it if to me my portion thou + + + deny:'[FN#55] + + + His honey-dew of lips is like the grateful water draught * + + + Would cool me when a fire in heart upflameth fierce and + + + high: + + + How shall I give him up who is my heart and soul of me, * + + + My malady my wasting cause, my love, sole leach of me?" + + + +Then, as the glooms of night closed around her, her yearning increased +and she called to mind the past and recited also these couplets, + + "'Tis dark: my transport and unease now gather might and main, + + + * And love-desire provoketh me to wake my wonted pain: + + + The pang of parting takes for ever place within my breast, * + + + And pining makes me desolate in destitution lain. + + + Ecstasy sore maltreats my soul and yearning burns my sprite, * + + + And tears betray love's secresy which I would lief contain: + + + I weet no way, I know no case that can make light my load, * + + + Or heal my wasting body or cast out from me this bane. + + + A hell of fire is in my heart upflames with lambent tongue * + + + And Laza's furnace-fires within my liver place have ta'en. + + + O thou, exaggerating blame for what befel, enough * + + + I bear with patience whatsoe'er hath writ for me the Pen! + + + I swear, by Allah, ne'er to find aught comfort for their loss; + + + * "Tis oath of passion's children and their oaths are ne'er + + + in vain. + + + O Night! Salams of me to friends and let to them be known * + + + Of thee true knowledge how I wake and waking ever wone." + + + +Meanwhile, the hermit said to Uns al-Wujud, "Go down to the palm- grove +in the valley and fetch some fibre."[FN#56] So he went and returned +with the palm-fibre, which the hermit took and, twisting into ropes, +make therewith a net,[FN#57] such as is used for carrying straw; after +which he said, "O Uns al-Wujud, in the heart of the valley groweth a +gourd, which springeth up and drieth upon its roots. Go down there and +fill this sack therewith; then tie it together and, casting it into the +water, embark thereon and make for the midst of the sea, so haply thou +shalt win thy wish; for whoso never ventureth shall not have what he +seeketh." "I hear and obey," answered Uns al-Wujud. Then he bade the +hermit farewell after the holy man had prayed for him; and, betaking +himself to the sole of the valley, did as his adviser had counselled +him; made the sack, launched it upon the water, and pushed from shore. +Then there arose a wind, which drave him out to sea, till he was lost +to the eremite's view; and he ceased not to float over the abysses of +the ocean, one billow tossing him up and another bearing him down (and +he beholding the while the dangers and marvels of the deep), for the +space of three days. At the end of that time Fate cast him upon the +Mount of the Bereft Mother, where he landed, giddy and tottering like a +chick unfledged, and at the last of his strength for hunger and thirst; +but, finding there streams flowing and birds on the branches cooing and +fruit-laden trees in clusters and singly growing, he ate of the fruits +and drank of the rills. Then he walked on till he saw some white thing +afar off, and making for it, found that it was a strongly fortified +castle. So he went up to the gate and seeing it locked, sat down by it; +and there he sat for three days when behold, the gate opened and an +eunuch came out, who finding Uns al-Wujud there seated, said to him, +"Whence camest thou and who brought thee hither?" Quoth he, "From +Ispahan and I was voyaging with merchandise when my ship was wrecked +and the waves cast me upon the farther side of this island." Whereupon +the eunuch wept and embraced him, saying, "Allah preserve thee, O thou +friendly face! Ispahan is mine own country and I have there a cousin, +the daughter of my father's brother, whom I loved from my childhood and +cherished with fond affection; but a people stronger than we fell upon +us in foray and taking me among other booty, cut off my yard[FN#58] and +sold me for a castrato, whilst I was yet a lad; and this is how I came +to be in such case."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the eunuch who +came forth from the castle, where Rose-in-Hood was confined, told Uns +al-Wujud all his tale and said:—"The raiders who captured me cut off my +yard and sold me for a castrato; and this is how I came to be in such +case."[FN#59] And after saluting him and wishing him long life, the +eunuch carried him into the courtyard of the castle, where he saw a +great tank of water, surrounded by trees, on whose branches hung cages +of silver, with doors of gold, and therein birds were warbling and +singing the praises of the Requiting King. And when he came to the +first cage he looked in and lo! a turtle dove, on seeing him, raised +her voice and cried out, saying, "O Thou Bounty-fraught!" Whereat he +fell down fainting and after coming to himself, he sighed heavily and +recited these couplets, + + "O turtle dove, like me art thou distraught? * + + + Then pray the Lord and sing 'O Bounty-fraught!' + + + Would I knew an thy moan were sign of joy, * + + + Or cry of love-desire in heart inwrought,— + + + An moan thou pining for a lover gone * + + + Who left thee woe begone to pine in thought,— + + + Or if like me hast lost thy fondest friend, * + + + And severance long desire to memory brought? + + + O Allah, guard a faithful lover's lot * + + + I will not leave her though my bones go rot!" + + + +Then, after ending his verses, he fainted again; and, presently +reviving he went on to the second cage, wherein he found a ringdove. +When it saw him, it sang out, "O Eternal, I thank thee!" and he groaned +and recited these couplets, + + "I heard a ringdove chanting plaintively, * + + + 'I thank Thee, O Eternal for this misery!' + + + Haply, perchance, may Allah, of His grace, * + + + Send me by this long round my love to see. + + + Full oft[FN#60] she comes with honeyed lips dark red, * + + + And heaps up lowe upon love's ardency. + + + Quoth I (while longing fires flame high and fierce * + + + In heart, and wasting life's vitality, + + + And tears like gouts of blood go railing down * + + + In torrents over cheeks now pale of blee), + + + 'None e'er trod earth that was not born to woe, * + + + But I will patient dree mine agony, + + + So help me Allah! till that happy day * + + + When with my mistress I unite shall be: + + + Then will I spend my good on lover-wights, * + + + Who're of my tribe and of the faith of me; + + + And loose the very birds from jail set free, * + + + And change my grief for gladdest gree and glee!'" + + + +Then he went on to the third cage, wherein he found a +mockingbird[FN#61] which, when it saw him, set up a song, and he +recited the following couplets, + + "Pleaseth me yon Hazar of mocking strain * + + + Like voice of lover pained by love in vain. + + + Woe's me for lovers! Ah how many men * + + + By nights and pine and passion low are lain! + + + As though by stress of love they had been made * + + + Morn-less and sleep-less by their pain and bane. + + + When I went daft for him who conquered me * + + + And pined for him who proved of proudest strain, + + + My tears in streams down trickled and I cried * + + + 'These long-linkt tears bind like an adamant-chain:' + + + Grew concupiscence, severance long, and I * + + + Lost Patience' hoards and grief waxed sovereign: + + + If Justice bide in world and me unite * + + + With him I love and Allah veil us deign, + + + I'll strip my clothes that he my form shall sight * + + + With parting, distance, grief, how poor of plight!" + + + +Then he went to the fourth cage, where he found a Bulbul[FN#62] which, +at sight of him, began to sway to and fro and sing its plaintive +descant; and when he heard its complaint, he burst into tears and +repeated these couplets. + + "The Bulbul's note, whenas dawn is nigh, * + + + Tells the lover from strains of strings to fly: + + + Complaineth for passion Uns al-Wujud, * + + + For pine that would being to him deny. + + + How many a strain do we hear, whose sound * + + + Softens stones and the rock can mollify: + + + And the breeze of morning that sweetly speaks * + + + Of meadows in flowered greenery. + + + And scents and sounds in the morning-tide * + + + Of birds and zephyrs in fragrance vie; + + + But I think of one, of an absent friend, * + + + And tears rail like rain from a showery sky; + + + And the flamy tongues in my breast uprise * + + + As sparks from gleed that in dark air fly. + + + Allah deign vouchsafe to a lover distraught * + + + Someday the face of his dear to descry! + + + For lovers, indeed, no excuse is clear, * + + + Save excuse of sight and excuse of eye." + + + +Then he walked on a little and came to a goodly cage, than which was no +goodlier there, and in it a culver of the forest, that is to say, a +wood-pigeon,[FN#63] the bird renowned among birds as the minstrel of +love-longing, with a collar of jewels about its neck marvellous fine +and fair. He considered it awhile and, seeing it absently brooding in +its cage, he shed tears and repeated these couplets, + + "O culver of copse,[FN#64] with salams I greet; * + + + O brother of lovers who woe must weet! + + + I love a gazelle who is slender-slim, * + + + Whose glances for keenness the scymitar beat: + + + For her love are my heart and my vitals a-fire, * + + + And my frame consumes in love's fever-heat. + + + The sweet taste of food is unlawful for me, * + + + And forbidden is slumber, unlawfullest sweet. + + + Endurance and solace have travelled from me, * + + + And love homes in my heart and grief takes firm seat: + + + How shall life deal joy when they flee my sight * + + + Who are joy and gladness and life and sprite?" + + + +As soon as Uns al-Wujud had ended his verse,—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that as soon as Uns +al-Wujud had ended his verse, the wood-culver awoke from its brooding +and cooed a reply to his lines and shrilled and trilled with its +thrilling notes till it all but spake with human speech;[FN#65] and the +tongue of the case talked for it and recited these couplets, + + "O lover, thou bringest to thought a tide * + + + When the strength of my youth first faded and died; + + + And a friend of whose form I was 'namoured, * + + + Seductive and dight with beauty's pride; + + + Whose voice, as he sat on the sandhill-tree, * + + + From the Nay's[FN#66] sweet sound turned my heart aside; + + + A fowler snared him in net, the while * + + + 'O that man would leave me at large!' he cried; + + + I had hoped he might somewhat of mercy show * + + + When a hapless lover he so espied; + + + But Allah smite him who tore me away, * + + + In his hardness of heart, from my lover's side; + + + But aye my desire for him groweth more, * + + + And my heart with the fires of disjunction is fried: + + + Allah guard a true lover, who strives with love, * + + + And hath borne the torments I still abide! + + + And, seeing me bound in this cage, with mind * + + + Of ruth, release me my love to find." + + + +Then Uns al-Wujud turned to his companion, the Ispahahi, and said, +"What palace is this? Who built it and who abideth in it?" Quoth the +eunuch, "The Wazir of a certain King built it to guard his daughter, +fearing for her the accidents of Time and the incidents of Fortune, and +lodged her herein, her and her attendants; nor do we open it save once +in every year, when their provision cometh to them." And Uns al-Wujud +said to himself, "I have gained my end, though I may have long to +wait." Such was his case; but as regards Rose-in-Hood, of a truth she +took no pleasure in eating or drinking, sitting or sleeping; but her +desire and passion and distraction redoubled on her, and she went +wandering about the castle-corners, but could find no issue; wherefore +she shed tears and recited these couplets, + + "They have cruelly ta'en me from him, my beloved, * + + + And made me taste anguish in prison ta'en: + + + They have fired my heart with the flames of love, * + + + Barred all sight of him whom to see I'm fain: + + + In a lofty palace they prisoned me * + + + On a mountain placed in the middle main. + + + If they'd have me forget him, right vain's their wish, * + + + For my love is grown of a stronger strain. + + + How can I forget him whose face was cause * + + + Of all I suffer, of all I 'plain? + + + The whole of my days in sorrow's spent, * + + + And in thought of him through the night I'm lain. + + + Remembrance of him cheers my solitude, * + + + While I lorn of his presence and lone remain. + + + Would I knew if, after this all, my fate * + + + To oblige the desire of my hear will deign." + + + +When her verses were ended, she ascended to the terrace-roof of the +castle after donning her richest clothes and trinkets and throwing a +necklace of jewels around her neck. Then binding together some dresses +of Ba'albak[FN#67] stuff by way of rope, she tied them to the crenelles +and let herself down thereby to the ground. And she fared on over +wastes and waterless wilds, till she came to the shore, where she saw a +fisherman plying here and there over the sea, for the wind had driven +him on to the island. When he saw her, he was affrighted[FN#68] and +pushed off again, flying from her; but she cried out and made pressing +signs to him to return, versifying with these couplets, + + "O fisherman no care hast thou to fear, * + + + I'm but an earth-born maid in mortal sphere; + + + I pray thee linger and my prayer grant * + + + And to my true unhappy tale give ear: + + + Pity (so Allah spare thee!) warmest love; * + + + Say, hast thou seen him-my beloved fere? + + + I love a lovely youth whose face excels * + + + Sunlight, and passes moon when clearest clear: + + + The fawn, that sees his glance, is fain to cry * + + + 'I am his thrall' and own himself no peer: + + + Beauty hath written, on his winsome cheek, * + + + Rare lines of pregnant sense for every seer; + + + Who sights the light of love his soul is saved; * + + + Who strays is Infidel to Hell anear: + + + An thou in mercy show his sight, O rare![FN#69] * + + + Thou shalt have every wish, the dearest dear, + + + Of rubies and what likest are to them * + + + Fresh pearls and unions new, the seashell's tear: + + + My friend, thou wilt forsure grant my desire * + + + Whose heart is melted in love's hottest fire. + + + +When the fisherman heard her words, he wept and made moan and lamented; +then, recalling what had betided himself in the days of his youth, when +love had the mastery over him and longing and desire and distraction +were sore upon him and the fires of passion consumed him, replied with +these couplets, + + "What fair excuse is this my pining plight, * + + + With wasted limbs and tears' unceasing blight; + + + And eyelids open in the nightly murk, * + + + And heart like fire-stick[FN#70] ready fire to smite; + + + Indeed love burdened us in early youth, * + + + And true from false coin soon we learned aright: + + + Then did we sell our soul on way of love, * + + + And drunk of many a well[FN#71] to win her sight; + + + Venturing very life to gain her grace, * + + + And make high profit perilling a mite. + + + 'Tis Love's religion whoso buys with life * + + + His lover's grace, with highest gain is dight." + + + +And when he ended his verse, he moored his boat to the beach and said +to her, "Embark, so may I carry thee whither thou wilt." Thereupon she +embarked and he put off with her; but they had not gone far from land, +before there came out a stern-wind upon the boat and drove it swiftly +out of sight of shore. Now the fisherman knew not whither he went, and +the strong wind blew without ceasing three days, when it fell by leave +of Allah Almighty, and they sailed on and ceased not sailing till they +came in sight of a city sitting upon the sea-shore,—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +fisherman's craft, carrying Rose-in-Hood, made the city sitting upon +the sea-shore, the man set about making fast to the land. Now the King +of the city was a Prince of pith and puissance named Dirbas, the Lion; +and he chanced at that moment to be seated, with his son, at a window +in the royal palace giving upon the sea; and happening to look out +seawards, they saw the fishing- boat make the land. They observed it +narrowly and espied therein a young lady, as she were the full moon +overhanging the horizon- edge, with pendants in her ears of costly +balass-rubies and a collar of precious stones about her throat. Hereby +the King knew that this must indeed be the daughter of some King or +great noble and, going forth of the sea-gate of the palace, went down +to the boat, where he found the lady asleep and the fisherman busied in +making fast to shore. So he went up to her and aroused her, whereupon +she awoke, weeping; and he asked her, "Whence comest thou and whose +daughter art thou and what be the cause of thy coming hither?"; and she +answered, "I am the daughter of Ibrahim, Wazir to King Shamikh; and the +manner of my coming hither is wondrous and the cause thereof +marvellous." And she told him her whole story first and last, hiding +naught from him; then she groaned aloud and recited these couplets, + +"Tear-drops have chafed mine eyelids and rail down in wondrous + + + wise, * For parting pain that fills my sprite and turns to + + + springs mine eyes, + + +For sake of friend who ever dwells within my vitals homed, * And + + + I may never win my wish of him in any guise. + + +He hath a favour fair and bright, and brilliant is his face, * + + + Which every Turk and Arab wight in loveliness outvies: + + +The Sun and fullest Moon lout low whenas his charms they sight, * + + + And lover-like they bend to him whene'er he deigneth rise. + + +A wondrous spell of gramarye like Kohl bedecks his eyne, * And + + + shows thee bow with shaft on string make ready ere it flies: + + +O thou, to whom I told my case expecting all excuse, * Pity a + + + lover-wight for whom Love-shafts such fate devise! + + +Verily, Love hath cast me on your coast despite of me * Of will + + + now weak, and fain I trust mine honour thou wilt prize: + + +For noble men, whenas perchance alight upon their bounds, * + + + Grace-worthy guests, confess their worth and raise to + + + dignities. Then, + + +O thou hope of me, to lovers' folly veil afford * And be to them + + + reunion cause, thou only liefest lord!" + + + +And when she had ended her verses, she again told the King her sad tale +and shed plenteous tears and recited these couplets bearing on her +case, + +"We lived till saw we all the marvels Love can bear; * Each month + + + to thee we hope shall fare as Rajab[FN#72] fare: + + +Is it not wondrous, when I saw them march amorn * That I with + + + water o' eyes in heart lit flames that flare? + + +That these mine eyelids rain fast dropping gouts of blood? * That + + + now my cheek grows gold where rose and lily were? + + +As though the safflower hue, that overspread my cheeks, * Were + + + Joseph's coat made stain of lying blood to wear." + + + +Now when the King heard her words he was certified of her love and +longing and was moved to ruth for her; so he said to her, "Fear nothing +and be not troubled; thou hast come to the term of thy wishes; for +there is no help but that I win for thee thy will and bring thee to thy +desire." And he improvised these couplets, + + "Daughter of nobles, who thine aim shalt gain; * + + + Hear gladdest news nor fear aught hurt of bane! + + + This day I'll pack up wealth, and send it on * + + + To Shαmikh, guarded by a champion-train; + + + Fresh pods of musk I'll send him and brocades, * + + + And silver white and gold of yellow vein: + + + Yes, and a letter shall inform him eke * + + + That I of kinship with that King am fain: + + + And I this day will lend thee bestest aid, * + + + That all thou covetest thy soul assain. + + + I, too, have tasted love and know its taste * + + + And can excuse whoso the same cup drain."[FN#73] + + + +Then, ending his verse, he went forth to his troops and summoned his +Wazir; and, causing him to pack up countless treasure, commanded him +carry it to King Shamikh and say to him, "Needs must thou send me a +person named Uns al-Wujud;" and say moreover "The King is minded to +ally himself with thee by marrying his daughter to Uns al-Wujud, thine +officer. So there is no help but thou despatch him to me, that the +marriage may be solemnized in her father's kingdom." And he wrote a +letter to King Shamikh to this effect, and gave it to the Minister, +charging him strictly to bring back Uns al-Wujud and warning him, "An +thou fail thou shalt be deposed and degraded." Answered the Wazir, "I +hear and obey;" and, setting out forthright with the treasures, in due +course arrived at the court of King Shamikh whom he saluted in the name +of King Dirbas and delivered the letter and the presents. Now when King +Shamikh read the letter and saw the name of Uns al-Wujud, he burst into +tears and said to the Wazir "And where, or where, is Uns al-Wujud?; he +went from us and we know not his place of abiding; only bring him to +me, and I will give thee double the presents thou hast brought me." And +he wept and groaned and lamented, saying these couplets, + + "To me restore my dear; * I want not wealth untold: + + + Nor crave I gifts of pearls * Or gems or store of gold: + + + He was to us a moon * In beauty's heavenly fold. + + + Passing in form and soul; * With roe compare withhold! + + + His form a willow-wand, * His fruit, lures manifold; + + + But willow lacketh power * Men's hearts to have and hold. + + + I reared him from a babe * On cot of coaxing roll'd; + + + And now I mourn for him * With woe in soul ensoul'd." + + + +Then, turning to the Wazir who had brought the presents and the +missive, he said, "Go back to thy liege and acquaint him that Uns +al-Wujud hath been missing this year past, and his lord knoweth not +whither he is gone nor hath any tidings of him." Answered the Minister +of King Dirbas, "O my lord, my master said to me, 'An thou fail to +bring him back, thou shalt be degraded from the Wazirate and shall not +enter my city. How then can I return without him?'" So King Shamikh +said to his Wazir Ibrahim, "Take a company and go with him and make ye +search for Uns al-Wujud everywhere." He replied, "Hearkening and +obedience;" and, taking a body of his own retainers, set out +accompanied by the Wazir of King Dirbas seeking Uns al-Wujud.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ibrahim, Wazir to +King Shamikh, took him a body of his retainers and, accompanied by the +Minister of King Dirbas, set out seeking Uns al-Wujud. And as often as +they fell in with wild Arabs or others they asked of the youth, saying, +"Tell us have ye seen a man whose name is so and so and his semblance +thus and thus?" But they all answered, "We know him not." Still they +continued their quest, enquiring in city and hamlet and seeking in +fertile plain and stony hall and in the wild and in the wold, till they +made the Mountain of the Bereaved Mother; and the Wazir of King Dirbas +said to Ibrahim, "Why is this mountain thus called?" He answered, "Once +of old time, here sojourned a Jinniyah, of the Jinn of China, who loved +a mortal with passionate love; and, being in fear of her life from her +own people, searched all the earth over for a place, where she might +hide him from them, till she happened on this mountain and, finding it +cut off from both men and Jinn, there being no access to it, carried +off her beloved and lodged him therein. There, when she could escape +notice of her kith and kin, she used privily to visit him, and +continued so doing till she had borne him a number of children; and the +merchants, sailing by the mountain, in their voyages over the main, +heard the weeping of the children, as it were the wailing of a woman +bereft of her babes, and said, 'Is there here a mother bereaved of her +children?' For which reason the place was named the Mountain of the +Bereaved Mother." And the Wazir of King Dirbas marvelled at his words. +Then they landed and, making for the castle, knocked at the gate which +was opened to them by an eunuch, who knew the Wazir Ibrahim and kissed +his hands. The Minister entered and found in the courtyard, among the +serving- men, a Fakir, which was Uns al-Wujud, but he knew him not and +said, "Whence cometh yonder wight?" Quoth they, "He is a merchant, who +hath lost his goods, but saved himself; and he is an ecstatic."[FN#74] +So the Wazir left him and went on into the castle, where he found no +trace of his daughter and questioned her women, who answered, "We wot +not how or whither she went; this place misliked her and she tarried in +it but a short time." Whereupon he wept sore and repeated these +couplets, + + "Ho thou, the house, whose birds were singing gay, * + + + Whose sills their wealth and pride were wont display! + + + Till came the lover wailing for his love, * + + + And found thy doors wide open to the way; + + + Would Heaven I knew where is my soul that erst * + + + Was homed in house, whose owners fared away! + + + 'Twas stored with all things bright and beautiful, * + + + And showed its porters ranged in fair array: + + + They clothed it with brocades a bride become;[FN#75] * + + + Would I knew whither went its lords, ah, say!" + + + +After ending his verses he again shed tears, and groaned and bemoaned +himself, exclaiming, "There is no deliverance from the destiny decreed +by Allah; nor is there any escape from that which He hath predestined!" +Then he went up to the roof and found the strips of Ba'albak stuff tied +to the crenelles and hanging down to the ground, and thus it was he +knew that she had descended thence and had fled forth, as one +distracted and demented with desire and passion. Presently, he turned +and seeing there two birds, a gor-crow and an owl he justly deemed this +an omen of ill; so he groaned and recited these couplets, + + "I came to my dear friends' door, of my hopes the goal, * + + + Whose sight mote assuage my sorrow and woes of soul: + + + No friends found I there, nor was there another thing * + + + To find, save a corby-crow and an ill-omened owl. + + + And the tongue o' the case to me seemed to say, * + + + 'Indeed This parting two lovers fond was cruel and + + + foul! + + + So taste thou the sorrow thou madest them taste and live * + + + In grief: wend thy ways and now in thy sorrow prowl!'" + + + +Then he descended from the castle-roof, weeping, and bade the servants +fare forth and search the mount for their mistress; so they sought for +her, but found her not. Such was their case; but as regards Uns +al-Wujud, when he was certified that Rose-in-Hood was indeed gone, he +cried with a great cry and fell down in a fainting-fit, nor came to +himself for a long time, whilst the folk deemed that his spirit had +been withdrawn by the Compassionating One; and that he was absorbed in +contemplation of the splendour, majesty and beauty of the Requiting +One. Then, despairing of finding Uns al-Wujud, and seeing that the +Wazir Ibrahim was distracted for the loss of his daughter, the Minister +of King Dirbas addressed himself to return to his own country, albeit +he had not attained the object of his journey, and while bidding his +companion adieu, said to him, "I have a mind to take the Fakir with me; +it may be Allah Almighty will incline the King's heart to me by his +blessing, for that he is a holy man; and thereafter, I will send him to +Ispahan, which is near our country." "Do as thou wilt," answered +Ibrahim. So they took leave of each other and departed, each for his +own mother land, the Wazir of King Dirbas carrying with him Uns +al-Wujud,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Eightieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir of King +Dirbas carried with him Uns al-Wujud who was still insensible. They +bore him with them on mule-back (he unknowing if he were carried or +not) for three days, when he came to himself and said, "Where am I?" +"Thou art in company with the Minister of King Dirbas," replied they +and went and gave news of his recovering to the Wazir, who sent him +rose-water and sherbet of sugar, of which they gave him to drink and +restored him. Then they ceased not faring on till they drew near King +Dirbas's capital and the King, being advised of his Wazir's coming, +wrote to him, saying, "If Uns al-Wujud be not with thee, come not to me +ever." Now when the Wazir read the royal mandate, it was grievous to +him, for he knew not that Rose-in-Hood was with the King, nor why he +had been sent in quest of Uns al-Wujud, nor the King's reason for +desiring the alliance; whilst Uns al-Wujud also knew not whither they +were bearing him or that the Wazir had been sent in quest of him; nor +did the Wazir know that the Fakir he had with him was Uns al-Wujud +himself. And when the Minister saw that the sick man was whole, he said +to him, "I was despatched by the King on an errand, which I have not +been able to accomplish. So, when he heard of my return, he wrote to +me, saying, 'Except thou have fulfilled my need enter not my city.'" +"And what is the King's need?" asked Uns al-Wujud. So the Wazir told +him the whole tale, and he said, "Fear nothing, but go boldly to the +King and take me with thee; and I will be surety to thee for the coming +of Uns al-Wujud." At this the Wazir rejoiced and cried, "Is this true +which thou sayest?" "Yes," replied he; whereupon the Wazir mounted and +carried him to King Dirbas who, after receiving their salutations said +to him, "Where is Uns al-Wujud?" Answered the young man, "O King, I +know where he is." So the King called him to him and said, "Where?" +Returned Uns al-Wujud, "He is near-hand and very near; but tell me what +thou wouldst with him, and I will fetch him into thy presence." The +King replied, "With joy and good gree, but the case calleth for +privacy." So he ordered the folk to withdraw and, carrying Uns al-Wujud +into his cabinet, told him the whole story; whereupon quoth the youth, +"Robe me in rich raiment, and I will forthright bring Uns al-Wujud to +thee." So they brought him a sumptuous dress, and he donned it and +said, "I am Uns al-Wujud, the World's Delight, and to the envious a +despite"; and presently he smote with his glances every sprite, and +began these couplets to recite, + +"My loved one's name in cheerless solitude aye cheereth me * And + + + driveth off my desperance and despondency: + + +I have no helper[FN#76] but my tears that ever flow in fount, * + + + And as they flow, they lighten woe and force my grief to + + + flee. + + +My longing is so violent naught like it ere was seen; * My love- + + + tale is a marvel and my love a sight to see: + + +I spend the night with lids of eye that never close in sleep, * + + + And pass in passion twixt the Hells and Edens heavenly. + + +I had of patience fairish store, but now no more have I; * And + + + love's sole gift to me hath been aye-growing misery: + + +My frame is wasted by the pain of parting from my own, * And + + + longing changed my shape and form and made me other be. + + +Mine eyelids by my torrent tears are chafed, and ulcerate, * The + + + tears, whose flow to stay is mere impossibility. + + +My manly strength is sore impaired for I have lost my heart; * + + + How many griefs upon my griefs have I been doomed to dree! + + +My heart and head are like in age with similar hoariness * By + + + loss of Beauty's lord,[FN#77] of lords the galaxy: + + +Despite our wills they parted us and doomed us parted wone, * + + + While they (our lords) desire no more than love in unity. + + +Then ah, would Heaven that I wot if stress of parting done, * + + + The world will grant me sight of them in union fain and + + + free— + + +Roll up the scroll of severance which others would unroll— * + + + Efface my trouble by the grace of meeting's jubilee! + + +And shall I see them homed with me in cup-company, * And change + + + my melancholic mood for joy and jollity?" + + + +And when he had ended his verses the King cried aloud, "By Allah, ye +are indeed a pair of lovers true and fain and in Beauty's heaven of +shining stars a twain: your story is wondrous and your case +marvellous." Then he told him all that had befalled Rose-in- Hood; and +Uns al-Wujud said, "Where is she, O King of the age?" "She is with me +now," answered Dirbas and, sending for the Kazi and the witnesses, drew +up the contract of marriage between her and him. Then he honoured Uns +al-Wujud with favours and bounties and sent to King Shamikh acquainting +him with what had befallen, whereat this King joyed with exceeding joy +and wrote back the following purport. "Since the ceremony of contract +hath been performed at thy court, it behoveth that the marriage and its +consummation be at mine." Then he made ready camels, horses and men and +sent them in quest of the pair; and when the embassy reached King +Dirbas, he gave the lovers much treasure and despatched them to King +Shamikh's court with a company of his own troops. The day of their +arrival was a notable day, never was seen a grander; for the King +gathered together all the singing- women and players on instruments of +music and made wedding banquets and held high festival seven days; and +on each day he gave largesse to the folk and bestowed on them sumptuous +robes of honour. Then Uns al-Wujud went in to Rose-in-Hood and they +embraced and sat weeping for excess of joy and gladness, whilst she +recited these couplets, + + "Joyance is come, dispelling cark and care; * + + + We are united, enviers may despair. + + + The breeze of union blows, enquickening * + + + Forms, hearts and vitals, fresh with fragrant air: + + + The splendour of delight with scents appears, * + + + And round us[FN#78] flags and drums show gladness rare. + + + Deem not we're weeping for our stress of grief;* + + + It is for joy our tears as torrents fare: + + + How many fears we've seen that now are past! * + + + And bore we patient what was sore to bear: + + + One hour of joyance made us both forget * + + + What from excess of terror grey'd our hair." + + + +And when the verses were ended, they again embraced and ceased not from +their embrace, till they fell down in a swoon,—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Eighty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Uns al- Wujud and +Rose-in-Hood embraced when they foregathered and ceased not from their +embrace, till they fell down in a swoon for the delight of reunion; and +when they came to themselves, Uns al- Wujud recited these couplets, + + "How joyously sweet are the nights that unite, * + + + When my dearling deigns keep me the troth she did + + + plight; + + + When union conjoins us in all that we have, * + + + And parting is severed and sundered from sight, + + + To us comes the world with her favour so fair, * + + + After frown and aversion and might despight! + + + Hath planted her banner Good Fortune for us, * + + + And we drink of her cup in the purest delight. + + + We have met and complained of the pitiful Past, * + + + And of nights a full many that doomed us to blight. + + + But now, O my lady, the Past is forgot; * + + + The Compassionate pardon the Past for unright! + + + How sweet is existence, how glad is to be! * + + + This union my passion doth only incite." + + + +And when he ended his verses they once more embraced, drowned in the +sea of passion; and lay down together in the private apartment +carousing and conversing and quoting verses and telling pleasant tales +and anecdotes. On this wise seven days passed over them whilst they +knew not night from day and it was to them, for very stress of gaiety +and gladness, pleasure and possession, as if the seven days were but +one day with ne'er a morrow. Not did they know the seventh day,[FN#79] +but by the coming of the singers and players on instruments of music; +whereat Rose-in-Hood beyond measure wondered and improvised these +couplets, + + "In spite of enviers' jealousy, at end * + + + We have won all we hoped of the friend: + + + We've crowned our meeting with a close embrace * + + + On quilts where new brocades with sendal blend; + + + On bed of perfumed leather, which the spoils * + + + Of downy birds luxuriously distend. + + + But I abstain me from unneeded wine, * + + + When honey-dews of lips sweet musk can lend: + + + Now from the sweets of union we unknow * + + + Time near and far, if slow or fast it wend, + + + The seventh night hath come and gone, O strange! * + + + How went the nights we never reckt or kenned; + + + Till, on the seventh wishing joy they said, * + + + 'Allah prolong the meet of friend with friend!'" + + + +When she had finished her song, Uns al-Wujud kissed her, more than an +hundred times, and recited these couplets, + + "O day of joys to either lover fain! * + + + The loved one came and freed from lonely pain: + + + She blest me with all inner charms she hath; * + + + And companied with inner grace deep lain: + + + She made me drain the wine of love till I, * + + + Was faint with joys her love had made me drain: + + + We toyed and joyed and on each other lay; * + + + Then fell to wine and soft melodious strain: + + + And for excess of joyance never knew, * + + + How went the day and how it came again. + + + Fair fall each lover, may he union win * + + + And gain of joy like me the amplest gain; + + + Nor weet the taste of severance' bitter fruit * + + + And joys assain them as they us assain!" + + + +Then they went forth and distributed to the folk alms and presents of +money and raiment and rare gifts and other tokens of generosity; after +which Rose-in-Hood bade clear the bath for her[FN#80] and, turning to +Uns al-Wujud said to him, "O coolth of my eyes, I have a mind to see +thee in the Hammam, and therein we will be alone together." He joyfully +consented to this, and she let scent the Hammam with all sorts of +perfumed woods and essences, and light the wax-candles. Then of the +excess of her contentment she recited these couplets, + + "O who didst win my love in other date * + + + (And Present e'er must speak of past estate); + + + And, oh! who art my sole sufficiency, * + + + Nor want I other friends with me to mate: + + + Come to the Hammam, O my light of eyes, * + + + And enter Eden through Gehenna-gate! + + + We'll scent with ambergris and aloes-wood * + + + Till float the heavy clouds with fragrant freight; + + + And to the World we'll pardon all her sins * + + + And sue for mercy the Compassionate; + + + And I will cry, when I descry thee there, * + + + 'Good cheer, sweet love, all blessings on thee + + + wait!'"[FN#81] + + + +Whereupon they arose and fared to the bath and took their pleasure +therein; after which they returned to their palace and there abode in +the fulness of enjoyment, till there came to them the Destroyer of +Delights and the Sunderer of societies; and glory be to Him who +changeth not neither ceaseth, and to whom everything returneth! And +they also tell a tale of + + + + +ABU NOWAS WITH THE THREE BOYS AND THE CALIPH HARUN AL-RASHID[FN#82] + +Abu Nowas one day shut himself up and, making ready a richly-furnished +feast, collected for it meats of all kinds and of every colour that +lips and tongue can desire. Then he went forth, to seek a minion worthy +of such entertainment, saying, "Allah, my Lord and my Master, I beseech +Thee to send me one who befitteth this banquet and who is fit to +carouse with me this day!" Hardly had he made an end of speaking when +he espied three youths handsome and beardless, as they were of the boys +of Paradise,[FN#83] differing in complexion but fellows in incomparable +beauty; and all hearts yearned with desire to the swaying of their +bending shapes, even to what saith the poet, + + "I passed a beardless pair without compare * + + + And cried, 'I love you, both you ferly fir!' + + + 'Money'd?' quoth one: quoth I, 'And lavish too;' * + + + Then said the fair pair, 'Pere, c'est notre affaire.'" + + + +Now Abu Nowas was given to these joys and loved to sport and make merry +with fair boys and cull the rose from every brightly blooming check, +even as saith the bard, + + Full many a reverend Shaykh feels sting of flesh, * + + + Loves pretty faces, shows at Pleasure's depot: + + + Awakes in Mosul,[FN#84] land of purity; * + + + And all the day dreams only of Aleppo.[FN#85] + + + +So he accosted them with the salutation, and they returned his greeting +with civility and all honour and would have gone their several ways, +but he stayed them, repeating these couplets, + + "Steer ye your steps to none but me * + + + Who hath a mine of luxury:- + + + Old wine that shines with brightest blee * + + + Made by the monk in monastery; + + + And mutton-meat the toothsomest * + + + And birds of all variety. + + + Then eat of these and drink of those * + + + Old wines that bring you jollity: + + + And have each other, turn by turn, * + + + Shampooing this my tool you see."[FN#86] + + + +Thereupon the youths were beguiled by his verses and consented to his +wishes,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Three hundred and Eighty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Abu Nowas +beguiled the youths with his wishes, saying, "We hear and obey;" and +accompanied him to his lodging, where they found all ready that he had +set forth in his couplets. They sat down and ate and drank and made +merry awhile, after which they appealed to Abu Nowas to decide which of +them was handsometh of face and shapliest of form. So he pointed to one +of them and, having kissed him twice over, recited the following +verses, + + "I'll ransom that beauty-spot with my soup; * + + + Where's it and where is a money-dole?[FN#87] + + + Praise Him who hairless hath made that cheek * + + + And bid Beauty bide in that mole, that mole!" + + + +Then he pointed to another and, kissing his lips, repeated these +couplets, + + "And loveling weareth on his cheek a mole * + + + Like musk, which virgin camphor ne'er lets off it: + + + My peepers marvel such a contrast seeing; * + + + And cried the Mole to me, 'Now bless the + + + Prophet.'"[FN#88] + + + +Then he pointed to the third and, after kissing him half a score times +repeated these couplets, + + "Melted pure gold in silvern bowl to drain * + + + The youth, whose fingers wore a winey stain: + + + He with the drawers[FN#89] served one cup of wine, * + + + And served his wandering eyes the other twain. + + + A loveling, of the sons of Turks,[FN#90] a fawn * + + + Whose waist conjoins the double Mounts Honayn.[FN#91] + + + Could Eve's corrupting daughers[FN#92] tempt my heart * + + + Content with two-fold lure 'twould bear the bane. + + + Unto Diyar-I-Bakr ('maid-land '[FN#93] this one lures; * + + + That lures to two-mosqued cities of the plain."[FN#94] + + + +Now each of the youths had drunk two cups, and when it came to the turn +of Abu Nowas, he took the goblet and repeated these couplets, + +"Drink not strong wine save at the slender dearling's hand; * + + + Each like to other in all gifts the spirt grace: + + +For wine can never gladden toper's heart and soul, * + + + Unless the cup-boy show a bright and sparkling face." + + + +Then he drank off his cup and the bowl went round, and when it came to +Abu Nowas again, joyance got the mastery of him and he repeated these +couplets, + + "For cup-friends cup succeeding cup assign, * + + + Brimming with grape-juice, brought in endliess line, + + + By hand of brown-lipped[FN#95] Beauty who is sweet * + + + At wake as apple or musk finest fine.[FN#96] + + + Drink not the wine except from hand of fawn * + + + Whose cheek to kiss is sweeter than the wine." + + + +Presently the drink got into his noddle, drunkenness mastered him and +he knew not hand from head, so that he lolled from side to side in joy +and inclined to the youths one and all, anon kissing them and anon +embracing them leg overlying leg. And he showed no sense of sin or +shame, but recited these couplets, + + "None wotteth best joyance but generous youth * + + + When the pretty ones deign with him company keep: + + + This sings to him, sings to him that, when he wants * + + + A pick-me-up[FN#97] lying there all of a heap: + + + And when of a loveling he needeth a kiss, * + + + He takes from his lips or a draught or a nip; + + + Heaven bless them! How sweetly my day with them sped; * + + + A wonderful harvest of pleasure I reap: + + + Let us drink our good liquor both watered and pure, * + + + And agree to swive all who dare slumber and sleep." + + + +While they were in this deboshed state behold, there came a knocking at +the door; so they bade him who knocked enter, and behold, it was the +Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid. When they saw him, they all +rose and kissed ground before him; and Abu Nowas threw off the fumes of +the wine for awe of the Caliph, who said to him, "Holla, Abu Nowas!" He +replied, "Adsum, at thy service, O Commander of the Faithful, whom +Allah preserve!" The Caliph asked, "What state is this?" and the poet +answered, "O Prince of True Believers, my state indubitably dispenseth +with questions." Quoth the Caliph, "O Abu Nowas, I have sought +direction of Allah Almighty and have appointed thee Kazi of pimps and +panders." Asked he, "Dost thou indeed invest me with that high office, +O Commander of the Faithful?"; and the Caliph answered "I do;" +whereupon Abu Nowas rejoined, "O Commander of the Faithful, hast thou +any suit to prefer to me?" Hereat the Caliph was wroth and presently +turned away and left them, full of rage, and passed the night sore +an-angered against Abu Nowas, who amid the party he had invited spent +the merriest of nights and the jolliest and joyousest. And when +day-break dawned and the star of morn appeared in sheen and shone, he +broke up the sitting and, dismissing the youths, donned his court-dress +and leaving his house set out for the palace of the Caliph. Now it was +the custom of the Commander of the Faithful, when the Divan broke up, +to withdraw to his sitting-saloon and summon thither his poets and +cup-companions and musicians, each having his own place, which he might +not overpass. So it happened that day, he retired to his saloom, and +the friends and familiars came and seated themselves, each in his rank +and degree. Presently, in walked Abu Nowas and was about to take his +usual seat, when the Caliph cried to Masrur, the sworder, and bade him +strip the poet of his clothes and bind an ass's packsaddle on his back +and a halter about his head and a crupper under his rump and lead him +round to all the lodgings of the slave-girls, —And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Three hundred and Eighty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph +commanded Masrur, the sworder, to strip Abu Nowas of his court-suit and +bind an ass's packsaddle on his back and a halter about his head, and a +crupper under his rump and lead him round to all the lodgings of the +slave-girls, and the chambers of the Harim, that the women might make +mock of him; then cut off his head and bring it to him. "Hearkening and +obedience," replied Masrur and, doing with Abu Nowas as the Caliph had +bidden him, led him round all the chambers whose number equalled the +days of the year; but Abu Nowas was a funny fellow, so he made all the +girls laugh with his buffooneries and each gave him something whereby +he returned not save with a pocketful of money. And while this was +going on behold, Ja'afar the Barmecide, who had been absent on an +important business for the Commander of the Faithful, entered and +recognising the poet, albeit in this plight, said to him, "Holla, Abu +Nowas!" He said, "Here at thy service, O our lord." Ja'afar asked, +"What offence hast thou committed to bring this punishment on thee?" +Thereupon he answered, "None whatsoever, except that I made our lord +the Caliph a present of the best of my poetry and he presented me, in +return, with the best of his raiment." When the Prince of True +Believers head this, he laughed, from a heart full of wrath,[FN#98] and +pardoned Abu Nowas, and also gave him a myriad of money. And they also +recount the tale of + + + + +ABDALLAH BIN MA'AMAR WITH THE MAN OF BASSORAH AND HIS SLAVE-GIRL. + +A certain man of Bassorah once bought a slave-girl and reared and +educated her right well. Moreover, he loved her very dearly and spent +all his substance in pleasuring and merry-making with her, til he had +naught left and extreme poverty was sore upon him. So she said to him, +"O my master, sell me; for thou needest my price and it maketh my heart +ache to see thy sorry and want-full plight. If thou vend me and make +use of my value, 'twill be better for thee than keeping me by thee, and +haply Almighty Allah will ample thee and amend thy fortune." He agreed +to this for the straitness of his case, and carried her to the bazar, +where the broker offered her for sale to the Governor of Bassorah, by +name Abdallah bin Ma'amar al-Taymi, and she pleased him. So he bought +her, for five hundred dinars and paid the sum to her master; but when +he book the money and was about to go away, the girl burst into tears +and repeated these two couplets, + + "May coins though gainest joy in heart instil; * + + + For me remaineth naught save saddest ill: + + + I say unto my soul which sorely grieves, * + + + 'Thy friend departeth an thou will nor nill.'" + + + +And when her master heard this, he groaned and replied in these +couplets, + + "Albeit this thy case lack all resource, * + + + Nor findeth aught but death's doom, pardon still; + + + Evening and morning, thoughts of thee will dole * + + + Comfort to heart all woes and griefs full fill: + + + Peace be upon thee! Meet we now no more * + + + Nor pair except at Ibn Ma'amar's will." + + + +Now when Abdullah bin Ma'amar heard these verses and saw their +affection, he exclaimed, "By Allah, I will not assist fate in +separating you; for it is evident to me that ye two indeed love each +other. So take the money and the damsel, O man, and Allah bless thee in +both; for verily parting be grievous to lovers." So they kissed his +hand and going away, ceased not to dwell together, till death did them +part; and glory be to Him whom death over-taketh not! And amonst +stories is that of + + + + +THE LOVERS OF THE BANU[FN#99] OZRAH + +There was once, among the Banu Ozrah, a handsome and accomplished man, +who was never a single day out of love, and it chanced that he became +enamoured of a beauty of his own tribe and sent her many messages; but +she ceased not to entreat him with cruelty and disdain; till, for +stress of love and longing and desire and distraction, he fell sick of +a sore sickness and took to his pillow and murdered sleep. His malady +redoubled on him and his torments increased and he was well nigh dead +when his case became known among the folk and his passion +notorious;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the man took to +his pillow and murdered sleep. So his case became known and his passion +notorious; and his infirmity grew upon him and his pains redoubled +until he was well nigh dead. His family and hers were urgent with her +to visit him, but she refused, till he was at the point of death when, +being told of this, she relented towards him and vouchsafed him a +visit. As soon as he saw her, his eyes ran over with tears and he +repeated from a broken heart, + + "An, by thy life, pass thee my funeral train, * + + + A bier upborne upon the necks of four, + + + Wilt thou not follow it, and greet the grave * + + + Where shall my corpse be graved for evermore?" + + + +Hearing this, she wept with sore weeping and said to him, "By Allah, I +suspected not that passion had come to such a pass with thee, as to +cast thee into the arms of death! Had I wist of this, I had been +favourable to thy wish, and thou shouldst have had thy will." At this +his tears streamed down even as the clouds rail rain, and he repeated +this verse, + + "She drew near whenas death was departing us, * + + + And deigned union grant when twas useless all." + + + +Then he groaned one groan and died. So she fell on him, kissing him and +weeping and ceased not weeping until she swooned away; and when she +came to herself, she charged her people to bury her in his grave and +with streaming eyes recited these two couplets, + + "We lived on earth a life of fair content; * + + + And tribe and house and home of us were proud; + + + But Time in whirling flight departed us, * + + + To join us now in womb of earth and shroud.[FN#100]" + + + +Then she fell again to weeping, nor gave over shedding tears and +lamenting till she fainted away; and she lay three days, senseless. +Then she died and was buried in his grave. This is one of the strange +chances of love.[FN#101] And I have heard related a tale of the + + + + +WAZIR OF AL-YAMAN AND HIS YOUNG BROTHER + +It is said that Badr al-Din, Wazir of Al-Yaman, had a young brother of +singular beauty and kept strait watch over him; so he applied himself +to seek a tutor for him and, coming upon a Shaykh of dignified and +reverend aspect, chaste and religious, lodged him in a house next his +own. This lasted a long time, and he used to come daily from his +dwelling to that of Sαhib[FN#102] Badr al-Din and teach the young +brother. After a while, the old man's heart was taken with love for the +youth, and longing grew upon him and his vitals were troubled, till one +day, he bemoaned his case to the boy, who said, "What can I do, seeing +that I may not leave my brother night or day? and thou thyself seest +how careful he is over me." Quoth the Shaykh, "My lodging adjoineth +thine; so there will be no difficulty, when thy brother sleepeth, to +rise and, entering the privy, feign thyself asleep. Then come to the +parapet[FN#103] of the terrace-roof and I will receive thee on the +other side of the wall; so shalt thou sit with me an eye-twinkling and +return without thy brother's knowledge." "I hear and obey," answered +the lad; and the tutor began to prepare gifts suitable to his degree. +Now when a while of the night was past, he entered the water-closet and +waited until his brother lay down on his bed and took patience till he +was drowned in sleep, when he rose and going to the parapet of the +terrace-roof, found standing there to await him the old man, who gave +him his hand and carried him to the sitting-chamber, where he had made +ready various dainties for his entertainment, and they sat down to +carouse. Now it was the night of the full moon and, as they sat with +the wine-cup going round, her rays shone upon them, and the governor +fell to singing. But, whilst they were thus in joy and jollity and +mirth and merriment, such as confoundeth the wit and the sight and +defieth description, lo! the Wazir awoke and, missing his brother, +arose in affright and found the door open. So he went up to the roof +and hearing a noise of talk, climbed over the parapet to the adjoining +terrace and saw a light shining from the lodging. He looked in from +behind the wall, and espied his brother and his tutor sitting at +carouse; but the Shaykh became aware of him and sang cup in hand, to a +lively measure these couplets, + + "He made me drain his wine of honeyed lips, * + + + Toasting with cheeks which rose and myrtle smother: + + + Then nighted in embrace, cheek to my cheek, * + + + A loveling midst mankind without another. + + + When the full moon arose on us and shone * + + + Pray she traduce us not to the big brother." + + + +And it proved the perfect politeness of the Wazir Badr al-Din that, +when he heard this, he said, "By Allah, I will not betray you!" And he +went away and left them to their diversions. They also tell a tale +concerning + + + + +THE LOVES OF THE BOY AND GIRL AT SCHOOL + +A free boy and a slave-girl once learnt together in school, and the boy +fell passionately in love with the girl.—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Eighty-Fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the lad fell +passionately in love with the slave-lass: so one day, when the other +boys were heedless, he took her tablet[FN#104] and wrote on it these +two couplets, + + "What sayest thou of him by sickness waste, * + + + Until he's clean distraught for love of thee? + + + Who in the transport of his pain complains, * + + + Nor can bear load of heart in secrecy?" + + + +Now when the girl took her tablet, she read the verses written thereon +and understanding them, wept for ruth of him; then she wrote thereunder +these two couplets, + + "An if we behold a lover love-fordone * + + + Desiring us, our favours he shall see: + + + Yea, what he wills of us he shall obtain, * + + + And so befal us what befalling be." + + + +Now it chanced that the teacher came in on them and taking the tablet, +unnoticed, read what was written thereon. So he was moved to pity of +their case and wrote on the tablet beneath those already written these +two couplets addressed to the girl, + + "Console thy lover, fear no consequence; * + + + He is daft with loving lowe's insanity; + + + But for the teacher fear not aught from him; * + + + Love-pain he learned long before learnt ye." + + + +Presently it so happened that the girl's owner entered the school about +the same time and, finding the tablet, read the above verses indited by +the boy, the girl and the schoolmaster; and wrote under them these two +couplets, + + "May Allah never make you parting dree * + + + And be your censurer shamed wearily! + + + But for the teacher ne'er, by Allah, eye * + + + Of mine beheld a bigger pimp than he!" + + + +Then he sent for the Kazi and witnesses and married them on the spot. +Moreover, he made them a wedding-feast and treated them with exceeding +munificence; and they ceased not abiding together in joy and happiness, +till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and the Severer of +societies. And equally pleasant is the story of + + + + +AL-MUTALAMMIS AND HIS WIFE UMAYMAH + +It is related Al-Mutalammis[FN#105] once fled from Al-Nu'uman bin +Munzir[FN#106] and was absent so long that folk deemed him dead. Now he +had a beautiful wife, Umaymah by name, and her family urged her to +marry again; but she refused, for that she loved her husband +Al-Mutalammis very dearly. However, they were urgent with her, because +of the multitude of her suitors, and importuned with her till at last +she consented, albe reluctantly; and they espoused her to a man of her +own tribe. Now on the night of the wedding, Al-Mutalammis came back +and, hearing in the camp a noise of pipes and tabrets and seeing signs +of a wedding festival, asked some of the children what was the +merry-making, to which they replied, "They have married Umaymah wife of +Al-Mutalammis, to such an one, and he goes in to her this night." When +he heard this, he planned to enter the house amongst the mob of women +and saw the twain seated on the bridal couch.[FN#107] By and by, the +bridegroom came up to her, whereupon she sighed heavily and weeping, +recited this couplet, + +"Would Heaven I knew (but many are the shifts of joy and woe) * + + + In what far distant land thou art, my Mutalammis, oh!" + + + +Now Al-Mutalammis was a renowned poet; so he answered her saying; + +"Right near at hand, Umaymah mine! when'er the caravan * + + + Halted, I never ceased for thee to pine, I would thou know." + + + +When the bridegroom heard this, he guess how the case stood and went +forth from them in hast improvising, + +"I was in bestest luck, but now my luck goes contrary: * + + + A hospitable house and room contain your loves, you two!" + + + +And he returned not but left the twain to their privacy. So Al- +Mutalammis and his wife abode together in all comfort and solace of +life and in all its joys and jollities till death parted them. And +glory be to Him at whose command the earth and the heavens shall arise! +And among other tales is that of + + + + +THE CALIPH HARUM AL-RASHID AND QUEEN ZUBAYDAH IN THE BATH + +The Caliph Harun al-Rashid loved the Lady Zubaydah with exceeding love +and laid out for her a pleasaunce, wherein he made a great tank and set +thereabouts a screen of trees and led thither water from all sides; +hence the trees grew and interlaced over the basin so densely, that one +could go in and wash, without being seen of any, for the thickness of +the leafage. It chanced, one day, that Queen Zubaydah entered the +garden and, coming to the swimming-bath,—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night + +She said, It hath reached me, "O auspicious King, that Queen Zubaydah +entered the garden one day and, coming to the swimming- bath, gazed +upon its goodliness; and the sheen of the water and the overshading of +the trees pleased her. Now it was a day of exceeding heat; so she +doffed her clothes and, entering the tank, which was not deep enough to +cover the whole person, fell to pouring the water over herself from an +ewer of silver. It also happened that the Caliph heard she was in the +pool; so he left his palace and came down to spy upon her through the +screen of the foliage. He stood behind the trees and espied her mother- +nude, showing everything that is kept hidden. Presently, she became +aware of him and turning, saw him behind the trees and was ashamed that +he should see her naked. So she laid her hands on her parts, but the +Mount of Venus escaped from between them, by reason of its greatness +and plumpness; and the Caliph at once turned and went away, wondering +and reciting this couplet, + + "I looked on her with loving eyne * + + + And grew anew my old repine:" + + + +But he knew not what to say next; so he sent for Abu Nowas and said to +him, "Make me a piece of verse commencing with this line." "I hear and +obey," replied the poet and in an eye- twinkling extemporised these +couplets, + + "I looked on her with longing eyne * + + + And grew anew my old repine + + + For the gazelle, who captured me * + + + Where the two lotus-trees incline: + + + There was the water poured on it * + + + From ewer of the silvern mine; + + + And seen me she had hidden it * + + + But twas too plump for fingers fine. + + + Would Heaven that I were on it, * + + + An hour, or better two hours, li'en."[FN#108] + + + +Thereupon the Commander of the Faithful smiled and made him a handsome +present and he went away rejoicing. And I have heard another story of + + + + +HARUN AL-RASHID AND THE THREE POETS + +The Prince of True Believers, Caliph Harun al-Rashid, was exceeding +restless one night; so he rose and walked about his palace, till he +happened upon a handmaid overcome with wine. Now he was prodigiously +enamoured of this damsel; so he played with her and pulled her to him, +whereupon her zone fell down and her petticoat-trousers were loosed and +he besought her of amorous favour. But she said to him, "O Commander of +the Faithful wait till to-morrow night, for I am unprepared for thee, +knowing not of thy coming." So he left her and went away. But, when the +morrow showed its light and the sun shone bright, he sent a page to her +saying, "The Commander of the Faithful is about to visit thine +apartment;" but she replied, "Day doth away with the promise of night." +So he said to his courtiers, "Make me somewhat of verse, introducing +these words, The Promise of Night is effaced by Day.'" Answered they, +"We hear and obey," and Al- Rakαshi[FN#109] came forward and recited +the following couplets, + + "By Allah, couldst thou but feel my pain, * + + + Thy rest had turned and had fled away. + + + Hath left me in sorrow and love distraught, * + + + Unseen and unseeing, that fairest may: + + + She promised me grace, then jilted and said, * + + + The promise of night is effaced by day!'" + + + +Then Abu Mus'ab came forward and recited these couplets, + + "When wilt thou be wise and love-heat allay * + + + That from food and sleeping so leads astray? + + + Suffices thee not ever weeping eye, * + + + And vitals on fire when thy name they say? + + + He must smile and laugh and in pride must cry * + + + The promise of Night is effaced by Day.'" + + + +Last came Abu Nowas and recited the following couplets, + + "As love waxt longer less met we tway * + + + And fell out, but ended the useless fray; + + + One night in the palace I found her fou'; * + + + Yet of modesty still there was some display: + + + The veil from her shoulders had slipt; and showed * + + + Her loosened trousers Love's seat and stay: + + + And rattled the breezes her huge hind cheeks * + + + And the branch where two little pomegranates lay: + + + Quoth I, Give me tryst;' whereto quoth she * + + + To-morrow the fane shall wear best array:' + + + Next day I asked her, Thy word?' Said she * + + + The promise of Night is effaced by Day.'" + + + +The Caliph bade give a myriad of money each to Al-Rakashi and Abu +Mus'ab, but bade strike off the head of Abu Nowas, saying, "Thou wast +with us yesternight in the palace." Said he, "By Allah, I slept not but +in my own house! I was directed to what I said by thine own words as to +the subject of the verse; and indeed quoth Almighty Allah (and He is +the truest of all speakers): As for poets (devils pursue them!) dost +thou not see that they rove as bereft of their senses through every +valley and that they say that which they do not?'"[FN#110] So the +Caliph forgave him and gave him two myriads of money. And another tale +is that of + + + + +MUS'AB BIN AL-ZUBAYR AND AYISHAH HIS WIFE + +It is told of Mus'ab bin al-Zubayr[FN#111] that he met in Al- Medinah +Izzah, who was one of the shrewdest of women, and said to her, "I have +a mind to marry Ayishah[FN#112] daughter of Talhah, and I should like +thee to go herwards and spy out for me how she is made." So she went +away and returning to Mus'ab, said, "I have seen her, and her face is +fairer than health; she hath large and well-opened eyes and under them +a nose straight and smooth as a cane; oval cheeks and a mouth like a +cleft pomegranate, a neck as a silver ewer and below it a bosom with +two breasts like twin- pomegranates and further down a slim waist and a +slender stomach with a navel therein as it were a casket of ivory, and +back parts like a hummock of sand; and plumply rounded thighs and +calves like columns of alabaster; but I saw her feet to be large, and +thou wilt fall short with her in time of need." Upon this report he +married her,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Eighty-seventh Day + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Izzah this +wise reported of Ayishah bint Talhah, Mus'ab married her and went in to +her. And presently Izzah invited Ayishah and the women of the tribe +Kuraysh to her house, when Ayishah sang these two couplets with Mus'ab +standing by, + + "And the lips of girls, that are perfume sweet; * + + + So nice to kiss when with smiles they greet: + + + Yet ne'er tasted I them, but in thought of him; * + + + And by thought the Ruler rules worldly seat." + + + +The night of Mus'ab's going in unto her, he departed not from her, till +after seven bouts; and on the morrow, a freewoman of his met him and +said to him, "May I be thy sacrifice! Thou art perfect, even in this." +And a certain woman said, "I was with Ayishah, when her husband came in +to her, and she lusted for him; so he fell upon her and she snarked and +snorted and made use of all wonder of movements and marvellous new +inventions, and I the while within hearing. So, when he came out from +her, I said to her, How canst thou do thus with thy rank and nobility +and condition, and I in thy house?' Quoth she, Verily a woman should +bring her husband all of which she is mistress, by way of excitement +and rare buckings and wrigglings and motitations.[FN#113] What +dislikest thou of this?' And I answered I would have this by nights.' +Rejoined she, Thus is it by day and by night I do more than this; for +when he seeth me, desire stirreth him up and he falleth in heat; so he +putteth it out to me and I obey him, and it is as thou seest.'" And +there also hath reached me an account of + + + + +ABU AL-ASWAD AND HIS SLAVE-GIRL + +Abu al-Aswad bought a native-born slave-girl, who was blind of an eye, +and she pleased him; but his people decried her to him; whereat he +wondered and, turning the palms of his hands upwards,[FN#114] recited +these two couplets, + + "They find me fault with her where I default ne'er find, * + + + Save haply that a speck in either eye may show: + + + But if her eyes have fault, of fault her form hath none, * + + + Slim-built above the waist and heavily made below." + + + +And this is also told of + + + + +HARUN AL-RASHID AND THE TWO SLAVE-GIRLS + +The Caliph Harun al-Rashid lay one night between two slave-girls, one +from Al-Medinah and the other from Cufa and the Cufite rubbed his +hands, whilst the Medinite rubbed his feet and made his concern[FN#115] +stand up. Quoth the Cufite, "I see thou wouldst keep the whole of the +stock-in-trade to thyself; give me my share of it." And the other +answered, "I have been told by Mαlik, on the authority of Hishαm ibn +Orwah,[FN#116] who had it of his (grand) father, that the Prophet said, +Whoso quickeneth the dead, the dead belongeth to him and is his.' But +the Cufite took her unawares and, pushing her away, seized it all in +her own hand and said, "Al-A'amash telleth us, on the authority of +Khaysamah, who had it of Abdallah bin Mas'ud, that the Prophet +declared, Game belongeth to him who taketh it, not to him who raiseth +it.'" And this is also related of + + + + +THE CALIPH HARUN AL-RASHID AND THE THREE SLAVE-GIRLS + +The Caliph Harun al-Rashid once slept with three slave-girls, a Meccan, +a Medinite and an Irakite. The Medinah girl put her hand to his yard +and handled it, whereupon it rose and the Meccan sprang up and drew it +to herself. Quoth the other, "What is this unjust aggression? A +tradition was related to me by Mαlik[FN#117] after Al-Zuhri, after +Abdallah ibn Sαlim, after Sa'νd bin Zayd, that the Apostle of Allah +(whom Allah bless and keep!) said: Whoso enquickeneth a dead land, it +is his.' And the Meccan answered, "It is related to us by Sufyαn, from +Abu Zanαd, from Al-A'araj, from Abu Horayrah, that the Apostle of Allah +said: The quarry is his who catcheth it, not his who starteth it.'" But +the Irak girl pushed them both away and taking it to herself, said, +"This is mine, till your contention be decided." And they tell a tale +of + + + + +THE MILLER AND HIS WIFE + +There was a miller, who had an ass to turn his mill; and he was married +to a wicked wife, whom he loved, while she hated him because she was +sweet upon a neighbour, who misliked her and held aloof from her. One +night, the miller saw, in his sleep, one who said to him, "Dig in such +a spot of the ass's round in the mill, and thou shalt find a hoard." +When he awoke, he told his wife the vision and bade her keep the +secret; but she told her neighbour,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three hundred and Eighty-eighth Night + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the miller's wife +told the secret to the neighbour whom she loved, thinking to win his +favour; and he agreed with her to come to her by night. So he came and +they dug in the mill and found the treasure and took it forth. Then he +asked her, "How shall we do with this?" and she answered; "We will +divide it into two halves and will share it equally between us, and do +thou leave thy wife and I will cast about to rid me of my husband. Then +shalt thou marry me and, when we are conjoined, we will join the two +halves of the treasure one to other, and all will be in our hands." +Quoth he, "I fear lest Satan seduce thee and thou take some other man +other than myself; for gold in the house is like the sun in the world. +I reck, therefore, it were right that the money be all in my hands, so +thou give thy whole mind to getting free of thy husband and coming to +me." Quoth she, "I fear even as thou fearest, nor will I yield up my +part to thee; for it was I directed thee to it." When he heard this, +greed of gain prompted him to kill her; so he slew her and threw her +body into the empty hoard-hole; but day overtook him and hindered him +from covering it up; he therefore took the money and went his way. Now +after a while the miller awoke and, missing his wife, went into the +mill, where he fastened the ass to the beam and shouted to it. It went +on a little, then stopped; whereupon he beat it grievously; but the +more he bashed it, the more it drew back; for it was affrighted at the +dead woman and could not go forward. Thereupon the Miller, unknowing +what hindered the donkey, took out a knife and goaded it again and +again, but still it would not budge. Then he was wroth with it, knowing +not the cause of its obstinacy, and drove the knife into its flanks, +and it fell down dead. But when the sun rose, he saw his donkey lying +dead and likewise his wife in the place of the treasure, and great was +his rage and sore his wrath for the loss of his hoard and the death of +his wife and his ass. All this came of his letting his wife into his +secret and not keeping it to himself.[FN#118] And I have heard this +tale of + + + + +THE SIMPLETON AND THE SHARPER + +A certain simpleton was once walking along, haling his ass after him by +the halter, when a pair of sharpers saw him and one said to his fellow, +"I will take that ass from yonder wight." Asked the other, "How wilt +thou do that?" "Follow me and I will show thee how," answered the +first. So the cony-catcher went up to the ass and, loosing it from the +halter, gave the beast to his fellow; then he haltered his own head and +followed Tom Fool till he knew the other had got clean off with the +ass, when he stood still. The oaf haled at the halter, but the rascal +stirred not; so he turned and seeing the halter on a man's neck, said +to him, "What art thou?" Quoth the sharper, "I am thine ass and my +story is a wonderous one and tis this. Know that I have a pious old +mother and come in to her one day, drunk; and she said to me: O my son, +repent to the Almighty of these thy transgressions.' But I took my +staff and beat her, whereupon she cursed me and Allah changed me into +an ass and caused me fall into thy hands, where I have remained till +this moment. However, to-day, my mother called me to mind and her heart +yearned towards me; so she prayed for me and the Lord restored me to my +former shape amongst the sons of Adam." Cried the silly one, "There is +no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the +Great! Allah upon thee, O my brother, acquit me of what I have done +with thee in the way of riding and so forth." Then he let the +cony-catcher go and returned home, drunken with chagrin and concern as +with wine. His wife asked him, "What aileth thee and where is the +donkey?"; and he answered, "Thou knowest not what was this ass; but I +will tell thee." So he told her the story, and she exclaimed, "Alack +and alas for the punishment we shall receive from Almighty Allah! How +could we have used a man as a beast of burden, all this while? And she +gave alms by way of atonement and prayed pardon of Heaven.[FN#119] Then +the man abode awhile at home, idle and feckless, till she said to him, +"How long wilt thou sit at home doing naught? Go to the market and buy +us an ass and ply thy work with it." Accordingly, he went to the market +and stopped by the ass-stand, where behold, he saw his own ass for +sale. So he went up to it and clapping his mouth to its ear, said to +it, "Woe to thee, thou ne'er-do-well! Doubtless thou hast been getting +drunk again and beating thy mother! But, by Allah, I will never buy +thee more."[FN#120] and he left it and went away. And they tell a tale +concerning + + + + +THE KAZI ABU YUSUF WITH HARUN AL-RASHID AND QUEEN ZUBAYDAH + +The Caliph Harun al-Rashid went up one noon-tide to his couch, to lie +down; and mounting, found upon the bed-clothes semen freshly emitted; +whereat he was startled and troubled with sore trouble. So he called +the Lady Zubaydah and said to her, "What is that spilt on the bed?" She +looked at it and replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, it is semen." +Quoth he, "Tell me truly what this meaneth or I will lay violent hands +on thee forthright." Quoth she, "By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, +indeed I know not how it came there and I am guiltless of that whereof +you suspectest me." So he sent for the Kazi Abϊ Yϊsuf and acquainted +him of the case. The Judge raised his eyes to the ceiling and, seeing a +crack therein, said to the Caliph, "O Commander of the Faithful, in +very sooth the bat hath seed like that of a man,[FN#121] and this is +bat's semen." Then he called for a spear and thrust it into the +crevice, whereupon down fell the bat. In this manner the Caliph's +suspicions were dispelled,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Three hundred and Eighty-ninth Night + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Kazi Abu +Yusuf took the spear and thrust it into the crevice, down fell the bat, +and thus the Caliph's suspicions were dispelled and the innocence of +Zubaydah was made manifest; whereat she gave loud and liberal vent to +her joy and promised Abu Yusuf a magnificent reward. Now there were +with her certain delicious fruits, out of their season, and she knew of +others in the garden; so she asked Abu Yusuf, "O Imam of the Faith, +which wouldst thou rather have of the two kinds of fruits, those that +are here or those that are not here?" And he answered, "Our code +forbiddeth us to pronounce judgement on the absent; whenas they are +present, we will give our decision." So she let bring the two kinds of +fruits before him; and he ate of both. Quoth she, "What is the +difference between them?" and quoth he, "As often as I think to praise +one kind, the adversary putteth in its claim." The Caliph laughed at +his answer[FN#122] and made him a rich present; and Zubaydah also gave +him what she had promised him, and he went away, rejoicing. See, then +the virtues of this Imαm and how his hands were manifest the truth and +the innocence of the Lady Zubaydah. And amongst other stories is that +of + + + + +THE CALIPH AL-HAKIM[FN#123] AND THE MERCHANT + +The Caliph Al-Hαkim bi-Amri'llah was riding out in state procession one +day, when he passed along a garden, wherein he saw a man, surrounded by +negro-slaves and eunuchs. He asked him for a draught of water, and the +man gave him to drink, saying, "Belike, the Commander of the Faithful +will honour me by alighting in this my garden." So the Caliph +dismounted and with his suite entered the garden; whereupon the said +man brought out to them an hundred rugs and an hundred leather mats and +an hundred cushions; and set before them an hundred dishes of fruits, +an hundred bowls of sweetmeats and an hundred jars of sugared sherbets; +at which the Caliph marvelled with much amaze and said to his host, "O +man, verily this thy case is wondrous: didst thou know of our coming +and make this preparation for us?" He replied, "No by Allah, O +Commander of the Faithful, I knew not of thy coming and I am a merchant +of the rest of thy subjects; but I have an hundred concubines; so, when +the Commander of the Faithful honoured me by alighting with me, I sent +to each of them, bidding her send me her morning-meal in the garden. So +they sent me each of her furniture and the surplus of her meat and +drink: and every day each sendeth me a dish of meat and another of +cooling marinades, also a platter of fruits and a bowl of sweetmeats +and a jar of sherbet. This is my noon-day dinner, nor have I added +aught thereto for thee." Then the Commander of the Faithful, Al-Hakim +bi-Amri'llah prostrated himself in thanksgiving to the Almighty +(extolled and exalted be His name!) and said, "Praise be Allah, who +hath been so bountiful to one of our lieges, that he entertaineth the +Caliph and his host, without making ready for them; nay, he feedeth +them with the surplusage of his day's provision!" Then he sent for all +the dirhams in the treasury, that had been struck that year (and they +were in number three thousand and seven hundred thousand); nor did he +mount until the money came, when he gave it to the merchant, saying, +"Use this as thy state may require; and thy generosity deserveth more +than this." Then he took horse and rode away. And I have heard a story +concerning + + + + +KING KISRA ANUSHIRWAN[FN#124] AND THE VILLAGE DAMSEL + +The Just King, Kisrα Anϊshirwαn, one day rode forth to the chase and, +in pursuit of a deer, became separated from his suite. Presently, he +caught sight of a hamlet near hand and being sore athirst, he made for +it and presenting himself at the door of a house that lay by the +wayside, asked for a draught of water. So a damsel came out and looked +at him; then, going back into the house, pressed the juice from a +single sugar-cane into a bowl and mixed it with water; after which she +strewed on the top some scented stuff, as it were dust, and carried it +tot he King. Thereupon he seeing in it what resembled dust, drank it, +little by little, till he came to the end; when said he to her, "O +damsel, the drink is good, and how sweet it had been but for this dust +in it that troubleth it." Answered she, "O guest, I put in that powder +for a purpose;" and he asked, "And why didst thou thus?"; so she +replied, "I saw thee exceedingly thirsty and feared that thou wouldst +drain the whole at one draught and that this would thee mischief; and +but for this dust that troubled the drink so hadst thou done." The Just +King wondered at her words, knowing that they came of her wit and good +sense, and said to her, "From how many sugar canes didst thou express +this draught?" "One," answered she; whereat Anushirwan marvelled and, +calling for the register of the village taxes, saw that its assessment +was but little and bethought him to increase it, on his return to his +palace, saying in himself, "A village where they get this much juice +out of one sugar-cane, why is it so lightly taxed?" He then left the +village and pursued his chase; and, as he came back at the end of the +day, he passed alone by the same door and called again for drink; +whereupon the same damsel came out and, knowing him at a look, went in +to fetch him water. It was some time before she returned and Anushirwan +wondered thereat and said to her, "Why hast thou tarried?"—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Three hundred and Ninetieth Night + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Anushirwan +hurried the damsel and asked her, "Why hast thou tarried?" she +answered, "Because a single sugar-cane gave not enough for thy need; so +I pressed three; but they yielded not to much as one did before." +Rejoined he, "What is the cause of that?"; and she replied, "The cause +of it is that when the Sultan's[FN#125] mind is changed against a folk, +their prosperity ceaseth and their good waxeth less." So Anushirwan +laughed and dismissed from his mind that which he had purposed against +the villagers. Moreover, he took the damsel to wife then and there, +being pleased with her much wit and acuteness and the excellence of her +speech. And they tell another tale of the + + + + +WATER-CARRIER[FN#126] AND THE GOLDSMITH'S WIFE + +There was once, in the city of Bokhara, a water-carrier, who used to +carry water to the house of a goldsmith and had done this thirty years. +Now that goldsmith had a wife of exceeding beauty and loveliness, +brilliancy and perfect grace; and she was withal renowned for piety, +chastity and modesty. One day the water- carrier came, as of custom, +and poured the water into the cisterns. Now the woman was standing in +the midst of the court; so he went close up to her and taking her hand, +stroked it and pressed it, then went away and left her. When her +husband came home from the bazar, she said to him, "I would have thee +tell me what thing thou hast done in the market this day, to anger +Almighty Allah." Quoth he, "I have done nothing to offend the Lord." +"Nay," rejoined she, "but, by Allah, thou hast indeed done something to +anger Him; and unless thou tell me the whole truth, I will not abide in +thy house, and thou shalt not see me, nor will I see thee." So he +confessed, "I will tell thee the truth of what I did this day. It so +chanced that, as I was sitting in my shop, as of wont, a woman came up +to me and bade me make her a bracelet of gold. Then she went away and I +wrought her a bracelet and laid it aside. But when she returned and I +brought her out the bracelet, she put forth her hand and I clasped the +bracelet on her wrist; and I wondered at the whiteness of her hand and +the beauty of her wrist, which would captivate any beholder; and I +recalled what the poet saith, + + Her fore-arms, dight with their bangles, show * + + + Like fire ablaze on the waves a-flow; + + + As by purest gold were the water girt, * + + + And belted around by a living lowe.' + + + +So I took her hand and pressed it and squeezed it." Said the woman, +"Great God! Why didst thou this ill thing? Know that the water-carrier, +who hath come to our house these thirty years, nor sawst thou ever any +treason in him took my hand this day and pressed and squeezed it." Said +her husband, "O woman, let us crave pardon of Allah! Verily, I repent +of what I did, and do thou ask forgiveness of the Lord for me." She +cried, "Allah pardon me and thee, and receive us into his holy +keeping."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Three hundred and Ninety-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the goldsmith's +wife cried out, "Allah pardon me and thee, and receive us into his holy +keeping!" And on the next day, the water-carrier came in to the +jeweller's wife and, throwing himself at her feet, grovelled in the +dust and besought pardon of her, saying, "O my lady, acquit me of that +which Satan deluded me to do; for it was he that seduced me and led me +astray." She answered, "Go thy ways, the sin was not in thee, but in my +husband, for that he did what he did in his shop, and Allah hath +retaliated upon him in this world." And it related that the goldsmith, +when his wife told him how the water-carrier had used her, said, "Tit +for tat, and blow for blow!; had I done more the water-carrier had done +more";—which became a current byword among the folk. Therefore it +behoveth a wife to be both outward and inward with her husband; +contenting herself with little from him, if he cannot give her much, +and taking pattern by Ayishah the Truthful and Fatimah the virgin +mother (Allah Almighty accept of them the twain!), that she may be of +the company of the righteous ancestry.[FN#127] And I have heard the +following tale of + + + + +KHUSRAU AND SHIRIN AND THE FISHERMAN + +King Khusrau[FN#128] Shahinshah of Persia loved fish; and one day, as +he sat in his saloon, he and Shirin his wife, there came a fisherman, +with a great fish, and he laid it before the King, who was pleased and +ordered the man four thousand dirhams.[FN#129] Thereupon Shirin said to +the King, "Thou hast done ill." Asked he, "And why?", and she answered, +"Because if, after this, though give one of thy courtiers a like sum, +he will disdain it and say, He hath but given me the like of what he +gave the fisherman.' And if thou give him less, the same will say, He +despiseth me and giveth me less than he gave the fisherman.'" Rejoined +Khusrau, "Thou art right, but it would dishonour a king to go back on +his gift; and the thing is done." Quoth Shirin, "If thou wilt, I will +contrive thee a means to get it back from him." Quoth he, "How so?"; +and she said, "Call back, if thou so please, the fisherman and ask him +if the fish be male or female. If he say, Male,' say thou, We want a +female,' and if he say, Female,' say, We want a male.'" So the King +sent for the fisherman, who was a man of wit and astuteness, and said +to him, "Is this fish male or female?" whereupon the fisherman kissed +the ground and answered, "This fish is an hermaphrodite,[FN#130] +neither male nor female." Khusrau laughed at his clever reply and +ordered him other four thousand dirhams. So the fisherman went to the +treasurer and, taking his eight thousand dirhams, put them in a sack he +had with him. Then, throwing it over his shoulder, he was going away, +when he dropped a dirham; so he laid the bag off his back and stooped +down to pick it up. Now the King and Shirin were looking on, and the +Queen said, "O King, didst thou note the meanness of the man, in that +he must needs stoop down to pick up the one dirham, and could not bring +himself to leave it for any of the King's servants?" When the King +heard these words, he was exceeding wroth with the fisherman and said, +"Thou art right, O Shirin!" So he called the man back and said to him, +"Thou low-minded carle! Thou art no man! How couldst thou put the bag +with all this money off thy back and bend thee groundwards to pick up +the one dirham and grudge to leave it where it fell?" Thereupon the +fisherman kissed the earth before him and answered, "May Allah prolong +the King's life! Indeed, I did not pick up the dirham off the ground +because of its value in my eyes; but I raised it off the earth because +on one of its faces is the likeness of the King and on the other his +name; and I feared lest any should unwittingly set foot upon it, thus +dishonouring the name and presentment of the King, and I be blamed for +this offence." The King wondered at his words and approved of his wit +and shrewdness, and ordered him yet another four thousand dirhams. +Moreover, he bade cry abroad in his kingdom, saying, "It behoveth none +to be guided by women's counsel; for whoso followeth their advice, +loseth, with his one dirham, other twain."[FN#131] And here is the tale +they tell of + + + + +YAHYA BIN KHALID THE BARMECIDE AND THE POOR MAN + +Yahya bin Khαlid the Barmecide was returning home, one day, from the +Caliph's palace, when he saw, at the gate of his mansion, a man who +rose as he drew near and saluted him, saying, "O Yahya, I am in sore +need of that which is in they hand, and I make Allah my intermediary +with thee." So Yahya caused a place to be set aside for him in his +house and bade his treasurer carry him a thousand dirhams every day and +ordered that his diet be of the choicest of his own meat. The man abode +in this case a whole month, at the end of which time, having received +in all thirty thousand dirhams and fearing lest Yahya should take the +money from him, because of the greatness of the sum, he departed by +stealth.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Ninety-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the man, taking +with him the money, departed by stealth. But when they told Yahya of +this, he said, "By Allah, though he had tarried with me to the end of +his days, yet had I not stinted him of my largesse nor cut off from him +the bounties of my hospitality!" For, indeed, the excellences of the +Barmecides were past count nor can their virtues be committed to +description, especially those of Yahya bin Khalid, for he was an +ocean[FN#132] of noble qualities, even as saith the poet of him, + + "I asked of Bounty, Art thou free?' Quoth she, * + + + No, I am slave to Yahyα Khαlid-son!' + + + Boughten?' asked I. Allah forfend,' quoth she, * + + + By heirship, sire to sire's transmission!'" + + + +And the following is related of + + + + +MOHAMMED AL-AMIN AND THE SLAVE-GIRL + +Ja'afar bin Musα al-Hαdi[FN#133] once had a slave-girl, a lutist, +called Al-Badr al-Kabνr, than whom there was not in her time a fairer +of face nor shapelier of shape nor a more elegant of manners nor a more +accomplished in the art of singing and striking the strings; she was +indeed perfect in beauty and extreme in every charm. Now Mohammed +al-Amνn,[FN#134] son of Zubaydah, heard of her and was urgent with +Ja'afar to sell her to him; but he replied, "Thou knowest it beseemeth +not one of my rank to sell slave-girls nor set prices on concubines; +but were she not a rearling I would send her to thee, as a gift, not +grudge her to thee." And Mohammed al-Amin, some days after this went to +Ja'afar's house, to make merry; and the host set before him that which +it behoveth to set before true friends and bade the damsel Al-Badr +al-Kabir sing to him and gladden him. So she tuned the lute and sang +with a ravishing melody; whilst Mohammed al-Amin fell to drinking and +jollity and bade the cupbearers ply Ja'afar with much wine, till they +made him drunken, when he took the damsel and carried her to his own +house, but laid not a finger on her. And when the morrow dawned he bade +invite Ja'afar; and when he came, he set wine before him and made the +girl sing to him, from behind the curtain. Ja'afar knew her voice and +was angered at this, but, of the nobleness of his nature and the +magnanimity of his mind he showed no change. Now when the carousal was +at an end, Al-Amin commanded one of his servants to fill the boat, +wherein Ja'afar had come, with dirhams and dinars and all manner of +jewels and jacinths and rich raiment and goods galore. So he laid +therein a thousand myriads of money and a thousand fine pearls, each +worth twenty thousand dirhams; nor did he give over loading the barge +with all manner of things precious and rare, till the boatmen cried out +for help, saying, "The boat can't hold any more;" whereupon he bade +them carry all this to Ja'afar's palace. Such are the exploits of the +magnanimous, Allah have mercy on them! And a tale is related of + + + + +THE SONS OF YAHYA BIN KHALID AND SA'ID BIN SALIM AL-BAHILI + +Quoth Sa'νd bin Sαlim al'Bαhilν,[FN#135] I was once in very narrow +case, during the days of Harun al-Rashid, and debts accumulated upon +me, burdening my back, and these I had no means of discharging. I was +at my wits' end what to do, for my doors were blocking up with +creditors and I was without cease importuned for payment by claimants, +who dunned me in crowds till at last I was sore perplexed and troubled. +So I betook myself to Abdallah bin Mαlik al-Khuza'ν[FN#136] and +besought him to extend the hand of aid with his judgement and direct me +of his good counsel to the door of relief; and he said, None can save +thee from this thy strait and sorrowful state save the Barmecides.' +Quoth I, Who can brook their pride and put up patiently with their +arrogant pretensions?' and quoth he, Thou wilt put up with all this for +the bettering of thy case.'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Ninety-third Night + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abdallah ibn +Malik al-Khuza'i said to Sa'id bin Salim, "Thou wilt put up with all +this for the bettering of thy case." "So I left him suddenly (continued +Sa'id) and went straight to Al-Fazl and Ja'afar, sons of Yahyα bin +Khαlid, to whom I related my circumstances; whereto they replied, Allah +give thee His aid, and render thee by His bounties independent of His +creatures and vouchsafe thee abundant weal and bestow on thee what +shall suffice thee, without the need of any but Himself; for whatso He +willeth that He can, and He is gracious with His servants and knoweth +their wants.' So I went out from the twain and returned to Abdallah, +with straitened breast and mind perplexed and heavy of heart, and +repeated to him what they had said. Quoth he, Thou wouldst do well to +abide with us this day, that we may see what Allah Almighty will +decree.' So I sat with him awhile, when lo! up came my servant, who +said to me, O my lord, there are at our door many laden mules and with +them a man, who says he is the agent of Al-Fazl and Ja'afar bin Yahya.' +Quoth Abdallah, I trust that relief is come to thee: rise up and go see +what is the matter.' So I left him and, hastening to my house, found at +the door a man who gave me a note wherein was written the following: +After thou hadst been with us and we heard thy case, we betook +ourselves to the Caliph and informed him that ill condition had reduced +thee to the humiliation of begging; where upon he ordered us to supply +thee with a thousand thousand dirhams from the Treasury. We represented +to him: The debtor will spend this money in paying off creditors and +wiping off debt; whence then shall he provide for his subsistence? So +he ordered thee other three hundred thousand, and each of us hath also +sent thee, of his proper wealth, a thousand thousand dirhams: so that +thou hast now three thousand thousand and three hundred thousand +dirhams wherewithal to order and amend thine estate.'" See, then, the +munificence of these magnificos: Almighty Allah have mercy on them! And +a tale is told of + + + + +THE WOMAN'S TRICK AGAINST HER HUSBAND + +A man brought his wife a fish one Friday and, bidding her to cook it +against the end of the congregational prayers, went out to his craft +and business. Meanwhile in came her friend who bade her to a wedding at +his house; so she agreed and, laying the fish in a jar of water, went +off with him and was absent a whole week till the Friday +following;[FN#137] whilst her husband sought her from house to house +and enquired after her; but none could give him any tidings of her. Now +on the next Friday she came home and he fell foul of her; but she +brought out to him the fish alive from the jar and assembled the folk +against him and told them her tale.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Ninety-fourth Night + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the woman brought +out the fish alive from the water-jar and assembled the folk against +her husband, and told them her tale. He also told his; but they +credited him not and said, "It cannot be that the fish should have +remained alive all this while." So they proved him mad and imprisoned +him and mocked at him, where upon he shed tears in floods and recited +these two couplets, + + "Old hag, of high degree in filthy life, * + + + Whose face her monstrous lewdness witnesses. + + + When menstuous she bawds; when clean she whores; * + + + And all her time bawd or adulteress is." + + + +And a tale is related of the + + + + +THE DEVOUT WOMAN AND THE TWO WICKED ELDERS[FN#138] + +There was in times of yore and in ages long gone before, a virtuous +woman among the children of Israel, who was pious and devout and used +every day to go out to the place of prayer, first entering a garden, +which adjoined thereto, and there making the minor ablution. Now there +were in this garden two old men, its keepers, and both Shaykhs fell in +love with her and sought her favours; but she refused, whereupon said +they, "Unless thou yield thy body to us, we will bear witness against +thee of fornication." Quoth she, "Allah will preserve me from your +frowardness!" Then they opened the garden-gate and cried out, and the +folk came to them from all places, saying "What aileth you?" Quoth +they, "We found this damsel in company with a youth who was doing +lewdness with her; but he escaped from our hands." Now it was the wont +of the people in those days to expose adulterer and adulteress to +public reproach for three days, and after stone them. So they cried her +name in the public streets for three days, while the two elders came up +to her daily and, laying their hands on her head, said, "Praised be +Allah who hath sent down on thee His righteous indignation!" Now on the +fourth day, when they bore her away to stone her, they were followed by +a lad named Daniel, who was then only twelve years old, and this was to +be the first of his miracles (upon our Prophet and upon him the +blessing and peace!). And he ceased not following them to the place of +execution, till he came up with them and said to them, "Hasten not to +stone her, till I judge between them." So they set him a chair and he +sat down and summoned the old men separately. (Now he was the first +ever separated witnesses.) Then said he to the first, "What sawest +thou?"[FN#139] So he repeated to him his story, and Daniel asked, "In +what part of the garden did this befal?" and he answered, "On the +eastern side, under a pear-tree." Then he called the other old man and +asked him the same question, and he replied, "On the western side of +the garden, under an apple-tree." Meanwhile the damsel stood by, with +her hands and eyes raised heavenwards, imploring the Lord for +deliverance. Then Allah Almighty sent down His blasting leven-fire upon +the elders and consumed them, and on this wise the Lord made manifest +the innocence of the damsel. Such was the first of the miracles of the +Prophet Daniel, on whom be blessing and peace! And they relate a tale +of + + + + +JA'AFAR THE BARMECIDE AND THE OLD BADAWL + +The Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, went out one day, with +Abu Ya'Kϊb the cup-companion[FN#140] and Ja'afar the Barmecide and Abu +Nowas, into the desert, where they fell in with an old man, propt +against his ass. The Caliph bade Ja'afar learn of him whence he came; +so he asked him, "Whence comest thou?" and he answered, "From +Bassorah."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night, + +She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ja'afar +asked the man, "Whence comest thou?"; he answered "From Bassorah." +Quoth Ja'afar, "And whither goest thou?" Quoth the other, "To Baghdad." +Then Ja'afar enquired "And what wilt thou do there?" and the old man +replied, "I go to seek medicine for my eye." Said the Caliph, "O +Ja'afar, make thou sport with him," and answered Ja'afar, "I shall hear +what I shall exceedingly mislike."[FN#141] But Al-Rashid rejoined, "I +charge thee on my authority, jest with him." Thereupon Ja'afar said to +the Badawi, "If I prescribe thee a medicine that shall profit thee, +what wilt thou give me in return?" Quoth the other, "Allah Almighty +will requite the kindness with what is better for thee than any +requital of mine." Continued Ja'afar, "Now lend me an ear and I will +give thee a prescription, which I have given to none but thee." "What +is that?" asked the Badawi; and Ja'afar answered, "Take three ounces of +wind-breaths and the like of sunbeams and the same of moonshine and as +much of lamp-light; mix them well together and let them lie in the wind +three months. Then place them three months in a mortar without a bottom +and pound them to a fine powder and after trituration set them in a +cleft platter, and let it stand in the wind other three months; after +which use of this medicine three drachms every night in thy sleep, and, +Inshallah! thou shalt be healed and whole." Now when the Badawi heard +this, he stretched himself out to full length on the donkey's back and +let fly a terrible loud fart[FN#142] and said to Ja'afar, "Take this +fart in payment of thy prescription. When I have followed it, if Allah +grant me recovery, I will give thee a slave-girl, who shall serve thee +in they lifetime a service, wherewith Allah shall cut short thy term; +and when thou diest and the Lord hurrieth thy soul to hell-fire, she +shall blacken thy face with her skite, of her mourning for thee, and +shall keen and beat her face, saying O frosty-beard, what a fool thou +wast?'"[FN#143] thereupon Harun al-Rashid laughed till he fell +backward, and ordered the Badawi three thousand silver pieces. And a +tale is told of + + + + +THE CALIPH OMAR BIN AL-KHATTAB AND THE YOUNG BADAWI + +The Sharif Husayn bin Rayyαn relateth that the Caliph Omar bin +Al-Khattαb was sitting one day judging the folk and doing justice +between his subjects, attended by the best and wisest of his +counsellors, when there came up to him a youth comely and cleanly +attired, upon whom two very handsome youths had laid hold and were +haling by the collar till they set him in the presence. Whereupon the +Commander of the Faithful, Omar, looked at him and them and bade them +loose him; then, calling him near to himself, asked the twain, "What is +your case with him?" They answered, "O Prince of True Believers, we are +two brothers by one mother and as followers of verity known are we. We +had a father, a very old man of good counsel, honoured by the tribes, +sound of baseness renowned for goodliness, who reared us tenderly in +childhood, and loaded us with favours in manhood;"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Ninety-sixth Night + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the two youths +said to the Commander of the Faithful, Omar son of Al- Khattab, "Our +father was a man honoured by the tribes, sound of baseness and renowned +for goodliness, who reared us delicately in childhood and loaded us +with favours in manhood; in fine, a sea of noble and illustrious +qualities, worthy of the poet's praise, + + Is Aub's-Sakr of Shaybαn[FN#144]?' they asked; * + + + Quoth I, Nay, by my life, of him's Shaybαn: + + + How many a sire rose high by a noble son, * + + + As Allah's prophet glorified Adnan!'[FN#145] + + + +Now he went forth this day to his garden, to refresh himself amongst +its trees and pluck the ripe fruits, when this young man slew him +wrongously and swerved from the road of righteousness; wherefore we +demand of thee the retribution of his crime and call upon thee to pass +judgement upon him, according to the commandment of Allah." Then Omar +cast a terrible look at the accused youth and said to him, "Verily thou +hearest the complaint these two young men prefer; what hast thou in +reply to aver?" But he was brave of heart and bold of speech, having +doffed the robe of pusillanimity and put off the garb of cowardry; so +he smiled and spake in the most eloquent and elegant words; and, after +paying the usual ceremonial compliments to the Caliph, said, ""By +Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I have indeed given ear to their +complaint, and they have told the truth in that which they tell, so far +as they have set out what befel; and the commandment of Allah is a +decreed decree.