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diff --git a/3441-h/3441-h.htm b/3441-h/3441-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7a57b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/3441-h/3441-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,16969 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 7, by Richard F. Burton</title> + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; +margin-right: 20%; +text-align: justify } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; +margin-top: 0.6em; +margin-bottom: 0.6em; +letter-spacing: 0.12em; +word-spacing: 0.2em; +text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 175%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} +h3 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; +margin-top: 0.25em; +margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p.center {text-align: center; +text-indent: 0em; +margin-top: 1em; +margin-bottom: 1em; } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + + +.ph2, .ph3,.ph4, .ph5 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } +.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } +.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } +.ph4,.ph5 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2,h3 {page-break-before: avoid;} + </style> + </head> + <body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold;'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 7, by Richard F. Burton</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 7</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Richard F. Burton</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Release Date: July 27, 2001 [eBook #3441]<br /> +[Most recently updated: May 16, 2021]</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: This etext was scanned by JC Byers and proofread by Nancy Bloomquist, +J.C. Byers, Muhammad Hozien, Carrie Lorenz, Laura Shaffer, Sara Vazirian, +and Charles Wilson. +Revised by Richard Tonsing.</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS ***</div> + + + + +<h1>THE BOOK OF THE<br /> THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT<br /><br /> +<span class='ph4'>A Plain and Literal Translation<br /> +of the Arabian Nights Entertainments</span></h1> + +<div class='ph2'>Translated and Annotated by<br /> Richard F. Burton </div> + +<div class='ph3'>VOLUME SEVEN</div> + +<div class='ph5'>Privately Printed By The Burton Club</div> + +<p> + I Inscribe these pages<br /> + + to<br /> + + An Old And Valued Friend,<br /> +</p> + +<p> + John W. Larking<br /> + + (Whilome of Alexandria).<br /> +</p> + +<p> + In Whose Hospitable Home (“The Sycamores”) I Made My Final<br /> + + Preparations For A Pilgrimage To Meccah<br /> + + and El-Medinah.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +R. F. Burton +</p> + +<h2>Contents of the Seventh Volume</h2> + +<table summary="" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: auto"> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">The History of Gharib and His Brother Ajib (continued)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap02">138. Otbah and Rayya</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">139. Hind, Daughter of Al-Nu’man, and Al-Hajjaj</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">140. Khuzaymah Bin Bishr and Ikrimah Al-Fayyaz</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">141. Yunus the Scribe and the Caliph Walid Bin Sahl</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap06">142. Harun Al-Rashid and the Arab Girl</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap07">143. Al-Asma’i and the Three Girls of Bassorah</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap08">144. Ibrahim of Mosul and the Devil</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap09">145. The Lovers of the Banu Uzrah</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap10">146. The Badawi and His Wife</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap11">147. The Lovers of Bassorah</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap12">148. Ishak of Mosul and His Mistress and the Devil</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap13">149. The Lovers of Al-Medinah</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap14">150. Al-Malik Al-Nasir and His Wazir</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap15">151. The Rogueries of Dalilah the Crafty and Her Daughter Zaynab the Coney-Catcher</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap16">a. The Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap17">152. Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap18">153. Julnar the Sea-Born and Her Son King Badr Basim of Persia</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap19">154. King Mohammed Bin Sabaik and the Merchant Hasan</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap20">a. Story of Prince Sayf Al-Muluk and the Princess Badi’a Al-Jamal</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2> +The Book Of The<br /> +THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT<br /> +</h2> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p class="center"> +<a name="chap01"></a>When it was the Six Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +Shahrazad continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sa’adan having +broken into the palace of King Jamak and pounded to pieces those therein, the +survivors cried out, “Quarter! Quarter!”; and Sa’adan said to them, “Pinion +your King!” So they bound Jamak and took him up, and Sa’adan drove them before +him like sheep and brought them to Gharib’s presence, after the most part of +the citizens had perished by the enemy’s swords. When the King of Babel came to +himself, he found himself bound and heard Sa’adan say, “I will sup to-night off +this King Jamak:” whereupon he turned to Gharib and cried to him, “I throw +myself on thy mercy.” Replied Gharib, “Become a Moslem, and thou shalt be safe +from the Ghul and from the vengeance of the Living One who ceaseth not.” So +Jamak professed Al-Islam with heart and tongue and Gharib bade loose his bonds. +Then he expounded The Faith to his people and they all became True Believers; +after which Jamak returned to the city and despatched thence provaunt and +henchmen to Gharib; and wine to the camp before Babel where they passed the +night. On the morrow, Gharib gave the signal for the march and they fared on +till they came to Mayyáfárikín,[FN#1] which they found empty, for its people +had heard what had befallen Babel and had fled to Cufa-city and told Ajib. When +he heard the news, his Doom-day appeared to him and he assembled his braves and +informing them of the enemy’s approach ordered them make ready to do battle +with his brother’s host; after which he numbered them and found them thirty +thousand horse and ten thousand foot.[FN#2] So, needing more, he levied other +fifty thousand men, cavalry and infantry, and taking horse amid a mighty host, +rode forwards, till he came upon his brother’s army encamped before Mosul and +pitched his tents in face of their lines. Then Gharib wrote a writ and said to +his officers, “Which of you will carry this letter to Ajib?” Whereupon Sahim +sprang to his feet and cried, “O King of the Age, I will bear thy missive and +bring thee back an answer.” So Gharib gave him the epistle and he repaired to +the pavilion of Ajib who, when informed of his coming, said, “Admit him!” and +when he stood in the presence asked him, “Whence comest thou?” Answered Sahim, +“From the King of the Arabs and the Persians, son-in-law of Chosroë, King of +the world, who sendeth thee a writ; so do thou return him a reply.” Quoth Ajib, +“Give me the letter;” accordingly Sahim gave it to him and he tore it open and +found therein, “In the name of Allah the Compassionating, the Compassionate! +Peace on Abraham the Friend await! But afterwards. As soon as this letter shall +come to thy hand, do thou confess the Unity of the Bountiful King, Causer of +causes and Mover of the clouds;[FN#3] and leave worshipping idols. An thou do +this thing, thou art my brother and ruler over us and I will pardon thee the +deaths of my father and mother, nor will I reproach thee with what thou hast +done. But an thou obey not my bidding, behold, I will hasten to thee and cut +off thy head and lay waste thy dominions. Verily, I give thee good counsel, and +the Peace be on those who pace the path of salvation and obey the Most High +King!” When Ajib read these words and knew the threat they contained, his eyes +sank into the crown of his head and he gnashed his teeth and flew into a +furious rage. Then he tore the letter in pieces and threw it away, which vexed +Sahim and he cried out upon Ajib, saying, “Allah wither thy hand for the deed +thou hast done!” With this Ajib cried out to his men, saying, “Seize yonder +hound and hew him in pieces with your hangers.”[FN#4] So they ran at Sahim; +but he bared blade and fell upon them and slew of them more than fifty braves; +after which he cut his way out, though bathed in blood, and won back to Gharib, +who said, “What is this case, O Sahim?” And he told him what had passed, +whereat he grew livid for rage and crying “Allaho Akbar God is most great!” +bade the battle-drums beat. So the fighting-men donned their hauberks and coats +of straitwoven mail and baldrick’d themselves with their swords; the footmen +drew out in battle-array, whilst the horsemen mounted their prancing horses and +dancing camels and levelled their long lances, and the champions rushed into +the field. Ajib and his men also took horse and host charged down upon host. — +And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib and his +merry men took horse, Ajib and his troops also mounted and host charged down +upon host. Then ruled the Kazi of Battle, in whose ordinance is no wrong, for a +seal is on his lips and he