[FN#146] but I will forthright state my case between +they hands, and it is for thee to give commands. Know then, O Prince of +the Faithful, that I am a very Arab of the Arabies,[FN#147] the noblest +of those that are beneath the skies. I grew up in the dwellings of the +wold and fell, till evil times my tribe befel, when I came to the +outskirts of this town, with my family and whatso goods I own: and, as +I went along one of the paths leading to its gardens, orchards and +garths, with my she-camels highly esteemed and by me most precious +deemed, and midst them a stallion of noble blood and shape right good, +a plenteous getter of brood, by whom the females abundantly bore and +who walked among them as though a kingly crown he wore, one of the +she-camels broke away; and, running to the garden of these young men's +father, where the trees showed above the wall, put forth her lips and +began to feed as in stall. I ran to her, to drive her away, when +behold, there appeared, at a breach of the wall, an old man and grey, +whose eyes sparkled with angry ray, holding in his right a stone to +throw and swaying to and fro, with a swing like a lion ready for a +spring. He cast the stone at my stallion, and it killed him for it +struck a vital part. When I saw the stallion drop dead beside me, I +felt live coals of anger kindled in my heart; so I took up the very +same stone and throwing it at the old man, it was the cause of his bane +and ban: thus his own wrongful act returned to him anew, and the man +was slain of that wherewith he slew. When the stone struck him, he +cried out with a great cry and shrieked out a terrible shriek, +whereupon I hastened from the spot; but these two young men hurried +after me and laid hands on me and before thee carried me." Quoth Omar +(Almighty Allah accept of him!), "Thou hast confessed what thou +committedest, and of acquittal there is no possible occasion; for +urgent is the law of retaliation and they cried for mercy but it was +not a time to escape."[FN#148] the youth answered, "I hear and obey the +judgement of the Imam, and I consent to all required by the law of +Al-Islam; but I have a young brother, whose old father, before his +decease, appointed to him wealth in great store and gold galore, and +committed his affair to me before Allah, saying: I give this into thy +hand for thy brother; keep it for him with all thy might.' So I took +the money and buried it; nor doth any know of it but I. Now, if thou +adjudge me to be justiced forthright, the money will lost and thou +shalt be the cause of its loss; wherefore the child will sue thee for +his due on the day when the Creator shall judge between His creatures. +But, if thou wilt grant me three days' delay, I will appoint some +guardian to administer the affairs of the boy and return to answer my +debt; and I have one who will be my surety for the fulfillment of this +my promise." So the Commander of the Faithful bowed his head awhile, +then raised it and looking round upon those present, said, "Who will +stand surety by me for his return to this place?" And the youth looked +at the faces of those who were in company and pointing to Abu +Zarr,[FN#149] in preference to all present, said, "This man shall +answer for me and be my bail."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Ninety-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the youth +pointed to Abu Zarr and said, "This man shall answer for me and be my +bail," Omar (Allah accept of him!) said, O Abu Zarr, dost thou hear +these words and wilt thou be surety to me for the return of this +youth?" He answered, "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, I will be +surety for him for three days." So the Caliph accepted his guarantee +and let the young man go. Now when the appointed time passed and the +days of grace were nearly or quite at end yet the youth came not, the +Caliph took seat in his council, with the Companions surrounding him, +like the constellations about the moon, Abu Zarr and the plaintiffs +being also present; and the avengers said, "Where is the defendant, O +Abu Zarr, and how shall he return, having once fled? But we will not +stir from our places till thou bring him to us, that we may take of him +our blood revenge." Replied Abu Zarr, "By the truth of the All-Wise +King, if the three days of grace expire and the young man returneth +not, I will fulfill my warranty and surrender my person to the Imam;" +and added Omar (whom Allah accept!), "By the Lord, if the young man +appear not, I will assuredly execute on Abu Zarr that which is +prescribed by the law of Al-Islam!"[FN#150] thereupon the eyes of the +bystanders ran over with tears; those who looked on groaned aloud and +great was the clamour. Then the chiefs of the Companions urged the +plaintiffs to accept the blood-wit and deserve the thanks of the folk; +but they both refused and would accept nothing save the talion. +However, as the folk were swaying to and fro like waves and loudly +bemoaning Abu Zarr, behold, up came the young Badawi; and, standing +before the Imam, saluted him right courteously (with sweat-beaded face +and shining with the crescent's grace) and said to him, "I have given +the lad in charge to his mother's brothers and have made them +acquainted with all that pertaineth to his affairs and let them into +the secrets of his monies; after which I braved the heats of noon and +have kept my word as a free- born man." Thereupon the folk marvelled, +seeing his good faith and loyalty and his offering himself to death +with so stout a heart; and one said to him, "How noble a youth art thou +and how loyal to thy word of honour and thy devoir!" Rejoined he, "Are +ye not convinced that when death presenteth itself, none can escape +from it? And indeed, I have kept my word, that it be not said, Good +faith is gone from among mankind.' " Said Abu Zarr, "By Allah, O +Commander of the Faithful, I became warrant for this young man, without +knowing to what tribe he belonged, nor had I seen him before that day; +but, when he turned away from all who were present and singled me out, +saying, This man shall answer for me and be my bail,' I thought it not +right to refuse him, and generosity forbade to disappoint his desire, +there being no harm in compliance therewith, that it be not bruited +abroad, Benevolence is gone from among mankind." Then said the two +young men, "O Commander of the Faithful, we forgive this youth our +father's blood, seeing that he hath changed desolation into +cheerfulness; that it be not said, Humanity is gone from among +mankind." So the Caliph rejoiced in the acquittance of the youth and +his truth and good faith; moreover, he magnified the generosity of Abu +Zarr, extolling it over all his companions, and approved the resolve of +the two young men for its benevolence, giving them praise with thanks +and applying to their case the saying of the poet, + + "Who doth kindness to men shall be paid again; * + + + Ne'er is kindness lost betwixt God and men." + + + +Then he offered to pay them, from the Treasury, the blood-wit for their +father; but they refused, saying, "We forgave him only of our desire +unto Allah,[FN#151] the Bountiful, the Exalted; and he who is thus +intentioned followeth not his benefits with reproach or with +mischief."[FN#152] and amongst the tales they relate is that of + + + + +THE CALIPH AL-MAAMUN AND THE PYRAMIDS[FN#153] OF EGYPT + +It is told that the Caliph Al-Maamun, son of Harun al-Rashid, when he +entered the God-guarded city of Cairo, was minded to pull down the +Pyramids, that he might take what was therein; but, when he went about +to do this, he could not succeed, albeit his best was done. He expended +a mint of money in the attempt,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Three Hundred Ninety-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Al-Maamun +attempting to pull down the Pyramids, expended his mint of money, but +succeeded only in opening up a small tunnel in one of them, where in it +is said he found treasure to the exact amount of the monies he had +spent in the works, neither more nor less; whereat he marvelled and +taking what he found there, desisted from his determination. Now the +Pyramids are three, and they are one of the Wonders of the World; nor +is there on the face of earth aught like them for height and fashion +and mysteries[FN#154]; for they are built of huge rocks, and the +builders proceeded by piercing one block of stone and setting therein +upright rods of iron[FN#155]; after which they pierced a second block +of stone and lowered it upon the first. Then they poured melted lead +upon the clamps and set the blocks in geometrical order, till the +building was complete. Now the height of each pyramid was an hundred +cubits, of the normal measure of the day, and it had four faces, each +three hundred cubits long from the base and thence battering upwards to +a point. The ancients say that, in the western Pyramid, are thirty +chambers of parti-coloured syenite, full of precious gems and treasures +galore and rare images and utensils and costly weapons which are +anointed with egromantic unguents, so that they may not rust until the +day of Resurrection.[FN#156] Therein, also, are vessels of glass which +bend and break not, containing various kinds of compound drugs and +sympathetic waters. In the second Pyramid are the records of the +priests, written on tablets of syenite, to each priest his tablet, +whereon are engraved the wonders of his craft and his feats; and on the +walls are the human figures like idols, working with their hands at all +manner of mechanism and seated on stepped thrones. Moreover, to each +Pyramid there is a guardian treasurer who keepeth watch over it and +wardeth it, to all eternity, against the ravages of time and the shifts +of events; and indeed the marvels of these Pyramids astound all who +have sight and insight. Many are the poems that describe them, thou +shalt thereby profit no small matter, and among the rest, quoth one of +them, + + "If Kings would see their high emprize preserved, * + + + Twill be by tongues of monuments they laid: + + + Seest not the Pyramids? These two endure * + + + Despite what change Time and Change have made." + + + +And quoth another, + + "Look on the Pyramids, and hear the twain * + + + Recount their annals of the long-gone Past: + + + Could they but speak, high marvels had they told * + + + Of what Time did to man from first to last." + + + +And quoth a third, + + "My friend I prithee tell me, 'neath the sky * + + + Is aught with Egypt's Pyramids can compare? + + + Buildings which frighten Time, albe what dwells * + + + On back of earth in fear of Time must fare: + + + If on their marvels rest my sight no more, * + + + Yet these I ever shall in memory bear." + + + +And quoth a fourth, + + "Where is the man who built the Pyramids? * + + + What was his tribe, what day and where his tomb? + + + The monuments survive the men who built * + + + Awhile, till overthrown by touch of Doom." + + + +And men also tell a tale of + + + + +THE THIEF AND THE MERCHANT + +There was once a thief who repented to Almighty Allah with sincere +penitence; so he opened himself a shop for the sale of stuffs, where he +continued to trade awhile. It so chanced one day that he locked his +shop and went home, and in the night there came to the bazar an artful +thief disguised in the habit of the merchant, and pulling out keys from +his sleeve, said to the watchman of the market, "Light me this +wax-candle." The watchman took the taper and went to light it,—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Three Hundred and Ninety-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the watchman took +the taper and went to light it, whilst the thief opened the shop and +lit another candle he had by him. When the watchman came back, he found +him seated in the shop, account- books inhand, and reckoning with his +fingers; nor did he cease to do thus till point of day, when he said to +the man, "Fetch me a camel-driver and his camel, to carry some goods +for me." So the man fetched him a camel, and the thief took four +bales[FN#157] of stuffs and gave them to the cameleer, who loaded them +on his beast. Then he gave the watchman two dirhams and went away after +the camel-driver, leaving the watchman believing him to be the owner of +the shop. Now when the morning dawned and day broke the merchant came +and the watchman began greeting him with blessings, because of the two +dirhams; but the shop-keeper wondered at his words as one not knowing +what he meant. When he opened his shop, he saw the droppings of the wax +and the account-book lying on the floor, and looking round, found four +bales of stuffs missing. So he asked the watchman what had happened and +he told him what has passed in the night and what had been said to the +cameleer, whereupon the merchant bade him fetch the man and asked him, +"Whither didst thou carry the stuffs this morning?" Answered the +driver, "To such a landing-place, and I stowed them on board such a +vessel." Said the merchant, "Come with me thither;" so the camel-driver +carried him to the landing-place and said to him, "This be the barque +and this be her owner." Quoth the merchant to the seaman, "Whither +didst thou carry the merchant and the stuff?" Answered the boat-master, +"To such a place, where he fetched a camel-driver and, setting the +bales on the camel, went his ways I know not whither." "Fetch me the +cameleer who carried the goods," said the merchant; so he fetched him +and the merchant said to him, "Whither didst thou carry the bales of +goods from the ship?" "To such a Khan," answered he; and the merchant +rejoined, "Come thither with me and show it to me." So the camel-man +went with him to a place far distant from the shore and showed him the +Khan where he had set down the stuffs, and at the same time the false +merchant's magazine, which he opened and found therein his four bales +bound up as they had been packed. The thief had laid his cloak over +them; so the merchant took the cloak as well as the bales and delivered +them to the camel- driver, who laid them on his camel; after which he +locked the magazine and went away with the cameleer. On the way, he was +confronted with the thief who followed him, till he had shipped the +bales, when he said to him, "O my brother (Allah have thee in His holy +keeping!), thou hast indeed recovered thy goods and naught of them is +lost; so give me back my cloak." The merchant laughed and, giving him +back his cloak, let him go unhindered; whereupon both went their ways. +And they tell a tale of + + + + +MASRUR THE EUNUCH AND IBN AL-KARIBI + +The Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, was exceedingly +restless one night; so he said to his Wazir Ja'afar, "I am sleepless +to-night and my breast is straitened and I know not what to do." Now +his castrato Masrϊr was standing before him, and he laughed: whereupon +the Caliph said "At whom laughest thou? Is it to make mock of me or +hath madness seized thee?" Answered Masrur, "Nay, by Allah, O Commander +of the Faithful,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundredth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Harun al- Rashid +said to Masrur the Sworder, "Dost thou laugh to make mock of me or hath +madness seized thee?" Answered Masrur, "Nay, by Allah, O Commander of +the Faithful, I swear by thy kinship to the Prince of Apostles, I did +it not of my free will; but I went out yesterday to walk within sight +of the palace and, coming to the bank of the Tigris, saw there the folk +collected; so I stopped and found a man, Ibn al-Kαribν hight, who was +making them laugh; but just now I recalled what he said, and laughter +got the better of me; and I crave pardon of thee, O Commander of the +Faithful!" Quoth the Caliph, "Bring him to me forthright;" so Masrur +repaired in all haste to Ibn al-Karibi and said to him, "Answer the +summons of the Commander of the Faithful," whereto he replied, "I hear +and obey." "But on condition," added Masrur, "that, if he give thee +aught, thou shalt have a quarter and the rest shall be mine." Replied +the droll, "Nay, thou shalt have half and I half." Rejoined Masrur, +"Not so, I will have three- quarters." Lastly said Ibn al-Karibi, "Thou +shalt have two- thirds and I the other third;" to which Masrur agreed, +after much higgling and haggling, and they returned to the palace +together. Now when Ibn al-Karibi came into the Caliph's presence he +saluted him as men greet the Caliphate, and stood before him; whereupon +said Al-Rashid to him, "If thou do not make me laugh, I will give thee +three blows with this bag." Quoth Ibn al-Karibi in his mind, "And a +small matter were blows with that bag, seeing that beating with whips +hurteth me not;" for he thought the bag was empty. Then he began to +deal out his drolleries, such as would make the dismallest jemmy +guffaw, and gave vent to all manner of buffooneries; but the Caliph +laughed not neither smiled, whereat Ibn al-Karibi marvelled and was +chagrined and affrighted. Then said the Commander of the Faithful, "Now +hast thou earned the beating," and gave him a blow with the bag, +wherein were four pebbles each two rotols in weight. The blow fell on +his neck and he gave a great cry, then calling to mind his compact with +Masrur, said, "Pardon, O Commander of the Faithful! Hear two words from +me." Quoth the Caliph, "Say on," and quoth Ibn al- Karibi, "Masrur made +it a condition with me and I a covenant with him, that whatsoever +largesse might come to me of the bounties of the Commander of the +Faithful, one-third thereof should be mine and the rest his; nor did he +agree to leave me so much as one- third, save after much higgling and +haggling. I have had my share and here standeth he, ready to receive +his portion; so pay him the two other blows." Now when the Caliph heard +this, he laughed until he fell on his back; then calling Masrur, he +gave him a blow, whereat he cried out and said, "O Commander of the +Faithful, the one-third sufficeth me: give him the two-thirds."— And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and First Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Masrur cried out, +"O Commander of the Faithful! The one-third sufficeth me; give him the +two-thirds." So the Caliph laughed at them and ordered them a thousand +dinars each, and they went away, rejoicing at the largesse. And of the +tales they tell is one of + + + + +THE DEVOTEE PRINCE + +The Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, had a son who, from the +time he attained the age of sixteen, renounced the world and walked in +the way[FN#158] of ascetics and devotees. He was wont to go out to the +graveyards and say, "Ye once ruled the world, but that saved you not +from death, and now are ye come to your sepulchres! Would Heaven I knew +what ye said and what is said to you!"[FN#159] and he wept as one +weepeth who is troubled with fear and apprehension, and repeated the +worlds of the poet, + + "Affright me funerals at every time; * + + + And wailing women grieve me to the soul!" + + + +Now it chanced one day, as he sat among the tombs, according to his +custom, his father passed by in all his state, surrounded by his Wazirs +and Lords of the realm and the Officers of his household, who seeing +the Caliph's son with a gown of woollen stuff on his body and a twist +of wool on his head by way of turband, said to one another, "Verily +this youth dishonoureth the Commander of the Faithful among Kings: but, +if he reproved him, he would leave his present way of life." The Caliph +heard these words; so quoth he to his son, "O my dear child, of a truth +thou disgracest me by thy present way of life." The young man looked at +him and made no reply: then he beckoned to a bird perched on the +battlements of the palace, and said to it, "O thou bird, I conjure thee +by Him who created thee, alight upon my hand." Whereupon straightway it +swooped down and perched on his finger. Then quoth he, "Return to thy +place;" and it did so. Presently he said, "Alight on the hand of the +Commander of the Faithful;" but it refused there to perch, and he cried +to his father, "It is thou that disgracest me amongst the Holy[FN#160] +Ones, by the love of the world; and now I am resolved to part from +thee, never to return to thee, save in the world to come." Then he went +down to Bassorah, where he took to working with those which wrought in +clay,[FN#161] receiving, as his day's hire, but a dirham and a +danik;[FN#162] and with the danik he fed himself and gave alms of the +dirham. (Quoth Abϊ Amir of Bassorah) "There fell down a wall in my +house; so I went forth to the station of the artisans to find a man who +should repair it for me, and my eyes fell on a handsome youth of a +radiant countenance. So I saluted him and asked him, O my friend, dost +thou seek work?' Yes,' answered he; and I said, Come with me and build +a wall.' He replied, On certain conditions I will make with thee.' +Quoth I What are they, O my friend?'; and quoth he, My wage must be a +dirham and a danik, and again when the Mu'ezzin calleth to prayer, thou +shalt let me go pray with the congregation.' It is well,' answered I +and carried him to my lace, where he fell to work, such work as I never +saw the like of. Presented I named to him the morning-meal; but he +said, No;' and I knew that he was fasting.[FN#163] When he heard the +call to prayer, he said to me, Thou knowest the condition?' Yes,' +answered i. So he loosed his girdle and, applying himself to the lesser +ablution, made it after a fashion than which I never saw a +fairer;[FN#164] then he went to the mosque and prayed with the +congregation and returned to his work. He did the same upon the call to +mid- afternoon prayer, and when I saw him fall to work again +thereafterward, I said to him, O my friend, verily the hours of labour +are over; a workman's day is but till the time of afternoon-prayer.' +But he replied, Praise to the Lord, my service is till the night.' And +he ceased not to work till nightfall, when I gave him two dirhams; +whereupon he asked What is this!'; and I answered, By Allah, this is +but part of thy wage, because of thy diligence in my service.' But he +threw them back to me saying, I will have no more than was agreed upon +between us twain.' I urged him to take them, but could not prevail upon +him; so I gave him the dirham and the danik, and he went away. And when +morning dawned, I went to the station but found him not; so I enquired +for him and was told, He cometh thither only on Sabbaths.' Accordingly, +when Saturday came, I betook me to the market and finding him there, +said to him, Bismillah, do me the favour to come and work for me.' Said +he, Upon the conditions thou wottest;' and I answered Yes!' Then +carrying him to my house I stood to watch him where he could not see +me; and he took a handful of puddled clay and laid it on the wall, +when, behold, the stones ranged themselves one upon other; and I said, +On this wise are Allah's holy ones.' he worked out his day and did even +more than before; and when it was night, I gave him his hire, and he +took it and walked away. Now when the third Saturday came round, I went +to the place of standing, but found him not; so I asked after him and +they told me, He is sick and lying in the shanty of such a woman.' Now +this was an old wife, renowned for piety, who had a hovel of reeds in +the burial- ground. So I fared thither and found him stretched on the +floor which was bare, with a brick for a pillow and his face beaming +like the new moon with light. I saluted him and he returned my salam; +and I sat down at his head weeping over his fair young years and +absence from home and submission to the will of his Lord. Then said I +to him, Hast thou any need?' Yes,' answered he; and I said, What is +it?' He replied, Come hither to-morrow in the forenoon and thou wilt +find me dead. Wash me and dig my grave and tell none thereof: but +shroud me in this my gown, after thou hast unsewn it and taken out what +thou shalt find in the bosom-pocket, which keep with thee. Then, when +thou hast prayed over me and laid me in the dust, go to Baghdad and +watch for the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, till he come forth, when do thou +give him what thou shalt find in the breast of my gown and bear him my +salutation.' Then he ejaculated the profession of the Faith and +glorified his God in the most eloquent of words, reciting these +couplets, + + Carry the trust of him whom death awaits * + + + To Al-Rashid and God reward thy care! + + + And say An exile who desired thy sight * + + + Long loving, from afar sends greeting fair. + + + Nor hate nor irk (No!) him from thee withdrew, * + + + Kissing thy right to Heaven brought him near.[FN#165] + + + But what estranged his soul, O sire, from thee * + + + Is that thy worldly joys it would not share!' + + + +Then he betook himself to prayer, asking pardon of Allah'—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth then +betook himself to asking pardon of Allah and to invoking prayer and +praise upon the Apostle and the Lord of the Just and repeating verses +of the Koran; after which he recited these couplets, + + "O sire, be not deceived by worldly joys; * + + + For life must pass, and joy must learn to mourn; + + + When thou art told of folk in evil plight, * + + + Think thou must answer for all hearts forlorn; + + + And when thou bear thy dead towards the tombs, * + + + Know thou wilt likewise on that way be bourne." + + + +Continued Abu the Basri, "Now when the youth had ended his charge and +his verses I left him and went home. On the morrow, I returned, at the +appointed hour, and found him indeed dead, the mercy of Allah be upon +him! So I washed him and, unsewing his gown, found in the bosom a ruby +worth thousands of gold pieces and said to myself, By Allah, this youth +was indeed weaned from worldly things!' After I had buried him, I made +my way to Baghdad and, going to the Caliph's palace, waited till he +came forth, when I addressed him in one of the streets and gave him the +ruby, which when he saw, he knew and fell down in a fainting- fit. His +attendants laid hands on me, but he revived and said to them, Release +him and bring him courteously to the palace.' They did his bidding, and +when he returned, he sent for me and carrying me into his chamber said +to me, How doth the owner of this ruby?' Quoth I, Verily, he is dead;' +and told him what had passed; whereupon he fell a-weeping and said, The +son hath gained; but the sire hath lost.' Then he called out, saying, +Ho, such an one!'; and behold there came out to him a lady who, when +she saw me, would have withdrawn; but he cried to her, Come, and mind +him not.' So she entered and saluted, and he threw her the ruby, which +when she saw and she knew, she shrieked a great shriek and fell down in +a swoon. As soon as she came to herself, she said, O Commander of the +Faithful, what hath Allah done with my son?'; and he said to me, Do +thou tell her his case' (as he could not speak for weeping). +Accordingly, I repeated the story to her, and she began to shed tears +and say in a faint and wailing voice, How I have longed for thy sight, +O solace of mine eyes![FN#166] Would I might have given thee to drink, +when thou hadst none to slake thy thirst! Would I might have cheered +thee, whenas thou foundest never a cheerer!' And she poured forth tears +and recited these couplets, + + I weep for one whose lot a lonely death befel; * + + + Without a friend to whom he might complain and moan: + + + And after glory and glad union with his friends, * + + + He woke to desolation, friendless, lorn and lone; + + + What Fortune hides a while she soon to all men shall show; * + + + Death never spared a man; no, not a single one: + + + O absent one, my Lord decreed thee strangerhood, * + + + Far from thy nearest friends and to long exile gone: + + + Though Death forbid my hope of meeting here again, * + + + On Doom-day's morrow we shall meet again, my + + +son![FN#167] + + + +Quoth I, O Commander of the Faithful, was he indeed thy son?' Quoth he, +Yes, and indeed, before I succeeded to this office, he was wont to +visit the learned and company with the devout; but, when I became +Caliph, he grew estranged from me and withdrew himself apart.[FN#168] +Then said I to his mother, Verily this thy son hath cut the world and +devoted his life to Almighty Allah, and it may be that hard times shall +befal him and he be smitten with trial of evil chance; wherefore do +thou given him this ruby, which he may find useful in hour of need.' So +she gave it him, conjuring him to take it, and he obeyed her bidding. +Then he left to us the things of our world and removed himself from us; +nor did he cease to be absent from us, till he went to the presence of +Allah (to whom be Honour and Glory!), pious and pure.' Then said he, +Come, show me his grave.' So, I travelled with him to Bassorah and +showed him his son's grave; and when he saw it, he wept and lamented, +till he fell down in a swoon; after which he recovered and asked pardon +of the Lord, saying, We are Allah's and unto Him we are returning!'; +and involved blessings on the dead. Then he asked me to become his +companion, but I said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, verily, in +thy son's case is for me the most momentous of admonitions!' And I +recited these couplets, + + "Tis I am the stranger, visited by none; * + + + I am the stranger though in town my own: + + + Tis I am the stranger! Lacking kith and son, * + + + And friend to whom I mote for aidance run. + + + I house in mosques which are my only home; * + + + My heart there wones and shall for ever wone: + + + Then laud ye Allah, Lord of Worlds, as long * + + + As soul and body dwell in union!'" + + + +And a famous tale is told of + + + + +THE UNWISE SCHOOLMASTER WHO FELL IN LOVE BY REPORT + +Quoth one of the learned, "I passed once by a school, wherein a +schoolmaster was teaching children; so I entered, finding him a +good-looking man and a well-dressed; when he rose to me and made me sit +with him. Then I examined him in the Koran and in syntax and prosody +and lexicography; and behold, he was perfect in all required of him, so +I said to him, Allah strengthen thy purpose! Thou art indeed versed in +all that is requisite,' thereafter I frequented him a while, +discovering daily some new excellence in him, and quoth I to myself, +This is indeed a wonder in any dominie; for the wise are agreed upon a +lack of wit in children's teachers.' Then I separated myself from him +and sought him and visited him only every few days, till coming to see +him one day as of wont, I found the school shut and made enquiry of his +neighbors, who replied, Some one is dead in his house.' So I said in my +mind, It behoveth me to pay him a visit of condolence,' and going to +his house, knocked at the door, when a slave-girl came out to me and +asked, What dost thou want?' and I answered, I want thy master.' She +replied, He is sitting alone, mourning;' and I rejoined, Tell him that +his friend so and so seeketh to console him.' She went in and told him; +and he said, Admit him.' So she brought me in to him, and I found him +seated alone and his head bound with mourning fillets. So I said to +him, Allah requite thee amply! this is a path all must perforce tread, +and it behoveth thee to take patience;' adding, But who is dead unto +thee?' He answered, One who was dearest of the folk to me, and best +beloved.' Perhaps thy father?' No!' Thy brother?' "No!' "One of thy +kindred?' No!' Then asked I, What relation was the dead to thee?'; and +he answered, My lover.' Quoth I to myself, This is the first proof to +swear by his lack of wit.' So I said to him, Assuredly there be others +than she and fairer;' and he made answer, I never saw her, that I might +judge whether or no there be others fairer than she.' Quoth I to +myself, This is another proof positive.' Then I said to him, And how +couldst thou fall in love with one thou hast never seen?' He replied +Know that I was sitting one day at the window, when lo! there passed by +a man, singing the following distich, + + Umm Amr',[FN#169] thy boons Allah repay! * + + + Give back my heart be't where it may!'" + + + +And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the schoolmaster +continued, " When I heard the man humming these words as he passed +along the street, I said to myself Except this Umm Amru were without +equal in the world, the poets had not celebrated her in ode and +canzon.' So I fell in love with her; but, two days after, the same man +passed, singing the following couplet, + + Ass and Umm Amr' went their way; * + + + Nor she, nor ass returned for aye.' + + + +Thereupon I knew she was dead and mourned for her. This was three days +ago, and I have been mourning ever since. So I left him, (concluded the +learned one) and fared forth, having assured myself of the weakness of +the gerund-grinder's wit." And they tell another and a similar tale of + + + + +THE FOOLISH DOMINIE[FN#170] + +Once upon a time, a schoolmaster was visited by a man of letters who +entered a school and, sitting down by the host's side, entered into +discourse with him and found him an accomplished theologian, poet +grammarian, philologist and poet; intelligent, well bred and pleasant +spoken; whereat he wondered, saying in himself, "It cannot be that a +man who teacheth children in a school, should have a perfect wit." Now +when he was about to go away, the pedant said to him, "Thou are my +guest to-night;" and he consented to receive hospitality and +accompanied him to his house, where he made much of him and set food +before him. They ate and drank and sat talking, till a third part of +the night was past when the host spread his guest a bed and went up to +his Harim. The stranger lay down and addressed himself to sleep, when, +behold, there arose a great clamour in the women's rooms. He asked what +was the matter and they said, "A terrible thing hath befallen the +Shaykh and he is at the last gasp." Said he, "Take me up to him"; so +they took him up to the pedagogue whom he found lying insensible, with +his blood streaming down. He sprinkled water on his face and when he +revived, he asked him, "What hath betided thee? When thou leftest me, +thou wast in all good cheer and whole of body," and he answered, "O my +brother, after I left thee, I sat meditating on the creative works of +Almighty Allah, and said to myself: In every thing the Lord hath +created for man, there is an use; for He (to Whom be glory!) made the +hands to seize, the feet to walk, the eyes to see, the ears to hear and +the penis to increase and multiply; and so on with all the members of +the body, except these two ballocks; there is no use in them.' So I +took a razor I had by me and cut them off; and there befel me what thou +seest." So the guest left him and went away, saying, "He was in the +right who said, Verily no schoolmaster who teacheth children can have a +perfect wit, though he know all the sciences.'" And they tell a +pleasant tale of the + + + + +ILLITERATE WHO SET UP FOR A SCHOOLMASTER + +There was once, among the menials[FN#171] of a certain mosque, a man +who knew not how to write or even to read and who gained his bread by +gulling folk. One day, it occurred to him to open a school and teach +children; so he got together writing-tablets and written papers and +hung them up in a high place. Then he greatened his turband[FN#172] and +sat down at the door of the school; and when the people, who passed by, +saw his huge head- gear and tablets and scrolls, they thought he must +be a very learned pedagogue; so they brought him their children; and he +would say to this, "Write," and to that "Read"; and thus the little +ones taught each other. Now one day, as he sat as of wont, at the door +of the school, behold, up came a woman letter in hand, and he said in +his mind, "This woman doubtless seeketh me, that I may read her the +missive she hath in her hand: how shall I do with her, seeing I cannot +read writing?" And he would fain have gone down and fled from her; but, +before he could do this, she overtook him and said to him, "Whither +away?" Quoth he, "I purpose to pray the noon-prayer and return." Quoth +she, "Noon is yet distant, so read me this letter." He took the letter +and turning it upside down, fell to looking at it, now shaking his head +till his turband quivered, then dancing his eyebrows and anon showing +anger and concern. Now the letter came from the woman's husband, who +was absent; and when she saw the dominie do on this wise, she said to +herself, "Doubtless my husband is dead, and this learned doctor of law +and religion is ashamed to tell me so." So she said to him, "O my lord, +if he be dead, tell me;" but he shook his head and held his peace. Then +said she, "Shall I rend my raiment?" "Rend!" replied he. "Shall I beat +my face?" asked she; and he answered, "Beat!" So she took the letter +from his hand and returned home fell a-weeping, she and her children. +Presently, one of her neighbours heard her sobbing and asking what +aileth her, was answered, "Of a truth she hath gotten a letter, telling +her that her husband is dead." Quoth the man, "This is a falsehood; for +I had a letter from him but yesterday, advising me that he is whole and +in good health and will be with her after ten days." So he rose +forthright and going in to her, said, "Where is the letter which came +to thee?" She brought it to him, and he took it and read it; and lo! it +ran as follows, "After the usual salutations, I am well and in good +health and whole and will be with you all after ten days. Meanwhile, I +send you a quilt and an extinguisher."[FN#173] So she took the letter +and, returning to the schoolmaster, said to him, "What induced thee to +deal thus with me?" And she repeated to him what her neighbour had told +her of her husband's well- being and of his having sent her a quilt and +an extinguisher. Answered he, "Thou art in the right, O good woman; for +I was, at the time"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the pedagogue +replied, "Verily I was at that time fashed and absent- minded and, +seeing the extinguisher wrapped up in the quilt, I thought that he was +dead and they had shrouded him." The woman, not smoking the cheat, +said, "Thou art excused," and taking the letter, went her ways.[FN#174] +And they relate a story of + + + + +THE KING AND THE VIRTUOUS WIFE. + +A certain King once went forth in disguise, to look into the affairs of +his lieges. Presently, he came to a great village which he entered +unattended and being athirst, stopped at the door of a house and asked +for water. There came out to him a fair woman with a gugglet, which she +gave him, and he drank. When he looked at her, he was ravished with her +and besought her favours. Now she knew him; so she led him into the +house and, making him sit down, brought out a book and said to him, +"Look therein whilst I order my affair and return to thee." So he +looked into the book, and behold, it treated of the Divine prohibition +against advoutry and of the punishments which Allah hath prepared for +those who commit adulterous sin. When he read this, his flesh quaked +and his hair bristled and he repented to Almighty Allah: then he called +the woman and, giving her the book, went away. Now her husband was +absent and when he returned, she told him what had passed, whereat he +was confounded and said in himself, "I fear lest the King's desire have +fallen upon her." And he dared not have to do with her and know her +carnally after this. When some time had past, the wife told her +kinsfolk of her husband's conduct, and they complained of him to the +King, saying, "Allah advance the King! This man hired of us a piece of +land for tillage, and tilled it awhile; then left it fallow and neither +tilled it nor forsook it, that we might let it to one who would till +it. Indeed, harm is come to the field, and we fear its corruption, for +such land as that if it be not sown, spoileth." Quoth the King to the +man, "What hindereth thee from sowing thy land?" Answered he, "Allah +advance the King! It reached me that the lion entered the field +wherefore I stood in awe of him and dared not draw near it, since +knowing that I cannot cope with the lion, I stand in fear of him." The +King understood the parable and rejoined, saying, "O man, the lion trod +and trampled not thy land, and it is good for seed so do thou till it +and Allah prosper thee in it, for the lion hath done it no hurt." Then +he bade give the man and his wife a handsome present and sent them +away.[FN#175] And amongst the stories is that of + + + + +ABD AL-RAHMAN THE MAGHRIBI'S STORY OF THE RUKH.[FN#176] + +There was once a man of the people of West Africa who had journeyed far +and wide and traversed many a desert and a tide. He was once cast upon +an island, where he abode a long while and, returning thence to his +native country, brought with him the quill of a wing feather of a young +Rukh, whilst yet in egg and unhatched; and this quill was big enough to +hold a goat skin of water, for it is said that the length of the Rukh +chick's wing, when he cometh forth of the egg, is a thousand fathoms. +The folk marvelled at this quill, when they saw it, and the man who was +called Abd al-Rahman the Moor (and he was known, to boot, as the +Chinaman, for his long sojourn in Cathay), related to them the +following adventure, one of many of his traveller's tales of marvel. He +was on a voyage in the China seas—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abd al- Rahman, +the Moorman, the Chinaman, was wont to tell wondrous tales amongst +which was the following. He was on a voyage in the China seas with a +company of merchants, when they sighted an island from afar; so they +steered for it and, making fast thereto, saw that it was large and +spacious. The ship's crew went ashore to get wood and water, taking +with them hatchets and ropes and water skies (the travellers +accompanying them), and presently espied a great dome, white and +gleaming, an hundred cubits long. So they made towards it and drawing +near, found that it was an egg of the Rukh and fell on it with axes and +stones and sticks till they uncovered the young bird and found the +chick as it were a firm set hill. So they plucked out one of the wing +feathers, but could not do so, save by helping one another, for all the +quills were not full grown, after which they took what they could carry +of the young bird's flesh and cutting the quill away from the vane, +returned to the ship. Then they set sail and putting out to sea, +voyaged with a fair wind all that night, till the sun rose; and while +everything went well, they saw the Rukh come flying after them, as he +were a vast cloud, with a rock in his talons, like a great heap bigger +than the ship. As soon as he poised himself in air over the vessel, he +let fall the rock upon it; but the craft, having great way on her, +outwent the rock, which fell into the sea with a loud crash and a +horrible. So Allah decreed their deliverance and saved them from doom; +and they cooked the young bird's flesh and ate it. Now there were +amongst them old white bearded men; and when they awoke on the morrow, +they found that their beards had turned black, nor did any who had +eaten of the young Rukh grow gray ever after. Some said the cause of +the return of youth to them and the ceasing of hoariness from them was +that they had heated the pot with arrow wood, whilst others would have +it that it came of eating the Rukh chick's flesh; and this is indeed a +wonder of wonders.[FN#177] And a story is related of + + + + +ADI BIN ZAYD AND THE PRINCESS HIND. + +Al-Nu'uman Bin Al-Munzir, King of the Arabs of Irak, had a daughter +named Hind, who went out one Pasch, which is a feast day of the +Nazarenes, to the White Church, to take the sacrament; she was eleven +years old and was the loveliest woman of her age and time; and it so +chanced that on the same day came to Hirah[FN#178] a young man called +'Adν bin Zayd[FN#179] with presents from the Chosroλ to Al-Nu'uman, and +he also went to the White Church, to communicate. He was tall of +stature and fair of favour, with handsome eyes and smooth cheeks, and +had with him a company of his people. Now there was with Hind bint +al-Nu'uman a slave girl named Mαriyah, who was enamoured of Adi, but +had not been able to foregather with him. So, when she saw him in the +church, she said to Hind, "Look at yonder youth. By Allah, he is +handsomer than all thou seest!" Hind asked, "And who is he?" and +Mariyah answered, "Adi bin Zayd." Quoth Al-Nu'uman's daughter, "I fear +lest he know me, if I draw nearer to look on him." Quoth Mariyah, "How +should he know thee when he hath never seen thee?" So she drew near him +and found him jesting with the youths his companions; and indeed he +surpassed them all, not only in his personal charms but in the +excellence of his speech, the eloquence of his tongue and the richness +of his raiment. When the Princess saw him, she was ravished with him, +her reason was confounded and her colour changed; and Mariyah, seeing +her inclination to him, said to her, "Speak him." So she spoke to him +and went away. Now when he looked upon her and heard her speech, he was +captivated by her and his wit was dazed; his heart fluttered, and his +colour changed so that his companions suspected him, and he whispered +one of them to follow her and find out who she was. The young man went +after her and returning informed him that she was princess Hind, +daughter of Al-Nu'uman. So Adi left the church, knowing not whither he +went, for excess of love, and reciting these two couplets, + + "O friends of me, one favour more I pray: * + + + Unto the convents[FN#180] find more your way: + + + Turn me that so I face the land of Hind; * + + + Then go, and fairest greetings for me say." + + + +Then he went to his lodging and lay that night, restless and without +appetite for the food of sleep.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Adi ended +his verses he went to his lodging and lay that night restless and +without appetite for the food of sleep. Now on the morrow Mariyah +accosted him and he received her kindly, though before he would not +incline to her, and said to her, "What is thy will?" Quoth she, "I have +a want of thee;" and quoth he, "Name it, for by Allah, thou shalt not +ask me aught, but I will give it thee!" So she told him that she loved +him, and her want of him was that he would grant her a lover's privacy; +and he agreed to do her will, on condition that she would serve him +with Hind and devise some device to bring them together. Then he took +her into a vintner's tavern in one of the by streets of Hirah, and lay +with her; after which she returned to Hind and asked her, "Dost thou +not long to see Adi?" She answered, "How can this be? Indeed my longing +for him makes me restless, and no repose is left me since yesterday." +Quoth Mariyah, "I will appoint him to be in such a place, where thou +canst look on him from the palace." Quoth Hind, "Do what thou wilt," +and agreed with her upon the place. So Adi came, and the Princess +looked out upon him; and, when she saw him, she was like to topple down +from the palace top and said, "O Mariyah, except thou bring him in to +me this night, I shall die." So saying, she fell to the ground in a +fainting fit, and her serving women lifted her up and bore her into the +palace; whilst Mariyah hastened to Al-Nu'uman and discovered the whole +matter to him with perfect truth, telling him that indeed she was mad +for the love of Adi; and except he marry her to him she must be put to +shame and die of love for him, which would disgrace her father among +the Arabs, adding at the end, "There is no cure for this but wedlock." +The King bowed his head awhile in thought and exclaimed again and +again, "Verily, we are Allah's and unto Him we are returning!" Then +said he "Woe to thee! How shall the marriage be brought about, seeing I +mislike to open the matter?" And she said, "He is yet more ardently in +love and yet more desireful of her than she is of him; and I will so +order the affair that he shall be unaware of his case being known to +thee; but do not betray thyself, O King." Then she went to Adi and, +after acquainting him with everything said, "Make a feast and bid the +King thereto; and, when the wine hath gotten the better of him, ask of +him his daughter, for he will not refuse thee." Quoth Adi, "I fear lest +this enrage him against me and be the cause of enmity between us." But +quoth she, "I came not to thee, till I had settled the whole affair +with him." Then she returned to Al- Nu'uman and said to him, "Seek of +Adi that he entertain thee in his house." Replied the King, "There is +no harm in that;" and after three days, besought Adi to give him and +his lords the morning meal in his house. He consented and the King went +to him; and when the wine had taken effect on Al-Nu'uman, Adi rose and +sought of him his daughter in wedlock. He consented and married them +and brought her to him after three days; and they abode at Al-Nu'uman's +court, in all solace of life and its delight—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Adi abode with +Hind bint Al-Nu'uman bin Munzir three years in all solace of life and +its delight, after which time the King was wroth with Adi and slew him. +Hind mourned for him with grievous mourning and built her an hermitage +outside the city, whither she retired and became a religious, weeping +and bewailing her husband till she died. And her hermitage is seen to +this day in the suburbs of Hirah. They also tell a tale of + + + + +DI'IBIL AL-KHUZA'I WITH THE LADY AND MUSLIM BIN AL-WALID. + +Quoth Di'ibil al Khuzα'i[FN#181], "I was sitting one day at the gate of +Al Karkh,[FN#182] when a damsel came past. Never saw I a fairer faced +or better formed than she, walking with a voluptuous swaying gait and +ravishing all beholders with her lithe and undulating pace. Now as my +eyes fell on her, I was captivated by her and my vitals trembled and +meseemed my heart flew forth of my breast; so I stood before her and I +accosted her with this verse, + + 'The tears of these eyes find easy release; * + + + But sleep flies these eyelids without surcease.' + + + +Whereon she turned her face and looking at me, straightway made answer +with this distich, + + 'A trifle this an his eyes be sore, * + + + When her eyes say 'yes' to his love's caprice!' + + + +I was astounded at the readiness of her reply and the fluency of her +speech and rejoined with this verse, + + 'Say, cloth heart of my fair incline to him * + + + Whose tears like a swelling stream increase?' + + + +And she answered me without hesitation, thus, + + 'If thou crave our love, know that love's a loan; * + + + And a debt to be paid by us twain a piece.' + + + +Never entered my ears aught sweeter than her speech nor ever saw I +brighter than her face: so I changed rhyme and rhythm to try her, in my +wonder at her words, and repeated this couplet, + + 'Will Fate with joy of union ever bless our sight, * + + + And one desireful one with other one unite.' + + + +She smiled at this (never saw I fairer than her mouth nor sweeter than +her lips), and answered me, without stay or delay, in the following +distich, + + "Pray, tell me what hath Fate to do betwixt us twain? * + + + Thou'rt Elate: so bless our eyne with union and + + + delight.' + + + +At this, I sprang up and fell to kissing her hands and cried, 'I had +not thought that Fortune would vouchsafe me such occasion. Do thou +follow me, not of bidding or against thy will, but of the grace of thee +and thy favour to me.' Then I went on and she after me. Now at that +time I had no lodging I deemed fit for the like of her; but Muslim bin +al-Walνd[FN#183] was my fast friend, and he had a handsome house. So I +made for his abode and knocked at the door, whereupon he came out, and +I saluted him, saying, 'Tis for time like this that friends are +treasured up'; and he replied, 'With love and gladness! Come in you +twain.' So we entered but found money scarce with him: however, he gave +me a kerchief, saying, 'Carry it to the bazar and sell it and buy food +and what else thou needest.' I took the handkerchief, and hastening to +the market, sold it and bought what we required of victuals and other +matters; but when I returned, I found that Muslim had retired, with her +to an underground chamber.[FN#184] When he heard my step he hurried out +and said to me, 'Allah requite thee the kindness thou hast done me, O +Abu Ali and reward thee in time to come and reckon it of thy good deeds +on the Day of Doom!' So saying, he took from me the food and wine and +shut the door in my face. His words enraged me and I knew not what to +do, but he stood behind the door, shaking for mirth; and, when he saw +me thus, he said to me, 'I conjure thee on my life, O Abu Ali, tell who +it was composed this couplet?, + + 'I lay in her arms all night, leaving him * + + + To sleep foul-hearted but clean of staff.' + + + +At this my rage redoubled, and I replied, 'He who wrote this other +couplet', + + 'One, I wish him in belt a thousand horns, * + + + Exceeding in mighty height Manaf.'[FN#185] + + + +Then I began to abuse him and reproach him with the foulness of his +action and his lack of honour; and he was silent, never uttering a +word. But, when I had finished, he smiled and said, 'Out on thee, O +fool! Thou hast entered my house and sold my kerchief and spent my +silver: so, with whom art thou wroth, O pimp?'[FN#186] Then he left me +and went away to her, whilst I said, 'By Allah, thou art right to twit +me as nincompoop and pander!' Then I left his door and went away in +sore concern, and I feel its trace in my heart to this very day; for I +never had my will of her nor, indeed, ever heard of her more." And +amongst other tales is that about + + + + +ISAAC OF MOSUL AND THE MERCHANT. + +Quoth Ishak bin Ibrahim al Mausili, "It so chanced that, one day +feeling weary of being on duty at the Palace and in attendance upon the +Caliph, I mounted horse and went forth, at break of dawn, having a mind +to ride out in the open country and take my pleasure. So I said to my +servants, 'If there come a messenger from the Caliph or another, say +that I set out at day break, upon a pressing business, and that ye know +not whither I am gone.' Then I fared forth alone and went round about +the city, till the sun waxed hot, when I halted in a great thoroughfare +known as Al Haram,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ishak bin Ibrahim +the Mausili continued: "When the sun waxed hot I halted in a great +thoroughfare known as Al-Haram, to take shelter in the shade and found +it in a spacious wing of a house which projected over the street. And I +stood there but a little while before there came up a black slave, +leading an ass bestridden by a damsel; and under her were housings set +with gems and pearls and upon her were the richest of clothes, richness +can go no farther; and I saw that she was elegant of make with +languorous look and graceful mien. I asked one of the passers by who +she was, and he said, 'She is a singer,' so I fell in love with her at +first sight: hardly could I keep my seat on horseback. She entered the +house at whose gate I stood; and, as I was planning a device to gain +access to her, there came up two men young and comely who asked +admission and the housemaster gave them leave to enter. So they +alighted and I also and they entered and I with them, they supposing +that the master of the house had invited me; and we sat awhile, till +food was brought and we ate. Then they set wine before us, and the +damsel came out, with a lute in her hand. She sang and we drank, till I +rose to obey a call of nature. Thereupon the host questioned the two +others of me, and they replied that they knew me not; whereupon quoth +he, 'This is a parasite[FN#187]; but he is a pleasant fellow, so treat +him courteously.' Then I came back and sat down in my place, whilst the +damsel sang to a pleasing air these two couplets, + + 'Say to the she gazelle, who's no gazelle, * + + + And Kohl'd ariel who's no ariel.[FN#188] + + + Who lies with male, and yet no female is, * + + + Whose gait is female most unlike the male.' + + + +She sang it right well, and the company drank and her song pleased +them. Then she carolled various pieces to rare measures, and amongst +the rest one of mine, which consisted of this distich, + + 'Bare hills and campground desolate * + + + And friends who all have ganged their gait. + + + How severance after union leaves * + + + Me and their homes in saddest state!' + + + +Her singing this time was even better than the first; then she chanted +other rare pieces, old and new, and amongst them, another of mine with +the following two couplets, + + 'Say to angry lover who turns away, * + + + And shows thee his side whatso thou + + + 'Thou wroughtest all that by thee was wrought, * + + + Albe 'twas haply thy sport and play.' + + + +I prayed her to repeat the song, that I might correct it for her; +whereupon one of the two men accosted me and said, 'Never saw we a more +impudent lick platter than thou. Art thou not content with sponging, +but thou must eke meddle and muddle? Of very sooth, in thee is the +saying made true, Parasite and pushing wight.' So I hung down my head +for shame and made him no answer, whilst his companion would have +withheld him from me, but he would not be restrained. Presently, they +rose to pray, but I lagged behind a little and, taking the lute, +screwed up the sides and brought it into perfect tune. Then I stood up +in my place to pray with the rest; and when we had ended praying, the +same man fell again to blaming me and reviling me and persisted in his +rudeness, whilst I held my peace. Thereupon the damsel took the lute +and touching it, knew that it had been altered, and said, 'Who hath +touched my lute?' Quoth they, 'None of us hath touched it.' Quoth she, +'Nay, by Allah, some one hath touched it, and he is an artist, a past +master in the craft; for he hath arranged the strings and tuned them +like one who is a perfect performer.' Said I, 'It was I tuned it;' and +said she, 'Then, Allah upon thee, take it and play on it!' So I took +it; and, playing a piece so difficult and so rare, that it went nigh to +deaden the quick and quicken the dead, I sang thereto these couplets, + + 'I had a heart, and with it lived my life: * + + + 'Twas seared with fire and burnt with loving-lowe: + + + I never won the blessing of her love; * + + + God would not on His slave such boon bestow: + + + If what I've tasted be the food of Love, * + + + Must taste it all men who love food would know.'" + + + +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ishak of Mosul +thus continued: "Now when I had finished my verse, there was not one of +the company but sprang from his place and sat down like schoolboys +before me, saying, 'Allah upon thee, O our lord, sing us another song.' +'With pleasure,' said I, and playing another measure in masterly +fashion, sang thereto these couplets, + +'Ho thou whose heart is melted down by force of Amor's fire, * + + + And griefs from every side against thy happiness conspire: + + +Unlawful is that he who pierced my vitals with his shaft, * My + + + blood between my midriff and my breast bone[FN#189] he + + + desire, + + +'Twas plain, upon our severance day, that he had set his mind * + + + On an eternal parting, moved by tongue of envious liar: + + +He sheds my blood he ne'er had shed except by wound of love, * + + + Will none demand my blood of him, my wreck of him require?' + + + +When I had made an end of this song, there was not one of them but rose +to his feet and threw himself upon the ground for excess of delight. +Then I cast the lute from my hand, but they said, 'Allah upon thee, do +not on this wise, but let us hear another song, so Allah Almighty +increase thee of His bounty!' Replied I, 'O folk, I will sing you +another song and another and another and will tell you who I am. I am +Ishak bin Ibrahim al Mausili, and by Allah, I bear myself proudly to +the Caliph when he seeketh me. Ye have today made me hear abuse from an +unmannerly carle such as I loathe; and by Allah, I will not speak a +word nor sit with you, till ye put yonder quarrelsome churl out from +among you!' Quoth the fellow's companion to him, 'This is what I warned +thee against, fearing for thy good name.' So they hent him by the hand +and thrust him out; and I took the lute and sang over again the songs +of my own composing which the damsel had sung. Then I whispered the +host that she had taken my heart and that I had no patience to abstain +from her. Quoth he 'She is thine on one condition.' I asked, 'What is +that?' and he answered, 'It is that thou abide with me a month, when +the damsel and all belonging to her of raiment and jewellery shall be +thine.' I rejoined, 'It is well, I will do this.' So I tarried with him +a whole month, whilst none knew where I was and the Caliph sought me +everywhere, but could come by no news of me; and at the end of this +time, the merchant delivered to me the damsel, together with all that +pertained to her of things of price and an eunuch to attend upon her. +So I brought all that to my lodging, feeling as I were lord of the +whole world, for exceeding delight in her; then I rode forthright to +Al-Maamun. And when I stood in the presence, he said, 'Woe to thee, O +Ishak, where hast thou been?' So I acquainted him with the story and he +said, 'Bring me that man at once.' Thereupon I told him where he lived +and he sent and fetched him and questioned him of the case; when he +repeated the story and the Caliph said to him, 'Thou art a man of right +generous mind, and it is only fitting that thou be aided in thy +generosity.' Then he ordered him an hundred thousand dirhams and said +to me, 'O Ishak, bring the damsel before me.' So I brought her to him, +and she sang and delighted him; and being greatly gladdened by her he +said to me, 'I appoint her turn of service every Thursday, when she +must come and sing to me from behind the curtain.' And he ordered her +fifty thousand dirhams, so by Allah, I profited both myself and others +by my ride." And amongst the tales they tell is one of + + + + +THE THREE UNFORTUNATE LOVERS. + +Quoth Al-'Utbν[FN#190], "I was sitting one day with a company of +educated men, telling stories of the folk, when the talk turned upon +legends of lovers and each of us said his say thereanent. Now there was +in our company an old man, who remained silent, till all had spoken and +had no more to say, when quoth he, 'Shall I tell you a thing, the like +of which you never heard; no, never?' 'Yes,' quoth we; and he said, +'Know, then, that I had a daughter, who loved a youth, but we knew it +not; while the youth loved a singing girl, who in her turn loved my +daughter. One day, I was present at an assembly, wherein were also the +youth'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Tenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Shaykh +continued: 'One day, I was present at an assembly wherein were also the +youth and the singing girl and she chanted to us these couplets, + + 'Prove how Love bringeth low * Lover those tears that run + + + Lowering him still the more * When pity finds he none.' + + + +Cried the youth, 'By Allah, thou hast said well, O my mistress.' Dost +thou incite me to die?' Answered the girl from behind the curtain, +'Yes, if thou be a true lover.' So he laid his head on a cushion and +closed his eyes; and when the cup came round to him, we shook him and +behold, he was dead.[FN#191] Therewith we all flocked to him, and our +pleasure was troubled and we grieved and broke up at once. When I came +home, my people took in bad part my returning before the appointed +time, and I told them what had befallen the youth, thinking that +thereby I should greatly surprise them. My daughter heard my words and +rising, went from the sitting chamber into another, whither I followed +her and found her lying with her head on a cushion, even as I had told +of the young man. So I shook her and lo! she was dead. Then we laid her +out and set forth next morning to bury her, whilst the friends of the +young man set forth in like guise to bury him. As we were on the way to +the burial place, we met a third funeral and asking whose it was, were +told that it was that of the singing girl who, hearing of my daughter's +death, had done even as she did and was dead. So we buried them all +three on one day, and this is the rarest tale that ever was heard of +lovers." And they also tell a tale of + + + + +HOW ABU HASAN BRAKE WIND. + +They recount that in the City Kaukabαn of Al-Yaman there was a man of +the Fazlν tribe who had left Badawi life, and become a townsman for +many years and was a merchant of the most opulent merchants. His wife +had deceased when both were young; and his friends were instant with +him to marry again, ever quoting to him the words of the poet, + + "Go, gossip! re-wed thee, for Prime draweth near: + + + A wife is an almanac—good for the year." + + + +So being weary of contention, Abu Hasan entered into negotiations with +the old women who procure matches, and married a maid like Canopus when +he hangeth over the seas of Al-Hind. He made high festival therefor, +bidding to the wedding banquet kith and kin, Olema and Fakirs; friends +and foes and all his acquaintances of that countryside. The whole house +was thrown open to feasting: there were rices of five several colours, +and sherbets of as many more; and kids stuffed with walnuts and almonds +and pistachios and a camel colt[FN#192] roasted whole. So they ate and +drank and made mirth and merriment; and the bride was displayed in her +seven dresses and one more, to the women, who could not take their eyes +off her. At last, the bridegroom was summoned to the chamber where she +sat enthroned; and he rose slowly and with dignity from his divan; but +in so doing, for that he was over full of meat and drink, lo and +behold! he let fly a fart, great and terrible. Thereupon each guest +turned to his neighbour and talked aloud and made as though he had +heard nothing, fearing for his life. But a consuming fire was lit in +Abu Hasan's heart; so he pretended a call of nature; and, in lieu of +seeking the bride chamber, he went down to the house court and saddled +his mare and rode off, weeping bitterly, through the shadow of the +night. In time he reached Lαhej where he found a ship ready to sail for +India; so he shipped on board and made Calicut of Malabar. Here he met +with many Arabs, especially Hazramνs[FN#193], who recommended him to +the King; and this King (who was a Kafir) trusted him and advanced him +to the captainship of his body guard. He remained ten years in all +solace and delight of life; at the end of which time he was seized with +home sickness; and the longing to behold his native land was that of a +lover pining for his beloved; and he came near to die of yearning +desire. But his appointed day had not dawned; so, after taking the +first bath of health, he left the King without leave, and in due course +landed at Makallα of Hazramaut. Here he donned the rags of a religious; +and, keeping his name and case secret, fared for Kaukaban afoot; +enduring a thousand hardships of hunger, thirst and fatigue; and +braving a thousand dangers from the lion, the snake and the Ghul. But +when he drew near his old home, he looked down upon it from the hills +with brimming eyes, and said in himself, "Haply they might know thee; +so I will wander about the outskirts, and hearken to the folk. Allah +grant that my case be not remembered by them!" He listened carefully +for seven nights and seven days, till it so chanced that, as he was +sitting at the door of a hut, he heard the voice of a young girl +saying, "O my mother, tell me the day when I was born; for such an one +of my companions is about to take an omen[FN#194] for me." And the +mother answered, "Thou was born, O my daughter, on the very night when +Abu Hasan farted." Now the listener no sooner heard these words than he +rose up from the bench, and fled away saying to himself, "Verily thy +fart hath become a date, which shall last for ever and ever; even as +the poet said, + + 'As long as palms shall shift the flower; * + + + As long as palms shall sift the flour.'[FN#195] + + + +And he ceased not travelling and voyaging and returned to India; and +there abode in self exile till he died; and the mercy of Allah be upon +him![FN#196] And they tell another story of + + + + +THE LOVERS OF THE BANU TAYY. + +Kαsim, son of Adi, was wont to relate that a man of the Banϊ Tamνm +spake as follows: "I went out one day in search of an estray and, +coming to the waters of the Banu Tayy, saw two companies of people near +one another, and behold, those of one company were disputing among +themselves even as the other. So I watched them and observed, in one of +the companies, a youth wasted with sickness, as he were a worn-out +dried-up waterskin. And as I looked on him, lo! he repeated these +couplets, + + 'What ails the Beauty she returneth not? * + + + Is't Beauty's irk or grudging to my lot? + + + I sickened and my friends all came to call; * + + + What stayed thee calling with the friendly knot? + + + Hadst thou been sick, I had come running fast * + + + To thee, nor threats had kept me from the spot: + + + Mid them I miss thee, and I lie alone; * + + + Sweetheart, to lose thy love sad loss I wot!' + + + +His words were heard by a damsel in the other company who hastened +towards him, and when her people followed her, she fought them off. +Then the youth caught sight of her and sprang up and ran towards her, +whilst the people of his party ran after him and laid hold of him. +However he haled and freed himself from them, and she in like manner +loosed herself; and, when they were free, each ran to other and meeting +between the two parties, embraced and fell dead upon the ground."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred ante Eleventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "the young man +and the maid met between the two parties and embraced and both fell +dead upon the ground; whereat came there out an old man from one of the +tents and stood over them exclaiming, 'Verily, we are Allah's and unto +Him we are returning!' Then weeping sore he said, 'Allah have ruth on +you both! by the Almighty, though you were not united in your lives, I +will at least unite you after your deaths.' And he bade lay them out: +so they washed them and shrouded them in one shroud and dug for them +one grave and prayed one prayer over them both and buried them in one +tomb; nor was there man or woman in the two parties but I saw weeping +over them and buffeting their faces. Then I questioned the Shaykh of +them, and he said, 'She was my daughter and he my brother's son; and +love brought them to the pass thou seest.' I exclaimed, 'Allah amend +thee! but why didst thou not marry them to each other?' Quoth he, 'I +feared shame[FN#197] and dishonour; and now I am fallen into both.' " +And they tell a tale of + + + + +THE MAD LOVER. + +Quoth Abu 'l-Abbαs al-Mubarrad,[FN#198] "I set out one day with a +company to Al-Bαrid on an occasion and, coming to the monastery of +Hirakl,[FN#199] we alighted in its shade. Presently a man came out to +us and said, 'There are madmen in the monastery,[FN#200] and amongst +them one who speaketh wisdom; if ye saw him, ye would marvel at his +speech.' So we arose all and went into the monastery' where we saw a +man seated on a skin mat in one of the cells, with bare head and eyes +intently fixed upon the wall. We saluted him, and he returned our +salaam, without looking at us, and one said to us, 'Repeat some verses +to him; for, when he heareth verse, he speaketh.' So I repeated these +two couplets, + + 'O best of race to whom gave Hawwa[FN#201] boon of birth, * + + + Except for thee the world were neither sweet nor fair! + + + Thou'rt he, whose face, by Allah shown to man, * + + + Doth ward off death, decay and hoary hair.' + + + +When he heard from me this praise of the Apostle he turned towards us +and repeated these lines, + + 'Well Allah wotteth I am sorely plagued: * + + + Nor can I show my pain to human sight. + + + Two souls have I, one soul is here contained, * + + + While other woneth in another site. + + + Meseems the absent soul's like present soul, * + + + And that she suffers what to me is dight.' + + + +Then he asked us. 'Have I said well or said ill? And we answered, 'Thou +hast said the clean contrary of ill, well and right well.' Then he put +out his hand to a stone, that was by him and took it up; whereupon +thinking he would throw it at us we fled from him; but he fell to +beating upon his breast therewith violent blows and said to us, 'Fear +not, but draw near and hear somewhat from me and receive it from me.' +So we came back, and he repeated these couplets, + +'When they made their camels yellow white kneel down at dawning + + + grey * They mounted her on crupper and the camel went his + + + way, + + +Mine eye balls through the prison wall beheld them, and I cried * + + + With streaming eyelids and a heart that burnt in dire dismay + + +O camel driver turn thy beast that I farewell my love! * In + + + parting and farewelling her I see my doomed day + + +I'm faithful to my vows of love which I have never broke, * Would + + + Heaven I kenned what they have done with vows that vowed + + + they!' + + + +Then he looked at me and said, 'Say me, dost thou know what they +did?'[FN#202] Answered I, 'Yes, they are dead; Almighty Allah have +mercy on them!' At this his face changed and he sprang to his feet and +cried out, 'How knowest thou they be dead?;' and I replied, 'Were they +alive they had not left thee thus.' Quoth he, 'By Allah, thou art +right, and I care not to live after them.' Then his side muscles +quivered and he fell on his face; and we ran up to him and shook him +and found him dead, the mercy of the Almighty be on him! At this we +marvelled and mourned for him and, sore mourning, laid him out and +buried him".—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Twelfth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that al-Mubarrad thus +continued: "When the man fell we mourned over him with sore mourning +and laid him out and buried him. And when I returned to Baghdad and +went in to the Caliph al-Mutawakkil, he saw the trace of tears on my +face and said to me, 'What is this?' So I told him what had passed and +it was grievous to him and he cried, 'What moved thee to deal thus with +him?[FN#203] By Allah, if I thought thou didst not repent it and regret +him I would punish thee therefor!' And he mourned for him the rest of +the day." And amongst the tales they tell is one of + + + + +THE PRIOR WHO BECAME A MOSLEM. + +Quoth Abu Bakr Mohammed ibn Al-Anbαri[FN#204]: "I once left Anbαr on a +journey to 'Amϊrνyah,[FN#205] where there came out to me the prior of +the monastery and superior of the monkery, Abd al-Masνh hight, and +brought me into the building. There I found forty religious, who +entertained me that night with fair guest rite, and I left them after +seeing among them such diligence in adoration and devotion as I never +beheld the like of in any others. Next day I farewelled them and fared +forth and, after doing my business at 'Amuriyah, I returned to my home +at Anbar. And next year I made pilgrimage to Meccah and as I was +circumambulating the Holy House I saw Abd al-Masih the monk also +compassing the Ka'abah, and with him five of his fellows, the +shavelings. Now when I was sure that it was indeed he, I accosted him, +saying, 'Art thou not Abd al-Masih, the Religious?' and he replied, +'Nay, I am Abdallah, the Desirous.'[FN#206] Therewith I fell to kissing +his grey hairs and shedding tears; then, taking him by the hand, I led +him aside into a corner of the Temple and said to him, 'Tell me the +cause of thy conversion to al-Islam;' and he made reply, 'Verily, 'twas +a wonder of wonders, and befell thus. A company of Moslem devotees came +to the village wherein is our convent, and sent a youth to buy them +food. He saw, in the market, a Christian damsel selling bread, who was +of the fairest of women; and he was struck at first sight with such +love of her, that his senses failed him and he fell on his face in a +fainting fit. When he revived, he returned to his companions and told +them what had befallen him, saying, 'Go ye about your business; I may +not go with you.' They chided him and exhorted him, but he paid no heed +to them; so they left him whilst he entered the village and seated +himself at the door of the woman's booth.[FN#207] She asked him what he +wanted, and he told her that he was in love with her whereupon she +turned from him; but he abode in his place three days without tasting +food, keeping his eyes fixed on her face. Now whenas she saw that he +departed not from her, she went to her people and acquainted them with +his case, and they set on him the village boys, who stoned him and +bruised his ribs and broke his head; but, for all this, he would not +budge. Then the villagers took counsel together to slay him; but a man +of them came to me and told me of his case, and I went out to him and +found him lying prostrate on the ground. So I wiped the blood from his +face and carried him to the convent, and dressed his wounds; and there +he abode with me fourteen days. But as soon as he could walk, he left +the monastery"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Thirteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abdallah the +Religious continued: "So I carried him to the convent and dressed his +wounds, and he abode with me fourteen days. But as soon as he could +walk, he left the monastery and returned to the door of the woman 's +booth, where he sat gazing on her as before. When she saw him she came +out to him and said, 'By Allah thou movest me to pity! wilt thou enter +my faith that I may marry thee?' He cried, 'Allah forbid that I should +put off the faith of Unity and enter that of Plurality!'[FN#208] Quoth +she, 'Come in with me to my house and take thy will of me and wend thy +ways in peace.' Quoth he, 'Not so, I will not waste the worship of +twelve years for the lust of an eye-twinkle.' Said she, 'Then depart +from me forthwith;' and he said, 'My heart will not suffer me to do +that;' whereupon she turned her countenance from him. Presently the +boys found him out and began to pelt him with stones; and he fell on +his face, saying, 'Verily, Allah is my protector, who sent down the +Book of the Koran; and He protecteth the Righteous![FN#209] At this I +sallied forth and driving away the boys, lifted his head from the +ground and heard him say, 'Allah mine, unite me with her in Paradise!' +Then I carried him to the monastery, but he died, before I could reach +it, and I bore him without the village and I dug for him a grave and +buried him. And next night when half of it was spent, the damsel cried +with a great cry (and she in her bed); so the villagers flocked to her +and questioned her of her case. Quoth she, 'As I slept, behold the +Moslem man came in to me and taking me by the hand, carried me to the +gate of Paradise; but the Guardian denied me entrance, saying, 'Tis +forbidden to unbelievers.' So I embraced Al Islam at his hands and, +entering with him, beheld therein pavilions and trees, such as I cannot +describe to you. Moreover, he brought me to a pavilion of jewels and +said to me, 'Of a truth this is my pavilion and thine, nor will I enter +it save with thee; but, after five nights thou shalt be with me +therein, if it be the will of Allah Almighty.' Then he put forth his +hand to a tree which grew at the door of the pavilion and plucked there +from two apples and gave them to me, saying, 'Eat this and keep the +other, that the monks may see it.' So I ate one of them and never +tasted I aught sweeter.' "—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fourteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the woman +continued: "'So he plucked two apples and gave them to me, saying, 'Eat +this and keep the other that the monks may see it.' So I ate one of +them and never tasted I aught sweeter. Then he took my hand and fared +forth and carried me back to my house; and, when I awoke, I found the +taste of the apple in my mouth and the other in my hand.' So saying she +brought out the apple, and in the darkness of the night it shone as it +were a sparkling star. So they carried her (and the apple with her) to +the monastery, where she repeated her vision and showed it to us; never +saw we its like among all the fruits of the world. Then I took a knife +and cut the apple into pieces according as we were folk in company; and +never knew we aught more delicious than its savour nor more delightsome +than its scent; but we said, 'Haply this was a devil that appeared unto +her to seduce her from her faith.' Thereupon her people took her and +went away; but she abstained from eating and drinking and on the fifth +night she rose from her bed, and going forth the village to the grave +of her Moslem lover threw herself upon it and died, her family not +knowing what was come of her. But, on the morrow, there came to the +village two Moslem elders, clad in hair cloth, and with them two women +in like garb, and said, 'O people of the village, with you is a woman +Saint, a Waliyah of the friends of Allah, who died a Moslemah; and we +will take charge of her in lieu of you.' So the villagers sought her +and found her dead on the Moslem's grave; and they said, 'This was one +of us and she died in our faith; so we will take charge of her.' +Rejoined the two old men, 'Nay, she died a Moslemah and we claim her.' +And the dispute waxed to a quarrel between them, till one of the +Shaykhs said, 'Be this the test of her faith: the forty monks of the +monastery shall come and try to lift her from the grave. If they +succeed, then she died a Nazarene; if not, one of us shall come and +lift her up and if she be lifted by him, she died a Moslemah.' The +villagers agreed to this and fetched the forty monks, who heartened one +another, and came to her to lift her, but could not. Then we tied a +great rope round her middle and haled at it; but the rope broke in +sunder, and she stirred not; and the villagers came and did the like, +but could not move her from her place.[FN#210] At last, when all means +failed, we said to one of the two Shaykhs, 'Come thou and lift her.' So +he went up to the grave and, covering her with his mantle, said, 'In +the name of Allah the Compassionating, the Compassionate, and of the +Faith of the Apostle of Allah, on whom be prayers and peace!' Then he +lifted her and, taking her in his bosom, betook himself with her to a +cave hard by, where they laid her, and the two women came and washed +her and shrouded her. Then the two elders bore her to her Moslem +lover's grave and prayed over her and buried her by his side and went +their ways. Now we were eye witnesses of all this; and, when we were +alone with one another, we said, 'In sooth, the truth is most worthy to +be followed;'[FN#211] and indeed the verity hath been made manifest to +us, nor is there a proof more patent of the truth of al-Islam than that +we have seen this day with our eyes.' So I and all the monks became +Moslems and on like wise did the villagers; and we sent to the people +of Mesopotamia for a doctor of the law, to instruct us in the +ordinances of al-Islam and the canons of the Faith. They sent us a +learned man and a pious, who taught us the rites of prayer and the +tenets of the faith; and we are now in ease abounding; so to Allah be +the praise and the thanks!" And they also tell a tale of + + + + +THE LOVES OF ABU ISA AND KURRAT AL-AYN. + +Quoth Amrϊ bin Masa'dah:[FN#212] "Abϊ Isα, son of al-Rashνd and brother +to al-Maamun, was enamoured of one Kurrat al-Ayn, a slave girl +belonging to Ali bin Hishαm,[FN#213] and she also loved him; but he +concealed his passion, complaining of it to none neither discovering +his secret to anyone, of his pride and magnanimity; for he had used his +utmost endeavour to purchase her of her master, but he had failed. At +last when his patience was at an end and his passion was sore on him +and he was helpless in the matter, he went in to al-Maamun, one day of +state after the folk had retired, and said to him, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, if thou wilt this day make trial of thine Alcaydes by taking +them unawares, thou wilt know the generous from the mean and note each +one's place, after the quality of his mind.' But, in saying this he +purposed only to sit with Kurrat al-Ayn in her lord's house. Quoth +al-Maamun, 'Right is thy recking,' and bade make ready a barge, called +'the Flyer,' wherein he embarked with Abu Isa and a party of his chief +officers. The first mansion he visited unexpectedly was that of Hamνd +al-Tawil of Tϊs, whom he found seated"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fifteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that al-Maamun +embarked with his chief officers and fared on till they reached the +mansion of Hamνd al-Tawil of Tϊs; and, unexpectedly entering they found +him seated on a mat and before him singers and players with lutes and +flageolets and other instruments of music in their hands. So Al Maamun +sat with him awhile and presently he set before him dishes of nothing +but flesh meat, with no birds among them. The Caliph would not taste +thereof and Abu Isa said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, we have +taken the owner of this place unawares, and he knew not of thy coming; +but now let us go to another place which is prepared for thee and +fitted for thee." Thereupon the Caliph arose and betook himself with +his brother Abu Isa and his suite, to the abode of Ali son of Hisham +who, on hearing of their approach, came out and received them with the +goodliest of reception, and kissed the earth before the King. Then he +brought them into his mansion and opened to them a saloon than which +seer never saw a goodlier. Its floors, pillars and walls were of many +coloured marbles, adorned with Greek paintings: and it was spread with +matting of Sind[FN#214] whereon were carpets and tapestry of Bassorah +make, fitted to the length and breadth of the room. So the Caliph sat +awhile, examining the house and its ceilings and walls, then said, +"Give us somewhat to eat." So they brought him forthwith nearly an +hundred dishes of poultry besides other birds and brewises, fritters +and cooling marinades. When he had eaten, he said, "Give us some thing +to drink, O Ali;" and the host set before him, in vessels of gold and +silver and crystal, raisin wine boiled down to one third with fruits +and spices; and the cupbearers were pages like moons, clad in garments +of Alexandrian stuff interwoven with gold and bearing on their breasts +beakers of crystal, full of rose water mingled with musk. So al-Maamun +marvelled with exceeding marvel at all he saw and said, "Ho thou, Abu +al-Hasan!" Whereupon Ali sprang to the Caliph's carpet and kissing it, +said, "At thy service, O Commander of the Faithful!" and stood before +him. Quoth al-Maamun, "Let us hear some pleasant and merry song." +Replied Ali, "I hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful," and said +to one of his eunuchs, "Fetch the singing women." So the slave went out +and presently returned, followed by ten castratos, bearing ten stools +of gold, which they set down in due order; and after these came ten +damsels, concubines of the master, as they were shining full moons or +gardens full of bloom, clad in black brocade, with crowns of gold on +their heads; and they passed along the room till they sat down on the +stools, when sang they sundry songs. Al-Maamun looked at one of them; +and, being captivated by her elegance and fair favour, asked her, "What +is thy name, O damsel?"; and she answered, "My name is Sajαhν,[FN#215] +O Commander of the Faithful," and he said, "Sing to us, O Sajahi!" So +she played a lively measure and sang these couplets, + + "I walk, for fear of interview, the weakling's walk * + + + Who sees two lion whelps the fount draw nigh: + + + My cloak acts sword, my heart's perplex'd with fright, * + + + Lest jealous hostile eyes th' approach descry: + + + Till sudden hapt I on a delicate maid * + + + Like desert-doe that fails her fawns to espy." + + + +Quoth the Caliph, "Thou hast done well, O damsel! whose are these +lines?" She answered, "Written by Amru bin Ma'di Karib al +-Zubaydi,[FN#216] and the air is Ma'abid's."[FN#217] Then the Caliph +and Abu Isa and Ali drank and the damsels went away and were succeeded +by other ten, all clad in flowered silk of Al-Yaman, brocaded with +gold, who sat down on the chairs and sang various songs. The Caliph +looked at one of the concubines, who was like a wild heifer of the +waste, and said to her, "What is thy name, O damsel?" She replied, "My +name is Zabiyah,[FN#218] 0 Commander of the Faithful;" and he, "Sing to +us Zabiyah;" so she warbled like a bird with many a trill and sang +these two couplets, + + "Houris, and highborn Dames who feel no fear of men, * + + + Like Meccan game forbidden man to slam:[FN#219] + + + Their soft sweet voices make you deem them whores, * + + + But bars them from all whoring Al-Islam." + + + +When she had finished, al-Maamun cried, "favoured of Allah art +thou!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Sixteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the slave +girl finished her song, al-Maamun cried, "Favoured of Allah art thou! +Whose is this verse?" and she answered, "Jarνr's[FN#220] and the air is +By Ibn Surayj." Then the Caliph and his company drank, whilst the girls +went away and there came forth yet other ten, as they were rubies, +robed in red brocade inwoven with gold and purfled with pearls and +jewels whilst all their heads were bare. They sat down on the stools +and sang various airs; so the Caliph looked at one of them, who was +like the sun of the day, and asked her, "What is thy name, O damsel?"; +and she answered, "O Commander of the Faithful, my name is Fαtin." +"Sing to us, O Fatin," quoth he; whereat she played a lively measure +and sang these couplets, + + "Deign grant thy favours; since 'tis time I were engraced; * + + + Tnough of severance hath it been my lot to taste. + + + Thou'rt he whose face cloth every gift and charm unite, * + + + Yet is my patience spent for that 'twas sore misplaced: + + + I've wasted life in loving thee; and would high Heaven * + + + Grant me one meeting hour for all this wilful waste." + + + +"Well sung, O Fatin!'' exclaimed the Caliph; "whose verse is this?" And +she answered, "Adi bin Zayd's, and the air is antique." Then all three +drank, whilst the damsels retired and were succeeded by other ten +maidens, as they were sparkling stars, clad in flowered silk +embroidered with red gold and girt with jewelled zones. They sat down +and sang various motives; and the Caliph asked one of them, who was +like a wand of willow, "What is thy name, O damsel?"; and she answered, +"My name is Rashaa,[FN#221] 0 Commander of the Faithful." "Sing to us, +O Rashaa," quoth he; so she played a lively measure and sang these +couplets, + + "And wand-like Houri, who can passion heal * + + + Like young gazelle that paceth o'er the plain: + + + I drain this wine cup on the toast, her cheek, * + + + Each cup disputing till she bends in twain + + + Then sleeps the night with me, the while I cry * + + + 'This is the only gain my Soul would gain!' " + + + +Said the Caliph, "Well done, O damsel! Sing us something more." So she +rose and kissing the ground before him, sang the following distich, + + "She came out to gaze on the bridal at ease * + + + In a shift that reeked of ambergris." + + + +The Caliph was highly pleased with this couplet and, when the slave +girl saw how much it delighted him, she repeated it several times. Then +said al-Maamun, "Bring up 'the Flyer,'" being minded to embark and +depart: but Ali bin Hisham said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, I +have a slave girl, whom I bought for ten thousand diners; she hath +taken my heart in whole and part, and I would fain display her to the +Commander of the Faithful. If she please him and he will accept of her, +she is his: and if not, let him hear something from her." Said the +Caliph, "Bring her to me;" and forth came a damsel, as she were a +branchlet of willow, with seducing eyes and eyebrows set like twin +bows; and on her head she wore a crown of red gold crusted with pearls +and jewelled, under which was a fillet bearing this couplet wrought in +letters of chrysolite, + + "A Jinniyah this, with her Jinn, to show * + + + How to pierce man's heart with a stringless bow!" + + + +The handmaiden walked, with the gait of a gazelle in flight and fit to +damn a devotee, till she came to a chair, whereon she seated +herself.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Seventeenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the hand maiden +walked with the gait of a gazelle in flight, fit to damn a devotee, +till she came to a chair whereon she seated herself. And Al-Maamun +marvelled at her beauty and loveliness; but, when Abu Isa saw her, his +heart throbbed with pain, his colour changed to pale and wan and he was +in evil case. Asked the Caliph, "O Abu Isa, what aileth thee to change +thus?"; and he answered, "O Commander of the Faithful, it is because of +a twitch that seizeth me betimes." Quoth the Caliph, "Hast thou known +yonder damsel before to day?" Quoth he, "Yes, O Commander of the +Faithful, can the moon be concealed?" Then said al-Maamun to her, "What +is thy name, O damsel?"; and she replied, "My name is Kurrat al-Ayn. O +Commander of the Faithful," and he rejoined, "Sing to us, O Kurrat +al-Ayn." So she sang these two couplets, + + "The loved ones left thee in middle night, * + + + And fared with the pilgrims when dawn shone bright: + + + The tents of pride round the domes they pitched, * + + + And with broidered curtains were veiled fro' sight." + + + +Quoth the Caliph, "Favoured of Heaven art thou, O Kurrat al-Ayn! Whose +song is that?"; whereto she answered "The words are by Di'ibil +al-Khuza'i, and the air by Zurzϊr al-Saghνr." Abu Isa looked at her and +his tears choked him; so that the company marvelled at him. Then she +turned to al-Maamun and said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, wilt +thou give me leave to change the words?" Said he, "Sing what thou +wilt;" so she played a merry measure and carolled these couplets, + + "If thou should please a friend who pleaseth thee * + + + Frankly, in public practise secrecy. + + + And spurn the slanderer's tale, who seldom[FN#222] * + + + seeks Except the severance of true love to see. + + + They say, when lover's near, he tires of love, * + + + And absence is for love best remedy: + + + Both cures we tried and yet we are not cured, * + + + Withal we judge that nearness easier be: + + + Yet nearness is of no avail when he * + + + Thou lovest lends thee love unwillingly." + + + +But when she had finished, Abu Isa said, "O Commander of the Faithful," +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Eighteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Kurrat +al-Ayn had finished her verse, Abu Isa said, "O Commander of the +Faithful, though we endure disgrace, we shall be at ease.[FN#223] Dost +thou give me leave to reply to her?" Quoth the Caliph, "Yes, say what +thou wilt to her." So he swallowed his tears and sang these two +distichs, + + "Silent I woned and never owned my love; * + + + But from my heart I hid love's blissful boon; + + + Yet, if my eyes should manifest my love, * + + + 'Tis for my nearness to the shining moon." + + + +Then Kurrat al-Ayn took the lute and played a lively tune and rejoined +with these couplets, + + "An what thou claimest were the real truth, * + + + With only Hope content thou hadst not been + + + Nor couldest patient live without the girl * + + + So rare of inner grace and outward mien. + + + But there is nothing in the claim of thee * + + + At all, save tongue and talk that little mean." + + + +When Abu Isa heard this he fell to weeping and wailing and evidencing +his trouble and anguish. Then he raised his eyes to her and sighing, +repeated these couplets, + + "Under my raiment a waste body lies, * + + + And in my spirit all comprising prize. + + + I have a heart, whose pain shall aye endure, * + + + And tears like torrents pour these woeful eyes. + + + Whene'er a wise man spies me, straight he chides * + + + Love, that misleads me thus in ways unwise: + + + O Lord, I lack the power this dole to bear: * + + + Come sudden Death or joy in bestest guise!" + + + +When he had ended, Ali bin Hisham sprang up and kissing his feet, said, +"O my lord, Allah hearing thy secret hath answered thy prayer and +consenteth to thy taking her with all she hath of things rare and fair, +so the Commander of the Faithful have no mind to her." Quoth Al Maamun, +"Had we a mind to her, we would prefer Abu Isa before ourselves and +help him to his desire." So saying, he rose and embarking, went away, +whilst Abu Isa tarried for Kurrat al-Ayn, whom he took and carried to +his own house, his breast swelling with joy. See then the generosity of +Ali son of Hisham! And they tell a tale of + + + + +AL-AMIN SON OF AL-RASHID AND HIS UNCLE IBRAHIM BIN AL-MAHDI. + +Al-Amin,[FN#224] brother of al-Maamun, once entered the house of his +uncle Ibrahim bin al-Mahdi, where he saw a slave girl playing upon the +lute; and, she being one of the fairest of women, his heart inclined to +her. Ibrahim, seeing how it was with him, sent the girl to him, with +rich raiment and precious ornaments. When he saw her, he thought that +his uncle had lain with her; so he was loath to have to do with her, +because of that, and accepting what came with her sent her back to +Ibrahim. His uncle learnt the cause of this from one of al-Amin's +eunuchs; so he took a shift of watered silk and worked upon its skirt, +in letters of gold, these two couplets, + + "No! I declare by Him to whom all bow, * + + + Of nothing 'neath her petticoat I trow: + + + Nor meddle with her mouth; nor aught did I * + + + But see and hear her, and it was enow!" + + + +Then he clad her in the shift and, giving her a lute, sent her back +again to his nephew. When she came into al-Amin's presence, she kissed +ground before him and tuning the lute, sang thereto these two couplets, + + "Thy breast thou baredst sending back the gift; * + + + Showing unlove for me withouten shift: + + + An thou bear spite of Past, the Past forgive, * + + + And for the Caliphate cast the Past adrift." + + + +When she had made an end of her verse, Al-Amin looked at her and, +seeing what was upon her skirt, could no longer control him self, And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Nineteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Al-Amin +looked at the damsel and saw what was upon her skirt, he could no +longer control himself, but drew near unto her and kissed her and +appointed her a separate lodging in his palace. Moreover, he thanked +his uncle for this and bestowed on him the government of Rayy. And a +tale is told of + + + + +AL-FATH BIN KHAKAN AND THE CALIPH AL-MUTAWAKKIL. + +Al-Mutawakkil[FN#225] was once taking medicine, and folk sent him by +way of solace all sorts of presents and rarities and things costly and +precious. Amongst others, al-Fath bin Khαkαn[FN#226] sent him a virgin +slave, high breasted, of the fairest among women of her time, and with +her a vase of crystal, containing ruddy wine, and a goblet of red gold, +whereon were graven in black these couplets, + + "Since our Imam came forth from medicine, * + + + Which made him health and heartiness rewin, + + + There is no healing draught more sovereign * + + + Than well boiled wine this golden goblet in: + + + Then let him break the seal for him secured; * + + + 'Tis best prescription after medicine[FN#227] + + + +Now when the damsel entered, the physician Yohannα[FN#228] was with the +Caliph, and as he read the couplets, he smiled and said, "By Allah, O +Commander of the Faithful, Fath is better versed than I in the art of +healing: so let not the Prince of True Believers gainsay his +prescription." Accordingly, the Caliph followed the recipe contained in +the poetry and was made whole by the blessing of Allah and won his +every wish. And among tales they tell is one of + + + + +THE MAN'S DISPUTE WITH THE LEARNED WOMAN CONCERNING THE RELATIVE +EXCELLENCE OF MALE AND FEMALE. + +Quoth a certain man of learning, "I never saw amongst woman kind one +wittier, and wiser, better read and by nature more generously bred; and +in manners and morals more perfected than a preacher of the people of +Baghdad, by name Sitt al-Mashα'ikh.[FN#229] It chanced that she came to +Hamah city in the year of the Flight five hundred and sixty and +one[FN#230]; and there delivered salutary exhortations to the folk from +the professorial chair. Now there used to visit her house a number of +students of divinity and persons of learning and polite letters, who +would discuss with her questions of theology and dispute with her on +controversial points. I went to her one day, with a friend of mine, a +man of years and education; and when we had taken our seats, she set +before us a dish of fruit and seated herself behind a curtain. Now she +had a brother, a handsome youth, who stood behind us, to serve us. And +when we had eaten we fell to disputing upon points of divinity, and I +propounded to her a theological question bearing upon a difference +between the Imams, the Founders of the Four Schools. She proceeded to +speak in answer, whilst I listened; but all the while my friend fell to +looking upon her brother's face and admiring his beauties without +paying any heed to what she discoursed. Now as she was watching him +from behind the curtain; when she had made an end of her speech, she +turned to him and said, 'Methinks thou be of those who give men the +preference over women!' He replied, 'Assuredly,' and she asked, 'And +why so?'; whereto he answered, 'For that Allah hath made the masculine +worthier than the feminine,'" —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Twentieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Shaykh +replied, " 'For that Allah hath made the masculine worthier than the +feminine; and I like the excelling and mislike the excelled.' She +laughed and presently said, 'Wilt thou deal fairly with me in debate, +if I battle the matter with thee?' and he rejoined, 'Yes.' Then quoth +she, 'What is the evidence of the superiority of the male to the +female?' Quoth he, 'It is of two kinds, traditional and reasonable. The +authoritative part deriveth from the Koran and the Traditions of the +Apostle. As for the first we have the very words of Almighty Allah, +'Men shall have the pre-eminence above women because of those +advantages wherein Allah hath caused the one of them to excel the +other;[FN#231] and again, 'If there be not two men, let there be one +man and two women;'[FN#232] and again, when treating of inheritance, +'If there be brothers and sisters let a male have as much as the +portion of two females.'[FN#233] Thus Allah (extolled and exalted be +He!) hath in these places preferred the male over the female and +teacheth that a woman is as the half of a man, for that he is worthier +than she. As for the Sunnah traditions, is it not reported of the +Prophet (whom Allah save and assain!) that he appointed the blood money +for a woman to be half that of a man. And as for the evidence of +reason, the male is the agent and active and the female the patient and +passive.'