speaketh not; and the blood railed in rills and +purfled earth with curious embroidery; heads grew gray and hotter waxed battle +and fiercer. Feet slipped and stood firm the valiant and pushed forwards, +whilst turned the faint-heart and fled, nor did they leave fighting till the +day darkened and the night starkened. Then clashed the cymbals of retreat and +the two hosts drew apart each from other, and returned to their tents, where +they nighted. Next morning, as soon as it was day, the cymbals beat to battle +and derring-do, and the warriors donned their harness of fight and +baldrick’d[FN#5] their blades the brightest bright and with the brown lance +bedight mounted doughty steed every knight and cried out, saying, “This day no +flight!” And the two hosts drew out in battle array, like the surging sea. The +first to open the chapter[FN#6] of war was Sahim, who drave his destrier +between the two lines and played with swords and spears and turned over all the +Capitula of combat till men of choicest wits were confounded. Then he cried +out, saying, “Who is for fighting? Who is for jousting? Let no sluggard come +out nor weakling!” Whereupon there rushed at him a horseman of the Kafirs, as +he were a flame of fire; but Sahim let him not stand long before him ere he +overthrew him with a thrust. Then a second came forth and he slew him also, and +a third and he tare him in twain, and a fourth and he did him to death; nor did +they cease sallying out to him and he left not slaying them, till it was noon, +by which time he had laid low two hundred braves. Then Ajib cried to his men, +“Charge once more,” and sturdy host on sturdy host down bore and great was the +clash of arms and battle-roar. The shining swords out rang; the blood in +streams ran and footman rushed upon footman; Death showed in van and horse-hoof +was shodden with skull of man; nor did they cease from sore smiting till waned +the day and the night came on in black array, when they drew apart and, +returning to their tents, passed the night there. As soon as morning morrowed +the two hosts mounted and sought the field of fight; and the Moslems looked for +Gharib to back steed and ride under the standards as was his wont, but he came +not. So Sahim sent to his brother’s pavilion a slave who, finding him not, +asked the tent-pitchers,[FN#7] but they answered, “We know naught of him.” +Whereat he was greatly concerned and went forth and told the troops, who +refrained from battle, saying, “An Gharib be absent, his foe will destroy us.” +Now there was for Gharib’s absence a cause strange but true which we will set +out in order due. And it was thus. When Ajib returned to his camp on the +preceding Night, he called one of his guardsmen by name Sayyar and said to him, +“O Sayyar, I have not treasured thee save for a day like this; and now I bid +thee enter among Gharib’s host and, pushing into the marquee of their lord, +bring him hither to me and prove how wily thy cunning be.” And Sayyar said, “I +hear and I obey.” So he repaired to the enemy’s camp and stealing into Gharib’s +pavilion, under the darkness of the night, when all the men had gone to their +places of rest, stood up as though he were a slave to serve Gharib, who +presently, being athirst, called to him for water. So he brought him a pitcher +of water, drugged with Bhang, and Gharib could not fulfill his need ere he fell +down with head distancing heels, whereupon Sayyar wrapped him in his cloak and +carrying him to Ajib’s tent, threw him down at his feet. Quoth Ajib, “O Sayyar, +what is this?” Quoth he, “This be thy brother Gharib;” whereat Ajib rejoiced +and said, “The blessings of the Idols light upon thee! Loose him and wake him.” +So they made him sniff up vinegar and he came to himself and opened his eyes; +then, finding himself bound and in a tent other than his own, exclaimed, “There +is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious the Great!” +Thereupon Ajib cried out at him, saying, “Dost thou draw on me, O dog, and seek +to slay me and take on me thy blood-wreak of thy father and thy mother? I will +send thee this very day to them and rid the world of thee.” Replied Gharib, +“Kafir hound! soon shalt thou see against whom the wheels of fate shall revolve +and who shall be overthrown by the wrath of the Almighty King, Who wotteth what +is in hearts and Who shall leave thee in Gehenna tormented and confounded! Have +ruth on thyself and say with me:—There is no god but <i>the</i> God and Abraham is +the Friend of God!” When Ajib heard Gharib’s words, he snarked and snorted +and railed at his god, the stone, and called for the sworder and the leather +rug of blood but his Wazir, who was at heart a Moslem though outwardly a +Miscreant, rose and kissing ground before him, said, “Patience, O King, deal +not hastily, but wait till we know the conquered from the conqueror. If we +prove the victors, we shall have power to kill him and, if we be beaten, his +being alive in our hands will be a strength to us.” And the Emirs said, “The +Minister speaketh sooth”!