[FN#234] Rejoined she, 'Thou hast said well, O my lord, but, +by Allah, thou hast proved my contention with thine own lips and hast +advanced evidence which telleth against thee, and not for thee. And +thus it is: Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) preferred the male +above the female solely because of the inherent condition and essential +quality of masculinity; and in this there is no dispute between us. Now +this quality of male-hood is common to the child, the boy, the youth, +the adult and the old man; nor is there any distinction between them in +this. If, then, the superior excellence of male masculant belong to him +solely by virtue of manhood, it behoveth that thy heart incline and thy +sole delight in the graybeard, equally with the boy; seeing that there +is no distinction between them, in point of male-hood. But the +difference between thee and me turneth upon the accident of qualities +that are sought as constituting the pleasure of intercourse and its +enjoyment; and thou hast adduced no proof of the superiority of the +youth over the young girl in this matter of non-essentials.' He made +answer, 'O reverend lady, knowest thou not that which is peculiar to +the youth of limber shape and rosy cheeks and pleasant smile and +sweetness of speech? Youths are, in these respects superior to women; +and the proof of this is what they traditionally report of the Prophet +(whom Allah bless and preserve!) that he said, 'Stay not thy gaze upon +the beardless, for in them is a momentary eye glance at the black eyed +girls of Paradise.' Nor indeed is the superiority of the lad over the +lass hidden to any of mankind, and how well saith Abu Nowas,[FN#235] + + 'The least of him is the being free * + + + From monthly courses and pregnancy.' + + + +And the saying of another poet, + + 'Quoth our Imam, Abu Nowas, who was * + + + For mad debauch and waggishness renowned: + + + 'O tribe that loves the cheeks of boys, take fill * + + + Of joys in Paradise shall ne'er be found!' + + + +So if any one enlarge in praise of a slave girl and wish to enhance her +value by the mention of her beauties, he likeneth her to a youth,'" +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Twenty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Shaykh +continued, "'So if any one enlarge in praise of a slave girl and wish +to enhance her value by the mention of her beauties, he likeneth her to +a youth, because of the illustrious qualities that belong to the male, +even as saith the poet, + + 'Boy like of backside, in the deed of kind, * + + + She sways, as sways the wand like boughs a-wind.' + + + +An youths, then, were not better and fairer than girls, why should +these be likened to them? And know also (Almighty Allah preserve thee!) +that a youth is easy to be led, adapting himself to every rede, +pleasant of converse and manners, inclining to assent rather than +dissent, especially when his side face is newly down'd and his upper +lip is first embrowned, and the purple lights of youth on his cheeks +abound, so that he is like the full moon sound; and how goodly is the +saying of Abu Tammαm[FN#236], + + 'The slanderers said 'There's hair upon his cheeks'; * + + + Quoth I, 'Exceed not, that's no blemish there.' + + + When he could bear that haling of his hips * + + + And pearl-beads shaded by mustachio hair;[FN#237] + + + And Rose swore solemn, holiest oath that is, * + + + From that fair cheek she nevermore would fare + + + I spoke with eyelids without need of speech, * + + + And they who answered me his eyebrows were. + + + He's even fairer than thou knewest him, * + + + And cheek down guards from all would overdare. + + + Brighter and sweeter now are grown his charms, * + + + Since down robes lip and cheek before were bare. + + + And those who blame me for my love of him, * + + + When him they mention say of him, 'Thy Fair'!' + + + +And quoth al-Hariri[FN#238] and quoth excellently well, + + 'My censors say, 'What means this pine for him? * + + + Seest not the flowing hair on cheeks a flowing?' + + + I say, 'By Allah, an ye deem I dote, * + + + Look at the truth in those fine eyes a-showing! + + + But for the down that veils his cheek and chin, * + + + His brow had dazed all eyes no sight allowing: + + + And whoso sojourns in a growthless land, * + + + How shall he move from land fair growths a-growing?' + + + +And quoth another, + + 'My blamers say of me, 'He is consoled,' And lie! * + + + No consolation comes to those who pine and sigh. + + + I had no solace when Rose bloomed alone on cheek, * + + + Now Basil blooms thereon and now consoled am I.' + + + +And again, + + 'Slim waisted one, whose looks with down of cheek * + + + In slaughtering mankind each other hurtle + + + With the Narcissus blade he sheddeth blood, * + + + The baldrick of whose sheath is freshest + + + myrtle.'[FN#239] + + + +And again, + + 'Not with his must I'm drunk, but verily * + + + Those curls turn manly heads like newest wine[FN#240] + + + Each of his beauties envies each, and all * + + + Would be the silky down on side face li'en.' + + + +Such are the excellencies of the youth which women do not own, and they +more than suffice to give those the preference over these.' She +replied, 'Allah give thee health! verily, thou hast imposed the debate +upon thyself; and thou hast spoken and hast not stinted and hast +brought proofs to support every assertion. But, 'Now is the truth +become manifest;'[FN#241] so swerve thou not from the path thereof; +and, if thou be not content with a summary of evidence, I will set it +before thee in fullest detail. Allah upon thee, where is the youth +beside the girl and who shall compare kid and wild cow? The girl is +soft of speech, fair of form, like a branchlet of basil, with teeth +like chamomile-petals and hair like halters wherefrom to hang hearts. +Her cheeks are like blood-red anemones and her face like a pippin: she +hath lips like wine and breasts like pomegranates twain and a shape +supple as a rattan-cane. Her body is well formed and with sloping +shoulders dight; she hath a nose like the edge of a sword shining +bright and a forehead brilliant white and eyebrows which unite and eyes +stained by Nature's hand black as night. If she speak, fresh young +pearls are scattered from her mouth forthright and all hearts are +ravished by the daintiness of her sprite; when she smileth thou wouldst +ween the moon shone out her lips between and when she eyes thee, sword +blades flash from the babes of her eyes. In her all beauties to +conclusion come, and she is the centre of attraction to traveller and +stay-at-home. She hath two lips of cramoisy, than cream smoother and of +taste than honey sweeter,'" —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Twenty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the preacher +woman thus pursued her theme in the praise of fair maids, "'She hath +two lips of cramoisy, than cream smoother and than honey sweeter;' +adding, 'And she hath a bosom, as it were a way two hills between which +are a pair of breasts like globes of ivory sheen; likewise, a stomach +right smooth, flanks soft as the palm-spathe and creased with folds and +dimples which overlap one another, and liberal thighs, which like +columns of pearl arise, and back parts which billow and beat together +like seas of glass or mountains of glance, and two feet and hands of +gracious mould like unto ingots of virgin gold. So, O miserable! where +are mortal men beside the Jinn? Knowest thou not that puissant princes +and potent Kings before women ever humbly bend and on them for delight +depend? Verily, they may say, 'We rule over necks and rob hearts.' +These women! how many a rich man have they not paupered, how many a +powerful man have they not prostrated and how many a superior man have +they not enslaved! Indeed, they seduce the sage and send the saint to +shame and bring the wealthy to want and plunge the fortune favoured +into penury. Yet for all this, the wise but redouble in affection of +them and honour; nor do they count this oppression or dishonour. How +many a man for them hath offended his Maker and called down on him self +the wrath of his father and mother! And all this because of the +conquest of their love over hearts. Knowest thou not, O wretched one, +that for them are built pavilions, and slave girls are for +sale;[FN#242] that for them tear floods rail and for them are collected +jewels of price and ambergris and musk odoriferous; and armies are +arrayed and pleasaunces made and wealth heaped up and smitten off is +many a head? And indeed he spoke sooth in the words, 'Whoso saith the +world meaneth woman.' Now as for thy citation from the Holy Traditions, +it is an argument against thee and not for thee in that the Prophet +(whom Allah bless and preserve!) compareth the beardless with the black +eyed girls of Paradise. Now, doubtless, the subject of comparison is +worthier than the object there with compared; so, unless women be the +worthier and the goodlier, wherefore should other than they be likened +to them? As for thy saying that girls are likened to boys, the case is +not so, but the contrary: boys are likened to girls; for folk say, +Yonder boy is like a girl. As for what proof thou quotest from the +poets, the verses were the product of a complexion unnatural in this +respect; and as for the habitual sodomites and catamites, offenders +against religion, Almighty Allah hath condemned them in His Holy +Book,[FN#243] herein He denounceth their filthy practices, saying, 'Do +ye approach unto the males among mankind[FN#244] and leave your wives +which your Lord hath created for you? Surely ye are a people who +transgress!' These it is that liken girls to boys, of their exceeding +profligacy and ungraciousness and inclination to follow the fiend and +own lusts, so that they say, 'She is apt for two tricks,'[FN#245] and +these are all wanderers from the way of right and the righteous. Quoth +their chief Abu Nowas, + + 'Slim waist and boyish wits delight * + + + Wencher, as well as Sodomite,'[FN#246] + + + +As for what thou sayest of a youth's first hair on cheek and lips and +how they add to his beauty and loveliness, by Allah, thou strayest from +the straight path of sooth and sayest that which is other than the +truth; for whiskers change the charms of the comely into ugliness +(quoting these couplets), + + 'That sprouting hair upon his face took wreak * + + + For lovers' vengeance, all did vainly seek. + + + I see not on his face a sign fuli- * + + + genous, except his curls are hue of reek. + + + If so his paper[FN#247] mostly be begrimed * + + + Where deemest thou the reed shall draw a streak? + + + If any raise him other fairs above, * + + + This only proves the judge of wits is weak.' + + + +And when she ended her verse she resumed, 'Laud be to Allah Almighty,'" +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Twenty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the preacher +woman ended her verse she resumed, addressing the man, " 'Laud to Allah +Almighty! how can it be hid from thee that the perfect pleasure is in +women and that abiding blessings are not to be found but with them, +seeing that Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) hath promised His +prophets and saints black eyed damsels in Paradise and hath appointed +these for a recompense of their godly works. And had the Almighty known +that the joy supreme was in the possession of other than women, He had +rewarded them therewith and promised it to them. And quoth he (whom +Allah bless and preserve!), 'The things I hold dearest of the things of +your world are three: women and perfume and the solace of my eyes in +prayer.' Verily Allah hath appointed boys to serve his prophets and +saints in Paradise, because Paradise is the abode of joy and delight, +which could not be complete without the service of youths; but, as to +the use of them for aught but service, it is Hell's putridity[FN#248] +and corruption and turpitude. How well saith the poet, + + 'Men's turning unto bums of boys is bumptious; * + + + Whoso love noble women show their own noblesse. + + + How many goodly wights have slept the night, enjoying * + + + Buttocks of boys, and woke at morn in foulest mess + + + Their garments stained by safflower, which is yellow merde; * + + + Their shame proclaiming, showing colour of distress. + + + Who can deny the charge, when so bewrayed are they * + + + That e'en by day light shows the dung upon their dress? + + + What contrast wi' the man, who slept a gladsome night * + + + By Houri maid for glance a mere enchanteress, + + + He rises off her borrowing wholesome bonny scent; * + + + That fills the house with whiffs of perfumed + + + goodliness. + + + No boy deserved place by side of her to hold; * + + + Canst even aloes wood with what fills pool of + + + cess!'[FN#249] + + + +Then said she, 'O folk ye have made me to break the bounds of modesty +and the circle of free born women and indulge in idle talk of +chambering and wantonness, which beseemeth not people of learning. But +the breasts of free-borns are the sepulchres of secrets' and such +conversations are in confidence. Moreover, actions are according to +intentions,[FN#250] and I crave pardon of Allah for myself and you and +all Moslems, seeing that He is the Pardoner and the Compassionate.' +Then she held her peace and thereafter would answer us of naught; so we +went our way, rejoicing in that we had profited by her contention and +yet sorrowing to part from her." And among the tales they tell is one +of + + + + +ABU SUWAYD AND THE PRETTY OLD WOMAN. + +Quoth Abu Suwayd, "I and a company of my friends, entered a garden one +day to buy somewhat of fruit; and we saw in a corner an old woman, who +was bright of face, but her head-hair was white, and she was combing it +with an ivory comb. We stopped before her, yet she paid no heed to us +neither veiled her face: so I said to her, 'O old woman,[FN#251] wert +thou to dye thy hair black, thou wouldst be handsomer than a girl: what +hindereth thee from this?' She raised her head towards me"—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abu Suwayd +continued: "When I spake these words to the ancient dame she raised her +head towards me and, opening wide her eyes, recited these two couplets, + + 'I dyed what years have dyed, but this my staining * + + + Lasts not, while that of days is aye remaining: + + + Days when beclad in gear of youth I fared, * + + + Raked fore and aft by men with joy unfeigning.' + + + +I cried, 'By Allah, favoured art thou for an old woman! How sincere art +thou in thine after-pine for forbidden pleasures and how false is thy +pretence of repentance from frowardness!'" And another tale is that of + + + + +THE EMIR ALI BIN TAHIR AND THE GIRL MUUNIS. + +Once on a time was displayed for sale to Ali bin Mohammed bin Abdallah +bin Tαhir[FN#252] a slave-girl called Muunis who was superior to her +fellows in beauty and breeding, and to boot an accomplished poetess; +and he asked her of her name. Replied she, "Allah advance the Emir, my +name is Muunis."[FN#253] Now he knew this before; so he bowed his head +awhile, then raising his eyes to her, recited this verse, + + "What sayest of one by a sickness caught * + + + For the love of thy love till he waxed distraught?" + + + +Answered she, "Allah exalt the Emir!" and recited this verse in reply, + + "If we saw a lover who pains as he ought, * + + + Wi' love we would grant him all favours he sought." + + + +She pleased him: so he bought her for seventy thousand dirhams and +begat on her Obayd' Allah bin Mohammed, afterwards minister of +Police.[FN#254] And we are told by Abu al-Aynα[FN#255] a tale of + + + + +THE WOMAN WHO HAD A BOY AND THE OTHER WHO HAD A MAN TO LOVER. + +Quoth Abu al-Aynα, "There were in our street two women, one of whom had +for lover a man and the other a beardless youth, and they foregathered +one night on the terrace-roof of a house adjoining mine, knowing not +that I was near. Quoth the boy's lover to the other, 'O my sister, how +canst thou bear with patience the harshness of thy lover's beard as it +falleth on thy breast, when he busseth thee and his mustachios rub thy +cheek and lips?' Replied the other, 'Silly that thou art, what decketh +the tree save its leaves and the cucumber but its warts?[FN#256] Didst +ever see in the world aught uglier than a scald-head bald of his beard? +Knowest thou not that the beard is to men as the sidelocks to women; +and what is the difference between chin and cheek?[FN#257] Knowest thou +not that Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) hath created an angel in +Heaven, who saith: 'Glory be to Him who ornamenteth men with beards and +women with long hair?' So, were not the beard even as the tresses in +comeliness, it had not been coupled with them, O silly! How shall I +spread-eagle myself under a boy, who will emit long before I can go off +and forestall me in limpness of penis and clitoris; and leave a man +who, when he taketh breath clippeth close and when he entereth goeth +leisurely, and when he hath done, repeateth, and when he pusheth poketh +hard, and as often as he withdraweth, returneth?' The boy's leman was +edified by her speech and said, 'I forswear my lover by the lord of the +Ka'abah!'" And amongst tales is one of + + + + +ALI THE CAIRENE AND THE HAUNTED HOUSE IN BAGHDAD. + +There lived once, in the city of Cairo, a merchant who had great store +of monies and bullion, gems and jewels, and lands and houses beyond +count, and his name was Hasan the Jeweller, the Baghdad man. +Furthermore Allah had blessed him with a son of perfect beauty and +brilliancy; rosy-cheeked, fair of face and well-figured, whom he named +Ali of Cairo, and had taught the Koran and science and elocution and +the other branches of polite education, till he became proficient in +all manner of knowledge. He was under his father's hand in trade but, +after a while, Hasan fell sick and his sickness grew upon him, till he +made sure of death; so he called his son to him,—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Twenty-fifth Night, + +She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Jeweller, the Baghdadi, fell sick and made sure of death, he called to +him his son, named Ali of Cairo, and said, "O my son, verily this world +passeth away; but the next world endureth for aye. Every soul shall +taste of death;[FN#258] and now, O my son, my decease is at hand and I +desire to charge thee with a charge, which if thou observe, thou shalt +abide in safety and prosperity, till thou meet Almighty Allah; but if +thou follow it not, there shall befal thee much weariness and thou wilt +repent of having transgressed mine injunctions." Replied Ali, "O my +father, how shall I do other than hearken to thy words and act +according to thy charge, seeing that I am bounden by the law of the +Faith to obey thee and give ear to thy command?" Rejoined his father, +"O my son, I leave thee lands and houses and goods and wealth past +count; so that wert thou each day to spend thereof five hundred dinars, +thou wouldst miss naught of it. But, O my son, look that thou live in +the fear of Allah and follow His Chosen One, Mustafa, (whom may He +bless and preserve!) in whatso he is reported to have bidden and +forbidden in his traditional law.[FN#259] Be thou constant in +alms-deeds and the practice of beneficence and in consorting with men +of worth and piety and learning; and look that thou have a care for the +poor and needy and shun avarice and meanness and the conversation of +the wicked or those of suspicious character. Look thou kindly upon thy +servants and family, and also upon thy wife, for she is of the +daughters of the great and is big with child by thee; haply Allah will +vouchsafe thee virtuous issue by her." And he ceased not to exhort him +thus, weeping and saying, "O my son, I beseech Allah the Bountiful, the +Lord of the glorious Empyrean[FN#260] to deliver thee from all straits +that may encompass thee and grant thee His ready relief!" Thereupon his +son wept with sore weeping and said, "O my father, I am melted by thy +words, for these are as the words of one that saith farewell." Replied +the merchant, "Yes, O my son, I am aware of my condition: forget thou +not my charge." Then he fell to repeating the two professions of the +Faith and to reciting verses of the Koran, until the appointed hour +arrived, when he said, "Draw near unto me, O my son." So Ali drew near +and he kissed him; then he sighed and his soul departed his body and he +went to the mercy of Almighty Allah.[FN#261] Therewith great grief fell +upon Ali; the clamour of keening arose in his house and his father's +friends flocked to him. Then he betook himself to preparing the body +for burial and made him a splendid funeral. They bore his bier to the +place of prayer and prayed over him, then to the cemetery, where they +buried him and recited over him what suited of the sublime Koran; after +which they returned to the house and condoled with the dead man's son +and wended each his own way. Moreover, Ali prayed the Friday prayer for +his father and had perlections of the Koran every day for the normal +forty, during which time he abode in the house and went not forth, save +to the place of prayer; and every Friday he visited his father's tomb. +So he ceased not from his praying and reciting for some time, until his +fellows of the sons of the merchants came in to him one day and +saluting him, said, "How long this thy mourning and neglecting thy +business and the company of thy friends? Verily, this is a fashion +which will bring thee weariness, and thy body will suffer for it +exceedingly." Now when they came in to him, Iblis the Accursed was with +them, prompting them; and they went on to recommend him to accompany +them to the bazar, whilst Iblis tempted him to consent to them, till he +yielded,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Twenty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the sons of +the merchants went in to Ali the Cairene, son of Hasan the Jeweller, +they recommended him to accompany them to the bazar, till he yielded, +that the will of Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) might be +fulfilled; and he left the house of mourning with them. Presently they +said, "Mount thy she-mule and ride with us to such a garden, that we +may solace us there and that thy grief and despondency may depart from +thee." So he mounted and taking his slave, went with them to the garden +in question; and when they entered one of them went and making ready +the morning-meal, brought it to them there. So they ate and were merry +and sat in talk, till the end of the day, when they mounted and +returned each to his own lodging, where they passed the night. As soon +as the morrow dawned, they again visited Ali and said, "Come with us." +Asked he, "Whither?"; and they answered, "To such a garden; for it is +finer than the first and more pleasurable." So he went with them to the +garden, and one of them, going away, made ready the morning-meal and +brought it to them, together with strong heady wine; and after eating, +they brought out the wine, when quoth Ali, "What is this? and quoth +they, "This is what dispelleth sadness and brighteneth gladness. And +they ceased not to commend it to him, till they prevailed upon him and +he drank with them. Then they sat, drinking and talking, till the end +of the day, when each returned home. But as for Ali, the Cairene, he +was giddy with wine and in this plight went in to his wife, who said to +him, "What aileth thee that thou art so changed?" He said, "We were +making merry to-day, when one of my companions brought us liquor; so my +friends drank and I with them, and this giddiness came upon me." And +she replied, "O my lord, say me, hast thou forgotten thy father's +injunction and done that from which he forbade thee, in consorting with +doubtful folk?" Answered he, "These be of the sons of the merchants; +they are no suspicious folk, only lovers of mirth and good cheer." And +he continued to lead this life with his friends, day after day, going +from place to place and feasting with them and drinking, till they said +to him, "Our turns are ended, and now it is thy turn." "Well come, and +welcome and fair cheer!" cried he; so on the morrow, he made ready all +that the case called for of meat and drink, two-fold what they had +provided, and taking cooks and tent-pitchers and coffee-makers,[FN#262] +repaired with the others to Al-Rauzah[FN#263] and the Nilometer, where +they abode a whole month, eating and drinking and hearing music and +making merry. At the end of the month, Ali found that he had spent a +great sum of money; but Iblis the Accursed deluded him and said to him, +"Though thou shouldst spend every day a like sum yet wouldst thou not +miss aught of it." So he took no account of money expenses and +continued this way of life for three years, whilst his wife +remonstrated with him and reminded him of his father's charge; but he +hearkened not to her words, till he had spent all the ready monies he +had, when he fell to selling his jewels and spending their price, until +they also were all gone. Then he sold his houses, fields, farms and +gardens, one after other, till they likewise were all gone and he had +nothing left but the tenement wherein he lived. So he tore out the +marble and wood-work and sold it and spent of its price, till he had +made an end of all this also, when he took thought with himself and, +finding that he had nothing left to expend, sold the house itself and +spent the purchase-money. After that, the man who had bought the house +came to him and said "Seek out for thyself a lodging, as I have need of +my house." So he bethought himself and, finding that he had no want of +a house, except for his wife, who had borne him a son and daughter (he +had not a servant left), he hired a large room in one of the mean +courts[FN#264] and there took up his abode, after having lived in +honour and luxury, with many eunuchs and much wealth; and he soon came +to want one day's bread. Quoth his wife, "Of this I warned thee and +exhorted thee to obey thy father's charge, and thou wouldst not hearken +to me; but there is no Majesty and there is no Might, save in Allah, +the Glorious, the Great! Whence shall the little ones eat? Arise then, +go round to thy friends, the sons of the merchants: belike they will +give thee somewhat on which we may live this day." So he arose and went +to his friends one by one; but they all hid their faces from him and +gave him injurious words revolting to hear, but naught else; and he +returned to his wife and said to her, "They have given me nothing." +Thereupon she went forth to beg of her neighbours the wherewithal to +keep themselves alive,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the wife of Ali +the Cairene, seeing her husband return empty-handed, went forth to beg +of her neighbours the wherewithal to keep themselves alive and repaired +to a woman, whom she had known in former days. When she came in to her +and she saw her case, she rose and receiving her kindly, wept and said, +"What hath befallen you?" So she told her all that her husband had +done, and the other replied, "Well come and welcome and fair cheer!; +whatever thou needest, Seek it of me, without price." Quoth she, "Allah +requite thee abundantly!"[FN#265] Then her friend gave her as much +provision as would suffice herself and her family a whole month, and +she took it and returned to her lodging. When her husband saw her, he +wept and asked, "Whence hadst thou that?"; and she answered, "I got it +of such a woman; for, when I told her what had befallen us, she failed +me not in aught, but said, 'Seek of me all thou needest.'" Whereupon +her husband rejoined, "Since thou hast this much I will betake myself +to a place I have in my mind; peradventure Allah Almighty will bring us +relief."[FN#266] With these words he took leave of her and kissed his +children and went out, not knowing whither he should go, and he +continued walking on till he came to Bulαk, where he saw a ship about +to sail for Damietta.[FN#267] Here he met a man, between whom and his +father there had been friendship, and he saluted him and said to him, +"Whither now?" Replied Ali, "To Damietta: I have friends there, whom I +would enquire after and visit them and then return." The man took him +home and treated him honourably; then, furnishing him with vivers for +the voyage and giving him some gold pieces, embarked him on board the +vessel bound for Damietta. When they reached it, Ali landed, not +knowing whither to go; but as he was walking along, a merchant saw him +and had pity on him, and carried him to his house. Here he abode +awhile, after which he said in himself, "How long this sojourning in +other folk's homes?" Then he left the merchant's place and walked to +the wharf where, after enquiry, he found a ship ready to sail for +Syria. His hospitable host provided him with provision and embarked him +in the ship; and it set sail and Ali reached in due season the Syrian +shores where he disembarked and journeyed till he entered Damascus. As +he walked about the great thoroughfare behold, a kindly man saw him and +took him to his house, where he tarried for a time till, one day, going +abroad, he saw a caravan about to start for Baghdad and bethought +himself to journey thither with it. Thereupon he returned to his host +and taking leave of him, set out with the Cafilah. Now Allah (extolled +and exalted be He!) inclined to him the heart of one of the merchants, +so that he took him with him, and Ali ate and drank with him, till they +came within one day's journey of Baghdad. Here, however, a company of +highwaymen fell upon the caravan and took all they had and but few of +the merchants escaped. These made each for a separate place of refuge; +but as for Ali the Cairene he fared for Baghdad, where he arrived at +sundown, as the gatekeepers were about to shut the gates, and said to +them, "Let me in with you." They admitted him and asked him, "Whence +come, and whither wending?" and he answered, "I am a man from +Cairo-city and have with me mules laden with merchandise and slaves and +servants. I forewent them, to look me out a place wherein to deposit my +goods: but, as I rode along on my she-mule, there fell upon me a +company of banditti, who took my mule and gear; nor did I escape from +them but at my last gasp." The gate-guard entreated him honourably and +bade him be of good cheer, saying, "Abide with us this night, and in +the morning we will look thee out a place befitting thee." Then he +sought in his breast-pocket and, finding a dinar of those given to him +by the merchant at Bulak, handed it to one of the gatekeepers, saying, +"Take this and change it and bring us something to eat." The man took +it and went to the market, where he changed it, and brought Ali bread +and cooked meat: so he ate, he and the gate-guards, and he lay the +night with them. Now on the morrow, one of the warders carried him to a +certain of the merchants of Baghdad, to whom he told the same story, +and he believed him, deeming that he was a merchant and had with him +loads of merchandise. Then he took him up into his shop and entreated +him with honour; moreover, he sent to his house for a splendid suit of +his own apparel for him and carried him to the Hammam. "So," quoth Ali +of Cairo: "I went with him to the bath, and when we came out, he took +me and brought me to his house, where he set the morning-meal before +us, and we ate and made merry. Then said he to one of his black slaves, +'Ho Mas'dd, take this thy lord: show him the two houses standing in +such a place, and whichever pleaseth him, give him the key of it and +come back.' So I went with the slave, till we came to a street-road +where stood three houses side by side, newly built and yet shut up. He +opened the first and I looked at it; and we did the same to the second; +after which he said to me 'Of which shall I give thee the key?' 'To +whom doth the big house belong?' 'To us!' 'Open it, that I may view +it.' 'Thou hast no business there.' 'Wherefore?' 'Because it is +haunted, and none nighteth there but in the morning he is a dead man; +nor do we use to open the door, when removing the corpse, but mount the +terrace-roof of one of the other two houses and take it up thence. For +this reason my master hath abandoned the house and saith: 'I will never +again give it to any one.' 'Open it,' I cried, 'that I may view it;' +and I said in my mind, 'This is what I seek; I will pass the night +there and in the morning be a dead man and be at peace from this my +case.' So he opened it and I entered and found it a splendid house, +without its like; and I said to the slave, 'I will have none other than +this house; give me its key.' But he rejoined, 'I will not give thee +this key till I consult my master,'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Twenty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the negro +(continued Ali of Cairo) "rejoined, 'I will not give thee its key till +I consult my master,'" and going to him, reported, "'The Egyptian +trader saith, 'I will lodge in none but the big house.'" Now when the +merchant heard this, he rose and coming to Ali, spake thus to him, "O +my lord, thou hast no need of this house." But he answered, "I will +lodge in none other than this; for I care naught for this silly +saying." Quoth the other, "Write me an acknowledgment that, if aught +happen to thee, I am not responsible." Quoth Ali, "So be it;" whereupon +the merchant fetched an assessor from the Kazi's court and, taking the +prescribed acknowledgment, delivered to him the key wherewith he +entered the house. The merchant sent him bedding by a blackamoor who +spread it for him on the built bench behind the door[FN#268] and walked +away. Presently Ali went about and, seeing in the inner court a well +with a bucket, let this down and drew water, wherewith he made the +lesser ablution and prayed the obligatory prayers. Then he sat awhile, +till the slave brought him the evening meal from his master's house, +together with a lamp, a candle and candlestick, a basin and ewer and a +gugglet[FN#269]; after which he left him and returned home. Ali lighted +the candle, supped at his ease and prayed the night-prayer; and +presently he said to himself, "Come, take the bedding and go upstairs +and sleep there; 'twill be better than here." So he took the bed and +carried it upstairs, where he found a splendid saloon, with gilded +ceiling and floor and walls cased with coloured marbles. He spread his +bed there and sitting down, began to recite somewhat of the Sublime +Koran, when (ere he was ware) he heard one calling to him and asking, +"O Ali, O son of Hasan, say me, shall I send thee down the gold?" And +he answered, "Where be the gold thou hast to send?" But hardly had he +spoken, when gold pieces began to rain down on him, like stones from a +catapult, nor ceased till the saloon was full. Then, after the golden +shower, said the Voice, "Set me free, that I may go my way; for I have +made an end of my service and have delivered unto thee that which was +entrusted to me for thee." Quoth Ali, "I adjure thee, by Allah the +Almighty, to tell me the cause of this gold-rain." Replied the Voice, +"This is a treasure that was talisman'd to thee of old time, and to +every one who entered the house, we used to come and say: 'O Ali, O son +of Hasan, shall we send thee down the gold?' Whereat he would be +affrighted and cry out, and we would come down to him and break his +neck and go away. But, when thou camest and we accosted thee by thy +name and that of thy father, saying, 'Shall we send thee down the +gold?' and thou madest answer to us, 'And where be the gold?' we knew +thee for the owner of it and sent it down. Moreover, there is yet +another hoard for thee in the land of Al-Yaman and thou wouldst do well +to journey thither and fetch it. And now I would fain have thee set me +free, that I may go my way." Said Ali, "By Allah, I will not set thee +free, till thou bring me hither the treasure from the land of +Al-Yaman!" Said the Voice, "An I bring it to thee, wilt thou release me +and eke the servant of the other hoard?" "Yes," replied Ali, and the +Voice cried, "Swear to me." So he swore to him, and he was about to go +away, when Ali said to him, "I have one other need to ask of thee;" and +he, "What is that?" Quoth Ali, "I have a wife and children at Cairo in +such a place; thou needs must fetch them to me, at their ease and +without their unease." Quoth he, "I will bring them to thee in a +mule-litter[FN#270] and much state, with a train of eunuchs and +servants, together with the treasure from Al-Yaman, Inshallah!"[FN#271] +Then he took of him leave of absence for three days, when all this +should be with him, and vanished. As soon as it was morning Ali went +round about the saloon, seeking a place wherein to store the gold, and +saw on the edge of the dais a marble slab with a turning-pin; so he +turned the pin and the slab sank and showed a door which he opened and +entering, found a great closet, full of bags of coarse stuff carefully +sewn. So he began taking out the bags and fell to filling them with +gold and storing them in the closet, till he had transported thither +all the hoarded gold, whereupon he shut the door and turning the pin, +the slab returned to its place. Then he went down and seated himself on +the bench behind the door; and presently there came a knock; so he +opened and found the merchant's slave who, seeing him comfortably +sitting, returned in haste to his master,—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +house-owner's black slave returned and knocked at the door, Ali the +Cairene, son of the merchant Hasan, opened it to him and the negro, +seeing him comfortably sitting, returned in haste to his master with +the good tidings, saying, "O my Lord, the merchant, who is lodged in +the house inhabited by the Jinn,[FN#272] is alive and well and sitteth +on the bench behind the door." Then the merchant rose joyfully and went +to the house, taking breakfast with him; and, when he saw Ali, he +embraced him and kissed him between the eyes, asking, "How hath Allah +dealt with thee?"; and Ali answered, "Right well, I slept upstairs in +the marble saloon." Quoth the merchant, "Did aught come to thee or +didst thou see any thing?" and quoth Ali "No, I recited some little of +the Sublime Koran and slept till morning, when I arose and, after +making the minor ablution and praying, seated myself on the bench +behind the door." "Praised be Allah for safety!" exclaimed the +merchant, then left him and presently sent him black slaves and white +Mamelukes and handmaidens with household gear. They swept the house +from top to bottom and furnished it with magnificent furniture; after +which three white slaves and three blacks and four slave-girls remained +with him, to serve him, while the rest returned to their master's +house. Now when the merchants heard of him, they sent him presents of +all manner things of price, even to food and drink and clothes, and +took him with them to the market, asking, "When will thy baggage +arrive?" And he answered, "After three days it will surely come." When +the term had elapsed, the servant of the first hoard, the golden rain, +came to him and said, "Go forth and meet the treasure I have brought +thee from Al-Yaman together with thy Harim; for I bring part of the +wealth in the semblance of costly merchandise; but the eunuchs and +Mamelukes and the mules and horses and camels are all of the Jann." Now +the Jinni, when he betook himself to Cairo, found Ali's wife and +children in sore misery, naked and hungry; so he carried them out of +the city in a travelling-litter and clad them in sumptuous raiment of +the stuffs which were in the treasure of Al-Yaman. So when Ali heard +this, he arose and repairing to the merchants, said to them, "Rise and +go forth with us from the city, to meet the caravan bringing my +merchandise, and honour us with the presence of your Harims, to meet my +Harim." "Hearkening and obedience," answered they and, sending for +their Harims, went forth all together and took seat in one of the +city-gardens; and as they sat talking, behold, a dust-cloud arose out +of the heart of the desert, and they flocked forth to see what it was. +Presently it lifted and discovered mules and muleteers, tent-pitchers +and linkmen, who came on, singing and dancing, till they reached the +garden, when the chief of the muleteers walked up to Ali and kissing +his hand, said to him, "O my master, we have been long on the way, for +we purposed entering yesterday; but we were in fear of the bandits, so +abode in our station four days, till Almighty Allah rid us of them." +Thereupon the merchants mounted their mules and rode forward with the +caravan, the Harims waiting behind, till Ali's wife and children +mounted with them; and they all entered in splendid train. The +merchants marvelled at the number of mules laden with chests, whilst +the women of the merchants wondered at the richness of the apparel of +his wife and the fine raiment of her children; and kept saying each to +other, "Verily, the King of Baghdad hath no such gear; no, nor any +other of the kings or lords or merchants!" So they ceased not to fare +forwards in high great state, the men with Ali of Cairo and the Harims +with his Harim, till they came to the mansion,—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Thirtieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they ceased not +to fare forwards in high state, the men with Ali's men and the women +with his wife, till they came to the mansion, where they alighted and +brought the mules and their burdens into the midst of the courtyard. +Then they unloaded them and warehoused the goods whilst the merchants' +wives went up with Ali's family to the saloon, which they found as it +were a luxuriant garden, spread with magnificent furniture. They sat in +mirth and good cheer till noon, when they brought them up the midday +meal, all manner meats and sweetmeats of the very best; and they ate +and drank costly sherbets and perfumed themselves thereafter with +rose-water and scented woods. Then they took leave and went home, men +and women; and, when the merchants returned to their places, they sent +presents to the husband according to their conditions; and their wives +likewise sent presents to the wife, so that there came to them great +store of handmaids and negroes and Mamelukes; and all kinds of goods, +such as grain, sugar and so forth, in abundance beyond account. As for +the Baghdad merchant, the landlord of the house, he abode with Ali and +quitted him not, but said to him, "Let the black slaves and servants +take the mules and the common cattle into one of my other houses, to +rest." Quoth Ali, "They set out again to-night for such a place." Then +he gave them leave to go forth and camp outside the city, that they +might start on their journey at night-come; whereupon, hardly believing +that they were dismissed, they took leave of him and departing to the +outliers of the city, flew off through the air to their several abodes. +So Ali and his house-owner sat together till a third of the night was +past, when their colloquy ended and the merchant returned to his own +house and Ali went up to his wife and children and after saluting them, +said, "What hath befallen you in my absence all this time?" So she told +him what they had suffered of hunger and nakedness and travail, and he +said, "Praised be Allah for safety! How did ye come?" Answered she, "O +my lord, I was asleep with my children yesternight, when suddenly and +unexpectedly one raised us from the ground and flew with us through the +firmament without doing us any hurt, nor did he leave flying with us, +till he set us down in a place as it were an Arab camping-ground, where +we saw laden mules and a travelling litter borne upon two great mules, +and around it servants, all boys and men. So I asked them, 'Who are ye +and what are these loads and where are we?;' and they answered, 'We are +the servants of the merchant Ali of Cairo, son of the merchant- +jeweller, who hath sent us to fetch you to him at Baghdad.' Quoth I, +'Tell me, is it far or near, hence to Baghdad?' They replied, 'Near: +there lieth between us and the city but the darkness of the night.' +Then they mounted us in the litter and, when the morrow dawned, we +found ourselves with thee, without having suffered any hurt whatever." +Quoth he, "Who gave you these dresses?;" and quoth she, "The chief of +the caravan opened one of the boxes on the mules and taking out thereof +these clothes, clad me and thy children each in a suit; after which he +locked the case and gave me the key, saying, 'Take care of it, till +thou give it to thy husband.' And here it is safe by me." So saying, +she gave him the key, and he said, "Dost thou know the chest?" Said +she, "Yes, I know it." So he took her down to the magazine and showed +her the boxes, when she cried, "This is the one whence the dresses were +taken;" upon which he put the key in the lock and opened the chest, +wherein he found much raiment and the keys of all the other cases. So +he took them and fell to opening them, one after another, and feasting +his eyes upon the gems and precious ores they contained, whose like was +not found with any of the kings; after which he locked them again, took +the keys, and returned to the saloon, saying to his wife, "This is of +the bounty of Almighty Allah!" Then bringing her to the secret slab he +turned the pin and opened the door of the closet, into which he entered +with her and showed her the gold he had laid up therein. Quoth she, +"Whence came all this to thee?" "It came to me by the grace of my +Lord," answered he:—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Thirty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ali's wife +had looked upon the gold she said to him, "Whence came all this to +thee?" "It came to me by the grace of my Lord," answered he: "When I +left thee in my trouble, I shipped at Bulak for Damietta and met a +friend there who forwarded me to Damascus": in brief he told her all +that had befallen him, from first to last. Said she, "O my lord, all +this cometh by boon of thy father's blessing and orisons when he prayed +for thee, before his death, saying, 'I beseech Allah to cast thee into +no straits except He grant thee ready relief!' So praised be Allah +Almighty for that He hath brought thee deliverance and hath requited +thee with more than went from thee! But Allah upon thee, O my lord, +return not to thy practice of associating with doubtful folk; but look +thou fear Allah (whose name be exalted!) both in private and in +public." And as she went on to admonish him, he said, "I accept thine +admonition and beg the Almighty to remove the froward from amongst us +and stablish us in His obedience and in the observance of the law and +practice of His Prophet, on whom be blessings and peace!" After that +Ali and his wife and children were in all solace of life and gladness; +and he opened him a shop in the merchants' bazar and, stocking it with +a somewhat of jewels and bullion, sat therein with his children and +white servants. Presently he became the most considerable of the +merchants of Baghdad, and his report reached the King of that +city,[FN#273] who sent a messenger to command his attendance, saying, +"Answer the summons of the King who requireth thee." He replied, "I +hear and obey," and straightway prepared his present and he took four +trays of red gold and, filling them with jewels and precious metals, +such as no King possessed, went up to the palace and presenting himself +before the presence, kissed the ground between his hands and wished him +endurance of goods and glory in the finest language he could command. +Said the King, "O merchant, thou cheerest our city with thy presence!" +and Ali rejoined, "O King of the age, thy slave hath brought thee a +gift and hopeth for acceptance thereof from thy favour." Then he laid +the four trays before the King, who uncovered them and seeing that they +contained gems, whose fellows he possessed not and whose worth equalled +treasuries of money, said, "Thy present is accepted, O merchant, and +Inshallah! we will requite thee with its like." And Ali kissed his +hands and went away; whereupon the King called his grandees and said to +them, "How many of the Kings have sought my daughter in marriage?" +"Many," answered they; and he asked, "Hath any of them given me the +like of this gift?"; whereto they replied, "Not one, for that none of +them hath its like;" and he said, "I have consulted Allah Almighty by +lot as to marrying my daughter to this merchant. What say ye?" "Be it +as thou reckest," answered they. Then he bade the eunuch carry the four +trays into his serraglio and going in to his wife, laid them before +her. She uncovered them and seeing therein that whose like she +possessed not; no, nor a fraction thereof, said to him, "From which of +the Kings hadst thou these?: perchance of one of the royalties that +seek thy daughter in marriage?" Said he, "Not so, I had them of an +Egyptian merchant, who is lately come to this our city. Now when I +heard of his coming I sent to command him to us, thinking to make his +acquaintance, so haply we might find with him somewhat of jewels and +buy them of him for our daughter's trousseau. He obeyed our summons and +brought us these four trays, as a present, and I saw him to be a +handsome youth of dignified aspect and intelligent as elegant, almost +such as should be the sons of Kings. Wherefore my heart inclined to him +at sight, and my heart rejoiced in him and I thought good to marry my +daughter to him. So I showed the gift to my grandees, who agreed with +me that none of the Kings hath the like of these and I told them my +project. But what sayst thou?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Thirty-second Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the King of +Baghdad, after showing the presents to his wife and highly praising +Ali, the merchant-jeweller, and informing her of the proposed marriage, +asked, "But what sayst thou?" She replied, "O King of the age, the +ordering this affair is in Allah's hand, and thine, and whatso Allah +willeth shall come to pass." Rejoined the King, "If it be His will, I +will marry her to none other than this young man." He slept on this +resolve and on the morrow, he went out to his Divan and summoned Ali +and the rest of the merchants of Baghdad, and when all came bade them +be seated. Then said he, "Bring me the Kazi of the Divan" and they +brought him; whereupon the King said to him, "O Kazi, write the +contract of marriage between my daughter and the merchant Ali the +Cairene." But Ali said, "Thy pardon, O our lord the Sultan! It +befitteth not that a trader such as I, be the King's son-in-law." Quoth +the King, "It is my will to bestow this favour upon thee, as well as +the Wazirate;" and he invested him forthwith in the Wazir's office and +ministerial robes. Then Ali sat down in the chair of the Wazirate and +said, "O King of the age, thou hast bestowed on me this; and indeed I +am honoured by thy bounties; but hear one word I have to say to thee!" +He replied, "Say on, and fear not." Quoth Ali, "Since it is thine +august resolution to marry thy daughter, thou wouldst do better to +marry her to my son. Quoth the King, "Hast thou then a son?"; and Ali +replied, "Yes." "Send for him forthwith," said the King. Thereupon +answered Ali "Hearkening and obedience!", and despatched a servant to +fetch his son, who came and kissing the ground before the King, stood +in an attitude of respect. The King looked at him and seeing him to be +yet comelier than his daughter and goodlier than she in stature and +proportion and brightness and perfection, said to him, "What is thy +name, O my son?" "My name is Hasan, O our lord the Sultan," replied the +young man, who was then fourteen years old. Then the Sultan said to the +Kazi, "Write the contract of marriage between my daughter Husn al-Wujdd +and Hasan, son of the merchant Ali the Cairene." So he wrote the +marriage-contract between them, and the affair was ended in the +goodliest fashion; after which all in the Divan went their ways and the +merchants followed the Wazir Ali, escorting him to his house, where +they gave him joy of his advancement and departed. Then he went in to +his wife, who seeing him clad in the Wazir's habit, exclaimed, "What is +this?"; when he told her all that had passed from first to last and she +joyed therein with exceeding joy. So sped the night and on the morrow, +he went up to the Divan, where the King received him with especial +favour and seating him close by his side, said, "O Wazir, we purpose to +begin the wedding festivities and bring thy son in to our daughter." +Replied Ali, "O our lord the Sultan, whatso thou deemest good is good." +So the Sultan gave orders to celebrate the festivities, and they +decorated the city and held high festival for thirty days, in all joy +and gladness; at the end of which time, Hasan, son of the Wazir Ali, +went in to the Princess and enjoyed her beauty and loveliness. When the +Queen saw her daughter's husband, she conceived a warm affection for +him, and in like manner she rejoiced greatly in his mother. Then the +King bade build for his son-in-law Hasan Ali-son a palace beside his +own; so they built him with all speed a splendid palace in which he +took up his abode; and his mother used to tarry with him some days and +then go down to her own house. After awhile the Queen said to her +husband, "O King of the age, Hasan's lady-mother cannot take up her +abode with her son and leave the Wazir; neither can she tarry with the +Wazir and leave her son." "Thou sayest sooth," replied the King, and +bade edify a third palace beside that of Hasan, which being done in a +few days he caused remove thither the goods of the Wazir, and the +Minister and his wife took up their abode there. Now the three palaces +communicated with one another, so that when the King had a mind to +speak with the Wazir by night, he would go to him or send to fetch him; +and so with Hasan and his father and mother. On this wise they dwelt in +all solace and in the greatest happiness—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Thirty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the King and the +Wazir and his son ceased not to dwell in all solace and in the greatest +happiness awhile, till the King fell ill and his sickness grew on him. +So he summoned the lords of his realm and said to them, "There is come +upon me a sore malady, peradventure a mortal; and I have therefore +summoned you to consult you respecting a certain matter, on which I +would have you counsel me as you deem well." They asked, "What is the +matter of which thou wouldst take counsel with us, O King?"; and he +answered, "I am old and sickly and I fear for the realm after me from +its enemies; so I would have you all agree upon some one, that I may +proclaim him King in my lifetime and so ye may be at ease." Whereupon +quoth they with one voice, "We all approve of thy daughter's husband +Hasan, son of the Wazir Ali; for we have seen his wit and perfect +understanding, and he knoweth the place of all, great and small." Asked +the King, "Are ye indeed agreed upon this?" and they answered, "Yes." +Rejoined he "Peradventure ye all say this to my face, of respect for +me; but behind my back ye will say otherwise." However, they all +replied, "By Allah, our word is one and the same in public and in +private, and we accept him frankly and with heartiness of heart and +breadth of breast." Quoth he, "Since the case is thus, bring the Kazi +of the Holy Law and all the Chamberlains and Viceroys and Officers of +state before me to-morrow, and we will order the affair after the +goodliest fashion." "We hear and we obey," answered they and +withdrawing, notified all the Olema,[FN#274] the doctors of the law and +the chief personages among the Emirs. So when the morrow dawned, they +came up to the Divan and, having craved and obtained permission to +enter, they saluted the King, saying, "Here are we all in thy +presence." Whereto he made reply, "O Emirs of Baghdad, whom will ye +have to be King over you after me, that I may inaugurate him during my +lifetime, before the presence of you all?" Quoth they with one voice, +"We are agreed upon thy daughter's husband Hasan, son of the Wazir +Ali." Quoth he, "If it be so, go all of you and bring him before me." +So they all arose and, repairing to Hasan's palace, said to him, "Rise, +come with us to the King." "Wherefore?" asked he, and they answered, +"For a thing that will benefit both us and thee." So he went in with +them to the King and kissed the ground before his father-in-law who +said to him, "Be seated, O my son!" He sat down and the King continued, +"O Hasan, all the Emirs have approved of thee and agreed to make thee +King over them after me; and it is my purpose to proclaim thee, whilst +I yet live, and so make an end of the business." But Hasan stood up +and, kissing the ground once more before the King, said to him, "O our +lord the King, among the Emirs there be many who are older than I and +greater of worth; acquit me therefore of this thing." But all the Emirs +cried out saying, "We consent not but that thou be King over us." Then +said Hasan, "My father is older than I, and I and he are one thing; and +it befits not to advance me over him." But Ali said, "I will consent to +nothing save whatso contenteth my brethren; and they have all chosen +and agreed upon thee; wherefore gainsay thou not the King's commandment +and that of thy brethren." And Hasan hung his head abashed before the +King and his father. Then said the King to the Emirs, "Do ye all accept +of him?" "We do," answered they and recited thereupon seven +Fαtihahs.[FN#275] So the King said, "O Kazi, draw up a legal instrument +testifying of these Emirs that they are agreed to make King over them +my daughter's husband Hasan." The Kazi wrote the act and made it +binding on all men,[FN#276] after they had sworn in a body the oath of +fealty to Hasan. Then the King did likewise and bade him take his seat +on the throne of kingship; whereupon they all arose and kissed King +Hasan's hands and did homage to him, and swore lealty to him. And the +new King dispensed justice among the people that day in fashion right +royal, and invested the grandees of the realm in splendid robes of +honour. When the Divan broke up, he went in to and kissed the hands of +his father-in-law who spake thus to him, "O my son, look thou rule the +lieges in the fear of Allah;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Hasan +was quit of the Divan, he went in to and kissed the hands of his wife's +father, who spake thus to him, "O my son, look thou rule the lieges in +the fear of Allah;" whereto he replied, "O my father, through thy +prayers for me, the grace and guidance of Allah will come to me." Then +he entered his own palace and was met by his wife and her mother and +their attendants, who kissed his hands and gave him joy of his +advancement, saying, "Be this day blessed!" Next he went in to his +father and mother, who joyed with exceeding joy in that which Allah had +vouchsafed him of his advancement to the kingship, and his father +charged him to fear Allah and to deal mercifully with his subjects. He +passed the night in glee and gladness, and on the morrow, having prayed +the obligatory prayers ending with the usual short chapters[FN#277] of +the Koran, he went up to the Divan, whither came all his officers and +dignitaries. He passed the day in dispensing justice among the folk, +bidding to graciousness and forbidding ungraciousness and appointing to +place and displacing, till day- end, when the Divan broke up, after the +goodliest fashion, and all the troops withdrew and each went his own +way. Then he arose and repaired to the palace, where he found his +father-in-law's sickness grown heavy upon him and said to him, "May no +ill befal thee!" At this the old King opened his eyes and said, "O +Hasan!" and he replied, "At thy service, O my lord." Quoth the old King +"Mine appointed hour is at hand: be thou careful of thy wife and her +mother, and look thou fear Allah and honour thy parents; and bide in +awe of the majesty of the Requiting King and bear in mind that He +commandeth justice and good works." And King Hasan replied, "I hear and +obey." Now after this the old King lingered three days and then +departed into the mercy of Almighty Allah. So they laid him out and +shrouded and buried him and held over him readings and perlections of +the Koran, to the end of the customary forty days. And King Hasan, son +of the Wazir, reigned in his stead, and his subjects joyed in him and +all his days were gladness; moreover, his father ceased not to be his +chief Wazir on his right hand, and he took to himself another Wazir, to +be at his left hand. His reign was a prosperous and well ordered, and +he lived a long life as King of Baghdad; and Allah blessed him, by the +old King's daughter, with three sons who inherited the kingdom after +him; and they abode in the solace of life and its pleasures till there +came to them the Destroyer of delights and the Severer of societies. +And the glory be to Him who is eternal and in whose hand are annulling +and confirming. And of the tales they tell is one of + + + + +THE PILGRIM MAN AND THE OLD WOMAN. + +A man of the pilgrims once slept a long sleep and awaking, found no +trace of the caravan. So he rose up and walked on, but lost his way and +presently came to a tent, where he saw an old woman standing at the +entrance and by her side a dog asleep. He went up to the tent and, +saluting the old woman, sought of her food, when she replied, "Go to +yonder Wady and catch thy sufficiency of serpents, that I may broil of +them for thee and give thee to eat." Rejoined the pilgrim, "I dare not +catch serpents nor did I ever eat them." Quoth the old woman, "I will +go with thee and catch some; fear not." So she went with him, followed +by the dog, to the valley and, catching a sufficient number of +serpents, proceeded to broil them. He saw nothing for it (saith the +story teller) but to eat, in fear of hunger and exhaustion; so he ate +of the serpents.[FN#278] Then he was athirst and asked for water to +drink; and she answered, "Go to the spring and drink." Accordingly, he +went to the spring and found the water thereof bitter; yet needs must +he drink of it despite its bitterness, because of the violence of his +thirst. Presently he returned to the old woman and said to her, "I +marvel, O ancient dame, at thy choosing to sojourn in this place"—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night, + +She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +palmer-man drank the bitter draught for stress of thirst, he returned +and said "I marvel, O ancient dame, at thy choosing to sojourn in this +place and thy putting up with such meat and drink!" She asked, "And how +is it then in thy country?"; whereto he answered, "In my country are +houses wide and spacious and fruits ripe and delicious and waters sweet +and viands savorous and of goodly use and meats fat and full of juice +and flocks innumerous and all things pleasant and all the goods of +life, the like whereof are not, save in the Paradise which Allah the +Omnipotent hath promised to His servants pious." Replied she, "All this +have I heard: but tell me, have ye a Sultan who ruleth over you and is +tyrannical in his rule and under whose hand you are; one who, if any of +you commit an offence, taketh his goods and ruineth him and who, whenas +he will, turneth you out of house and home and uprooteth you, stock and +branch?" Replied the man, "Indeed that may be;" and she rejoined, "If +so, by Allah, these your delicious food and life of daintyhood and +gifts however good, with tyranny and oppression, are but a searching +poison, while our coarse meat which in freedom and safety we eat is a +healthful medicine. Hast thou not heard that the best of boons, after +Al-Islam, the true Faith, are sanity and security?"[FN#279] "Now such +boons (quoth he who telleth the tale) may be by the just rule of the +Sultan, Vice-regent of Allah on His earth, and the goodness of his +polity. The Sultan of time past needed but little awfulness, for when +the lieges saw him, they feared him; but the Sultan of these days hath +need of the most accomplished polity and the utmost majesty, because +men are not as men of by-gone time and this our age is one of folk +opprobrious, and is greatly calamitous, noted for folly and hardness of +heart and inclined to hate and enmity. If, therefore, the Sultan (which +Almighty Allah forfend!) be weak or wanting in polity and majesty, this +will be the assured cause of his country's ruin. Quoth the proverb, 'An +hundred years of the Sultan's tyranny, but not one year of the people's +tyranny one over other.' When the lieges oppress one another, Allah +setteth over them a tyrannical Sultan and a terrible King. Thus it is +told in history that one day there was sent to Al-Hajjαj bin Yϊsuf a +slip of paper, whereon was written, 'Fear Allah and oppress not His +servants with all manner of oppression.' When he read this, he mounted +the pulpit (for he was eloquent and ever ready of speech), and said, 'O +folk, Allah Almighty hath made me ruler over you, by reason of your +frowardness;'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Thirty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hajjaj +Yousuf-son read the paper he mounted the pulpit and said, "O folk, +Allah Almighty hath made me ruler over you by reason of your +frowardness; and indeed, though I die yet will ye not be delivered from +oppression, with these your ill deeds; for the Almighty hath created +like unto me many an one. If it be not I, 'twill be one more +mischievous than I and a mightier in oppression and a more merciless in +his majesty; even as saith the poet:[FN#280]— + + 'For not a deed the hand can try + + + Save 'neath the hand of God on high, + + + Nor tyrant harsh work tyranny + + + Uncrushed by tyrant harsh as he.' + + + +Tyranny is feared: but justice is the best of all things. We beg + + +Allah to better our case!" And among tales is that of + + + + +ABU AL-HUSN AND HIS SLAVE-GIRL TAWADDUD.[FN#281] + +There was once in Baghdad a man of consequence and rich in monies and +immoveables, who was one of the chiefs of the merchants; and Allah had +largely endowed him with worldly goods, but had not vouchsafed him what +he longed for of offspring; and there passed over him a long space of +time, without his being blessed with issue, male or female. His years +waxed great; his bones became wasted and his back bent; weakness and +weariness grew upon him, and he feared the loss of his wealth and +possessions, seeing he had no child whom he might make his heir and by +whom his name should be remembered. So he betook himself with +supplication to Almighty Allah, fasting by day and praying through the +night. Moreover, he vowed many vows to the Living, the Eternal; and +visited the pious and was constant in supplication to the Most Highest, +till He gave ear to him and accepted his prayer and took pity on his +straining and complaining; so that, before many days were past, he knew +carnally one of his women and she conceived by him the same night. In +due time she finished her months and, casting her burden, bore a male +child as he were a slice of the moon; whereupon the merchant fulfilled +his vows in his gratitude to Allah, (to whom be honour and glory!) and +gave alms and clothed the widow and the orphan. On the seventh night +after the boy's birth, he named him Abu al-Husn,[FN#282] and the +wet-nurses suckled him and the dry-nurses dandled him and the servants +and the slaves carried him and handled him, till he shot up and grew +tall and throve greatly and learnt the Sublime Koran and the ordinances +of Al-Islam and the Canons of the True Faith; and calligraphy and +poetry and mathematics and archery. On this wise he became the +union-pearl of his age and the goodliest of the folk of his time and +his day; fair of face and of tongue fluent, carrying himself with a +light and graceful gait and glorying in his stature proportionate and +amorous graces which were to many a bait: and his cheeks were red and +flower-white was his forehead and his side face waxed brown with tender +down, even as saith one, describing him, + +"The spring of the down on cheeks right clearly shows: * And how + + + when the Spring is gone shall last the rose? + + +Dost thou not see that the growth upon his cheek * Is violet- + + + bloom that from its leaves outgrows." + + + +He abode awhile in ease and happiness with his father, who rejoiced and +delighted in him, till he came to man's estate, when the merchant one +day made him sit down before him and said, "O my son, the appointed +term draweth near; my hour of death is at hand and it remaineth but to +meet Allah (to whom belong Majesty and Might!). I leave thee what shall +suffice thee, even to thy son's son, of monies and mansions, farms and +gardens; wherefore, fear thou Almighty Allah, O my son, in dealing with +that which I bequeath to thee and follow none but those who will help +thee to the Divine favour." Not long after, he sickened and died; so +his son ordered his funeral,[FN#283] after the goodliest wise, and +burying him, returned to his house and sat mourning for him many days +and nights. But behold, certain of his friends came in to him and said +to him, "Whoso leaveth a son like thee is not dead; indeed, what is +past is past and fled and mourning beseemeth none but the young maid +and the wife cloistered." And they ceased not from him till they +wrought on him to enter the Hammam and break off his mourning.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Abu al-Husn +was visited by his friends and taken to the Hamman and persuaded to +break off his mourning, he presently forgot his father's charge, and +his head was turned by his riches; he thought fortune would always wone +with him as it was, and that wealth would ever wax and never wane. So +he ate and drank and made merry and took his pleasure and gave gifts of +gear and coin and was profuse with gold and addrest himself up to +eating fowls and breaking the seals of wine-flasks and listening to the +giggle of the daughter of the vine, as she gurgled from the flagon and +enjoying the jingle of the singing-girls; nor did he give over this way +of life, till his wealth was wasted and the case worsened and all his +goods went from him and he bit his hands[FN#284] in bitter penitence. +For of a truth he had nothing left, after that which he had squandered, +but a concubine, a slave-girl whom his father had bequeathed to him +with the rest of his estate: and she had no equal in beauty and +loveliness and brightness and liveliness and symmetric stature and +perfect grace. She was past mistress in every manner of arts and +accomplishments and endowed with many excellences, surpassing all the +folk of her age and time. She was grown more notorious than a +way-mark,[FN#285] for her seductive genius, and outdid the fair both in +theory and practice, and she was noted for her swimming gait, flexile +and delicate, albeit she was full five feet in height and by all the +boons of fortune deckt and dight, with strait arched brows twain, as +they were the crescent moon of Sha'abαn,[FN#286] and eyes like +gazelles' eyne; and nose like the edge of scymitar fine and cheeks like +anemones of blood-red shine; and mouth like Solomon's seal and sign and +teeth like necklaces of pearls in line; and navel holding an ounce of +oil of benzoin and waist more slender than his body whom love hath +wasted and whom concealment hath made sick with pine and hind parts +heavier than two hills of sand; briefly she was a volume of charms +after his saying who saith, + +"Her fair shape ravisheth, if face to face she did appear, * And + + + if she turn, for severance from her she slayeth sheer. + + +Sun-like, full-moon-like, sapling-like, unto her character * + + + Estrangement no wise appertains nor cruelty austere. + + +Under the bosom of her shift the garths of Eden are * And the + + + full-moon revolveth still upon her neck-rings' + + + sphere."[FN#287] + + + +She seemed a full moon rising and a gazelle browsing, a girl of nine +plus five[FN#288] shaming the moon and sun, even as saith of her the +sayer eloquent and ingenious, + +"Semblance of full-moon Heaven bore, * When five and five are + + + conjoined by four; + + +'Tis not my sin if she made of me * Its like when it riseth + + + horizon o'er."[FN#289] + + + +Clean of skin, odoriferous of breath, it seemed as if she were of fire +fashioned and of crystal moulded; rose-red was the cheek of her and +perfect the shape and form of her; even as one saith of her, describing +her, + +"Scented with sandal[FN#290] and musk, right proudly doth she go, + + + * With gold and silver and rose and saffron-colour aglow. + + +A flower in a garden she is, a pearl in an ouch of gold * Or an + + + image in chapel[FN#291] set for worship of high and low. + + +Slender and shapely she is; vivacity bids her arise, * But the + + + weight of her hips says, 'Sit, or softly and slowly go.' + + +Whenas her favours I seek and sue for my heart's desire, * 'Be + + + gracious,' her beauty says; but her coquetry answers, 'No.' + + +Glory to Him who made beauty her portion, and that * Of her lover + + + to be the prate of the censurers, heigho!"[FN#292] + + + +She captivated all who saw her, with the excellence of her beauty and +the sweetness of her smile,[FN#293] and shot them down with the shafts +she launched from her eyes; and withal she was eloquent of speech and +excellently skilled in verse. Now when Abu al-Husn had squandered all +his gold, and his ill-plight all could behold, and there remained to +him naught save this slave-girl, he abode three days without tasting +meat or taking rest in sleep, and the handmaid said to him, "O my lord, +carry me to the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid,"—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth the +slave-girl to her master, "O my lord, carry me to Harun al-Rashid, +fifth of the sons of Abbas, and seek of him to my price ten thousand +dinars. If he deem me dear, say to him: 'O Prince of True Believers, my +handmaid is worth more than this: do but prove her, and her value will +be magnified in thine eyes; for this slave-girl hath not her equal, and +she were unfit to any but thou.'" And she added, "Beware, O my lord, of +selling me at less than the sum I have named; indeed 'tis but little +for the like of me." Now her owner knew not her worth nor that she had +no equal in her day; but he carried her to the Caliph and set her in +the presence and repeated what she had bidden him say. The Caliph asked +her, "What is thy name?"; to which she answered, "My name is +Tawaddud."[FN#294] He then enquired, "O Tawaddud, in what branches of +knowledge dost thou excel?"; and she replied, "O my lord, I am versed +in syntax and poetry and jurisprudence and exegesis and philosophy; and +I am skilled in music and the knowledge of the Divine ordinances and in +arithmetic and geodesy and geometry and the fables of the ancients. I +know the Sublime Koran by heart and have read it according to the +seven, the ten and the fourteen modes. I know the number of its +chapters and versets and sections and words; and its halves and fourths +and eighths and tenths; the number of prostrations which occur in it +and the sum total of its letters; and I know what there is in it of +abrogating and abrogated[FN#295]; also what parts of it were revealed +at Al-Medinah and what at Meccah and the cause of the different +revelations. I know the Holy Traditions of the Apostle's sayings, +historical and legendary, the established and those whose ascription is +doubtful; and I have studied the exact sciences, geometry and +philosophy and medicine and logic and rhetoric and composition; and I +have learnt many things by rote and am passionately fond of poetry. I +can play the lute and know its gamut and notes and notation and the +crescendo and diminuendo. If I sing and dance, I seduce, and if I dress +and scent myself, I slay. In fine, I have reached a pitch of perfection +such as can be estimated only by those of them who are firmly rooted in +knowledge."[FN#296] Now when the Caliph heard these words spoken by one +so young, he wondered at her eloquence, and turning to Abu al-Husn, +said, "I will summon those who shall discuss with her all she claimeth +to know; if she answer correctly, I will give thee the price thou +askest for her and more; and if not, thou art fitter to have her than +I." "With gladness and goodly gree, O Commander of the Faithful," +replied Abu al-Husn. So the Caliph wrote to the Viceroy of Bassorah, to +send him Ibrahim bin Siyyαr the prosodist, who was the first man of his +day in argument and eloquence and poetry and logic, and bade him bring +with him readers of the Koran and learned doctors of the law and +physicians and astrologers and scientists and mathematicians and +philosophers; and Ibrahim was more learned than all. In a little while +they arrived at the palace of the Caliphate, knowing not what was to +do, and the Caliph sent for them to his sitting-chamber and ordered +them to be seated. So they sat down and he bade bring the damsel +Tawaddud who came and unveiling, showed herself, as she were a +sparkling star.[FN#297] The Caliph set her a stool of gold; and she +saluted, and speaking with an eloquent tongue, said, "O Commander of +the Faithful, bid the Olema and the doctors of law and leaches and +astrologers and scientists and mathematicians and all here present +contend with me in argument." So he said to them, "I desire of you that +ye dispute with this damsel on the things of her faith, and stultify +her argument in all she advanceth;" and they answered, saying, "We hear +and we obey Allah and thee, O Commander of the Faithful." Upon this +Tawaddud bowed her head and said, "Which of you is the doctor of the +law, the scholar, versed in the readings of the Koran and in the +Traditions?" Quoth one of them, "I am the man thou seekest." Quoth she, +"Then ask me of what thou wilt." Said the doctor, "Hast thou read the +precious book of Allah and dost thou know its cancelling and cancelled +parts and hast thou meditated its versets and its letters?" "Yes," +answered she. "Then," said he, "I will proceed to question thee of the +obligations and the immutable ordinances: so tell me of these, O +damsel, and who is thy Lord, who thy prophet, who thy Guide, what is +thy point of fronting in prayer, and who be thy brethren? Also what thy +spiritual path and what thy highway?" Whereto she replied, "Allah is my +Lord, and Mohammed (whom Allah save and assain!) my prophet, and the +Koran is my guide and the Ka'abah my fronting; and the True-believers +are my brethren. The practice of good is my path and the Sunnah my +highway." The Caliph again marvelled at her words so eloquently spoken +by one so young; and the doctor pursued, "O damsel, with what do we +know Almighty Allah?" Said she, "With the understanding." Said he, "And +what is the understanding?" Quoth she, "It is of two kinds, natural and +acquired."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the damsel +continued, "The understanding is of two kinds, natural and acquired. +The natural is that which Allah (to whom be honour and glory!) created +for the right direction of His servants after His will; and the +acquired is that which men accomplish by dint of study and fair +knowledge." He rejoined, "Thou hast answered well." Q "Where is the +seat of the understanding?"—"Allah casteth it in the heart whence its +lustrous beams ascend to the brain and there become fixed." Q "How +knowest thou the Prophet of Allah?" "By the reading of Allah's Holy +Book and by signs and proofs and portents and miracles!" Q "What are +the obligations and the immutable ordinances?" "The obligations are +five. (1) Testification that there is no ilαh[FN#298] but Allah, no god +but the God alone and One, which for partner hath none, and that +Mohammed is His servant and His apostle. (2) The standing in +prayers.[FN#299] (3) The payment of the poor-rate. (4) Fasting Ramazan. +(5) The Pilgrimage to Allah's Holy House for all to whom the journey is +possible. The immutable ordinances are four; to wit, night and day and +sun and moon, the which build up life and hope; nor any son of Adam +wotteth if they will be destroyed on the Day of Judgment." Q "What are +the obligatory observances of the Faith?" "They are five, prayer, +almsgiving, fasting, pilgrimage, fighting for the Faith and abstinence +from the forbidden." Q "Why dost thou stand up to pray?" "To express +the devout intent of the slave acknowledging the Deity." Q "What are +the obligatory conditions which precede standing in prayer?" +"Purification, covering the shame, avoidance of soiled clothes, +standing on a clean place, fronting the Ka'abah, an upright posture, +the intent[FN#300] and the pronouncing 'Allaho Akbar' of +prohibition."[FN#301] Q "With what shouldest thou go forth from thy +house to pray?" "With the intent of worship mentally pronounced." Q +"With what intent shouldest thou enter the mosque?" "With an intent of +service." Q "Why do we front the Kiblah[FN#302]?" "In obedience to +three Divine orders and one Traditional ordinance." Q "What are the +beginning, the consecration and the end of prayer?" "Purification +beginneth prayer, saying the Allaho Akbar of prohibition consecrateth, +and the salutation endeth prayer." Q "What deserveth he who neglecteth +prayer?" "It is reported, among the authentic Traditions of the +Prophet, that he said, 'Whoso neglecteth prayer wilfully and purposely +hath no part in Al-Islam.'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fortieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after the damsel +had repeated the words of that Holy Tradition the doctor cried, "Thou +hast replied aright: now say me, what is prayer?" "Prayer is communion +between the slave and his lord, and in it are ten virtues: (1) it +illumineth the heart; (2) it maketh the face shine; (3) it pleaseth the +Compassionate One; (4) it angereth Satan; (5) it conjureth calamity; +(6) it wardeth off the mischief of enemies; (7) it multiplieth mercy; +(8) it forfendeth vengeance and punishment; (9) it bringeth the slave +nigh unto his lord; and (10) it restraineth from lewdness and +frowardness. Hence it is one of the absolute requisites and obligatory +ordinances and the pillar of the Faith." Q "What is the key of prayer?" +"Wuzd or the lesser ablution."[FN#303] Q "What is the key to the lesser +ablution?" "Intention and naming the Almighty." Q "What is the key of +naming the Almighty?" "Assured faith." Q "What is the key of faith?" +"Trust in the Lord." Q "What is the key of trust in the Lord?" "Hope." +Q "What is the key of hope?" "Obedience." Q "What is the key of +obedience?" "The confession of the Unity and the acknowledgment of the +divinity of Allah." Q "What are the Divine ordinances of Wuzu, the +minor ablution?" "They are six, according to the canon of the Imam +al-Shαfi'ν Mohammed bin Idris (of whom Allah accept!): (1) intent while +washing the face; (2) washing the face; (3) washing the hands and +forearms; (4) wiping part of the head; (5) washing the feet and heels; +and (6) observing due order.[FN#304] And the traditional statutes are +ten: (1) nomination; (2) and washing the hands before putting them into +the water-pot; (3) and mouth-rinsing; (4) and snuffing;[FN#305] (5) and +wiping the whole head; (6) and wetting the ears within and without with +fresh water; (7) and separating a thick beard; (8) and separating the +fingers and toes;[FN#306] (9) and washing the right foot before the +left and (10) doing each of these thrice and all in unbroken order. +When the minor ablution is ended, the worshipper should say, I testify +that there is no god but the God, the One, which for partner hath none, +and I testify that Mohammed is His servant and His apostle. O my Allah, +make me of those who repent and in purity are permanent! Glory to Thee, +O my God, and in Thy praise I bear witness, that there is no god save +Thou! I crave pardon of Thee and I repent to Thee! For it is reported, +in the Holy Traditions, that the Prophet (whom Allah bless and +preserve!) said of this prayer, 'Whoso endeth every ablution with this +prayer, the eight gates of Paradise are open to him; he shall enter at +which he pleaseth.'" Q "When a man purposeth ablution, what betideth +him from the angels and the devils?" "When a man prepareth for +ablution, the angels come and stand on his right and the devils on his +left hand.[FN#307] If he name Almighty Allah at the beginning of the +ablution, the devils flee from him and the angels hover over him with a +pavilion of light, having four ropes, to each an angel glorifying Allah +and craving pardon for him, so long as he remaineth silent or calleth +upon the name of Allah. But if he omit to begin washing with naming +Allah (to whom belong might and majesty!), neither remain silent, the +devils take command of him; and the angels depart from him and Satan +whispereth evil thoughts unto him, till he fall into doubt and come +short in his ablution. For (quoth he on whom be blessing and peace!), +'A perfect ablution driveth away Satan and assureth against the tyranny +of the Sultan'; and again quoth he, 'If calamity befal one who is not +pure by ablution; verily and assuredly let him blame none but +himself.'" Q "What should a man do when he awaketh from sleep?" "He +should wash his hands thrice, before putting them into the water +vessel." Q "What are the Koranic and traditional orders anent Ghusl, +the complete ablution[FN#308]?" "The divine ordinances are intent and +'crowning'[FN#309] the whole body with water, that is, the liquid shall +come at every part of the hair and skin. Now the traditional ordinances +are the minor ablution as preliminary; rubbing the body; separating the +hair and deferring in words[FN#310] the washing of the feet till the +end of the ablution."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Forty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel +had recounted to the doctor what were the divine and traditional orders +anent Ghusl or total ablution, quoth he, "Thou hast replied aright: now +tell me what are the occasions for Tayammum, or making the ablution +with sand and dust; and what are the ordinances thereof, divine and +human?" "The reasons are seven, viz.: want of water; fear lest water +lack; need thereto; going astray on a march; sickness; having broken +bones in splints and having open wounds.[FN#311] As for its ordinances, +the divine number four, viz., intent, dust, clapping it to the face and +clapping it upon the hands; and the human number two, nomination and +preferring the right before the left hand." Q "What are the conditions, +the pillars or essentials, and the traditional statutes of prayer?" +"The conditions are five: (1) purification of the members; (2) covering +of the privy parts; (3) observing the proper hours, either of certainty +or to the best of one's belief; (4) fronting the Kiblah; and (5) +standing on a clean place. The pillars or essentials number twelve: (1) +intent; (2) the Takbνr or magnification of prohibition; (3) standing +when able to stand[FN#312]; (4) repeating the Fatihah or opening +chapter of the Koran and saying, 'In the name of Allah, the +Compassionating, the Compassionate!' with a verse thereof according to +the canon of the Imam Al-Shafi'i; (5) bowing the body and keeping it +bowed; (6) returning to the upright posture and so remaining for the +time requisite; (7) prostration and permanence therein; (8) sitting +between two prostrations and permanence therein; (9) repeating the +latter profession of the Faith and sitting up therefor; (10) invoking +benediction on the Prophet (whom Allah bless and preserve!) (11) the +first Salutation,[FN#313] and (12) the intent of making an end of +prayer expressed in words. But the traditional statutes are the call to +prayer; the standing posture; raising the hands (to either side of the +face) whilst pronouncing the prohibition; uttering the magnification +before reciting the Fatihah; seeking refuge with Allah[FN#314]; saying, +'Amen'; repeating the chapter of the Koran after the Fatihah, repeating +the magnifications during change of posture; saying, 'May Allah hear +him who praiseth Him! and O our Lord, to Thee be the praise!'; praying +aloud in the proper place[FN#315] and praying under the breath prayers +so prescribed; the first profession of unity and sitting up thereto; +blessing the Prophet therein; blessing his family in the latter +profession and the second Salutation." Q "On what is the Zakαt or +obligatory poor-rate taxable?" "On gold and silver and camels and oxen +and sheep and wheat and barley and holcus and millet and beans and +vetches and rice and raisins and dates." Q "What is the Zakαt or +poor-rate on gold?" "Below twenty miskals or dinars, nothing; but on +that amount half a dinar for every score and so on +proportionally.[FN#316]" Q "On silver?" "Under two hundred dirhams +nothing, then five dirhams on every two hundred and so forth." Q "On +camels?" "For every five, an ewe, or for every twenty-five a pregnant +camel." Q "On sheep?" "An ewe for every forty head," Q "What are the +ordinances of the Ramazan Fast?" "The Koranic are intent; abstinence +from eating, drinking and carnal copulation, and the stoppage of +vomiting. It is incumbent on all who submit to the Law, save women in +their courses and forty days after childbirth; and it becomes +obligatory on sight of the new moon or on news of its appearance, +brought by a trustworthy person and commending itself as truth to the +hearer's heart; and among its requisites is that the intent be +pronounced at nightfall. The traditional ordinances of fasting are, +hastening to break the fast at sundown; deferring the fore-dawn +meal,[FN#317] and abstaining from speech, save for good works and for +calling on the name of Allah and reciting the Koran." Q "What things +vitiate not the fast?" "The use of unguents and eye-powders and the +dust of the road and the undesigned swallowing of saliva and the +emission of seed in nocturnal pollution or at the sight of a strange +woman and blooding and cupping; none of these things vitiates the +fast." Q "What are the prayers of the two great annual Festivals?" "Two +one-bow prayers, which be a traditional ordinance, without call to +prayer or standing up to pronounce the call;[FN#318] but let the Moslem +say, 'Prayer is a collector of all folk!'[FN#319] and pronounce 'Allaho +Akbar' seven times in the first prayer, besides the Takbir of +prohibition; and, in the second, five times, besides the magnification +of rising up (according to the doctrine of the Imam Al-Shafi'i, on whom +Allah have mercy!) and make the profession of the Faith."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Forty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel +had answered the doctor anent the Festival-prayers, quoth he, "Thou +hast replied aright: now tell me what are the prayers prescribed on the +occasion of an eclipse of the sun or moon?" "Two one-bow prayers +without call to prayer or standing thereto by the worshipper, who shall +make in each two-bow prayer double standing up and double inclinations +and two-fold prostrations, then sit and testify and salute." Q "What is +the ritual of prayer for rain?" "Two one-bow prayers without call to +prayer or standing thereto; then shall the Moslem make the profession +and salute. Moreover the Imam shall deliver an exhortation and ask +pardon of Allah, in place of the magnification, as in the two sermons +of the Festivals and turn his mantle upper edge downwards and pray and +supplicate." Q "What are the Witr, the additional or occasional +prayers?" "The least is a one-bow prayer and the most eleven." Q "What +is the forenoon prayer?" "At least, two one-bow prayers and at most, +twelve." Q "What hast thou to say of the I'itikαf or retreat[FN#320]?" +"It is a matter of traditional ordinance." Q "What are its conditions?" +"(1) intent; (2) not leaving the mosque save of necessity; (3) not +having to do with a woman; (4) fasting; and (5) abstaining from +speech." Q "Under what conditions is the Hajj or Pilgrimage[FN#321] +obligatory?" "Manhood, and understanding and being a Moslem and +practicability; in which case it is obligatory on all, once before +death." Q "What are the Koranic statutes of the Pilgrimage?" "(1) The +Ihrαm or pilgrim's habit; (2) the standing at Arafat; (3) +circumambulating the Ka'abah; (4) running between Safα and +Marwah[FN#322]; and (5) shaving or clipping the hair." Q "What are the +Koranic statutes of the 'Umrah[FN#323] or lesser pilgrimage?" "Assuming +the pilgrim's habit and compassing and running." Q "What are the +Koranic ordinances of the assumption of the pilgrim's habit?"[FN#324] +"Doffing sewn garments, forswearing perfume and ceasing to shave the +head or pare the nails, and avoiding the killing of game, and eschewing +carnal copulation." Q "What are the traditional statutes of the +pilgrimage?" "(1) The crying out 'Labbay'ka, Adsum, Here am I, O our +Lord, here am I!'[FN#325]4 (2) the Ka'abah-circuitings[FN#326] of +arrival and departure; (3) the passing the night at the Mosque of +Muzdalifah and in the valley of Mina, and (4) the lapidation.[FN#327]" +Q "What is the Jihαd or Holy War and its essentials?" "Its essentials +are: (1) the descent of the Infidels upon us; (2) the presence of the +Imam; (3) a state of preparation; and (4) firmness in meeting the foe. +Its traditional ordinance is incital to battle, in that the Most High +hath said, 'O thou my Prophet, incite the faithful to fight!'[FN#328]" +Q "What are the ordinances of buying and selling?" "The Koranic are: +(1) offer and acceptance and (2) if the thing sold be a white slave, by +whom one profiteth, all possible endeavour to convert him to Al-Islam; +and (3) to abstain from usury; the traditional are: making void[FN#329] +and option before not after separating, according to his saying (whom +Allah bless and preserve!), 'The parties to a sale shall have the +option of cancelling or altering terms whilst they are yet +unseparated.'", Q "What is it forbidden to sell for what?" "On this +point I mind me of an authentic tradition, reported by Nαf'i[FN#330] of +the Apostle of Allah, that he forbade the barter of dried dates for +fresh and fresh figs for dry and jerked for fresh meat and cream for +clarified butter; in fine, all eatables of one and the same kind, it is +unlawful to buy or barter some for other some.[FN#331]" Now when the +doctor of law heard her words and knew that she was wit-keen, +penetrative, ingenious and learned in jurisprudence and the Traditions +and the interpretation of the Koran and what not else, he said in his +mind, "Needs must I manoeuvre with her, that I may overcome her in the +assembly of the Commander of the Faithful." So he said to her, "O +damsel, what is the lexicographical meaning of Wuzu?" And she answered, +"Philologically it signifieth cleanliness and freedom from impurities." +Q "And of Salαt or prayer?" "An invocation of good" Q "And of Ghusl?" +"Purification." Q "And of Saum or fasting?" "Abstention." Q "And of +Zakαt?" "Increase. Q "And of Hajj or pilgrimage?" "Visitation." Q "And +of Jihαd?" "Repelling." With this the doctor's arguments were cut +off,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Forty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the doctor's +arguments were cut off, he rose to his feet and said, "Bear witness +against me, O Commander of the Faithful, that this damsel is more +learned in the Law than I am." Quoth she, "I will ask thee somewhat, +which do thou answer me speedily, an thou be indeed a learned man." +Quoth he, "Say on;" and she said, "What are the arrows of the Faith?" +Answered he, "They number ten: (1) Testification, that is, religion; +(2) Prayer, that is, the covenant; (3) Alms, that is, purification; (4) +Fasting, that is, defensive armour; (5) Pilgrimage, that is, the Law; +(6) Fighting for the Faith, that is, a general duty; (7) Bidding to +beneficence and (8) Forbidding from frowardness, both of which are a +man's honour; (9) Commune,[FN#332] that is, sociableness of the +Faithful; and (10) Seeking knowledge, that is, the praiseworthy path." +She rejoined, "Thou hast replied aright and now remaineth but one +question, 'What be the roots or fundamentals of Al-Islam?'" He said +"They are four: sincerity of belief, truth of intent, observance of the +lawful limit and keeping the covenant." Then said she, "I have one more +question to ask thee, which if thou answer, it is well; else, I will +take thy clothes." Quoth he, "Speak, O damsel;" and she said, "What are +the branches or superstructure of Al-Islam?" But he was silent awhile +and made no reply: so she cried "Doff thy clothes and I will expound +them to thee." Quoth the Caliph "Expound them, and I will make him put +off his clothes for thee." She said, "There are two-and-twenty +branches: (1) holding fast to the Book of Allah the Most Highest; (2) +taking example by His Apostle (whom Allah bless and preserve!); (3) +abstaining from evil doing; (4) eating what is lawful and (5) avoiding +what is unlawful; (6) restitution of things wrongfully taken; (7) +repentance; (8) knowledge of the Law; (9) love of the Friend,[FN#333] +(10) and of the followers of the true Revelation; (11) belief in the +apostles of Al-Islam; (12) fear of apostacy; (13) preparation for +departing this life; (14) force of conviction; (15) mercy on all +possible occasions; (16) strength in time of weakness; (17) patience +under trials; (18) knowledge of Allah Almighty and (19) of what His +Prophet hath made known to us; (20) thwarting Iblis the accursed; (21) +striving earnestly against the lusts of the soul and warring them down, +and (22) devotion to the one God." Now when the Commander of the +Faithful heard her words, he bade the professor put off his clothes and +hooded turband; and so did that doctor and went forth, beaten and +confounded, from the Caliph's presence. Thereupon another man stood up +and said to her, "O damsel, hear a few questions from me." Quoth she, +"Say on;' and he asked, "What are the conditions of purchase by +advance?" whereto she answered, "That the price be fixed, the kind be +fixed and the period of delivery be fixed and known." Q "What are the +Koranic and the traditional canons of eating?" "The confession that +Allah Almighty provideth the eater and giveth him meat and drink, with +thanksgiving to Him therefor." Q "What is thanksgiving?" "The use by +the creature of that which the Creator vouchsafeth to him, according as +it was created for the creature." Q "What are the traditional canons of +eating?" "The Bismillah[FN#334] and washing both hands; sitting on the +left of the hind part; eating with three fingers, and eating of that +which hath been duly masticated.[FN#335]" Q "What are good manners in +eating?" "Taking small mouthfuls and looking little at one's +table-companion."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Forty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel +had answered concerning good manners in eating, the doctor who was +trying her, rejoined, "Thou hast replied aright. Now tell me what are +the stays of the heart and their supports?"[FN#336] "The stays and +supports both number three: (1) holding fast to the Faith, the support +whereof is the shunning of infidelity; (2) holding fast to the +Traditional Law, and its support the shunning of innovation; and (3) +holding fast to obedience, and its support the shunning of +disobedience." Q "What are the conditions of Wuzu?" "(1) being a +Moslem; (2) discernment of good and evil; (3) purity of the water, and +(4) absence of material or religious impediments." Q "What is belief?" +"It is divided into nine parts: (1) belief in the One worshipped; (2) +belief in the condition of slavery of the worshipper; (3) belief in the +personality of the Deity; (4) belief in the Two Handfuls;[FN#337] (5) +belief in Providence which allotteth to man his lot; (6) belief in the +Abrogating and (7) in the Abrogated; (8) belief in Allah, His angels +and apostles; and (9) in fore-ordained Fate, general and individual, +its good and ill, its sweet and bitter." Q "What three things do away +other three?" "It is told of Sufyαn al-Saurν[FN#338] that he said, +'Three things do away with other three. Making light of the pious doth +away the future life; making light of Kings doth away this life; and, +making light of expenditure doth away wealth.'" Q "What are the keys of +the heavens, and how many gates have they.?" "Quoth Almighty Allah, +'And the heaven shall be opened and be full of portals;'[FN#339] and +quoth he whom Allah bless and preserve!, 'None knoweth the number of +the gates of heavens, save He who created the heavens, and there is no +son of Adam but hath two gates allotted to him in the heavens, one +whereby his daily bread descendeth and another wherethrough his works +ascend. The first gate is not closed, save when his term of life cometh +to an end, nor the gate of works, good and evil, till his soul ascend +for judgment.'" Q "Tell me of a thing and a half thing and a no-thing." +"The thing is the Moslem; the half thing the hypocrite,[FN#340] and the +no-thing the miscreant." Q "Tell me of various kinds of hearts." "There +is the whole heart, the sick heart, the contrite heart, the vowed heart +and the enlightened heart. Now the whole heart is that of Abraham, the +Friend of Allah; the sick heart is that of the Unbeliever in Al-Islam; +the contrite heart is that of the pious who fear the Lord; the vowed +heart is that of our Lord Mohammed (whom Allah bless and keep!) and the +illuminated heart is that of his followers. Furthermore, the hearts of +learned Olema are of three kinds, the heart which is in love with this +world; the heart which loveth the next world, and the heart which +loveth its Lord; and it is said that hearts are three, the suspended, +that of the infidel; the non-existent, that of the hypocrite; and the +constant, that of the True-believer. Moreover, it is said that the firm +heart is of three kinds, viz., the heart dilated with light and faith, +the heart wounded with fear of estrangement, and the heart which +feareth to be forsaken of its Supreme Friend."—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Forty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the second +doctor declared. "Thou hast said well," quoth she to the Caliph, "O +Commander of the Faithful, he hath questioned me, till he is weary, and +now I will ask of him two questions. If he answer them both, it is +well; and if not, I will take his clothes and he shall wend in peace." +Quoth the doctor, "Ask me what thou wilt," and she said, "What sayest +thou religion is?" Answered he, "Religion is confession of Faith with +the tongue and conviction with the heart and correspondent action with +the members. He (upon whom be blessings and peace!) hath said, 'The +believer is not perfect in belief, except he perfect himself in five +qualities, namely: trust in Allah,[FN#341] committal of his affair to +Allah, submission to the commands of Allah, acquiescence in the decrees +of Allah; and that all he doth be done for sake of Allah; so is he of +those who are acceptable to the Deity, and who give to Him and withhold +for Him; and such man is perfect in belief.'" Then said she, "What is +the Divine ordinance of ordinances and the ordinance which is the +initiator of all ordinances and that of which all others stand in need +and that which comprehendeth all others; and what is the traditional +ordinance that entereth into the Koranic, and the prophetic practice +whereby the Divine is completed?" But he was silent and made no reply; +whereupon the Caliph bade her expound and ordered him to doff his +clothes and give them to her. Said she, "O doctor, the Koranic +ordinance of ordinances is the knowledge of Allah Almighty; that, which +is the initiative of all others, is the testifying there is no god but +the God and Mohammed is the Apostle of God; that, of which all others +have need, is the Wuzu-ablution; that, which compriseth all others, is +the Ghusl-ablution from defilement[FN#342]; the Traditional ordinance +that entereth into the Koranic, is the separation of the fingers and +the thick beard;[FN#343] and that, wherewith all Koranic ordinances are +completed, is circumcision."[FN#344] Therewith was made manifest the +defeat of the doctor, who rose to his feet and said, "I call Allah to +witness, O Commander of the Faithful, that this damsel is more learned +than I in theology and what pertaineth to the Law." So saying, he put +off his clothes and went away ignominiously worsted. Then she turned to +the rest of the learned men present and said, "O masters, which of you +is the Koranist, the reader and reciter of the Koran, versed in the +seven readings and in syntax and in lexicography?" Thereupon a +professor arose and, seating himself before her, said "Hast thou read +the Book of Almighty Allah and made thyself thoroughly acquainted with +its signs, that is its verses, and its abrogating parts and abrogated +portions, its unequivocal commands and its ambiguous; and the +difference of its revelations, Meccan and Medinan? Dost thou understand +its interpretation and hast thou studied it, according to the various +traditions and origins?" "Yes," answered she; and he said, "What then +is the number of its chapters, how many are the decades and versets, +how many words and how many letters and how many acts of prostration +and how many prophets and how many chapters are Medinan and how many +are Meccan and how many birds are mentioned in it?" Replied she, "O my +lord, its chapters are an hundred and fourteen, whereof seventy were +revealed at Meccah and forty-four at Al-Medinah; and it containeth six +hundred and twenty-one decades; six thousand three hundred and +thirty-six versets;[FN#345] seventy-nine thousand four hundred and +thirty-nine words and three hundred and twenty-three thousand and six +hundred and seventy letters; and to the reader thereof, for every +letter, are given ten benefits. The acts of prostration it compriseth +are fourteen."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Forty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +professor of Koranic exegesis questioned the damsel, she continued, "As +regards the Prophets named in the Book there be five-and-twenty, to +wit, Adam, Noah,[FN#346] Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Lot, +Elisha, Jonah, Salih,[FN#347] or Heber, Hϊd,[FN#348] Shua'yb or +Jethro,[FN#349] David, Solomon, Zϊ'l-kafl or Joshua, Idrνs, Elias, +Yahyα or John the Baptist, Zacharias, Job, Moses, Aaron, Jesus and +Mohammed,[FN#350] the peace of Allah and His blessing be on them all! +Moreover, nine flying things are mentioned in the Koran, namely, the +gnat, the bee, the fly, the ant, the hoopoe, the crow, the locust, the +swallow and the bird of Jesus[FN#351] (on whom be peace!), to wit, the +bat." Q "Which is the most excellent chapter of the Koran?" "That of +The Cow.[FN#352]" Q "Which is the most magnificent verse?" "That of the +Throne; it hath fifty words, bearing in each fifty blessings." Q "What +sign or verse hath in it nine signs or wonders?" "That in which quoth +Allah Almighty, 'Verily, in the creation of the Heaven and the Earth: +and in the vicissitude of night, and day; and in the ship which saileth +through the sea laden with what is profitable for mankind; and in the +rain-water which God sendeth down from Heaven, quickening thereby the +dead ground and replenishing the same with all sorts of cattle; and in +the change of winds and in the clouds that are compelled to do service +between the Heaven and the Earth;[FN#353]—are signs to people of +understanding.'" Q "Which verse is the most just?" "That in which Allah +saith, 'Verily, Allah enjoineth justice and the doing of good, and the +giving unto kindred what shall be necessary; and He forbiddeth +wickedness and iniquity and oppression'"[FN#354] Q "Which is the most +greedy?" "That in which quoth Allah, 'Is it that every man of them +greedeth to enter the Garden of Delight?'"[FN#355] Q "Which is the most +hopeful?" "That in which quoth Almighty Allah, 'Say: O my servants who +have transgressed against your own souls, despair not of the mercy of +Allah; seeing, that Allah forgiveth all sins; aye Gracious, Merciful is +He.'"[FN#356] Q "By what school of intonation dost thou read?" "By that +of the people of Paradise, to wit, the version of Nαf'i." Q "In which +verse doth Allah make prophets lie?"[FN#357] "In that wherein He saith, +'They (the brothers of Joseph) brought his inner garment stained with +false blood.'"[FN#358] Q "In which doth He make unbelievers speak the +truth?" "In that wherein He saith, 'The Jews say, 'The Christians are +grounded on nothing,' and the Christians say, 'The Jews are grounded on +nothing'; and yet they both read the Scriptures;'[FN#359] and, so +saying, all say sooth." Q "In which doth God speak in his own person?" +"In that in which he saith, 'I have not created Genii and men for any +other end than that they should serve me.'"[FN#360] Q "In which verse +do the angels speak?" "In that which saith, 'But we celebrate Thy +praise and extol Thy holiness.'"[FN#361] Q "What sayest thou of the +formula:—I seek refuge with Allah from Satan the Stoned?" "It is +obligatory by commandment of Allah on all before reading the Koran, as +appeareth by His saying, 'When thou readest the Koran, seek refuge with +Allah from Satan the Stoned.'"[FN#362] Q "What signify the words +'seeking refuge'[FN#363] and what are the variants of the formula?" +"Some say, 'I take refuge with Allah the All-hearing and All-knowing,' +and others, 'With Allah the Strong;' but the best is that whereof the +Sublime Koran speaketh and the Traditions perpetuate. And he (whom +Allah bless and keep!) was used to ejaculate, 'I seek refuge with Allah +from Satan the Stoned.' And quoth a Tradition, reported by Naf'i on the +authority of his adopted father, 'The apostle of Allah, was wont when +he rose in the night to pray, to say aloud, 'Allaho Akbar'; God is Most +Great, with all Majesty! Praise be to Allah abundantly! Glory to Allah +morn and even be!' Then would he say, 'I seek refuge with Allah from +Satan the Stoned and from the delusions of the Devils and their evil +suggestions.' And it is told of Ibn Abbas[FN#364] (of whom Allah +accept!) that he said, 'The first time Gabriel came down to the Prophet +with revelation he taught him the 'seeking refuge,' saying, 'O +Mohammed, say, I seek refuge with Allah the All-hearing and +All-knowing;' then say, 'In the name of Allah the Compassionating, the +Compassionate!' Read, in the name of thy Lord who created;—created man +of blood-clots."[FN#365] Now when the Koranist heard her words he +marvelled at her expressions, her eloquence, her learning, her +excellence, and said, "O damsel, what sayst thou of the verse 'In the +name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate'? Is it one of +the verses of the Koran?" "Yes; it is a verset of 'The Ant'[FN#366] +occurring also at the head of the first and between every two following +chapters; and there is much difference of opinion, respecting this, +among the learned."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Forty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel +had told the professor concerning the difference of opinion among the +learned touching the "Basmalah," he said, "Thou hast replied aright: +now tell me why is not the formula written at the head of the chapter +of Immunity[FN#367]?"; and she answered, "When this chapter was +revealed from on high for the dissolution of the alliance between the +Prophet and the idolaters, He (whom Allah bless and preserve!) sent +Ali[FN#368] ibn Abν Tαlib (whose face Allah honour!) therewith, and he +read the chapter to them, but did not read the Basmalah."[FN#369] Q +"What of the excellence of the formula and its blessing?" "It is told +of the Prophet that he said, 'Never is the Basmalah pronounced over +aught, but there is a blessing in it;' and it is reported, on authority +of Him (whom Allah bless and preserve!) that the Lord of Glory swore by +His glory that never should the Basmalah be pronounced over a sick +person, but he should be healed of his sickness. Moreover, it is said +that, when Allah created the empyrean, it was agitated with an +exceeding agitation; but He wrote on it, 'Bismillah' and its agitation +subsided. When the formula first descended from heaven to the Prophet, +he said, 'I am safe from three things, earthquake and metamorphosis and +drowning; and indeed its boons are great and its blessings too many to +enumerate. It is told of Allah's Apostle that he said, 'There will be +brought on the Judgment-day a man with whom He shall reckon and finding +no good deed to his account, shall order him to the Fire; but the man +will cry, 'O my God, Thou hast not dealt justly by me!' Then shall +Allah (to whom be honour and glory!) say, 'How so?' and the man shall +answer, O Lord, for that Thou callest Thyself the Compassionating, the +Compassionate, yet wilt Thou punish me with the Fire!' And Allah +(magnified be His Majesty!) shall reply, 'I did indeed name myself the +Compassionating, the Compassionate. Carry My servant to Paradise, of My +mercy, for I am the most Merciful of the mercifuls!'" Q "What was the +origin of the use of the Basmalah?" "When Allah sent down from Heaven +the Koran, they wrote, 'In Thy name, O my God!'; when Allah revealed +the words, 'Say: Call upon Allah, or call upon the Compassionating, +what days ye pray, for hath He the most excellent names,'[FN#370] they +wrote, 'In the name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate; +and, when He revealed the words, 'Your God is one God, there is no God +but He, the Compassionating, the Compassionate,'[FN#371] they wrote, +'In the name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate!'" Now +when the Koranist heard her reply, he hung down his head and said to +himself, "This be a marvel of marvels! How hath this slave-girl +expounded the origin of the Basmalah? But, by Allah, needs must I go a +bout with her and haply defeat her." So he asked, "Did Allah reveal the +Koran all at once or at times manifold?" She answered, "Gabriel the +Faithful (on whom be peace!) descended with it from the Lord of the +Worlds upon His Prophet Mohammed, Prince of the Apostles and Seal of +the Prophets, by detached versets: bidding and forbidding, covenanting +and comminating, and containing advices and instances in the course of +twenty years as occasion called for it." Q "Which chapter was first +revealed?" "According to Ibn Abbas, that entituled 'Congealed +Blood':[FN#372] and, according to Jαbir bin Abdillah,[FN#373] that +called 'The Covered' which preceded all others.[FN#374]" Q "Which +verset was the last revealed?" "That of 'Usury',[FN#375] and it is also +said, the verse, 'When there cometh Allah's succour and +victory.'"[FN#376]—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Forty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel +told the Koranist which was the last verse he said, "Thou hast replied +aright; now tell me the names of the Companions who collected the +Koran, in the lifetime of the Apostle of Allah." And she answered "They +were four, Ubay ibn Ka'ab, Zayd ibn Sαbit, Abϊ Obaydah 'Aamir bin +Jarrαh, and Othmαn bin Affαn[FN#377] (Allah accept of them one and +all!)" Q "Who are the readers, from whom the accepted reading of the +Koran is taken?" "They number four, Abdallah bin Mas'ϊd, Ubay bin +Ka'ab, Ma'az bin Jabal and Sαlim bin Abdillah." Q "What sayest thou of +the words of the Most High, 'That which is sacrificed to +stones'"?[FN#378] "The stones are idols, which are set up and +worshipped, instead of Allah the Most High, and from this we seek +refuge with Allah." Q "What sayest thou of the words of the Most High +'Thou knowest what is in my soul, and I know not what is in Thy +soul'"?[FN#379] "They mean, 'Thou knowest the truth of me and what is +in me, and I know not what is in Thee;' and the proof of this are His +words,[FN#380] 'Thou art He who wottest the hidden things'; and it is +said, also, 'Thou knowest my essence, but I know not Thine essence.'" Q +"What sayst thou of the words of the Most High, 'O true believers, +forbid not yourselves the good things which Allah hath allowed +you?'"[FN#381] "My Shaykh (on whom Allah have mercy!) told me that the +Companion Al-Zahhαk related: 'There was a people of the True-believers +who said, 'We will dock our members masculine and don sackcloth;' +whereupon this verse was revealed. But Al-Kutαdah declareth that it was +revealed on account of sundry Companions of the Apostle of Allah, +namely, Ali ibn Abν Tαlib and Othmαn bin Musa'ab and others, who said, +'We will geld ourselves and don hair cloth and make us monks.'" Q "What +sayest thou of the words of the Most Highest, 'And Allah took Abraham +for His friend'"?[FN#382] "The friend of Allah is the needy, the poor, +and (according to another saying) he is the lover, he who is detached +from the world in the love of Allah Almighty and in whose attachment +there is no falling away." Now when the Koranist[FN#383] saw her pass +on in speech with the passage of the clouds and that she stayed not in +reply, he rose to his feet and said, "I take Allah to witness, O +Commander of the Faithful, that this damsel is more learned than I in +Koranic exegesis and what pertaineth thereto." Then said she, "I will +ask thee one question, which if thou answer it is well; but if thou +answer not, I will strip off thy clothes." Quoth the Commander of the +Faithful, "Ask on," and she enquired, "Which verset of the Koran hath +in it three-and-twenty Kαfs, which sixteen Mνms, which an hundred and +forty 'Ayns[FN#384] and which section[FN#385] lacketh the formula, 'To +Whom belong glory and glorification and majesty[FN#386]?'" The Koranist +could not reply, and she said to him, "Put off thy clothes." So he +doffed them, and she continued, "O Commander of the Faithful, the +verset of the sixteen Mims is in the chapter Hϊd and is the saying of +the Most High, 'It was said, O Noah, go down in peace from us, and +blessing upon thee!'[FN#387] that of the three-and-twenty Kafs is the +verse called of the Faith, in the chapter of The Cow; that of the +hundred and forty Ayns is in the chapter of Al-A'arαf,[FN#388] where +the Lord saith, 'And Moses chose seventy men of his tribe to attend our +appointed time;[FN#389] to each man a pair of eyes.'[FN#390] And the +lesson, which lacketh the formula, 'To Whom be glory and +glorification,' is that which comprises the chapters, The Hour draweth +nigh and the Moon shall be cloven in twain[FN#391]; The Compassionate +and The Event."[FN#392] Thereupon the professor departed in +confusion.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Forty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel +defeated the Koranist and took off his clothes and sent him away +confused, then came forward the skilled physician and said to her, "We +are free of theology and come now to physiology. Tell me, therefore, +how is man made; how many veins, bones and vertebrae are there in his +body; which is the first and chief vein and why Adam was named Adam?" +She replied, "Adam was called Adam, because of his udmah, that is, the +wheaten colour of his complexion and also (it is said) because he was +created of the adim of the earth, that is to say, of the surface-soil. +His breast was made of the earth of the Ka'abah, his head of earth from +the East and his legs of earth from the West. There were created for +him seven doors in his head, viz., the eyes, the ears, the nostrils and +the mouth, and two passages, before and behind. The eyes were made the +seat of the sight-sense, the ears the seat of the hearing-sense, the +nostrils the seat of the smell-sense, the mouth the seat of the +taste-sense and the tongue to utter what is in the heart of +man.[FN#393] Now Adam was made of a compound of the four elements, +which be water, earth, fire and air. The yellow bile is the humour of +fire, being hot-dry; the black bile that of earth, being cold-dry; the +phlegm that of water, being cold-moist, and the blood that of air, +being hot-moist.[FN#394] There were made in man three hundred and sixty +veins, two hundred and forty-nine bones, and three souls[FN#395] or +spirits, the animal, the rational and the natural, to each of which is +allotted its proper function. Moreover, Allah made him a heart and +spleen and lungs and six intestines and a liver and two kidneys and +buttocks and brain and bones and skin and five senses; hearing, seeing, +smell, taste, touch. The heart He set on the left side of the breast +and made the stomach the guide and governor thereof. He appointed the +lungs for a fan to the heart and stablished the liver on the right +side, opposite thereto. Moreover, He made, besides this, the diaphragm +and the viscera and set up the bones of the breast and latticed them +with the ribs." Q "How many ventricles are there in a man's head?" +"Three, which contain five faculties, styled the intrinsic senses, to +wit, common sense, imagination, the thinking faculty, perception and +memory." Q "Describe to me the configuration of the bones."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fiftieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +physicist said to her, "Describe to me the configuration of the bones," +she replied, "Man's frame consists of two hundred and forty bones, +which are divided into three parts, the head, the trunk and the +extremities. The head is divided into calvarium and face. The skull is +constructed of eight bones, and to it are attached the four osselets of +the ear. The face is furnished with an upper jaw of eleven bones and a +lower jaw of one; and to these are added the teeth two-and-thirty in +number, and the os hyoides.[FN#396] The trunk is divided into spinal +column, breast and basin. The spinal column is made up of +four-and-twenty bones, called Fikαr or vertebrζ; the breast, of the +breastbone and the ribs, which are four-and-twenty in number, twelve on +each side; and the basin of the hips, the sacrum[FN#397] and os +coccygis. The extremities divided into upper and lower, arms and legs. +The arms are again divided: firstly into shoulder, comprising shoulder +blades and collar bone; secondly into the upper arm which is one bone; +thirdly into fore-arm, composed of two bones, the radius and the ulna; +and fourthly into the hand, consisting of the wrist, the metacarpus of +five and the fingers, which number five, of three bones each, called +the phalanges, except the thumb, which hath but two. The lower +extremities are divided: firstly into thigh, which is one bone; +secondly into leg, composed of three bones, the tibia, the fibula and +the patella; and thirdly into the foot, divided, like the hand, into +tarsus, metatarsus and toes; and is composed of seven bones, ranged in +two rows, two in one and five in the other; and the metatarsus is +composed of five bones and the toes number five, each of three +phalanges except the big toe which hath only two." Q "Which is the root +of the veins?" "The aorta, from which they ramify, and they are many, +none knoweth the tale of them save He who created them; but I repeat, +it is said that they number three hundred and sixty.[FN#398] Moreover, +Allah hath appointed the tongue as interpreter for the thought, the +eyes to serve as lanterns, the nostrils to smell with, and the hands +for prehensors. The liver is the seat of pity, the spleen of +laughter[FN#399] and the kidneys of craft; the lungs are ventilators, +the stomach the store-house, and the heart the prop and pillar of the +body. When the heart is sound, the whole body is sound, and when the +heart is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt." Q "What are the outward +signs and symptoms evidencing disease in the members of the body, both +external and internal?" "A physician, who is a man of understanding, +looketh into the state of the body and is guided by the feel of the +hands,[FN#400] according as they are firm or flabby, hot or cool, moist +or dry. Internal disorders are also indicated by external symptoms, +such as yellowness of the white of the eyes, which denoteth jaundice, +and bending of the back, which denoteth disease of the lungs." And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fifty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel +had described to the doctor the outer signs and symptoms quoth he, +"Thou hast replied aright! now what are the internal symptoms of +disease?" "The science of the diagnosis of disease by internal symptoms +is founded upon six canons: (1) the patient's actions; (2) what is +evacuated from his body; (3) the nature of the pain; and (4) the site +thereof; (5) swelling; and (6) the effluvia given off his person." Q +"How cometh hurt to the head?" "By the ingestion of food upon food, +before the first be digested, and by fullness upon fullness; this it is +that wasteth peoples. He who would live long, let him be early with the +morning-meal and not late with the evening-meal; let him be sparing of +commerce with women and chary of such depletory measures as cupping and +blood-letting; and let him make of his belly three parts, one for food, +one for drink and the third for air; for that a man's intestines are +eighteen spans in length and it befitteth that he appoint six for meat, +six for drink, and six for breath. If he walk, let him go gently; it +will be wholesomer for him and better for his body and more in +accordance with the saying of the Almighty, 'Walk not proudly on the +earth.'"[FN#401] Q "What are the symptoms of yellow bile and what is to +be feared therefrom?" "The symptoms are sallow complexion and bitter +taste in the mouth with dryness; failure of the appetite, venereal and +other, and rapid pulse; and the patient hath to fear high fever and +delirium and eruptions and jaundice and tumour and ulcers of the bowels +and excessive thirst." Q "What are the symptoms of black bile and what +hath the patient to fear from it, an it get the mastery of the body?" +"The symptoms are false appetite and great mental disquiet and cark and +care; and it behoveth that it be evacuated, else it will generate +melancholia[FN#402] and leprosy and cancer and disease of the spleen +and ulceration of the bowels." Q "Into how many branches is the art of +medicine divided?" "Into two: the art of diagnosing diseases, and that +of restoring the diseased body to health." Q "When is the drinking of +medicine more efficacious than otherwhen?" "When the sap runs in the +wood and the grape thickens in the cluster and the two auspicious +planets, Jupiter and Venus, are in the ascendant; then setteth in the +proper season for drinking of drugs and doing away of disease." Q "What +time is it, when, if a man drink water from a new vessel, the drink is +sweeter and lighter or more digestible to him than at another time, and +there ascendeth to him a pleasant fragrance and a penetrating?" "When +he waiteth awhile after eating, as quoth the poet, + +'Drink not upon thy food in haste but wait awhile; * Else thou + + + with halter shalt thy frame to sickness lead: + + +And patient bear a little thirst from food, then drink; * And + + + thus, O brother, haply thou shalt win thy need.[FN#403]'" + + + +Q "What food is it that giveth not rise to ailments?" "That which is +not eaten but after hunger, and when it is eaten, the ribs are not +filled with it, even as saith Jαlνnϊs or Galen the physician, 'Whoso +will take in food, let him go slowly and he shall not go wrongly.' And +to conclude with His saying (on whom be blessing and peace!), 'The +stomach is the house of disease, and diet is the head of healing; for +the origin of all sickness is indigestion, that is to say, corruption +of the meat'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fifty-second Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +damsel said to the doctor, "'The stomach is the house of disease and +diet is the head of healing; for the origin of all sickness is +indigestion, that is to say, corruption of the meat in the stomach;'" +he rejoined, "Thou hast replied aright! what sayest thou of the +Hammam?" "Let not the full man enter it. Quoth the Prophet, 'The bath +is the blessing of the house, for that it cleanseth the body and +calleth to mind the Fire.'" Q "What Hammams are best for bathing in?" +"Those whose waters are sweet and whose space is ample and which are +kept well aired; their atmosphere representing the four seasons—autumn +and summer and winter and spring." Q "What kind of food is the most +profitable?" "That which women make and which hath not cost overmuch +trouble and which is readily digested. The most excellent of food is +brewis[FN#404] or bread sopped in broth; according to the saying of the +Prophet, 'Brewis excelleth other food, even as Ayishah excelleth other +women.'" Q "What kind of kitchen, or seasoning, is most profitable?" +"'Flesh meat' (quoth the Prophet) 'is the most excellent of kitchen; +for that it is the delight of this world and the next world.'" Q "What +kind of meat is the most profitable?" "Mutton; but jerked meat is to be +avoided, for there is no profit in it." Q "What of fruits?" "Eat them +in their prime and quit them when their season is past." Q "What sayest +thou of drinking water?" "Drink it not in large quantities nor swallow +it by gulps, or it will give thee head-ache and cause divers kinds of +harm; neither drink it immediately after leaving the Hammam nor after +carnal copulation or eating (except it be after the lapse of fifteen +minutes for a young man and forty for an old man), nor after waking +from sleep." Q "What of drinking fermented liquors?" "Doth not the +prohibition suffice thee in the Book of Almighty Allah, where He saith, +'Verily, wine and lots and images, and the divining arrows are an +abomination, of Satan's work; therefore avoid them, that ye may +prosper'?[FN#405] And again, 'They will ask thee concerning wine and +lots': Answer, 'In both there is great sin and also some things of use +unto men: but their sinfulness is greater than their use.'[FN#406] +Hence quoth the poet, + +'O bibber of liquor, art not ashamed * To drink what Allah + + + forbade thee drain? + + +Put it far from thee and approach it not; * It holds what Allah + + + forbade as bane.' + + + +And quoth another to the same purport, + +'I drank the sin till my reason fled: * Ill drink that reason to loss +misled!' + +As for the advantages that be therein, it disperseth stone and gravel +from the kidneys and strengtheneth the viscera and banisheth care, and +moveth to generosity and preserveth health and digestion; it conserveth +the body, expelleth disease from the joints, purifieth the frame of +corrupt humours, engendereth cheerfulness, gladdeneth the heart of man +and keepeth up the natural heat: it contracteth the bladder, enforceth +the liver and removeth obstructions, reddeneth the cheeks, cleareth +away maggots from the brain and deferreth grey hairs. In short, had not +Allah (to whom be honour and glory!) forbidden it,[FN#407] there were +not on the face of the earth aught fit to stand in its stead. As for +gambling by lots, it is a game of hazard such as diceing, not of +skill." Q "What wine is best?" "That which is pressed from white grapes +and kept eighty days or more after fermentation: it resembleth not +water and indeed there is nothing on the surface of the earth like unto +it." Q "What sayest thou of cupping?" "It is for him who is over full +of blood and who hath no defect therein; and whoso would be cupped, let +it be during the wane of the moon, on a day without cloud, wind or rain +and on the seventeenth of the month. If it fall on a Tuesday, it will +be the more efficacious, and nothing is more salutary for the brain and +eyes and for clearing the intellect than cupping."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fifty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel +enumerated the benefits of cupping, quoth the doctor, "What is the best +time for cupping?" "One should be cupped 'on the spittle,' that is, in +the morning before eating, for this fortifieth the wit and the memory. +It is reported of the Prophet that, when anyone complained to him of a +pain in the head or legs, he would bid him be cupped and after cupping +not eat salt food, fasting, for it engendereth scurvy; neither eat sour +things as curded milk[FN#408] immediately after cupping." Q "When is +cupping to be avoided?" "On Sabbaths or Saturdays and Wednesdays; and +let him who is cupped on these days blame none but himself. Moreover, +one should not be cupped in very hot weather nor in very cold weather; +and the best season for cupping is springtide." Quoth the doctor, "Now +tell me of carnal copulation." Hereupon Tawaddud hung her head, for +shame and confusion before the Caliph's majesty; then said, "By Allah, +O Commander of the Faithful, it is not that I am at fault, but that I +am ashamed; though, indeed, the answer is on the edge of my tongue." +Said the Caliph; "Speak, O damsel," whereupon said she, "Copulation +hath in it many and exceeding virtues and praiseworthy qualities, +amongst which are, that it lighteneth a body full of black bile and +calmeth the heat of love and induceth affection and dilateth the heart +and dispelleth the sadness of solitude; and the excess of it is more +harmful in summer and autumn than in spring and winter." Q "What are +its good effects?" "It banisheth trouble and disquiet, calmeth love and +wrath and is good for ulcers, especially in a cold and dry humour; on +the other hand excess of it weakeneth the sight and engendereth pains +in the legs and head and back: and beware, beware of carnal connection +with old women, for they are deadly. Quoth the Iman Ali[FN#409] (whose +face Allah honour!), 'Four things kill and ruin the body: entering the +Hammam on a full stomach; eating salt food; copulation on a plethora of +blood and lying with an ailing woman; for she will weaken thy strength +and infect thy frame with sickness; and an old woman is deadly poison.' +And quoth one of them, 'Beware of taking an old woman to wife, though +she be richer in hoards than Kαrϊn'"[FN#410] Q "What is the best +copulation?" "If the woman be tender of years, comely of shape, fair of +face, swelling of breast and of noble race, she will add to thee +strength and health of body; and let her be even as saith a certain +poet describing her, + +'Seeing thy looks wots she what thou desir'st, * By inspiration; + + + wants nor word nor sign; + + +And, when thou dost behold her rarest grace, * The charms of + + + every garden canst decline.' + + + +Q "At what time is copulation good?" "If by night, after food digested +and if by day, after the morning meal." Q "What are the most excellent +fruits?" "Pomegranate and citron." Q "Which is the most excellent of +vegetables?" "Endive.[FN#411]" Q "Which of sweet-scented flowers?" +"Rose and Violet." Q "How is the seed of man secreted?" "There is in +man a vein which feedeth all the other veins. Now water is collected +from the three hundred and sixty veins and, in the form of red blood, +entereth the left testicle, where it is decocted, by the heat of +temperament inherent in the son of Adam, into a thick, white liquid, +whose odour is as that of the palm-spathe." Q "What flying thing is it +that emitteth seed and menstruateth?" "The flitter-mouse,[FN#412] that +is the bat." Q "What is that which, when confined and shut out from the +air liveth, and when let out to smell the air dieth?" "The fish." Q +"What serpent layeth eggs?" "The Su'ban or dragon.[FN#413]" With this +the physician waxed weary with much questioning, and held his peace, +when Tawaddud said to the Caliph, "O Commander of the Faithful, he hath +questioned me till he is tired out and now I will ask him one question, +which if he answer not, I will take his clothes as lawful prize."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +damsel said to the Commander of the Faithful, "Verily he hath +questioned me till he is tired out, and now I will ask him one +question, which if he answer not I will take his clothes as lawful +prize," the Caliph cried, "Ask on." So quoth she to the physician, +"What is that thing which resembleth the earth in roundness, whose +resting-place and whose spine are hidden from men's eyes; little of +price and estimation; narrow of chest and shackled as to throat though +it be nor runaway slave nor pestilent thief; thrust through and +through, though not in fray, and wounded, though not in fight: time +eateth its vigour and water wasteth it away; now it is beaten without +blemish, and then made to serve without stint; united after separation; +submissive, but not to him who caresseth it; pregnant without child in +belly; drooping, yet not leaning on its side; becoming dirty yet +purifying itself; cleaving to its fere, yet changing; copulating +without a yard, wrestling without arms: resting and taking its ease; +bitten, yet not crying out: now more complaisant than a cup-companion +and then more troublesome than summer-heat; leaving its mate by night +and embracing her by day and having its abode in the corners of the +mansions of the noble?" The physician was silent awhile in perplexity +and his colour changed and he bowed his head and made no reply; +whereupon she said to him, "Ho, sir doctor, speak or doff thy dress." +At this, he rose and said, "O Commander of the Faithful, bear witness +against me that this damsel is more learned than I in medicine and what +else, and that I cannot cope with her." And he put off his clothes and +fled forth. Quoth the Caliph to Tawaddud, "Ree us thy riddle," and she +replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, it is the button and the +button-loop.[FN#414]"—Then she undertook the astronomers and said, "Let +him of you who is an astronomer rise and come forward." So the +astronomer advanced and sat down before her; and, when she saw him, she +laughed and said, "Art thou the astronomer, the mathematician, the +scribe?" "Yes," answered he. Quoth she, "Ask of what thou wilt; success +resteth with Allah." So he said, "Tell me of the sun and its rising and +setting." And she replied: "Know that the sun riseth from the shadows +in the Eastern hemisphere and setteth in the shadows of the Western, +and each hemisphere compriseth one hundred and eighty degrees. Quoth +Allah Almighty, 'I swear by the Lord of the East and of the +West.'[FN#415] And again, 'He it is who hath ordained the sun to shine +by day, and the moon for a light by night; and hath appointed her +station that ye might know the number of years and the computation of +time.'[FN#416] The moon is Sultan of the night and the sun Sultan of +the day, and they vie with each other in their courses and follow +without overtaking each other. Quoth Almighty Allah, 'It is not +expedient that the sun overtake the moon in her course; neither doth +the night outstrip the day, but each of these luminaries moveth in a +peculiar orbit.'"[FN#417] Q "When the day cometh, what becometh of the +night; and what of the day, when the night cometh?" "He causeth the +night to enter in upon the day, and He causeth the day to enter in upon +the night."[FN#418] Q "Enumerate to me the mansions of the +moon?"[FN#419] "They number eight-and-twenty, to wit, Sharatαn, Butayn, +Surayα, Dabarαn, Hak'ah, Han'ah, Zirα'a, Nasrah, Tarf, Jabhah, Zubrah, +Sarfah, 'Awwα, Simαk, Ghafar, Zubαnν, Iklνl, Kalb, Shaulah, Na'am, +Baldah, Sa'ad al-Zαbih, Sa'ad al-Bul'a, Sa'ad al-Su'ϊd, Sa'ad +al-Akhbiyah, Fargh the Former and Fargh the Latter; and Rishαa. They +are disposed in the order of the letters of the Abjad-hawwaz or older +alphabet,[FN#420] according to their numerical power, and in them are +secret virtues which none knoweth save Allah (extolled and exalted be +He!) and the stablished in science. They are divided among the twelve +Signs of the Zodiac, two Mansions and a third of a Mansion to each +Sign. Thus Sharatan, Butayn and one-third of Surαyα, belong to Aries, +the other two-thirds of Surαyα, Dabaran and two-thirds of Hak'ah to +Taurus, the other third of Hak'ah, Han'ah and Zira'a to Gemini; Nasrah, +Tarf and a third of Jabhah to Cancer, the other two-thirds of Jabhah, +Zubrah and two-thirds of Sarfah to Leo; the other third of Sarfah, +'Awwα and Simαk to Virgo; Ghafar, Zubαni and one-third of Iklνl to +Libra; the other two-thirds of Iklil, Kalb and two-thirds of Shaulah to +Scorpio; the other third of Shaulah, Na'αim and Baldah to Sagittarius; +Sa'ad al-Zαbih, Sa'ad al-Bul'a and one-third of Sa'ad al-Su'ud to +Capricorn, the other two-thirds of Sa'ad al-Su'dd, Sa'ad al-Akhbiyah +and two-thirds of Fargh the Former to Aquarius, the other third of +Fargh the Former, Fargh the Latter and Rishαa to Pisces."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night, + +She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel +enumerated the Mansions and distributed them into their Signs, the +astronomer said, "Thou hast replied aright; now tell me of the planets +and their natures, also of their sojourn in the Zodiacal Signs, their +aspects, auspicious and sinister, their houses, ascendants and +descendants. She answered, "The sitting is narrow for so large a +matter, but I will say as much as I can. Now the planets number seven; +which are, the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn. +The Sun, hot-dry, sinister in conjunction, favourable in opposition, +abideth thirty days in each Sign. The Moon, cold-moist and favourable +of aspect, tarrieth in each Sign two days and a third of another day. +Mercury is of a mixed nature, favourable in conjunction with the +favourable, and sinister in conjunction with the sinister aspects, and +abideth in each sign seventeen days and a half day. Venus, temperate +and favourable, abideth in each sign five-and-twenty days. Mars is +sinister and woneth in each sign ten months. Jupiter is auspicious and +abideth in each sign a year. Saturn, cold-dry and sinister, tarrieth in +each sign thirty months. The house of the Sun is Leo, her ascendant is +Aries, and her descendant Aquarius. The Moon's house is Cancer, his +ascendant Taurus, his descendant Scorpio and his sinister aspect +Capricorn. Saturn's house is Capricorn-Aquarius, his ascendant Libra, +his descendant Aries and his sinister aspects Cancer and Leo. Jupiter's +house is Pisces-Sagittarius, his ascendant Cancer, his descendant +Capricorn and his sinister aspects Gemini and Leo. Venus's house is +Taurus, her ascendant Pisces, her descendant Libra, and her sinister +aspects Aries and Scorpio. Mercury's house is Gemini-Virgo, his +ascendant Virgo, his descendant Pisces, and his sinister aspect Taurus. +Mars' house is Aries-Scorpio, his ascendant Capricorn, his descendant +Cancer and his sinister aspect Libra." Now when the astronomer saw her +acuteness and comprehensive learning and heard her fair answers, he +bethought him for a sleight to confound her before the Commander of the +Faithful, and said to her, "O damsel, tell me, will rain fall this +month?" At this she bowed her head and pondered so long, that the +Caliph thought her at a loss for an answer and the astronomer said to +her, "Why dost thou not speak?" Quoth she, "I will not speak except the +Commander of the Faithful give me leave." So the Caliph laughed and +said, "How so?" Cried she "I would have thee give me a sword, that I +may strike off his head, for he is an Infidel, an Agnostic, an +Atheist.[FN#421]" At this, loud laughed the Caliph and those about him +laughed, and she continued "O astronomer, there are five things that +none knoweth save Allah Almighty;" and she repeated the verset; "'Aye! +Allah!—with Him is the knowledge of the hour and He causeth the rain to +descend at His own appointed time —and He knoweth what is in the wombs +of females—but no soul knoweth what it shall have gotten on the morrow; +neither wotteth any soul in what land it shall die: Verily Allah is +knowing, informed of all.'"[FN#422] Quoth the astronomer, "Thou hast +said well, and I, by Allah, thought only to try thee." Rejoined she, +"Know that the almanack-makers have certain signs and tokens, referring +to the planets and constellations relative to the coming in of the +year; and folk have learned something by experience." Q "What be that?" +"Each day hath a planet that ruleth it: so if the first day in the year +fall on First Day (Sunday) that day is the Sun's and this portendeth +(though Allah alone is All-knowing!) oppression of kings and sultans +and governors and much miasma and lack of rain; and that people will be +in great tumult and the grain-crop will be good, except lentils, which +will perish, and the vines will rot and flax will be dear and wheat +cheap from the beginning of Tϊbah to the end of Barmahαt.[FN#423] And, +in this year there will be much fighting among kings, and there shall +be great plenty of good in this year, but Allah is All-knowing!" Q +"What if the first day fall on Second Day (Monday)?" "That day +belongeth to the Moon and portendeth righteousness in administrators +and officials and that it will be a year of much rain and grain-crops +will be good, but linseed will decay and wheat will be cheap in the +month Kiyαhk;[FN#424] also the plague will rage and the sheep and goats +will die, grapes will be plentiful and honey scarce and cotton cheap; +and Allah is omniscient!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night, + +She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel +ended her notice of Second Day the astronomer said to her "Now tell me +what will occur if New Year's day fall on Third Day (Tuesday)." She +replied, "That is Mars' day and portendeth death of great men and much +destruction and deluge of blood and dearness of grain; lack of rain and +scarcity of fish, which will anon be in excess and anon fail. Lentils +and honey in this year will be cheap and linseed dear and only barley +will thrive, to the exception of all other cereals: great will be the +fighting among kings and death will be in the blood and there will be +much mortality among asses." Q "What if it fall on Fourth Day?" "That +is Mercury's day and portendeth great tumult among the folk and much +enmity and, though rains be moderate, rotting of some of the green +crops; also that there will be sore mortality among cattle and young +children and much fighting by sea; that wheat will be dear from +Barmϊdah to Misra[FN#425] and other grains cheap; thunder and lightning +will abound and honey will be dear, palm- trees will thrive and bear +abundantly and flax and cotton will be plentiful, while radishes and +onions will be dear; but Allah is All-knowing!" Q "What if it fall on +Fifth Day?" "That is Jupiter's day and portendeth equity in Wazirs and +righteousness in Kazis and Fakirs and the Ministers of religion; and +that good will be plentiful: rains and fruit and trees and grain will +abound, and flax, cotton, honey, grapes and fish be cheap; and Allah is +Omniscient!" Q "What if it fall on Meeting Day or Friday?" "That day +appertaineth to Venus and portendeth oppression in the chiefs of the +Jinn and talk of forgery and back-biting; there will be much dew; the +autumn crops will be good in the land and there will be cheapness in +one town and not in another: ungraciousness will be rife by land and +sea; linseed will be dear, also wheat, in Hαtϊr, but cheap in Amshνr; +honey will be dear and grapes and water-melons will rot; and Allah is +Omniscient!" Q "What if it fall on the Sabbath (Saturday)?" "That is +Saturn's day and portendeth the preferment of slaves and Greeks and +those in whom there is no good, neither in their neighbourhood; there +will be great drought and dearth; clouds will abound and death will be +rife among the sons of Adam and woe to the people of Egypt and Syria +from the oppression of the Sultan and failure of blessing upon the +green crops and rotting of grain; and Allah is All-knowing!"[FN#426] +Now with this, the astronomer hung his head very low, and she said to +him, "O astronomer, I will ask thee one question, which if thou answer +not, I will take thy clothes." "Ask," replied he. Quoth she, "Where is +Saturn's dwelling-place?"; and he answered, "In the seventh heaven." Q +"And that of Jupiter?" "In the sixth heaven." Q "And that of Mars?" "In +the fifth heaven." Q "And that of the Sun?" "In the fourth heaven." Q +"And that of Venus?" "In the third heaven." Q "And that of Mercury?" +"In the second heaven." Q "And that of the Moon?" "In the first +heaven." Quoth she, "Well answered; but I have one more question to ask +thee;" and quoth he, "Ask!" Accordingly she said, "Now tell me +concerning the stars, into how many parts are they divided." But he was +silent and answered nothing; and she cried to him, "Put off thy +clothes." So he doffed them and she took them; after which the Caliph +said to her, "Tell us the answer to thy question." She replied: "O +Commander of the Faithful, the stars are divided into three parts, +whereof one-third is hung in the sky of the earth,[FN#427] as it were +lamps, to give light to the earth, and a part is used to shoot the +demons withal, when they draw near by stealth to listen to the talk in +heaven. Quoth Allah Almighty, 'Verily, we have dight the sky of the +earth with the adornment of the stars; and have appointed them for +projectiles against every rebellious Satan.'[FN#428] And the third part +is hung in air to illuminate the seas and give light to what is +therein." Quoth the astronomer, "I have one more question to ask, which +if she answer, I will avow myself beaten." "Say on," answered she.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +astronomer said, "Now tell me what four contraries are based upon other +four contraries?" Replied she, "The four qualities of Caloric and +Frigoric, Humidity and Siccity; for of heat Allah created fire, whose +nature is hot-dry; of dryness, earth, which is cold-dry; of cold, water +which is cold-wet; of moisture, air, which is hot-wet. Moreover, He +created twelve Signs of the Zodiac, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, +Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces; and +appointed them of the four humours; three fiery, Aries, Leo, and +Sagittarius; three earthly, Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn; three airy, +Gemini, Libra and Aquarius; and three watery, Cancer, Scorpio and +Pisces." Hereupon the astronomer rose, and saying, "Bear witness +against me that she is more learned than I," away he went beaten. Then +quoth the Caliph, "Where is the philosopher[FN#429]?"; at which one +rose hastily and came forward and said to Tawaddud, "What is Time and +what be its limits, and its days, and what things bringeth it?" Replied +she, "Time is a term applied to the hours of the night and day, which +are but the measures of the courses of the sun and moon in their +several heavens, even as Allah Almighty telleth us when he saith, 'A +sign to them also is the Night, from which we strip off the day, and +lo! they are plunged in darkness, and the Sun runneth to her place of +rest; this is the ordinance of the Sublime, the All-knowing.'"[FN#430] +Q "How cometh unbelief to the son of Adam?" "It is reported of the +Apostle (whom Allah bless and preserve!) that he said, 'Unbelief in a +man runneth as the blood runneth in his veins, when he revileth the +world and Time and night and the Hour.' And again, 'Let none of you +revile Time, for Time is God; neither revile the world, for she saith, +'May Allah not aid him who revileth me!;' neither revile the hour, for, +'The Hour is surely coming, there is no doubt thereof';[FN#431] neither +revile the earth, for it is a portent, according to the saying of the +Most High, 'Out of the ground have we created you, and into the same +will we cause you to return, and we will bring you forth yet thence +another time.'"[FN#432] Q "What are the five that ate and drank, yet +came not out of loins nor womb?" "Adam and Simeon[FN#433] and Salih's +she-camel[FN#434] and Ishmael's ram and the bird that Abu Bakr the +Truth-teller saw in the cave.[FN#435]" Q "Tell me of five that are in +Paradise and are neither humans, Jinns nor angels?" "Jacob's wolf and +the Seven Sleepers' dog and Esdras's ass and Salih's camel and Duldul +the mule of the Prophet (upon whom be blessings and peace!)." Q "What +man prayed a prayer neither on earth nor in heaven?" "Solomon, when he +prayed on his carpet, borne by the wind." Q "Ree me this riddle:—A man +once looked at a handmaid during dawn-prayer, and she was unlawful to +him; but, at noonday she became lawful to him: by mid-afternoon,, she +was again unlawful, but at sundown, she was lawful to him: at supper +time she was a third time unlawful, but by daybreak, she became once +more lawful to him." "This was a man who looked at another's slave-girl +in the morning, and she was then unlawful to him; but at midday he +bought her, and she became lawful to him: at mid-afternoon he freed +her, and she became unlawful to him; but at sundown he married her and +she was again lawful to him. At nightfall he divorced her and she was +then a third time unlawful to him; but, next morning at daybreak, he +took her back, and she became once more lawful to him." Q "Tell me what +tomb went about with him that lay buried therein?" "Jonah's whale, when +it had swallowed him." Q "What spot of lowland is it, upon which the +sun shone once, but will never again shine till Judgment-Day?" "The +bottom of the Red Sea, when Moses smote it with his staff, and the sea +clave asunder in twelve places, according to the number of the +tribes;[FN#436] then the sun shone on the bottom and will do so +nevermore until Judgment-Day." And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the philosopher +then addressed the damsel saying, "What was the first skirt that +trailed over the face of the earth?" She replied, "That of Hagar, out +of shame before Sarah; and it became a custom among the Arabs." Q "What +is that which breatheth without life?" "Quoth Almighty Allah, 'By the +morning when it breatheth!'"[FN#437] Q "Ree me this riddle:—A number of +pigeons came to a high tree and lighted, some on the tree and others +under it. Said those on the tree to those on the ground, 'If one of you +come up to us, ye will be a third part of us all in number; and if one +of us descend to you, we shall be like unto you in number,' How many +pigeons were there in all?" "Twelve: seven alighted on the tree and +five beneath; and, if one go up, those above would be eight to four; +and, if one go down, both would be six and Allah is +all-knowing."[FN#438] With this the philosopher put off his clothes and +fled: whereupon the next contest took place, for she turned to the +Olema present and said, "Which of you is the rhetorician that can +discourse of all arts and sciences?" There came forward a sage hight +Ibrahim bin Siyyαr and said to her, "Think me not like the rest." Quoth +she, "It is the more assured to me that thou wilt be beaten, for that +thou art a boaster; and Allah will help me to victory over thee, that I +may strip thee of thy clothes. So, if thou sentest one to fetch thee +wherewithal to cover thyself, 'twould be well for thee." Cried he, "By +Allah, I will assuredly conquer thee and make thee a byword among the +peoples, generation after generation!" Rejoined she, "Do penance in +advance for thy broken oath." Then he asked, "What five things did +Allah create before he made man?"; and she answered, "Water and earth +and light and darkness and the fruits of the earth." Q "What did Allah +create with the hand of omnipotence?" "The 'Arsh, throne of God or the +empyreal heaven and the tree Tϊbα[FN#439] and Adam and the garden of +Eden; these Allah created with the hand of His omnipotence; but to all +other created things He said, 'Be,'—and they were." Q "Who is thy +father in Al-Islam?" "Mohammed, whom Allah bless and preserve!" Q "Who +was the father in Al-Islam of Mohammed?" "Abraham, the Friend of God." +Q "What is the Faith of Al-Islam?" "The professing that there is no god +but the God and that Mohammed is the apostle of God." Q "What is thy +first and thy last?" "My first is man's seed in the shape of foul water +and my last filthy carrion: the first of me is dust and the last of me +is dust. Quoth the poet, + +'Of dust was I created, and man did I become, * In question ever + + + ready and aye fluent in reply, + + +Then, I unto the dust return'd, became of it again, * For that, + + + in very deed, of dust at first create was I.'" + + + +He continued, "What thing was it, whose first state was wood and its +last life?" "Moses' staff,[FN#440] when he cast it on the valley-ground +and it became, by permission of Allah, a writhing serpent." Q "What is +the meaning of the word of the Lord, 'And I have other occasion for +it?'"[FN#441] "He, Moses, was wont to plant his staff in the ground, +and it would flower and fruit and shade him from the heat and from the +cold. Moreover, it would carry him when he was weary, and whilst he +slept, guard his sheep from lions and wild beasts." Q "What woman was +born of a man alone and what man of a woman alone?" "Eve of Adam and +Jesus of Mary.[FN#442]" Q "Tell me of the four fires, what fire eateth +and drinketh; what fire eateth but drinketh not; what fire drinketh but +eateth not and what other neither eateth nor drinketh?" "The fire of +the world eateth but drinketh not; the fire which eateth and drinketh +is Hell-fire; the fire of the sun drinketh but eateth not, and the fire +of the moon neither eateth nor drinketh." Q "Which is the open door and +which the shut?" "The Traditional Ordinances are the open door, the +Koranic the shut door." Q "Of what doth the poet speak, when he saith, + +'And dweller in the tomb whose food is at his head, * When he + + + eateth of that meat, of words he waxeth fain: + + +He riseth and he walketh and he talketh without tongue; * And + + + returneth to the tomb where his kith and kin are lain. + + +No living wight is he, yet, in honour he abides; * Nor dead yet + + + he deserveth that Allah him assain.'" + + + +She replied, "The reed-pen."[FN#443] Quoth he "What doth the poet refer +to in these verses, + +'Two vests in one; blood flowing easiest wise; * Rosy red ears + + + and mouth wide open lies; + + +It hath a cock-like form, its belly pecks * And, if you price it, + + + half a dirham buys.'" + + + +She replied, "The ink-case." Quoth he, "And in these, + +'Ho say to men of wisdom, wit and lore * To sapient, reverend, + + + clever counsellor: + + +Tell me what was't you saw that bird bring forth * When wandering + + + Arab-land and Ajam o'er? + + +No flesh it beareth and it hath no blood, * Nor down nor any + + + feathers e'er it wore. + + +'Tis eaten cooked and eke 'tis eaten cold; * 'Tis eaten buried + + + 'neath the flames that roar: + + +It showeth twofold colours, silver white * And yellow brighter + + + than pure golden ore: + + +'Tis not seen living or we count it dead: * So ree my riddle rich + + + in marvel-store!'" + + + +She replied, "Thou makest longsome the questioning anent an egg worth a +mite." Q "And this?, + +'I waved to and fro and he waved to and fro, * With a motion so + + + pleasant, now fast and now slow; + + +And at last he sunk down on my bosom of snow; * 'Your lover + + + friend?'" + + + +"No friend, my fan;"[FN#444] said she. Q "How many words did Allah +speak to Moses?" "It is related of the Apostle that he said, 'God spoke +to Moses fifteen hundred and fifteen words.'" Q "Tell me of fourteen +things that speak to the Lord of the Worlds?" "The seven heavens and +the seven earths, when they say, 'We come obedient to Thy +command.'"[FN#445]—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel +made the answer, the philosopher continued, "Tell me of Adam and how he +was first created?" and she said, "Allah created Adam of clay: the clay +He made of foam and the foam of the sea, the sea of darkness, darkness +of light, light of a fish, the fish of a rock, the rock of a ruby, the +ruby of water, and the water He created by His Omnipotence according to +His saying (exalted be His name!), 'His commandment when He willeth +aught, is but to say, BE,—and IT IS.'"[FN#446] Q "What is meant by the +poet in these verses, + +'And eater lacking mouth and even maw; * Yet trees and beasts to + + + it are daily bread: + + +Well fed it thrives and shows a lively life, * But give it water + + + and you do it dead?'" + + + +"This," quoth she, "is Fire." "And in these;" he asked, + +"Two lovers barred from every joy and bliss, * Who through the + + + livelong night embracing lie: + + +They guard the folk from all calamities, * But with the rising + + + sun apart they fly?" + + + +She answered, "The leaves of a door." Quoth he, "Tell me of the gates +of Gehenna?" Quoth she, "They are seven in number and their names are +comprised in these two couplets, + +'Jahannam, next Lazα, and third Hatνm; * Then count Sa'νr and + + + Sakar eke, five-fold, + + +Sixth comes Jahνm and Hαwiyah the seventh; * Here are seven Hells + + + in four lines briefly told.'" + + + +Quoth he "To what doth the poet refer when he saith, + +'She wears a pair of ringlets long let down * Behind her, as she + + + comes and goes at speed, + + +And eye that never tastes of sleep nor sheds * A tear, for ne'er + + + a drop it hath at need; + + +That never all its life wore stitch of clothes; * Yet robes + + + mankind in every-mode of weed?'" + + + +Quoth she, "A needle." Q "What is the length and what the breadth of +the bridge Al-Sirαt?" "Its length is three thousand years' journey, a +thousand in descent and a thousand in ascent and a thousand level: it +is sharper than a sword and finer than a hair."—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Sixtieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel +had described to him Al-Sirat, the philosopher said, "Inform me how +many intercessions with Allah hath the Prophet for each soul?"[FN#447] +"Three." Q "Was Abu Bakr the first who embraced Al-Islam?" "Yes." Q +"Yet Ali became a Moslem before him?" "Ali came to the Prophet, when he +was a boy of seven years old, for Allah vouchsafed him knowledge of the +way of salvation in his tender youth, so that he never prostrated +himself to idols." Quoth he, "Tell me which is the more excellent, Ali +or Abbαs?" Now she knew that, in propounding this question, Ibrahim was +laying a trap for her; for if she said, "Ali is more excellent than +Abbas," she would lack excuse with the Caliph for undervaluing his +ancestor; so she bowed her head awhile, now reddening, then paling, and +lastly said, "Thou askest me of two excellent men, each having his own +excellence. Let us return to what we were about." When the Caliph Harun +al-Rashid heard her, he stood up and said, "Thou hast spoken well, by +the Lord of the Ka'abah, O Tawaddud!" Then quoth Ibrahim the +rhetorician, "What meaneth the poet when he saith, + +'Slim-wasted one, whose taste is sweetest-sweet, * Likest a lance + + + whereon no head we scan: + + +And all the lieges find it work them weal, * Eaten of afternoon + + + in Ramazan.'" + + + +She answered, "The sugar-cane;" and he said, "Tell me of many things." +Asked she, "What are they?" and he said, "What is sweeter than honey; +what is sharper than the sword; what is swifter than poison; what is +the delight of a moment and what the contentment of three days; what is +the pleasantest of days; what is the joy of a week; what is that debt +the worst debtor denieth not; what is the prison of the tomb; what is +the joy of the heart; what is the snare of the soul; what is +death-in-life; what is the disease that may not be healed; what is the +shame that may not be wiped off; what is the beast that woneth not in +cultivated fields, but lodgeth in waste places and hateth the sons of +Adam and hath in him somewhat of the make of seven strong and violent +beasts?" Quoth she, "Hear what I shall say in reply; then put off thy +clothes, that I may explain to thee;" and the Caliph said, "Expound, +and he shall doff his clothes." So she said, "Now that, which is +sweeter than honey, is the love of pious children to their two parents; +that, which is sharper than the sword, is the tongue; that, which is +swifter than poison, is the Envier's eye; the delight of a moment is +carnal copulation and the contentment of three days is the depilatory +for women; the pleasantest of days is that of profit on merchandise; +the joy of a week is the bride; the debt, which the worst debtor +denieth not, is death; the prison of the tomb is a bad son; the joy of +the heart is a woman obedient to her husband (and it is said also that, +when fleshmeat descendeth upon the heart, it rejoiceth therein); the +snare of the soul is a disobedient slave; death-in-life is poverty; the +disease that may not be healed is an ill-nature, and the shame that may +not be wiped away is an ill daughter; lastly, the beast that woneth not +in cultivated fields, but lodgeth in waste places and hateth the sons +of Adam and hath in him somewhat of the make of seven strong and +violent beasts, is the locust, whose head is as the head of a horse, +its neck as the neck of the bull, its wings as the wings of the +vulture, its feet as the feet of the camel, its tail as the tail of the +serpent, its belly as the belly of the scorpion and its horns as the +horns of the gazelle." The Caliph was astounded at her quickness and +understanding, and said to the rhetorician, "Doff thy clothes." So he +rose up and cried, "I call all who are present in this assembly to +witness that she is more learned than I and every other learned man." +And he put off his clothes and gave them to her, saying, "Take them and +may Allah not bless them to thee!" So the Caliph ordered him fresh +clothes and said, "O Tawaddud, there is one thing left of that for +which thou didst engage, namely, chess." And he sent for experts of +chess and cards[FN#448] and trictrac. The chess-player sat down before +her, and they set the pieces, and he moved and she moved; but, every +move he made she speedily countered,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Sixty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel +was playing chess with the expert in presence of the Commander of the +Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, whatever move he made was speedily countered +by her, till she beat him and he found himself checkmated. Quoth he, "I +did but lead thee on, that thou mightest think thyself skilful: but set +up again, and thou shalt see." So they placed the pieces a second time, +when he said in himself, "Open thine eyes or she will beat thee." And +he fell to moving no piece, save after calculation, and ceased not to +play, till she said, "Thy King is dead!—Checkmate." When he saw this he +was confounded at her quickness and understanding; but she laughed and +said, "O professor, I will make a wager with thee on this third game. I +will give thee the queen and the right-hand castle and the left-hand +knight; if thou beat me, take my clothes, and if I beat thee, I will +take thy clothes." Replied he, "I agree to this;" and they replaced the +pieces, she removing queen, castle and knight.[FN#449] Then said she, +"Move, O master." So he moved, saying to himself, "I cannot but beat +her, with such odds," and planned a combination; but, behold, she moved +on, little by little, till she made one of her pawns[FN#450] a queen +and pushing up to him pawns and other pieces, to take off his +attention, set one in his way and tempted him to take it. Accordingly, +he took it and she said to him, "The measure is meted and the loads +equally balanced.[FN#451] Eat till thou are over-full; naught shall be +thy ruin, O son of Adam, save thy greed. Knowest thou not that I did +but tempt thee, that I might finesse thee? See: this is check-mate!" +adding, "So doff off thy clothes." Quoth he, "Leave me my bag-trousers, +so Allah repay thee;" and he swore by Allah that he would contend with +none, so long as Tawaddud abode in the realm of Baghdad. Then he +stripped off his clothes and gave them to her and went away. Thereupon +came the backgammon-player, and she said to him, "If I beat thee, this +day, what wilt thou give me?" Quoth he, "I will give thee ten suits of +brocade of Constantinople, figured with gold, and ten suits of velvet +and a thousand gold pieces; and if I beat thee, I ask nothing but that +thou write me an acknowledgment of my victory." Quoth she, "To it, +then, and do thy best." So they played, and he lost and went away, +chattering in Frankish jargon and saying, "By the bounty of the +Commander of the Faithful, there is not her like in all the regions of +the world!" Then the Caliph summoned players on instruments of music +and asked her, "Dost thou know aught of music?"; when she answered, +"Even so!" He bade bring a worn lute, polished by use, whose owner +forlorn and lone was by parting trodden down; and of which quoth one, +describing it + +"Allah watered a land, and upsprang a tree * Struck root deep + + + down, and raised head a-sky: + + +The birds o'ersang it when green its wood; * And the Fair + + + o'ersing now the wood is dry." + + + +So they brought the lute in a bag of red satin, with tassels of +saffron-coloured silk: and she opened the bag, and took it out and +behold on it was graven, + +"Oft hath a tender bough made lute for maid, * whose swift sweet + + + lays at feast men's hearts invade: + + +She sings; it follows on her song, as though * The + + + Bulbuls[FN#452] taught her all the modes she played." + + + +She laid her lute in her lap and with bosom inclining over it, bent to +it with the bending of a mother who suckleth her child; then she +preluded in twelve different modes, till the whole assembly was +agitated with delight, like a waving sea, and she sang the following, + +"Cut short this strangeness, leave unruth of you; * My heart + + + shall love you aye, by youth of you! + + +Have ruth on one who sighs and weeps and moans, * Pining and + + + yearning for the troth of you." + + + +The Caliph was ravished and exclaimed, "Allah bless thee and be +merciful to him who taught thee!": whereupon she rose and kissed the +ground before him. Then he sent for money and paid her master Abu +al-Husn an hundred thousand gold pieces to her price; after which he +said to her, "O Tawaddud, ask a boon of me!" Replied she, "I ask of +thee that thou restore me to my lord who sold me." "'Tis well," +answered the Caliph and restored her to her master and gave her five +thousand dinars for herself. Moreover, he appointed Abu al-Husn one of +his cup-companions for a permanence,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Sixty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph gave +the damsel five thousand dinars for herself and restored her to her +master whom he appointed one of his cup-companions for a permanence and +assigned him a monthly stipend of a thousand dinars so long as he +should live; and he abode with the damsel Tawaddud in all solace and +delight of life. Marvel then, O King, at the eloquence of this damsel +and the hugeness of her learning and understanding and her perfect +excellence in all branches of art and science; and consider the +generosity of the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, in that +he gave her master this money and said to her, "Ask a boon of me;" and +she besought him to restore her to her lord. So he restored her to him +and gave her five thousand dinars for herself and made him one of his +boon-companions. Where is such generosity to be found after the +Abbaside Caliphs?—May Allah Almighty have mercy upon them, one and all! +And they tell a tale of + + + + +THE ANGEL OF DEATH WITH THE PROUD KING AND THE DEVOUT MAN. + +It is related, O auspicious King, that one of the olden monarchs was +once minded to ride out in state with the Officers of his realm and the +Grandees of his retinue and display to the folk the marvels of his +magnificence. So he ordered his Lords and Emirs equip them therefor and +commanded his keeper of the wardrobe to bring him of the richest of +raiment, such as befitted the King in his state; and he bade them bring +his steeds[FN#453] of the finest breeds and pedigrees every man heeds; +which being done, he chose out of the raiment what rejoiced him most +and of the horses that which he deemed best; and, donning the clothes, +together with a collar set with margarites and rubies and all manner +jewels, mounted and set forth in state, making his destrier prance and +curvet among his troops and glorying in his pride and despotic power. +And Iblis came to him and, laying his hand upon his nose, blew into his +nostrils the breath of hauteur and conceit, so that he magnified and +glorified himself and said in his heart, "Who among men is like unto +me?" And he became so puffed up with arrogance and self-sufficiency, +and so taken up with the thought of his own splendour and magnificence, +that he would not vouchsafe a glance to any man. Presently, there stood +before him one clad in tattered clothes and saluted him, but he +returned not his salam; whereupon the stranger laid hold of his horse's +bridle. "Lift thy hand," cried the King, "thou knowest not whose +bridle-rein it is whereof thou takest hold." Quoth the other, I have a +need of thee." Quoth the King, "Wait till I alight and then name thy +need." Rejoined the stranger, "It is a secret and I will not tell it +but in thine ear." So the King bowed his head to him and he said, "I am +the Angel of Death and I purpose to take thy soul." Replied the King, +"Have patience with me a little, whilst I return to my house and take +leave of my people and children and neighbours and wife." "By no means +so," answered the Angel; "thou shalt never return nor look on them +again, for the fated term of thy life is past." So saying, he took the +soul of the King (who fell off his horse's back dead) and departed +thence. Presently the Death Angel met a devout man, of whom Almighty +Allah had accepted, and saluted him. He returned the salute, and the +Angel said to him, "O pious man, I have a need of thee which must be +kept secret." "Tell it in my ear," quoth the devotee; and quoth the +other, "I am the Angel of Death." Replied the man, "Welcome to thee! +and praised be Allah for thy coming! I am aweary of awaiting thine +arrival; for indeed long hath been thine absence from the lover which +longeth for thee." Said the Angel, "If thou have any business, make an +end of it;" but the other answered, saying, "There is nothing so urgent +to me as the meeting with my Lord, to whom be honour and glory!" And +the Angel said "How wouldst thou fain have me take thy soul? I am +bidden to take it as thou willest and choosest." He replied, "Tarry +till I make the Wuzu-ablution and pray; and, when I prostrate myself, +then take my soul while my body is on the ground."[FN#454] Quoth the +Angel, "Verily, my Lord (be He extolled and exalted!) commanded me not +to take thy soul but with thy consent and as thou shouldst wish; so I +will do thy will." Then the devout man made the minor ablution[FN#455] +and prayed: and the Angel of Death took his soul in the act of +prostration and Almighty Allah transported it to the place of mercy and +acceptance and forgiveness. And they tell another tale of + + + + +THE ANGEL OF DEATH AND THE RICH KING. + +A certain King had heaped up coin beyond count and gathered store of +all precious things, which Allah the Most Highest hath created. So, in +order that he might take his pleasure whenas he should find leisure to +enjoy all this abounding wealth he had collected, he built him a palace +wide and lofty such as befitteth and beseemeth Kings; and set thereto +strong doors and appointed, for its service and its guard, servants and +soldiers and doorkeepers to watch and ward. One day, he bade the cooks +dress him somewhat of the goodliest of food and assembled his household +and retainers and boon-companions and servants to eat with him, and +partake of his bounty. Then he sat down upon the sofa of his kingship +and dominion; and, propping his elbow upon the cushion, addressed +himself, saying, "O soul, thou hast gathered together all the wealth of +the world; so now take thy leisure therein and eat of this good at +thine ease, in long life and prosperity ever rife!"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Sixty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that hardly had the +King made an end of saying to himself, "Eat of this weal at thine ease, +in long life and prosperity ever rife!" when a man clad in tattered +raiment, with an asker's wallet hanging at his neck, as he were one who +came to beg food, knocked with the door-ring a knock so loud and +terrible that the whole palace shook as with quake of earth and the +King's throne trembled. The servants were affrighted and rushed to the +door, and when they saw the man who had knocked they cried out at him, +saying, "Woe to thee! what manner of unmannerly fashion be this? Wait +till the King eateth and we will then give thee of what is left." Quoth +he, "Tell your lord to come out and speak with me, for I have of him a +pressing need and a matter to heed." They cried, "Away, fool! who art +thou that we should bid our lord come forth to thee?" But he said, +"Tell him of this." So they went in and told the King, who said, "Did +ye not rebuke him and draw upon him and threaten him!" Now as he spoke, +behold, there came another knock at the gate, louder than the first +knock, whereupon the servants sprang at the stranger with staves and +weapons, to fall upon him and slay him; but he shouted at them, saying, +"Bide in your steads, for I am the Angel of Death." Hereat their hearts +quaked and their wits forsook them; their understandings were in +confusion, their side-muscles quivered in perturbation and their limbs +lost the power of motion. Then said the King to them, "Tell him to take +a substitute[FN#456] in my place and one to relieve me in this case." +But the Angel answered, saying, "I will take no substitute, and I come +not but on thine account, to cause separation between thee and the +goods thou hast gathered together and the riches thou hast heaped up +and entreasured." When the King heard this, he wept and groaned, +saying, "Allah curse the treasure which hath deluded and undone me and +diverted me from the service of my Lord! I deemed it would profit me, +but to-day it is a regret for me and a calamity to me, and behold, I go +forth, empty-handed of it, and leave it to my foes." Thereupon Allah +caused the Treasure to speak out and it said, "Wherefore cursest thou +me?[FN#457] Curse thyself, for Allah created both me and eke thyself of +the dust and appointed me to be in thine hand, that thou mightest +provide thee with me a viaticum for the next world and give alms with +me to the poor and the needy and the sick; and build mosques and +hospices and bridges and aqueducts, so might I be an aidance unto thee +in the world to come. But thou didst garner me and hoard me up and on +thine own vanities bestowedst me, neither gavest thou thanks for me, as +was due, but wast ungrateful to me; and now thou must leave me to thy +foes and thou hast naught save thy regretting and thy repenting. But +what is my sin, that thou shouldest revile me?" Then the Angel of Death +took the King's soul as he sat on his throne before he ate of the food, +and he fell down dead. Quoth Allah Almighty, "While they were rejoicing +for that which had been given them, we suddenly laid hold on them; and, +behold, they were seized with despair."[FN#458] And they tell another +tale of + + + + +THE ANGEL OF DEATH AND THE KING OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. + +There was a puissant despot among the Kings of the Banϊ Isrανl, who sat +one day upon the throne of his kingship, when he saw come in to him, by +the gate of the hall, a man of forbidding aspect and horrible presence. +The King was affrighted at his sudden intrusion and his look terrified +him; so he sprang up before him and said, "Who art thou, O man? Who +gave thee leave to come in to me and who invited thee to enter my +house?" Quoth the stranger, "Verily the Lord of the House sent me to +thee, nor can any doorkeeper exclude me, nor need I leave to come in to +Kings; for I reck not of a Sultan's majesty neither of the multitude of +his guards. I am he from whom no tyrant is at rest, nor can any man +escape from my grasp: I am the Destroyer of delights and the Sunderer +of societies." Now when the King heard this a palsy crept over +him[FN#459] and he fell on his face in a swoon; but presently coming to +himself, he asked, "Art thou then the Angel of Death?"; and the +stranger answered, "Yes." "I conjure thee, by Allah," quoth the King, +"grant me one single day's respite, that I may pray pardon of my sins +and ask absolution of my Lord and restore to their rightful owners the +monies which are in my treasures, so I may not be burdened with the woe +of a reckoning nor with the misery of punishment therefor." Replied the +Angel, "Well-away! well-away! this may be in no way."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth the +Death-messenger to the King, "Well-away, well-away! this may be in no +way. How can I grant thee a reprieve when the days of thy life are +counted and thy breaths numbered and thy moments fixed and written?" +"Grant me an hour," asked the King; but the Angel answered saying, "The +hour was in the account and hath sped, and thou unheeding aught; and +hath fled, and thou taking no thought: and now thy breathings are +accomplished, and there remaineth to thee but one breath." Quoth the +King, "Who will be with me when I am transported to my tomb?" Quoth the +Angel, "Naught will be with thee but thy works good or evil." "I have +no works," said the King; and the Angel, "Doubtless thy long home will +be in hell-fire and thy doom the wrath of the Almighty." Then he seized +the soul of the King, and he fell off his throne and dropped on the +earth dead. And there arose a mighty weeping and wailing and clamour of +keening for him among the people of his court, and had they known that +to which he went of the wrath of his Lord, their weeping for him had +been sorer and their wailing louder and more abounding. And a story is +told of + + + + +ISKANDAR ZU AL-KARNAYN[FN#460] AND A CERTAIN TRIBE OF POOR FOLK. + +It is related that Iskandar Zu al-Karnayn[FN#461] once came, in his +journeyings, upon a tribe of small folk, who owned naught of the weals +of the world and who dug their graves over against the doors of their +houses and were wont at all times to visit them and sweep the earth +from them and keep them clean and pray at them and worship Almighty +Allah at them; and they had no meat save grasses and the growth of the +ground. So Iskandar sent a man to summon their King, but he refused to +come, saying, "I have no need of him." Thereupon Iskandar went to him +and said, "How is it with you and what manner of men are ye?; for I see +with you forsooth naught of gold or silver, nor find I with you aught +of the weals of the world." Answered the King, "None hath his fill of +the weals of the world." Iskandar then asked "Why do you dig your +graves before your house-doors?"; and the King answered, "That they may +be the prospective of our eye-glances; so we may look on them and ever +renew talk and thought of death, neither forget the world to come; and +on this wise the love of the world be banished from our hearts and we +be not thereby distracted from the service of our Lord, the Almighty." +Quoth Iskandar, "Why do ye eat grasses?"; and the other replied, +"Because we abhor to make our bellies the tombs of animals and because +the pleasure of eating outstrippeth not the gullet." Then putting forth +his hand he brought out a skull of a son of Adam and, laying it before +Iskandar, said, "O Zu al-Karnayn, Lord of the Two Horns, knowest thou +who owned this skull?" Quoth he, "Nay;" and quoth the other, "He who +owned this skull was a King of the Kings of the world, who dealt +tyrannously with his subjects, specially wronging the weak and wasting +his time in heaping up the rubbish of this world, till Allah took his +sprite and made the fire his abiding-site; and this is his head." He +then put forth his hand and produced another skull and, laying it +before Iskandar, said to him, "Knowest thou this?" "No," answered the +conqueror; and the other rejoined, "This is the skull of another King, +who dealt justly by his lieges and was kindly solicitous for the folk +of his realm and his dominions, till Allah took his soul and lodged him +in His Garden and made high his degree in Heaven." Then laying his +hands on Iskandar's head he said, "Would I knew which of these two art +thou." Whereupon Iskandar wept with sore weeping and straining the King +to his bosom cried, "If thou be minded to company with me, I will +commit to thee as Wazir the government of my affairs and share with +thee my kingdom." Cried the other, "Well-away, well-away! I have no +mind to this." "And why so?" asked Iskandar, and the King answered, +"Because all men are thy foes by reason of the wealth and the worlds +thou hast won: while all men are my true friends, because of my +contentment and pauperdom, for that I possess nothing, neither covet +aught of the goods of life; I have no desire to them nor wish for them, +neither reck I aught save contentment." So Iskandar pressed him to his +breast and kissed him between the eyes and went his way.[FN#462] And +among the tales they tell is one concerning + + + + +THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF KING ANUSHIRWAN.[FN#463] + +It is told of Anushirwan, the Just King, that once upon a time he +feigned himself sick, and bade his stewards and intendants go round +about the provinces of his empire and the quarters of his dominion and +seek him out a mud-brick thrown away from some ruined village, that he +might use it as medicine, informing his intimates that the leaches had +prescribed this to him. So they went the round of the provinces of his +reign and of all the lands under his sway and said to him on return, +"In all the realm we have found nor ruined site nor castaway +mud-brick." At this Anushirwan rejoiced and rendered thanks to the +Lord, saying, "I was but minded to try my kingdom and prove mine +empire, that I might know if any place therein remained ruined and +deserted, so I might rebuild and repeople it; but, since there be no +place in it but is inhabited, the affairs of the reign are +best-conditioned and its ordinance is excellent; and its +populousness[FN#464] hath reached the pitch of perfection."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the high +officials returned and reported, "We have found in the empire nor +ruined site nor rotten brick," the Just King thanked his God and said, +"Verily the affairs of the realm are best-conditioned and its ordinance +is excellent and its populousness hath reached the pink of perfection." +And ken thou, O King, continued Shahrazad, that these olden Kings +strave not and toiled not for the peopling of their possessions, but +because they knew that the more populous a country is, the more +abundant is that which is desired therein; and because they wist the +saying of the wise and the learned to be true without other view, +namely, "Religion dependeth on the King, the King on the troops, the +troops on the treasury, the treasury on the populousness of the country +and its prosperity on the justice done to the lieges." Wherefore they +upheld no one in tyranny or oppression; neither suffered their +dependants and suite to work injustice, knowing that kingdoms are not +established upon tyranny, but that cities and places fall into ruin +when oppressors are set as rulers over them, and their inhabitants +disperse and flee to other governments; whereby ruin falleth upon the +realm, the imports fail, the treasuries become empty and the pleasant +lives of the subjects are perturbed; for that they love not a tyrant +and cease not to offer up successive prayers against him; so that the +King hath no ease of his kingdom, and the vicissitudes of fortune +speedily bring him to destruction. And they tell a tale concerning + + + + +THE JEWISH KAZI AND HIS PIOUS WIFE. + +Among the Children of Israel one of the Kazis had a wife of surpassing +beauty, constant in fasting and abounding in patience and +long-suffering; and he, being minded to make the pilgrimage to +Jerusalem, appointed his own brother Kazi in his stead, during his +absence, and commended his wife to his charge. Now this brother had +heard of her beauty and loveliness and had taken a fancy to her. So no +sooner was his brother gone than he went to her and sought her +love-favours; but she denied him and held fast to her chastity. The +more she repelled him, the more he pressed his suit upon her; till, +despairing of her and fearing lest she should acquaint his brother with +his misconduct whenas he should return, he suborned false witnesses to +testify against her of adultery; and cited her and carried her before +the King of the time who adjudged her to be stoned. So they dug a pit, +and seating her therein stoned her, till she was covered with stones, +and the man said, "Be this hole her grave!" But when it was dark a +passer-by, making for a neighbouring hamlet, heard her groaning in sore +pain; and, pulling her out of the pit, carried her home to his wife, +whom he bade dress her wounds. The peasant woman tended her till she +recovered and presently gave her her child to be nursed; and she used +to lodge with the child in another house by night. Now a certain thief +saw her and lusted after her. So he sent to her seeking her +love-favours, but she denied herself to him; wherefore he resolved to +slay her and, making his way into her lodging by night (and she +sleeping), thought to strike at her with a knife; but it smote the +little one and killed it. Now when he knew his misdeed, fear overtook +him and he went forth the house and Allah preserved from him her +chastity. But as she awoke in the morning, she found the child by her +side with throat cut; and presently the mother came and seeing her boy +dead, said to the nurse, "Twas thou didst murther him." Therewith she +beat her a grievous beating and purposed to put her to death; but her +husband interposed and delivered the woman, saying, "By Allah, thou +shalt not do on this wise." So the woman, who had somewhat of money +with her, fled forth for her life, knowing not whither she should wend. +Presently, she came to a village, where she saw a crowd of people about +a man crucified to a tree-stump, but still in the chains of life. "What +hath he done?" she asked, and they answered, "He hath committed a +crime, which nothing can expiate but death or the payment of such a +fine by way of alms." So she said to them, "Take the money and let him +go;" and, when they did so, he repented at her hands and vowed to serve +her, for the love of Almighty Allah till death should release him. Then +he built her a cell and lodged her therein; after which he betook +himself to woodcutting and brought her daily her bread. As for her, she +was constant in worship, so that there came no sick man or demoniac to +her, but she prayed for him and he was straightway healed.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the woman's +cell was visited by folk (and she constant in worship), it befel by +decree of the Almighty that He sent down upon her husband's brother +(the same who had caused her to be stoned), a cancer in the face, and +smote the villager's wife (the same who had beaten her) with leprosy, +and afflicted the thief (the same who had murthered the child) with +palsy. Now when the Kazi returned from his pilgrimage, he asked his +brother of his wife, and he told him that she was dead, whereat he +mourned sore and accounted her with her Maker. After awhile, very many +folk heard of the pious recluse and flocked to her cell from all parts +of the length and breadth of the earth; whereupon said the Kazi to his +brother, "O my brother, wilt thou not seek out yonder pious woman? +Haply Allah shall decree thee healing at her hands!" and he replied, "O +my brother, carry me to her" Moreover, the husband of the leprous woman +heard of the pious devotee and carried his wife to her, as did also the +people of the paralytic thief; and they all met at the door of the +hermitage. Now she had a place wherefrom she could look out upon those +who came to her, without their seeing her; and they waited till her +servant came, when they begged admittance and obtained permission. +Presently she saw them all and recognized them; so she veiled and +cloaked face and body and went out and stood in the door, looking at +her husband and his brother and the thief and the peasant-woman; but +they could not recognize her. Then said she to them, "Ho folk, ye shall +not be relieved of what is with you till ye confess your sins; for, +when the creature confesseth his sins the Creator relenteth towards him +and granteth him that wherefore he resorteth to him." Quoth the Kazi to +his brother, "O my brother, repent to Allah and persist not in thy +frowardness, for it will be more helpful to thy relief." And the tongue +of the case spake this speech, + +"This day oppressor and oppressed meet, * And Allah sheweth + + + secrets we secrete: + + +This is a place where sinners low are brought; * And Allah + + + raiseth saint to highest seat. + + +Our Lord and Master shows the truth right clear, * Though sinner + + + froward be or own defeat: + + +Alas[FN#465] for those who rouse the Lord to wrath, * As though + + + of Allah's wrath they nothing weet! + + +O whoso seekest honours, know they are * From Allah, and His fear + + + with love entreat." + + + +(Saith the relator), Then quoth the brother, "Now I will tell the +truth: I did thus and thus with thy wife;" and he confessed the whole +matter, adding, "And this is my offence." Quoth the leprous woman, "As +for me, I had a woman with me and imputed to her that of which I knew +her to be guiltless, and beat her grievously; and this is my offence." +And quoth the paralytic, "And I went in to a woman to kill her, after I +had tempted her to commit adultery and she had refused; and I slew a +child that lay by her side; and this is my offence." Then said the +pious woman, "O my God, even as Thou hast made them feel the misery of +revolt, so show them now the excellence of submission, for Thou over +all things art Omnipotent!" And Allah (to whom belong Majesty and +Might!) made them whole. Then the Kazi fell to looking on her and +considering her straitly, till she asked him why he looked so hard and +he said, "I had a wife and were she not dead, I had said thou art she." +Hereupon, she made herself known to him and both began praising Allah +(to whom belong Majesty and Might!) for that which He had vouchsafed +them of the reunion of their loves; but the brother and the thief and +the villager's wife joined in imploring her forgiveness. So she forgave +them one and all, and they worshipped Allah in that place and rendered +her due service, till Death parted them. And one of the Sayyids[FN#466] +hath related this tale of + + + + +THE SHIPWRECKED WOMAN AND HER CHILD. + +"I was circuiting the Ka'abah one dark night, when I heard a plaintive +voice, speaking from a contrite heart and saying, 'O Bountiful One, Thy +past boon! Indeed, by my heart shall Thy covenant never be undone.' +Hearing this voice, my heart fluttered so that I was like to die; but I +followed the sound and behold, it came from a woman, to whom I said, +'Peace be with thee, O handmaid of Allah;' whereto she replied, 'And +with thee be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings!' Quoth I, +'I conjure thee, by Allah the Most Great, tell me what is the covenant +to which thy heart is constant.' Quoth she, 'But that thou adjurest me +by the Omnipotent, I would not tell thee my secrets. See what is before +me.' So I looked and lo! there was a child lying asleep before her and +breathing heavily in his slumber. Said she, "Know, that I set forth, +being big with this boy, to make the pilgrimage to this House and took +passage in a ship; but the waves rose against us and the winds blew +contrary and the vessel broke up. I saved myself on a plank; and, on +that bit of wood, I gave birth to this child; and while he lay on my +bosom and the waves beating upon me,'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Sixty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the woman +continued, "'Now while the boy lay on my bosom and the waves beat upon +me, there swam up to me one of the sailors, who climbed on the plank +and said, 'By Allah, I desired thee whilst thou wast yet in the ship, +and now I have come at thee: so yield thy body to me, or I will throw +thee into the sea.' Said I, 'Out on thee! hast thou no memory of that +which thou hast seen and is it no warning to thee?' Quoth he, 'I have +seen the like of this many a time and come off safe and care not.' +Quoth I, 'O fellow, we are now in a calamity, whence we hope to be +delivered by obedience to Allah and not by disobedience.' But he +persisted with me, and I feared him and thought to put him off; so I +said to him, 'Wait till this babe shall sleep'; but he took the child +off my lap and threw him into the sea. Now when I saw this desperate +deed, my heart sank and sorrow was sore upon me; so I raised my eyes +heavenwards and said, 'O Thou that interposest between a man and his +heart, intervene between me and this leonine brute; for Thou over all +things art Omnipotent!' And by Allah, hardly had I spoken when a beast +rose out of the sea and snatched him off the plank. When I saw myself +alone my sorrows redoubled and my grief and longing for my child, and I +recited, + +'My coolth of eyes, the darling child of me * Is lost, and racked + + + my heart with agony; + + +My body wrecked, and red-hot coals of love * Burning my liver + + + with sore pangs, I see. + + +In this my sorrow shows no gleam of joy; * Save Thy high grace + + + and my expectancy: + + +Hast seen, O Lord, what unto me befel; * My son aye lost and + + + parting pangs I dree: + + +Take ruth on us and make us meet again; * For now my stay and + + + only hope's in Thee!' + + + +I abode in this condition a day and a night; and, when morning dawned, +I caught sight of the sails of a vessel shining afar off, nor did the +waves cease to drive me and the winds to waft me on, till I reached the +ship, whose sails I had sighted. The sailors took me up and I looked +and behold, my babe was amongst them: so I threw myself upon him and +said, 'O folk, this is my child: how and whence came ye by him?' Quoth +they, 'Whilst we were sailing along the seas the ship suddenly stood +still and lo! that which stayed us was a beast, as it were a great +city, and this babe on its back, sucking his thumbs. So we took him +up.' Now when I heard this, I told them my tale and all that had +betided me and returned thanks to my Lord for His goodness, and vowed +to Him that never, whilst I lived, would I stir from His House nor +swerve from His service; and since then I have never asked of Him aught +but He hath given it me.' Now when she had made an end of her story +(quoth the Sayyid), I put my hand to my alms-pouch and would have given +to her, but she exclaimed, "Away from me, thou idle man! Have I not +told thee of His mercies and the graciousness of His dealings and shall +I take an alms from other than His hand?" And I could not prevail with +her to accept aught of me: so I left her and went away, reciting these +couplets + +'How many boons conceals the Deity, * Eluding human sight in + + + mystery: + + +How many graces come on heels of stresses, * And fill the burning + + + heart with jubilee: + + +How many a sorrow in the morn appears, * And turns at night-tide + + + into gladdest gree: + + +If things go hard with thee some day, yet trust * Th' Eterne, th' + + + Almighty God of Unity: + + +And pray the Prophet that he intercede; * Through intercession + + + every wish shalt see.' + + + +And she left not the service of her Lord, cleaving unto His House, till +death came to her." And a tale is also told by Mαlik bin Dνnαr[FN#467] +(Allah have mercy on him!) of + + + + +THE PIOUS BLACK SLAVE. + +"We were once afflicted with drought at Bassorah and went forth sundry +times to pray for rain, but saw no sign of our prayers being accepted. +So I went, I and 'Itaa al-Salamν and Sαbit al-Banαni and Naja al-Bakαa +and Mohammed bin Wαsi'a and Ayyϊb al-Sukhtiyαni and Habνb al-Farsi and +Hassαn bin Abi Sinαn and 'Otbah al-Ghulαm and Sαlih al-Muzani,[FN#468] +till we reached the oratory,[FN#469] when the boys came out of the +schools and we prayed for rain, but saw no sign of acceptance. So about +mid-day the people went away and I and Sabit al-Banani tarried in the +place of prayer till nightfall, when we saw a black of comely face, +slender of shank[FN#470] and big of belly, approach us, clad in a pair +of woollen drawers; if all he wore had been priced, it would not have +fetched a couple of dirhams. He brought water and made the minor +ablution, then, going up to the prayer-niche, prayed two inclinations +deftly, his standing and bowing and prostration being exactly similar +in both. Then he raised his glance heavenwards, and said, 'O my God and +my Lord and Master, how long wilt Thou reject Thy servants in that +which offereth no hurt to Thy sovereignty? Is that which is with Thee +wasted or are the treasuries of Thy Kingdom annihilated? I conjure +Thee, by Thy love to me forthwith to pour out upon us Thy rain-clouds +of grace!' He spake and hardly had he made an end of speaking, when the +heavens clouded over and there came a rain, as if the mouths of +waterskins had been opened; and when we left the oratory, we were +knee-deep in water,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Sixty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "hardly had he +spoken when the heavens clouded over and there came a rain, as if the +mouths of waterskins had been opened. And when we left the oratory we +were knee-deep in water, and we were lost in wonder at the black. So I +accosted him and said to him, 'Woe to thee, O black, art thou not +ashamed of what thou saidst?' He turned to me and asked, 'What said +I?'; and I, 'Thy saying to Allah, 'By Thy love of me;' and what giveth +thee to know that He loveth thee?' Replied he, 'Away from me, O thou +distracted by the world from the care of thine own soul. Where was I, +when He gave me strength to profess the unity of the Godhead and +vouchsafed unto me the knowledge of Him? How deemest thou that He aided +me thus except of His love to me?' adding, 'Verily, His love to me is +after the measure of my love to Him.' Quoth I, 'Tarry awhile with me, +so may Allah have mercy on thee!' But he said, 'I am a chattel and the +Book enjoineth me to obey my lesser master.' So we followed him afar +off, till we saw him enter the house of a slave-broker. Now the first +half of the night was past and the last half was longsome upon us, so +we went away; but next morning, we repaired to the slave-dealer and +said to him, 'Hast thou a lad to sell us for service?' He answered, +'Yes, I have an hundred lads or so and they are all for sale.' Then he +showed us slave after slave; till he had shown us some seventy; but my +friend was not amongst them, and the dealer said, 'These are all I +have.' But, as we were going out from him we saw a ruinous hut behind +his house and going in behold, we found the black standing there. I +cried, ''Tis he, by the Lord of the Ka'abah!' and turning to the +dealer, said to him, 'Sell me yonder slave.' Replied he, 'O Abu Yahya, +this is a pestilent unprofitable fellow, who hath no concern by night +but weeping and by day but repentance.' I rejoined, 'It is for that I +want him.' So the dealer called him, and he came out, showing +drowsiness. Quoth his master, 'Take him at thine own price, so thou +hold me free of all his faults.' I bought him for twenty dinars and +asked 'What is his name?' and the dealer answered 'Maymun, the monkey;' +and I took him by the hand and went out with him, intending to go home; +but he turned to me and said, 'O my lesser lord, why and wherefore +didst thou buy me? By Allah, I am not fit for the service of God's +creatures!' Replied I, 'I bought thee that I might serve thee myself; +and on my head be it.' Asked he, 'Why so?' and I answered, 'Wast thou +not in company with us yesterday in the place of prayer?' Quoth he, +'And didst thou hear me?'; and quoth I, 'It was I accosted thee +yesterday and spoke with thee.' Thereupon he advanced till we came to a +mosque, where he entered and prayed a two-bow prayer; after which he +said, 'O my God and my Lord and Master, the secret that was between me +and Thee Thou hast discovered unto Thy creatures and hast brought me to +shame before the worldling. How then shall life be sweet to me, now +that other than Thou hath happened upon that which is between Thee and +me? I conjure Thee to take my soul to Thee forthright.[FN#471] So +saying, he prostrated himself, and I awaited awhile without seeing him +raise his head; so I shook him and behold, he was indeed dead, the +mercy of Almighty Allah be upon him! I laid him out stretching his arms +and legs and looked at him, and lo! he was smiling. Moreover, whiteness +had got the better of blackness on his brow, and his face was radiant +with light like a young moon. As we wondered at his case, the door +opened and a young man came in to us and said, 'Peace be with you! May +Allah make great our reward and yours for our brother Maymun! Here is +his shroud: wrap him in it.' So saying, he gave us two robes, never had +we seen the like of them, and we shrouded him therein. And now his tomb +is a place whither men resort to pray for rain and ask their +requirements of Allah (be He extolled and exalted!); and how +excellently well saith the poet on this theme, + + 'The heart of Gnostic[FN#472] homed in heavenly Garth * + + + Heaven decks, and Allah's porters aid afford. + + + Lo! here they drink old wine commingled with * + + + Tasnνm,[FN#473] the wine of union with the Lord. + + + Safe is the secret 'twixt the Friend and them; * + + + Safe from all hearts but from that Heart adored.'" + + + +And they recount another anecdote of + + + + +THE DEVOUT TRAY-MAKER AND HIS WIFE. + +There was once, among the Children of Israel, a man of the worthiest, +who was strenuous in the service of his Lord and abstained from things +worldly and drave them away from his heart. He had a wife who was a +helpmate meet for him and who was at all times obedient to him. They +earned their living by making trays[FN#474] and fans, whereat they +wrought all through the light hours; and, at nightfall, the man went +out into the streets and highways seeking a buyer for what they had +made. They were wont to fast continually by day[FN#475] and one morning +they arose, fasting, and worked at their craft till the light failed +them, when the man went forth, according to custom, to find purchasers +for his wares, and fared on till he came to the door of the house of a +certain man of wealth, one of the sons of this world, high in rank and +dignity. Now the tray-maker was fair of face and comely of form, and +the wife of the master of the house saw him and fell in love with him +and her heart inclined to him with exceeding inclination; so, her +husband being absent, she called her handmaid and said to her, +"Contrive to bring yonder man to us." Accordingly the maid went out to +him and and called him and stopped him as though she would buy what he +held in hand.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the maid-servant +went out to the man and asked him, "Come in; my lady hath a mind to buy +some of thy wares, after she hath tried them and looked at them." The +man thought she spoke truly and, seeing no harm in this, entered and +sat down as she bade him; and she shut the door upon him. Whereupon her +mistress came out of her room and, taking him by the gaberdine,[FN#476] +drew him within and said, "How long shall I seek union of thee? Verily +my patience is at an end on thine account. See now, the place is +perfumed and provision prepared and the householder is absent this +night, and I give to thee my person without reserve, I whose favours +kings and captains and men of fortune have sought this long while, but +I have regarded none of them." And she went on talking thus to him, +whilst he raised not his eyes from the ground, for shame before Allah +Almighty and fear of the pains and penalties of His punishment; even as +saith the poet, + +"'Twixt me and riding many a noble dame, * Was naught but shame + + + which kept me chaste and pure: + + +My shame was cure to her; but haply were * Shame to depart, she + + + ne'er had known a cure." + + + +The man strove to free himself from her, but could not; so he said to +her, "I want one thing of thee." She asked, "What is that?": and he +answered, "I wish for pure water that I may carry it to the highest +place of thy house and do somewhat therewith and cleanse myself of an +impurity, which I may not disclose to thee." Quoth she, "The house is +large and hath closets and corners and privies at command." But he +replied, "I want nothing but to be at a height." So she said to her +slave-girl, "Carry him up to the belvedere on the house-terrace." +Accordingly the maid took him up to the very top and, giving him a +vessel of water, went down and left him. Then he made the ablution and +prayed a two-bow prayer; after which he looked at the ground, thinking +to throw himself down, but seeing it afar off, feared to be dashed to +pieces by the fall.[FN#477] Then he bethought him of his disobedience +to Allah, and the consequences of his sin; so it became a light matter +to him to offer up his life and shed his blood; and he said, "O my God +and my Lord, Thou seest that which is fallen on me; neither is my case +hidden from Thee. Thou indeed over all things art Omnipotent and the +tongue of my case reciteth and saith, + +'I show my heart and thoughts to Thee, and Thou * Alone my + + + secret's secrecy canst know. + + +If I address Thee fain I cry aloud; * Or, if I'm mute, my signs + + + for speech I show. + + +O Thou to whom no second be conjoined! * A wretched lover seeks + + + Thee in his woe. + + +I have a hope my thoughts as true confirm; * And heart that + + + fainteth as right well canst trow. + + +To lavish life is hardest thing that be, * Yet easy an Thou bid + + + me life forego; + + +But, an it be Thy will to save from stowre, * Thou, O my Hope, to + + + work this work hast power!'" + + + +Then the man cast himself down from the belvedere; but Allah sent an +angel who bore him up on his wings and brought him down to the ground, +whole and without hurt or harm. Now when he found himself safe on the +ground, he thanked and praised Allah (to whom belong Majesty and +Might!) for His merciful protection of his person and his chastity; and +he went straight to his wife who had long expected him, and he +empty-handed. Then seeing him, she asked him why he had tarried and +what was come of that he had taken with him and why he returned +empty-handed; whereupon he told her of the temptation which had +befallen him, and she said, "Alhamdolillah—praised be God-for +delivering thee from seduction and intervening between thee and such +calamity!" Then she added, "O man, the neighbours use to see us light +our oven every night; and, if they see us fireless this night, they +will know that we are destitute. Now it behoveth in gratitude to Allah, +that we hide our destitution and conjoin the fast of this night to that +of the past and continue it for the sake of Allah Almighty." So she +rose and, filling the oven with wood, lighted it, to baffle the +curiosity of her woman-neighbours, reciting these couplets, + +"Now I indeed will hide desire and all repine; * And light up + + + this my fire that neighbours see no sign: + + +Accept I what befals by order of my Lord; * Haply He too accept + + + this humble act of mine." + + + +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Seventieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after the +goodwife had lit the fire to baffle the curiosity of her +women-neighbours, she and her husband made the Wuzu-ablution and stood +up to pray, when behold, one of the neighbours' wives came and asked +leave to take a fire-brand from the oven. "Do what thou wilt with the +oven," answered they; but, when she came to the fire, she cried out, +saying, "Ho, such an one (to the tray-maker's wife) take up thy bread +ere it burn!" Quoth the wife to her husband, "Hearest thou what she +saith?" Quoth he, "Go and look." So she went up to the oven, and +behold, it was full of fine bread and white. She took up the scones and +carried them to her husband, thanking Allah (to whom belong Majesty and +Might!) for His abounding good and great bounty; and they ate of the +bread and drank water and praised the Almighty. Then said the woman to +her husband, "Come let us pray to Allah the Most Highest, so haply He +may vouchsafe us what shall enable us to dispense with the weariness of +working for daily bread and devote ourselves wholly to worshipping and +obeying Him." The man rose in assent and prayed, whilst his wife said, +"Amen," to his prayer, when the roof clove in sunder and down fell a +ruby, which lit the house with its light. Hereat, they redoubled in +praise and thanksgiving to Allah praying what the Almighty +willed,[FN#478] and rejoiced at the ruby with great joy. And the night +being far spent, they lay down to sleep and the woman dreamt that she +entered Paradise and saw therein many chairs ranged and stools set in +rows. She asked what the seats were and it was answered her, "These are +the chairs of the prophets and those are the stools of the righteous +and the pious." Quoth she, "Which is the stool of my husband such an +one?"; and it was said to her, "It is this." So she looked and seeing a +hole in its side asked, "What may be this hole?"; and the reply came, +"It is the place of the ruby that dropped upon you from your +house-roof." Thereupon she awoke, weeping and bemoaning the defect in +her husband's stool among the seats of the Righteous; so she told him +the dream and said to him, "Pray Allah, O man, that this ruby return to +its place; for endurance of hunger and poverty during our few days here +were easier than a hole in thy chair among the just in +Paradise."[FN#479] Accordingly, he prayed to his Lord, and lo! the ruby +flew up to the roof and away whilst they looked at it. And they ceased +not from their poverty and their piety, till they went to the presence +of Allah, to whom be Honour and Glory! And they also tell a tale of + + + + +AL-HAJJAJ AND THE PIOUS MAN. + +Al-Hajjaj bin Yusuf al-Sakafi had been long in pursuit of a certain man +of the notables, and when at last he was brought before him, he said, +"O enemy of Allah, He hath delivered thee over to me;" and cried, "Hale +him to prison and lay him by the heels in heavy fetters and build a +closet over him, that he may not come forth of it nor any go into him." +So they bore him to jail and summoned the blacksmith with the irons; +and every time the smith gave a stroke with his hammer, the prisoner +raised his eyes to heaven and said, "Is not the whole Creation and the +Empire thereof His?"[FN#480] Then the gaolers built the cage[FN#481] +over him and left him therein, lorn and lone, whereupon longing and +consternation entered into him and the tongue of his case recited in +extempore verse, + +"O, Wish of wistful men, for Thee I yearn; * My heart seeks grace + + + of one no heart shall spurn. + + +Unhidden from thy sight is this my case; * And for one glance of + + + thee I pine and burn. + + +They jailed and tortured me with sorest pains: * Alas for lone + + + one can no aid discern! + + +But, albe lone, I find Thy name befriends * And cheers, though + + + sleep to eyes shall ne'er return: + + +An thou accept of me, I care for naught; * And only Thou what's + + + in my heart canst learn!" + + + +Now when night fell dark, the gaoler left his watchmen to guard him and +went to his house; and on the morrow, when he came to the prison, he +found the fetters lying on the ground and the prisoner gone; whereat he +was affrighted and made sure of death. So he returned to his place and +bade his family farewell, after which he took in his sleeve his shroud +and the sweet herbs for his corpse, and went in to Al-Hajjaj. And as he +stood before the presence, the Governor smelt the perfumes and asked, +"What is that?" when the gaoler answered, "O my lord, it is I who have +brought it." "And what moved thee to that?" enquired the Governor; +whereupon he told him his case,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Seventy-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the gaoler +told his case to Al-Hajjaj, the Governor cried, "Woe to thee! Didst +thou hear him say aught?" Answered the gaoler, "Yes! whilst the +blacksmith was hammering his irons, he ceased not to look up +heavenwards and say, 'Is not the whole Creation and the Empire thereof +His?'" Rejoined Al-Hajjaj, "Dost thou not know that He, on whom he +called in thy presence, delivered him in thine absence?" And the tongue +of the case recited on this theme, + +"O Lord, how many a grief from me hast driven * Nor can I sit or + + + stand without Thy hold: + + +How many many things I cannot count, * Thou sav'st from many many + + + and manifold!" + + + +And they also tell a tale of + + + + +THE BLACKSMITH WHO COULD HANDLE FIRE WITHOUT HURT. + +It reached the ears of a certain pious man that there abode in such a +town a blacksmith, who could put his hand into the fire and pull out +the iron red-hot, without the flames doing him aught of hurt.[FN#482] +So he set out for the town in question and asked for the blacksmith; +and, when the man was shown to him, he watched him at work and saw him +do as had been reported to him. He waited till he had made and end of +his day's work; then, going up to him, saluted him with the salam and +said, "I would be thy guest this night." Replied the smith, "With +gladness and goodly gree!" and carried him to his place, where they +supped together and lay down to sleep. The guest watched, but saw no +sign in his host of praying through the night or of special devoutness +and said in his mind, "Haply he hideth himself from me." So he lodged +with him a second and a third night, but found that he did not exceed +the devotions prescribed by the law and custom of the Prophet and rose +but little in the dark hours to pray. At last he said to him, "O my +brother, I have heard of the gift with which Allah hath favoured thee +and have seen the truth of it with mine eyes. Moreover, I have taken +note of thine assiduity in religious exercises, but find in thee no +such piety as distinguisheth those who work saintly miracles: whence, +then, cometh this to thee?" "I will tell thee," answered the smith, +"Know that I was once passionately enamoured of a slave-girl and +ofttimes sued her for love-liesse, but could not prevail upon her, +because she still held fast by her chastity. Presently there came a +year of drought and hunger and hardship; food failed and there befel a +sore famine. As I was sitting one day at home, somebody knocked at the +door; so I went out and behold, she was standing there; and she said to +me, 'O my brother, I am sorely an-hungered and I lift mine eyes to +thee, beseeching thee to feed me for Allah's sake!' Quoth I, 'Wottest +thou not how I love thee and what I have suffered for thy sake? Now I +will not give thee one bittock of bread except thou yield thy person to +me.' Quoth she, 'Death, but not disobedience to the Lord!' Then she +went away and returned after two days with the same prayer for food as +before. I made her a like answer, and she entered and sat down in my +house being nigh upon death. I set food before her, whereupon her eyes +brimmed with tears and she cried, 'Give me meat for the love of Allah, +to whom belong Honour and Glory!' But I answered, 'Not so, by Allah, +except thou yield thyself to me.' Quoth she, 'Better is death to me +than the wrath and wreak of Allah the Most Highest;' and she rose and +left the food untouched"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Seventy-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the man set +food before her, the woman said, "Give me meat for the love of Allah to +whom be Honour and Glory!' But I answered, 'Not so, by Allah, except +thou yield to me thy person.' Quoth she, 'Better is death than the +wrath and wreak of Allah;' and she rose and left the food untouched and +went away repeating these couplets, + +'O Thou, the One, whose grace doth all the world embrace; * Thine + + + ears have heard, Thine eyes have seen my case! + + +Privation and distress have dealt me heavy blows; * The woes that + + + weary me no utterance can trace. + + +I am like one athirst who eyes the landscape's eye, * Yet may not + + + drink a draught of streams that rail and race. + + +My flesh would tempt me by the sight of savoury food * Whose joys + + + shall pass away and pangs maintain their place.' + + + +She then disappeared for two days, when she again came and knocked at +the door; so I went out to her, and lo! hunger had taken away her +voice; but, after a rest she said, 'O my brother, I am worn out with +want and know not what to do, for I cannot show my face to any man but +to thee. Say, wilt thou feed me for the love of Allah Almighty?' But I +answered, 'Not so, except thou yield to me thy person.' And she entered +my house and sat down. Now I had no food ready; but, when the meat was +dressed and I laid it in a saucer, behold, the grace of Almighty Allah +entered into me and I said to myself, 'Out on thee! This woman, weak of +wit and faith, hath refrained from food till she can no longer, for +stress of hunger; and, while she refuseth time after time, thou canst +not forbear from disobedience to the Lord!' And I said, 'O my God, I +repent to Thee of that which my flesh purposed!' Then I took the food +and carrying it to her, said, 'Eat, for no harm shall betide thee: this +is for the love of Allah, to whom belong Honour and Glory!' Then she +raised her eyes to heaven and said, 'O my God, if this man say sooth, I +pray Thee forbid fire to harm him in this world and the next, for Thou +over all things art Omnipotent and Prevalent in answering the prayer of +the penitent!' Then I left her and went to put out the fire in the +brasier.[FN#483] Now the season was winter and the weather cold, and a +live coal fell on my body: but by the decree of Allah (to whom be +Honour and Glory!) I felt no pain and it became my conviction that her +prayer had been answered. So I took the coal in my hand, and it burnt +me not; and going in to her, I said, 'Be of good cheer, for Allah hath +granted thy prayer!'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Seventy-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the blacksmith +continued: "So I went in to her and said, 'Be of good cheer, for Allah +hath granted thy prayer!' Then she dropped the morsel from her hand and +said, 'O my God, now that Thou hast shown me my desire of him and hast +granted me my prayer for him, take Thou my soul, for Thou over all +things art Almighty!' And straightway He took her soul to Him, the +mercy of Allah be upon her!" And the tongue of the case extemporised +and spake on this theme, + +"She prayed: the Lord of grace her prayer obeyed; * And spared + + + the sinner, who for sin had prayed: + + +He showed her all she prayed Him to grant; * And Death (as prayed + + + she) her portion made: + + +Unto his door she came and prayed for food, * And sued his ruth + + + for what her misery made: + + +He leant to error following his lusts, * And hoped to enjoy her + + + as her wants persuade; + + +But he knew little of what Allah willed; * Nor was Repentance, + + + though unsought, denayed. + + +Fate comes to him who flies from Fate, O Lord, * And lot and + + + daily bread by Thee are weighed." + + + +And they also tell of + + + + +THE DEVOTEE TO WHOM ALLAH GAVE A CLOUD FOR SERVICE AND THE DEVOUT KING. + +There was once, among the children of Israel, a man of the devout, for +piety acclaimed and for continence and asceticism enfamed, whose +prayers were ever granted and who by supplication obtained whatso he +wanted; and he was a wanderer in the mountains and was used to pass the +night in worship. Now Almighty Allah had subjected to him a cloud which +travelled with him wherever he went, and poured on him its +water-treasures in abundance that he might make his ablutions and +drink. After a long time when things were thus, his fervour somewhat +abated, whereupon Allah took the cloud away from him and ceased to +answer his prayers. On this account, great was his grief and long was +his woe, and he ceased not to regret the time of grace and the miracle +vouchsafed to him and to lament and bewail and bemoan himself, till he +saw in a dream one who said to him, "An thou wouldest have Allah +restore to thee thy cloud, seek out a certain King, in such a town, and +beg him to pray for thee: so will Allah (be He extolled and exalted!) +give thee back thy cloud and bespread it over thee by virtue of his +pious prayers." And he began repeating these couplets, + +"Wend to that pious prayerful Emir, * Who can with gladness thy + + + condition cheer; + + +An he pray Allah, thou shalt win thy wish; * And heavy rain shall + + + drop from welkin clear. + + +He stands all Kings above in potent worth; * Nor to compare with + + + him doth aught appear: + + +Near him thou soon shalt hap upon thy want, * And see all joy and + + + gladness draw thee near: + + +Then cut the wolds and wilds unfounted till * The goal thou goest + + + for anigh shalt speer!" + + + +So the hermit set out for the town named to him in the dream; and, +coming thither after long travel, enquired for the King's palace which +was duly shown to him. And behold, at the gate he found a slave-officer +sitting on a great chair and clad in gorgeous gear; so he stood to him +and saluted him; and he returned his salam and asked him, "What is thy +business?" Answered the devotee, "I am a wronged man, and come to +submit my case to the King." Quoth the officer, "Thou hast no access to +him this day; for he hath appointed unto petitioners and enquirers one +day in every seven" (naming the day), "on which they may go in to him; +so wend thy ways in welfare till then." The hermit was vexed with the +King for thus veiling himself from the folk and said in thought, "How +shall this man be a saint of the saints of Allah (to whom belong +Majesty and Might!) and he on this wise?" Then he went away and awaited +the appointed day. "Now" (quoth he)"when it came, I repaired to the +palace, where I found a great number of folk at the gate, expecting +admission; and I stood with them, till there came out a Wazir robed in +gorgeous raiment and attended by guards and slaves, who said, 'Let +those, who have petitions to present, enter.' So I entered with the +rest and found the King seated facing his officers and grandees who +were ranged according to their several ranks and degrees. The Wazir +took up his post and brought forward the petitioners, one by one, till +it came to my turn, when the King looked on me and said, 'Welcome to +the 'Lord of the Cloud'! Sit thee down till I make leisure for thee.' I +was confounded at his words and confessed his dignity and superiority; +and, when the King had answered the petitioners and had made an end +with them, he rose and dismissed his Wazirs and Grandees; then, taking +my hand he led me to the door of the private palace, where we found a +black slave, splendidly arrayed, with helm on head, and on his right +hand and his left, bows and coats of mail. He rose to the King; and, +hastening to obey his orders and forestall his wishes, opened the door. +We went in, hand in hand, till we came to a low wicket, which the King +himself opened and led me into a ruinous place of frightful desolation +and thence passed into a chamber, wherein was naught but a +prayer-carpet, an ewer for ablution and some mats of palm-leaves. Here +the King doffed his royal robes and donned a coarse gown of white wool +and a conical bonnet of felt. Then he sat down and making me sit, +called out to his wife, 'Ho, such an one!' and she answered from within +saying, 'Here am I.' Quoth he, 'Knowest thou who is our guest to-day?' +Replied she, 'Yes, it is the Lord of the Cloud.' The King said, 'Come +forth: it mattereth not for him.' And behold, there entered a woman, as +she were a vision, with a face that beamed like the new moon; and she +wore a gown and veil of wool."-And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that 'when the King +called to his wife, she came forth from the inner room; and her face +beamed like the new moon; and she wore a gown and a veil of wool. Then +said the King, 'O my brother, dost thou desire to hear our story or +that we should pray for thee and dismiss thee?' Answered the hermit; +'Nay, I wish to hear the tale of you twain, for that to me were +preferable.' Said the King, 'My forefathers handed down the throne, one +to the other, and it descended from great one to great one, in unbroken +succession, till the last died and it came to me. Now Allah had made +this hateful to me, for I would fain have gone awandering over earth +and left the folk to their own affairs; but I feared lest they should +fall into confusion and anarchy and misgovernment so as to swerve from +divine law, and the union of the Faith be broken up. Wherefore, +abandoning my own plans, I took the kingship and appointed to every +head of them a regular stipend; and donned the royal robes; and posted +slave-officers at the doors, as a terror to the dishonest and for the +defence of honest folk and the maintenance of law and limitations. Now +when free of this, I entered this place and, doffing my royal habit, +donned these clothes thou seest; and this my cousin, the daughter of my +father's brother, hath agreed with me to renounce the world and helpeth +me to serve the Lord. So we are wont to weave these palm-leaves and +earn, during the day, a wherewithal to break our fast at nightfall; and +we have lived on this wise nigh upon forty years. Abide thou with us +(so Allah have mercy on thee!) till we sell our mats; and thou shalt +sup and sleep with us this night and on the morrow wend thy ways with +that thou wishest, Inshallah!' So he tarried with them till the end of +the day, when there came a boy five years old who took the mats they +had made and carrying them to the market, sold them for a +carat;[FN#484] and with this bought bread and beans and returned with +them to the King. The hermit broke his fast and lay down to sleep with +them; but in the middle of the night they both arose and fell to +praying and weeping. When daybreak was near, the King said, "O my God, +this Thy servant beseecheth Thee to return him his cloud; and to do +this Thou art able; so, O my God, let him see his prayer granted and +restore him his cloud." The Queen amen'd to his orisons and behold, the +cloud grew up in the sky; whereupon the King gave the hermit joy and +the man took leave of them and went away, the cloud companying him as +of old. And whatsoever he required of Allah after this, in the names of +the pious King and Queen, He granted it without fail and the man made +thereon these couplets, + +"My Lord hath servants fain of piety; * Hearts in the Wisdom- + + + garden ranging free: + + +Their bodies' lusts at peace, and motionless * For breasts that + + + bide in purest secresy. + + +Thou seest all silent, awesome of their Lord, * For hidden things + + + unseen and seen they see." + + + +And they tell a tale of + + + + +THE MOSLEM CHAMPION AND THE CHRISTIAN DAMSEL. + +The Commander of the Faithful, Omar bin al-Khattαb (whom Allah +accept!), once levied for holy war an army of Moslems, to encounter the +foe before Damascus, and they laid close siege to one of the +Christians' strongholds. Now there were amongst the Moslems two men, +brothers, whom Allah had gifted with fire and bold daring against the +enemy; so that the commander of the besieged fortress said to his +chiefs and braves, "Were but yonder two Moslems ta'en or slain, I would +warrant you against the rest of their strain." Wherefore they left not +to set for them all manner of toils and snares and ceased not to +manoeuvre and lie in wait and ambush for them, till they took one of +them prisoner and slew the other, who died a martyr. They carried the +captive to the Captain of the fort, who looked at him and said, +"Verily, to kill this man were indeed a pity; but his return to the +Moslem would be a calamity."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the enemy +carried their Moslem captive before the Captain of the fort, the +Christian looked at him and said, "Verily to kill this man were a pity +indeed; but his return to the Moslem would be a calamity. Oh that he +might be brought to embrace the Nazarene Faith and be to us an aid and +an arm!" Quoth one of his Patrician Knights, "O Emir, I will tempt him +to abjure his faith, and on this wise: we know that the Arabs are much +addicted to women, and I have a daughter, a perfect beauty, whom when +he sees, he will be seduced by her." Quoth the Captain, "I give him +into thy charge." So he carried him to his place and clad his daughter +in raiment, such as added to her beauty and loveliness. Then he brought +the Moslem into the room and set before him food and made the fair girl +stand in his presence, as she were a handmaid obedient to her lord and +awaiting his orders that she might do his bidding. When the Moslem saw +the evil sent down upon him, he commended himself to Allah Almighty and +closing his eyes, applied himself to worship and to reciting the Koran. +Now he had a pleasant voice and a piercing wit; and the Nazarene damsel +presently loved him with passionate love and pined for him with extreme +repine. This lasted seven days, at the end of which she said to +herself, "Would to Heaven he would admit me into the Faith of +Al-Islam!" And the tongue of her case recited these couplets, + +"Wilt turn thy face from heart that's all thine own, * This heart + + + thy ransom and this soul thy wone? + + +I'm ready home and kin to quit for aye, * And every Faith for + + + that of sword[FN#485] disown: + + +I testify that Allah hath no mate: * This proof is stablished and + + + this truth is known. + + +Haply shall deign He union grant with one * Averse, and hearten + + + heart love-overthrown; + + +For ofttimes door erst shut, is opened wide, * And after evil + + + case all good is shown." + + + +At last her patience failed her and her breast was straitened and she +threw herself on the ground before him, saying, "I conjure thee by thy +Faith, that thou give ear to my words!" Asked he, "What are they?" and +she answered, "Expound unto me Al-Islam." So he expounded to her the +tenets of the Faith, and she became a Moslemah, after which she was +circumcised[FN#486] and he taught her to pray. Then said she to him, "O +my brother, I did but embrace Al-Islam for thy sake and to win thy +favours." Quoth he, "The law of Al-Islam forbiddeth sexual commerce +save after a marriage before two legal witnesses, and a dowry and a +guardian are also requisite. Now I know not where to find witnesses or +friend or parapherne; but, an thou can contrive to bring us out of this +place, I may hope to make the land of Al-Islam, and pledge myself to +thee that none other than thou in all Al-Islam shall be wife to me." +Answered she, "I will manage that"; and, calling her father and mother, +said to them, "Indeed this Moslem's heart is softened and he longeth to +enter the faith, so I will grant him that which he desireth of my +person; but he saith: 'It befitteth me not to do this in a town where +my brother was slain. Could I but get outside it my heart would be +solaced and I would do that which is wanted of me.' Now there is no +harm in letting me go forth with him to another town, and I will be a +surety to you both and to the Emir for that which ye wish of him." +Therefore her father went to their Captain and told him this, whereat +he joyed with exceeding joy and bade him carry them forth to a village +that she named. So they went out and made the village where they abode +the rest of their day, and when night fell, they got ready for the +march and went their way, even as saith the poet, + +"'The time of parting,' cry they, 'draweth nigh': * 'How oft this + + + parting-threat?' I but reply: + + +I've naught to do but cross the wild and wold * And, mile by + + + mile, o'er fountless wastes to fly, + + +If the beloved seek another land * Sons of the road, whereso they + + + wend, wend I. + + +I make desire direct me to their side, * The guide to show me + + + where the way doth lie." + + + +And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the prisoner and +the lady abode in the village the rest of their day and, when night +fell, made ready for the march and went upon their way; and travelled +all night without stay or delay. The young Moslem, mounting a swift +blood-horse and taking up the maiden behind him, ceased not devouring +the ground till it was bright morning, when he turned aside with her +from the highway and, alighting, they made the Wuzu-ablution and prayed +the dawn-prayer. Now as they were thus engaged behold, they heard the +clank of swords and clink of bridles and men's voices and tramp of +horse; whereupon he said to her, "Ho, such an one, the Nazarenes are +after us! What shall we do?: the horse is so jaded and broken down that +he cannot stir another step." Exclaimed she, "Woe to thee! art thou +then afraid and affrighted?" "Yes," answered he; and she said, "What +didst thou tell me of the power of thy Lord and His readiness to +succour those who succour seek? Come, let us humble ourselves before +Him and beseech Him: haply He shall grant us His succour and endue us +with His grace, extolled and exalted be He!" Quoth he, "By Allah, thou +sayest well!" So they began humbling themselves and supplicating +Almighty Allah and he recited these couplets, + +"Indeed I hourly need thy choicest aid, * And should, though + + + crown were placed upon my head: + + +Thou art my chiefest want, and if my hand * Won what it wisheth, + + + all my wants were sped. + + +Thou hast not anything withholdest Thou; * Like pouring rain Thy + + + grace is showered: + + +I'm shut therefrom by sins of me, yet Thou, * O Clement, deignest + + + pardon-light to shed. + + +O Care-Dispeller, deign dispel my grief! * None can, save Thou, + + + dispel a grief so dread." + + + +Whilst he was praying and she was saying, "Amen," and the thunder of +horse-tramp nearing them, lo! the brave heard the voice of his dead +brother, the martyr, speaking and saying, "O my brother, fear not, nor +grieve! for the host whose approach thou hearest is the host of Allah +and His Angels, whom He hath sent to serve as witnesses to your +marriage. Of a truth Allah hath made His Angels glorify you and He +bestoweth on you the meed of the meritorious and the martyrs; and He +hath rolled up the earth for you as it were a rug so that, by morning, +you will be in the mountains of Al-Medinah. And thou, when thou +foregatherest with Omar bin al-Khattab (of whom Allah accept!) give him +my salutation and say to him: 'Allah abundantly requite thee for +Al-Islam, because thou hast counselled faithfully and hast striven +diligently.'" Thereupon the Angels lifted up their voices in salutation +to him and his bride, saying, "Verily, Almighty Allah appointed her in +marriage to thee two thousand years before the creation of your father +Adam (with whom be peace evermore!)." Then joy and gladness and peace +and happiness came upon the twain; confidence was confirmed and +established was the guidance of the pious pair. So when dawn appeared, +they prayed the accustomed prayer and fared forward. Now it was the +wont of Omar, son of Al-Khattab (Allah accept him!), to rise for +morning-prayer in the darkness before dawn and at times he would stand +in the prayer-niche with two men behind him, and begin reciting the +Chapter entitled "Cattle"[FN#487] or that entitled "Women,"[FN#488] +whereupon the sleeper awoke and he who was making his Wuzu-ablution +accomplished it and he who was afar came to prayer; nor had he made an +end of the first bow, ere the mosque was full of folk; then he would +pray his second bow quickly, repeating a short chapter. But, on that +morning he hurried over both first and second inclinations, repeating +in each a short chapter; then, after the concluding salutation, turning +to his companions, he said to them, "Come, let us fare forth to meet +the bride and bridegroom"; at which they wondered, not understanding +his words. But he went out and they followed him, till they came to the +gate of the city, where they met the young Moslem who, when the day +broke and the standards of Al-Medinah appeared to him, had pushed +forward for the gate closely followed by his bride. There he was met by +Omar who bade make a marriage feast; and the Moslems came and ate. Then +the young Moslem went in unto his bride and Almighty Allah vouchsafed +him children,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Omar (on whom be +peace!) bade make a marriage-feast; and the Moslems came and ate. Then +the young Moslem went in unto his bride and Almighty Allah vouchsafed +him children, who fought in the Lord's way and preserved genealogies, +for they gloried therein. And how excellent is what is said on such +theme, + +"I saw thee weep before the gates and 'plain, * Whilst only + + + curious wight reply would deign: + + +Hath eye bewitcht thee, or hath evil lot * 'Twixt thee and door + + + of friend set bar of bane? + + +Wake up this day, O wretch, persist in prayer, * Repent as wont + + + repent departed men. + + +Haply shall wash thy sins Forgiveness-showers; * And on thine + + + erring head some ruth shall rain: + + +And prisoner shall escape despite his bonds; * And slave from + + + thraldom freedom shall attain." + + + +And they ceased not to be in all solace and delight of life, till there +came to them the Destroyer of delights and the Sunderer of societies. +And a tale is told by Sνdi Ibrahim bin Al-Khawwαs[FN#489](on whom be +the mercy of Allah!) concerning himself and + + + + +THE CHRISTIAN KING'S DAUGHTER AND THE MOSLEM. + +"My spirit urged me, once upon a time, to go forth into the country of +the Infidels; and I strove with it and struggled to put away from me +this inclination; but it would not be rejected. So I fared forth and +journeyed about the land of the Unbelievers and traversed it in all its +parts; for divine grace enveloped me and heavenly protection +encompassed me, so that I met not a single Nazarene but he turned away +his eyes and drew off from me, till I came to a certain great city at +whose gate I found a gathering of black slaves, clad in armour and +bearing iron maces in their hands. When they saw me, they rose to their +feet and asked me, 'Art thou a leach?'; and I answered, 'Yes.' Quoth +they, 'Come speak to our King,' and carried me before their ruler, who +was a handsome personage of majestic presence. When I stood before him, +he looked at me and said, 'Art a physician, thou?' 'Yes,' quoth I; and +quoth he to his officers, 'Carry him to her, and acquaint him with the +condition before he enter.' So they took me out and said to me, 'Know +that the King hath a daughter, and she is stricken with a sore disease, +which no doctor hath been able to cure: and no leach goeth in to her +and treateth, without healing her, but the King putteth him to death. +So bethink thee what thou seest fitting to do.' I replied, 'The King +drove me to her; so carry me to her.' Thereupon they brought me to her +door and knocked; and behold, I heard her cry out from within, saying, +'Admit to me the physician, lord of the wondrous secret!' And she began +reciting, + +'Open the door! the leach now draweth near; * And in my soul a + + + wondrous secret speer: + + +How many of the near far distant are![FN#490] * How many distant + + + far are nearest near! + + +I was in strangerhood amidst you all: * But willed the + + + Truth[FN#491] my solace should appear. + + +Joined us the potent bonds of Faith and Creed; * We met as + + + dearest fere greets dearest fere: + + +He sued for interview whenas pursued * The spy, and blamed us + + + envy's jibe and jeer: + + +Then leave your chiding and from blame desist, * For fie upon + + + you! not a word I'll hear. + + +I care for naught that disappears and fleets; * My care's for + + + Things nor fleet nor disappear.' + + + +And lo! a Shaykh, a very old man, opened the door in haste and said to +me, 'Enter.' So I entered and found myself in a chamber strewn with +sweet-scented herbs and with a curtain drawn across one corner, from +behind which came a sound of groaning and grame, weak as from an +emaciated frame. I sat down before the curtain and was about to offer +my salam when I bethought me of his words (whom Allah save and +assain!), 'Accost not a Jew nor a Christian with the salam +salutation;[FN#492] and, when ye meet them in the way, constrain them +to the straitest part thereof.' So I withheld my salutation, but she +cried out from behind the curtain, saying, 'Where is the salutation of +Unity and Indivisibility, O Khawwas?' I was astonished at her speech +and asked, 'How knowest thou me?'; whereto she answered, 'When the +heart and thoughts are whole, the tongue speaketh eloquently from the +secret recesses of the soul. I begged Him yesterday to send me one of +His saints, at whose hands I might have deliverance, and behold, it was +cried to me from the dark places of my house, 'Grieve not; for we soon +will send thee Ibrahim the Basket-maker.' Then I asked her, 'What of +thee?' and she answered, 'It is now four years since there appeared to +me the Manifest Truth, and He is the Relator and the Ally, and the +Uniter and the Sitter-by; whereupon my folk looked askance upon me with +an evil eye and taxed me with insanity and suspected me of depravity, +and there came not in to me doctor but terrified me, nor visitor but +confounded me.' Quoth I, 'And who led thee to the knowledge of what +thou wottest?' Quoth she, 'The manifest signs and visible portents of +Allah; and, when the path is patent to thee, thou espiest with thine +own eyes both proof and prover.' Now whilst we were talking, behold, in +came the old man appointed to guard her and said, 'What doth thy +doctor?'; and she replied, 'He knoweth the hurt and hath hit upon the +healing.'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "when the Shaykh, +her guardian, went in to her he said, 'What doth thy doctor?'; and she +replied, 'He knoweth the hurt and hath hit upon the healing.' Hereupon +he manifested joy and gladness and accosted me with a cheerful +countenance, then went and told the King, who enjoined to treat me with +all honour and regard. So I visited her daily for seven days, at the +end of which time she said to me, 'O Abu Ishak, when shall be our +flight to the land of Al-Islam?' 'How canst thou go forth,' replied I, +'and who would dare to aid thee?' Rejoined she, 'He who sent thee to +me, driving thee as it were;' and I observed, 'Thou sayest sooth.' So +when the morrow dawned, we fared forth by the city-gate and all eyes +were veiled from us, by commandment of Him who when He desireth aught, +saith to it, 'Be,' and it becometh;[FN#493] so that I journeyed with +her in safety to Meccah, where she made a home hard by the Holy House +of Allah and lived seven years; till the appointed day of her death. +The earth of Meccah was her tomb, and never saw I any more steadfast in +prayer and fasting than she; Allah send down upon her His mercies and +have compassion on him who saith, + +'When they to me had brought the leach (and surely showed * + + + The signs of flowing tears and pining malady), + + +The face-veil he withdrew from me, and 'neath it naught * + + + Save breath of one unsouled, unbodied, could he see. + + +Quoth he, 'This be a sickness Love alone shall cure; * + + + Love hath a secret from all guess of man wide free.' + + +Quoth they, 'An folk ignore what here there be with him * + + + Nature of ill and eke its symptomology, + + +How then shall medicine work a cure?' At this quoth I * + + + 'Leave me alone; I have no guessing specialty.'" + + + +And they tell a tale of + + + + +THE PROPHET AND THE JUSTICE OF PROVIDENCE. + +A certain Prophet[FN#494] made his home for worship on a lofty +mountain, at whose foot was a spring of running water, and he was wont +to sit by day on the summit, that no man might see him, calling upon +the name of Allah the Most Highest and watching those who frequented +the spring. One day, as he sat looking upon the fountain, behold, he +espied a horseman who came up and dismounted thereby and taking a bag +from his neck, set it down beside him, after which he drank of the +water and rested awhile, then he rode away, leaving behind him the bag +which contained gold pieces. Presently up came another man to drink of +the spring, who saw the bag and finding it full of money took it up; +then, after satisfying his thirst, he made off with it in safety. A +little after came a woodcutter wight with a heavy load of fuel on his +back, and sat down by the spring to drink, when lo! back came the first +horseman in great trouble and asked him, "Where is the bag which was +here?" and when he answered, "I know nothing of it," the rider drew his +sword and smote him and slew him. Then he searched his clothes, but +found naught; so he left him and wended his ways. Now when the Prophet +saw this, he said, "O Lord, one man hath taken a thousand dinars and +another man hath been slain unjustly." But Allah answered him, saying, +"Busy thyself with thy devotions, for the ordinance of the universe is +none of thine affair. The father of this horseman had violently +despoiled of a thousand dinars the father of the second horseman; so I +gave the son possession of his sire's money. As for the woodcutter, he +had slain the horseman's father, wherefore I enabled the son to obtain +retribution for himself." Then cried the Prophet, "There is none other +god than Thou! Glory be to Thee only! Verily, Thou art the Knower of +Secrets."[FN#495]—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Prophet +was bidden by inspiration of Allah to busy himself with his devotions +and learned the truth of the case, he cried, "There is none other god +but Thou! Glory be to Thee only! Verily, Thou and Thou alone wottest +hidden things." Furthermore, one of the poets hath made these verses on +the matter, + +"The Prophet saw whatever eyes could see, * And fain of other + + + things enquired he; + + +And, when his eyes saw things misunderstood, * Quoth he, 'O Lord, + + + this slain from sin was free. + + +This one hath won him wealth withouten work; * Albe appeared he + + + garbed in penury. + + +And that in joy of life was slain, although * O man's Creator + + + free of sin he be.' + + +God answered ''Twas his father's good thou saw'st * Him take; by + + + heirship not by roguery; + + +Yon woodman too that horseman's sire had slain; * Whose son + + + avenged him with just victory: + + +Put off, O slave of Me, this thought for I * In men have set + + + mysterious secrecy! + + +Bow to Our Law and humble thee, and learn * For good and evil + + + issues Our decree.'"[FN#496] + + + +And a certain pious man hath told us the tale of + + + + +THE FERRYMAN OF THE NILE AND THE HERMIT. + +"I was once a ferryman on the Nile and used to ply between the eastern +and the western banks. Now one day, as I sat in my boat, there came up +to me an old man of a bright and beaming countenance, who saluted me +and I returned his greeting; and he said to me, 'Wilt thou ferry me +over for the love of Allah Almighty?' I answered, 'Yes,' and he +continued, 'Wilt thou moreover give me food for Allah's sake?'; to +which again I answered, 'With all my heart.' So he entered the boat and +I rowed him over to the eastern side, remarking that he was clad in a +patched gown and carried a gourd-bottle and a staff. When he was about +to land, he said to me, 'I desire to lay on thee a heavy trust.' Quoth +I, 'What is it?' Quoth he, 'It hath been revealed to me that my end is +nearhand and that to-morrow about noon thou wilt come and find me dead +under yonder tree. Wash me and wrap me in the shroud thou wilt see +under my head and after thou hast prayed over me, bury me in this sandy +ground and take my gown and gourd and staff, which do thou deliver to +one who shall come and demand them of thee.' I marvelled at his words, +and I slept there. On the morrow I awaited till noon the event he had +announced, and then I forgot what he had said till near the hour of +afternoon-prayer, when I remembered it and hastening to the appointed +place, found him under the tree, dead, with a new shroud under his +head, exhaling a fragrance of musk. So I washed him and shrouded him +and prayed over him, then dug a hole in the sand and buried him, after +I had taken his ragged gown and bottle and staff, with which I crossed +the Nile to the western side and there nighted. As soon as morning +dawned and the city gate opened, I sighted a young man known to me as a +loose fellow, clad in fine clothes and his hands stained with Henna, +who said to me, 'Art thou not such an one?' 'Yes,' answered I; and he +said, 'Give me the trust.' Quoth I, 'What is that?' Quoth he, 'The +gown, the gourd and the staff.' I asked him, 'Who told thee of them?' +and he answered, 'I know nothing save that I spent yesternight at the +wedding of one of my friends singing and carousing till daylight, when +I lay me down to sleep and take my rest; and behold, there stood by me +a personage who said, 'Verily Allah Almighty hath taken such a saint to +Himself and hath appointed thee to fill his place; so go thou to a +certain person (naming the ferryman), and take of him the dead man's +gown and bottle and staff, for he left them with him for thee.' So I +brought them out and gave them to him; whereupon he doffed his clothes +and, donning the gown, went his way and left me.[FN#497] And when the +glooms closed around me, I fell a-weeping; but, that night, while +sleeping I saw the Lord of Holiness (glorified and exalted be He!) in a +dream saying, 'O my servant, is it grievous to thee that I have granted +to one of My servants to return to Me? Indeed, this is of My bounty, +that I vouchsafe to whom I will, for I over all things am Almighty.' So +I repeated these couplets, + +'Lover with loved[FN#498] loseth will and aim! * All choice (an + + + couldst thou know) were sinful shame. + + +Or grant He favour and with union grace, * Or from thee turn + + + away, He hath no blame. + + +An from such turning thou no joy enjoy * Depart! the place for + + + thee no place became. + + +Or canst His near discern not from His far? * Then Love's in vain + + + and thou'rt a-rear and lame. + + +If pine for Thee afflict my sprite, or men * Hale me to death, + + + the rein Thy hand shall claim! + + +So turn Thee to or fro, to me 'tis one; * What Thou ordainest + + + none shall dare defame: + + +My love hath naught of aim but Thine approof * And if Thou say we + + + part I say the same.'" + + + +And of the tales they tell is one concerning + + + + +THE ISLAND KING AND THE PIOUS ISRAELITE. + +There was once a notable of the Children of Israel, a man of wealth who +had a pious and blessed son. When his last hour drew nigh, his son sat +down at his head and said to him, "O my lord, give me an injunction." +Quoth the father, "O dear son, I charge thee, swear not by Allah or +truly or falsely." Then he died and certain lewd fellows of the +Children of Israel heard of the charge he had laid on his son and began +coming to the latter and saying, "Thy father had such and such monies +of mine, and thou knowest it; so give me what was entrusted to him or +else make oath that there was no trust." The good son would not disobey +his sire's injunction, so gave them all they claimed; and they ceased +not to deal thus with him, till his wealth was spent and he fell into +straitest predicament. Now the young man had a pious and blessed wife, +who had borne him two little sons; so he said to her, "The folk have +multiplied their demands on me and, while I had the wherewithal to free +myself of debt, I rendered it freely; but naught is now left us, and if +others make demands upon me, we shall be in absolute distress, I and +thou; our best way were to save ourselves by fleeing to some place, +where none knoweth us, and earn our bread among the lower of the folk." +Accordingly, he took ship with her and his two children, knowing not +whither he should wend; but, "When Allah judgeth, there is none to +reverse His judgment;"[FN#499] and quoth the tongue of the case, + +"O flier from thy home when foes affright! * Whom led to weal and + + + happiness such flight, + + +Grudge not this exile when he flees abroad * Where he on wealth + + + and welfare may alight. + + +An pearls for ever did abide in shell, * The kingly crown they + + + ne'er had deckt and dight." + + + +The ship was wrecked, yet the man saved himself on a plank and his wife +and children also saved themselves, but on other planks. The waves +separated them and the wife was cast up in one country and one of the +boys in another. The second son was picked up by a ship, and the surges +threw the father on a desert island, where he landed and made the +Wuzu-ablution. Then he called the prayer-call,—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Eightieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the man +landed upon the island, he made the Wuzu-ablution to free himself from +the impurities of the sea and called the call to prayer and stood up to +his devotions, when, behold, there came forth of the sea, creatures of +various kinds and prayed with him. When he had finished, he went up to +a tree and stayed his hunger with its fruits; after which he found a +spring of water and drank thereof and praised Allah, to whom be honour +and glory! He abode thus three days and whenever he stood up to pray, +the sea-creatures came out and prayed in the same manner as he prayed. +Now after the third day, he heard a voice crying aloud and saying, "O +thou just man, and pious, who didst so honour thy father and revere the +decrees of thy Lord, grieve not, for Allah (be He extolled and +exalted!) shall restore to thee all which left thy hand. In this isle +are hoards and monies and things of price which the Almighty willeth +thou shalt inherit, and they are in such a part of this place. So bring +thou them to light; and verily, we will send ships unto thee; and do +thou bestow charity on the folk and bid them to thee." So he sought out +that place, and the Lord discovered to him the treasures in question. +Then ships began resorting to him, and he gave abundant largesse to the +crews, saying to them, "Be sure ye direct the folk unto me and I will +give them such and such a thing and appoint to them this and that." +Accordingly, there came folk from all parts and places, nor had ten +years passed over him ere the island was peopled and the man became its +King.[FN#500] No one came to him but he entreated him with munificence, +and his name was noised abroad, through the length and breadth of the +earth. Now his elder son had fallen into the hands of a man who reared +him and taught him polite accomplishments; and, in like manner, the +younger was adopted by one who gave him a good education and brought +him up in the ways of merchants. The wife also happened upon a trader +who entrusted to her his property and made a covenant with her that he +would not deal dishonestly by her, but would aid her to obey Allah (to +whom belong Majesty and Might!); and he used to make her the companion +of his voyages and his travels. Now the elder son heard the report of +the King and resolved to visit him, without knowing who he was; so he +went to him and was well received by the King, who made him his +secretary. Presently the other son heard of the King's piety and +justice and was also taken into his service as a steward. Then the +brothers abode awhile, neither knowing the other, till it chanced that +the merchant, in whose home was their mother, also hearing of the +King's righteous and generous dealing with the lieges, freighted a ship +with rich stuffs and other excellent produce of the land, and taking +the woman with him, set sail for the island. He made it in due course +and landing, presented himself with his gift before the King; who +rejoiced therein with exceeding joy and ordered him a splendid +return-present. Now, there were, among the gifts, certain aromatic +roots of which he would have the merchant acquaint him with the names +and uses; so he said to him, "Abide with us this night."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Eighty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the King +said, "Abide with us this night," the merchant replied, "We have in the +ship one to whom I have promised to entrust the care of her to none +save myself; and the same is a holy woman whose prayers have brought me +weal and I have felt the blessing of her counsels." Rejoined the King, +"I will send her some trusty men, who shall pass the night in the ship +and guard her and all that is with her." The merchant agreed to this +and abode with the King, who called his secretary and steward and said +to them, "Go and pass the night in this man's ship and keep it safe, +Inshallah!" So they went up into the ship and seating themselves, this +on the poop and that on the bow, passed a part of the night in +repeating the names of Allah (to whom belong Majesty and Might!). Then +quoth one to the other, "Ho, such an one! The King bade us keep watch +and I fear lest sleep overtake us; so, come, let us discourse of +stories of fortune and of the good we have seen and the trials of +life." Quoth the other, "O my brother, as for my trials Fate parted me +from my mother and a brother of mine, whose name was even as thine; and +the cause of our parting was this. My father took ship with us from +such a place, and the winds rose against us and were contrary, so that +the ship was wrecked and Allah broke our fair companionship." Hearing +this the first asked, "What was the name of thy mother, O my brother?"; +and the second answered, "So and so." Thereat brother threw himself +upon brother saying, "By Allah, thou art my very brother!" And each +fell to telling the other what had befallen him in his youth, whilst +the mother heard all they said, but held her peace and in patience +possessed her soul. Now when it was morning, one said to the other, +"Come, brother, let us go to my lodging and talk there;" and the other +said, "'Tis well." So they went away and presently, the merchant came +back and finding the woman in great trouble, said to her, "What hath +befallen thee and why this concern?" Quoth she, "Thou sentest to me +yesternight men who tempted me to evil, and I have been in sore annoy +with them." At this, he was wroth and, repairing to the King, reported +the conduct of his two trusty wights. The King summoned the twain +forthwith, as he loved them for their fidelity and piety; and, sending +for the woman, that he might hear from her own lips what she had to say +against them, thus bespake her, "O woman, what hath betided thee from +these two men in whom I trust?" She replied, "O King, I conjure thee by +the Almighty, the Bountiful One, the Lord of the Empyrean, bid them +repeat the words they spoke yesternight." So he said to them, "Say what +ye said and conceal naught thereof." Accordingly, they repeated their +talk, and lo! the King rising from his throne, gave a great cry and +threw himself upon them, embracing them and saying, "By Allah, ye are +my very sons!" Therewith the woman unveiled her face and said, "And by +Allah, I am their very mother." So they were united and abode in all +solace of life and its delight till death parted them; and so glory be +to Him who delivereth His servant when he restoreth to Him, and +disappointeth not his hope in Him and his trust! And how well saith the +poet on the subject, + +"Each thing of things hath his appointed tide * When 'tis, O + + + brother, granted or denied. + + +Repine not an affliction hit thee hard; * For woe and welfare aye + + + conjoint abide: + + +How oft shall woman see all griefs surround * Yet feel a joyance + + + thrill what lies inside! + + +How many a wretch, on whom the eyes of folk * Look down, shall + + + grace exalt to pomp and pride! + + +This man is one long suffering grief and woe; * Whom change and + + + chance of Time hath sorely tried: + + +The World divided from what held he dearest, * After long union + + + scattered far and wide; + + +But deigned his Lord unite them all again, * And in the Lord is + + + every good descried. + + +Glory to Him whose Providence rules all * Living, as surest + + + proofs for us decide. + + +Near is the Near One; but no wisdom clearer * Shows him, nor + + + distant wayfare brings Him nearer." + + + +And this tale is told of + + + + +ABU AL-HASAN AND ABU JA'AFAR THE LEPER.[FN#501] + +"I had been many times to Meccah (Allah increase its honour!) and the +folk used to follow me for my knowledge of the road and remembrance of +the water-stations. It happened one year that I was minded to make the +pilgrimage to the Holy House and visitation of the Tomb of His Prophet +(on whom be blessing and peace!) and I said in myself, 'I well know the +way and will fare alone.' So I set out and journeyed till I came to +Al-Kadisνyah[FN#502] and, entering the mosque there, saw a man +suffering from black leprosy seated in the prayer-niche. Quoth he on +seeing me, 'O Abu al-Hasan, I crave thy company to Meccah.' Quoth I to +myself, 'I fled from all my companions, and how shall I company with +lepers?' So I said to him, 'I will bear no man company'; and he was +silent at my words. Next day I walked on alone, till I came to +Al-Akabah,[FN#503] where I entered the mosque and found the leper +seated in the prayer-niche. So I said to myself, 'Glory be to Allah! +how hath this fellow preceded me hither?' But he raised his head to me +and said with a smile, 'O Abu al-Hasan, He doth for the weak that which +surpriseth the strong!' I passed that night confounded at what I had +seen; and, as soon as morning dawned, set out again by myself; but when +I came to Arafat[FN#504] and entered the mosque, behold, there was the +leper seated in the niche! So I threw myself upon him and kissing his +feet said, 'O my lord, I crave thy company.' But he answered, 'This may +in no way be.' Then I began weeping and wailing at the loss of his +converse, when he said, 'Spare thy tears which will avail thee +naught!'"-And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Eighty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abu al-Hasan +continued: "Now when I saw the leper-man seated in the prayer-niche, I +threw myself upon him and said, 'O my lord, I crave thy company;' and +fell to kissing his feet. But he answered, 'This may in no way be!' +Then I began weeping and wailing at the loss of his company when he +said, 'Spare thy tears which will avail thee naught!'; and he recited +these couplets, + +'Why dost thou weep when I depart and thou didst parting claim; * + + + And cravest union when we ne'er shall reunite the same? + + +Thou lookedest on nothing save my weakness and disease; * And + + + saidst 'Nor goes nor comes, or night or day, this sickly + + + frame. + + +Seest not how Allah (glorified His glory ever be!) * Deigneth to + + + grant His slave's petition wherewithal he came. + + +If I, to eyes of men be that and only that they see, * And this + + + my body show itself so full of grief and grame, + + +And have I naught of food that shall supply me to the place * + + + Where crowds unto my Lord resort impelled by single aim, + + +I have a high Creating Lord whose mercies aye are hid; * A Lord + + + who hath none equal and no fear is known to Him. + + +So fare thee safe and leave me lone in strangerhood to wone * For + + + He, the only One, consoles my loneliness so lone.' + + + +Accordingly, I left him; but every station I came to, I found he had +foregone me, till I reached Al-Medinah, where I lost sight of him and +could hear no tidings of him. Here I met Abu Yazνd al-Bustαmi and Abu +Bakr al-Shibli and a number of other Shaykhs and learned men, to whom +with many complaints, I told my case and they said, 'Heaven forbid that +thou shouldst gain his company after this! He was Abu Ja'afar the +leper, in whose name folk at all times pray for rain and by whose +blessing-prayers their end attain.' When I heard their words, my desire +for his company redoubled and I implored the Almighty to reunite me +with him. Whilst I was standing on Arafat,[FN#505] one pulled me from +behind, so I turned and behold, it was my man. At this sight I cried +out with a loud cry and fell down in a fainting fit; but, when I came +to myself he had disappeared from my sight. This increased my yearning +for him and the ceremonies were tedious to me and I prayed Almighty +Allah to give me sight of him; nor was it but a few days after, when +lo! one pulled me from behind, and I turned and it was he again. +Thereupon he said, 'Come, I conjure thee and ask thy want of me.' So I +begged him to pray for me three prayers; first, that Allah would make +me love poverty; secondly, that I might never lie down at night upon +provision assured to me; and thirdly, that He would vouchsafe me to +look upon His bountiful Face. So he prayed for me as I wished, and +departed from me. And indeed Allah hath granted me what the devotee +asked in prayer: to begin with He hath made me so love poverty that, by +the Almighty! there is naught in the world dearer to me than it, and +secondly since such a year, I have never lain down to sleep upon +assured provision; withal hath He never let me lack aught. As for the +third prayer, I trust that He will vouchsafe me that also, even as He +hath granted the two precedent, for right Bountiful and Beneficent is +His Godhead, and Allah have mercy on him who said:[FN#506]- + +Garb of Fakir, renouncement, lowliness; + + +His robe of tatters and of rags his dress; + + + +And pallor ornamenting brow as though + + +'Twere wanness such as waning crescents show. + + + +Wasted him prayer a-through the long-lived night, + + +And flooding tears ne'er cease to dim his sight. + + + +Memory of Him shall cheer his lonely room: + + +Th' Almighty nearest is in nightly gloom. + + + +The Refuge helpeth such Fakir in need; + + +Help e'en the cattle and the winged breed: + + + +Allah for sake of him of wrath is fain, + + +And for the grace of him shall fall the rain; + + + +And if he pray one day for plague to stay, + + +'Twill stay, and 'bate man's wrong and tyrants slay. + + + +While folk are sad, afflicted one and each, + + +He in his mercy's rich, the generous leach: + + + +Bright shines his brow; an thou regard his face + + +Thy heart illumined shines by light of grace. + + + +O thou who shunnest souls of worth innate + + +Departs thee (woe to thee!) of sins the weight. + + + +Thou thinkest to overtake them, while thou bearest + + +Follies, which slay thee whatso way thou farest. + + + +Didst wot their worth thou hadst all honour showed, + + +And tears in streamlets from thine eyes had flowed. + + + +To catarrh-troubled men flowers lack their smell; + + +And brokers ken for how much clothes can sell; + + + +So haste and with thy Lord reunion sue, + + +And haply Fate shall lend thee aidance due, + + + +Rest from rejection and estrangement-stress, + + +And Joy thy wish and will shall choicely bless. + + + +His court wide open for the suer is dight:— + + +One, very God, the Lord, th' Almighty might.'" + + + +And they also tell a tale of + + + + +THE QUEEN OF THE SERPENTS.[FN#507] + +There was once, in days of yore and in ages and times long gone before, +a Grecian sage called Daniel, who had disciples and scholars and the +wise men of Greece were obedient to his bidding and relied upon his +learning. Withal had Allah denied him a man child. One night, as he lay +musing and weeping over the lack of a son who might inherit his lore, +he bethought him that Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) heareth the +prayer of those who resort to Him and that there is no doorkeeper at +the door of His bounties and that He favoureth whom He will without +compt and sendeth no supplicant empty away; nay He filleth their hands +with favours and benefits. So he besought the Almighty, the Bountiful, +to vouchsafe him a son to succeed him, and to endow him abundantly with +His beneficence. Then he returned home and carnally knew his wife who +conceived by him the same night.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Eighty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Grecian sage +returned home and knew his wife who conceived by him the same night. A +few days after this he took ship for a certain place, but the ship was +wrecked and he saved himself on one of her planks, while only five +leaves remained to him of all the books he had. When he returned home, +he laid the five leaves in a box and locking it, gave the key to his +wife (who then showed big with child), and said to her, "Know that my +decease is at hand and that the time draweth nigh for my translation +from this abode temporal to the home which is eternal. Now thou art +with child and after my death wilt haply bear a son: if this be so, +name him Hαsib Karνm al-Dνn[FN#508] and rear him with the best of +rearing. When the boy shall grow up and shall say to thee, 'What +inheritance did my father leave me?'' give him these five leaves, which +when he shall have read and understood, he will be the most learned man +of his time." Then he farewelled her and heaving one sigh, departed the +world and all that is therein—the mercy of Allah the Most Highest be +upon Him! His family and friends wept over him and washed him and bore +him forth in great state and buried him; after which they wended their +ways home. But few days passed ere his widow bare a handsome boy and +named him Hasib Karim al-Din, as her husband charged her; and +immediately after his birth she summoned the astrologers, who +calculated his ascendants and drawing his horoscope, said to her, +"Know, O woman! that this birth will live many a year; but that will be +after a great peril in the early part of his life, wherefrom can he +escape, he will be given the knowledge of all the exact sciences." So +saying they went their ways. She suckled him two years,[FN#509] then +weaned him, and when he was five years old, she placed him in a school +to learn his book, but he would read nothing. So she took him from +school and set him to learn a trade; but he would not master any craft +and there came no work from his hands. The mother wept over this and +the folk said to her, "Marry him: haply he will take heart for his wife +and learn him a trade." So she sought out a girl and married him to +her; but, despite marriage and the lapse of time, he remained idle as +before, and would do nothing. One day, some neighbours of hers, who +were woodcutters, came to her and said, "Buy thy son an ass and cords +and an axe and let him go with us to the mountain and we will all of us +cut wood for fuel. The price of the wood shall be his and ours, and he +shall provide thee and his wife with his share." When she heard this, +she joyed with exceeding joy and bought her son an ass and cords and +hatchet; then, carrying him to the woodcutters, delivered him into +their hands and solemnly committed him to their care. Said they, "Have +no concern for the boy, our Lord will provide for him: he is the son of +our Shaykh." So they carried him to the mountain, where they cut +firewood and loaded their asses therewith; then returned to the city +and, selling what they had cut, spent the monies on their families. +This they did on the next day and the third and ceased not for some +time, till it chanced one day, a violent storm of rain broke over them, +and they took refuge in a great cave till the downfall should pass +away. Now Hasib Karim al-Din went apart from the rest into a corner of +the cavern and sitting down, fell to smiting the floor with his axe. +Presently he noted that the ground sounded hollow under the hatchet; so +he dug there awhile and came to a round flagstone with a ring in it. +When he saw this, he was glad and called his comrades the +woodcutters,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasib Karim +al-Din saw the flagstone with the ring, he was glad and called his +comrades the woodcutters, who came to him and, finding it was fact, +soon pulled up the stone and discovered under it a trap-door, which, +being opened, showed a cistern full of bees' honey.[FN#510] Then said +they to one another, "This is a large store and we have nothing for it +but to return to the city and fetch vessels wherein to carry away the +honey, and sell it and divide the price, whilst one of us stands by the +cistern, to guard it from outsiders." Quoth Hasib, "I will stay and +keep watch over it till you bring your pots and pans." So they left him +on guard there and, repairing to the city, fetched vessels, which they +filled with honey and loading their asses therewith, carried them to +the streets and sold the contents. They returned on the morrow and thus +they did several days in succession, sleeping in the town by night and +drawing off the stuff by day, whilst Hasib abode on guard by it till +but little remained, when they said one to other, "It was Hasib Karim +al-Din found the honey, and tomorrow he will come down to the city and +complain against us and claim the price of it, saying, Twas I found +it;' nor is there escape for us but that we let him down into the +cistern, to bale out the rest of the honey, and leave him there; so +will he die of hunger, and none shall know of him." They all fell in +with this plot as they were making for the place; and, when they +reached it, one said to him, "O Hasib, go down into the pit and bale +out for us the rest of the honey." So he went down and passed up to +them what remained of the honey, after which he said to them, "Draw me +up, for there is nothing left." They made him no answer; but, loading +their asses, went off to the city and left him alone in the cistern. +Thereupon he fell to weeping and crying, "There is no Majesty and there +is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" Such was his case; +but as regards his comrades, when they reached the city and sold the +honey, they repaired to Hasib's mother, weeping, and said to her, "May +thy head outlive thy son Hasib!" She asked, "What brought about his +death?" and they answered, "We were cutting wood on the mountain- top, +when there fell on us a heavy downfall of rain and we took shelter from +it in a cavern; and suddenly thy son's ass broke loose and fled into +the valley, and he ran after it, to turn it back, when there came out +upon them a great wolf, who tore thy son in pieces and ravined the +ass." When the mother heard this, she beat her face and strewed dust on +her head and fell to mourning for her son; and she kept life and soul +together only by the meat and drink which they brought her every day. +As for the woodcutters they opened them shops and became merchants and +spent their lives in eating and drinking and laughing and frolicking. +Meanwhile Hasib Karim al-Din, who ceased not to weep and call for help, +sat down upon the cistern edge when behold, a great scorpion fell down +on him; so he rose and killed it. Then he took thought and said, "The +cistern was full of honey; how came this scorpion here?" Accordingly he +got up and examined the well right and left, till he found a crevice +from which the scorpion had fallen and saw the light of day shining +through it. So he took out his woodman's knife and enlarged the hole, +till it was big as a window, then he crept through it and, after +walking for some time, came to a vast gallery, which led him to a huge +door of black iron bearing a padlock of silver wherein was a key of +gold. He stole up to the door and, looking through the chink, saw a +great light shining within; so he took the key and, opening the door, +went on for some time, till he came to a large artificial lake, wherein +he caught sight of something that shimmered like silver. He walked up +to it and at last he saw, hard by a hillock of green jasper and on the +hill top, a golden throne studded with all manner gems,—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasib +reached the hillock he found it of green jasper surmounted by a golden +throne studded with all manner gems, round which were set many stools, +some of gold, some of silver and others of leek green emerald. He clomb +the hillock and, counting the stools, found them twelve thousand in +number; then he mounted the throne which was set on the centre and, +seating himself thereon, fell to wondering at the lake and the stools, +and he marvelled till drowsiness overcame him and he drops asleep. +Presently, he was aroused by a loud snorting and hissing and rustling, +so he opened his eyes; and, sitting up, saw each stool occupied by a +huge serpent, an hundred cubits in length. At this sight, great fear +get hold of him; his spittle dried up for the excess of his dread and +he despaired of life, as all their eyes were blazing like live coals. +Then he turned towards the lake and saw that what he had taken for +shimmering water was a multitude of small snakes, none knoweth their +compt save Allah the Most High. After awhile, there came up to him a +serpent as big as a mule, bearing on its back a tray of gold, wherein +lay another serpent which shone like crystal and whose face was as that +of a woman[FN#511] and who spake with human speech. And as soon as she +was brought up to Hasib, she saluted him and he returned the +salutation. There upon, one of the serpents seated on the stools came +up and, lifting her off the tray, set her on one of the seats and she +cried out to the other serpents in their language, whereupon they all +fell down from their stools and did her homage. But she signed to them +to sit and they did so. Then she addressed Hasib, saying, "Have no fear +of us, O youth; for I am the Queen of the Serpents and their Sultαnah." +When he heard her speak on this wise, he took heart and she bade the +serpents bring him somewhat of food.[FN#512] So they brought apples and +grapes and pomegranates and pistachio-nuts and filberts and walnuts and +almonds and bananas and set them before him, and the Queen-serpent +said, "Welcome, O youth! What is thy name?" Answered he, "Hasib Karim +al-Din;" and she rejoined, "O Hasib, eat of these fruits, for we have +no other meat and fear thou have nothing from us at all." Hearing this, +he ate his fill and praised Allah Almighty; and presently they took +away the trays from before him, and the Queen said, "Tell me, O Hasib, +whence thou art and how camest thou hither and what hath befallen +thee." So he told her his story from first to last, the death of his +father; his birth; his being sent to school where he learnt nothing; +his becoming a wood cutter; his finding the honey- cistern; his being +abandoned therein; his killing the scorpion; his widening the crevice; +his finding the iron door and his coming upon the Queen, and he ended +his long tale with saying, "These be my adventures from beginning to +end and only Allah wotteth what will betide me after all this!" Quoth +the Queen, after listening to his words, "Nothing save good shall +betide thee:"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Serpent-queen had heard his story she said, "Nothing save good shall +betide thee: but I would have thee, O Hasib, abide with me some time, +that I may tell thee my history and acquaint thee with the wondrous +adventures which have happened to me." "I hear and obey thy hest," +answered he; and she began to tell in these words, + + + + +The Adventures of Bulukiya. + +"Know thou, O Hasib, there was once in the city of Cairo a King of the +Banu Isra'νl, a wise and a pious, who was bent double by poring over +books of learning, and he had a son named Bulϊkiyα. When he grew old +and weak and was nigh upon death, his Grandees and Officers of state +came up to salute him, and he said to them, 'O folk, know that at hand +is the hour of my march from this world to the next, and I have no +charge to lay on you, save to commend to your care my son Bulukiya.' +Then said he, 'I testify that there is no god save the God;' and, +heaving one sigh, departed the world the mercy of Allah be upon him! +They laid him out and washed him and buried him with a procession of +great state. Then they made his son Bulukiya Sultan in his stead; and +he ruled the kingdom justly and the people had peace in his time. Now +it befell one day that he entered his father's treasuries, to look +about him, and coming upon an inner compartment and finding the +semblance of a door, opened it and passed in. And lo! he found himself +in a little closet, wherein stood a column of white marble, on the top +of which was a casket of ebony; he opened this also and saw therein +another casket of gold, containing a book. He read the book and found +in it an account of our lord Mohammed (whom Allah bless and preserve!) +and how he should be sent in the latter days[FN#513] and be the lord of +the first Prophets and the last. On seeing the personal description +Bulukiya's heart was taken with love of him, so he at once assembled +all the notables of the Children of Israel, the Cohens or diviners, the +scribes and the priests, and acquainted them with the book, reading +portions of it to them and, adding, 'O folk, needs must I bring my +father out of his grave and burn him.' The lieges asked, 'Why wilt thou +burn him?'; and he answered, 'Because he hid this book from me and +imparted it not to me.' Now the old King had excerpted it from the +Torah or Pentateuch and the Books of Abraham; and had set it in one of +his treasuries and concealed it from all living. Rejoined they, 'O +King, thy father is dead; his body is in the dust and his affair is in +the hands of his Lord; thou shalt not take him forth of his tomb.' So +he knew that they would not suffer him to do this thing by his sire and +leaving them he repaired to his mother, to whom said he, 'O my mother, +I have found, in one of my father's treasuries, a book containing a +description of Mohammed (whom Allah bless and keep!), a prophet who +shall be sent in the latter days; and my heart is captivated with love +of him. Wherefore am I resolved to wander over the earth, till I +foregather with him; else I shall die of longing for his love.' Then he +doffed his clothes and donned an Aba gown of goat's hair and coarse +sandals, saying, 'O my mother, forget me not in thy prayers.' She wept +over him and said, 'What will become of us after thee?'; but Bulukiya +answered, 'I can endure no longer, and I commit my affair and thine to +Allah who is Almighty.' Then he set out on foot Syria wards without the +knowledge of any of his folk, and coming to the sea board found a +vessel whereon he shipped as one of the crew. They sailed till he made +an island, where Bulukiya landed with the crew, but straying away from +the rest he sat down under a tree and sleep got the better of him. When +he awoke, he sought the ship but found that she had set sail without +him, and in that island he saw serpents as big as camels and palm +trees, which repeated the names of Allah (be He extolled and exalted!) +and blessed Mohammed (whom the Lord assain and save!), proclaiming the +Unity and glorifying the Glorious; whereat he wondered."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "when Bulukiya +saw the serpents glorifying God and proclaiming the Unity, he wondered +with extreme wonder. When they saw him, they flocked to him and one of +them said to him, 'Who and whence art thou and whither goest thou. and +what is thy name?' Quoth he, 'My name is Bulukiya; I am of the Children +of Israel and, being distracted for love of Mohammed (whom Allah bless +and keep!), I come in quest of him. But who are ye, O noble creatures?' +Answered they, 'We are of the dwellers in the Jahannam-hell; and +Almighty Allah created us for the punishment of Kafirs.' 'And how came +ye hither?' asked he, and the Serpents answered, 'Know, O Bulukiya, +that Hell[FN#514] of the greatness of her boiling, breatheth twice a +year, expiring in the summer and inspiring in the winter, and hence the +summer heat and winter cold. When she exhaleth, she casteth us forth of +her maw, and we are drawn in again with her inhaled breath.' Quoth +Bulukiya, 'Say me, are there greater serpents than you in Hell?'; and +they said, 'Of a truth we are cast out with the expired breath but by +reason of our smallness; for in Hell every serpent is so great, that +were the biggest of us to pass over its nose it would not feel +us.[FN#515]' Asked Bulukiya, 'Ye sing the praises of Allah and invoke +blessings on Mohammed, whom the Almighty assain and save! Whence wot ye +of Mohammed?'; and they answered, 'O Bulukiya, verily his name is +written on the gates of Paradise; and, but for him, Allah had not +created the worlds[FN#516] nor Paradise, nor heaven nor hell nor earth, +for He made all things that be, solely on his account, and hath +conjoined his name with His own in every place; wherefore we love +Mohammed, whom Allah bless and preserve!' Now hearing the serpents' +converse did but inflame Bulukiya's love for Mohammed and yearning for +his sight; so he took leave of them; and, making his way to the +sea-shore, found there a ship made fast to the beach; he embarked +therein as a seaman and sailed nor ceased sailing till he came to +another island. Here he landed and walking about awhile found serpents +great and small, none knoweth their number save Almighty Allah, and +amongst them a white Serpent, clearer than crystal, seated in a golden +tray borne on the back of another serpent as big as an elephant. Now +this, O Hasib, was the Serpent-queen, none other than myself." Quoth +Hasib, "And what answer didst thou make him?" Quoth she, "Know, O +Hasib, that when I saw Bulukiya, I saluted him with the salam, and he +returned my salutation, and I said to him, 'Who and what art thou and +what is thine errand and whence comest thou and whither goest thou?' +Answered he, 'I am of the Children of Israel; my name is Bulukiya, and +I am a wanderer for the love of Mohammed, whose description I have read +in the revealed scriptures, and of whom I go in search. But what art +thou and what are these serpents about thee?' Quoth I, 'O Bulukiya, I +am the Queen of the Serpents; and when thou shalt foregather with +Mohammed (whom Allah assain and save!) bear him my salutation.' Then +Bulukiya took leave of me and journeyed till he came to the Holy City +which is Jerusalem. Now there was in that stead a man who was deeply +versed in all sciences, more especially in geometry and astronomy and +mathematics, as well as in white magic[FN#517] and Spiritualism; and he +had studied the Pentateuch and the Evangel and the Psalms and the Books +of Abraham. His name was Affan; and he had found in certain of his +books, that whoso should wear the seal ring of our lord Solomon, men +and Jinn and birds and beasts and all created things would be bound to +obey him. Moreover, he had discovered that our lord Solomon had been +buried in a coffin which was miraculously transported beyond the Seven +Seas to the place of burial;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "Affan had found +in certain books that none, mortal or spirit, could pluck the seal ring +from the lord Solomon's finger; and that no navigator could sail his +ship upon the Seven Seas over which the coffin had been carried. +Moreover, he had found out by reading that there was a herb of herbs +and that if one express its juice and anoint therewith his feet, he +should walk upon the surface of any sea that Allah Almighty had created +without wetting his soles, but none could obtain this herb, without he +had with him the Serpent-queen. When Bulukiya arrived at the Holy City, +he at once sat down to do his devotions and worship the Lord; and, +whilst he was so doing, Affan came up and saluted him as a True +Believer. Then seeing him reading the Pentateuch and adoring the +Almighty, he accosted him saying, 'What is thy name, O man; and whence +comest thou and whither goest thou?' He answered, 'My name is Bulukiya; +I am from the city of Cairo and am come forth wandering in quest of +Mohammed, whom Allah bless and preserve!' Quoth Affan, 'Come with me to +my lodging that I may entertain thee.' 'To hear is to obey,' replied +Bulukiya So the devotee took him by the hand and carried him to his +house where he entreated him with the utmost honour and presentry said +to him, 'Tell me thy history, O my brother, and how thou camest by the +knowledge of Mohammed (whom Allah assain and save!) that thy heart hath +been taken with love of him and compelled thee to fare forth and seek +him; and lastly tell me who it was directed thee in this road.' So he +related to him his tale in its entirety; whereupon Affan, who well nigh +lost his wits for wonder, said to him, 'Make tryst for me with the +Queen of the Serpents and I will bring thee in company with Mohammed, +albeit the date of his mission is yet far distant. We have only to +prevail upon the Queen and carry her in a cage to a certain mountain +where the herbs grow; and, as long as she is with us, the plants as we +pass them will parley with human speech and discover their virtues by +the ordinance of Allah the Most High. For I have found in my books that +there is a certain herb and all who express its juice and anoint +therewith their feet shall walk upon whatsoever sea Almighty Allah hath +made, without wetting sole. When we have found the magical herb, we +will let her go her way; and then will we anoint our feet with the +juice and cross the Seven Seas, till we come to the burial place of our +lord Solomon. Then we will take the ring off his finger and rule even +as he ruled and win all our wishes; we will enter the Main of +Murks[FN#518] and drink of the Water of Life, and so the Almighty will +let us tarry till the End of Time and we shall foregather with +Mohammed, whom Allah bless and preserve!' Hearing these words Bulukiya +replied, 'O Affan, I will make tryst for thee with the Serpent-queen +and at once show thee her abiding place.' So Affan made him a cage of +iron; and, providing himself with two bowls, one full of wine and the +other of milk, took ship with Bulukiya and sailed till they came to the +island, where they landed and walked upon it. Then Affan set up the +cage, in which he laid a noose and withdrew after placing in it the two +bowls; when he and Bulukiya concealed themselves afar off. Presently, +up came the Queen of the Serpents (that is, myself) and examined the +cage. When she (that is I) smelt the savour of the milk, she came down +from the back of the snake which bore her tray and, entering the cage, +drank up the milk. Then she went to the bowl of wine and drank of it, +whereupon her head became giddy and she slept. When Affan saw this, he +ran up and locking the cage upon her, set it on his head and made for +the ship, he and Bulukiya. After awhile she awoke and finding herself +in a cage of iron on a man's head and seeing Bulukiya walking beside +the bearer, said to him, 'This is the reward of those who do no hurt to +the sons of Adam.' Answered he, 'O Queen, have no fear of us, for we +will do thee no hurt at all. We wish thee only to show us the herb +which, when pounded and squeezed yieldeth a juice, and this rubbed upon +the feet conferreth the power of walking dryshod upon what sea soever +Almighty Allah hath created; and when we have found that, we will +return thee to thy place and let thee wend thy way.' Then Affan and +Bulukiya fared on for the hills where grew the herbs; and, as they went +about with the Queen, each plant they passed began to speak and avouch +its virtues by permission of Allah the Most High. As they were thus +doing and the herbs speaking right and left, behold, a plant spoke out +and said, 'I am the herb ye seek, and all who gather and crush me and +anoint their feet with my juice, shall fare over what sea soever Allah +Almighty hath created and yet ne'er wet sole.' When Affan heard this, +he set down the cage from his head and, gathering what might suffice +them of the herb, crushed it and filling two vials with the juice kept +them for future use; and with what was left they anointed their feet. +Then they took up the Serpent-queen's cage and journeyed days and +nights, till they reached the island, where they opened the cage and +let out her that is me. When I found myself at liberty, I asked them +what use they would make of the juice; and they answered, 'We design to +anoint our feet and to cross the Seven Seas to the burial place of our +lord Solomon[FN#519] and take the seal ring from his finger.' Quoth I, +'Far, far is it from your power to possess yourselves of the ring!' +They enquired, 'Wherefore?' and I replied, 'Because Almighty Allah +vouchsafed unto our lord Solomon the gift of this ring and +distinguished him thereby, for that he said to him, 'O Lord, give me a +kingdom which may not be obtained after me; for Thou verily art the +Giver of kingdoms.[FN#520]' 'So that ring is not for you.' And I added, +'Had ye twain taken the herb, whereof all who eat shall not die until +the First Blast,[FN#521] it had better availed you than this ye have +gotten; for ye shall nowise come at your desire thereby.' Now when they +heard this, they repented them with exceeding penitence and went their +ways."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "when Bulukiya +and Affan heard these words, they repented them with exceeding +penitence and went their ways. Such was their case; but as regards +myself" (continued the Serpent-queen) "I went in quest of my host and +found it fallen in piteous case, the stronger of them having grown weak +in my absence and the weaker having died. When they saw me, they +rejoiced and flocking about me, asked, 'What hath befallen thee, and +where hast thou been?' So I told them what had passed, after which I +gathered my forces to "ether and repaired with them to the mountain +Kaf, where I was wont to winter, summer-freshing in the place where +thou now seest me, O Hasib Karim al-Din. This, then, is my story and +what befell me." Thereupon Hasib marvelled at her words and said to +her, "I beseech thee, of thy favour, bid one of thy guards bear me +forth to the surface of the earth, that I may go to my people." She +replied, "O Hasib, thou shalt not have leave to depart from us till +winter come, and needs must thou go with us to the Mountain Kaf and +solace thyself with the sight of the hills and sands and trees and +birds magnifying the One God, the Victorious; and look upon Marids and +Ifrits and Jinn, whose number none knoweth save Almighty Allah." When +Hasib heard this, he was sore chafed and chagrined: then he said to +her, "Tell me of Affan and Bulukiya; when they departed from thee and +went their way, did they cross the Seven Seas and reach the +burial-place of our lord Solomon or not; and if they did had they power +to take the ring or not?" Answered she, "Know, that when they left me, +they anointed their feet with the juice; and, walking over the water, +fared on from sea to sea, diverting themselves with the wonders of the +deep, nor ceased they faring till they had traversed the Seven Seas and +came in sight of a mountain, soaring high in air, whose stones were +emeralds and whose dust was musk; and in it was a stream of running +water. When they made it they rejoiced, saying each to the other, +'Verily we have won our wish'; and they entered the passes of the +mountain and walked on, till they saw from afar a cavern surmounted by +a great dome, shining with light. So they made for the cavern, and +entering it beheld therein a throne of gold studded with all manner +jewels, and about it stools whose number none knoweth save Allah +Almighty. And they saw lying at full length upon the throne our lord +Solomon, clad in robes of green silk inwoven with gold and broidered +with jewels and precious minerals: his right hand was passed over his +breast and on the middle finger was the seal ring whose lustre outshone +that of all other gems in the place. Then Affan taught Bulukiya +adjurations and conjurations galore and said to him, 'Repeat these +conjurations and cease not repeating until I take the ring.' Then he +went up to the throne; but, as he drew near unto it lo' c mighty +serpent came forth from beneath it and cried out at him with so +terrible a cry that the whole place trembled and sparks flew from its +mouth, saying, 'Begone, or thou art a dead man' But Affan busied +himself with his incantations and suffered himself not to be startled +thereby. Then the serpent blew such a fiery blast at him, that the +place was like to be set on fire, and said to him, Woe to thee! Except +thou turn back, I will consume thee' Hearing these words Bulukiya left +the cave, but Affan, who suffered himself not to be troubled, went up +to the Prophet: then he put out his hand to the ring and touched it and +strove to draw it off the lord Solomon's finger; and behold, the +serpent blew on him once more and he became a heap of ashes. Such was +his case; but as regards Bulukiya he fell down in a swoon."— And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Ninetieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Queen +continued: "When Bulukiya saw Affan burnt up by the fire and become a +heap of ashes, he fell down in a swoon. Thereupon the Lord (magnified +be His Majesty!) bade Gabriel descend earthwards and save him ere the +serpent should blow on him. So Gabriel descended without delay and, +finding Affan reduced to ashes and Bulukiya in a fit, aroused him from +his trance and saluting him asked, 'How camest thou hither?' Bulukiya +related to him his history from first to last, adding, 'Know that I +came not hither but for the love of Mohammed (whom Allah assain and +save!), of whom Affan informed me that his mission would take place at +the End of Time; moreover that none should foregather with him but +those who endured to the latter days by drinking of the Water of Life +through means of Solomon's seal. So I companied him hither and there +befell him what befell; but I escaped the fire and now it is my desire +that thou inform me where Mohammed is to be found.' Quoth Gabriel, 'O +Bulukiya, go thy ways, for the time of Mohammed's coming is yet far +distant.' Then he ascended up to heaven forthright, and Bulukiya wept +with sore weeping and repented of that which he had done, calling to +mind my words, whenas I said to them, 'Far is it from man's power to +possess himself of the ring.' Then he descended from the mountain and +returned in exceeding confusion to the sea shore and passed the night +there, marvelling at the mountains and seas and islands around him. +When morning dawned, he anointed his feet with the herb-juice and +descending to the water, set out and fared on over the surface of the +seas days and nights, astonied at the terrors of the main and the +marvels and wonders of the deep, till he came to an island as it were +the Garden of Eden. So he landed and, finding himself in a great and +pleasant island, paced about it and saw with admiration that its dust +was saffron and its gravel carnelian and precious minerals; its hedges +were of jessamine, its vegetation was of the goodliest of trees and of +the brightest of odoriferous shrubs; its brushwood was of Comorin and +Sumatran aloes-wood and its reeds were sugar-canes. Round about it were +roses and narcissus and amaranths and gilly-flowers and chamomiles and +white lilies and violets, and other flowers of all kinds and colours. +Of a truth the island was the goodliest place, abounding in space, rich +in grace, a compendium of beauty material and spiritual. The birds +warbled on the boughs with tones far sweeter than chaunt of Koran and +their notes would console a lover whom longings unman. And therein the +gazelle frisked free and fain and wild cattle roamed about the plain. +Its trees were of tallest height; its streams flowed bright; its +springs welled with waters sweet and light; and all therein was a +delight to sight and sprite. Bulukiya marvelled at the charms of the +island but knew that he had strayed from the way he had first taken in +company with Affan. He wandered about the place and solaced him with +various spectacles until nightfall, when he climbed into a tree to +sleep; but as he sat there, musing over the beauty of the site, behold, +the sea became troubled and there rose up to the surface a great beast, +which cried out with a cry so terrible that every living thing upon the +isle trembled. As Bulukiya gazed upon him from the tree and marvelled +at the bigness of his bulk, he was presently followed unexpectedly by a +multitude of other sea beasts in kind manifolds, each holding in his +fore-paw a jewel which shone like a lamp, so that the whole island +became as light as day for the lustre of the gems. After awhile, there +appeared, from the heart of the island, wild beasts of the land, none +knoweth their number save Allah the Most High; amongst which Bulukiya +noted lions and panthers and lynxes and other ferals; and these land +beasts flocked down to the shore; and, foregathering with the sea +beasts, conversed with them till daybreak, when they separated and each +went his own way. Thereupon Bulukiya, terrified by what he had seen, +came down from the tree and, making the sea shore, anointed his feet +with the magical juice, and set out once more upon the surface of the +water. He fared on days and nights over the Second Sea, till he came to +a great mountain skirting which ran a Wady without end, the stones +whereof were magnetic iron and its beasts, lions and hares and +panthers. He landed on the mountain foot and wandered from place to +place till nightfall, when he sat down sheltered by one of the base +hills on the sea side, to eat of the dried fish thrown up by the sea. +Presently, he turned from his meal and behold, a huge panther was +creeping up to rend and ravin him; so he anointed his feet in haste +with the juice and, descending to the surface of the water, fled +walking over the Third Sea, in the darkness, for the night was black +and the wind blew stark. Nor did he stay his course till he reached +another island, whereon he landed and found there trees bearing fruits +both fresh and dry.[FN#522] So he took of these fruits and ate and +praised Allah Almighty; after which he walked for solace; about the +island till eventide."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "Bulukiya +(continued the Queen) walked for solace about the island till eventide, +when he lay down to sleep. As soon as day brake, he began to explore +the place and ceased not for ten days, after which he again made the +shore and anointed his feet and, setting out over the Fourth Sea, +walked upon it many nights and days, till he came to a third island of +fine white sand without sign of trees or grass. He walked about it +awhile but, finding its only inhabitants sakers which nested in the +sand, he again anointed his feet and trudged over the Fifth Sea, +walking night and day till he came to a little island, whose soil and +hills were like crystal. Therein were the veins wherefrom gold is +worked; and therein also were marvellous trees whose like he had never +seen in his wanderings, for their blossoms were in hue as gold. He +landed and walked about for diversion till it was nightfall, when the +flowers began to shine through the gloom like stars. Seeing this sight, +he marvelled and said, 'Assuredly, the flowers of this island are of +those which wither under the sun and fall to the earth, where the winds +smite them and they gather under the rocks and become the +Elixir[FN#523] which the folk collect and thereof make gold.' He slept +there all that night and at sunrise he again anointed his feet and, +descending to the shore, fared on over the Sixth Sea nights and days, +till he came to a fifth island. Here he landed and found, after walking +an hour or so, two mountains covered with a multitude of trees, whose +fruits were as men's heads hanging by the hair, and others whose fruits +were green birds hanging by the feet; also a third kind, whose fruits +were like aloes, if a drop of the juice fell on a man it burnt like +fire; and others, whose fruits wept and laughed, besides many other +marvels which he saw there. Then he returned to the sea shore and, +finding there a tall tree, sat down beneath it till supper time when he +climbed up into the branches to sleep. As he sat considering the +wonderful works of Allah behold, the waters became troubled, and there +rose therefrom the daughters of the sea, each mermaid holding in her +hand a jewel which shone like the morning. They came ashore and, +foregathering under the trees, sat down and danced and sported and made +merry whilst Bulukiya amused himself with watching and wondering at +their gambols, which were prolonged till the morning, when they +returned to the sea and disappeared. Then he came down and, anointing +his feet, set out on the surface of the Seventh Sea, over which he +journeyed two whole months, without getting sight of highland or island +or broadland or lowland or shoreland, till he came to the end thereof. +And so doing he suffered exceeding hunger, so that he was forced to +snatch up fishes from the surface of the sea and devour them raw, for +stress of famine. In such case he pushed on till in early forenoon he +came to the sixth island, with trees a-growing and rills a flowing, +where he landed and walked about, looking right and left, till he came +to an apple tree and put forth his hand to pluck of the fruit, when lo! +one cried out to him from the tree, saying, 'An thou draw near to this +tree and cut of it aught, I will cut thee in twain.' So he looked and +saw a giant forty cubits high, being the cubit of the people of that +day; whereat he feared with sore fear and refrained from that tree. +Then said he to the giant, 'Why cost thou forbid me to eat of this +tree?' Replied the other, 'Because thou art a son of Adam and thy +father Adam forgot the covenant of Allah and sinned against Him and ate +of the tree.' Quoth Bulukiya, 'What thing art thou and to whom +belongeth this island, with its trees, and how art thou named?' Quoth +the tall one, 'My name is Sharαhiyα and trees and island belong to King +Sakhr;[FN#524] I am one of his guards and in charge of his dominion,' +presently adding, 'But who art thou and whence comest thou hither?' +Bulukiya told him his story from beginning to end and Sharahiya said, +'Be of good cheer,' and brought him to eat. So he ate his fill and, +taking leave of the giant, set out again and ceased not faring on over +the mountains and sandy deserts for ten days; at the end of which time +he saw, in the distance, a dust cloud hanging like a canopy in air; +and, making towards it, he heard a mighty clamour, cries and blows and +sounds of mellay. Presently he reached a great Wady, two months' +journey long; and, looking whence the shouts came, he saw a multitude +of horse men engaged in fierce fight and the blood running from them +till it railed like a river. Their voices were thunderous and they were +armed with lance and sword and iron mace and bow and arrow, and all +fought with the utmost fury. At this sight he felt sore affright"—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Queen +continued: "When Bulukiya saw the host in fight, he felt sore affright +and was perplexed about his case; but whilst he hesitated, behold, they +caught sight of him and held their hands one from other and left +fighting. Then a troop of them came up to him, wondering at his make, +and one of the horsemen said to him, 'What art thou and whence camest +thou hither and whither art wending; and who showed thee the way that +thou hast come to our country?' Quoth he, 'I am of the sons of Adam and +am come out, distracted for the love of Mohammed (whom Allah bless and +preserve!); but I have wandered from my way.' Quoth the horseman, +'Never saw we a son of Adam till now, nor did any ever come to this +land.' And all marvelled at him and at his speech. 'But what are ye, O +creatures?' asked Bulukiya; and the rider replied, 'We are of the +Jαnn.' So he said, 'O Knight, what is the cause of the fighting amongst +you and where is your abiding place and what is the name of this valley +and this land?' He replied, 'Our abiding- place is the White Country; +and, every year, Allah Almighty commandeth us to come hither and wage +war upon the unbelieving Jann.' Asked Bulukiya, 'And where is the White +Country?' and the horseman answered, 'It is behind the mountain Kaf, +and distant seventy-five years journey from this place which is termed +the Land of Shaddαd son of 'Αd: we are here for Holy War; and we have +no other business, when we are not doing battle, than to glorify God +and hallow him. More over, we have a ruler, King Sakhr highs, and needs +must thou go with us to him, that he may look upon thee for his +especial delight.' Then they fared on (and he with them) till they came +to their abiding place; where he saw a multitude of magnificent tents +of green silk, none knoweth their number save Allah the Most High, and +in their midst a pavilion of red satin, some thousand cubits in +compass, with cords of blue silk and pegs of gold and silver. Bulukiya +marvelled at the sight and accompanied them as they fared on and +behold, this was the royal pavilion. So they carried him into the +presence of King Sakhr, whom he found seated upon a splendid throne of +red gold, set with pearls and studded with gems; the Kings and Princes +of the Jann being on his right hand, and on his left his Councillors +and Emirs and Officers of state, and a multitude of others. The King +seeing him bade introduce him, which they did; and Bulukiya went up to +him and saluted him after kissing the ground before him. The King +returned his salute and said, 'Draw near me, O mortal!' and Bulukiya +went close up to him. Hereupon the King, commanding a chair to be set +for him by his royal side, bade him sit down and asked him 'Who art +thou?'; and Bulukiya answered, 'I am a man, and one of the Children of +Israel.' 'Tell me thy story,' cried King Sakhr, 'and acquaint me with +all that hath befallen thee and how thou camest to this my land.' So +Bulukiya related to him all that had occurred in his wanderings from +beginning to end."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Queen +continued: "When Bulukiya related to Sakhr what befell him in his +wanderings, he marvelled thereat. Then he bade the servants bring food +and they spread the tables and set on one thousand and five hundred +platters of red gold and silver and copper, some containing twenty and +some fifty boiled camels, and others some fifty head of sheep; at which +Bulukiya marvelled with exceeding marvel. Then they ate and he ate with +them, till he was satisfied and returned thanks to Allah Almighty; +after which they cleared the tables and set on fruits, and they ate +thereof, glorifying the name of God and invoking blessings on His +prophet Mohammed (whom Allah bless and preserve!) When Bulukiya heard +them make mention of Mohammed, he wondered and said to King Sakhr, 'I +am minded to ask thee some questions.' Rejoined the King, 'Ask what +thou wilt,' and Bulukiya said, 'O King, what are ye and what is your +origin and how came ye to know of Mohammed (whom Allah assain and +save!) that ye draw near to him and love him?' King Sakhr answered, 'O +Bulukiya, of very sooth Allah created the fire in seven stages, one +above the other, and each distant a thousand years journey from its +neighbour. The first stage he named Jahannam[FN#525] and appointed the +same for the punishment of the transgressors of the True-believers, who +die unrepentant; the second he named Lazα and appointed for +Unbelievers: the name of the third is Jahνm and is appointed for Gog +and Magog.[FN#526] The fourth is called Sa'νr and is appointed for the +host of Iblis. The fifth is called Sakar and is prepared for those who +neglect prayer. The sixth is called Hatamah and is appointed for Jews +and Christians. The seventh is named Hαwiyah and is prepared for +hypocrites. Such be the seven stages.' Quoth Bulukiya, 'Haply Jahannam +hath least of torture for that it is the uppermost.' 'Yes,' quoth King +Sakhr, 'the most endurable of them all is Jahannam; natheless in it are +a thousand mountains of fire, in each mountain seventy thousand cities +of fire, in each city seventy thousand castles of fire, in each castle +seventy thousand houses of fire, in each house seventy thousand couches +of fire and in each couch seventy thousand manners of torment. As for +the other hells, O Bulukiya, none knoweth the number of kinds of +torment that be therein save Allah Most Highest.' When Bulukiya heard +this, he fell down in a fainting-fit, and when he came to himself, he +wept and said, 'O King what will be my case?' Quoth Sakhr, 'Fear not, +and know thou that whoso loveth Mohammed (whom Allah bless and keep!) +the fire shall not burn him, for he is made free therefrom for his +sake; and whoso belongeth to his Faith the fire shall fly him. As for +us, the Almighty Maker created us of the fire for the first that he +made in Jahannam were two of His host whom he called Khalνt and Malνt. +Now Khalνt was fashioned in the likeness of a lion, with a tail like a +tortoise twenty years' journey in length and ending in a member +masculine; while Malνt was like a pied wolf whose tail was furnished +with a member feminine. Then Almighty Allah commanded the tails to +couple and copulate and do the deed of kind, and of them were born +serpents and scorpions, whose dwelling is in the fire, that Allah may +there with torment those whom He casteth therein; and these increased +and multiplied. Then Allah commanded the tails of Khalit and Malit to +couple and copulate a second time, and the tail of Malit conceived by +the tail of Khalit and bore fourteen children, seven male and seven +female, who grew up and intermarried one with the other. All were +obedient to their sire, save one who disobeyed him and was changed into +a worm which is Iblis (the curse of Allah be upon him!). Now Iblis was +one of the Cherubim, for he had served Allah till he was raised to the +heavens and cherished[FN#527] by the especial favour of the Merciful +One, who made him chief of the Cherubim.'"—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Queen +continued: "'Iblis served God and became chief of Cherubim. When, +however, the Lord created Adam (with whom be peace!), He commanded +Iblis to prostrate himself to him, but he drew back; so Allah Almighty +expelled him from heaven and cursed him.[FN#528] This Iblis had issue +and of his lineage are the devils; and as for the other six males, who +were his elders, they are the ancestors of the true believing Jann, and +we are their descendants. Such, O Bulukiya is our provenance.[FN#529]' +Bulukiya marvelled at the King's words and said, 'O King, I pray thee +bid one of thy guards bear me back to my native land.' 'Naught of this +may we do,' answered Sakhr, 'save by commandment of Allah Almighty; +however, an thou desire to leave us and return home, I will mount thee +on one of my mares and cause her carry thee to the farthest frontiers +of my dominions, where thou wilt meet with the troops of another King, +Barαkhiyα highs, who will recognize the mare at sight and take thee off +her and send her back to us; and this is all we can do for thee, and no +more.' When Bulukiya heard these words he wept and said, 'Do whatso +thou wilt.' So King Sakhr caused bring the mare and, setting Bulukiya +on her back, said to him, 'Beware lest thou alight from her or strike +her or cry out in her face; for if thou do so she will slay thee; but +abide quietly riding on her back till she stop with thee; then dismount +and wend thy ways.' Quoth Bulukiya, 'I hear and I obey;' he then +mounted and setting out, rode on a long while between the rows of +tents; and stinted not riding till he came to the royal kitchens where +he saw the great cauldrons, each holding fifty camels, hung up over the +fires which blazed fiercely under them. So he stopped there and gazed +with a marvel ever increasing till King Sakhr thinking him to be +anhungered, bade bring him two roasted camels; and they carried them to +him and bound them behind him on the mare's crupper. Then he took leave +of them and fared on, till he came to the end of King Sakhr's +dominions, where the mare stood still and Bulukiya dismounted and began +to shake the dust of the journey from his raiment. And behold, there +accosted him a party of men who, recognising the mare, carried her and +Bulukiya before their King Barakhiya. So he saluted him, and the King +returned his greeting and seated him beside himself in a splendid +pavilion, in the midst of his troops and champions and vassal Princes +of the Jann ranged to right and left; after which he called for food +and they ate their fill and pronounced the Alhamdolillah. Then they set +on fruits, and when they had eaten thereof, King Barakhiya, whose +estate was like that of King Sakhr, asked his guest, 'When didst thou +leave King Sakhr?' And Bulukiya answered, 'Two days ago.' Quoth +Barakhiya, 'Dost thou know, how many days' journey thou hast come in +these two days?' Quoth he, 'No,' and the King rejoined, 'Thou hast come +a journey of threescore and ten months.'"—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Queen +continued: "Barakhiya said to Bulukiya, 'In two days thou hast come a +journey of threescore and ten months; moreover when thou mountedst the +mare, she was affrighted at thee, knowing thee for a son of Adam, and +would have thrown thee; so they bound on her back these two camels by +way of weight to steady her.' When Bulukiya heard this, he marvelled +and thanked Allah Almighty for safety. Then said the King, 'Tell me thy +adventures and what brought thee to this our land.' So he told him his +story from first to last, and the King marvelled at his words, and kept +Bulukiya with him two months." Upon this Hasib Karim al-Din after he +had marvelled at her story, again besought the Serpent-queen saying, "I +pray thee of thy goodness and graciousness command one of thy subjects +conduct me to the surface of the earth, that I may return to my +family;" but she answered, "O Hasib, I know that the first thing thou +wilt do, after seeing the face of the earth will be to greet thy family +and then repair to the Hammam bath and bathe; and the moment thou +endest thine ablutions will see the last of me, for it will be the +cause of my death." Quoth Hasib, "I swear that I will never again enter +the Hammam bath so long as I live, but when washing is incumbent on me, +I will wash at home." Rejoined the Queen, "I would not trust thee +though thou shouldst swear to me an hundred oaths; for such abstaining +is not possible, and I know thee to be a son of Adam for whom no oath +is sacred. Thy father Adam made a covenant with Allah the most High, +who kneaded the clay whereof He fashioned him forty mornings and made +His angels prostrate themselves to him; yet after all his promise did +he forget and his oath violate, disobeying the commandment of his +Lord." When Hasib heard this, he held his peace and burst into tears; +nor did he leave weeping for the space of ten days, at the end of which +time he said to the Queen, "Prithee acquaint me with the rest of +Bulukiya's adventures." Accordingly, she began again as follows: "Know, +O Hasib, that Bulukiya, after abiding two months with King Barakhiya, +farewelled him and fared on over wastes and deserts nights and days' +till he came to a high mountain which he ascended. On the summit he +beheld seated a great Angel glorifying the names of God and invoking +blessings on Mohammed. Before him lay a tablet covered with characters, +these white and those black,[FN#530] whereon his eyes were fixed, and +his two wings were outspread to the full, one to the western and the +other to the eastern horizon. Bulukiya approached and saluted the +Angel, who returned his salam adding, 'Who art thou and whence comest +thou and whither wendest thou and what is thy story?' Accordingly, he +repeated to him his history, from first to last, and the Angel +marvelled mightily thereat, whereupon Bulukiya said to him, 'I pray +thee in return acquaint me with the meaning of this tablet and what is +writ thereon; and what may be thine occupation and thy name.' Replied +the Angel, 'My name is Michael, and I am charged with the shifts of +night and day; and this is my occupation till the Day of Doom.' +Bulukiya wondered at his words and at his aspect and the vastness of +his stature and, taking leave of him, fared onwards, night and day, +till he came to a vast meadow over which he walked observing that it +was traversed by seven streams and abounded in trees. He was struck by +its beauty and in one corner thereof he saw a great tree and under it +four Angels. So he drew near to them and found the first in the +likeness of a man, the second in the likeness of a wild beast, the +third in the likeness of a bird and the fourth in the likeness of a +bull, engaged in glorifying Almighty Allah, and saying, 'O my God and +my Master and my Lord, I conjure Thee, by Thy truth and by the decree +of Thy Prophet Mohammed (on whom be blessings and peace!) to vouchsafe +Thy mercy and grant Thy forgiveness to all things created in my +likeness; for Thou over all things art Almighty!' Bulukiya marvelled at +what he heard but continued his journey till he came to another +mountain and ascending it, found there a great Angel seated on the +summit, glorifying God and hallowing Him and invoking blessings on +Mohammed (whom Allah assain and save!), and he saw that Angel +continually opening and shutting his hands and bending and extending +his fingers. He accosted him and saluted him; whereupon the Angel +returned his salam and enquired who he was and how he came thither. So +Bulukiya acquainted him with his adventures including his having lost +the way; and besought him to tell him, in turn, who he was and what was +his function and what mountain was that. Quoth the Angel, 'Know, O +Bulukiya, that this is the mountain Kaf, which encompasseth the world; +and all the countries the Creator hath made are in my grasp. When the +Almighty is minded to visit any land with earthquake or famine or +plenty or slaughter or prosperity, He biddeth me carry out His commands +and I carry them out without stirring from my place; for know thou that +my hands lay hold upon the roots of the earth,' "—And Shahrazed +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Queen +continued: "When the angel said, 'And know thou that my hands lay hold +upon the roots of the earth,' he asked, 'And hath Allah created other +worlds than this within the mountain Kaf?' The Angel answered, 'Yes, He +hath made a world white as silver, whose vastness none knoweth save +Himself, and hath peopled it with Angels, whose meat and drink are His +praise and hallowing and continual blessings upon His Prophet Mohammed +(whom Allah bless and keep!). Every Thursday night[FN#531] they repair +to this mountain and worship in congregation Allah until the morning, +and they assign the future recompense of their lauds and litanies to +the sinners of the Faith of Mohammed (whom Allah assain and save!) and +to all who make the Ghusl ablution of Friday; and this is their +function until the Day of Resurrection.' Asked Bulukiya, 'And hath +Allah created other mountains behind the mountain Kaf?'; whereto he +answered, 'Yes, behind this mountain is a range of mountains five +hundred years' journey long, of snow and ice, and this it is that +wardeth off the heat of Jahannam from the world, which verily would +else be consumed thereby. Moreover, behind the mountain Kaf are forty +worlds, each one the bigness of this world forty times told, some of +gold and some of silver and others of carnelian. Each of these worlds +hath its own colour, and Allah hath peopled them with angels, that know +not Eve nor Adam nor night nor day, and have no other business than to +celebrate His praises and hallow Him and make profession of His Unity +and proclaim His Omnipotence and supplicate Him on behalf of the +followers of Mohammed (whom Allah bless and keep!). And know, also, O +Bulukiya, that the earths were made in seven stages, one upon another, +and that Allah hath created one of His Angels, whose stature and +attributes none knoweth but Himself and who beareth the seven stages +upon his shoulders. Under this Angel Almighty Allah hath created a +great rock, and under the rock a bull, and under the bull a huge fish, +and under the fish a mighty ocean.[FN#532] God once told Isa (with whom +be peace! ) of this fish, and he said, 'O Lord show me the fish, that I +may look upon it.' So the Almighty commanded an angel to take Isa and +show him the fish. Accordingly, he took him up and carried him (with +whom be peace!) to the sea, wherein the fish dwelt, and said, 'Look, O +Isa, upon the fish.' He looked but at first saw nothing, when, +suddenly, the fish darted past like lightning. At this sight Isa fell +down aswoon, and when he came to himself, Allah spake to him by +inspiration, saying, 'O Isa, hast thou seen the fish and comprehended +its length and its breadth?' He replied, 'By Thy honour and glory, O +Lord, I saw no fish; but there passed me by a great bull, whose length +was three days' journey, and I know not what manner of thing this bull +is.' Quoth Allah, 'O Isa, this that thou sawest and which was three +days in passing by thee, was but the head of the fish;[FN#533] and know +that every day I create forty fishes like unto this.' And Isa hearing +this marvelled at the power of Allah the Almighty. Asked Bulukiya, +'What hath Allah made beneath this sea which containeth the fish?'; and +the Angel answered, 'Under the sea the Lord created a vast abyss of +air, under the air fire, and under the fire a mighty serpent, by name +Falak; and were it not for fear of the Most Highest, this serpent would +assuredly swallow up all that is above it, air and fire and the Angel +and his burden, without sensing it.'"—And Shahrazed perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the angel said to +Bulukiya when describing the serpent, "'And were it not for fear of the +Most Highest, this serpent would assuredly swallow up all that is above +it, air and fire, and the Angel and his burden, without sensing it. +When Allah created this serpent He said to it by inspiration, 'I will +give thee somewhat to keep for me, so open thy mouth.' The serpent +replied, 'Do whatso Thou wilt;' and opened his mouth and God placed +Hell into his maw, saying, 'Keep it until the Day of Resurrection. When +that time comes, the Almighty will send His angels with chains to bring +Hell and bind it until the Day when all men shall meet; and the Lord +will order Hell to go open its gates and there will issue therefrom +sparks bigger than the mountains.' When Bulukiya heard these things he +wept with sore weeping and, taking leave of the Angel, fared on +westwards, till he came in sight of two creatures sitting before a +great shut gate. As he drew near, he saw that one of the gatekeepers +had the semblance of a lion and the other that of a bull; so he saluted +them and they returned his salam and enquired who and whence he was and +whither he was bound. Quoth he, 'I am of the sons of Adam, a wanderer +for the love of Mohammed (whom Allah assain and save!) and I have +strayed from my way.' Then he asked them what they were and what was +the gate before which they sat, and they answered, 'We are the +guardians of this gate thou seest and we have no other business than +the praise and hallowing of Allah and the invocation of blessings on +Mohammed (whom may He bless and keep!).' Bulukiya wondered and asked +them, 'What is within the gate?'; and they answered, 'We wot not.' Then +quoth he, 'I conjure you, by the truth of your glorious Lord, open to +me the gate, that I may see that which is therein.' Quoth they, 'We +cannot, and none may open this gate, of all created beings save +Gabriel, the Faithful One, with whom be peace!' Then Bulukiya lifted up +his voice in supplication to Allah, saying, 'O Lord, send me thy +messenger Gabriel, the Faithful One, to open for me this gate that I +may see what be therein;' and the Almighty gave ear unto his prayer and +commanded the Archangel to descend to earth and open to him the gate of +the Meeting-place of the Two Seas. So Gabriel descended and, saluting +Bulukiya, opened the gate to him, saying, 'Enter this door, for Allah +commandeth me to open to thee.' So he entered and Gabriel locked the +gate behind him and flew back to heaven. When Bulukiya found himself +within the gate, he looked and beheld a vast ocean, half salt and half +fresh, bounded on every side by mountain ranges of red ruby whereon he +saw angels singing the praises of the Lord and hallowing Him. So he +went up to them and saluted them and having received a return of his +salam, questioned them of the sea and the mountains. Replied they, +'This place is situate under the Arsh or empyreal heaven; and this +Ocean causeth the flux and flow of all the seas of the world; and we +are appointed to distribute them and drive them to the various parts of +the earth, the salt to the salt and the fresh to the fresh,[FN#534] and +this is our employ until the Day of Doom. As for the mountain ranges +they serve to limit and to contain the waters. But thou, whence comest +thou and whither art thou bound?' So he told them his story and asked +them of the road. They bade him traverse the surface of the ocean which +lay before him: so he anointed his feet with the juice of the herb he +had with him, and taking leave of the angels, set out upon the face of +the sea and sped on over the water nights and days; and as he was +faring, behold, he met a handsome youth journeying along like himself, +whereupon he greeted him and he returned his greeting. After they +parted he espied four great Angels wayfaring over the face of the sea, +and their going was like the blinding lightning; so he stationed +himself in their road, and when they came up to him, he saluted them +and said to them, 'I ask you by the Almighty, the Glorious, to tell me +your names and whither are ye bound?' Replied the first Angel, 'My name +is Gabriel and these my companions are called Isrαfνl and Mνkα'νl and +Azrα'νl. There hath appeared in the East a mighty dragon, which hath +laid waste a thousand cities and devoured their inhabitants; wherefore +Allah Almighty hath commanded us to go to him and seize him and cast +him into Jahannam.' Bulukiya marvelled at the vastness of their stature +and fared on, as before, days and nights, till he came to an island +where he landed and walked about for a while,"—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "Bulukiya landed +on the island and walked about for a while, till he saw a comely young +man with light shining from his visage, sitting weeping and lamenting +between two built tombs. So he saluted him and he returned his +salutation, and Bulukiya said to him, 'Who art thou and what are these +two built tombs between which thou sittest, and wherefore this +wailing?' He looked at him and wept with sore weeping, till he drenched +his clothes with his tears; then said, 'Know thou, O my brother, mine +is a marvellous story and a wondrous; but I would have thee sit by me +and first tell me thy name and thine adventures and who thou art and +what brought thee hither; after which I will, in turn, relate to thee +my history.' So Bulukiya sat down by him and related to him all that +had befallen him from his father's death,[FN#535] adding, 'Such is my +history, the whole of it, and Allah alone knoweth what will happen to +me after this.' When the youth heard his story, he sighed and said, 'O +thou unhappy! How few things thou hast seen in thy life compared with +mine. Know, O Bulukiya, that unlike thyself I have looked upon our lord +Solomon, in his life, and have seen things past count or reckoning. +Indeed, my story is strange and my case out of range, and I would have +thee abide with me, till I tell thee my history and acquaint thee how I +come to be sitting here.'" Hearing this much Hasib again interrupted +the Queen of the Serpents and said to her, "Allah upon thee, O Queen, +release me and command one of thy servants carry me forth to the +surface of the earth, and I will swear an oath to thee that I will +never enter the Hammam-bath as long as I live." But she said, "This is +a thing which may not be nor will I believe thee upon thine oath." When +he heard this, he wept and all the serpents wept on his account and +took to interceding for him with their Queen, saying, "We beseech thee, +bid one of us carry him forth to the surface of the earth, and he will +swear thee an oath never to enter the bath his life long." Now when +Yamlaykhα (for such was the Queen's name) heard their appeal, she +turned to Hasib and made him swear to her an oath; after which she bade +a serpent carry him forth to the surface of the earth. The serpent made +ready, but as she was about to go away with him, he turned to Queen +Yamlaykha and said, "I would fain have thee tell me the history of the +youth whom Bulukiya saw sitting between two tombs." So she said: "Know, +O Hasib, that when Bulukiya sat down by the youth and told him his +tale, from first to last, in order that the other might also recount +his adventures and explain the cause of his sitting between the two +tombs."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Four Hundred and Ninety-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Queen +continued: "When Bulukiya ended his recount, the youth said, 'How few +things of marvel hast thou seen in thy life, O unhappy! Now I have +looked upon our lord Solomon while he was yet living and I have +witnessed wonders beyond compt and conception.' And he began to relate + + + + +The Story of Janshah.[FN#536] + +'Know, O my brother, that my sire was a King called Teghmϊs, who +reigned over the land of Kabul and the Banu Shahlαn, ten thousand +warlike chiefs, each ruling over an hundred walled cities and a hundred +citadels; and he was suzerain also over seven vassal princes, and +tribute was brought to him from the broad lands between East and West. +He was just and equitable in his rule and Allah Almighty had given him +all this and had bestowed on him such mighty empire, yet had He not +vouchsafed him a son (though this was his dearest wish) to inherit the +kingdom after his decease. So one day it befell that he summoned the +Olema and astrologers, the mathematicians and almanac-makers, and said, +'Draw me my horoscope and look if Allah will grant me a son to succeed +me.' Accordingly, they consulted their books and calculated his +dominant star and the aspects thereof; after which they said to him, +'Know, O King, that thou shalt be blessed with a son, but by none other +than the daughter of the King of Khorαsαn.' Hearing this Teghmus joyed +with exceeding joy and, bestowing on the astrologers and wizards +treasure beyond numbering or reckoning, dismissed them. His chief Wazir +was a renowned warrior, by name Ayn Zαr, who was equal to a thousand +cavaliers in battle; so him he summoned and, repeating to him what the +astrologers had predicted, he said, 'O Wazir, it is my will that thou +equip thee for a march to Khorasan and demand for me the hand of its +King Bahrwan's daughter.' Receiving these orders the Wazir at once +proceeded to get ready for the journey and encamped without the town +with his troops and braves and retinue, whilst King Teghmus made ready +as presents for the King of Khorasan fifteen hundred loads of silks and +precious stones, pearls and rubies and other gems, besides gold and +silver; and he also prepared a prodigious quantity of all that goeth to +the equipment of a bride; then, loading them upon camels and mules, +delivered them to Ayn Zar, with a letter to the following purport. +'After invoking the blessing of Heaven, King Teghmus to King Bahrwan, +greeting. Know that we have taken counsel with the astrologers and +sages and mathematicians, and they tell us that we shall have boon of a +boy child, and that by none other than thy daughter. Wherefore I have +despatched unto thee my Wazir Ayn Zar, with great store of bridal gear, +and I have appointed him to stand in my stead and to enter into the +marriage-contract in my name. Furthermore I desire that of thy favour +thou wilt grant him his request without stay or delay; for it is my +own, and all graciousness thou showest him, I take for myself; but +beware of crossing me in this, for know, O King Bahrwan, that Allah +hath bestowed upon me the Kingdom of Kabul, and hath given me dominion +over the Banu Shahlan and vouchsafed me a mighty empire; and if I marry +thy daughter, we will be, I and thou, as one thing in kingship; and I +will send thee every year as much treasure as will suffice thee. And +this is my desire of thee.' Then King Teghmus sealed the letter with +his own ring and gave it to the Wazir, who departed with a great +company and journeyed till he drew near the capital of Khorasan. When +King Bahrwan heard of his approach, he despatched his principal Emirs +to meet him,[FN#537] with a convoy of food and drink and other +requisites, including forage for the steeds. So they fared forth with +the train till they met the Wazir; then, alighting without the city, +they exchanged salutations and abode there, eating and drinking, ten +days; at the end of which time they mounted and rode on into the town, +where they were met by King Bahrwan, who came out to greet the Wazir of +King Teghmus and alighting, embraced him and carried him to his +citadel. Then Ayn Zar brought out the presents and laid them before +King Bahrwan, together with the letter of King Teghmus, which when the +King read and understood, he joyed with joy exceeding and welcomed the +Wazir, saying, 'Rejoice in winning thy wish; and know that if King +Teghmus sought of me my life, verily I would give it to him.' Then he +went in forthright to his daughter and her mother and his kinsfolk, and +acquainting them with the King of Kabul's demand sought counsel of +them, and they said, 'Do what seemeth good to thee.'—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundredth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "King Bahrwan +consulted his daughter and her mother and his kinsfolk and they said, +'Do what seemeth good to thee.' So he returned straightway to the +Minister Ayn Zar and notified to him that his desire had been +fulfilled; and the Wazir, abode with him two months, at the end of +which time he said to him, 'We beseech thee to bestow upon us that +wherefore we came, so we may depart to our own land.' 'I hear and +obey,' answered the King. Then he prepared all the gear wanted for the +wedding; and when this was done he assembled his Wazirs and all his +Emirs and the Grandees of his realm and the monks and priests who tied +the knot of marriage between his daughter and King Teghmus by proxy. +And King Bahrwan bade decorate the city after the goodliest fashion and +spread the streets with carpets. Then he equipped his daughter for the +journey and gave her all manner of presents and rarities and precious +metals, such as none may describe; and Ayn Zar departed with the +Princess to his own country. When the news of their approach reached +King Teghmus, he bade celebrate the wedding festivities and adorn the +city; after which he went in unto the Princess and abated her +maidenhead; nor was it long before she conceived by him and, +accomplishing her months, bare a man-child like the moon on the night +of its full. When King Teghmus knew that his wife had given birth to a +goodly son, he rejoiced with exceeding joy and, summoning the sages and +astrologers and mathematicians, said to them, 'I would that ye draw the +horoscope of the newborn child with his ascendant and its aspects and +acquaint me what shall befall him in his lifetime.' So they made their +calculations and found them favourable; but, that he would, in his +fifteenth year, be exposed to perils and hardships, and that if he +survived, he would be happy and fortunate and become a greater king +than his father and a more powerful. The King rejoiced greatly in this +prediction and named the boy Janshah. Then he delivered him to the +nurses, wet and dry, who reared him excellently well till he reached +his fifth year, when his father taught him to read the Evangel and +instructed him in the art of arms and lunge of lance and sway of sword, +so that in less than seven years he was wont to ride a-hunting, and +a-chasing; he became a doughty champion, perfect in all the science of +the cavalarice and his father was delighted to hear of his knightly +prowess. It chanced one day that King Teghmus and his son accompanied +by the troops rode out for sport into the woods and wilds and hunted +till mid afternoon of the third day, when the Prince started a gazelle +of a rare colour, which fled before him. So he gave chase to it, +followed by seven of King Teghmus's white slaves all mounted on swift +steeds, and rode at speed after the gazelle, which fled before them +till she brought them to the sea shore. They all ran at her to take her +as their quarry, but she escaped from them and, throwing herself into +the waves,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and First Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "when Janshah and +the Mamelukes ran at the gazelle, to take her as their quarry, she +escaped from them and, throwing herself into the waves, swam out to a +fishing bark, that was moored near the shore, and sprang on board. +Janshah and his followers dismounted and, boarding the boat, made prize +of the gazelle and were minded to return to shore with her, when the +Prince espied a great island in the offing and said to his merry men, +'I have a longing to visit yonder island.' They answered, 'We hear and +obey,' and sailed on till they came to the island, where they landed +and amused themselves with exploring the place. Then they again +embarked and taking with them the gazelle, set out to return homeward, +but the murk of evening overtook them and they missed their way on the +main. Moreover a strong wind arose and crave the boat into mid-ocean, +so that when they awoke in the morning, they found themselves lost at +sea. Such was their case; but as regards King Teghmus, when he missed +his son, he commanded his troops to make search for him in separate +bodies; so they dispersed on all sides and a company of them, coming to +the sea shore, found there the Prince's white slave whom he had left in +charge of the horses. They asked him what was become of his master and +the other six, and he told them what had passed whereupon they took him +with them and returned to the King and acquainted him with what they +had learnt. When Teghmus heard their report, he wept with sore weeping +and cast the crown from his head, biting his hands for vexation. Then +he rose forthright and wrote letters and despatched them to all the +islands of the sea. Moreover he got together an hundred ships and +filling them with troops, sent them to sail about in quest of Janshah, +while he himself withdrew with his troops to his capital, where he +abode in sore concern. As for Janshah's mother, when she heard of his +loss she buffeted her face and began the mourning ceremonies for her +son making sure that he was dead. Meanwhile, Janshah and his men ceased +not driving before the wind and those in search of them cruised about +for ten days till, finding no trace they returned and reported failure +to the King. But a stiff gale caught the Prince's craft which went +spooning till they made a second island, where they landed and walked +about. Presently they came upon a spring of running water in the midst +of the island and saw from afar a man sitting hard by it. So they went +up to him and saluted him, and he returned their salam, speaking in a +voice like the whistle[FN#538] of birds. Whilst Janshah stood +marvelling at the man's speech he looked right and left and suddenly +split himself in twain, and each half went a different way.[FN#539] +Then there came down from the hills a multitude of men of all kinds, +beyond count and reckoning; and they no sooner reached the spring, than +each one divided into two halves and rushed on Janshah and his +Mamelukes to eat them. When the voyagers saw this, they turned and fled +seawards; but the cannibals pursued them and caught and ate three of +the slaves, leaving only three slaves who with Janshah reached the boat +in safety; then launching her made for the water and sailed nights and +days without knowing whither their ship went. They killed the gazelle, +and lived on her flesh, till the winds drove them to a third island +which was full of trees and waters and flower-gardens and orchards +laden with all fashion of fruits: and streams strayed under the tree +shade: brief, the place was a Garden of Eden. The island pleased the +Prince and he said to his companions, 'Which of you will land and +explore?' Then said one of the slaves, 'That will I do'; but he +replied, 'This thing may not be; you must all land and explore the +place while I abide in the boat.' So he set them ashore,"— And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "the Prince set +them ashore, and they searched the island, East and West, but found no +one; then they fared on inland to the heart thereof, till they came to +a Castle compassed about with ramparts of white marble, within which +was a palace of the clearest crystal and, set in its centre a garden +containing all manner fruits beyond description, both fresh and dry, +and flowers of grateful odour and trees and birds singing upon the +boughs. Amiddlemost the garden was a vast basin of water, and beside it +a great open hall with a raised dais whereon stood a number of stools +surrounding a throne of red gold, studded with all kinds of jewels and +especially rubies and seeing the beauty of the Castle and of the Garden +they entered and explored in all directions, but found no one there, so +after rummaging the Castle they returned to Janshah and told him what +they had seen. When he heard their report, he cried, 'Needs must I +solace myself with a sight of it;' so he landed and accompanied them to +the palace, which he entered marvelling at the goodliness of the place. +They then visited every part of the gardens and ate of the fruits and +continued walking till it waxed dark, when they returned to the estrade +and sat down, Janshah on the throne in the centre and the three others +on the stools ranged to the right and left. Then the Prince, there +seated, called to mind his separation from his father's +throne-city[FN#540] and country and friends and kinsfolk; and fell +a-weeping and lamenting over their loss whilst his men wept around him. +And as they were thus sorrowing behold, they heard a mighty clamour, +that came from seaward and looking in the direction of the clamour saw +a multitude of apes, as they were swarming locusts. Now the castle and +the island belonged to these apes, who, finding the strangers' boat +moored to the strand, had scuttled it and after repaired to the palace, +where they came upon Janshah and his men seated." Here the Serpent- +queen again broke off her recital saying, "All this, O Hasib, was told +to Bulukiya by the young man sitting between the two tombs." Quoth +Hasib, "And what did Janshah do with the apes?"; so the Queen resumed +her tale: "He and his men were sore affrighted at the appearance of the +apes, but a company of them came up to the throne whereon he sat and, +kissing the earth before him, stood awhile in his presence with their +paws upon their breasts in posture of respect. Then another troop +brought to the castle gazelles which they slaughtered and skinned; and +roasting pieces of the flesh till fit for food they laid them on +platters of gold and silver and spreading the table, made signs to +Janshah and his men to eat. The Prince and his followers came down from +their seats and ate, and the apes ate with them, till they were +satisfied, when the apes took away the meat and set on fruits of which +they partook and praised Allah the most Highest. Then Janshah asked the +apes by signs what they were and to whom the palace belonged, and they +answered him by signals, 'Know ye that this island belonged of yore to +our lord Solomon, son of David (on both of whom be peace!), and he used +to come hither once every year for his solace,'"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Janshah +asked the apes by signs to whom the palace belonged, they answered him +by signals, "'Of a truth this place belonged of yore to our lord +Solomon, son of David (on both of whom be peace!), who used to come +hither once every year for his solace, and then wend his ways.' +Presently the apes continued, 'And know, O King, that thou art become +our Sultan and we are thy servants; so eat and drink, and whatso thou +ever bid us, that will we do.' So saying, they severally kissed the +earth between the hands of Janshah and all took their departure. The +Prince slept that night on the throne and his men on the stools about +him, and on the morrow, at daybreak, the four Wazirs or Captains of the +apes presented themselves before him, attended by their troops, who +ranged themselves about him, rank after rank, until the place was +crowded. Then the Wazirs approached and exhorted him by signs to do +justice amongst them and rule them righteously; after which the apes +cried out to one another and went away, all save a small party which +remained in presence to serve him. After awhile, there came up a +company of apes with huge dogs in the semblance of horses, each wearing +about his head a massive chain; and signed to Janshah and his three +followers to mount and go with them. So they mounted, marvelling at the +greatness of the dogs, and rode forth, attended by the four Wazirs and +a host of apes like swarming locusts, some riding on dogs and others +afoot till they came to the sea-shore. Janshah looked for the boat +which brought him and finding it scuttled turned to the Wazirs and +asked how this had happened to it; whereto they answered, 'Know, O +King, that, when thou camest to our island, we kenned that thou wouldst +be Sultan over us and we feared lest ye all flee from us, in our +absence; and embark in the boat, so we sank it.' When Janshah heard +this, he turned to his Mamelukes and said to them, 'We have no means of +escaping from these apes, and we must patiently await the ordinance of +the Almighty.' Then they fared on inland and ceased not faring till +they came to the banks of a river, on whose other side rose a high +mountain, whereon Janshah saw a multitude of Ghuls. So he turned to the +apes and asked them, 'What are these Ghuls?' and they answered, 'Know, +O King, that these Ghuls are our mortal foes and we come hither to do +battle with them.' Janshah marvelled to see them riding horses, and was +startled at the vastness of their bulk and the strangeness of their +semblance; for some of them had heads like bulls and others like +camels. As soon as the Ghuls espied the army of the apes, they charged +down to the river bank and standing there, fell to pelting them with +stones as big as maces; and between them there befell a sore fight. +Presently, Janshah, seeing that the Ghuls were getting the better of +the apes, cried out to his men, saying, 'Unease your bows and arrows +and shoot at them your best shafts and keep them off from us.' They did +so and slew of the Ghuls much people, when there fell upon them sore +dismay and they turned to flee; but the apes, seeing Janshah's prowess, +forded the river and headed by their Sultan chased the Ghuls, killing +many of them in the pursuit, till they reached the high mountain where +they disappeared. And while exploring the said mountain Janshah found a +tablet of alabaster, whereon was written, 'O thou who enterest this +land, know that thou wilt become Sultan over these apes and that from +them there is no escape for thee, except by the passes that run east +and west through the mountains. If thou take the eastern pass, thou +wilt fare through a country swarming with Ghuls and wild beasts, Marids +and Ifrits, and thou wilt come, after three months' journeying, to the +ocean which encompasseth the earth; but, if thou travel by the western +pass, it will bring thee, after four months' journeying, to the head of +the Wady of Emmets.[FN#541] When thou hast followed the road, that +leads through this mountain, ten days,' "—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Janshah read this +much upon the tablet and found, at the end of the inscription, "'Then +thou wilt come to a great river, whose current is so swift that it +blindeth the eyes. Now this river drieth up every Sabbath,[FN#542] and +on the opposite bank lies a city wholly inhabited by Jews, who the +faith of Mohammed refuse; there is not a Moslem among the band nor is +there other than this city in the land. Better therefore lord it over +the apes, for so long as thou shalt tarry amongst them they will be +victorious over the Ghuls. And know also that he who wrote this tablet +was the lord Solomon, son of David (on both be peace!).' When Janshah +read these words, he wept sore and repeated them to his men. Then they +mounted again and, surrounded by the army of the apes who were +rejoicing in their victory, returned to the castle. Here Janshah abode, +Sultaning over them, for a year and a half. And at the end of this +time, he one day commanded the ape-army to mount and go forth a hunting +with him, and they rode out into the woods and wilds, and fared on from +place to place, till they approached the Wady of Emmets, which Janshah +knew by the description of it upon the alabaster tablet. Here he bade +them dismount and they all abode there, eating and drinking a space of +ten days, after which Janshah took his men apart one night and said, 'I +purpose we flee through the Valley of Emmets and make for the town of +the Jews; it may be Allah will deliver us from these apes and we will +go God's ways.' They replied, 'We hear and we obey:' so he waited till +some little of the night was spent then, donning his armour and girding +his sword and dagger and such like weapons, and his men doing likewise, +they set out and fared on westwards till morning. When the apes awoke +and missed Janshah and his men, they knew that they had fled. So they +mounted and pursued them, some taking the eastern pass and others that +which led to the Wady of Emmets, nor was it long before the apes came +in sight of the fugitives, as they were about to enter the valley, and +hastened after them. When Janshah and his men saw them, they fled into +the Emmet-valley; but the apes soon overtook them and would have slain +them, when behold, there rose out of the earth a multitude of ants like +swarming locusts, as big as dogs, and charged home upon the apes. They +devoured many of their foes, and these also slew many of the ants; but +help came to the emmets: now an ant would go up to an ape and smite him +and cut him in twain, whilst ten apes could hardly master one ant and +bear him away and tear him in sunder. The sore battle lasted till the +evening but the emmets were victorious. In the gloaming Janshah and his +men took to flight and fled along the sole of the Wady."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "in the gloaming +Janshah and his men took to flight and fled along the sole of the Wady +till the morning. With the break of day, the apes were up and at them, +which when the Prince saw, he shouted to his men, 'Smite with your +swords.' So they bared their blades and laid on load right and left, +till there ran at them an ape, with tusks like an elephant, and smote +one of the Mamelukes and cut him in sunder. Then the apes redoubled +upon Janshah and he fled with his followers into the lower levels of +the valley, where he saw a vast river and by its side a mighty army of +ants. When the emmets espied Janshah they pushed on and surrounded him, +and one of the slaves fell to smiting them with his sword and cutting +them in twain; whereupon the whole host set upon him and slew him. At +this pass, behold, up came the apes from over the mountain and fell in +numbers upon Janshah; but he tore off his clothes and, plunging into +the river, with his remaining servant, struck out for the middle of the +stream. Presently, he caught sight of a tree on the other bank; so he +swam up to it and laying hold of one of its branches, hung to it and +swung himself ashore, but as for the last Mameluke the current carried +him away and dashed him to pieces against the mountain. Thereupon +Janshah fell to wringing his clothes and spreading them in the sun to +dry, what while there befell a fierce fight between the apes and the +ants, until the apes gave up the pursuit and returned to their own +land. Meanwhile, Janshah, who abode alone on the river-bank, could do +naught but shed tears till nightfall, when he took refuge in a cavern +and there passed the dark hours, in great fear and feeling desolate for +the loss of his slaves. At daybreak awaking from his sleep he set out +again and fared on nights and days, eating of the herbs of the earth, +till he came to the mountain which burnt like fire, and thence he made +the river which dried up every Sabbath. Now it was a mighty stream and +on the opposite bank stood a great city, which was the capital of the +Jews mentioned in the tablet. Here he abode till the next Sabbath, when +the river dried up and he walked over to the other side and entered the +Jew city, but saw none in the streets. So he wandered about till he +came to the door of a homestead, which he opened and entering, espied +within the people of the house sitting in silence and speaking not a +syllable. Quoth he, 'I am a stranger and anhungered;' and they signed +to him, as to say, 'Eat and drink, but speak not.'[FN#543] So he ate +and drank and slept that night and, when morning dawned, the master of +the house greeted him and bade him welcome and asked him, 'Whence +comest thou and whither art thou bound?' At these words Janshah wept +sore and told him all that had befallen him and how his father was King +of Kabul; whereat the Jew marvelled and said, 'Never heard we of that +city, but we have heard from the merchants of the caravans that in that +direction lieth a land called Al-Yaman.' 'How far is that land from +this place?' asked Janshah, and the Jew answered, 'The Cafilah +merchants pretend that it is a two years and three months' march from +their land hither.' Quoth Janshah, 'And when doth the caravan come?' +Quoth the Jew, 'Next year 'twill come.' "—And Shahrazed perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Jew was +questioned anent the coming of the caravan, he replied, "'Next year +'twill come.' At these words the Prince wept sore and fell a-sorrowing +for himself and his Mamelukes; and lamenting his separation from his +mother and father and all which had befallen him in his wanderings. +Then said the Jew, 'O young man, do not weep, but sojourn with us till +the caravan shall come, when we will send thee with it to thine own +country.' So he tarried with the Jew two whole months and every day he +went out walking in the streets for his solace and diversion. Now it +chanced one day, whilst he paced about the main thoroughfares, as of +wont, and was bending his steps right and left, he heard a crier crying +aloud and saying, 'Who will earn a thousand gold pieces and a slave- +girl of surpassing beauty and loveliness by working for me between +morning and noontide?' But no one answered him and Janshah said in his +mind, 'Were not this work dangerous and difficult, he would not offer a +thousand diners and a fair girl for half a day's labour.' Then he +accosted the crier and said, 'I will do the work;' so the man carried +him to a lofty mansion where they found one who was a Jew and a +merchant, seated on an ebony chair, to whom quoth the crier, standing +respectfully before him, 'O merchant, I have cried every day these +three months, and none hath answered, save this young man.' Hearing his +speech the Jew welcomed Janshah, led him into a magnificent +sitting-room and signalled to bring food. So the servants spread the +table and set thereon all manner meats, of which the merchant and +Janshah ate, and washed their hands. Then wine was served up and they +drank; after which the Jew rose and bringing Janshah a purse of a +thousand diners and a slave-girl of rare beauty, said to him, 'Take +maid and money to thy hire.' Janshah took them and seated the girl by +his side when the trader resumed, 'To-morrow to the work!'; and so +saying he withdrew and Janshah slept with the damsel that night. As +soon as it was morning, the merchant bade his slaves clothe him in a +costly suit of silk whenas he came out of the Hammam-Bath. So they did +as he bade them and brought him back to the house, whereupon the +merchant called for harp and lute and wine and they drank and played +and made merry till the half of the night was past, when the Jew +retired to his Harim and Janshah lay with his slave-girl till the dawn. +Then he went to the bath and on his return, the merchant came to him +and said, 'Now I wish thee to do the work for me.' 'I hear and obey,' +replied Janshah. So the merchant bade his slaves bring two she- mules +and set Janshah on one, mounting the other himself. Then they rode +forth from the city and fared on from morn till noon, when they made a +lofty mountain, to whose height was no limit. Here the Jew dismounted, +ordering Janshah to do the same; and when he obeyed the merchant gave +him a knife and a cord, saying, 'I desire that thou slaughter this +mule.' So Janshah tucked up his sleeves and skirts and going up to the +mule, bound her legs with the cord, then threw her and cut her throat; +after which he skinned her and lopped off her head and legs and she +became a mere heap of flesh. Then said the Jew, 'Slit open the mule's +belly and enter it and I will sew it up on thee. There must thou abide +awhile and whatsoever thou seest in her belly, acquaint me therewith.' +So Janshah slit the mule's belly and crept into it, whereupon the +merchant sewed it up on him and withdrew to a distance,"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "the merchant +sewed up the mule's belly on Janshah and, withdrawing to a distance, +hid himself in the skirts of the mountain. After a while a huge bird +swooped down on the dead mule and snatching it up, flew up with it to +the top of the mountain, where it set down the quarry and would have +eaten it; but Janshah, feeling the bird begin to feed, slit the mule's +belly and came forth. When the bird saw him, it took fright at him and +flew right away; whereupon he stood up and looking right and left, saw +nothing but the carcasses of dead men, mummied by the sun, and +exclaimed, 'There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, +the Glorious, the Great!' Then he looked down the precipice and espied +the merchant standing at the mountain-foot, looking for him. As soon as +the Jew caught sight of him, he called out to him, 'Throw me down of +the stones which are about thee, that I may direct thee to a way +whereby thou mayst descend.' So Janshah threw him down some two hundred +of the stones, which were all rubies,[FN#544] chrysolites and other +gems of price; after which he called out to him, saying, 'Show me the +way down and I will throw thee as many more.' But the Jew gathered up +the stones and, binding them on the back of the mule, went his way +without answering a word and left Janshah alone on the mountain-top. +When the Prince found himself deserted, he began to weep and implore +help of Heaven, and thus he abode three days; after which he rose and +fared on over the mountainous ground two month's space, feeding upon +hill-herbs; and he ceased not faring till he came to its skirts and +espied afar off a Wady full of fruitful trees and birds harmonious, +singing the praises of Allah, the One, the Victorious. At this sight he +joyed with great joy and stayed not his steps till, after an hour or +so, he came to a ravine in the rocks, through which the rain torrents +fell into the valley. He made his way down the cleft till he reached +the Wady which he had seen from the mountain-top and walked on therein, +gazing right and left, nor ceased so doing until he came in sight of a +great castle, towering high in air. As he drew near the gates he saw an +old man of comely aspect and face shining with light standing thereat +with a staff of carnelian in his hand, and going up to him, saluted +him. The Shaykh returned his salam and bade him welcome, saying, 'Sit +down, O my son.' So he sat down at the door of the castle and the old +man said to him, 'How camest thou to this land, untrodden by son of +Adam before thee, and whither art thou bound?' When Janshah heard his +words he wept bitterly at the thought of all the hardships he had +suffered and his tears choked his speech. Quoth the Shaykh, 'O my son, +leave weeping; for indeed thou makest my heart ache.' So saying, he +rose and set somewhat of food before him and said to him, 'Eat.' He ate +and praised Allah Almighty; after which the old man besought him +saying, 'O my son, I would have thee tell me thy tale and acquaint me +with thine adventures.' So Janshah related to him all that had befallen +him, from first to last, whereat the Shaykh marvelled with exceeding +marvel. Then said the Prince, 'Prithee inform me who is the lord of +this valley and to whom doth this great castle belong?' Answered the +old man, 'Know, O my son, this valley and all that is therein and this +castle with all it containeth belong to the lord Solomon, son of David +(on both be peace!). As for me, my name is Shaykh Nasr,[FN#545] King of +the Birds; for thou must know that the lord Solomon committed this +castle to my charge,'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "Shaykh Nasr +pursued, 'Thou must know that the lord Solomon com misted this castle +to my charge and taught me the language of birds and made me ruler over +all the fowls which be in the world; wherefore each and every come +hither once in the twelvemonth, and I pass them in review: then they +depart; and this is why I dwell here.' When Janshah heard this, he wept +sore and said to the Shaykh, 'O my father, how shall I do to get back +to my native land?' Replied the old man, 'Know, O my son, that thou art +near to the mountain Kaf, and there is no departing for thee from this +place till the birds come, when I will give thee in charge to one of +them, and he will bear thee to thy native country. Meanwhile tarry with +me here and eat and drink and divert thyself with viewing the +apartments of this castle.' So Janshah abode with Shaykh Nasr, taking +his pleasure in the Wady and eating of its fruits and laughing and +making merry with the old man, and leading a right joyous life till the +day appointed for the birds to pay their annual visit to the Governor. +Thereupon the Shaykh said to him, 'O Janshah, take the keys of the +castle and solace thyself with exploring all its apartments and viewing +whatever be therein, but as regards such a room, beware and again +beware of opening its door; and if thou gainsay me and open it and +enter there, through nevermore shalt thou know fair fortune.' He +repeated this charge again and again with much instance; then he went +forth to meet the birds, which came up, kind by kind, and kissed his +hands. Such was his case; but as regards Janshah, he went round about +the castle, opening the various doors and viewing the apartments into +which they led, till he came to the room which Shaykh Nasr had warned +him not to open or enter. He looked at the door and its fashion pleased +him, for it had on it a padlock of gold, and he said to himself, 'This +room must be goodlier than all the others; would Heaven I wist what is +within it, that Shaykh Nasr should forbid me to open its door! There is +no help but that I enter and see what is in this apartment; for whatso +is decreed unto the creature perforce he must fulfil.' So he put out +his hand and unlocked the door and entering, found himself before a +great basin; and hard by it stood a little pavilion, builded all of +gold and silver and crystal, with lattice-windows of jacinth. The floor +was paved with green beryl and balas rubies and emeralds and other +jewels, set in the ground-work mosaic-fashion, and in the midmost of +the pavilion was a jetting fountain in a golden basin, full of water +and girt about with figures of beasts and birds, cunningly wrought of +gold and silver and casting water from their mouths. When the zephyr +blew on them, it entered their ears and therewith the figures sang out +with birdlike song, each in its own tongue. Beside the fountain was a +great open saloon with a high dais whereon stood a vast throne of +carnelian, inlaid with pearls and jewels, over which was spread a tent +of green silk fifty cubits in width and embroidered with gems fit for +seal rings and purfled with precious metals. Within this tent was a +closet containing the carpet of the lord Solomon (on whom be peace!); +and the pavilion was compassed about with a vast garden full of fruit +trees and streams; while near the palace were beds of roses and basil +and eglantine and all manner sweet-smelling herbs and flowers. And the +trees bore on the same boughs fruits fresh and dry and the branches +swayed gracefully to the wooing of the wind. All this was in that one +apartment and Janshah wondered thereat till he was weary of wonderment; +and he set out to solace himself in the palace and the garden and to +divert himself with the quaint and curious things they contained. And +first looking at the basin he saw that the gravels of its bed were gems +and jewels and noble metals; and many other strange things were in that +apartment."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "Janshah saw many +strange things and admirable in that apartment. Then he entered the +pavilion and mounting the throne, fell asleep under the tent set up +thereover. He slept for a time and, presently awaking, walked forth and +sat down on a stool before the door. As he sat, marvelling at the +goodliness of that place, there flew up from mid sky three birds, in +dove-form but big as eagles, and lighted on the brink of the basin, +where they sported awhile. Then they put off their feathers and became +three maidens,[FN#546] as they were moons, that had not their like in +the whole world. They plunged into the basin and swam about and +disported themselves and laughed, while Janshah marvelled at their +beauty and loveliness and the grace and symmetry of their shapes. +Presently, they came up out of the water and began walking about and +taking their solace in the garden; and Janshah seeing them land was +like to lose his wits. He rose and followed them, and when he overtook +them, he saluted them and they returned his salam; after which quoth +he, 'Who are ye, O illustrious Princesses, and whence come ye?' Replied +the youngest damsel, 'We are from the invisible world of Almighty Allah +and we come hither to divert ourselves.' He marvelled at their beauty +and said to the youngest, 'Have ruth on me and deign kindness to me and +take pity on my case and on all that hath befallen me in my life.' +Rejoined she, 'Leave this talk and wend thy ways'; whereat the tears +streamed from his eyes, and he sighed heavily and repeated these +couplets, + +'She shone out in the garden in garments all of green, * With + + + open vest and collars and flowing hair beseen: + + +'What is thy name?' I asked her, and she replied, 'I'm she * Who + + + roasts the hearts of lovers on coals of love and teen.' + + +Of passion and its anguish to her made my moan; * 'Upon a rock,' + + + she answered, 'thy plaints are wasted clean.' + + +'Even if thy heart,' I told her, 'be rock in very deed, * Yet + + + hath God made fair water well from the rock, I + + + ween.'[FN#547] + + + +When the maidens heard his verses, they laughed and played and sang and +made merry. Then he brought them somewhat of fruit, and they ate and +drank and slept with him till the morning, when they donned their +feather-suits, and resuming dove shape flew off and went their way. But +as he saw them disappearing from sight, his reason well nigh fled with +them, and he gave a great cry and fell down in a fainting fit and lay +a-swooning all that day. While he was in this case Shaykh Nasr returned +from the Parliament of the Fowls and sought for Janshah, that he might +send him with them to his native land, but found him not and knew that +he had entered the forbidden room. Now he had already said to the +birds, 'With me is a young man, a mere youth, whom destiny brought +hither from a distant land; and I desire of you that ye take him up and +carry him to his own country.' And all answered, 'We hear and we obey.' +So he ceased not searching for Janshah till he came to the forbidden +door and seeing it open he entered and found the Prince lying a-swoon +under a tree. He fetched scented waters and sprinkled them on his face, +whereupon he revived and turned."— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Tenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "when Shaykh Nasr +saw Janshah lying a-swoon under the tree he fetched him somewhat of +scented waters and sprinkled them on his face. Thereupon he revived and +turned right and left, but seeing none by him save the Shaykh, sighed +heavily and repeated these couplets, + +'Like fullest moon she shines on happiest night, * Soft sided + + + fair, with slender shape bedight. + + +Her eye-babes charm the world with gramarye; * Her lips remind of + + + rose and ruby light. + + +Her jetty locks make night upon her hips; * Ware, lovers, ware ye + + + of that curl's despight! + + +Yea, soft her sides are, but in love her heart * Outhardens + + + flint, surpasses syenite: + + +And bows of eyebrows shower glancey shafts * Despite the distance + + + never fail to smite. + + +Then, ah, her beauty! all the fair it passes; * Nor any rival her + + + who see the light.' + + + +When Shaykh Nasr heard these verses, he said, 'O my son, did I not warn +thee not to open that door and enter that room? But now, O my son, tell +me what thou sawest therein and acquaint me with all that betided +thee.' So Janshah related to him all that had passed between him and +the three maidens, and Shaykh Nasr, who sat listening in silence said, +'Know, O my son, that these three maidens are of the daughters of the +Jann and come hither every year for a day, to divert themselves and +make merry until mid afternoon, when they return to their own country.' +Janshah asked, 'And where is their country?'; and the old man answered, +'By Allah, O my son, I wot not:' presently adding, 'but now take heart +and put away this love from thee and come with me, that I may send thee +to thine own land with the birds.' When Janshah heard this, he gave a +great cry and fell down in a trance; and presently he came to himself, +and said, 'O my father indeed I care not to return to my native land: +all I want is to foregather with these maidens and know, O my father, +that I will never again name my people, though I die before thee.' Then +he wept and cried, 'Enough for me that I look upon the face of her I +love, although it be only once in the year!' And he sighed deeply and +repeated these couplets, + +'Would Heaven the Phantom[FN#548] spared the friend at night * + + + And would this love for man were ever dight! + + +Were not my heart afire for love of you, * Tears ne'er had + + + stained my cheeks nor dimmed my sight. + + +By night and day, I bid my heart to bear * Its griefs, while + + + fires of love my body blight.' + + + +Then he fell at Shaykh Nasr's feet and kissed them and wept sore, +crying, 'Have pity on me, so Allah take pity on thee and aid me in my +strait so Allah aid thee!' Replied the old man, 'By Allah O my son, I +know nothing of these maidens nor where may be their country; but, O my +son, if thy heart be indeed set on one of them, tarry with me till this +time next year for they will assuredly reappear; and, when the day of +their coming draweth near, hide thyself under a tree in the garden. As +soon as they have alighted and doffed their feather-robes and plunged +into the lake and are swimming about at a distance from their clothes, +seize the vest of her whom thy soul desireth. When they see thee, they +will come a bank and she, whose coat thou hast taken, will accost thee +and say to thee with the sweetest of speech and the most witching of +smiles, 'Give me my dress, O my brother, that I may don it and veil my +nakedness withal.' But if thou yield to her prayer and give her back +the vest thou wilt never win thy wish: nay, she will don it and fly +away to her folk and thou wilt nevermore see her again Now when thou +hast gained the vest, clap it under thine armpit and hold it fast, till +I return from the Parliament of the Fowls, when I will make accord +between thee and her and send thee back to thy native land, and the +maiden with thee. And this, O my son, is all I can do for thee, nothing +more.' "—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Eleventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "quoth Shaykh +Nasr to Janshah, 'Hold fast the feather-robe of her thy soul desireth +and give it not back to her till I return from the Parliament of the +Fowls. And this, O my son, is all I can do for thee, nothing more.' +When Janshah heard this, his heart was solaced and he abode with Shaykh +Nasr yet another year, counting the days as they passed until the day +of the coming of the birds. And when at last the appointed time arrived +the old man said to him, 'Do as I enjoined thee and charged thee with +the maidens in the matter of the feather-dress, for I go to meet the +birds;' and Janshah replied, 'I hear and I obey, O my father.' Then the +Shaykh departed whilst the Prince walked into the garden and hid +himself under a tree, where none could see him. Here he abode a first +day and a second and a third, but the maidens came not; whereat he was +sore troubled and wept and sighed from a heart hard tried; and he +ceased not weeping and wailing till he fainted away. When he came to +himself, he fell to looking now at the basin and now at the welkin, and +anon at the earth and anon at the open country, whilst his heart +grieved for stress of love-longing. As he was in this case, behold, the +three doves appeared in the firmament, eagle-sized as before, and flew +till they reached the garden and lighted down beside the basin. They +turned right and left; but saw no one, man or Jann; so they doffed +their feather-suits and became three maidens. Then they plunged into +the basin and swam about, laughing and frolicking; and all were +mother-naked and fair as bars of virgin silver. Quoth the eldest, 'O my +sister, I fear lest there be some one lying ambushed for us in the +pavilion. Answered the second, 'O sister, since the days of King +Solomon none hath entered the pavilion, be he man or Jann;' and the +youngest added, laughing, 'By Allah, O my sisters, if there be any +hidden there, he will assuredly take none but me.' Then they continued +sporting and laughing and Janshah's heart kept fluttering for stress of +passion: but he hid behind the tree so that he saw without being seen. +Presently they swam out to the middle of the basin leaving their +clothes on the bank. Hereupon he sprang to his feet, and running like +the darting levee to the basin's brink, snatched up the feather-vest of +the youngest damsel, her on whom his heart was set and whose name was +Shamsah the Sun-maiden. At this the girls turned and seeing him, were +affrighted and veiled their shame from him in the water. Then they swam +near the shore and looking on his favour saw that he was bright faced +as the moon on the night of fullness and asked him, 'Who art thou and +how camest thou hither and why hast thou taken the clothes of the lady +Shamsah?'; and he answered, 'Come hither to me and I will tell you my +tale.' Quoth Shamsah, 'What deed is this, and why hast thou taken my +clothes, rather than those of my sisters?' Quoth he, 'O light of mine +eyes, come forth of the water, and I will recount thee my case and +acquaint thee why I chose thee out.' Quoth she, 'O my lord and coolth +of my eyes and fruit of my heart, give me my clothes, that I may put +them on and cover my nakedness withal; then will I come forth to thee.' +But he replied, 'O Princess of beautiful ones, how can I give thee back +thy clothes and slay myself for love longing? Verily, I will not give +them to thee, till Shaykh Nasr, the king of the birds, shall return.' +Quoth she, 'If thou wilt not give me my clothes withdraw a little apart +from us, that my sisters may land and dress themselves and lend me +somewhat wherewithal to cover my shame.' 'I hear and obey,' answered +he, and walked away from them into the pavilion, whereupon the three +Princesses came out and the two elder, donning their dress, gave +Shamsah somewhat thereof, not enough to fly withal, and she put it on +and came forth of the water, and stood before him, as she were the +rising full moon or a browsing gazelle. Then Shamsah entered the +pavilion, where Janshah was still sitting on the throne; so she saluted +him and taking seat near him, said, 'O fair of face, thou hast undone +thyself and me; but tell us thy adventures that we may ken how it is +with thee.' At these words he wept till he drenched his dress with his +tears; and when she saw that he was distracted for love of her, she +rose and taking him by the hand, made him sit by her side and wiped +away the drops with her sleeve; and said she, 'O fair of face, leave +this weeping and tell us thy tale.' So he related to her all that had +befallen him and described to her all he had seen,"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Twelfth Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "the lady +Shamsah said to Janshah, 'Tell us thy tale;' so he related to her all +that had befallen him; and, after she had lent attentive ear she sighed +and said, 'O my lord, since thou art so fondly in love with me, give me +my dress, that I may fly to my folk, I and my sisters, and tell them +what affection thou hast conceived for me, and after I will come back +to thee and carry thee to thine own country.' When he heard this, he +wept sore and replied, 'Is it lawful to thee before Allah to slay me +wrongfully?' She asked, 'O my lord, why should I do such wrongous +deed?'; and he answered, 'If I give thee thy gear thou wilt fly away +from me, and I shall die forthright.' Princess Shamsah laughed at this +and so did her sisters; then said she to him, 'Be of good cheer and +keep thine eyes cool and clear, for I must needs marry thee.' So +saying, she bent down to him and embraced him and pressing him to her +breast kissed him between the eyes and on his cheeks. They clipped and +clasped each other awhile, after which they drew apart and sat down on +the throne. Then the eldest Princess went out into the garden and, +plucking somewhat of fruits and flowers, brought them into the +pavilion; and they ate and drank and laughed and sported and made +merry. Now Janshah was singular in beauty and loveliness and slender +shape and symmetry and grace, and the Princess Shamsah said to him, 'O +my beloved, by Allah, I love thee with exceeding love and will never +leave thee!' When he heard her words, his breast broadened and he +laughed for joy till he showed his teeth; and they abode thus awhile in +mirth and gladness and frolic. And when they were at the height of +their pleasure and joyance, behold, Shaykh Nasr returned from the +Parliament of the Fowls and came in to them; whereupon they all rose to +him and saluted him and kissed his hands. He gave them welcome and bade +them be seated. So they sat down and he said to Princess Shamsah, +'Verily this youth loveth thee with exceeding love; Allah upon thee, +deal kindly with him, for he is of the great ones of mankind and of the +sons of the kings, and his father ruleth over the land of Kabul and his +reign compasseth a mighty empire.' Quoth she, 'I hear and I obey thy +behest'; and, kissing the Shaykh's hands stood before him in respect. +Quoth he, 'If thou say sooth, swear to me by Allah that thou wilt never +betray him, what while thou abidest in the bonds of life.' So she swore +a great oath that she would never betray Janshah, but would assuredly +marry him, and added, 'Know, O Shaykh Nasr, that I never will forsake +him.' The Shaykh believed in her oath and said to Janshah, 'Thanks be +to Allah, who hath made you arrive at this understanding!' Hereupon the +Prince rejoiced with exceeding joy, and he and Shamsah abode three +months with Shaykh Nasr, feasting and toying and making merry."— And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Thirteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that, "Janshah and the +lady Shamsah abode three months with Shaykh Nasr, feasting and toying +and making merry. And at the end of that time she said to Janshah, 'I +wish to go with thee to thy mother land, where thou shalt marry me and +we will abide there.' 'To hear is to obey,' answered he and took +counsel with Shaykh Nasr who said to him, 'Go thou home, I commend her +to thy care.' Then said she, 'O Shaykh Nasr, bid him render me my +feather-suit.' So the Shaykh bade Janshah give it to her, and he went +straightways into the pavilion and brought it out for her. There upon +she donned it and said to him, 'Mount my back and shut thine eyes and +stop thine ears, so thou mayst not hear the roar of the revolving +sphere; and keep fast hold of my feathers, lest thou fall off.' He did +as she bade him and, as she stretched her wings to fly, Shaykh Nasr +said, 'Wait a while till I describe to thee the land Kabul, lest you +twain miss your way.' So she delayed till he had said his say and had +bidden them farewell, commending the Prince to her care. She took leave +of her sisters and bade them return to her folk and tell them what had +befallen her with Janshah; then, rising into the air without stay or +delay she flew off, like the wafts of the wind or the ramping leven. +Her sisters also took flight and returning home delivered her message +to their people. And she stayed not her course from the forenoon till +the hour of mid- afternoon prayer (Janshah being still on her back), +when she espied afar off a Wady abounding in trees and streams and she +said to Janshah, 'I am thinking to alight in this valley, that we may +solace ourselves amongst its trees and herbage and here rest for the +night.' Quoth he, "Do what seemeth meet to thee!' So she swooped down +from the lift and alighted in the Wady, when Janshah dismounted and +kissing her between the eyes,[FN#549] sat with her awhile on the bank +of a river there; then they rose and wandered about the valley, taking +their pleasure therein and eating of the fruits of the trees, until +nightfall, when they lay down under a tree and slept till the morning +dawned. As soon as it was day, the Princess arose and, bidding Janshah +mount, flew on with him till noon, when she perceived by the appearance +of the buildings which Shaykh Nasr had described to her, that they were +nearing the city Kabul. So she swooped down from the welkin and +alighted in a wide plain, a blooming champaign, wherein were gazelles +straying and springs playing and rivers flowing and ripe fruits +growing. So Janshah dismounted and kissed her between the eyes; and she +asked him, 'O my beloved and coolth of mine eyes, knowest thou how many +days' journey we have come since yesterday?'; and he answered, 'No,' +when she said, 'We have come thirty months' journey.' Quoth he, +'Praised be Allah for safety!' Then they sat down side by side and ate +and drank and toyed and laughed. And whilst they were thus pleasantly +engaged, behold, there came up to them two of the King's Mamelukes of +those who had been of the Prince's company, one of them was he whom he +had left with the horses, when he embarked in the fishing-boat and the +other had been of his escort in the chase. As soon as they saw Janshah, +both knew him and saluted him; then said they, 'With thy leave, we will +go to thy sire and bear him the glad tidings of thy coming.' Replied +the Prince, 'Go ye to my father and acquaint him with my case, and +fetch us tents, for we will tarry here seven days to rest ourselves +till he make ready his retinue to meet us, that we may enter in +stateliest state.'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Fourteenth Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "Janshah +said to the two Mamelukes, 'Go ye to my sire and acquaint him with my +case and fetch us tents, for we will abide here seven days to rest +ourselves, till he make ready his retinue to meet us that we may enter +in the stateliest state.' So the officers hastened back to King Teghmus +and said to him, 'Good news, O King of the age!' Asked he, 'What good +tidings bring ye: is my son Janshah come back?'; and they answered, +'Yes, thy son Janshah hath returned from his strangerhood and is now +near at hand in the Kirαnν mead.' Now when the King heard this, he +joyed with great joy and fell down in a swoon for excess of gladness; +then, coming to himself, he bade his Wazir give each of the Mamelukes a +splendid suit of honour and a sum of money. The minister replied, 'I +hear and obey,' and forthright did his bidding and said to them, 'Take +this in turn for the good tidings ye bring, whether ye lie or say +sooth.' They replied, 'Indeed we lie not, for but now we sat with him +and saluted him and kissed his hands and he bade us fetch him tents, +for that he would sojourn in the meadow seven days, till such time as +the Wazirs and Emirs and Grandees should come out to meet him.' Quoth +the King, 'How is it with my son?' and quoth they, 'He hath with him a +Houri, as he had brought her out of Paradise.' At this, King Teghmus +bade beat the kettledrums and sound the trumpets for gladness, and +despatched messengers to announce the good news to Janshah's mother and +to the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs and Lords of the realm: so the +criers spread themselves about the city and acquainted the people with +the coming of Prince Janshah. Then the King made ready, and, setting +out for the Kirani meadow with his horsemen and footmen, came upon +Janshah who was sitting at rest with the lady Shamsah beside him and, +behold, all suddenly drew in sight. The Prince rose to his feet and +walked forward to meet them; and the troops knew him and dismounted, to +salute him and kiss his hands: after which he set out preceded by the +men in single file till he came to his sire, who, at sight of his son +threw himself from his horse's back and clasped him to his bosom and +wept flooding tears of joy. Then they took horse again with the retinue +riding to the right and left and fared forward till they came to the +river banks; when the troops alighted and pitched their tents and +pavilions and standards to the blare of trump and the piping of fife +and the dub-a-dub of drum and tom-tom. Moreover the King bade the tent +pitchers set up a pavilion of red silk for the Princess Shamsah, who +put off her scanty raiment of feathers for fine robes and, entering the +pavilion, there took seat. And as she sat in her beauty, behold, the +King and his son Janshah came in to her, and when she saw Teghmus, she +rose and kissed the ground before him. The King sat down and seating +Janshah on his right hand and Princess Shamsah on his left, bade her +welcome and said to his son, 'Tell me all that hath befallen thee in +this thy long strangerhood.' So Janshah related to him the whole of his +adventures from first to last, whereat he marvelled with exceeding +marvel and turning to the Princess, said, 'Laud to Allah for that He +hath caused thee to reunite me with my son! Verily this is of His +exceeding bounty!'"[FN#550]—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Fifteenth Night, + +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "King Teghmus +said to the lady Shamsah, 'Laud to Allah for that He hath caused thee +to reunite me with my son! Verily this is of His exceeding bounty.' And +now I would have thee ask of me what thou wilt, that I may do it in +thine honour.' Quoth she, 'I ask of thee that thou build me a palace in +the midst of a flower garden, with water running under it.' And the +King answered, 'I hear and obey.' And behold, up came Janshah's mother, +attended by all the wives of the Wazirs and Emirs and nobles and city +notables. When her son had sight of her, he rose and leaving the tent, +went forth to meet her and they embraced a long while, whilst the Queen +wept for excess of joy and with tears trickling from her eyes repeated +the following verses, + +'Joy so o'ercometh me, for stress of joy * In that which + + + gladdeneth me I fain shed tears: + + +Tears are become your nature, O my eyes, * Who weep for joyance + + + as for griefs and fears.' + + + +And they complained to each other of all their hearts had suffered from +the long separation. Then the King departed to his pavilion and Janshah +carried his mother to his own tent, where they sat talking till there +came up some of the lady Shamsah's attendants who said, The Princess is +now walking hither in order to salute thee. When the Queen heard this, +she rose and going to meet Shamsah, saluted her and seated her awhile +by her side. Presently the Queen and her retinue of noble women, the +spouses of the Emirs and Grandees, returned with Princess Shamsah to +the tent occupied by her daughter-in-law and sat there. Meanwhile, King +Teghmus gave great largesse to his levies and liege and rejoiced in his +son with exceeding joy, and they tarried there ten days, feasting and +merry making and living a most joyous life. At the end of this time, +the King commanded a march and they all returned to the capital, so he +took horse surrounded by all the troops with the Wazirs and +Chamberlains to his right and left nor ceased they faring till they +entered the city, which was decorated after the goodliest fashion; for +the folk had adorned the houses with precious stuffs and jewellery and +spread costly bro cedes under the hoofs of the horses. The drums beat +for glad tidings and the Grandees of the kingdom rejoiced and brought +rich gifts and the lookers-on were filled with amazement. Furthermore, +they fed the mendicants and Fakirs and held high festival for the space +of ten days, and the lady Shamsah joyed with exceeding joy whenas she +saw this. Then King Teghmus summoned architects and builders and men of +art and bade them build a palace in that garden. So they straightway +proceeded to do his bidding; and, when Janshah knew of his sire's +command he caused the artificers to fetch a block of white marble and +carve it and hollow it in the semblance of a chest; which being done he +took the feather- vest of Princess Shamsah wherewith she had flown with +him through the air: then, sealing the cover with melted lead, he +ordered them to bury the box in the foundations and build over it the +arches whereon the palace was to rest. They did as he bade them, nor +was it long before the palace was finished: then they furnished it and +it was a magnificent edifice, standing in the midst of the garden, with +streams flowing under its walls.[FN#551] Upon this the King caused +Janshah's wedding to be celebrated with the greatest splendour and they +brought the bride to the castle in state procession and went their +ways. When the lady Shamsah entered, she smelt the scent of her +feather-gear."— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Sixteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "when the lady +Shamsah entered the new palace, she smelt the scent of her flying +feather-gear and knew where it was and determined to take it. So she +waited till midnight, when Janshah was drowned in sleep; then she rose +and going straight to the place where the marble coffer was buried +under the arches she hollowed the ground alongside till she came upon +it; when she removed the lead where with it was soldered and, taking +out the feather-suit, put it on. Then she flew high in air and perching +on the pinnacle of the palace, cried out to those who were therein, +saying, 'I pray you fetch me Janshah, that I may bid him farewell.' So +they told him and he came out and, seeing her on the terrace roof of +the palace, clad in her feather-raiment, asked her, 'Why hast thou done +this deed?'; and she answered 'O my beloved and coolth of mine eyes and +fruit of my heart, by Allah, I love thee passing dear and I rejoice +with exceeding joy in that I have restored thee to thy friends and +country and thou hast seen thy mother and father. And now, if thou love +me as I love thee, come to me at Takni, the Castle of Jewels.' So +saying, she flew away forthright to find her family and friends, and +Janshah fell down fainting, being well-nigh dead for despair. They +carried the news to King Teghmus, who mounted at once and riding to the +palace, found his son lying senseless on the ground; whereat he wept +knowing that the swoon was caused by the loss of his love, and +sprinkled rose- water on his face.[FN#552] When the Prince came to +himself and saw his sire sitting at his head, he wept at the thought of +losing his wife and the King asked what had befallen him. So he +replied, 'Know, O my father, that the lady Shamsah is of the daughters +of the Jann and she hath done such and such' (telling him all that had +happened); and the King said, 'O my son, be not troubled and thus +concerned, for I will assemble all the merchants and wayfarers in the +land and enquire of them anent that castle. If we can find out where it +is, we will journey thither and demand the Princess Shamsah of her +people, and we hope in Allah the Almighty that He will give her back to +thee and thou shalt consummate thy marriage.' Then he went out and, +calling his four Wazirs without stay or delay, bade them assemble all +the merchants and voyagers in the city and question them of Takni, the +Castle of Jewels, adding, 'Whoso knoweth it and can guide us thither, I +will surely give him fifty thousand gold pieces.' The Wazirs +accordingly went forth at once and did as the King bade them, but +neither trader nor traveller could give them news of Takni, the Castle +of Jewels; so they returned and told the King. Thereupon he bade bring +beautiful slave-girls and concubines and singers and players upon +instruments of music, whose like are not found but with the Kings: and +sent them to Janshah, so haply they might divert him from the love of +the lady Shamsah. Moreover, he despatched couriers and spies to all the +lands and islands and climes, to enquire for Takni, the Castle of +Jewels, and they made quest for it two months long, but none could give +them news thereof. So they returned and told the King, whereupon he +wept bitter tears and going in to his son found Janshah sitting amidst +the concubines and singers and players on harp and zither and so forth, +not one of whom could console him for the lady Shamsah. Quoth Teghmus, +O my son, I can find none who knoweth this Castle of Jewels; but I will +bring thee a fairer one than she.' When Janshah heard this his eyes ran +over with tears and he recited these two couplets, + +'Patience hath fled, but passion fareth not; * And all my frame + + + with pine is fever-hot: + + +When will the days my lot with Shamsah join? * Lo, all my bones + + + with passion-lowe go rot!' + + + +Now there was a deadly feud between King Teghmus and a certain King of +Hind, by name Kafνd, who had great plenty of troops and warriors and +champions; and under his hand were a thousand puissant chieftains, each +ruling over a thousand tribes whereof every one could muster four +thousand cavaliers. He reigned over a thousand cities each guarded by a +thousand forts and he had four Wazirs and under him ruled Emirs, +Princes and Sovereigns; and indeed he was a King of great might and +prowess whose armies filled the whole earth. Now King Teghmus had made +war upon him and ravaged his reign and slain his men and of his +treasures had made gain. But when it came to King Kafid's knowledge +that King Teghmus was occupied with the love of his son, so that he +neglected the affairs of the state and his troops were grown few and +weak by reason of his care and concern for his son's state, he summoned +his Wazirs and Emirs and said to them, 'Ye all know that whilom King +Teghmus invaded our dominions and plundered our possessions and slew my +father and brethren, nor indeed is there one of you, but he hath +harried his lands and carried off his goods and made prize of his wives +and slain some kinsmen of his. Now I have heard this day that he is +absorbed in the love of his son Janshah, and that his troops are grown +few and weak; and this is the time to take our blood revenge on him. So +make ready for the march and don ye your harness of battle; and let +nothing stay or delay you, and we will go to him and fall upon him and +slay him and his son, and possess ourselves of his reign.'"—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Seventeenth Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "Kafid, King +of Hind, commanded his troops and armies to mount and make for the +dominions of King Teghmus, saying, 'Get ye ready for the march and don +ye your harness of war; and let nothing stay or delay you; so we will +go to him and fall upon him and slay him and his son and possess +ourselves of his reign.' They all answered with one voice, saying, 'We +hear and obey,' and fell at once to equipping themselves and levying +troops; and they ceased not their preparations for three months and, +when all was in readiness, they beat the drums and sounded the trumps +and flew the flags and banners: then King Kafid set out at the head of +his host and they fared on till they reached the frontiers of the land +of Kabul, the dominions of King Teghmus, where they began to harry the +land and do havoc among the folk, slaughtering the old and taking the +young prisoners. When the news reached King Teghmus, he was wroth with +exceeding wrath and assembling his Grandees and officers of state, said +to them 'Know that Kafid hath come to our land and hath entered the +realm we command and is resolved to fight us hand to hand, and he +leadeth troops and champions and warriors, whose number none knoweth +save Allah Almighty; what deme deem ye?' Replied they, 'O King of the +age, let us go out to him and give him battle and drive him forth of +our country; and thus deem we.' So he bade them prepare for battle and +brought forth to them hauberks and cuirasses and helmets and swords and +all manner of warlike gear, such as lay low warriors and do to death +the champions of mankind. So the troops and braves and champions +flocked together and they set up the standards and beat the drums and +sounded the trumpets and clashed the cymbals and piped on the pipes; +and King Teghmus marched out at the head of his army, to meet the hosts +of Hind. And when he drew near the foe, he called a halt, and encamping +with his host in the Zahrαn Valley,[FN#553] hard by the frontier of +Kabul despatched to King Kafid by messenger the following letter: 'Know +that what thou hast done is of the doings of the villain rabble and +wert thou indeed a King, the son of a King, thou hadst not done thus, +nor hadst thou invaded my kingdom and slain my subjects and plundered +their property and wrought upright upon them. Knowest thou not that all +this is the fashion of a tyrant! Verily, had I known that thou durst +harry my dominions, I had come to thee before thy coming and had +prevented thee this long while since. Yet, even now, if thou wilt +retire and leave mischief between us and thee, well and good; but if +thou return not, meet me in the listed field and measure thyself with +me in cut and thrust.' Lastly he sealed his letter and committed to an +officer of his army and sent with him spies to spy him out news. The +messenger fared forth with the missive and, drawing near the enemy's +camp, he descried a multitude of tents of silk and satin, with pennons +of blue sendal, and amongst them a great pavilion of red satin, +surrounded by a host of guards. He ceased not to advance till he made +this tent and found on asking that it was that of King Kafid, whom he +saw seated on a chair set with jewels, in the midst of his Wazirs and +Emirs and Grandees. So he brought out the letter and straightway there +came up to him a company of guards, who took it from him and carried it +to the King; and Kafid read it and wrote a reply to this purport: +'After the usual invocations, We let King Teghmus know that we mean to +take our blood-revenge on thee and wash out our stain and waste thy +reign and rend the curtain in twain and slay the old men and enslave +the young men. But to-morrow, come thou forth to combat in the open +plain, and to show thee thrust and fight will I deign.' Then he sealed +the letter and delivered it to the messenger, who carried it to King +Teghmus."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Eighteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "King Kafid +delivered the answering letter to the messenger who carried it to King +Teghmus and delivered it, after kissing the ground between his hands. +Then he reported all that he had seen, saying, 'O King of the age, I +espied warriors and horsemen and footmen beyond count nor can I assist +thee to the amount.' When Teghmus read the reply and comprehended its +contents, he was with furious rage enraged and bade his Wazir Ayn Zar +take horse and fall upon the army of Kafid with a thousand cavaliers, +in the middle watch of the night when they would easily ride home and +slay all before them. Ayn Zar replied, 'I hear and I obey,' and at once +went forth to do his bidding. Now King Kafid had a Wazir, +Ghatrafαn[FN#554] by name, whom he bade take five thousand horse and +attack the host of King Teghmus in like manner. So Ghatrafan did his +bidding and set out on his enterprise marching till midnight. Thus the +two parties met halfway and the Wazir Ghatrafan fell upon the Wazir, +Ayn Zar. Then man cried out against man and there befell sore battle +between them till break of day, when Kafid's men were routed and fled +back to their King in confusion. As Kafid saw this, he was wroth beyond +measure and said to the fugitives, 'Woe to you! What hath befallen you, +that ye have lost your captains?' and they replied, 'O King of the age, +as the Wazir Ghatrafan rode forth to fall upon King Teghmus, there +appeared to us halfway and when night was half over, the Wazir, Ayn +Zar, with cavaliers and champions, and we met on the slopes of Wady +Zahran; but ere we were where we found ourselves in the enemy's midst, +eye meeting eye; and we fought a fierce fight with them from midnight +till morning, many on either side being slain. Then the Wazir and his +men fell to shouting and smiting the elephants on the face till they +took fright at their furious blows, and turning tail to flee, trampled +down the horsemen, whilst none could see other for the clouds of dust. +The blood ran like a rain torrent and had we not fled, we had all been +cut off to the last man.' When King Kafid heard this, he exclaimed, +'May the sun not bless you and may he be wroth with you and sore be his +wrath!' Meanwhile Ayn Zar, the Wazir, returned to King Teghmus and told +him what had happened. The King gave him joy of his safety and rejoiced +greatly and bade beat the drums and sound the trumpets, in honour of +the victory; after which he called the roll of his troops and behold, +two hundred of his stoutest champions had fallen. Then King Kafid +marched his army into the field and drew them out ordered for battle in +fifteen lines of ten thousand horses each, under the command of three +hundred captains, mounted on elephants and chosen from amongst the +doughtiest of his warriors and his champions. So he set up his +standards and banners and beat the drums and blew the trumpets whilst +the braves sallied forth, offering battle. As for King Teghmus, he drew +out his troops line after line and lo! there were ten of ten thousand +horses each, and with him were an hundred champions, riding on his +right hand and on his left. Then fared forward to the fight each +renowned knight, and the hosts clashed together in their might, whilst +the earth for all its wideness was straitened because of the multitude +of the cavaliers and ears were deafened by drums and cymbals beating +and pipes and hautboys sounding and trumpets blaring and by the thunder +of horse-tramp and the shouting of men. The dust arched in canopy over +their heads and they fought a sore fight from the first of the day till +the fall of darkness, when they separated and each army drew off to its +own camp."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Nineteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "each army drew +off to its own camp. Then King Kafid called the roll of his troops and, +finding that he had lost five thousand men, raged with great rage; and +King Teghmus mustered his men and seeing that of them were slain three +thousand riders, the bravest of his braves, was wroth with exceeding +wrath. On the morrow King Kafid again pushed into the plain and did +duty as before, while each man strove his best to snatch victory for +himself; and Kafid cried out to his men, saying, 'Is there any of you +will sally forth into the field and open us the chapter of fray and +fight?' And behold came out from the ranks a warrior named Barkayk, a +mighty man of war who, when he reached the King, alighted from his +elephant and kissing the earth before him, sought of him leave to +challenge the foe to combat singular. Then he mounted his elephant and +driving into mid-field, cried out, 'Who is for duello, who is for +derring do, who is for knightly devoir?' When King Teghmus heard this, +he said to his troops, 'Which of you will do single battle with this +sworder?' And behold, a cavalier came out from the ranks, mounted on a +charger, mighty of make, and driving up to the King kissed the earth +before him and craved his permission to engage Barkayk. Then he mounted +again and charged at Barkayk, who said to him, 'Who art thou and what +art thou called, that thou makest mock of me by coming out against me +and challenging me, alone?' 'My name is Ghazanfar[FN#555] son of +Kamkhνl,' replied the Kabul champion; and the other, 'I have heard tell +of thee in my own country; so up and do battle between the ranks of the +braves!' Hearing these words Ghazanfar drew a mace of iron from under +his thigh and Barkayk took his good sword in hand, and they laid on +load till Barkayk smote Ghazanfar on the head with his blade, but the +morion turned the blow and no hurt befell him therefrom; whereupon +Ghazanfar, in his turn, dealt Barkayk so terrible a stroke on the head +with his mace, that he levelled him down to his elephant's back and +slew him. With this out sallied another and crying to Ghazanfar, 'Who +be thou that thou shouldst slay my brother?'; hurled a javelin at him +with such force that it pierced his thigh and nailed his coat of mail +to his flesh. Then Ghazanfar, feeling his hurt, hent his sword in hand +and smote at Barkayk's brother and cut him in sunder, and he fell to +the earth, wallowing in his life blood, whilst the challenger of Kabul +galloped back to King Teghmus. Now when Kafid saw the death of his +champions, he cried out to his troops, saying, 'Down with you to the +plain and strike with might and main!' as also did King Teghmus, and +the two armies fought the fiercest of fights. Horse neighed against +horse and man cried out upon man and brands were bared, whilst the +drums beat and the trumpets blared; and horseman charged upon horseman +and every brave of renown pushed forward, whilst the faint of heart +fled from the lunge of lance and men heard nought but slogan-cry and +the clash and clang of armoury. Slain were the warriors that were +slain[FN#556] and they stayed not from the mellay till the decline of +the sun in the heavenly dome, when the Kings drew off their armies and +returned each to its own camp.[FN#557] Then King Teghmus took tally of +his men and found that he had lost five thousand, and four standards +had been broken to bits, whereat he was sore an-angered; whilst King +Kafid in like manner counted his troops and found that he had lost six +hundred, the bravest of his braves, and nine standards were wanting to +the full tale. The two armies ceased joining battle and rested on their +arms three days' space, after which Kafid wrote a letter and sent it by +messenger to a King called Fakun al-Kalb (with whom he claimed kinship +by the spindle side): and this kinsman forthwith mustered his men and +marched to meet the King of Hind."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Twentieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "King Fakun +mustered his men and marched to meet the King of Hind: and whileas King +Teghmus was sitting at his pleasance, there came one in to him and +said, 'I see from afar a cloud of dust spireing high in air and +overspreading the lift.' So he commanded a company to fare forth and +learn the meaning of this; and, crying, 'To hear is to obey,' they +sallied out and presently returned and said to him, 'O King, when we +drew near the cloud of dust, the wind rent it and it lifted and showed +seven standards and under each standard three thousand horse, making +for King Kafid's camp.' Then King Fakun joined himself to the King of +Hind and saluting him, asked, 'How is it with thee, and what be this +war in which thou arrest?'; and Kafid answered, 'Knowest thou not that +King Teghmus is my enemy and the murtherer of my father and brothers? +Wherefore I am come forth to do battle with him and take my brood wreak +on him.' Quoth Fakun, 'The blessing of the sun be upon thee!'; and the +King of Hind carried King Fakun al-Kalb to his tent and rejoiced in him +with exceeding joy. Such was the case of the two hostile Kings; but as +regards King Janshah, he abode two months shut up in his palace, +without seeing his father or allowing one of the damsels in his service +to come in to him; at the end of which time he grew troubled and +restless and said to his attendants, 'What aileth my father that he +cometh not to visit me?' They told him that he had gone forth to do +battle with King Kafid, whereupon quoth Janshah, 'Bring me my steed, +that I may go to my sire.' They replied, 'We hear and obey,' and +brought his horse; but he said in himself, 'I am taken up with the +thought of myself and my love and I deem well to mount and ride for the +city of the Jews, where haply Allah shall grant me the boon to meet the +merchant who hired me for the ruby business and may be he will deal +with me as he dealt before, for none knoweth whence good cometh.' So he +took with him a thousand horse and set out, the folk saying, 'At last +Janshah hath fared forth to join his father in the field, and to fight +by his side;' and they stinted not pushing on till dusk, when they +halted for the night in a vast meadow. As soon as he knew that all his +men were asleep, the Prince rose privily and girding his waist, mounted +his horse and rode away intending to make Baghdad, because he had heard +from the Jews that a caravan came thence to their city once in every +two years and he made up his mind to journey thither with the next +cafilah. When his men awoke and missed the Prince and his horse, they +mounted and sought him right and left but, finding no trace of him, +rejoined his father and told him what his son had done; whereat he was +wroth beyond measure and cast the crown from his head, whilst the +sparks were like to fly from his mouth, and he said 'There is no +Majesty and there is no Might but in Allah! Verily I have lost my son, +and the enemy is still before me.' But his Wazirs and vassals said to +him, 'Patience, O King of the age! Patience bringeth weal in wake.' +Meanwhile Janshah, parted from his lover and pained for his father, was +in sore sorrow and dismay, with heart seared and eyes tear-bleared and +unable to sleep night or day. But when his father heard the loss his +host had endured, he declined battle, and fled before King Kafid, and +retiring to his city, closed the gates and strengthened the walls. +Thereupon King Kafid followed him and sat down before the town; +offering battle seven nights and eight days, after which he withdrew to +his tents, to tend his wounded while the citizens defended themselves +as they best could, fortifying the place and setting up mangonels and +other engines on the walls. Such was the condition of the two Kings, +and war raged between them for a space of seven years."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "Kings Teghmus +and Kafid continued in this condition for seven years; but, as regards +Janshah, he rode through wild and wold and when ever he came to a town +he asked anent Takni, the Castle of Jewels, but none knew of it and all +answered, 'Of a truth we never heard of such place, not even by name.' +At last he happened to enquire concerning the city of the Jews from a +merchant who told him that it was situated in the extreme Orient, +adding, 'A caravan will start this very month for the city of Mizrakαn +in Hind; whither do thou accompany us and we will fare on to Khorasan +and thence to the city of Shima'ϊn and Khwαrazm, from which latter +place the City of the Jews is distant a year and three months' +journey.' So Janshah waited till the departure of the caravan, when he +joined himself thereto and journeyed, till he reached the city of +Mizrakan whence, after vainly asking for Takni, the Castle of Jewels, +he set out and enduring on the way great hardships and perils galore +and the extreme of hunger and thirst, he arrived at the town of +Shima'un. Here he made enquiry for the City of the Jews, and they +directed him to the road thither. So he fared forth and journeyed days +and nights till he came to the place where he had given the apes the +slip, and continued his journey thence to the river, on the opposite +bank of which stood the City of the Jews. He sat down on the shore and +waited till the Sabbath came round and the river dried up by decree of +Allah Almighty, when he crossed over to the opposite bank and, entering +the city, betook himself to the house wherein he had lodged on his +former journey. The Jew and his family saluted him and rejoiced in his +return and, setting meat and drink before him, asked, 'Where hast thou +been during thine absence?'; and he answered, 'In the kingdom of +Almighty Allah!'[FN#558] He lay with them that night and on the morrow +he went out to solace himself with a walk about the city and presently +heard a crier crying aloud and saying, 'O folk, who will earn a +thousand gold pieces and a fair slave-girl and do half a day's work for +us?' So Janshah went up to him and said, 'I will do this work.'[FN#559] +Quoth the crier, 'Follow me,' and carrying him to the house of the Jew +merchant, where he had been afore time, said, 'This young man will do +thy need.' The merchant not recognising him gave him welcome and +carried him into the Harim, where he set meat and drink before him, and +he ate and drank. Then he brought him the money and formally made over +to him the handsome slave-girl with whom he lay that night. As soon as +morning dawned, he took the diners and the damsel and, committing them +to his Jew host with whom he had lodged afore time, returned to the +merchant, who mounted and rode out with him, till they came to the foot +of the tall and towering mountain, where the merchant, bringing out a +knife and cords, said to Janshah, 'Throw the mare.' So he threw her and +bound her four legs with the cords and slaughtered her and cut off her +head and four limbs and slit her belly, as ordered by the Jew; +whereupon quoth he, 'Enter her belly, till I sew it up on thee; and +whatsoever thou seest therein, tell me of it, for this is the work +whose wage thou hast taken.' So Janshah entered the mare's belly and +the merchant sewed it up on him; then, withdrawing to a fair distance, +hid himself. And after an hour a great bird swooped down from the lift +and, snatching up the carcass in his pounces soared high toward the +sky. Then he perched upon the mountain peak and would have eaten the +prey, but Janshah sensing his intent took out his knife and slit the +mare's belly and came forth. The bird was scared at his sight and flew +away, and Janshah went up to a place whence he could see below, and +looking down, espied the merchant standing at the foot of the mountain, +as he were a sparrow. So he cried out to him, 'What is thy will, O +merchant?' Replied the Jew, 'Throw me down of the stones that lie about +thee, that I may direct thee in the way down.' Quoth Janshah, 'Thou art +he who didst with me thus and thus five years ago, and through thee I +suffered hunger and thirst and sore toil and much trouble; and now thou +hast brought me hither once more and thinkest to destroy me. By Allah, +I will not throw thee aught!' So saying, he turned from him and set out +for where lived Shaykh Nasr, the King of the Birds."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "Janshah took the +way for where lived Shaykh Nasr, the King of the Birds. And he ceased +not faring on many days and nights, tearful-eyed and heavy-hearted; +eating, when he was anhungered, of the growth of the ground and +drinking, when he thirsted, of its streams, till he came in sight of +the Castle of the lord Solomon and saw Shaykh Nasr sitting at the gate. +So he hastened up to him and kissed his hands; and the Shaykh saluted +him and bade him welcome and said to him, 'O my son, what aileth thee +that thou returnest to this place, after I sent thee home with the +Princess Shamsah, cool of eyes and broad of breast?' Janshah wept and +told him all that had befallen him and how she had flown away from him, +saying, 'An thou love me, come to me in Takni, the Castle of Jewels;' +at which the old man marvelled and said, 'By Allah, O my son, I know it +not, nor, by the virtue of our lord Solomon, have I ever in my life +heard its name!' Quoth Janshah, 'What shall I do? I am dying of love +and longing.' Quoth Shaykh Nasr, 'Take patience until the coming of the +birds, when we will enquire at them of Takni, the Castle of Jewels; +haply one of them shall wot thereof.' So Janshah's heart was comforted +and, entering the Palace, he went straight to the chamber which gave +upon the Lake in which he had seen the three maidens. After this he +abode with Shaykh Nasr for a while and, one day as he was sitting with +him, the Shaykh said, 'O my son, rejoice for the time of the birds' +coming draweth nigh.' Janshah gladdened to hear the news; and after a +few days the birds began to come and Shaykh Nasr said to him, 'O my +son, learn these names[FN#560] and address thyself with me to meet the +birds.' Presently, the fowls came flying up and saluted Shaykh Nasr, +kind after kind, and he asked them of Takni, the Castle of Jewels, but +they all made answer, 'Never heard we of such a place.' At these words +Janshah wept and lamented till he swooned away; whereupon Shaykh Nasr +called a huge volatile and said to him, 'Carry this youth to the land +of Kabul,' and described to him the country and the way thither. Then +he set Janshah on the bird's back, saying, 'Be careful to sit straight +and beware of leaning to either side, else thou wilt be torn to pieces +in the air; and stop thine ears from the wind, lest thou be dazed by +the noise of the revolving sphere and the roaring of the seas.' Janshah +resolved to do his bidding and the bird took flight high in sky and +flew with him a day and a night, till he set him down by the King of +the Beasts, whose name was Shαh Badrν, and said to his rider, 'We have +gone astray from the way directed by Shaykh Nasr.' And he would have +taken him up again and flown on with him; but Janshah said, 'Go thy +ways and leave me here; till I die on this spot or I find Takni, the +Castle of Jewels, I will not return to my country.' So the fowl left +him with Shah Badri, King of the Beasts and flew away. The King +thereupon said to him, 'O my son, who art thou and whence comest thou +with yonder great bird?' So Janshah told him his story from beginning +to end, whereat Shah Badri marvelled and said, 'By the virtue of the +lord Solomon, I know not of this castle; but if any one of the beasts +my subjects know it, we will reward him bountifully and send thee by +him thither.' Hereat Janshah wept bitterly but presently he took +patience and abode with Shah Badri, and after a short time the King of +the Beasts said to him, 'O my son, take these tablets and commit to +memory that which is therein; and when the beasts come, we will +question them of the Castle of Jewels.' "—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-third Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "the King of +the Beasts said to Janshah, 'Commit to memory what is in these tablets; +and whenas the beasts come, we will ask them anent that castle.' He did +as the King bade him, and before long, up came the beasts, kind after +kind, and saluted Shah Badri who questioned them of Takni, the Castle +of Jewels, but they all replied, 'We know not this castle, nor ever +heard we of it.' At this Janshah wept and lamented for that he had not +gone with the bird that brought him from Shaykh Nasr's castle; but Shah +Badri said to him, 'Grieve not, O my son, for I have a brother, King +Shimαkh highs, who is older than I; he was once a prisoner to King +Solomon, for that he rebelled against him; nor is there among the Jinn +one elder than he and Shaykh Nasr. Belike he knoweth of this castle; at +any rate he ruleth over all the Jinn in this country side.' So saying +he set Janshah on the back of a beast and gave him a letter to his +brother, commending him to his care. The beast set off with the Prince +forthwith and fared on days and nights, till it came to King Shimakh's +abiding place. And when it caught sight of the King it stood still afar +off, whereupon Janshah alighted and walked on, till he found himself in +the presence. Then he kissed hands and presented his brother's letter. +The King read the missive and, having mastered the meaning, welcomed +the Prince, saying, 'By Allah, O my son, in all my born days I never +saw nor heard of this castle!' adding (as Janshah burst into tears), +'but tell me thy story and who and whence thou art and whither thou art +bound.' So Janshah related to him his history from beginning to end, at +which Shimakh marvelled and said, 'O my son, I do not believe that even +the lord Solomon ever saw this castle or heard thereof; but O my +son,[FN#561] I know a monk in the mountains, who is exceeding old and +whom all birds and beasts and Jann obey; for he ceased not his +conjurations against the Kings of the Jann, till they submitted +themselves to him in their own despite, by reason of the might of his +oaths and his magic; and now all the birds and the beasts are his +servants. I myself once rebelled against King Solomon and he sent +against me this monk, the only being who could overcome me with his +craft and his conjurations and his gramarye; then he imprisoned me, and +since that time I have been his vassal. He hath travelled in all +countries and quarters and knoweth all ways and regions and places and +castles and cities; nor do I think there is any place hidden from his +ken. So needs must I send thee to him; haply he may direct thee to the +Castle of Jewels; and, if he cannot do this, none can; for all things +obey him, birds and beasts and the very mountains and come at his beck +and call, by reason of his skill in magic. Moreover, by the might of +his egromancy he hath made a staff, in three pieces, and this he +planteth in the earth and conjureth over it; whereupon flesh and blood +issue from the first piece, sweet milk from the second and wheat and +barley from the third; then he withdraweth the staff and returneth to +his place which is highs the Hermitage of Diamonds. And this magical +monk is a cunning inventor and artificer of all manner strange works; +and he is a crafty warlock full of guiles and wiles, an arch deceiver +of wondrous wickedness, who hath mastered every kind of magic and +witchcraft. His name is Yaghmϊs and to him I must needs send thee on +the back of a big bird with four wings,'"—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night, + +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "Shimakh said +to Janshah, 'I must needs send thee to the monk Yaghmus on the back of +a big bird with four wings, each measuring thirty Hαshimi[FN#562] +cubits in length; and it hath feet like those of an elephant, but it +flieth only twice a year.' And there was with King Shimakh an officer, +by name Timshun, who used every day to carry off two Bactrian[FN#563] +camels from the land of Irak and cut them up for the bird that it might +eat them. So King Shimakh bade the fowl take up Janshah and bear him to +the cell of the hermit Yaghmus; and it rose into the air and flew on +days and nights, till it came to the Mountain of the Citadels and the +Hermitage of Diamonds where Janshah alighted and going up to the +hermitage, found Yaghmus the Monk at his devotions. So he entered the +chapel and, kissing the ground stood respectfully before the hermit. +When Yaghmus saw him, he said, 'Welcome, O my son, O parted from thy +home and garred ferforth to roam! Tell me the cause of thy coming +hither.' So Janshah wept and acquainted him with all that had befallen +him from beginning to end and that he was in quest of the Castle of +Jewels. The Monk marvelled greatly at his story and said, 'By Allah, O +my son, never in my life heard I of this castle, nor ever saw I one who +had heard of it or had seen it, for all I was alive in the days of +Noah, Allah's Prophet (on whom be peace!),[FN#564] and I have ruled the +birds and beasts and Jinn ever since his time; nor do I believe that +Solomon David son himself knew of it. But wait till the birds and +beasts and chiefs of the Jann come to do their homage to me and I will +question them of it; peradventure, some one of them may be able to give +us news of it and Allah Almighty shall make all things easy to thee.' +So Janshah homed with the hermit, until the day of the assembly, when +all the birds and beasts and Jann came to swear fealty; and Yaghmus and +his guest questioned them anent Takni, the Castle of Jewels; but they +all replied, 'We never saw or heard of such a place.' At this, Janshah +fell a weeping and lamenting and humbled himself before the Most High; +but, as he was thus engaged, behold, there flew down from the heights +of air another bird, big of bulk and black of blee, which had tarried +behind the rest, and kissed the hermit's hands. Yaghmus asked it of +Takni, the Castle of Jewels, and it answered, saying 'O Monk, when I +and my brothers were small chicks we abode behind the Mountain Kaf on a +hill of crystal, in the midst of a great desert; and our father and +mother used to set out for it every morning and in the evening come +back with our food. They went out early one day, and were absent from +us a sennight and hunger was sore upon us; but on the eighth day they +returned, both weeping, and we asked them the reason of their absence. +Quoth they: 'A Marid swooped down on us and carried us off in his claws +to Takni, the Castle of Jewels, and brought us before King Shahlan, who +would have slain us; but we told him that we had left behind us a brood +of fledgelings; so he spared our lives and let us go. And were my +parents yet in the bonds of life they would give thee news of the +castle.' When Janshah heard this, he wept bitter tears and said to the +hermit, 'Prithee bid the bird carry me to his father and mother's nest +on the crystal hill, behind the Mountain Kaf.' So the hermit said, 'O +bird, I desire thee to obey this youth in whatsoever he may command +thee.' 'I hear and obey thy bidding,' replied the fowl; and, taking +Janshah on its back, flew with him days and nights without ceasing till +it set him down on the Hill of Crystal and there alighted. And having +delayed there a resting while, it again set him on its back and flew +off and ceased not flying for two whole days till it reached the spot +where the nest was."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "the fowl ceased +not flying with Janshah two full days; till it reached the spot where +the nest was, and set him down there and said, 'O Janshah, this is +where our nest was.' He wept sore and replied, 'I pray thee bear me +farther on to where thy parents used to forage for food.' The bird +consented; so it took him up again and flew on with him seven nights +and eight days, till it set him down on the top of a high hill Karmus +highs and left him there saying, 'I know of no land behind this hill.' +Then it flew away and Janshah sat down on the hill-top and fell asleep. +When he awoke, he saw a something gleaming afar off as it were +lightning and filling the firmament with its flashings; and he wondered +what this sheen could be without wotting that it was the Castle he +sought. So he descended the mountain and made towards the light, which +came from Takni, the Castle of Jewels, distant two months' journey from +Karmϊs, the hill whereon he had alit, and its foundations were +fashioned of red rubies and its buildings of yellow gold. Moreover, it +had a thousand turrets builded of precious metals, and stones of price +studded and set in the minerals brought from the Main of Murks, and on +this account it was named the Castle of Jewels, Takni. It was a vast +great castle and the name of its king was King Shahlan, the father of +the lady Shamsah and her sisters. Such was the case with Janshah; but +as regards Princess Shamsah, when she fled from Janshah, she made +straight for the Castle of Jewels and told her father and mother all +that had passed between the Prince and herself; how he had wandered the +world and seen its marvels and wonders and how fondly he loved her and +how dearly she loved him. Quoth they, 'Thou hast not dealt righteously +with him, as Allah would have thee deal.' Moreover King Shahlan +repeated the story to his guards and officers of the Marids of the Jinn +and bade them bring him every mortal they should see. For the lady +Shamsah had said to her parents, 'Janshah loveth me with passionate +love and forsure he will follow me; for when flying from his father's +roof I cried to him, 'An thou love me, seek me at Takni, the Castle of +Jewels!' Now when Janshah beheld that sheen and shine, he made straight +for it wishing to find out what it might be. And as chance would have +it, Shamsah had that very day despatched a Marid on an occasion in the +direction of the hill Karmus, and on his way thither he caught sight of +a man, a mortal; so he hastened up to him and saluted him. Janshah was +terrified at his sight, but returned his salam, and the Marid asked, +'What is thy name?' and he answered, 'My name is Janshah, and I have +fallen madly in love with a Jinniyah known as Princess Shamsah, who +captivated me by her beauty and loveliness; but despite my dear love +she fled from the palace wherein I placed her and behold, I am here in +quest of her.' Herewith he wept with bitter weeping. The Marid looked +at him and his heart burned with pity on hearing the sad tale, and he +said, 'Weep not, for surely thou art come to thy desire. Know that she +loveth thee fondly and hath told her parents of thy love for her, and +all in yonder castle love thee for her sake; so be of good cheer and +keep thine eyes cool of tear.' Then he took him on his shoulders and +made off with him to the Castle of Jewels, Takni. Thereupon the bearers +of fair tidings hastened to report his coming and when the news reached +Shamsah and her father and mother, they all rejoiced with exceeding +joy, and King Shahlan took horse and rode out, commanding all his +guards and Ifrits and Marids honourably to meet the Prince."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "King Shahlan +commanded all his guards and Ifrits and Marids to meet the Prince; and, +as soon as he came up with him, he dismounted and embraced him, and +Janshah kissed his hand. Then Shahlan bade put on him a robe of honour +of many coloured silk, laced with gold and set with jewels, and a +coronet such as man never saw, and, mounting him on a splendid mare of +the steeds of the Kings of the Jinn, took horse himself and, with an +immense retinue riding on the right hand and the left, brought him in +great state to the Castle. Janshah marvelled at the splendour of this +edifice, with its walls builded of rubies and other jewels and its +pavement of crystal and jasper and emerald, and fell a weeping at the +memory of his past miseries; but the King and Queen, Shamsah's mother, +wiped away his tears and said, 'Now no more weeping and be of good +cheer, for thou hast won to thy will.' Then Shahlan carried him into +the inner court of the Castle, where he was received by a multitude of +beautiful damsels and pages and black Jinn-slaves, who seated him in +the place of honour and stood to do him service, whilst he was lost in +amazement at the goodliness of the place, and its walls all edified of +precious metals and jewels of price. Presently King Shahlan repaired to +his hall of audience, where he sat down on his throne and, bidding the +slave-girls and the pages introduce the Prince, rose to receive him and +seated him by his side on the throne. Then he ordered the tables to be +spread and they ate and drank and washed their hands; after which in +came the Queen Shamsah's mother, and saluting Janshah, bade him welcome +in these words, 'Thou hast come to thy desire after weariness and thine +eyes shall now sleep after watching; so praised be Allah for thy +safety!' Thus saying, she went away and forthwith returned with the +Princess Shamsah, who saluted Janshah and kissed his hands, hanging her +head in shame and confusion before him and her parents, after which as +many of her sisters as were in the palace came up to him and greeted +him in like manner. Then quoth the Queen to him, 'Welcome, O my son, +our daughter Shamsah hath indeed sinned against thee, but do thou +pardon her misdeed for our sakes.' When Janshah heard this, he cried +out and fell down fainting, whereat the King marvelled and they +sprinkled on his face rose water mingled with musk and civet, till he +came to himself and, looking at Princess Shamsah, said, 'Praised be +Allah who hath brought me to my desire and hath quenched the fire of my +heart!' Replied she, 'May He preserve thee from the Fire!, but now tell +me, O Janshah, what hath befallen thee since our parting and how thou +madest thy way to this place; seeing that few even of the Jann ever +heard of Takni, the Castle of Jewels; and we are independent of all the +Kings nor any wotteth the road hither.' Thereupon he related to her +every adventure and peril and hardship he had suffered and how he had +left his father at war with King Kafid, ending with these words, 'And +all for thy sake, my lady Shamsah!' Quoth the Queen, 'Now hast thou thy +heart's desire, for the Princess is thy handmaid, and we give her in +free gift to thee.' Janshah joyed exceedingly at these words and the +Queen added, 'Next month, if it be the will of Almighty Allah, we will +have a brave wedding and celebrate the marriage festival and after the +knot is tied we will send you both back to thy native land, with an +escort of a thousand Marids of our body-guard, the least of whom, an +thou bid him slay King Kafid and his folk, would surely destroy them to +the last man in the twinkling of an eye. Furthermore if it please thee +we will send thee, year after year, a company of which each and every +can so do with all thy foes.'"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "the lady +Shamsah's mother ended with saying, 'And if it so please thee we will +send thee, year after year, a company of which each and every can +destroy thy foes to the last man.' Then King Shahlan sat down on his +throne and, summoning his Grandees and Officers of state, bade them +make ready for the marriage- festivities and decorate the city seven +days and nights. 'We hear and we obey,' answered they and busied +themselves two months in the preparations, after which they celebrated +the marriage of the Prince and Princess and held a mighty festival, +never was there its like. Then they brought Janshah in to his bride and +he abode with her in all solace of life and delight for two years, at +the end of which time he said to her, 'Thy father promised to send us +to my native land, that we might pass one year there and the next +here.' Answered she, I hear and obey,' and going in to King Shahlan at +nightfall told him what the Prince had said. Quoth he, 'I consent; but +have patience with me till the first of the month, that I may make +ready for your departure.' She repeated these words to her husband and +they waited till the appointed time, when the King bade his Marids +bring out to them a great litter of red gold, set with pearls and +jewels and covered with a canopy of green silk, purfled in a profusion +of colours and embroidered with precious stones, dazzling with its +goodliness the eyes of every beholder. He chose out four of his Marids +to carry the litter in whichever of the four quarters the riders might +choose. Moreover, he gave his daughter three hundred beautiful damsels +to wait upon her and bestowed on Janshah the like number of white +slaves of the sons of the Jinn. Then the lady Shamsah took formal leave +of her mother and sisters and all her kith and kin; and her father +fared forth with them. So the four Marids took up the litter, each by +one corner, and rising under it like birds in air, flew onward with it +between earth and heaven till mid-day, when the King bade them set it +down and all alighted. Then they took leave of one another and King +Shahlan commended Shamsah to the Prince's care, and giving them in +charge to the Marids, returned to the Castle of Jewels, whilst the +Prince and Princess remounted the litter, and the Marids taking it up, +flew on for ten whole days, in each of which they accomplished thirty +months' journey, till they sighted the capital of King Teghmus. Now one +of them knew the land of Kabul; so when he saw the city, he bade the +others let down the litter at that populous place which was the +capital."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "the Marid guards +let down the litter at the capital of King Teghmus who had been routed +and had fled from his foes into the city, where he was in sore straits, +King Kafid having laid close siege to him. He sought to save himself by +making peace with the King of Hind, but his enemy would give him no +quarter; so seeing himself without resource or means of relief, he +determined to strangle himself and to die and be at rest from this +trouble and misery. Accordingly he bade his Wazirs and Emirs farewell +and entered his house to take leave of his Harim; and the whole realm +was full of weeping and wailing and lamentation and woe. And whilst +this rout and hurly-burly was enacting, behold, the Marids descended +with the litter upon the palace that was in the citadel, and Janshah +bade them set it down in the midst of the Divan. They did his bidding +and he alighted with his company of handmaids and Mamelukes; and, +seeing all the folk of the city in straits and desolation and sore +distress, said to the Princess, 'O love of my heart and coolth of mine +eyes, look in what a piteous plight is my sire!' There upon she bade +the Marid guard fall upon the beleaguering host and slay them, saying, +'Kill ye all, even to the last man;' and Janshah commanded one of them, +by name Karαtash,[FN#565] who was exceeding strong and valiant, to +bring King Kafid to him in chains. So they set down the litter and +covered it with the canopy; then, having waited till midnight, they +attacked the enemy's camp one of them being a match for ten; or at +least for eight. And while these smote the foes with iron maces, those +mounted their magical elephants and soared high in the lift, and then +swooping down and snatching up their opponents, tare them to pieces in +mid air. But Karatash made straight for Kafid's tent where he found him +lying in a couch; so he took him up, shrieking for fear, and flew with +him to Janshah, who bade the four Marids bind him on the litter and +hang him high in the air over his camp, that he might witness the +slaughter of his men. They did as the Prince commanded them and left +Kafid, who had swooned for fear, hanging between earth and air and +buffeting his face for grief. As for King Teghmus, when he saw his son, +he well-nigh died for excess of joy and, crying with a loud cry, fell +down in a swoon. They sprinkled rose-water on his face, till he came to +himself, when he and his son embraced and wept with sore weeping; for +he knew not that the Jinn guard were battling with King Kafid's men. +Then Princess Shamsah accosted the King and kissing his hand, said to +him, 'Sire, be pleased to go up with me to the palace-roof and witness +the slaughter of thy foes by my father's Marids.' So he went up to the +terrace-roof and sitting down there with his daughter-in-law, enjoyed +watching the Marids do havoc among the besiegers and break a way +through the length and breadth of them. For one of them smote with his +iron mace upon the elephants and their riders and pounded them till man +was not to be distinguished from beast; whilst another shouted in the +faces of those who fled, so that they fell down dead; and the third +caught up a score of horsemen, beasts and all; and, towering with them +high in air, cast them down on earth, so that they were torn in pieces. +And this was high enjoyment for Janshah and his father and the lady +Shamsah."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "King Teghmus and +his son and daughter-in-law went up to the terrace roof and enjoyed a +prospect of the Jinn-guards battling with the beleaguering host. And +King Kafid (still hanging between heaven and earth) also saw the +slaughter of his troops and wept sore and buffeted his face; nor did +the carnage cease among the army of Hind for two whole days, till they +were cut off even to the last man. Then Janshah commanded a Marid, by +name Shimwαl, chain up King Kafid with manacles and fetters, and +imprison him in a tower called the Black Bulwark. And when his bidding +was done, King Teghmus bade beat the drums and despatched messengers to +announce the glad news to Janshah's mother, informing her of his +approach; whereupon she mounted in great joy and she no sooner espied +her son than she clasped him in her arms and swooned away for stress of +gladness. They sprinkled rose-water on her face, till she came to +herself, when she embraced him again and again wept for excess of joy. +And when the lady Shamsah knew of her coming, she came to her and +saluted her; and they embraced each other and after remaining embraced +for an hour sat down to converse. Then King Teghmus threw open the city +gates and despatched couriers to all parts of the kingdom, to spread +the tidings of his happy deliverance; whereupon all his princely +Vassals and Emirs and the Grandees of the realm flocked to salute him +and give him joy of his victory and of the safe return of his son; and +they brought him great store of rich offerings and curious presents. +The visits and oblations continued for some time, after which the King +made a second and a more splendid bride-feast for the Princess Shamsah +and bade decorate the city and held high festival. Lastly they unveiled +and paraded the bride before Janshah, with apparel and ornaments of the +utmost magnificence, and when her bridegroom went in to her he +presented her with an hundred beautiful slave-girls to wait upon her. +Some days after this, the Princess repaired to the King and interceded +with him for Kafid, saying, 'Suffer him return to his own land, and if +henceforward he be minded to do thee a hurt, I will bid one of the +Jinn-guard snatch him up and bring him to thee.' Replied Teghmus, 'I +hear and I obey,' and bade Shimwal bring him the prisoner, who came +manacled and fettered and kissed earth between his hands. Then he +commanded to strike off his chains and, mounting him on a lame mare, +said to him, 'Verily Princess Shamsah hath interceded for thee: so +begone to thy kingdom, but if thou fall again to thine old tricks, she +will send one of the Marids to seize thee and bring thee hither.' +Thereupon King Kafid set off home wards, in the sorriest of +plights,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Thirtieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "King Kafid set +off homewards in the sorriest of plights, whilst Janshah and his wife +abode in all solace and delight of life, making the most of its joyance +and happiness. All this recounted the youth sitting between the tombs +unto Bulukiya, ending with, 'And behold, I am Janshah who witnessed all +these things, O my brother, O Bulukiya!' Then Bulukiya who was +wandering the world in his love for Mohammed (whom Allah bless and +keep!) asked Janshah, 'O my brother, what be these two sepulchres and +why sittest thou between them and what causeth thy weeping?' He +answered, 'Know, O Bulukiya, that we abode in all solace and delight of +life, passing one year at home and the next at Takni, the Castle of +Jewels, whither we betook not ourselves but in the litter borne by the +Marids and flying between heaven and earth.' Quoth Bulukiya, 'O my +brother, O Janshah, what was the distance between the Castle and thy +home?' Quoth he, 'Every day we accomplished a journey of thirty months +and the time we took was ten days. We abode on this wise a many of +years till, one year we set out for the Castle of Jewels, as was our +wont, and on the way thither alighted from the litter in this island to +rest and take our pleasure therein. We sat down on the riverbank and +ate and drank; after which the Lady Shamsah, having a mind to bathe, +put off her clothes and plunged into the water. Her women did likewise +and they swam about awhile, whilst I walked on along the bank of the +stream leaving them to swim about and play with one another. And +behold, a huge shark of the monsters of the deep seized the Princess by +the leg, without touching any of the girls; and she cried out and died +forthright, whilst the damsels fled out of the river to the pavilion, +to escape from the shark. But after awhile they returned and taking up +her corpse carried her to the litter. Now when I saw her dead, I fell +down fainting and they sprinkled water on my face, till I recovered and +wept over her. Then I despatched the Jinn-guards to her parents and +family, announcing what had befallen her; and in the shortest time they +came to the spot and washed her and shrouded her, after which they +buried her by the river-side and made mourning for her. They would have +carried me with them to their own country; but I said to King Shahlan, +'I beseech thee to dig me a grave beside her tomb, that, when I die, I +may be buried by her side in that grave.' Accordingly, the King +commanded one of his Marids to do as I wished, after which they +departed and left me here to weep and mourn for her till I die. And +this is my story and the cause of my sojourn between these two tombs.' +And he repeated these two couplets,[FN#566] + +'The house, sweet heart, is now no home to me * Since thou art + + + gone, nor neighbour neighbourly, + + +The friend whilom I took to heart, no more * Is friend, and + + + brightest lights lose brilliancy.' + + + +But when Bulukiya heard out Janshah's tale he marvelled,"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Thirty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "when Bulukiya +heard out Janshah's tale he wondered and exclaimed, 'By Allah, +methought I had indeed wandered over the world and compassed it about; +but now I forget all I have seen after listening to these adventures of +thine!' He was silent a while and then resumed, 'I beg thee, of thy +favour and courtesy, to direct me in the way of safety.' So Janshah +directed him into the right road, and Bulukiya farewelled him and went +his ways." All this the Serpent-queen related to Hasib Karim al-Din, +and he asked her, "But how knowest thou of these things?"; and she +answered, "O Hasib, thou must ken that I had occasion, some five- +and-twenty years ago, to send one of my largest serpents to Egypt and +gave her a letter for Bulukiya, saluting him. So she went there +willingly for she had a daughter in the land called Bint +Shumukh[FN#567]; and after asking anent Bulukiya she found him and gave +him my missive. He read it and replied to the messenger snake, 'Thou +comest from the Queen of the Serpents whom I am minded to visit for I +have an occasion to her.' She replied, 'I hear and obey.' Then she bore +him to her daughter of whom she took leave and said to her companion, +'Close thine eyes.' So he closed them and opening them again, behold, +he found himself on the mountain where I now am. Then his guide carried +him to a great serpent, whom he saluted; whereupon quoth she, 'Didst +thou deliver the missive to Bulukiya?'; and she replied, 'Even so; and +he hath accompanied me and here he standeth.' Presently Bulukiya asked +after me, the Serpent-queen, and the great serpent answered, 'She hath +gone to the mountain Kaf with all her host, as is her wont in winter; +but next summer she will come hither again. As often as she goeth +thither, she appointeth me to reign in her room, during her absence; +and if thou have any occasion to her, I will accomplish it for thee.' +Said he, 'I beg thee to bring me the herb, which whoso crusheth and +drinketh the juice thereof, sickeneth not neither groweth grey nor +dieth.' 'I will not bring it,' said the serpent, 'till thou tell me +what befell thee since thou leftest the Queen of the Serpents, to go +with Affan in quest of King Solomon's tomb.' So he related to her all +his travels and adventures, together with the history of Janshah, and +said at last, 'Grant me my request, that I may return to mine own +country.' Replied the serpent, 'By the virtue of the lord Solomon, I +know not where is to be found the herb whereof thou speakest.' Then she +bade the serpent which had brought him thither, carry him back to +Egypt: so the messenger obeyed her and said to him, 'Shut thine eyes!' +He did so and, opening them again, found himself on the mountain +Mukattam.[FN#568] When I returned from the mountain Kaf (added the +Queen) the serpent, my deputy, informed me of Bulukiya's visit and gave +me his salutations and repeated to me his story and his meeting with +Janshah. And this, O Hasib, is how I came to know the adventures of +Bulukiya and the history of Janshah." Thereupon Hasib said to her, "O +Queen, deign recount to me what befell Bulukiya as regards his return +to Egypt." She replied, "Know, O Hasib, that when he parted from +Janshah he fared on nights and days till he came to a great sea; so he +anointed his feet with the juice of the magical herb and, walking over +the face of the waters, sped onwards till he came to an island +abounding in trees and springs and fruits, as it were the Garden of +Eden. He landed and walked about, till he saw an immense tree, with +leaves as big as the sails of a ship. So he went up to the tree and +found under it a table spread with all manner meats, whilst on a branch +of the branches sat a great bird, whose body was of pearls and leek- +green emeralds, its feet of silver, its beak of red carnelian and its +plumery of precious metals; and it was engaged in singing the praises +of Allah the Most High and blessing Mohammed (on whom be benediction +and peace!)"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Thirty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "when Bulukiya +landed and walked about the island he found therein many marvels, +especially a bird whose body was of pearls and leek green emeralds and +its plumery of precious metals; and it was engaged in singing the +praises of Allah the Most High and blessing Mohammed (upon whom be +benediction and peace!). Seeing this he said, 'Who and what art thou?' +Quoth the bird, 'I am one of the birds of Eden and followed Adam when +Allah Almighty cast him out thence. And know, O my brother, that Allah +also cast out with him four leaves of the trees of the garden to cover +his nakedness withal, and they fell to the ground after awhile. One of +them was eaten by a worm, and of it came silk: the gazelles ate the +second and thence proceeded musk, the third was eaten by bees and gave +rise to honey, whilst the fourth fell in the land of Hind and from it +sprang all manner of spices. As for me, I wandered over the face of +earth till Allah deigned give me this island for a dwelling-place, and +I took up my abode here. And every Friday from night till morning the +Saints and Princes[FN#569] of the Faith flock to this place and make +pious visitation and eat from this table spread by Allah Almighty; and +after they have eaten, the table is taken up again to Heaven: nor doth +the food ever waste or corrupt.' So Bulukiya ate his fill of the meats +and praised the Great Creator. And presently, behold, there came up +Al-Khizr[FN#570] (with whom be peace!), at sight of whom Bulukiya rose +and saluting him, was about to withdraw, when the bird said to him, +'Sit, O Bulukiya, in the presence of Al-Khizr, on whom be peace!' So he +sat down again, and Al-Khizr said to him, 'Let me know who thou art and +tell me thy tale.' Thereupon Bulukiya related to him all his adventures +from beginning to end and asked, 'O my lord, how far is it hence to +Cairo?' 'Five and ninety years' journey,' replied the Prophet; +whereupon Bulukiya burst into tears; then, falling at Al-Khizr's feet, +kissed them and said to him, 'I beseech thee deliver me from this +strangerhood and thy reward be with Allah, for that I am nigh upon +death and know not what to do.' Quoth Al-Khizr, 'Pray to Allah Almighty +that He permit me to carry thee to Cairo, ere thou perish.' So Bulukiya +wept and humbled himself before Allah who granted his prayer, and by +inspiration bade Al-Khizr bear him to his people. Then said the +Prophet, 'Lift thy head, for Allah hath heard thy prayer and hath +inspired me to do what thou desires; so take fast hold of me with both +thy hands and shut thine eyes.' The Prince did as he was bidden and +Al-Khizr stepped a single step forwards, then said to him, 'Open thine +eyes!' So Bulukiya opened his eyes and found himself at the door of his +palace at Cairo. He turned, to take leave of Al-Khizr, but found no +trace of him."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Thirty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that "when Bulukiya, +standing at the gate of his palace, turned to take leave of Al-Khizr, +he found no trace of him and entered the palace. When his mother saw +him, she cried with a loud cry and swooned away for excess of joy, and +they sprinkled water upon her face. After awhile she came to herself +and embraced her son and wept with sore weeping, whilst Bulukiya wept +and laughed by turns. Then all his friends and kindred came and gave +him joy of his safe return, and the news was noised abroad in the land +and there came to him presents from all parts. Moreover, they beat the +drums and blew the flutes and rejoiced mightily. Then Bulukiya related +to them his adventures ending with recounting how Al-Khizr had set him +down at his palace door, whereat they marvelled exceedingly and wept, +till all were a-weary of weeping." Hasib wondered at the Queen's tale +and shed many tears over it; then he again besought her to let him +return to his family; but she said, "I fear me, O Hasib, that when thou +gettest back to thy country thou wilt fail of thy promise and prove +traitor to thine oath and enter the Hammam." But he swore to her +another solemn oath that he would never again enter the baths as long +as he lived; whereupon she called a serpent and bade her carry him up +to the surface of the earth. So the serpent took him and led him from +place to place, till she brought him out on the platform-edge of an +abandoned cistern and there left him. Upon this he walked to the city +and, coming to his house by the last of the day, at the yellowing of +the sun, knocked at the door. His mother opened it and seeing her son +screamed out and threw herself upon him and wept for excess of joy. His +wife heard her mother-in-law weeping; so she came out to her and seeing +her husband, saluted him and kissed his hands; and each rejoiced in +other with exceeding joy of all three. Then they entered the house and +sat down to converse and presently Hasib asked his mother of the +woodcutters, who had left him to perish in the cistern. Quoth she, +"They came and told me that a wolf had eaten thee in the Wady. As for +them, they are become merchants and own houses and shops, and the world +is grown wide for them. But every day they bring me meat and drink, and +thus have they done until the present time." Quoth Hasib, "To-morrow do +thou go to them and say, "My son Hasib Karim al-Din hath returned from +his travels; so come ye to meet him and salute him." Accordingly, when +morning dawned, she repaired to the woodcutters' houses and delivered +to them her son's message, which when they heard, they changed colour, +and saying, "We hear and obey," gave her each a suit of silk, +embroidered with gold, adding, "Present this to thy good son[FN#571] +and tell him that we will be with him to-morrow." She assented and +returning to Hasib gave him their presents and message. Meanwhile, the +woodcutters called together a number of merchants and, acquainting them +with all that had passed between themselves and Hasib, took counsel +with them what they should do. Quoth the merchants, "It behoveth each +one of you to give him half his monies and Mamelukes." And they all +agreed to do this; so on the next day, each of them took half his +wealth and, going in to Hasib, saluted him and kissed his hands. Then +they laid before him what they had brought, saying, "This is of thy +bounties, and we are in thy hands." He accepted their peace- offering +and said, "What is past is past: that which befell us was decreed of +Allah, and destiny doeth away with dexterity." Quoth they, "Come, let +us walk about and take our solace in the city and visit the Hammam." +Quoth he, "Not so: I have taken an oath never again to enter the baths, +so long as I live." Rejoined they, at least come to our homes that we +may entertain thee." He agreed to this, and went to their houses and +each of them entertained him for a night and a day; nor did they cease +to do thus for a whole sennight, being seven in number. And now Hasib +was master of monies and houses and shops, and the merchants of the +city foregathered with him and he told them all that had befallen him. +He became one of the chiefs of the guild and abode on this wise awhile, +till it happened one day, as he was walking about the streets, that he +passed the door of a Hammam, whose keeper was one of his companions. +When the bathman, who was standing without, caught his eye he ran up to +him and saluted him and embraced him, saying, "Favour me by entering +the bath and there wash and be rubbed that I may show thee +hospitality." Hasib refused, alleging that he had taken a solemn oath +never again to enter the Hammam; but the bathman was instant with him, +saying, "Be my three wives triply divorced, can thou enter not and be +washed!" When Hasib heard him thus conjure him, he was confounded and +replied, "O my brother, hast thou a mind to ruin my house and make my +children orphans and lay a load of sin upon my neck?" But his friend +threw himself at his feet and kissed them, saying, "My happiness +dependeth upon thy entering, and be the sin on the neck of me!" Then +all the servants of the bath set upon Hasib and dragging him in pulled +off his clothes. But hardly had he sat down against the wall and begun +to pour water on his head when a score of men accosted him, saying, +"Rise, O man, and come with us to the Sultan, for thou art his debtor." +Then they despatched one of them as messenger to the Sultan's Minister, +who straightway took horse and rode, attended by threescore Mamelukes, +to the baths, where he alighted and going in to Hasib, saluted him and +said, "Welcome to thee!" Then he gave the bathman an hundred diners +and, mounting Hasib on a horse he had brought with him, returned with +him and all his men to the Sultan's palace. Here he bade them aid Hasib +to dismount and, after seating him comfortably, set food before him; +and when they had eaten and drunken and washed their hands, the Wazir +clad him in two dresses of honour each worth five thousand diners and +said to him, "Know that Allah hath been merciful to us in sending thee; +for the Sultan is nigh upon death by leprosy, and the books tell us +that his life is in thy hands. Then, accompanied by a host of Grandees, +he took him wondering withal and carried him through the seven doorways +of the palace, till they came to the King's chamber. Now the name of +this King was Karazdαn, King of Persia and of the Seven Countries, and +under his sway were an hundred sovereign princes sitting on chairs of +red gold, and ten thousand valiant captains, under each one's hand an +hundred deputies and as many headsmen armed with sword and axe. They +found the King lying on his bed with his face swathed in a napkin, and +groaning for excess of pain. When Hasib saw this ordinance, his wit was +dazed for awe of the King; so he kissed the ground before him, and +prayed a blessing on him. Then the Grand Wazir, whose name was Shamhϊr, +rose and welcoming Hasib, seated him on a high chair at the King's +right hand."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Shamhur +rose to Hasib and seated him on a chair at the right hand of King +Karazdan; after which he called for food and the tables were laid. And +when they had eaten and drunken and washed their hands, Shamhur stood +up (while all present also stood to do him honour) and, approaching +Hasib said to him, "We are all thy servants and will give thee +whatsoever thou askest, even were it one half the kingdom, so thou wilt +but cure the King." Saying this, he led him by the hand to the royal +couch, and Hasib, uncovering the King's face, saw that he was at last +fatal stage of the disease; so he wondered at their hoping for a cure. +But the Wazir kissed his hand and repeated his offers and ended with +saying, "All we want of thee is to heal our King:" so he said to the +Wazir, "True that I am the son of Allah's prophet, Daniel, but I know +nothing of his art: for they put me thirty days in the school of +medicine and I learnt nothing of the craft. I would well I knew +somewhat thereof and might heal the King." Hearing this, the Grand +Wazir said, "Do not multiply words upon us; for though we should gather +together to us physicians from the East and from the West, none could +cure the King save thou." Answered Hasib, "How can I make him whole, +seeing I know neither his case nor its cure?" Quoth the Minister, "His +healing is in thy hands," and quoth Hasib, "If I knew the remedy of his +sickness, I would heal him." Thereupon the Wazir rejoined, "Thou +keenest a cure right well; the remedy of his sickness is the Queen of +the Serpents, and thou knowest her abiding-place and hast been with +her." When Hasib heard this, he knew that all this came of his entering +the Baths, and repented whenas repentance availed him naught; then said +he, "What is the Queen of the Serpents? I know her not nor ever in all +my life heard I of this name." Retorted the Wazir, "Deny not the +knowledge of her, for I have proof that thou knowest her and hast +passed two years with her." Repeated Hasib, "Verily, I never saw her +nor even heard of her till this moment;" upon which Shamhur opened a +book and, after making sundry calculations, raised his head and spake +as follows. "The Queen of the Serpents shall foregather with a man who +shall abide with her two years; then shall he return from her and come +forth to the surface of the earth, and when he entereth the Hammam bath +his belly will become black." Then said he, "Look at thy belly." So +Hasib looked at his own belly and behold, it was black: but he +persisted in his denial and said, "My belly was black from the day my +mother bare me." Said the Wazir, "I had stationed three Mamelukes at +the door of every Hammam, bidding them note all who entered and let me +know when they found one whose belly was black: so, when thou +enteredst, they looked at thy belly and, finding it black, sent and +told me, after we had well-nigh lost hope of coming upon thee. All we +want of thee is to show us the place whence thou camest out and after +go thy ways; for we have those with us who will take the Queen of the +Serpents and fetch her to us." Then all the other Wazirs and Emirs and +Grandees flocked about Hasib who sorely repented of his misdeed; and +they conjured him, till they were weary, to show them the abode of the +Queen; but he ceased not saying, "I never saw nor heard of the matter." +Then the Grand Wazir called the hangman and bade him strip Hasib and +beat him a sore beating; and so they did till he saw death face to +face, for excess of pain, and the Wazir said, "We have proof that thou +knowest the abiding-place of the Queen of the Serpents: why wilt thou +persist in denial? Show us the place whence thou camest out and go from +us; we have with us one who will take her, and no harm shall befall +thee." Then he raised him and bade give him a dress of honour of cloth +of red gold, embroidered with jewels, and spoke him fair till Hasib +yielded and said, "I will show you the place." At this the Wazir +rejoiced with great joy and took horse with all his many and rode, +guided by Hasib, and never drew rein till they came to the mountain +containing the cavern wherein he had found the cistern full of honey. +There all dismounted and followed him as he entered, sighing and +weeping, and showed them the well whence he had issued; whereupon the +Wazir sat down thereby and, sprinkling perfumes upon a chafing-dish, +began to mutter charms and conjurations; for he was a crafty magician +and diviner and skilled in spiritual arts. He repeated three several +formulas of conjuration and between each threw fresh incense upon the +fire, crying out and saying, "Come forth, O Queen of the Serpents!;" +when behold, the water of the well sank down and a great door opened in +the side, from which came a mighty noise of crying like unto thunder, +so terrible that they thought the well had caved in and all present +fell down fainting; nay, some even died for fright. Presently, there +issued from the well a serpent as big as an elephant, casting out +sparks, like red hot coals, from its eyes and mouth and bearing on its +back a charger of red gold, set with pearls and jewels, in the midst +whereof lay a serpent from whose body issued such splendour that the +place was illumined thereby; and her face was fair and young and she +spoke with most eloquent tongue. The Serpent-queen turned right and +left, till her eyes fell upon Hasib, to whom said she "Where is the +covenant thou madest with me, and the oath thou swearest to me, that +thou wouldst never again enter the Hammam-bath? But there is no +fighting against Fate nor hath any ever fled from that which is written +on his forehead. Allah hath appointed the end of my life for thy hand +to hend, and it is His will that slain I be and King Karazdan be healed +of his malady." So saying, she wept with sore weeping and Hasib wept to +see her weep. As for the abominable Wazir Shamhur; he put out his hand +to lay hold of her; but she said to him, "Hold thy hand, O accursed, or +I will blow upon thee and reduce thee to a heap of black ashes." Then +she cried out to Hasib, saying, "Draw near me and take me in thine hand +and lay me in the dish that is with you: then set it on thy head, for +my death was fore-ordained, from Eternity without beginning,[FN#572] to +be at thy hand, and thou hast no power to avert it." So he took her and +laid her in the dish, and put it on his head, when the well returned to +its former state. Then they set out on their return to the city, Hasib +carrying the dish on his head, and when they were half-way behold, the +Queen of the Serpents said to him privily, "Hearken, O Hasib, to my +friendly counsel, for all thou hast broken faith with me and been false +to thine oath, and hast done this misdeed, but it was fore-ordained +from all eternity." He replied "To hear is to obey," and she continued, +"It is this: when thou comest to the Wazir's house, he will bid thee +behead me and cut me in three; but do thou refuse saying, 'I know not +how to slaughter[FN#473]' and leave him to do it with his own hand and +to work his wicked will. When he hath cut my throat and divided my body +into three pieces there will come a messenger, to bid him to the King, +so he will lay my flesh in a cauldron of brass and set it upon a +brasier before going to the presence and he will say to thee, 'Keep up +the fire under the cauldron till the scum rise; then skim it off and +pour it into a phial to cool. Wait till it cool and then drink it, so +shall naught of malady or pain be left in all thy body. When the second +scum riseth, skim it off and pour it into a phial against my return +from the King, that I may drink it for an ailment I have in my loins.' +Then will he give thee the phials and go to the King, and when he is +gone, do thou light the fire and wait till the first scum rise and set +it in a phial; keep it by thee but beware of drinking it, or no good +will befall thee. When the second scum riseth, skim it off and put it +in a second phial and drink it down as soon as it cools. When the Wazir +returneth and asketh thee for the second phial, give him the first and +note what shall befall him;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Serpent-queen +charged Hasib not to drink of the first scum and carefully to keep the +second, saying, "When the Wazir returneth from the King and asketh for +the second phial, give him the first and note what shall befall him; +then drink the contents of the second phial and thy heart will become +the home of wisdom. After this take up the flesh and, laying it in a +brazen platter, carry it to the King and give him to eat thereof. When +he hath eaten it and it hath settled in his stomach, veil his face with +a kerchief and wait by him till noontide, when he will have digested +the meat. Then give him somewhat of wine to drink and, by the decree of +Allah Almighty, he will be healed of his unhealth and be made whole as +he was. And give thou ear to the charge wherewith I charge thee; and +keep it in thy memory with carefullest keeping." They ceased not faring +till they came to the Wazir's house, and he said to Hasib, "Come in +with me!" So he went in and the troops dispersed and fared each his own +way; whereupon Hasib set down the platter and the Wazir bade him slay +the Queen of the Serpents; but he said, "I know not how to slaughter +and never in my born days killed I aught. An thou wilt have her throat +cut, do it with thine own hand." So the Minister Shamhur took the Queen +from the platter and slew her, seeing which Hasib wept bitter tears and +the Wazir laughed at him, saying, "O weak of wits, how canst thou weep +for the killing of a worm?" Then he cut her in three and, laying the +pieces in a brass cauldron, set it on the fire and sat down to await +the cooking of the flesh. And whilst he was sitting, lo! there came a +slave from the King, who said to him, "The King calls for thee without +stay or delay," and he answered saying, "I hear and I obey." So he gave +Hasib two phials and bade him drink the first scum and keep the second +against his return,[FN#574] even as the Queen of the Serpents had +foretold; after which he went away with repeated charges and +injunctions; and Hasib tended the fire under the cauldron till the +first scum rose, when he skimmed it off and, setting it in one of the +phials, kept it by him. He then fed the fire till the second scum rose; +then he skimmed it off and, putting it in the other phial kept it for +himself. And when the meat was done, he took the cauldron off the fire +and sat awaiting the Wazir who asked him on return, "What hast thou +done?" and answered Hasib, "I did thy bidding to the last word." Quoth +the Wazir, "What hast thou done with the first phial?" "I drank its +contents but now," replied Hasib, and Shamhur asked, "Thy body feeleth +it no change?"; whereto Hasib answered, "Verily, I feel as I were on +fire from front to foot." The villain Wazir made no reply hiding the +truth but said, "Hand me the second phial, that I may drink what is +therein, so haply I may be made whole of this ailing in my loins." So +Hasib brought him the first phial and he drank it off, thinking it +contained the second scum; but hardly had he done drinking when the +phial fell from his hand and he swelled up and dropped down dead; and +thus was exemplified in him the saying; "Whoso for his brother diggeth +a pit, he shall be the first to fall into it." Now when Hasib saw this, +he wondered and feared to drink of the second phial; but he remembered +the Serpent-queen's injunction and bethought him that the Wazir would +not have reserved the second scum for himself, had there been aught of +hurt therein. So he said, "I put my trust in Allah,'[FN#575] and drank +off the contents of the phial. No sooner had he done so, than the Most +Highest made the waters of wisdom to well up in his heart and opened to +him the fountains of knowledge, and joy and gladness overcame him. Then +he took the serpent's flesh from the cauldron and, laying it on a +platter of brass, went forth from the Wazir's house. On his way to the +palace he raised his eyes and saw the seven Heavens and all that +therein is, even to the Lote-tree, beyond which there is no +passing,[FN#576] and the manner of the revolution of the spheres. +Moreover, Allah discovered to him the ordinance of the planets and the +scheme of their movements and the fixed stars; and he saw the contour +of the land and sea, whereby he became informed with geometry, +astrology and astronomy and mathematics and all that hangeth thereby; +and he understood the causes and consequences of eclipses of the sun +and moon. Then he looked at the earth and saw all minerals and +vegetables that are therein and thereon; and he learned their +properties, and their virtues, so that he became in an instant versed +in medicine and chemistry and natural magic and the art of making gold +and silver. And he ceased not carrying the flesh till he came to the +palace, when he went in to King Karazdan, and kissing the ground before +him, said, "May thy head survive thy Wazir Shamhur!" The King was +mightily angered at the news of the Grand Wazir's death and wept for +him, whilst his Emirs and his Grandees and officers also wept. Then +said Karazdan, "He was with me but now, in all health, and went away to +fetch me the flesh of the Queen of the Serpents, if it should be +cooked; what befell him that he is now dead, and what accident hath +betided him?" So Hasib told him the whole truth how the Minister had +drunk the contents of the phial and had forthwith swelled out and died. +The King mourned for his loss with mourning sore and said to Hasib, +"What shall I do without Shamhur?" and Hasib answered "Grieve not, O +King of the age; for I will cure thee within three days and leave no +whit of disease in thy body." At this the King's breast waxed broad and +he said, "I wish to be made whole of this affliction, though after a +long term of years." So Hasib set the platter before the King and made +him eat a slice of the flesh of the Serpent-queen. Then he covered him +up and, spreading a kerchief over his face, bade him sleep and sat down +by his side. He slept from noonday till sundown, while his stomach +digested the piece of flesh, and presently he awoke. Hasib gave him +somewhat of wine to drink and bade him sleep again; so he slept till +the morning and when dawn appeared, Hasib repeated the treatment making +him eat another piece of the flesh; and thus he did with him three days +following, till he had eaten the whole, when his skin began to shrink +and scale off and he perspired, so that the sweat ran down from his +head to his heels. Therewith he became whole and there abode in him no +trace of the disease, which when Hasib saw, he said, "There is no help +for it but thou go to the Hammam." So he carried him to the bath and +washed his body; and when he came forth, it was like a wand of silver +and he was restored to health, nay, sounder than he was before he fell +ill. Thereupon he donned his richest robes and, seating himself on his +throne, deigned make Hasib sit beside him. Then he bade the tables be +spread and they ate and washed their hands; after which he called for +the service of wine and both drank their fill. Upon this all his Wazirs +and Emirs and Captains and the Grandees of his realm and the notables +of the lieges came in to him and gave him joy of his recovery; and they +beat the drums and adorned the city in token of rejoicing. Then said +the King to the assembly, "O Wazirs and Emirs and Grandees, this is +Hasim Karim al-Din, who hath healed me of my sickness, and know all +here present that I make him my Chief Wazir in the stead of the Wazir +Shamhur."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Five Hundred and Thirty-sixth Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth King +Karazdan to his Ministers and high lords, "He who healed me of my +sickness is none other than Hasib Karim al-Din here present. Therefore +I make him my Chief Wazir in the stead of the Wazir Shamhur; and whoso +loveth him loveth me, and whoso honoureth him honoureth me, and he who +obeyeth him obeyeth me." "Hearkening and obedience," answered they and +all rising flocked to kiss Hasib's hand and salute him and give him joy +of the Wazirate. Then the King bestowed on him a splendid dress of gold +brocade, set with pearls and gems, the least of which was worth five +thousand gold pieces. Moreover, he presented to him three hundred male +white slaves and the like number of concubines, in loveliness like +moons, and three hundred Abyssinian[FN#577] slave-girls, beside five +hundred mules laden with treasure and sheep and oxen and buffaloes and +bulls and other cattle beyond count; and he commanded all his Wazirs +and Emirs and Grandees and Notables and Mamelukes and his subjects in +general to bring him gifts. Presently Hasib took horse and rode, +followed by the Wazirs and Emirs and lords and all the troops, to the +house which the King had set apart for him, where he sat down on a +chair; and the Wazirs and Emirs came up to him and kissed hands and +gave him joy of his Ministership, vying with one another in suit and +service. When his mother and his household knew what had happened, they +rejoiced with exceeding joy and congratulated him on his good fortune; +and his quondam comrades the woodcutters also came and gave him joy. +Then he mounted again and, riding to the house of the late Wazir +Shamhur, laid hands on all that was therein and transported it to his +own abode. On this wise did Hasib, from a dunsical know-nothing, +unskilled to read writing, become, by the decree of Allah Almighty, an +adept in every science and versed in all manner of knowledge, so that +the fame of his learning was blazed abroad over the land and he became +renowned as an ocean of lore and skill in medicine and astronomy and +geometry and astrology and alchemy and natural magic and the Cabbala +and Spiritualism and all other arts and sciences. One day, he said to +his mother, "My father Daniel was exceeding wise and learned; tell me +what he left by way of books or what not!" So his mother brought him +the chest and, taking out the five leaves which had been saved when the +library was lost, gave them to him saying, "These five scrolls are all +thy father left thee." So he read them and said to her, "O my mother, +these leaves are part of a book: where is the rest?" Quoth she, "Thy +father made a voyage taking with him all his library and, when he was +shipwrecked, every book was lost save only these five leaves. And when +he was returned to me by Almighty Allah he found me with child and said +to me: 'Haply thou wilt bear a boy; so take these scrolls and keep them +by thee and whenas thy son shall grow up and ask what his father left +him, give these leaves to him and say, 'Thy father left these as thine +only heritance. And lo! here they are.' " And Hasib, now the most +learned of his age, abode in all pleasure and solace, and delight of +life, till there came to him the Destroyer of delights and the Severer +of societies.[FN#578] And yet, O King, is not this tale of Bulukiya and +Janshah more wondrous than the adventures of + +End of Volume V. + + Arabian Nights, Volume 5 + + + Footnotes + + + +[FN#1] This tale (one of those translated by Galland) is best and +fullest in the Bresl. Edit. iii. 329. + +[FN#2] Europe has degraded this autumnal festival, the Sun-fκte Mihrgαn +(which balanced the vernal Nau-roz) into Michaelmas and its +goose-massacre. It was so called because it began on the 16th of Mihr, +the seventh month; and lasted six days, with feasts, festivities and +great rejoicings in honour of the Sun, who now begins his +southing-course to gladden the other half of the world. + +[FN#3] "Hindν" is an Indian Moslem as opposed to "Hindϊ," a pagan, or +Gentoo. + +[FN#4] The orig. Persian word is "Shαh-pϊr"=King's son: the Greeks (who +had no sh) (preferred ); the Romans turned it into Sapor and the Arabs +(who lack the p) into Sαbϊr. See p. x. Hamzζ ispahanensis Annalium +Libri x.: Gottwaldt, Lipsiζ mdcccxlviii. + +[FN#5] The magic horse may have originated with the Hindu tale of a +wooden Garuda (the bird of Vishnu) built by a youth for the purpose of +a vehicle. It came with the "Moors" to Spain and appears in "Le Cheval +de Fust," a French poem of the thirteenth Century. Thence it passed +over to England as shown by Chaucer's "Half-told tale of Cambuscan +(Janghνz Khan?) bold," as + + "The wondrous steed of brass + + + On which the Tartar King did ride;" + + + +And Leland (Itinerary) derives "Rutlandshire" from "a man named Rutter +who rode round it on a wooden horse constructed by art magic." Lane +(ii. 548) quotes the parallel story of Cleomades and Claremond which +Mr. Keightley (Tales and Popular Fictions, chapt. ii) dates from our +thirteenth century. See Vol. i., p. 160. + +[FN#6] All Moslems, except those of the Mαliki school, hold that the +maker of an image representing anything of life will be commanded on +the Judgment Day to animate it, and failing will be duly sent to the +Fire. This severity arose apparently from the necessity of putting down +idol-worship and, perhaps, for the same reason the Greek Church admits +pictures but not statues. Of course the command has been honoured with +extensive breaching: for instance all the Sultans of Stambul have had +their portraits drawn and painted. + +[FN#7] This description of ugly old age is written with true + + +Arab verve. + + + +[FN#8] Arab. "Badinjαn": Hind. Bengan: Pers. Bαdingαn or Badiljαn; the +Mala insana (Solanum pomiferum or S. Melongena) of the Romans, well +known in Southern Europe. It is of two kinds, the red (Solanum +lycopersicum) and the black (S. Melongena). The Spaniards know it as +"berengeria" and when Sancho Panza (Part ii. chapt. 2) says, "The Moors +are fond of egg-plants" he means more than appears. The vegetable is +held to be exceedingly heating and thereby to breed melancholia and +madness; hence one says to a man that has done something eccentric, +"Thou hast been eating brinjalls." + +[FN#9] Again to be understood Hibernice "kilt." + +[FN#10] i.e. for fear of the evil eye injuring the palace and, haply, +himself. + +[FN#11] The "Sufrah" before explained acting provision-bag and +table-cloth. + +[FN#12] Eastern women in hot weather, lie mother-nude under a sheet +here represented by the hair. The Greeks and Romans also slept stripped +and in mediζval England the most modest women saw nothing indelicate in +sleeping naked by their naked husbands. The "night-cap" and the +"night-gown" are comparatively modern inventions. + +[FN#13] Hindu fable turns this simile into better poetry, "She was like +a second and a more wondrous moon made by the Creator." + +[FN#14] "Sun of the Day." + +[FN#15] Arab. "Shirk"=worshipping more than one God. A theological term +here most appropriately used. + +[FN#16] The Bul. Edit. as usual abridges (vol. i. 534). The Prince +lands on the palace-roof where he leaves his horse, and finding no one +in the building goes back to the terrace. Suddenly he sees a beautiful +girl approaching him with a party of her women, suggesting to him these +couplets, + + "She came without tryst in the darkest hour, * + + + Like full moon lighting horizon's night: + + + Slim-formed, there is not in the world her like * + + + For grace of form or for gifts of sprite: + + + 'Praise him who made her from semen-drop,' * + + + I cried, when her beauty first struck my sight: + + + I guard her from eyes, seeking refuge with * + + + The Lord of mankind and of morning-light." + + + +The two then made acquaintance and "follows what follows." + +[FN#17] Arab. "Akαsirah," explained (vol. i., 75) as the plur. of +Kisrα. + +[FN#18] The dearest ambition of a slave is not liberty but to have a +slave of his own. This was systematised by the servile rulers known in +history as the Mameluke Beys and to the Egyptians as the Ghuzz. Each +had his household of servile pages and squires, who looked forward to +filling the master's place as knight or baron. + +[FN#19] The well-known capital of Al-Yaman, a true Arabia Felix, a +Paradise inhabited by demons in the shape of Turkish soldiery and Arab +caterans. According to Moslem writers Sana'a was founded by Shem son of +Noah who, wandering southward with his posterity after his father's +death, and finding the site delightful, dug a well and founded the +citadel, Ghamdαn, which afterwards contained a Mason Carrιe rivalling +(or attempting to rival) the Meccan Ka'abah. The builder was Surahbνl +who, says M.C. de Perceval coloured its four faces red, white, golden +and green; the central quadrangle had seven stories (the planets) each +forty cubits high, and the lowest was a marble hall ceiling'd with a +single slab. At the four corners stood hollow lions through whose +mouths the winds roared. This palatial citadel-temple was destroyed by +order of Caliph Omar. The city's ancient name was Azal or Uzal whom +some identify with one of the thirteen sons of Joktan (Genesis xi. 27): +it took its present name from the Ethiopian conquerors (they say) who, +seeing it for the first time, cried "Hazα Sana'ah!" meaning in their +tongue, this is commodious, etc. I may note that the word is Kisawahili +(Zanzibarian) e.g. "Yαmbo sαnα—is the state good?" Sana'a was the +capital of the Tabαbi'ah or Tobba Kings who judaized; and the +Abyssinians with their Negush made it Christian while the Persians +under Anushirwαn converted it to Guebrism. It is now easily visited but +to little purpose; excursions in the neighborhood being deadly +dangerous. Moreover the Turkish garrison would probably murder a +stranger who sympathised with the Arabs, and the Arabs kill one who +took part with their hated and hateful conquerors. The late Mr. Shapira +of Jerusalem declared that he had visited it and Jews have great +advantages in such travel. But his friends doubted him. + +[FN#20] The Bresl. Edit. (iii. 347) prints three vile errors in four +lines. + +[FN#21] Alcove is a corruption of the Arab. Al-Kubbah (the dome) +through Span. and Port. + +[FN#22] Easterns as a rule sleep with head and body covered by a sheet +or in cold weather a blanket. The practice is doubtless hygienic, +defending the body from draughts when the pores are open; but Europeans +find it hard to adopt; it seems to stop their breathing. Another +excellent practice in the East, and indeed amongst barbarians and +savages generally, is training children to sleep with mouths shut: in +after life they never snore and in malarious lands they do not require +Outram's "fever-guard," a swathe of muslin over the mouth. Mr. Catlin +thought so highly of the "shut mouth" that he made it the subject of a +book. + +[FN#23] Arab. "Hanzal"=coloquintida, an article often mentioned by +Arabs in verse and prose; the bright coloured little gourd attracts +every eye by its golden glance when travelling through the brown-yellow +waste of sand and clay. A favourite purgative (enough for a horse) is +made by filling the inside with sour milk which is drunks after a +night's soaking: it is as active as the croton-nut of the Gold Coast. + +[FN#24] The Bresl. Edit. iii. 354 sends him to the "land of Sνn" + + +(China). + + + +[FN#25] Arab. "Yα Kisrawi!"=O subject of the Kisrα or Chosroλ; the +latter explained in vol.i.,75.[Volume 1, Footnote # 128] "Fars" is the +origin of "Persia"; and there is a hit at the prodigious lying of the +modern race, whose forefathers were so famous as truth-tellers. "I am a +Persian, but I am not lying now," is a phrase familiar to every +traveller. + +[FN#26] There is no such name: perhaps it is a clerical error + + +for "Har jαh"=(a man of) any place. I know an Englishman who in + + +Persian called himself "Mirza Abdullah-i-Hνchmakαni"=Master + + +Abdullah of Nowhere. + + + +[FN#27] The Bresl. Edit. (loc. cit.) gives a comical description of the +Prince assuming the dress of an astrologer-doctor, clapping an old book +under his arm, fumbling a rosary of beads, enlarging his turband, +lengthening his sleeves and blackening his eyelids with antimony. Here, +however, it would be out of place. Very comical also is the way in +which he pretends to cure the maniac by "muttering unknown words, +blowing in her face, biting her ear," etc. + +[FN#28] Arab. "Sar'a"=falling sickness. Here again we have in all its +simplicity the old nursery idea of "possession" by evil spirits. + +[FN#29] Arab. "Nafahαt"=breathings, benefits, the Heb. Neshamah opp. to +Nephesh (soul) and Ruach (spirit). Healing by the breath is a popular +idea throughout the East and not unknown to Western Magnetists and +Mesmerists. The miraculous cures of the Messiah were, according to +Moslems, mostly performed by aspiration. They hold that in the days of +Isa, physic had reached its highest development, and thus his miracles +were mostly miracles of medicine; whereas, in Mohammed's time, +eloquence had attained its climax and accordingly his miracles were +those of eloquence, as shown in the Koran and Ahαdνs. + +[FN#30] Lit. "The rose in the sleeves or calyces." I take my English +equivalent from Jeremy Taylor, "So I have seen a rose newly springing +from the clefts of its hood," etc. + +[FN#31] These lines are from the Bresl. Edit. (v. 35). The four +couplets in the Mac. Edit. are too irrelevant. + +[FN#32] Polo, which Lane calls "Goff." + +[FN#33] Arab. "Muffawak"=well-notched, as its value depends upon the +notch. At the end of the third hemistitch Lane's Shaykh very properly +reads "baghtatan" (suddenly) for "burhatan"=during a long time. + +[FN#34] "Uns" (which the vulgar pronounce Anas) "al- Wujud"=Delight of +existing things, of being, of the world. Uns wa jud is the normal +pun=love-intimacy and liberality; and the caranomasia (which cannot +well be rendered in English) re-appears again and again. The story is +throughout one of love; hence the quantity of verse. + +[FN#35] The allusion to a "written N" suggests the elongated not the +rounded form of the letter as in Night cccxxiv. + +[FN#36] The fourteenth Arabic letter in its medial form resembling an +eye. + +[FN#37] This is done by the man passing his fingers over the brow as if +to wipe off perspiration; the woman acknowledges it by adjusting her +head-veil with both hands. As a rule in the Moslem East women make the +first advances; and it is truly absurd to see a great bearded fellow +blushing at being ogled. During the Crimean war the fair sex of +Constantinople began by these allurements but found them so readily +accepted by the Giaours that they were obliged to desist. + +[FN#38] The greatest of all explorers and discoverers of the world will +be he who finds a woman confessing inability to keep a secret. + +[FN#39] The original is intensely prosaicand so am I. + +[FN#40] Arab. "Sunnat," the practice of the Prophet. For this prayer +and other silly and superstitious means of discovering the "right +direction" (which is often very wrongly directed) see Lane, M.E. chapt. +xi. + +[FN#41] Arab. "Bahr (sea or river) al-Kunuz": Lane (ii. 576) +ingeniously identifies the site with the Upper Nile whose tribes, +between Assouan (Syene) and Wady al-Subu'a are called the "Kunuz"lit. +meaning "treasures" or "hoards." Philae is still known as the "Islet of +Anas (for Uns) al-Wujud;" and the learned and accurate Burckhardt +(Travels in Nubia p. 5) records the local legend that a mighty King +called Al-Wujud built the Osirian temples. I can give no information +concerning Jabal al-Sakla (Thakla), the Mount of the woman bereft of +children, beyond the legend contained in Night ccclxxix. + +[FN#42] A religious mendicant (lit. a pauper), of whom there are two +great divisions. The Shara'i acts according to the faith: the others +(La Shara'i, or irreligious) are bound by no such prejudices and are +pretty specimens of scoundrels. (Pilgrimage i.22.) + +[FN#43] Meaning his lips and palate were so swollen by drought. + +[FN#44] It is a pious act in time of mortal danger to face the + + +Kiblah or Meccan temple, as if standing in prayer. + + + +[FN#45] Still the belief of the Badawi who tries to work upon the +beast's compassion: "O great King I am a poor man, with wife and +family, so spare me that Allah spare thee!" and so forth. If not +famished the lion will often stalk off looking behind him as he goes; +but the man will never return by the same path; "for," says he, "haply +the Father of Roaring may repent him of a wasted opportunity." These +lion-tales are very common, witness that of Androcles at Rome and a +host of others. Una and her lion is another phase. It remained for M. +Jules Gerard, first the chasseur and then the tueur, du lion, to assail +the reputation of the lion and the honour of the lioness. + +[FN#46] Abu Haris=Father of spoils: one of the lion's hundred titles. + +[FN#47] "They" again for "she." + +[FN#48] Jaxartes and Oxus. The latter (Jayhun or Amu, Oxus or + + +Bactros) is famous for dividing Iran from Turan, Persia from + + +Tartaria. The lands to its north are known as Ma wara al-Nahr + + +(Mawerannahar) or "What is behind the stream,"=Transoxiana and + + +their capitals were successively Samarcand and Bokhara. + + + +[FN#49] Arab. "Dani was gharib"=friend and foe. The lines are partly +from the Mac. Edit. and partly from the Bresl. Edit., v. 55. + +[FN#50] Arab. "Wa Rahmata-hu!" a form now used only in books. + +[FN#51] Before noted. The relationship, like that of foster- brother, +has its rights, duties and privileges. + +[FN#52] Arab. "Istikharah," before explained as praying for direction +by omens of the rosary, opening the Koran and reading the first verse +sighted, etc., etc. At Al-Medinah it is called Khirah and I have +suggested (Pilgrimage, ii. 287) that it is a relic of the Azlam or +Kidah (divining arrows) of paganism. But the superstition is not local: +we have the Sortes Virgilianae (Virgil being a magician) as well as +Coranicae. + +[FN#53] Arab. "Wujud al-Habib," a pun, also meaning, "Wujud my +beloved." + +[FN#54] Arab. "Khilal," as an emblem of attenuation occurring in +Al-Hariri (Ass. of Alexandria, etc.); also thin as a spindle (Maghzal), +as a reed, and dry as a pair of shears. In the Ass. of Barka'id the +toothpick is described as a beautiful girl. The use of this cleanly +article was enjoined by Mohammed:—"Cleanse your mouths with toothpicks; +for your mouths are the abode of the guardian angels; whose pens are +the tongues, and whose ink is the spittle of men; and to whom naught is +more unbearable than remains of food in the mouth." A mighty apparatus +for a small matter; but in very hot lands cleanliness must rank before +godliness. + +[FN#55] The sense is ambiguous. Lane renders the verse:—"Thou +resemblest it (rose) not of my portion" and gives two explanations +"because HE is of my portion," or, "because HIS cheek cannot be rosy if +MINE is not." Mr. Payne boldly translates + +"If the rose ape his cheek, 'Now God forfend,' I say, 'That of my +portion aught to pilfer thou shouldst try'." + +[FN#56] Arab. "lif" (not "fibres which grow at the top of the trunk," +Lane ii. 577); but the fibre of the fronds worked like the cocoa-nut +fibre which forms the now well-known Indian "coir." This "lif" is also +called "filfil" or "fulfil" which Dr. Jonathan Scott renders "pepper" +(Lane i. 8) and it forms a clean succedaneum for one of the uncleanest +articles of civilisation, the sponge. It is used in every Hammam and is +(or should be) thrown away after use. + +[FN#57] Arab. "Shinf;" a course sack, a "gunny-bag;" a net compared +with such article. + +[FN#58] The eunuch tells him that he is not a "Sandali"=one whose penis +and testes are removed; and consequently the highest valued. There are +many ways of making the castrato; in some (as here) only the penis is +removed, in other the testes are bruised or cut off; but in all cases +the animal passion remains, for in man, unlike other animals, the fons +veneris is the brain. The story of Abelard proves this. Juvenal derided +the idea of married eunuchs and yet almost all of these neutrals have +wives with whom they practise the manifold plaisirs de la petite oie +(masturbation, tribadism, irrumation, tete-beche, feuille-de- rose, +etc.), till they induce the venereal orgasm. Such was the account once +given to me by a eunuch's wife; and I need hardly say that she, like +her confrerie, was to be pitied. At the critical moment she held up a +little pillow for her husband to bite who otherwise would have torn her +cheeks or breasts. + +[FN#59] In real life the eunuch, as a rule, avoids all allusion to his +misfortune, although the slave will often describe his being sold +merrily enough. + +[FN#60] The visits are in dreamland. The ringdove thanks the + + +Lord for her (his?) suffering in the holy martyrdom of love. + + + +[FN#61] Arab. "Hazar;" I have explained it as meaning "(the bird of) a +thousand (songs)." + +[FN#62] The "Bulbul" had his day with us but he departed with Tommy +Moore. We usually English the word by "nightingale;" but it is a kind +of shrike or butcher-bird (Lanius Boulboul. Lath.). + +[FN#63] The "Hamam" is a lieu commun in Arabic poetry. I have noticed +the world-wide reverence for the pigeon and the incarnation of the +Third Person of the Hindu Triad (Shiva), as Kapoteshwara +(Kapota-ishwara)"=pigeon or dove-god (Pilgrimage iii. 218). + +[FN#64] Arab. "Hamam al-Ayk." Mr. Payne's rendering is so happy that we +must either take it from him or do worse. + +[FN#65] All primitive peoples translate the songs of birds with human +language; but, as I have noticed, the versions differ widely. The +pigeon cries, "Allah! Allah!" the dove "Karim, Tawwa" (Bountiful, +Pardoner!) the Kata or sand-grouse "Man sakat salam" (who is silent is +safe) yet always betrays itself by its lay of "Kat-ta" and lastly the +cock "Uzkuru 'llah ya ghafilun" (Remember, or take the name of Allah, +ye careless!). + +[FN#66] "Nay," the Dervish's reed pipe, symbol of the sighing absent +lover (i.e. the soul parted from the Creator) so famed by the +Mullah-i-Rum and Sir William Jones. + +[FN#67] Ba'albak=Ba'al (the God)-city (bek in Coptic and ancient +Egyptian.) Such, at least, is the popular derivation which awaits a +better. No cloth has been made there since the Kurd tribe of gallant +robbers known as the "Harfush" (or blackguards) lorded it over old +"Heliopolis." + +[FN#68] Thinking her to be a Jinn or Ghul in the shape of a fair woman. +This Arab is a strange contrast to the English fisherman, and yet he is +drawn with truth. + +[FN#69] Arab. "Habbaza!" (good this!) or "Habba" (how good!): so + + +"Habba bihi," how dear he is to me. + + + +[FN#70] Arab. "Zind," and "Zindah" the names of the two sticks, upper +and lower, hard and soft, by which fire was kindled before flint and +steel were known. We find it in Al-Hariri (Ass. of Banu Haram) "no one +sought ire from my fire-stick (i.e. from me as a fire-stick) and +failed." See Night dccciii. + +[FN#71] Arab. "Nazih" i.e. travelled far and wide. + +[FN#72] "Rajab," lit.="worshipping:" it is the seventh lunar month and +still called "Shahr-i-Khuda" (God's month) by the Persians because in +pre-Islamitic times it formed with Muharram (or in its stead Safar), Zu +'l-ka'adah and Zu-'l-Hijjah (Nos. 1 or 2; 7,11 and 12) the yearly +peace, during which a man might not kill his father's murderer. The +idea must have taken deep root, as Arab history records only six +"impious (or sacrilegious) wars," waged despite the law. Europeans +compare it with the Treuga Dei (truce of God) a seven-years peace +established about A.D. 1032, by a Bishop of Aquitaine; and followed in +A.D. 1245 by the Pax Regis (Royal Peace) under Louis VIII. of France. +This compelled the relations of a murdered man to keep the peace for +forty days after the offence was committed. + +[FN#73] His Majesty wrote sad doggrel. He is better at finessing, and +his message was a trick because Rose-in-Hood had told him that at home +there were special obstacles to the marriage. + +[FN#74] Arab. "Majzub"=drawn, attracted (literally); the popular term +for one absorbed in the contemplation of the Deity. During this process +the soul is supposed to quit the body leaving the latter irresponsible +for its actions. I remember a scandal being caused in a village near +Tunis by one of these men who suddenly started up from his seat in a +dusty corner and, in presence of a small crowd of people, had +connection with a she-donkey. The supporters of the holy man declared +that the deed was proof positive of his exceptional holiness; but there +were lewd fellows, Moslems Voltaireans, who had their doubts and held +that the reverend man had so acted "for the gallery." A similar story +is told with due reserve by the late Abbe Hamilton in his book on the +Cyrenaic. There are three grand divisions of the Sufis; (1) Mukiman, +the stationaries; (2) Salikan, the travellers, or progressives, and (3) +Wasilan, those who reach the desired end. And No. 2 has two classes: +the Salik-i-majzub, one progressing in Divine Love; and the other, who +has made greater progress, is the Majzub-i-Salik (Dabistan iii. 251). + +[FN#75] Arab. "Sundus," a kind of brocade (low Lat. brocare to figure +cloth), silk worked in high relief with gold and silver. The idea is +figurative meaning it was hung outside and inside with fine stuff, like +the Ka'abah, the "Bride of Meccah." The "lords" means simply the lost +girl. + +[FN#76] Arab. "Ayn" lit. eye, also a fount, "the eye of the landscape" +(a noble simile); and here a helper, guard, assistant. + +[FN#77] "Lord" for lady, i.e. she. + +[FN#78] Arab. "Fi'l-khawafik"=in the four quarters or among the +flappers (standards) or amid palpitations of heart. The bride alludes +to a festal reception in a town, with burning incense, drums, flags, +etc., etc. + +[FN#79] In Egypt the shorter "honey-moon" lasts a week; and on the +seventh day (pop. called Al-Subu'a) bride and bridegroom receive visits +with all ceremony, of course in separate apartments. The seventh day +(like the fortieth, the end of six months and the anniversary) is kept +for births and deaths with Khatmahs (perlections) of the Koran "Saylah" +family gatherings and so forth. The fortieth day ends the real +honey-moon. See Night dccxcii. + +[FN#80] I have noted the popular practice, amongst men as well as +women, of hiring the Hammam for private parties and picnicking in it +during the greater part of the day. In this tale the bath would belong +to the public and it was a mere freak of the bride to bathe with her +bridegroom. "Respectable" people do not. + +[FN#81] She speaks in the last line as the barber or the bathman. + +[FN#82] Here the "Ana" begin; and they mostly date themselves. Of the +following forty-nine, Lane (vol. Ii. P. 578 et seq.) gives only +twenty-two and transforms them to notes in chapt. xviii. He could +hardly translate several of them in a work intended to be popular. Abu +Nowαs is a person carefully to be avoided; and all but anthropological +students are advised to "skip" over anecdotes in which his name and +abominations occur. + +[FN#83] Arab. "Ghilmαn," the counter part, I have said, of the +so-called "Houris." + +[FN#84] Mosul boasts of never having been polluted with idolatrous +worship, an exemption which it owes to being a comparatively modern +place. + +[FN#85] The Aleppines were once noted for debauchery; and the saying is +still "Halabi Shelebi" (for Chelebi)=the Aleppine is a fellow fine. + +[FN#86] Mr. Payne omits the last line. It refers to what Persian boys +call, in half-Turkish phrase, "Alish Takish," each acting woman after +he has acted man. The best wine is still made in monasteries and the +co-called Sinai convent is world-famous for its "Rαki" distilled from +raisins. + +[FN#87] i.e. what a difference there is between them! + +[FN#88] Arab. "Salli ala 'l-Nabi," a common phrase; meaning not only +praise hm to avert the evil eye; but also used when one would impose +silence upon a babbler. The latter will shuffle off by ejaculating "Al" +and continue his chatter. (Pilgrimage ii.279.) + +[FN#89] Arab. "Sukαt" (plur. of Sαki, cupbearer, our old "skinker"): +the pure gold (tibr) is the amber-coloured wine, like the Vino d'oro of +the Libanus. + +[FN#90] That is, fair, white and read: Turkish slaves then abounded at +Baghdad. + +[FN#91] A Wady near Meccah where one of Mohammed's battles was fought. +The line means his waist is a thread connected broad breast and large +hind quarters. + +[FN#92] Arab. "Zaurα" which may mean crooked, alluding to the +well-known rib. + +[FN#93] A pun. Bakr was the name of the eponymus chief and it also +means virgin, as in Abu Bakr. + +[FN#94] Arab. "Jαmi'ayn"=two cathedrals, any large (and consequently +vicious) city. + +[FN#95] Arab. "Almα," before noticed: I cannot translate +"damask-lipped" to suit European taste. + +[FN#96] Sherbet flavoured with musk or apple to cool the mouth of "hot +coppers." + +[FN#97] Arab. "In'αsh" lit. raising from his bier. The whole tone is +rollicking and slangy. + +[FN#98] i.e. In spite of himself: the phrase often occurs. + +[FN#99] Europeans usually write "Beni" for "Banu;" the oblique for the +nominative. I prefer "Odhrah" or "Ozrah" to Udhrah; because the Ayn +before the Zαl takes in pronunciation the more open sound. + +[FN#100] Possibly meaning that they were shrouded together; this would +be opposed to Moslem sense of decorum in modern days, but the ancient +were not so squeamish. See Night cccxi. + +[FN#101] This phase of passion in the "varium et mutabile" is often +treated of by Oriental storytellers, and not unoften seen in real +Eastern life. + +[FN#102] As has been said, "Sαhib" (preceding the name not following it +as in India) is a Wazirial title in mediζval Islam. + +[FN#103] This parapet was rendered obligatory by Moses (Deut. xxii. 8) +on account of the danger of leaving a flat roof without garde-fou. +Eastern Christians neglect the precaution and often lose their children +by the neglect. + +[FN#104] Arab. "Lauh." A bit of thin board washed white used for +lessons as slates are amongst us, and as easily cleaned because the +inks contain no minerals. It is a long parallelogram with triangular +ears at the short sides; and the shape must date from ages immemorial +as it is found, throughout Syria and its adjoinings, in the oldest rock +inscriptions to which the form serves as a frame. Hence the "abacus" or +counting table derived from the Gr. , a slab (or in Phenician "sand"), +dust or sand in old days having been strewed on a table or tablet for +school- boys' writings and mathematical diagrams. + +[FN#105] A pre-Islamic bard and friend to Tarafah the poet of the +Suspended or "Prize Poem." The tale is familiar to all the Moslem East. +Tarafah's Laura was one Khaulα. + +[FN#106] King of Hirah in Chaldζa, a drunken and bloodthirsty tyrant. +When offended by the lampoons of the two poets he sent them with +litterζ Bellerophontiζ to the Governor of Al-Bahrayn. Al-Mutalammis +"smelt a rat" and destroyed his charged, but Tarafah was mutilated and +buried alive, the victim of a trick which is old as (and older than) +good King David and Uriah. Of course neither poet could read. + +[FN#107] On this occasion, and in presence of the women only, the groom +first sees or is supposed to see the face of his wife. It is, I have +said, the fashion for both to be greatly overcome and to appear as if +about to faint: the groom looks especially ridiculous when so +attitudinising. + +[FN#108] This leisurely operation of the "deed of kind" was sure to be +noticed; but we do not find in The Nights any allusion to that +systematic prolongatio veneris which is so much cultivated by Moslems +under the name Imsαk = retention, withholding i.e. the semen. Yet +Eastern books on domestic medicine consist mostly of two parts; the +first of general prescriptions and the second of aphrodisiacs +especially those qui prolongent le plaisir as did the Gaul by thinking +of sa pauvre mθre. The Ananga-Ranga, by the Reverend Koka Pandit before +quoted, gives a host of recipes which are used, either externally or +internally, to hasten the paroxysm of the woman and delay the orgasm of +the man (p. 27). Some of these are curious in the extreme. I heard of a +Hindi who made a candle of frogs' fat and fibre warranted to retain the +seed till it burned out; it failed notably because, relying upon it, he +worked too vigorously. The essence of the "retaining art" is to avoid +over-tension of the muscles and to pre-occupy the brain: hence in +coition Hindus will drink sherbet, chew betel-nut and even smoke. +Europeans ignoring the science and practice, are contemptuously +compared with village-cocks by Hindu women who cannot be satisfied, +such is their natural coldness, increased doubtless by vegetable diet +and unuse of stimulants, with less than twenty minutes. Hence too while +thousands of Europeans have cohabited for years with and have had +families by "native women," they are never loved by them:—at least I +never heard of a case. + +[FN#109] Abu 'l Abbas al-Rakαshi, a poet of the time. The saying became +proverbial (Burckhardt's A. Proverbs No. 561) and there are variants, +e.g. The night's promise is spread with butter that melteth when day +ariseth. + +[FN#110] Koran xxvi. 5,6 or "And those who err (Arab. Al- ghαwϊn) +follow the footsteps of the poets," etc. + +[FN#111] Half-brother of Abdullah bin al-Zubayr, the celebrated +pretender. + +[FN#112] Grand-daughter of the Caliph Abu Bakr and the most beautiful +woman of her day. + +[FN#113] The Calc. Edit. by mistake reads "Izzah." Torrens (notes +i.-xi.) remarks "The word Ghoonj is applied to this sort of +blandishment (i.e. an affected gait), and says Burckhardt (Prov. No. +685), "The women of Cairo flatter themselves that their Ghoonj is +superior to that of all other females in the Levant." But Torrens did +not understand and Burckhardt would not explain "Ghunj" except by +"assumed airs" (see No. 714). It here means the art of moving in +coition, which is especially affected, even by modest women, throughout +the East and they have many books teaching the genial art. In China +there are professors, mostly old women, who instruct young girls in +this branch of the gymnastic. + +[FN#114] When reciting the Fαtihah (opening Koranic chapter), the hands +are held in this position as if to receive a blessing falling from +Heaven; after which both palms are passed down the face to distribute +it over the eyes and other organs of sense. + +[FN#115] The word used is "bizα'at" = capital or a share in a +mercantile business. + +[FN#116] This and the following names are those of noted traditionists +of the eighth century, who derive back to Abdallah bin Mas'ϊd, a +"Companion of the Apostle." The text shows the recognised formula of +ascription for quoting a "Hadνs" = saying of Mohammed; and sometimes it +has to pass through half a dozen mouths. + +[FN#117] Traditionists of the seventh and eighth centuries who refer +back to the "Father of the Kitten" (Abu Horayrah), an uncle of the +Apostle. + +[FN#118] Eastern story-books abound in these instances. Pilpay says in +"Kalilah was Dimnah," "I am the slave of what I have spoken and the +lord of what I keep hidden." Sa'adi follows suit, "When thou speakest +not a word, thou hast thy hand upon it; when it is once spoken it hath +laid its hand on thee." Caxton, in the "Dyctes, or Sayings of +Philosophers" (printed in 1477) uses almost the same words. + +[FN#119] i.e. for her husband's and her sin in using a man like a +beast. + +[FN#120] See the Second Lady's story (tantτt Kadi, tantτt bandit), pp. +20-26 by my friend Yacoub Artin Pasha in the Bulletin before quoted, +series ii. No. 4 of 1883. The sharpers' trick is common in Eastern +folk-lore, and the idea that underlies is always metempsychosis or +metamorphosis. So, in the Kalilah wa Dimnah (new Syriac), the three +rogues persuade the ascetic that he is leading a dog not a sheep. + +[FN#121] This is the popular prejudice and it has doubtless saved many +a reputation. The bat is known to Moslems as the Bird of Jesus, a +legend derived by the Koran from the Gospel of Infancy (1 chapt. xv. +Hone's Apocryphal New Testament), in which the boy Jesus amuses herself +with making birds of clay and commanding them to fly when (according to +the Moslems) they became bats. These Apocryphal Gospels must be +carefully read, if the student would understand a number of Moslem +allusions to the Injνl which no Evangel contains. + +[FN#122] Because it quibbled away out of every question, a truly +diplomatic art. + +[FN#123] This Caliph, the orthodox Abbaside of Egypt (A.D. 1261) must +not be confounded with the Druze-god, the heretical Fatimite (A.D. +996-1021). D'Herbelot (Hakem") gives details. Mr. S.L. Poole (The +Academy, April 26, '79) is very severe on the slip of Mr. Payne. + +[FN#124] The beautiful name is Persian "Anϊshνn-rawαn" = Sweet of Soul; +and the glorious title of this contemporary of Mohammed is "Al-Malik +al-Adil" = the Just King. Kisra, the Chosroλ per excellentiam, is also +applied to the godly Guebre of whom every Eastern dictionary gives +details. + +[FN#125] "Sultan" is here an anachronism: I have noted that the title +was first assumed independently by Mohammed of Ghazni after it had been +conferred by the Caliph upon his father the Amir Al- Umarα (Mayor of +the Palace), Sabuktagin A.D. 974. + +[FN#126] The "Sakkα" or water-carrier race is peculiar in Egypt and +famed for trickery and intrigue. Opportunity here as elsewhere makes +the thief. + +[FN#127] A famous saying of Mohammed is recorded when an indiscretion +of his young wife Ayishah was reported to him, "There be no adultress +without an adulterer (of a husband)." Fatimah the Apostle's daughter is +supposed to have remained a virgin after bearing many children: this +coarse symbolism of purity was known to the classics (Pausanias), who +made Juno recover her virginity by bathing in a certain river every +year. In the last phrase, "Al-Salaf" (ancestry) refers to Mohammed and +his family. + +[FN#128] Khusrau Parwiz, grandson of Anushirwan, the Guebre King who +tore his kingdom by tearing Mohammed's letter married the beautiful +Maria or Irene (in Persian "Shνrνn = the sweet) daughter of the Greek +Emperor Maurice: their loves were sung by a host of poets; and likewise +the passion of the sculptor Farhαd for the same Shirin. Mr. Lyall +writes "Parwκz" and holds "Parwνz" a modern form. + +[FN#129] he could afford it according to historians. His throne was +supported by 40,000 silver pillars; and 1,000 globes, hung in the dome, +formed an orrery, showing the motion of the heavenly bodies; 30,000 +pieces of embroidered tapestry overhung the walls below were vaults +full of silver, gold and gems. + +[FN#130] Arab. "Khunsα," meaning also a catamite as I have explained. +Lane (ii. 586) has it; "This fish is of a mixed kind." (!). + +[FN#131] So the model lovers became the ordinary married couple. + +[FN#132] Arab. "Jamm." Heb. "Yamm." Al-Harνri (Ass. Of Sinjar and +Sαwah) uses the rare form Yam for sea or ocean. + +[FN#133] Al-Hadi, immediate predecessor of Harun al-Rashid, called +"Al-Atbik": his upper lip was contracted and his father placed a slave +over him when in childhood, with orders to say, "Musa! atbik!" (draw +thy lips together) when he opened his mouth. + +[FN#134] Immediate successor of Harun al-Rashid. Al-Amin is an imposing +physical figure, fair, tall, handsome and of immense strength; +according to Al-Mas'ϊdi, he killed a lion with his own hands; but his +mind and judgement were weak. He was fond of fishing; and his reply to +the courtier bringing important news, "Confound thee! leave me! for +Kausar (an eunuch whom he loved) hath caught two fish and I none," +reminds one of royal frivolity in France. + +[FN#135] Afterwards governor in Khorasan under Al-Maamun. + +[FN#136] Intendant of the palace under Harun al-Rashid. + +[FN#137] Moslem women have this advantage over their Western +sisterhood: they can always leave the house of father or husband and, +without asking permission, pay a week or ten days' visit to their +friends. But they are not expected to meet their lovers. + +[FN#138] The tale of "Susannah and the Elders" in Moslem form. + + +Dαniyαl is the Arab Daniel, supposed to have been buried at + + +Alexandria. (Pilgrimage, i. 16.) + + + +[FN#139] According to Moslem law, laid down by Mohammed on a delicate +occasion and evidently for a purpose, four credible witnesses are +required to prove fornication, adultery, sodomy and so forth; and they +must swear that actually saw rem in re, the "Kohl-needle in the +Kohl-ιtui," as the Arabs have it. This practically prevents conviction +and the sabre cuts the Gordian knot. + +[FN#140] Who, in such case, would represent our equerry. + +[FN#141] The Badawi not only always tells the truth, a perfect contrast +with the townsfolk; he is blunt in speech addressing his Sultan "O +Sa'νd!" and he has a hard rough humour which we may fairly describe as +"wut." When you chaff him look out for falls. + +[FN#142] The answer is as old as the hills, teste the tale of what +happened when Amasis (who on horseback) raised his leg, "broke wind and +bad the messenger carry it back to Apries." Herod. Ii. 162. But for the +full significance of the Badawi's most insulting reply see the Tale of +Abu Hasan in Night ccccxi. + +[FN#143] Arab. "Yα sαki" al-Dakan" meaning long bearded (foolish) as +well as frosty bearded. + +[FN#144] P. N. of the tribe, often mentioned in The Nights. + +[FN#145] Adnan, which whom Arab genealogy begins, is generally supposed +to be the eighth (Al-Tabari says the fortieth) descendant from Ishmael +and nine generations are placed between him and Fahr (Fihr) Kuraysh. +The Prophet cut all disputes short by saying, "Beyond Adnan none save +Allah wotteth and the genealogists lie." (Pilgrimage ii. 344) M.C. de +Perceval dates Adnan about B.C. 130. + +[FN#146] Koran xxxiii., 38. + +[FN#147] Arab. "Arab al-Arabα," as before noticed (vol. i. 12) the pure +and genuine blood as opposed to the "Musta'aribah," the "Muta'arribah," +the "Mosarabians" and other Araboids; the first springing from Khatan +(Yaktan?) and the others from Adnan. And note that "Arabi" = a man of +pure Arab race, either of the Desert or of the city, while A'arαbi +applies only to the Desert man, the Badawi. + +[FN#148] Koran xxxviii. 2, speaking of the Unbelievers (i.e. +non-Moslems) who are full of pride and contention. + +[FN#149] One of the Ashαb, or Companions of the Apostle, that is them +who knew him personally. (Pilgrimage ii. 80, etc.) The Ashαb al-Suffah +(Companions of the bench or sofa) were certain houseless Believers +lodged by the Prophet. (Pilgrimage ii. 143). + +[FN#150] Hence Omar is entitled "Al-Adil = the Just." Readers will +remember that by Moslem law and usage murder and homicide are offences +to be punished by the family, not by society or its delegates. This +system reappears in civilisation under the denomination of "Lynch Law," +a process infinitely distasteful to lawyers (whom it abolishes) and +most valuable when administered with due discretion. + +[FN#151] Lane translates (ii. 592) "from a desire of seeing the face of +God;" but the general belief of Al-Islam is that the essence of Allah's +corporeal form is different from man's. The orthodox expect to "see +their Lord on Doom-day as they see the full moon" (a tradition). But +the Mu'atazilites deny with the existence of matter the corporiety of +Alah and hold that he will be seen only with the spiritual eyes, i.e. +of reason. + +[FN#152] See Gesta Romanorum, Tale cviii., "of Constancy in adhering to +Promises," founded on Damon and Pythias or, perhaps, upon the Arabic. + +[FN#153] Arab. "Al-Ahrαm," a word of unknown provenance. It has been +suggested that the singular form (Haram), preceded by the Coptic +article "pi" (= the) suggested to the Greeks "Pyramis." But this word +is still sub judice and every Egyptologist seems to propose his own +derivation. Brugsch (Egypt i. 72) makes it Greek, the Egyptian being +"Abumir," while "pir- am-us" = the edge of the pyramid, the corners +running from base to apex. The Egyptologist proves also what the +Ancients either ignored or forgot to mention, that each pyramid had its +own name. + +[FN#154] Arab. "Ahkαm," in this matter supporting the + + +"Pyramidologists." + + + +[FN#155] All imaginative. + +[FN#156] It has always been my opinion founded upon considerations too +long to detail, that the larger Pyramids contain many unopened +chambers. Dr. Grant Bey of Cairo proposed boring through the blocks as +Artesian wells are driven. I cannot divine why Lane (ii, 592) chose to +omit this tale, which is founded on historic facts and interests us by +suggesting a comparison between Mediζval Moslem superstitions and those +of our xixth Century, which to our descendants will appear as wild, if +not as picturesque, as those of The Nights. The "inspired British inch" +and the building by Melchisedek (the Shaykh of some petty Syrian +village) will compare not unaptly with the enchanted swords, flexible +glass and guardian spirits. But the Pyramidennarren is a race which +will not speedily die out: it is based on Nature, the Pyramids +themselves. + +[FN#157] Arab. "Rizm"; hence, through the Italian Risma our ream (= 20 +quires of paper, etc.), which our dictionaries derive from (!). See +"frail" in Night dcccxxxviii. + +[FN#158] Arab. "Tarνkah" = the path trodden by ascetics and mystics in +order to attain true knowledge (Ma'rifat in Pers. Dαnish). These are +extensive subjects: for the present I must refer readers to the +Dabistan, iii. 35 and iii. 29, 36-7. + +[FN#159] Alluding to the Fishαr or "Squeeze of the tomb." This is the +Jewish Hibbut hakkeber which all must endure, save those who lived in +the Holy Land or died on the Sabbath-eve (Friday night). Then comes the +questioning by the Angels Munkar and Nakir (vulgarly called Nαkir and +Nakνr) for which see Lane (M.E. chapt. xviii.). In Egypt a "Mulakkin" +(intelligencer) is hired to prompt and instruct the dead. Moslems are +beginning to question these facts of their faith: a Persian +acquaintance of mine filled his dead father's mouth with flour and +finding it in loco on opening the grave, publicly derided the belief. +But the Mullahs had him on the hip, after the fashion of reverends, +declaring that the answers were made through the whole body, not only +by the mouth. At last the Voltairean had to quit Shiraz. + +[FN#160] Arab. "Walν" = a saint, Santon (Ital. Form) also a slave. See +in Richardson (Dissert. iii.), an illustration of the difference +between Wali and Wαli as exemplified by the Caliph al- Kαdir and Mahmϊd +of Ghazni. + +[FN#161] Arab. "Tνn" = the tenacious clay puddled with chaff which +serves as mortar for walls built of Adobe or sun dried brick. I made a +mistake in my Pilgrimage (i.10) translating Ras al-Tνn the old Pharos +of Alexandria, by "Headland of Figs." It is Headland of Clay, so called +from the argile there found and which supported an old pottery. + +[FN#162] The danik (Pers. Dang) is the sixth of a dirham. Mr. S. L. +Poole (The Acad. April 26, '79) prefers his uncle's translation "a +sixth" (what of?) to Mr. Payne's "farthing." The latter at any rate is +intelligible. + +[FN#163] The devotee was "Sαim al-dahr" i.e. he never ate nor drank +from daylight to dark throughout the year. + +[FN#164] The ablution of a common man differs from that of an + + +educated Moslem as much as the eating of a clown and a gentleman. + + +Moreover there are important technical differences between the + + +Wuzu of the Sunni and the Shi'ah. + + + +[FN#165] i.e., by honouring his father. + +[FN#166] This young saint was as selfish and unnatural a sinner as +Saint Alexius of the Gesta Romanorum (Tale xv.), to whom my friend, the +late Thomas Wright, administered just and due punishment. + +[FN#167] The verses are affecting enough, though by no means high +poetry. + +[FN#168] The good young man cut his father for two reasons: secular +power (an abomination to good Moslems) and defective title to the +Caliphate. The latter is a trouble to Turkey in the present day and +with time will prove worse. + +[FN#169] Umm Amrν (written Amrϊ and pronounced Amr') a matronymic, +"mother of Amru." This story and its terminal verse is a regular Joe +Miller. + +[FN#170] Abuse and derision of schoolmaster are staple subjects in the +East as in the West, (Quem Dii oderunt pζdagogum fecerunt). +Anglo-Indians will remember: + + "Miyαn-ji ti-ti! + + + Bachche-kν gαnd men anguli kν thi!" + + + ("Schoolmaster hum! + + + Who fumbled and fingered the little boy's bum?") + + + +[FN#171] Arab. "Mujawirin" = the lower servants, sweepers, etc. See +Pilgrimage ii. 161, where it is also applied to certain "settlers" at +Al-Medinah. Burckhardt (No. 480) notices another meaning "foreigners +who attend mosque-lectures" and quotes the saying, "A. pilgrimaged:" +quoth B. "yes! and for his villanies resideth (Mujαwir) at Meccah." + +[FN#172] The custom (growing obsolete in Egypt) is preserved in +Afghanistan where the learned wear turbans equal to the canoe- hats of +the Spanish cardinals. + +[FN#173] Arab. "Makmarah," a metal cover for the usual brasier or pan +of charcoal which acts as a fire-place. Lane (ii. 600) does not +translate the word and seems to think it means a belt or girdle, thus +blunting the point of the dominie's excuse. + +[FN#174] This story, a very old Joe Miller, was told to Lane as +something new and he introduced it into his Modern Egyptians, end of +chapt. ii. + +[FN#175] This tale is a mere abbreviation of "The King and his + + +Wazir's Wife," in the Book of Sindibad or the Malice of Women, + + +Night dcxxviii., {which see for annotations}. + + + +[FN#176] The older "Roe" which may be written "Rukh" or "Rukhkh." +Colonel Yule, the learned translator of Marco Polo, has shown that +"Roc's" feathers were not uncommon curiosities in mediζval ages; and +holds that they were mostly fronds of the palm Raphia vinifera, which +has the largest leaf in the vegetable kingdom and which the Moslems of +Zanzibar call "Satan's date-tree." I need hardly quote "Frate Cipolla +and the Angel Gabriel's Feather." (Decameron vi. 10.) + +[FN#177] The tale is told in a bald, disjointed style and will be +repeated in Sindbad the Seaman where I shall again notice the "Roc." +See Night dxxxvii., etc. + +[FN#178] Hνrah in Mesopotamia was a Christian city and + + +principality subject to the Persian Monarchs; and a rival to the + + +Roman kingdom of Ghassαn. It has a long history, for which see + + +D'Herbelot. + + + +[FN#179] A pre-Islamite poet. + +[FN#180] Arab. "Bikα'a," alluding to the pilgrimages made to +monasteries and here equivalent to, "Address ye to the road," etc. + +[FN#181] Whose by name was Abu Ali, a poet under the Abbasides (eighth +and ninth centuries). + +[FN#182] A well-known quarter of Baghdad, often mentioned in The + + +Nights. + + + +[FN#183] Another well-known poet of the time. + +[FN#184] Arab. "Sardαb": noticed before. + +[FN#185] A gigantic idol in the Ka'abah, destroyed by Mohammed: it gave +name to a tribe. + +[FN#186] Arab. "Ya Kawwαd:" hence the Port. and Span. + + +Alcoviteiro. + + + +[FN#187] Arab "Tufayli," a term before noticed; the class was as +well-known in Baghdad and Cairo as in ancient Rome. + +[FN#188] Arab. "Jauzar"=a bubalus (Antilope defessa), also called "Aye" +from the large black eyes. This bovine antelope is again termed Bakar +al-Wahsh (wild cattle) or "Bos Sylvestris" (incerti generic, Forsk.). +But Janzar also signifies hart, so I render it by "Ariel" (the +well-known antelope). + +[FN#189] Arab. "Tarαib" plur. of tarνbah. The allusion is to the heart, +and "the little him's a her." + +[FN#190] A well-known poet of the ninth century (A.D.). + +[FN#191] These easy deaths for love are a lieu common: See sundry of +them in the Decameron (iv. 7, etc.); and, in the Heptameron (Nouv. +Ixx.), the widow who lay down and died of love and sorrow that her +passion had become known. For the fainting of lovers see Nouvelle xix. + +[FN#192] This is a favourite Badawi dish, but too expensive unless some +accident happen to the animal. Old camel is much like bull-beef, but +the young meat is excellent, although not relished by Europeans +because, like strange fish, it has no recognised flavour. I have +noticed it in my "First Footsteps" (p. 68, etc.). There is an old idea +in Europe that the maniacal vengeance of the Arab is increased by +eating this flesh, the beast is certainly vindictive enough; but a +furious and frantic vengefulness characterises the North American +Indian who never saw a camel. Mercy and pardon belong to the elect, not +to the miserables who make up " humanity." + +[FN#193] i.e. of the Province Hazramaut, the Biblical Hazarmaveth (Gen. +x. 26). The people are the Swill of Arabia and noted for thrift and +hard bargains; hence the saying, If you meet a serpent and a Hazrami, +slay the Hazrami. To prove how ubiquitous they are it is related that a +man, flying from their society, reached the uttermost parts of China +where he thought himself safe. But, as he was about to pass the night +in some ruin, he heard a voice bard by him exclaim, "O Imαd al-Din!" +(the name of the patron-saint of Hazramaut). Thereupon he arose and +fled and he is, they say, flying still. + +[FN#194] Arab. "Fαl" alluding to the Sortes Coranicζ and other silly +practices known to the English servant-girs when curious about her +future and her futur. + +[FN#195] i.e., in Arab-land (where they eat dates) and Ajam, or lands +non-Arab (where bread is the staff of life); that is, all the world +over. + +[FN#196] This story is curious and ethnologically valuable. The Badawi +who eructates as a civility, has a mortal hatred to a crepitus ventris; +and were a by-stander to laugh at its accidental occurrence, he would +at once be cut down as a "pundonor." The same is the custom amongst the +Highlanders of Afghanistan, and its artificial nature suggests direct +derivation, for the two regions are separated by a host of tribes, +Persians and Baloch, Sindis and Panjαbis who utterly ignore the point +of honour and behave like Europeans. The raids of the pre-Islamitic +Arabs over the lands lying to the north-east of them are almost +forgotten; still there are traces, and this may be one of them. + +[FN#197] Arab. "Al-Αr." The Badawi saying is "Al-nαr wa lα l- αr" +(Hell-)fire, but not shame. The sentiment is noble. Hasan the Prophet's +grandson, a poor creature demoralised by over- marrying, chose the +converse, "Shame is better than Hell-fire." An old Arabic poem has, + + "The Fire and not shame be the Lord of thee + + + And e'en to The Fire from shame go flee." + + + +Al-Hariri (Ass. of the Badawin) also has, + + "For rather would I die my death than shame,— + + + On bier be borne than bear a caitiff's name." + + + +[FN#198] A grammarian and rhetorician of ninth century. + +[FN#199] Once existing in Syrian Hamαh (the Biblical Hamath); and so +called because here died the Emperor Heraclius called by the Arabs +"Hirakl." + +[FN#200] Till lately it was the custom to confine madmen in Syrian +monasteries, hoping a cure from the patron Saint, and a terrible time +they had of it. Every guide book relates the healing process as +formerly pursued at the Maronite Convent Koshaya not far from Bayrut. +The idiot or maniac was thrust headlong by the monks into a dismal +cavern with a heavy chain round his neck, and was tied up within a span +of the wall to await the arrival of Saint Anthony who especially +affects this holy place. In very few weeks the patient was effectually +cured or killed by cold, solitude and starvation. + +[FN#201] The Moslem Eve, much nearer the Hebrew "Hawah" = the +"manifester," because (Gen. iii. 20) she was (to be) the mother of all +that live ("Kull hayy"). + +[FN#202] The mad lover says "they" for "she," which would be too +familiar in speaking to strangers. + +[FN#203] i.e. falsely to report the death. + +[FN#204] A famous grammarian, etc., of the tenth century. + +[FN#205] The classical Amorium in Phrygia now Anatolia: Anbαr is + + +a town (before mentioned) on the Euphrates; by the rules of + + +Arabic grammar the word is pronounced (though never written) + + +Ambαr. + + + +[FN#206] "Art thou not the slave of the Messiah, the Rαhib (monk)?" +"No! I am the slave of Allah, the Rαghib (desirous of mercy from the +Almighty). " A fair specimen of the Saj'a or rhymed prose. Abdallah +(properly "Abdu'llah:") is a kind of neutral name, neither Jewish, +Moslem nor Christian; hence I adopted it, (Pilgrimage i. 20.) + +[FN#207] Arab. "Hanut," prop. a tavern where liquors are sold, a term +applied contemptuously to shops, inns, etc., kept by Christians. + +[FN#208] Arab. "Shirk" = syntheism of the "Mushrik" (one who makes +other gods partners with God), a word pronounced "Mushrit" by the +Wahhabis and the Badawin. + +[FN#209] Koran vii. 195. The passage declaims against the idols of the +Arabs, sun, moon. stars, etc. + +[FN#210] This minor miracle is commonly reported, and is not, I +believe, unknown to modern "Spiritualism." The dead Wali or Waliyah +(Saintess) often impels the bier-bearers to the spot where he would be +buried: hence in Cairo the tombs scattered about the city. Lane notices +it, Mod. E. chaps. xxviii. + +[FN#211] Koran x. 36, speaking of being turned aside from the true +worship. + +[FN#212] One of the Wazirs of al-Maamun, Kurrat al-Ayn = "coolness +(i.e. delight) of the eyes" Ali bin Hishαm surnamed Abu'l-Hasan, was +prefect of Baghdad under the same reign. + +[FN#213] The Mac. Edit. (ii. 448) reads for Kawαid (plur. of Kαid = +Governors, Span. Alcayde) "Fawαid": hence Lane (ii. 606) translates " +try thy heart." + + [FN#214] The mats of Sind were famous even in my day, but under + + +English rule native industries are killed out by Manchester and + + +Birmingham. + + + +[FN#215] Sajαh was the name of a famous female impostor, a contemporary +of "Musaylimah the Liar." + +[FN#216] A poet of Mohammed's day. + +[FN#217] A singer and composer of the first century (A. H.). + +[FN#218] Arab = a roe, a doe; also the Yoni (of women, mares and +bitches). It is the Heb. Tabitha and the Greek Dorcas. + +[FN#219] Within the Hudϊd al-Harem (bounds of the Holy Places), at +Al-Medinah as well as Meccah, all "Muharramαt" (forbidden sins) are +doubly unlawful, such as drinking spirits, immoral life, etc. The Imam +Malik forbids slaying animals without, however, specifying any penalty. +The felling of trees is a disputed point; and no man can be put to +death except invaders, infidels and desecraters. (Pilgrimage ii. 167.) + +[FN#220] A poet of the first century (A.H.). + +[FN#221] In Arab. =a fawn beginning to walk, also the 28th lunar +mansion or station, usually known as Batn al-Hut or Whale's belly. +These mansions or houses, the constellations through which the moon +passes in her course along her orbit, are much used in Moslem astrology +and meteorology. + +[FN#222] Arab. Kalla-mα = it is seldom (rare) that etc. used in books. + +[FN#223] Dishonoured by his love being made public. So Hafiz, + + +Petrarch and Camoens. + + + +[FN#224] Sixth Abbaside, A.D. 809-813. + +[FN#225] Ala'llah, tenth Abbaside, A. H. 232-47 (847-61), grandson of +Al-Rashid who succeeded Al-Wαsik. He was a fanatic Sunni, much opposed +to the Shi'ahs and he ordered the Christians to wear round their necks +the Ghull (collar of wood, iron, or leather), to dress in yellow +head-gear and girdles, use wooden stirrups and place figures of devils +in front of their dwelling-houses. He also gave distinct dresses to +their women and slaves. The Ghull, or collar, was also used for a +punishment and vermin gathered under it when riveted round the neck: +hence Golius calls it "pediculosum columbar." + +[FN#226] Wazir of the above. killed by al-Muntasir Billah A. H. 247 (= +861). + +[FN#227] Easterns during purgation are most careful and deride the want +of precaution in Europeans. They do not leave the house till all is +passed off, and avoid baths, wine and women which they afterwards +resume with double zest. Here "breaking the seal" is taking the girl's +maidenhead. + +[FN#228] Johannes, a Greek favoured by Al-Mutawakkil and other + + +Abbaside Caliphs. + + + +[FN#229] Lady of Shaykhs, elders in the faith and men of learning + + +[FN#230] = A.D. 1166. + + +[FN#231] Koran iv. 38. I have before noted what the advantages are. + +[FN#232] Koran ii. 282, "of those whom ye shall choose for witnesses." + +[FN#233] Koran iv. 175, "Whereas if there be two sisters, they inherit +only two-thirds between them." + +[FN#234] The secondary meaning is "Fα'il" = the active sodomite and +"Mafa'ϊl" = the passive, a catamite: the former is not an insulting +word, the latter is a most injurious expression. "Novimus et qui te!" + +[FN#235] It is an unpleasant fact that almost all the poetry of Hαfiz +is addressed to youths, as we see by the occasional introduction of +Arabic (e.g., Afαka'llαh). Persian has no genders properly so called, +hence the effect is less striking. Sa'di, the "Persian Moralist" begins +one of the tales, "A certain learned man fell in love with a beautiful +son of a blacksmith," which Gladwin, translating for the general, +necessarily changed to "daughter." + +[FN#236] The famous author of the Anthology called Al-Hamαsah. + +[FN#237] i.e., teeth under the young mustachio. + +[FN#238] The "Silk man" and the celebrated author of the Makαmαt, +assemblies or seances translated (or attempted) into all the languages +of Europe. We have two in English, the first by Theodore Preston, M.A. +(London, Madden, 1850); but it contains only twenty of the fifty +pieces. The second by the late Mr. Chenery (before alluded to) ends +with the twenty-sixth assembly: one volume in fact, the other never +having been finished. English readers, therefore, are driven to the +grand edition of the Makαmαt in folio by Baron Silvestre de Sacy. + +[FN#239] The sword of the eye has a Hamαil (baldrick worn over right +shoulder, Pilgrimage i. 352) to support the "Ghimd" (vulg. Ghamad) or +scabbard (of wood or leather): and this baldrick is the young whisker. + +[FN#240] The conceit of "Sulαfat" (ptisane, grape juice allowed to +drain on the slabs) and "Sawαlif" (tresses, locks) has been explained. +The newest wine is the most inebriating, a fact not much known in +England, but familiar to the drinker of "Vino novo." + +[FN#241] Koran xii. 51, this said by the nobleman's (Potiphar's) wife +who adds, "I selected him to lie with me; and he (Joseph) is one of +those who speak truth." + +[FN#242] Here we have a specimen of the strained Saj'a or balanced +prose: slave-girls (jawαrν) are massed with flowing tears (dam'u jαri) +on account of the Kαfiyah or rhyme. + +[FN#243] The detected sodomite is punished with death according to +Moslem law, but again comes the difficulty of proof. At Shiraz I have +heard of a pious Moslem publicly executing his son. + +[FN#244] Koran xxvi. 165 et seq. The Lord speaks to the "people of Lot" +(Sodomites). Mr. Payne renders "Min al-αlamνma," "from the four corners +of the world." + +[FN#245] Meaning before and behind, a Moslemah "Bet Balmanno." + +[FN#246] Arab. " Lϊti," (plur. Lawαtν), much used in Persian as a +buffoon, a debauchee, a rascal. The orig. sig. is "One of (the people +of) Lot." The old English was Ingle or Yngle (a bardachio, a catamite, +a boy kept for sodomy), which Minsheu says is, "Vox hispanica et +significat Latinθ Inguen" (the groin). Our vulgar modern word like the +Italian bugiardo is pop. derived from Fr. Bougre, alias Bulgarus, a +Bulgarian, a heretic: hence Boulgrin (Rabelais i. chaps. ii.) is +popularly applied to the Albigeois (Albigenses, whose persecution began +shortly after A.D. 1200) and the Lutherans. I cannot but think that +"bougre" took its especial modern signification after the French became +acquainted with the Brazil, where the Huguenots (in A.D. 1555) were +founding a Nouvelle France, alias Equinoctiale, alias Antarctique, and +whence the savages were carried as curiosities to Paris. Their generic +name was "Bugre" (properly a tribe in Southern Brazil, but applied to +all the redskins) and they were all born Sodomites. More of this in the +terminal Essay. + +[FN#247] His paper is the whiteness of his skin. I have quoted the +Persian saying of a young beard: "his cheeks don mourning for his +beauty's death." + +[FN#248] Arab. "Khabαl," lit. the pus which flows from the bodies of +the damned. + +[FN#249] Most characteristic of Egypt is all this scene. Her reverence, +it is true, sits behind a curtain; but her virtue uses language which +would shame the lowest European prostitute; and which is filthy almost +as Dean Swift's. + +[FN#250] Arab. "Niyat:" the Moslem's idea of intentions quite runs with +the Christian's. There must be a "Niyat" or purpose of prayer or the +devotion is valueless. Lane tells a pleasant tale of a thief in the +Mosque, saying "I purpose (before Prayer) to carry off this nice pair +of new shoes!" + +[FN#251] Arab. "Ya 'l-Ajϊz" (in Cairo "Agooz" pronounced "Ago-o- oz"): +the address is now insulting and would elicit "The old woman in thine +eye" (with fingers extended). In Egypt the polite address is "O lady +(Sitt), O pilgrimess, O bride, and O daughter" (although she be the +wrong side of fifty). In Arabia you may say "O woman (Imraah)" but in +Egypt the reply would be "The woman shall see Allah cut out thy heart!" +So in Southern Italy you address "bella fι" (fair one) and cause a +quarrel by "vecchiarella." + +[FN#252] Governor of Egypt, Khorasan, etc. under Al-Maamun. + +[FN#253] i.e., a companion, a solacer: it is also a man's name (vol. i. +xxiv.). + +[FN#254] At Baghdad; evidently written by a Baghdad or Mosul man. + +[FN#255] A blind traditionist of Bassorah (ninth century). + +[FN#256] Arab. "Zaghab"=the chick's down; the warts on the cucumber +which sometimes develop into projections. + +[FN#257] The Persian saying is, A kiss without moustachio is bread +without salt. + +[FN#258] "And We will prove you with evil, and with good, for a trial +of you; and unto Us shall ye return." (Koran xxi. 36.) The saying is +always in the Moslem's mouth. + +[FN#259] Arab. "Sunnat," lit.=a law, especially applied to the habit +and practice of the Apostle in religious and semi-religious matters, +completing the "Hadis," or his spoken words. Anything unknown is +entitled "Bida'ah"=innovation. Hence the strict Moslem is a model +Conservative whose exemplar of life dates from the seventh century. +This fact may be casuistically explained away; but is not less an +obstacle to all progress and it will be one of the principal dangers +threatening Al-Islam. Only fair to say that an "innovation" introduced +by a perfect follower of the Prophet is held equal theoretically to a +Sunnat; but vulgarly it is said, "The rabble will not take gold which +is not coined." + +[FN#260] Arab. "Arsh"=the ninth Heaven, the Throne of the Deity, above +the Seven Heavens of the planets and the Primum Mobile which, in the +Ptolemaic system, sets them all in motion. + +[FN#261] This description of a good Moslem's death is at once concise, +pathetic and picturesque. + +[FN#262] This is the first mention of coffee; apparently + + +introduced by the scribe: the word rendered "coffee-makers" is + + +"Kahwajiyah"; an Arab. plur. of a Turkish termination (-ji) to an + + +Arab. word "Kahwah" (before noticed). + + + +[FN#263] Picnics are still made to Rauzah (Rodah) island: I have +enjoyed many a one, but the ground is all private property. + +[FN#264] Arab. "Hosh," plur. Hνshαn, the low courts surrounded by mean +lodgings which in "native" Cairo still contrast so strongly with the +"gingerbread" of the new buildings. + +[FN#265] This is the Moslem equivalent of "thank you." He looks upon +the donor as the channel through which Allah sends him what he wants +and prays for more to come. Thus "May your shadow never be less" means, +May you increase in prosperity so that I may gain thereby! And if a +beggar is disposed to be insolent (a very common case), he will tell +you his mind pretty freely on the subject, and make it evident to you +that all you have is also his and that La propriιtι (when not shared) +est le vol. + +[FN#266] I have noticed in my Pilgrimage (i. 51-53) the kindly care +with which the stranger is treated by Moslems, a marvellous contrast to +the ways of "civilization." + +[FN#267] Arab. "Dimyat," vulg. pronounced "Dumνyat." + +[FN#268] Where the door-keepers sit and receive their friends. + +[FN#269] This is a traveller's 'Kit' in the East. + +[FN#270] Arab. "Takht-rawαn," from Persian meaning "moveable throne." + +[FN#271] The use of the expression proved the speaker to be a + + +Moslem Jinnν. + + + +[FN#272] The "haunted" house proper, known to the vulgar and to +spiritualists becomes, I have said, amongst Moslems a place tenanted by +Jinns. + +[FN#273] Needless to say there never was a Sultan or a King of Baghdad +nor a Duke of Athens. This story would seem not to have been written by +the author of "the Emir bin Tahir," etc. Night ccccxxiv. + +[FN#274] Plur. of Αlim=one learned in the law, a D.D. Mohammed did his +best to abolish the priest and his craft by making each Moslem +paterfamilias a pontifex in his own household and he severely condemned +monkery and celibacy. But human nature was too much for him: even +before his death ascetic associations began to crop up. Presently the +Olema in Al-Islam formed themselves into a kind of clergy; with the +single but highly important difference that they must (or ought to) +live by some honest secular calling and not by the "cure of souls"; +hence Mahomet IV. of Turkey was solemnly deposed. So far and no farther +Mohammed was successful and his success has secured for him the lively +and lasting hatred of the ecclesiastical caste which he so honestly and +wisely attempted to abate. Even to the present day missionaries have a +good word for the Guebre and the Buddhist, the Brahmanist and the +Confucian, but none for the Moslem: Dr. Livingstone, for one instance +of many, evidently preferred the Fetichist, whom he could convert, to +the Unitarian Faithful whom he could not. + +[FN#275] i.e. they recited seven times (an unusual number), for greater +solemnity, the opening Chapter of the Koran which does general duty on +such occasions as making covenants and swearing fealty. This +proclaiming a King by acclamation suggests the origin of the old and +venerable Portuguese institution. + +[FN#276] By affixing his own seal and that of the King. This in later +times was supplanted by the "Tughrα," the imperial cypher or +counter-mark (much like a writing master's flourish), with which Europe +has now been made familiar through the agency of Turkish tobacco. + +[FN#277] Arab. "Wird"=the twenty-five last chapters of the Koran which +are repeated, one or more at a time, after the end of the "Farz," or +obligatory prayers and ad libitum with the Sunnat or customary, and the +Nαfilah or supererogatory. + +[FN#278] The sensible creed of Al-Islam freely allows anthropophagy +when it saves life; a contrast to the sentimentalism of the West which +brings a "charge of cannibalism" against unfortunate expeditionists. I +particularly allude to the scandalous pulings of the English Press over +the gallant and unfortunate Greely voyage. (The Academy, Sept. 25, +1884.) + +[FN#279] The story is mere Ζsopic: the "Two dogs" contains it all. One +of Mohammed's sensible sayings is recorded and deserves +repetition:—"Empire endureth with infidelity (idolatry, etc.), but not +with tyranny." + +[FN#280] This couplet occurs in Night xxi. (vol. i. 207); so I give +Torrens (p.207) by way of variety. + +[FN#281] Lane (ii. 636) omits this tale, "as it would not only require +a volume of commentary but be extremely tiresome to most readers." +Quite true; but it is valuable to Oriental Students who are beginning +their studies, as an excellent compendium of doctrine and practice +according to the Shafi'ν School. + +[FN#282] Pronounced Aboo 'l-Husn = Father of Beauty, a fancy name. + +[FN#283] As in most hot climates so in Egypt the dead are buried at +once despite the risk of vivisepulture. This seems an instinct with the +Semitic (Arabian) race teste Abraham, as with the Gypsy. Hence the +Moslems have invoked religious aid. The Mishkαt al-Masαbih (i. 387) +makes Mohammed say, "When any one of you dieth you may not keep him in +the house but bear him quickly to his grave"; and again, "Be quick in +raising up the bier: for if the dead have been a good man, it is good +to bear him gravewards without delay; and if bad, it is frowardness ye +put from your necks." + +[FN#284] This biting of the hand in Al-Harνri expresses bitterness of +repentance and he uses more than once the Koranic phrase (chapter vii., +148) "Sukita fν aydνhim," lit. where it (the biting) was fallen upon +their hands; i.e. when it repented them; "sukita" being here not a +passive verb as it appears, but an impersonal form uncommon in Arabic. +The action is instinctive, a survival of the days when man was a +snarling and snapping animal (physically) armed only with claws and +teeth. + +[FN#285] Arab. "'Alam," applied to many things, an "old man" of stones +(Kαkϊr), a signpost with a rag on the top, etc. + +[FN#286] The moon of Ramazan was noticed in Night ix. That of Sha'aban +(eighth month) begins the fighting month after the conclusion of the +Treuga Dei in Rajab. See Night ccclxxviii. + +[FN#287] These lines have occurred in Night cccxix. I give Mr. + + +Payne's version for variety. + + + +[FN#288] i.e. in her prime, at fourteen to fifteen. + +[FN#289] i.e. pale and yellow. + +[FN#290] The word means the wood; but it alludes to a preparation made +by levigating it on a stone called in India "Sandlαsα." The gruel-like +stuff is applied with the right hand to the right side of the neck, +drawing the open fingers from behind forwards so as to leave four +distinct streaks, then down to the left side, and so on to the other +parts of the body. + +[FN#291] Arab. "Haykal" which included the Porch, the Holy and + + +the Holy of Holies. The word is used as in a wider sense by + + +Josephus A. J. v. v. 3. In Moslem writings it is applied to a + + +Christian Church generally, on account of its images. + + + +[FN#292] These lines having occurred before, I here quote Mr. + + +Payne. + + + +[FN#293] Arab writers often mention the smile of beauty, but rarely, +after European fashion, the laugh, which they look upon as undignified. +A Moslem will say "Don't guffaw (Kahkahah) in that way; leave giggling +and grinning to monkeys and Christians." The Spaniards, a grave people, +remark that Christ never laughed. I would draw the reader's attention +to a theory of mine that the open-hearted laugh has the sound of the +vowels a and o; while e, i, and u belong to what may be roughly classed +as the rogue order. + +[FN#294] i.e. gaining the love of another, love. + +[FN#295] i.e. the abrogated passages and those by which they are +abrogated. This division is necessary for "inspired volumes," which +always abound in contradictions. But the charge of "opportunism" +brought against the Koran is truly absurd; as if "revelation" could +possibly be aught save opportune. + +[FN#296] Koran iv. 160, the chapter "Women." + +[FN#297] She unveiled, being a slave-girl and for sale. If a free woman +show her face to a Moslem, he breaks out into violent abuse, because +the act is intended to let him know that he is looked upon as a small +boy or an eunuch or a Chriastian—in fact not a man. + +[FN#298] Ilah=Heb. El, a most difficult root, meaning strength, +interposition, God (Numen) "the" (article) "don't" (do not), etc. etc. + +[FN#299] As far as I know Christians are the only worshippers who kneel +as if their lower legs were cut off and who "join hands" like the +captive offering his wrists to be bound (dare manus). The posture, +however, is not so ignoble as that of the Moslem "Sijdah" (prostration) +which made certain North African tribes reject Al-Islam saying, "These +men show their hind parts to heaven." + +[FN#300] i.e. saying "I intend (purpose) to pray (for instance) the +two-bow prayer (ruka'tayn) of the day-break," etc. + +[FN#301] So called because it prohibits speaking with others till the +prayer is ended. + +[FN#302] Lit. "any thing opposite;" here used for the Ka'abah towards +which men turn in prayer; as Guebres face the sun or fire and idolators +their images. "Al-Kiblatayn" (= the two Kiblahs) means Meccah and +Jerusalem, which was faced by Moslems as well as Jews and Christians +till Mohammed changed the direction. For the occasion of the change see +my Pilgrimage, ii. 320. + +[FN#303] Which includes Tayammum or washing with sand. This is a very +cleanly practice in a hot, dry land and was adopted long before +Mohammed. Cedrenus tells of baptism with sand being administered to a +dying traveller in the African desert. + +[FN#304] The Koranic order for Wuzϊ is concise and as usual obscure, +giving rise to a host of disputes and casuistical questions. Its text +runs (chapt. v.), "O true believers, when you prepare to pray, wash +(Ghusl) your faces, and your hands unto the elbows; and rub (Mas-h) +your hands and your feet unto the ankles; and if ye be unclean by +having lain with a woman, wash (Ghusl) yourselves all over." The +purifications and ceremonious ablutions of the Jews originated this +command; and the early Christians did very unwisely in not making the +bath obligatory. St. Paul (Heb. xi. 22) says, "Let us draw near with a +true heart…having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our +bodies washed with clean (or pure) water." But this did not suffice. +Hence the Eastern Christian, in hot climates where cleanliness should +rank before godliness, is distinguished by his dirt which as a holy or +reverend man he makes still dirtier, and he offers an ugly comparison +with the Moslem and especially the Hindu. The neglect of commands to +wash and prohibitions to drink strong waters are the two grand physical +objections of the Christian code of morality. + +[FN#305] Arab. "Istinshαk"=snuffing up water from the palm of the right +hand so as to clean thoroughly the nostrils. This "function" is +unreasonably neglected in Europe, to the detriment of the mucous +membrane and the olfactory nerves. + +[FN#306] So as to wash between them. The thick beard is combed out with +the fingers. + +[FN#307] Poor human nature! How sad to compare ita pretensions with its +actualities. + +[FN#308] Complete ablution is rendered necessary chiefly by the +emission of semen either in copulation or in nocturnal pollution. The +water must be pure and not less than a certain quantity, and it must +touch every part of the skin beginning with the right half of the +person and ending with the left. Hence a plunge-bath is generally +preferred. + +[FN#309] Arab. "Ta'mνm," lit. crowning with turband, or tiara, +here=covering, i.e. wetting. + +[FN#310] This practice (saying "I purpose to defer the washing of the +feet," etc.) is now somewhat obsolete. + +[FN#311] Arabs have a prejudice against the hydropathic treatment of +wounds, holding that water poisons them: and, as the native produce +usually contains salt, soda and magnesia, they are justified by many +cases. I once tried water-bandages in Arabia and failed dismally. + +[FN#312] The sick man says his prayers lying in bed, etc., and as he +best can. + +[FN#313] i.e. saying, "And peace be on us and on the worshippers of +Allah which be pious." + +[FN#314] i.e. saying, " I seek refuge with Allah from Satan the + + +Stoned." + + + +[FN#315] Certain parts should be recited aloud (jahr) and others sotto +voce (with mussitation=Khafi). No mistake must be made in this matter +where a Moslem cannot err. + +[FN#316] Hence an interest of two-and-a-half percent is not held to be +"Ribα" or unlawful gain of money by money, usury. + +[FN#317] The meal must be finished before the faster can plainly +distinguish the white thread from the black thread (Koran ii. 183); +some understand this literally, others apply it to the dark and silvery +streak of zodiacal light which appears over the Eastern horizon an hour +or so before sunrise. The fast then begins and ends with the +disappearance of the sun. I have noticed its pains and penalties in my +Pilgrimage, i. 110, etc. + +[FN#318] For the "Azαn" or call to prayer see Lane, M. E., chapt. +xviii. The chant, however, differs in every country, and a practical +ear will know the land by its call. + +[FN#319] Arab. "Hadνs" or saying of the Apostle. + +[FN#320] "Al-I'itikaf" resembles the Christian "retreat;" but the +worshipper generally retires to a mosque, especially in Meccah. The +Apostle practised it on Jabal Hira and other places. + +[FN#321] The word is the Heb. "Hagg" whose primary meaning is +circularity of form or movement. Hence it applied to religious +festivals in which dancing round the idol played a prime part; and +Lucian of "saltation" says, dancing was from the beginning and coeval +with the ancient god, Love. But man danced with joy before he +worshipped, and, when he invented a systematic saltation, he made it +represent two things, and only two things, love and war, in most +primitive form, courtship and fighting. + +[FN#322] Two adjoining ground-waves in Meccah. For these and for the +places subsequently mentioned the curious will consult my Pilgrimage, +iii. 226, etc. + +[FN#323] The 'Umrah or lesser Pilgrimage, I have noted, is the ceremony +performed in Meccah at any time out of the pilgrim-season proper, i.e. +between the eighth and tenth days of the twelfth lunar month Zu +'l-Hijjah. It does not entitle the Moslem to be called Hαjj (pilgrim) +or Hαjν as Persians and Indians corrupt the word. + +[FN#324] I need hardly note that Mohammed borrowed his +pilgrimage-practices from the pagan Arabs who, centuries before his +day, danced around the Meccan Ka'abah. Nor can he be blamed for having +perpetuated a Gentile rite, if indeed it be true that the Ka'abah +contained relics of Abraham and Ishmael. + +[FN#325] On first sighting Meccah. See Night xci. + +[FN#326] Arab. "Tawαf:" the place is called Matαf and the guide +Mutawwif. (Pilgrimage, iii. 193, 205.) The seven courses are termed +Ashwαt. + +[FN#327] Stoning the Devil at Mina. (Pilgrimage, iii. 282.) Hence + + +Satan's title "the Stoned" (lapidated not castrated). + + + +[FN#328] Koran viii. 66; in the chapter entided "Spoil," and relating +mainly to the "day of Al-Bedr. + +[FN#329] Arab. "AI-Ikαlah"= cancelling: Mr. Payne uses the technical +term "resiliation." + +[FN#330] Freedman of Abdallah, son of the Caliph Omar and noted as a +traditionist. + +[FN#331] i.e. at a profit: the exchange must be equal—an ordinance +intended to protect the poor. Arabs have strange prejudices in these +matters; for instance it disgraces a Badawi to take money for milk. + +[FN#332] Arab. "Jamα'ah," which in theology means the Greek , our +"Church," the congregation of the Faithful under a lawful head. Hence +the Sunnis call themselves "People of the Sunnat and Jamα'at." In the +text it is explained as "Ulfat" or intimacy. + +[FN#333] Arab. "Al-Khalνl," i.e. of Allah=Abraham. Mohammed, following +Jewish tradition, made Abraham rank second amongst the Prophets, +inferior only to himself and superior to Hazrat Isa=Jesus. I have noted +that Ishmael the elder son succeeded his father. He married Da'alah +bint Muzαz bin Omar, a Jurhamite, and his progeny abandoning Hebrew +began to speak Arabic (ta'arraba); hence called Muta'arribah or +Arabised Arabs. (Pilgrimage iii. 190.) He died at Meccah and was buried +with his mother in the space North of the Ka'abah called Al-Hijr which +our writers continue to confuse with the city Al-Hijr. (Ibid. 165-66.) + +[FN#334] This ejaculation, "In the name of Allah" is, I have noted, +equivalent to "saying grace." If neglected it is a sin and entails a +curse. + +[FN#335] The ceremonious posture is sitting upon the shin-bones, not +tailor-fashion; and "bolting food" is a sign of boorishness. + +[FN#336] Arab. "Zidd," the word is a fair specimen of Arabic ambiguity +meaning primarily opposite or contrary (as virtue to vice), secondarily +an enemy or a friend (as being opposite to an enemy). + +[FN#337] "The whole earth (shall be) but His handful on the +Resurrection day and in His right hand shall the Heaven be rolled up +(or folded together)."-Koran xxxix. 67. + +[FN#338] See Night lxxxi. + +[FN#339] Koran lxxviii. 19. + +[FN#340] Arab. "Al-Munαfik," technically meaning one who outwardly +professes Al-Islam while inwardly hating it. Thus the word is by no +means synonymous with our "hypocrite," hypocrisy being the homage vice +pays to virtue; a homage, I may observe, nowhere rendered more +fulsomely than among the so-called Anglo-Saxon race. + +[FN#341] Arab. "Tawakkul alα 'llah": in the imperative the phrase is +vulgarly used="Be off!" + +[FN#342] i.e. ceremonial impurity which is sui generis, a very +different thing from general dirtiness. + +[FN#343] A thick beard is one which does not show the skin; otherwise +the wearer is a "Kausaj;" in Pers. "Kϊseh." See vol. iii., 246. + +[FN#344] Arab. "Al-Khutnah." Nowhere commanded in the Koran and being +only a practice of the Prophet, the rite is not indispensable for +converts, especially the aged and the sick. Our ideas upon the subject +are very hazy, for modern "niceness" allows a "Feast of the +Circumcision," but no discussion thereon. Moses (alias Osarsiph) +borrowed the rite from the Egyptian hierophants who were all thus +"purified"; the object being to counteract the over-sensibility of the +"sixth sense" and to harden the glans against abrasions and infection +by exposure to air and friction against the dress. Almost all African +tribes practise it but the modes vary and some are exceedingly curious: +I shall notice a peculiarly barbarous fashion called Al-Salkh (the +flaying) still practised in the Arabian province Al-Asνr. (Pilgrimage +iii. 80.) There is a difference too between the Hebrew and the Moslem +rite. The Jewish operator, after snipping off the foreskin, rips up the +prepuce with his sharp thumb-nails so that the external cutis does not +retract far from the internal; and the wound, when healed, shows a +narrow ring of cicatrice. This ripping is not done by Moslems. They use +a stick as a probe passed round between glans and prepuce to ascertain +the extent of the frenum and that there is no abnormal adhesion. The +foreskin is then drawn forward and fixed by the forceps, a fork of two +bamboo splints, five or six inches long by a quarter thick, or in some +cases an iron like our compasses. This is tied tightly over the +foreskin so as to exclude about an inch and a half of the prepuce above +and three quarters below. A single stroke of the razor drawn directly +downwards removes the skin. The slight bleeding is stopped by burnt +rags or ashes and healed with cerates, pledgets and fumigations. Thus +Moslem circumcision does not prevent the skin retracting. + +[FN#345] Of these 6336 versets only some 200 treat on law, civil and +ceremonial, fiscal and political, devotional and ceremonial, canonical +and ecclesiastical. + +[FN#346] The learned young woman omitted Ukhnϊkh=Enoch, because not in +Koran; and if she denoted him by "Idrνs," the latter is much out of +place. + +[FN#347] Some say grandson of Shem. (Koran vii. 71.) + +[FN#348] Koran vii. 63, etc. + +[FN#349] Father-in-law of Moses. (Koran vii. 83.) + +[FN#350] Who is the last and greatest of the twenty-five. + +[FN#351] See Night ccccxxxviii. + +[FN#352] Koran ii., whose 256th Ayah is the far-famed and sublime +Throne-verse which begins "Allah! there is no god but He, the Living, +the Eternal One, whom nor slumber nor sleep seizeth on!" The trivial +name is taken from the last line, "His throne overstretcheth Heaven and +Earth and to Him their preservation is no burden for He is the most +Highest, the Supreme." The lines are often repeated in prayers and +engraved on agates, etc., as portable talismans. + +[FN#353] Koran ii. 159. + +[FN#354] Koran xvi. 92. The verset ends with, "He warneth you, so haply +ye may be mindful." + +[FN#355] Koran lxx. 38. + +[FN#356] Koran xxxix. 54. + +[FN#357] The Sunnis hold that the "Anbiyα" (=prophets, or rather +announcers of Allah's judgments) were not sinless. But this dogma is +branded as most irreverent and sinful by the Shi'ahs or Persian +"followers of Ali," who make capital out of this blasphemy and declare +that if any prophet sinned he sinned only against himself. + +[FN#358] Koran xii. 18. + +[FN#359] Koran ii. 107. + +[FN#360] Koran ii. 57. He (Allah) does not use the plurale majestatis. + +[FN#361] Koran ii. 28. + +[FN#362] Koran xvi. 100. Satan is stoned in the Minα or Munα basin +(Night ccccxlii.) because he tempted Abraham to disobey the command of +Allah by refusing to sacrifice Ishmael. (Pilgrimage iii. 248.) + +[FN#363] It may also mean "have recourse to God." + +[FN#364] Abdallah ibn Abbas, before noticed, first cousin of + + +Mohammed and the most learned of the Companions. See D'Herbelot. + + + +[FN#365] Koran xcvi., "Blood-clots," 1 and 2. "Read" may mean "peruse +the revelation" (it was the first Koranic chapter communicated to +Mohammed), or "recite, preach." + +[FN#366] Koran xxvii. 30. Mr. Rodwell (p.1) holds to the old idea that +the "Basmalah" is of Jewish origin, taught to the Kuraysh by Omayyah, +of Taif, the poet and Hanνf (convert). + +[FN#367] Koran ix.: this was the last chapter revealed and the only one +revealed entire except verse 110. + +[FN#368] Ali was despatched from Al-Medinah to Meccah by the Prophet on +his own slit-eared camel to promulgate this chapter; and meeting the +assembly at Al-'Akabah he also acquainted them with four things; (1) No +Infidel may approach the Meccah temple; (2) naked men must no longer +circut the Ka'abah; (3) only Moslems enter Paradise, and (4) public +faith must be kept. + +[FN#369] Dictionaries give the word "Basmalah" (=saying + + +Bismillah); but the common pronunciation is "Bismalah." + + + +[FN#370] Koran xvii. 110, a passage revealed because the Infidels, +hearing Mohammed calling upon The Compassionate, imagined that +Al-Rahmαn was other deity but Allah. The "names" have two grand +divisions, Asmα Jalαlν, the fiery or terrible attributes, and the Asmα +Jamαlν (airy, watery, earthy or) amiable. Together they form the Asmα +al-Husna or glorious attributes, and do not include the Ism al-A'azam, +the ineffable name which is known only to a few. + +[FN#371] Koran ii. 158. + +[FN#372] Koran xcvi. before noticed. + +[FN#373] A man of Al-Medinah, one of the first of Mohammed's disciples. + +[FN#374] Koran lxxiv. 1, etc., supposed to have been addressed by +Gabriel to Mohammed when in the cave of Hira or Jabal Nϊr. He returned +to his wife Khadijah in sore terror at the vision of one sitting on a +throne between heaven and earth, and bade her cover him up. Whereupon +the Archangel descended with this text, supposed to be the first +revealed. Mr. Rodwell (p. 3) renders it, "O thou enwrapped in thy +mantle!" and makes it No. ii. after a Fatrah or silent interval of six +months to three years. + +[FN#375] There are several versets on this subject (chapts. ii. and +xxx.) + +[FN#376] Koran cx. 1. + +[FN#377] The third Caliph; the "Writer of the Koran." + +[FN#378] Koran, v. 4. Sale translates "idols." Mr. Rodwell, "On the +blocks (or shafts) of Stone," rude altars set by the pagan Arabs before +their dwellings. + +[FN#379] Koran, v. 116. The words are put into the mouth of + + +Jesus. + + + +[FN#380] The end of the same verse. + +[FN#381] Koran, v. 89. Supposed to have been revealed when certain +Moslems purposed to practise Christian asceticism, fasting, watching, +abstaining from women and sleeping on hard beds. I have said Mohammed +would have "no monkery in Al-Islam," but human nature willed otherwise. +Mr. Rodwell prefers "Interdict the healthful viands." + +[FN#382] Koran, iv. 124. + +[FN#383] Arab. "Mukri." "Kαri" is one who reads the Koran to pupils; +the Mukri corrects them. "With the passage of the clouds" = without a +moment's hesitation. + +[FN#384] The twenty-first, twenty-fourth and eighteenth Arabic letters. + +[FN#385] Arab. "Hizb." The Koran is divided into sixty portions, +answering to "Lessons" for convenience of public worship. + +[FN#386] Arab. "Jalαlah,"=saying Jalla Jalαlu-hu=magnified be His + + +Majesty!, or glorified be His Glory. + + + +[FN#387] Koran, xi. 50. + +[FN#388] The partition-wall between Heaven and Hell which others call +Al-'Urf (in the sing. from the verb meaning he separated or parted). +The Jews borrowed from the Guebres the idea of a partition between +Heaven and Hell and made it so thin that the blessed and damned can +speak together. There is much dispute about the population of +Al-A'arαf, the general idea being that they are men who do not deserve +reward in Heaven or punishment in Hell. But it is not a "Purgatory" or +place of expiating sins. + +[FN#389] Koran, vii. 154. + +[FN#390] A play on the word ayn, which means "eye" or the eighteenth +letter which in olden times had the form of a circle. + +[FN#391] From misreading these words comes the absurd popular belief of +the moon passing up and down Mohammed's sleeves. George B. Airy (The +Athenζum, Nov.29, 1884) justly objects to Sale's translation "The hour +of judgment approacheth" and translates "The moon hath been +dichotomised" a well-known astronomical term when the light portion of +the moon is defined in a strait line: in other words when it is really +a half-moon at the first and third quarters of each lunation. Others +understand, The moon shall be split on the Last Day, the preterite for +the future in prophetic style. "Koran Moslems" of course understand it +literally. + +[FN#392] Chapters liv., lv. and lvi. + +[FN#393] We should say, not to utter, etc. + +[FN#394] These well-known "humours of Hippocrates," which reappear in +the form of temperaments of European phrenology, are still the base of +Eastern therapeutics. + +[FN#395] The doctrine of the three souls will be intelligible to + + +Spiritualists. + + + +[FN#396] Arab. "Al-lαmi"=the l-shaped, curved, forked. + +[FN#397] Arab. "Usus," our os sacrum because, being incorruptible, the +body will be built up thereon for Resurrection-time. Hence Hudibras +sings (iii. 2), + + "The learned Rabbis of the Jews + + + Write there's a bone which they call leuz, + + + I' the rump of man, etc." + + + +It is the Heb. "Uz," whence older scholars derived os. Sale (sect. iv.) +called it "El Ajb, os coccygis or rump-bone." + +[FN#398] Arab physiologists had difficulties in procuring "subjects"; +and usually practised dissection on the simiads. Their illustrated +books are droll; the figures have been copied and recopied till they +have lost all resemblance to the originals. + +[FN#399] The liver and spleen are held to be congealed blood. + + +Hence the couplet, + + + + "We are allowed two carrions (i.e. with throats uncut) and + + + two bloods, + + + The fish and the locust, the liver and the spleen." + + +(Pilgrimage iii. 92.) + + + +[FN#400] This is perfectly true and yet little known to the general. + +[FN#401] Koran xvii. 39. + +[FN#402] Arab. "Al-malikhulνya," proving that the Greeks then +pronounced the penultimate vowel according to the acute accentνa; not +as we slur it over. In old Hebrew we have the transliteration of four +Greek words; in the languages of Hindostan many scores including names +of places; and in Latin and Arabic as many hundreds. By a scholar-like +comparison of these remains we should find little difficulty in +establishing the true Greek pronunciation since the days of Alexander +the Great; and we shall prove that it was pronounced according to +accent and emphatically not quantity. In the next century I presume +English boys will be taught to pronounce Greek as the Greeks do. + +[FN#403] Educated Arabs can quote many a verse bearing upon domestic +medicine and reminding us of the lines bequeathed to Europe by the +School of Salerno. Such e.g. are; + + "After the noon-meal, sleep, although for moments twain; + + + After the night-meal, walk, though but two steps be ta'en; + + + And after swiving stale, though but two drops thou drain." + + + +[FN#404] Arab. "Sarνdah" (Tharνdah), also called "ghaut"=crumbled bread +and hashed meat in broth; or bread, milk and meat. The Sarνdah of +Ghassαn, cooked with eggs and marrow, was held a dainty dish: hence the +Prophet's dictum. + +[FN#405] Koran v. 92. "Lots"=games of chance and "images"=statues. + +[FN#406] Koran ii. 216. The word "Maysar" which I have rendered +"gambling" or gaming (for such is the modern application of the word), +originally meant what St. Jerome calls and explains thereby the verse +(Ezek. xxi. 22), "The King held in his hand the lot of Jerusalem" i.e. +the arrow whereon the city-name was written. The Arabs use it for +casting lots with ten azlam or headless arrows (for dice) three being +blanks and the rest notched from one to seven. They were thrown by a +"Zαrib" or punter and the stake was generally a camel. Amongst so +excitable a people as the Arabs, this game caused quarrels and +bloodshed, hence its prohibition: and the theologians, who everywhere +and at all times delight in burdening human nature, have extended the +command, which is rather admonitory than prohibitive, to all games of +chance. Tarafah is supposed to allude to this practice in his +Mu'allakah. + +[FN#407] Liberal Moslems observe that the Koranic prohibition is not +absolute, with threat of Hell for infraction. Yet Mohammed doubtless +forbade all inebriatives and the occasion of his so doing is well +known. (Pilgrimage ii. 322.) + +[FN#408] I have noticed this soured milk in Pilgrimage i. 362. + +[FN#409] He does not say the "Caliph" or successor of his uncle + + +Mohammed. + + + +[FN#410] The Jewish Korah (Numbers xvi.) fabled by the Koran (xxviii. +76), following a Talmudic tradition, to have been a man of immense +wealth. The notion that lying with an old woman, after the menses have +ceased, is unwholesome, dates from great antiquity; and the benefits of +the reverse process were well known to good King David. The faces of +children who sleep with their grandparents (a bad practice now waxing +obsolete in England), of a young wife married to an old man and of a +young man married to an old woman, show a peculiar wizened appearance, +a look of age overlaying youth which cannot be mistaken. + +[FN#411] Arab. "Hindibα"(=endubium): the modern term is + + +Shakurνyah=chicorιe. I believe it to be very hurtful to the eyes. + + + +[FN#412] Arab. "Khuffαsh" and "Watwαt": in Egypt a woman is called +"Watwαtνyah" when the hair of her privities has been removed by +applying bats' blood. I have often heard of this; but cannot understand +how such an application can act depilatory. + +[FN#413] Dictionaries render the word by "dragon, cockatrice." The +Badawin apply it to a variety of serpents mostly large and all +considered venomous. + +[FN#414] Arab. "Zarr wa 'urwah," 1it.=handle. The button-hole, I have +said, is a modern invention; Urwah is also applied to the loopshaped +handle of the water-skin, for attachment of the Allαkah or suspensory +thong. + +[FN#415] Koran lxx. 40; see also the chapter following, v. 16. + +[FN#416] Koran x. 5; the "her" refers to the sun. + +[FN#417] Koran xxxvi. 40. + +[FN#418] Koran xxii. 60. + +[FN#419] Arab. "Manαzil:" these are the Hindu "Nakshatra"; extensively +used in meteorology even by Europeans unconsciously: thus they will +speak of the Elephantina-storm without knowing anything of the lunar +mansion so called. The names in the text are successively Sharatαn=two +horns of the Ram; (2) the Ram's belly; (3) the Pleiades; (4) Aldebaran; +(5) three stars in Orion's head; (6) ditto in Orion's shoulder; (7) two +stars above the Twins; (8) Lion's nose and first summer station; (9) +Lion's eye; (1O) Lion's forehead; (11) Lion's mane; (12) Lion's heart; +(13) the Dog, two stars in Virgo; (14) Spica Virginis; (15) foot of +Virgo; (16) horns of Scorpio; (17) the Crown; (18) heart of Scorpio; +(19) tail of Scorpio; (2O) stars in Pegasus; (21) where no +constellation appears; (22) the Slaughterer's luck; (23) Glutton's +luck; (24) Luck of Lucks, stars in Aquarius; (25) Luck of Tents, stars +in Aquarius; (26) the fore-lip or spout of Urn; (27) hind lip of Urn; +and (28) in navel of Fish's belly (Batn al-Hϊt); of these 28, to each +of the four seasons 7 are allotted. + +[FN#420] The Hebrew absey, still used by Moslems in chronograms. For +mnemonic purposes the 28 letters are distributed into eight words of +which the first and second are Abjad and Hawwaz. The last six letters +in two words (Thakhiz and Zuzigh) are Arabian, unknown to the Jews and +not found in Syriac. + +[FN#421] Arab. "Zindνk;" properly, one who believes in two gods (the +old Persian dualism); in books an atheist, i.e. one who does not +believe in a god or gods; and, popularly, a free-thinker who denies the +existence of a Supreme Being, rejects revelation for the laws of Nature +imprinted on the heart of man and for humanity in its widest sense. +Hence he is accused of permitting incestuous marriages and other +abominations. We should now call him (for want of something better) an +Agnostic. + +[FN#422] Koran xxxi. 34. The words may still be applied to +meteorologists especially of the scientific school. Even the +experienced (as the followers of the late Mathieu de la Drτme) reckon +far more failures than successes. The Koranic passage enumerates five +things known only to Allah; Judgment-day; rain; sex of child in womb; +what shall happen to-morrow and where a man shall die. + +[FN#423] The fifth and seventh months (January and March) of the Coptic +year which, being solar, is still used by Arab and Egyptian +meteorologists. Much information thereon will be found in the "Egyptian +Calendar" by Mr. Mitchell, Alexandria, 1876. It bears the appropriate +motto "Anni certus modus apud solos semper Egyptios fuit." (Macrobius.) +See also Lane M.E., chapt. ix. + +[FN#424] Vulg. Kiyαk; the fourth month, beginning 9th—1Oth + + +December. The first month is Tϊt, commencing 1Oth—11th + + +September. + + + +[FN#425] The 8th and 12th months partly corresponding with April and +August: Hαtϊr is the 3rd (November) and AmshRr the 6th (February). + +[FN#426] Moslems have been compelled to adopt infidel names for the +months because Mohammed's Koranic rejection of Nasy or intercalation +makes their lunar months describe the whole circle of the seasons in a +cycle of about thirty-three and a half years. Yet they have retained +the terms which contain the original motive of the denomination. The +first month is Muharram, the "Holy," because war was forbidden; it was +also known as Safar No. 1. The second Safar="Emptiness," because during +the heats citizens left the towns and retired to Tαif and other cool +sites. Rabν'a (first and second) alluded to the spring-pasturages; +Jumαdα (first and second) to the "hardening" of the dry ground and, +according to some, to the solidification, freezing, of the water in the +highlands. Rajab (No.7)="worshipping," especially by sacrifice, is also +known as Al-Asamm the deaf; because being sacred, the rattle of arms +was unheard. Sha'abαn="collecting," dispersing, ruining, because the +tribal wars recommenced: Ramazan (intensely hot) has been explained and +Shawwαl (No. 10) derives from Shaul (elevating) when the he-camels +raise their tails in rut. Zϊ'l-Ka'adah, the sedentary, is the rest time +of the year, when fighting is forbidden and Zu'l-Hijjah explains itself +as the pilgrimage-month. + +[FN#427] The lowest of the seven. + +[FN#428] Koran xxxvii. 5. + +[FN#429] Arab. "Faylasϊf," an evident corruption from the Greek. +Amongst the vulgar it denotes a sceptic, an atheist; much the same a +"Frammαsϊn" or Freemason. The curious reader will consult the Dabistan, +vol. iii. chapt. xi. p. 138 et seq. "On the Religion of the Wise" +(philosophi), and, Beaconsfield's theft from Shaftesbury. + +[FN#430] Koran xxxvi. 37-38. + +[FN#431] Koran xxii. 7. The Hour i.e. of Judgment. + +[FN#432] Koran xx. 58. The Midrasch Tanchumah on Exod. vii. gives a +similar dialogue between Pharaoh and Moses. (Rodwell, in loco.) + +[FN#433] Arab. "Sham'ϊn" or "Shim'ϊn," usually applied to Simon + + +Peter (as in Acts xv. 14). But the text alludes to Saint Simeon + + +(Luke ii. 25-35). See Gospel of Infancy (ii. 8) and especially + + +the Gospel of Nicodemus (xii. 3) which makes him a High-Priest. + + + +[FN#434] Sαlih the Patriarch's she-camel, miraculously produced from +the rock in order to convert the Thamϊd-tribe. (Koran vii.) + +[FN#435] When Abu Bakr was hiding with Mohammed in a cave on the Hill +Al-Saur (Thaur or Thϊr, Pilgrimage ii. 131) South of Meccah, which must +not be confounded with the cave on Jabal Hirα now called Jabal Nϊr on +the way to Arafat (Pilgrimage iii. 246), the fugitives were protected +by a bird which built her nest at the entrance (according to another +legend it was curtained by a spider's web), whilst another bird (the +crow of whom I shall presently speak) tried to betray them. The first +bird is popularly supposed to have been a pigeon, and is referred to by +Hudibras, + + "Th' apostles of this fierce religion + + + Like Mahomet, were ass and widgeon." + + + +The ass I presume alludes to the marvellous beast Al-Burαk which the +Greeks called from (Euthymius in Pocock, Spec. A.H. p.144) and which +Indian Moslems picture with human face, ass's ears, equine body and +peacock's wings and tail. The "widgeon" I presume to be a mistake or a +misprint for pigeon. + +[FN#436] The Arabs are not satisfied with the comparative moderation of +the Hebrew miracle, and have added all manner of absurdities. +(Pilgrimage ii. 288.) + +[FN#437] Koran lxxxi. 18. Sale translates "by the morning when it +appeareth;" and the word (tanaffus) will bear this meaning. Mr. Rodwell +prefers, "By the dawn when it clears away the darkness by its breath." + +[FN#438] As a rule Moslems are absurdly ignorant of arithmetic and +apparently cannot master it. Hence in Egypt they used Copts for +calculating-machines and further East Hindds. The mildest numerical +puzzle, like the above, is sure of success. + +[FN#439] The paradiseal tree which supplied every want. Mohammed +borrowed it from the Christians (Rev. xxi. 10-21 and xxii. 1-2) who +placed in their paradise the Tree of Life which bears twelve sorts of +fruits and leaves of healing virtue. (See also the 3rd book of Hermas, +his Similitudes.) The Hebrews borrowed it from the Persians. Amongst +the Hindus it appears as "Kalpavriksha;" amongst the Scandinavians as +Yggdrasil. The curious reader will consult Mr. James Fergusson's +learned work, "Tree and Serpent Worship," etc. London, 1873. + +[FN#440] Aaron's Rod becomes amongst Moslems (Koran vii. 110) Moses' +Staff; the size being that of a top-mast. (Pilgrimage i. 300, 301.) In +Koran xx. 18, 19, we find a notice of its uses; and during the Middle +Ages it reappeared in the Staff of Wamba the Goth (A.D.672-680) the +witch's broomstick was its latest development. + +[FN#441] Christ, say the Eutychians, had only one nature, the divine; +so he was crucified in effigy. + +[FN#442] Jesus is compared with Adam in the Koran (chapt. iii.): his +titles are Kalαmu 'llah (word of God) because engendered without a +father, and Rϊhu 'llah (breath of God) because conceived by Gabriel in +the shape of a beautifui youth breathing into the Virgin's vulva. Hence +Moslems believe in a "miraculous conception" and consequently determine +that one so conceived was, like Elias and Khizr, not subject to death; +they also hold him born free from "original sin" (a most sinful +superstition), a veil being placed before the Virgin and Child against +the Evil One who could not touch them. He spoke when a babe in cradle; +he performed miracles of physic; he was taken up to Heaven; he will +appear as the forerunner of Mohammed on the White Tower of Damascus, +and finally he will be buried at Al-Medinah. The Jews on the other hand +speak of him as "that man:" they hold that he was begotten by Joseph +during the menstrual period and therefore a born magician. Moreover he +learned the Sham ha-maphrash or Nomen tetragrammaton, wrote it on +parchment and placed it in an incision in his thigh, which closed up on +the Name being mentioned (Buxtorf, Lex Talmud, 25-41). Other details +are given in the Toldoth Jesu (Historia Joshuζ Nazareni). This note +should be read by the eminent English littιrateur who discovered a +fact, well known to Locke and Carlyle, that "Mohammedans are +Christians." So they are and something more. + +[FN#443] In the Kalamdαn, or pen-case, is a little inkstand of metal +occupying the top of the long, narrow box. + +[FN#444] A fair specimen of the riddle known as the "surprise." + +[FN#445] Koran xli. 10. + +[FN#446] Koran xxxvi. 82. + +[FN#447] Here we enter upon a series of disputed points. The Wahhαbis +deny the intercession of the Apostle (Pilgrimage ii. 76-77). The +Shi'ahs place Ali next in dignity to Mohammed and there is a sect +(Ali-Ilαhi) which believes him to be an Avatar or incarnation of the +Deity. For the latter the curious reader will consult the "Dabistan," +ii. 451. The Koran by its many contradictions seems to show that +Mohammed never could make up his own mind on the subject, thinking +himself at times an intercessor and then sharply denying all +intercession. + +[FN#448] Arab. "Kanjifah"=a pack of cards; corrupted from the Persian +"Ganjνfah." We know little concerning the date or origin of this game +in the East, where the packs are quite unlike ours. + +[FN#449] It is interesting to compare this account with the pseudo Ovid +and with Tale clxvi. in Gesta "Of the game of Schaci." Its Schacarium +is the chess-board. Rochus (roccus, etc.) is not from the Germ. Rock (a +coat) but from Rukh (Pers. a hero, a knight-errant) Alphinus (Ital. +Alfino) is Al-Firzαn (Pers. science, wise). + +[FN#450] Arab, "Baydak" or "Bayzak"; a corruption of the Persian +"Piyαdah"=a footman, peon, pawn; and proving whence the Arabs derived +the game. The Persians are the readiest backgammon-players known to me, +better even than the Greeks; they throw the dice from the hand and +continue foully abusing the fathers and mothers of the "bones" whilst +the game lasts. It is often played in the intervals of dinner by the +higher classes in Persia. + +[FN#451] Metaphor from loading camels and mules. To "eat" a piece is to +take it. + +[FN#452] Arab. "Bilαbil"; a plural of "Bulbul" with a double entendre +balαbil (plur. of ballalah)=heart's troubles, and "balα, bul"=a +calamity, nay, etc. + +[FN#453] The popular English idea of the Arab horse is founded upon +utter unfact. Book after book tells us, "There are three distinct +breeds of Arabians -the Attechi, a very superior breed; the Kadishi, +mixed with these and of little value; and the Kochlani, highly prized +and very difficult to procure." "Attechi" may be At-Tαzi (the Arab +horse, or hound) or some confusion with "At" (Turk.) a horse. "Kadish" +(Gadish or Kidish) is a nag; a gelding, a hackney, a "pacer" (generally +called "Rahwαn"). "Kochlani" is evidently "Kohlαni," the Kohl-eyed, +because the skin round the orbits is dark as if powdered. This is the +true blue blood; and the bluest of all is "Kohlαni al-Ajϊz" (of the old +woman) a name thus accounted for. An Arab mare dropped a filly when in +flight; her rider perforce galloped on and presently saw the foal +appear in camp, when it was given to an old woman for nursing and grew +up to be famous. The home of the Arab horse is the vast plateau of +Al-Najd: the Tahαmah or lower maritime regions of Arabia, like Malabar, +will not breed good beasts. The pure blood all descends from five +collateral lines called Al-Khamsah (the Cinque). Literary and pedantic +Arabs derive them from the mares of Mohammed, a native of the dry and +rocky region, Al-Hijaz, whither horses are all imported. Others go back +(with the Koran, chapt. xxviii.) to Solomon, possibly Salmαn, a +patriarch fourth in descent from Ishmael and some 600 years older than +the Hebrew King. The Badawi derive the five from Rabν'at al-Faras (R. +of the mare) fourth in descent from Adnαn, the fount of Arab genealogy. +But they differ about the names: those generally given are Kahilan +(Kohaylat), Saklαwi (which the Badawin pronounce Saglαwi), Abayαn, and +Hamdαni; others substitute Manαkhi (the long-maned), Tanνs and Jalfϊn. +These require no certificate amongst Arabs; for strangers a simple +statement is considered enough. The Badawin despise all half-breeds +(Arab sires and country mares), Syrian, Turkish, Kurdish and Egyptian. +They call these (first mentioned in the reign of Ahmes, B.C. 1600) the +"sons of horses"; as opposed to "sons of mares," or thorough-breds. Nor +do they believe in city-bred animals. I have great doubts concerning +our old English sires, such as the Darley Arabian which looks like a +Kurdish half-bred, the descendant of those Cappadocians so much prized +by the Romans: in Syria I rode a "Harfϊshν" (Kurd) the very image of +it. There is no difficulty in buying Arab stallions except the price. +Of course the tribe does not like to part with what may benefit the +members generally; but offers of £500 to £1,000 would overcome men's +scruples. It is different with mares, which are almost always the joint +property of several owners. The people too dislike to see a hat on a +thorough-bred mare: "What hast thou done that thou art ridden by that +ill-omened Kafir?" the Badawin used to mutter when they saw a highly +respectable missionary at Damascus mounting a fine Ruwalα mare. The +feeling easily explains the many wars about horses occurring in Arab +annals, e.g. about Dαhis and Ghabrα. (C. de Perceval, Essas, vol.ii.) + +[FN#454] The stricter kind of Eastern Jew prefers to die on the floor, +not in bed, as was the case with the late Mr. Emmanuel Deutsch, who in +his well-known article on the Talmud had the courage to speak of "Our +Saviour." But as a rule the Israelite, though he mostly appears as a +Deist, a Unitarian, has a fund of fanatical feelings which crop up in +old age and near death. The "converts" in Syria and elsewhere, whose +Judaism is intensified by "conversion," when offers are made to them by +the missionaries repair to the Khαkhαm (scribe) and, after abundant +wrangling determine upon a modus vivendi. They are to pay a proportion +of their wages, to keep careful watch in the cause of Israel and to die +orthodox. In Istria there is a legend of a Jew Prior in a convent who +was not discovered till he announced himself most unpleasantly on his +death-bed. For a contrary reason to Jewish humility, the Roman Emperors +preferred to die standing. + +[FN#455] He wished to die in a state of ceremonial purity; as has +before been mentioned. + +[FN#456] Arab. "Badal": in Sind (not to speak of other places) it was +customary to hire a pauper "badal" to be hanged in stead of a rich man. +Sir Charles Napier signed many a death-warrant before he ever heard of +the practice. + +[FN#457] Arab. "La'an" = curse. The word is in every mouth though +strongly forbidden by religion. Even of the enemies of Al-Islam the +learned say, "Ila'an Yezνd wa lα tazνd" = curse Yezid but do not exceed +(i.e. refrain from cursing the others). This, however, is in the +Shafi'ν school and the Hanafνs do not allow it (Pilgrimage i. 198). +Hence the Moslem when scrupulous uses na'al (shoe) for la'an (curse) as +Ina'al abϊk (for Ila'an abu'-k) or, drat (instead of damn) your father. +Men must hold Supreme Intelligence to be of feeble kind if put off by +such miserable pretences. + +[FN#458] Koran vi. 44, speaking of the Infidels. It is a most unamiable +chapter, with such assertions as "Allah leadeth into error whom He +pleaseth," etc. + +[FN#459] Alluding to the "formication" which accompanies a stroke of +paralysis. + +[FN#460] Pronounce Zool Karnayn. + +[FN#461] i.e. the Koranic and our mediζval Alexander, Lord of the two +Horns (East and West) much "Matagrobolized" and very different from him +of Macedon. The title is variously explained, from two protuberances on +his head or helm, from two long locks and, possibly, from the ram-horns +of Jupiter Ammon. The anecdote in the text seems suggested by the +famous interview (probably a canard) with Diogenes: see in the Gesta, +Tale cxlvi., "The answer of Diomedes the Pirate to Alexander." Iskandar +was originally called Marzbαn (Lord of the Marches), son of Marzabah; +and, though descended from Yunαn, son of Japhet, the eponymus of the +Greeks, was born obscure, the son of an old woman. According to the +Persians he was the son of the Elder Dαrαb (Darius Codomannus of the +Kayanian or Second dynasty), by a daughter of Philip of Macedon; and +was brought up by his grandfather. When Abraham and Isaac had rebuilt +the Ka'abah they foregathered with him and Allah sent him forth against +the four quarters of the earth to convert men to the faith of the +Friend or to cut their throats; thus he became one of the four +world-conquerors with Nimrod, Solomon, Bukht al-Nasr (Nabochodonosor); +and he lived down two generations of men. His Wazir was Aristϊ (the +Greek Aristotle) and he carried a couple of flags, white and black, +which made day and night for him and facilitated his conquests. At the +end of Persia, where he was invited by the people, on account of the +cruelty of his half brother Darab II., he came upon two huge mountains +on the same line, behind which dwelt a host of abominable pygmies, two +spans high, with curious eyes, ears which served as mattresses and +coverlets, huge fanged mouths, lions' claws and hairy hind quarters. +They ate men, destroyed everything, copulated in public and had swarms +of children. These were Yαjϊj and Mαjϊj (Gog and Magog) descendants of +Japhet. Sikandar built against them the famous wall with stones +cemented and riveted by iron and copper. The "Great Wall" of China, the +famous bulwark against the Tartars, dates from B.C. 320 (Alexander of +Macedon died B.C. 324); and as the Arabs knew Canton well before +Mohammed's day, they may have built their romance upon it. The Guebres +consigned Sikandar to hell for burning the Nusks or sections of the +Zendavesta. + +[FN#462] These terrific preachments to Eastern despots (who utterly +ignore them) are a staple produce of Oriental tale-literature and form +the chiaro-oscuro, as it were, of a picture whose lights are brilliant +touches of profanity and indelicate humour. It certainly has the charm +of contrast. Much of the above is taken from the Sikandar-nameh +(Alexander Book) of the great Persian poet, Nizαmi, who flourished A.H. +515-597, between the days of Firdausi (ob. A.D.1021) and Sa'adi (ob. +A.D. 1291). In that romance Sikandar builds, "where the sun goes down," +a castle of glittering stone which kills men by causing excessive +laughter and surrounds it with yellow earth like gold. Hence the City +of Brass. He also converts, instead of being converted by, the savages +of the text. He finds a stone of special excellence which he calls +Almαs (diamond); and he obtains it from the Valley of Serpents by +throwing down flesh to the eagles. Lastly he is accompanied by +"Bilνnas" or "Bilνnus," who is apparently Apollonius of Tyana. + +[FN#463] I have explained the beautiful name in Night cclxxxix: + + +He is stil famous for having introduced into Persia the fables of + + +Pilpay (Bidyapati, the lord of lore) and a game which the genius + + +of Persia developed into chess. + + + +[FN#464] Here we find an eternal truth, of which Malthusians ever want +reminding; that the power of a nation simply consists in its numbers of +fighting men and in their brute bodily force. The conquering race is +that which raises most foot-pounds: hence the North conquers the South +in the Northern hemisphere and visa versa. + +[FN#465] Arab. "Wayha," not so strong as "Woe to," etc. Al-Hariri often +uses it as a formula of affectionate remonstrance. + +[FN#466] As a rule (much disputed) the Sayyid is a descendant from +Mohammed through his grandchild Hasan, and is a man of the pen; whereas +the Sharif derives from Husayn and is a man of the sword. The Najνb +al-taraf is the son of a common Moslemah by a Sayyid, as opposed to the +"Najib al-tarafayn," when both parents are of Apostolic blood. The +distinction is not noticed in Lane's "Modern Egyptians". The Sharif is +a fanatic and often dangerous, as I have instanced in Pilgrimage iii. +132. + +[FN#467] A theologian of Bassorah (eighth century): surnamed Abϊ Yahyα. +The prayer for mercy denotes that he was dead when the tale was +written. + +[FN#468] A theologian of Bassorah (eighth century). + +[FN#469] Arab. "Musallα"; lit. a place of prayer; an oratory, a chapel, +opp. to "Jαmi'" = a (cathedral) mosque. + +[FN#470] According to all races familiar with the negro, a calf like a +shut fist planted close under the ham is, like the "cucumber shin" and +"lark heel", a good sign in a slave. Shapely calves and well-made legs +denote the idle and the ne'er-do-well. I have often found this true +although the rule is utterly empirical. Possibly it was suggested by +the contrast of the nervous and lymphatic temperaments. + +[FN#471] These devotees address Allah as a lover would his beloved. The +curious reader will consult for instances the Dabistan on Tasawwuf (ii. +221; i.,iii. end, and passim). + +[FN#472] Arab. "Ma'rifat," Pers. Dαnish; the knowledge of the Truth. +The seven steps are (1) Sharν'at, external law like night; (2) Tarνkat, +religious rule like the stars; (3) Hakνkat, reality, truth like the +moon; (4) Ma'arifat like the sun; (5) Kurbat, proximity to Allah; (6) +Wasνlat, union with Allah, and (7) Suknat, dwelling in Allah. (Dabistan +iii.29.) + +[FN#473] Name of a fountain of Paradise: See Night xlix., vol. ii., +p.100. + +[FN#474] Arab. "Atbαk"; these trays are made of rushes, and the fans of +palm-leaves or tail-feathers. + +[FN#475] Except on the two great Festivals when fasting is forbidden. +The only religion which has shown common sense in this matter is that +of the Guebres or Parsis: they consider fasting neither meritorious nor +lawful; and they honour Hormuzd by good living "because it keeps the +soul stronger." Yet even they have their food superstitions, e.g. in +Gate No. xxiv.: "Beware of sin specially on the day thou eatest flesh, +for flesh is the diet of Ahriman." And in India the Guebres have copied +the Hindus in not slaughtering horned cattle for the table. + +[FN#476] Arab. "Jallαbiyah," a large-sleeved robe of coarse stuff worn +by the poor. + +[FN#477] His fear was that his body might be mutilated by the fall. + +[FN#478] The phrase means "offering up many and many a prayer." + +[FN#479] A saying of Mohammed is recorded "Al-fakru fakhrν" (poverty is +my pride!), intelligible in a man who never wanted for anything. Here +he is diametrically opposed to Ali who honestly abused poverty; and the +Prophet seems to have borrowed from Christendom, whose "Lazarus and +Dives" shows a man sent to Hell because he enjoyed a very modified +Heaven in this life and which suggested that one of the man's greatest +miseries is an ecclesiastical virtue—"Holy Poverty"—represented in the +Church as a bride young and lovely. If a "rich man can hardly enter the +kingdom" what must it be with a poor man whose conditions are far more +unfavourable? Going to the other extreme we may say that Poverty is the +root of all evil and the more so as it curtails man's power of +benefiting others. Practically I observe that those who preach and +praise it the most, practise it the least willingly: the ecclesiastic +has always some special reasons, a church or a school is wanted; but +not the less he wishes for more money. In Syria this Holy Poverty leads +to strange abuses. At Bayrut I recognised in most impudent beggers +well-to-do peasants from the Kasrawαn district, and presently found out +that whilst their fields were under snow they came down to the coast, +enjoyed a genial climate and lived on alms. When I asked them if they +were not ashamed to beg, they asked me if I was ashamed of following in +the footsteps of the Saviour and Apostles. How much wiser was Zoroaster +who found in the Supreme Paradise (Minuwαn-minu) "many persons, rich in +gold and silver who had worshipped the Lord and had been grateful to +Him." (Dabistan i. 265.) + +[FN#480] Koran vii. 52. + +[FN#481] Arab. "Al-bayt" = the house. The Arabs had probably learned +this pleasant mode of confinement from the Chinese whose Kea or Cangue +is well known. The Arabian form of it is "Ghull," or portable pillory, +which reprobates will wear on Judgment Day. + +[FN#482] This commonest conjuring trick in the West becomes a miracle +in the credulous East. + +[FN#483] Arab. "Kαnϊn"; the usual term is Mankal (pron. Mangal) a pan +of copper or brass. Some of these "chafing-dishes" stand four feet high +and are works of art. Lane (M.E. chapt. iv) gives an illustration of +the simpler kind, together with the "Azikν," a smaller pan for heating +coffee. See Night dxxxviii. + +[FN#484] See vol. iii., p.239. The system is that of the Roman As and +Unciae. Here it would be the twenty-fourth part of a dinar or miskal; +something under 5d. I have already noted that all Moslem rulers are +religiously bound to some handicraft, if it be only making toothpicks. +Mohammed abolished kingship proper as well as priestcraft. + +[FN#485] Al-Islam, where salvation is found under the shade of the +swords. + +[FN#486] Moslems like the Classics (Aristotle and others) hold the +clitoris (Zambϊr) to be the sedes et scaturigo veneris which, says +Sonnini, is mere profanity. In the babe it protrudes beyond the labiζ +and snipping off the head forms female circumcision. This rite is +supposed by Moslems to have been invented by Sarah who so mutilated +Hagar for jealousy and was afterwards ordered by Allah to have herself +circumcised at the same time as Abraham. It is now (or should be) +universal in Al-Islam and no Arab would marry a girl "unpurified" by +it. Son of an "uncircumcised" mother (Ibn al-bazrα) is a sore insult. +As regards the popular idea that Jewish women were circumcised till the +days of Rabbi Gershom (A.D.1000) who denounced it as a scandal to the +Gentiles, the learned Prof. H. Graetz informs me, with some +indignation, that the rite was never practised and that the great Rabbi +contended only against polygamy. Female circumcision, however, is I +believe the rule amongst some outlying tribes of Jews. The rite is the +proper complement of male circumcision, evening the sensitiveness of +the genitories by reducing it equally in both sexes: an uncircumcised +woman has the venereal orgasm much sooner and oftener than a +circumcised man, and frequent coitus would injure her health; hence I +believe, despite the learned historian, that it is practised by some +Eastern Jews. "Excision" is universal amongst the negroids of the Upper +Nile (Werne), the Somαl and other adjacent tribes. The operator, an old +woman, takes up the instrument, a knife or razor-blade fixed into a +wooden handle, and with three sweeps cuts off the labia and the head of +the clitoris. The parts are then sewn up with a packneedle and a thread +of sheepskin; and in Dar-For a tin tube is inserted for the passage of +urine. Before marriage the bridegroom trains himself for a month on +beef, honey and milk; and, if he can open his bride with the natural +weapon, he is a sworder to whom no woman in the tribe can deny herself. +If he fails, he tries penetration with his fingers and by way of last +resort whips out his whittle and cuts the parts open. The sufferings of +the first few nights must be severe. The few Somαli prostitutes who +practised at Aden always had the labiζ and clitoris excised and the +skin showing the scars of coarse sewing. The moral effect of female +circumcision is peculiar. While it diminishes the heat of passion it +increases licentiousness, and breeds a debauchery of mind far worse +than bodily unchastity, because accompanied by a peculiar cold cruelty +and a taste for artificial stimulants to "luxury." It is the +sexlessness of a spayed canine imitated by the suggestive brain of +humanity. + +[FN#487] Koran vi. So called because certain superstitions about + + +Cattle are therein mentioned. + + + +[FN#488] Koran iv. So called because it treats of marriages, divorces, +etc. + +[FN#489] Sνdi (contracted from Sayyidν = my lord) is a title still +applied to holy men in Marocco and the Maghrib; on the East African +coast it is assumed by negro and negroid Moslems, e.g. Sidi Mubαrak +Bombay; and "Seedy boy" is the Anglo-Indian term for a Zanzibar-man. +"Khawwαs" is one who weaves palm-leaves (Khos) into baskets, mats, +etc.: here, however, it may be an inherited name. + +[FN#490] i.e. in spirit; the "strangers yet" of poor dear Richard + + +Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton. + + + +[FN#491] Al-Hakk = the Truth, one of the ninety-nine names of + + +Allah. + + + +[FN#492] The Moslem is still unwilling to address Salαm (Peace be with +you) to the Christian, as it is obligatory (Farz) to a Moslem (Koran, +chapt. iv. and lxviii.). He usually evades the difficulty by saluting +the nearest Moslem or by a change of words Allah Yahdν-k (Allah direct +thee to the right way) or "Peace be upon us and the righteous +worshipers of Allah" (not you) or Al-Samm (for Salam) alayka = poison +to thee. The idea is old: Alexander of Alexandria in his circular +letter describes the Arian heretics as "men whom it is not lawful to +salute or to bid God-speed." + +[FN#493] Koran xxxvi. 82. I have before noted that this famous phrase +was borrowed from the Hebrews, who borrowed it from the Egyptians. + +[FN#494] The story of Moses and Khizr has been noticed before. See +Koran chapt. xviii. 64 et seq. It is also related, says Lane (ii. 642), +by Al-Kazwνni in the Ajαib al-Makhlϊkαt. This must be "The Angel and +the Hermit" in the Gesta Romanorum, Tale lxxx. which possibly gave rise +to Parnell's Hermit; and Tale cxxvii. "Of Justice and Equity." The +Editor says it "contains a beautiful lesson:" I can find only excellent +excuses for "doing evil that good may come of it." + +[FN#495] Koran chapt. v.108. + +[FN#496] The doggrel is phenomenal. + +[FN#497] He went in wonder and softened heart to see the miracle of +saintly affection. + +[FN#498] In Sufistical parlance, the creature is the lover and the +Creator the Beloved: worldly existence is Disunion, parting, severance; +and the life to come is Reunion. The basis of the idea is the human +soul being a divinζ particula aurζ, a disjoined molecule from the Great +Spirit, imprisoned in a jail of flesh; and it is so far valuable that +it has produced a grand and pathetic poetry; but Common Sense asks, +Where is the proof? And Reason wants to know, What does it all mean? + +[FN#499] Koran xiii. 41. + +[FN#500] Robinson Crusoe, with a touch of Arab prayerfulness. + + +Also the story of the Knight Placidus in the Gesta (cx.), + + +Boccaccio, etc. + + + +[FN#501] Arabs note two kinds of leprosy, "Bahak" or "Baras" the common +or white, and "Juzam" the black leprosy; the leprosy of the joints, mal +rouge. Both are attributed to undue diet as eating fish and drinking +milk; and both are treated with tonics, especially arsenic. Leprosy is +regarded by Moslems as a Scriptural malady on account of its prevalence +amongst the Israelites who, as Manetho tells us, were expelled from +Egypt because they infected and polluted the population. In mediζval +Christendom an idea prevailed that the Saviour was a leper; hence the +term "morbus sacer"; the honours paid to the sufferers by certain +Saints and the Papal address (Clement III. A.D.1189) dilectis filiis +leprosis. (Farrar's Life of Christ, i.149.) For the "disgusting and +impetuous lust" caused by leprosy, see Sonnini (p.560) who visited the +lepers at Canea in Candia. He is one of many who describes this +symptom; but in the Brazil, where the foul malady still prevails, I +never heard of it. + +[FN#502] A city in Irak; famous for the three days' battle which caused +the death of Yezdegird, last Sassanian king. + +[FN#503] A mountain pass near Meccah famous for the "First Fealty of +the Steep" (Pilgrimage ii. 126). The mosque was built to commemorate +the event. + +[FN#504] To my surprise I read in Mr. Redhouse's "Mesnevi" (Trubner, +1881), "Arafat, the mount where the victims are slaughtered by the +pilgrims." (p.60). This ignorance is phenomenal. Did Mr. Redhouse never +read Burckhardt or Burton? + +[FN#505] i.e. listening to the sermon. + +[FN#506] It is sad doggrel. + +[FN#507] This long story, containing sundry episodes and occupying +fifty-three Nights, is wholly omitted by Lane (ii. 643) because "it is +a compound of the most extravagant absurdities." He should have enabled +his readers to form their own judgment. + +[FN#508] Called Jamasp (brother and minister of the ancient Persian +King Gushtasp) in the translations of Trebutien and others from Von +Hammer. + +[FN#509] The usual term of lactation in the East, prolonged to two +years and a-half, which is considered the rule laid down by the Shara' +or precepts of the Prophet. But it is not unusual to see children of +three and even four years hanging to their mothers' breasts. During +this period the mother does not cohabit with her husband; the +separation beginning with her pregnancy. Such is the habit, not only of +the "lower animals," but of all ancient peoples, the Egyptians (from +whom the Hebrews borrowed it), the Assyrians and the Chinese. I have +discussed its bearing upon pregnancy in my "City of the Saints": the +Mormons insist upon this law of purity being observed; and the beauty, +strength and good health of the younger generation are proofs of their +wisdom. + +[FN#510] Thus distinguishing it from "Asal-kasab," cane honey or sugar. +See vol. i., 271. + +[FN#511] The student of Hinduism will remember the Nαga-Kings and + + +Queens (Melusines and Echidnζ) who guard the earth-treasures in + + +Naga-land. The first appearance of the snake in literature is in + + +Egyptian hieroglyphs, where he forms the letters f and t, and + + +acts as a determinative in the shape of a Cobra di Capello + + +(Coluber Naja) with expanded hood. + + + +[FN#512] In token that he was safe. + +[FN#513] "Akhir al-Zamαn." As old men praise past times, so prophets +prefer to represent themselves as the last. The early Christians caused +much scandal amongst the orderly law-loving Romans by their wild and +mistaken predictions of the end of the world being at hand. The +catastrophe is a fact for each man under the form of death; but the +world has endured for untold ages and there is no apparent cause why it +should not endure as many more. The "latter days," as the religious +dicta of most "revelations" assure us, will be richer in sinners than +in sanctity: hence "End of Time" is a facetious Arab title for a +villain of superior quality. My Somali escort applied it to one thus +distinguished: in 1875, I heard at Aden that he ended life by the spear +as we had all predicted. + +[FN#514] Jahannam and the other six Hells are personified as feminine; +and (woman-like) they are somewhat addicted to prolix speechification. + +[FN#515] These puerile exaggerations are fondly intended to act as +nurses frighten naughty children. + +[FN#516] Alluding to an oft-quoted saying "Lau lα-ka, etc. Without thee +(O Mohammed) We (Allah) had not created the spheres," which may have +been suggested by "Before Abraham was, I am" (John viii. 58); and by +Gate xci. of Zoroastrianism "O Zardusht for thy sake I have created the +world" (Dabistan i. 344). The sentiment is by no means "Shi'ah," as my +learned friend Prof. Aloys Springer supposes. In his Mohammed (p. 220) +we find an extract from a sectarian poet, "For thee we dispread the +earth; for thee we caused the waters to flow; for thee we vaulted the +heavens." As Baron Alfred von Kremer, another learned and experienced +Orientalist, reminds me, the "Shi'ahs" have always shown a decided +tendency to this kind of apotheosis and have deified or quasi-deified +Ali and the Imams. But the formula is first found in the highly +orthodox Burdah poem of Al-Busiri:— + +"But for him (Lau lα-hu) the world had never come out of nothingness." + +Hence it has been widely diffused. See Les Aventures de Kamrup (pp. +146-7) and Les uvres de Wali (pp. 51-52), by M. Garcin de Tassy and the +Dabistan (vol. i. pp. 2-3). + +[FN#517] Arab. "Sνmiyα" from the Pers., a word apparently built on the +model of "Kαmiyα" = alchemy, and applied, I have said, to fascination, +minor miracles and white magic generally like the Hindu "Indrajal." The +common term for Alchemy is Ilm al-Kαf (the K-science) because it is not +safe to speak of it openly as Alchemy. + +[FN#518] Mare Tenebrarum = Sea of Darknesses; usually applied to the +"mournful and misty Atlantic." + +[FN#519] Some Moslems hold that Solomon and David were buried in +Jerusalem, others on the shore of Lake Tiberias. Mohammed, according to +the history of Al-Tabari (p. 56 vol. i. Duleux's "Chronique de Tabari") +declares that the Jinni bore Solomon's corpse to a palace hewn in the +rock upon an island surrounded by a branch of the "Great Sea" and set +him on a throne, with his ring still on his finger, under a guard of +twelve Jinns. "None hath looked upon the tomb save only two, Affan who +took Bulukiya as his companion: with extreme pains they arrived at the +spot, and Affan was about to carry off the ring when a thunderbolt +consumed him. So Bulukiya returned." + +[FN#520] Koran xxxviii. 34, or, "art the liberal giver." + +[FN#521] i.e. of the last trumpet blown by the Archangel Israfil: an +idea borrowed from the Christians. Hence the title of certain +churches—ad Tubam. + +[FN#522] This may mean that the fruits were fresh and dried like dates +or tamarinds (a notable wonder), or soft and hard of skin like grapes +and pomegranates. + +[FN#523] Arab. "Ai-lksνr" meaning lit. an essence; also the +philosopher's stone. + +[FN#524] Name of the Jinni whom Solomon imprisoned in Lake + + +Tiberias (See vol. i., 41). + + + +[FN#525] Vulgarly pronounced "Jahannum." The second hell is usually +assigned to Christians. As there are seven Heavens (the planetary +orbits) so, to satisfy Moslem love of symmetry, there must be as many +earths and hells under the earth. The Egyptians invented these grim +abodes, and the marvellous Persian fancy worked them into poem. + +[FN#526] Arab. "Yαjϊj and Majuj," first named in Gen. x. 2, which gives +the ethnology of Asia Minor, circ. B.C. 800. "Gomer" is the Gimri or +Cymmerians; "Magog" the original Magi, a division of the Medes, "Javan" +the Ionian Greeks, "Meshesh" the Moschi; and "Tires" the Turusha, or +primitive Cymmerians. In subsequent times, "Magog" was applied to the +Scythians, and modern Moslems determine from the Koran (chaps. xviii. +and xxi.) that Yajuj and Majuj are the Russians, whom they call Moska +or Moskoff from the Moskwa River, + +[FN#527] I attempt to preserve the original pun; "Mukarrabin" (those +near Allah) being the Cherubim, and the Creator causing Iblis to draw +near Him (karraba). + +[FN#528] A vulgar version of the Koran (chaps. vii.), which seems to +have borrowed from the Gospel of Barnabas. Hence Adam becomes a manner +of God-man. + +[FN#529] These wild fables are caricatures of Rabbinical legends which +began with "Lilith," the Spirit-wife of Adam: Nature and her +counterpart, Physis and Antiphysis, supply a solid basis for folk-lore. +Amongst the Hindus we have Brahma (the Creator) and Viswakarmα, the +anti-Creator: the former makes a horse and a bull and the latter +caricatures them with an ass and a buffalo, and so forth. + +[FN#530] This is the "Lauh al-Mahfϊz," the Preserved Tablet, upon which +are written all Allah's decrees and the actions of mankind good (white) +and evil (black). This is the "perspicuous Book" of the Koran, chaps. +vi. 59. The idea again is Guebre. + +[FN#531] i.e. the night before Friday which in Moslem parlance would be +Friday night. + +[FN#532] Again Persian "Gαw-i-Zamνn" = the Bull of the Earth. + + +"The cosmogony of the world," etc., as we read in the Vicar of + + +Wakefield. + + + +[FN#533] The Calc. Edit. ii. 614. here reads by a clerical error +"bull." + +[FN#534] i.e. Lakes and rivers. + +[FN#535] Here some abridgement is necessary, for we have another +recital of what has been told more than once. + +[FN#536] This name, "King of Life," is Persian: "Tegh" or "Tigh" means +a scimitar and "Bahrwαn," is, I conceive, a mistake for "Bihrϊn," the +Persian name of Alexander the Great. + +[FN#537] Arab. "Mulαkαt" or meeting the guest which, I have said, is an +essential part of Eastern ceremony, the distance from the divan, room, +house or town being proportioned to his rank or consideration. + +[FN#538] Arab. "Sifr": whistling is held by the Badawi to be the speech +of devils; and the excellent explorer Burckhardt got a bad name by the +ugly habit. + +[FN#539] The Arabs call "Shikk" (split man) and the Persians +"Nνmchahrah" (half-face) a kind of demon like a man divided +longitudinally: this gruesome creature runs with amazing speed and is +very cruel and dangerous. For the celebrated soothsayers "Shikk" and +"Sαtih" see Chenery's Al-Hariri, p. 371. + +[FN#540] Arab. "Takht" (Persian) = a throne or a capital. + +[FN#541] Arab. "Wady al-Naml"; a reminiscence of the Koranic Wady +(chaps. xxvii.), which some place in Syria and others in Tαif. + +[FN#542] This is the old, old fable of the River Sabbation which + + +Pliny ((xxx). 18) reports as "drying up every Sabbath-day" + + +(Saturday): and which Josephus reports as breaking the Sabbath by + + +flowing only on the Day of Rest. + + + +[FN#543] They were keeping the Sabbath. When lodging with my Israelite +friends at Tiberias and Safet, I made a point of never speaking to them +(after the morning salutation) till the Saturday was over. + +[FN#544] Arab. "La'al" and "Yαkϊt," the latter also applied to the +garnet and to a variety of inferior stones. The ruby is supposed by +Moslems to be a common mineral thoroughly "cooked" by the sun, and +produced only on the summits of mountains inaccessible even to +Alpinists. The idea may have originated from exaggerated legends of the +Badakhshαn country (supposed to be the home of the ruby) and its +terrors of break-neck foot-paths, jagged peaks and horrid ravines: +hence our "balas-ruby" through the Spanish corruption "Balaxe." +Epiphanius, archbishop of Salamis in Cyprus, who died A.D. 403, gives, +m a little treatise (De duodecim gemmis rationalis summi sacerdotis +Hebrζorum Liber, opera Fogginii, Romae, 1743, p. 30), a precisely +similar description of the mode of finding jacinths in Scythia. "In a +wilderness in the interior of Great Scythia," he writes, "there is a +valley begirt with stony mountains as with walls. It is inaccessible to +man, and so excessively deep that the bottom of the valley is invisible +from the top of the surrounding mountains. So great is the darkness +that it has the effect of a kind of chaos. To this place certain +criminals are condemned, whose task it is to throw down into the valley +slaughtered lambs, from which the skin has been first taken off. The +little stones adhere to these pieces of flesh. Thereupon the eagles, +which live on the summits of the mountains, fly down following the +scent of the flesh, and carry away the lambs with the stones adhering +to them. They, then, who are condemned to this place watch until the +eagles have finished their meal, and run and take away the stones." +Epiphanius, who wrote this, is spoken of in terms of great respect by +many ecclesiastical writers, and St. Jerome styles the treatise here +quoted, "Egregium volumen, quod si legere volueris, plenissimam +scientiam consequeris ," and, indeed, it is by no means improbable that +it was from the account of Epiphanius that this story was first +translated into Arabic. A similar account is given by Marco Polo and by +Nicolς de Conti, as of a usage which they had heard was practiced in +India, and the position ascribed to the mountain by Conti, namely, +fifteen days' journey north of Vijanagar, renders it highly probable +that Golconda was alluded to. He calls the mountain Albenigaras, and +says that it was infested with serpents. Marco Polo also speaks of +these serpents, and while his account agrees with that of Sindbad, +inasmuch as the serpents, which are the prey of Sindbad's Rukh, are +devoured by the Venetian's eagles, that of Conti makes the vultures and +eagles fly away with the meat to places where they may be safe from the +serpents. (Introd. p. xiii., India in the Fifteenth Century, etc., R. +H. Major, London, Hakluyt Soc. MDCCCLVII.) + +[FN#545] Elder Victory: "Nasr" is a favourite name with Moslems. + +[FN#546] These are the "Swan-maidens" of whom Europe in late years has +heard more than enough. It appears to me that we go much too far for an +explanation of the legend; a high-bred girl is so like a swan in many +points that the idea readily suggests itself. And it is also aided by +the old Egyptian (and Platonic) belief in pre-existence and by the +Rabbinic and Buddhistic doctrine of ante-natal sin, to say nothing of +metempsychosis. (Joseph Ant. xvii.. 153.) + +[FN#547] The lines have occurred before. I quote Mr. Payne for variety. + +[FN#548] Arab. "Al-Khayαl": it is a synonym of "al-Tayf' and the +nearest approach to our "ghost," as has been explained. In poetry it is +the figure of the beloved seen when dreaming. + +[FN#549] He does not kiss her mouth because he intends to marry her. + +[FN#550] It should be "manifest" excellence. (Koran xxvii. 16.) + +[FN#551] The phrase is Koranic used to describe Paradise, and Damascus +is a familiar specimen of a city under which a river, the Baradah, +passes, distributed into a multitude of canals. + +[FN#552] It may be noted that rose-water is sprinkled on the faces of +the "nobility and gentry, " common water being good enough for the +commonalty. I have had to drink tea made in compliment with rose-water +and did not enjoy it. + +[FN#553] The "Valley Flowery:" Zahrαn is the name of a place near + + +Al-Medinah. + + + +[FN#554] The Proud or Petulant. + +[FN#555] i.e. Lion, Son of ( ?). + +[FN#556] i.e. Many were slain. + +[FN#557] I venture to draw attention to this battle-picture which is at +once simple and highly effective. + +[FN#558] Anglicθ a quibble, evidently evasive. + +[FN#559] In text "Anα A'amil," etc., a true Egypto-Syrian vulgarism. + +[FN#560] i.e. magical formulζ. The context is purposely left vague. + +[FN#561] The repetition is a condescension, a token of kindness. + +[FN#562] This is the common cubic of 18 inches: the modern vary from 22 +to 26. + +[FN#563] I have noticed the two-humped Bactrian camel which the Syrians +and Egyptians compare with an elephant. See p. 221 (the neo-Syrian) +Book of Kalilah and Dimnah. + +[FN#564] The Noachian dispensation revived the Islam or true religion +first revealed to Adam and was itself revived and reformed by Moses. + +[FN#565] Probably a corruption of the Turkish "Kara Tαsh" = black +stone, in Arab. "Hαjar Jahannam" (hell-stone), lava, basalt. + +[FN#566] A variant of lines in Night xx., vol. i., 211. + +[FN#567] i.e. Daughter of Pride: the proud. + +[FN#568] In the Calc. Edit. by misprint "Maktab." Jabal Mukattam is the +old sea-cliff where the Mediterranean once beat and upon whose +North-Western slopes Cairo is built. + +[FN#569] Arab. "Kutb"; lie. an axle, a pole; next a prince; a high +order or doyen in Sainthood especially amongst the Sufi-gnostics. + +[FN#570] Lit. "The Green" (Prophet), a mysterious personage confounded +with Elijah, St. George and others. He was a Moslem, i.e. a ewe +believer in the Islam of his day and Wazir to Kaykobad, founder of the +Kayanian dynasty, sixth century B.C. We have before seen him as a +contemporary of Moses. My learned friend Ch. Clermone-Ganneau traces +him back, with a multitude of his similars (Proteus, Perseus, etc.), to +the son of Osiris (p. 45, Horus et Saint Georges). + +[FN#571] Arab. "Waled," more ceremonious than "ibn." It is, by the by, +the origin of our "valet" in its sense of boy or servant who is +popularly addressed Yα waled. Hence I have seen in a French book of +travels "un petit Iavelet." + +[FN#572] Arab. "Azal" = Eternity (without beginning); "Abad" = + + +Infinity (eternity without end). + + + +[FN#573] The Moslem ritual for slaughtering (by cutting the throat) is +not so strict as that of the Jews; but it requires some practice; and +any failure in the conditions renders the meat impure, mere carrion +(fatνs). + +[FN#574] The Wazir repeats all the words spoken by the Queen—but "in +iteration there is no recreation." + +[FN#575] A phrase always in the Moslem's mouth: the slang meaning of +"we put our trust in Allah" is "let's cut our stick." + +[FN#576] Koran liii. 14. This "Sidrat al-Muntahα" (Zizyphus lotus) +stands m the seventh heaven on the right hand of Allah's throne: and +even the angels may not pass beyond it. + +[FN#577] Arab. "Habash" the word means more than "Abyssinia" as it +includes the Dankali Country and the sea-board, a fact unknown to the +late Lord Stratford de Redcliffe when he disputed with the Porte. I +ventured to set him right and suffered accordingly. + +[FN#578] Here ends vol. ii. of the Mac. Edit. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 5, by Richard F. Burton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT *** + +***** This file should be named 3439-0.txt or 3439-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/3/3439/ + +This etext was scanned by J.C. Byers and proofread by Doris Ringbloom. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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