——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ajib purposed +to slay Gharib, the Wazir rose and said, “Deal not hastily, for we have always +power to kill him!” So Ajib bade lay his brother Gharib in irons and chain him +up in his own tent and set a thousand stout warriors to guard him. Meanwhile +Gharib’s host, when they awoke that morning and found not their King, were as +sheep sans a shepherd; but Sa’adan the Ghul cried out at them, saying, “O folk, +don your war-gear and trust to your Lord to defend you!” So Arabs and Ajams +mounted horse, after clothing themselves in hauberks of iron and shirting +themselves in straight knit mail, and sallied forth to the field, the Chiefs +and the colours moving in van. Then dashed out the Ghul of the Mountain, with a +club on his shoulder, two hundred pounds in weight, and wheeled and careered, +saying, “Ho, worshippers of idols, come ye out and renown it this day, for ’tis +a day of onslaught! Whoso knoweth me hath enough of my mischief and whoso +knoweth me not, I will make myself known to him. I am Sa’adan, servant of King +Gharib. Who is for jousting? Who is for fighting? Let no faint-heart come forth +to me to-day or weakling.” And there rushed upon him a Champion of the +Infidels, as he were a flame of fire, and drove at him, but Sa’adan charged +home at him and dealt him with his club a blow which broke his ribs and cast +him lifeless to the earth. Then he called out to his sons and slaves, saying, +“Light the bonfire, and whoso falleth of the Kafirs do ye dress him and roast +him well in the flame, then bring him to me that I may break my fast on him!” +So they kindled a fire midmost the plain and laid thereon the slain, till he +was cooked, when they brought him to Sa’adan, who gnawed his flesh and crunched +his bones. When the Miscreants saw the Mountain-Ghul do this deed they were +affrighted with sore affright, but Ajib cried out to his men, saying, “Out on +you! Fall upon the Ogre and hew him in hunks with your scymitars!” So twenty +thousand men ran at Sa’adan, whilst the footmen circled round him and rained +upon him darts and shafts so that he was wounded in four- and-twenty places, and +his blood ran down upon the earth, and he was alone. Then the host of the +Moslems drave at the heathenry, calling for help upon the Lord of the three +Worlds, and they ceased not from fight and fray till the day came to an end, +when they drew apart. But the Infidels had captured Sa’adan, as he were a +drunken man for loss of blood; and they bound him fast and set him by Gharib +who, seeing the Ghul a prisoner, said, “There is no Majesty and there is no +Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! O Sa’adan, what case is this?” “O +my lord,” replied Sa’adan, “it is Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) who +ordaineth joy and annoy and there is no help but this and that betide.” And +Gharib rejoined, “Thou speakest sooth, O Sa’adan!” But Ajib passed the night in +joy and he said to his men, “Mount ye on the morrow and fall upon the Moslems +so shall not one of them be left alive.” And they replied, “Hearkening and +obedience!” This is how it fared with them; but as regards the Moslems, they +passed the night, dejected and weeping for their King and Sa’adan; but Sahim +said to them, “O folk, be not concerned, for the aidance of Almighty Allah is +nigh.” Then he waited till midnight, when he assumed the garb of a +tent-pitcher; and, repairing to Ajib’s camp, made his way between the tents and +pavilions till he came to the King’s marquee, where he saw him seated on his +throne surrounded by his Princes. So he entered and going up to the candles +which burnt in the tent snuffed them and sprinkled levigated henbane on the +wicks; after which he withdrew and waited without the marquee, till the smoke +of the burning henbane reached Ajib and his Princes and they fell to the ground +like dead men. Then he left them and went to the prison tent, where he found +Gharib and Sa’adan, guarded by a thousand braves, who were overcome with sleep. +So he cried out at the guards, saying, “Woe to you! Sleep not; but watch your +prisoners and light the cressets.” Presently he filled a cresset with firewood, +on which he strewed henbane, and lighting it, went round about the tent with +it, till the smoke entered the nostrils of the guards, and they all fell asleep +drowned by the drug; when he entered the tent and finding Gharib and Sa’adan +also insensible he aroused them by making them smell and sniff at a sponge full +of vinegar he had with him. Thereupon he loosed their bonds and collars, and +when they saw him, they blessed him and rejoiced In him. After this they went +forth and took all the arms of the guards and Sahim said to them, “Go to your +own camp;” while he re-entered Ajib’s pavilion and, wrapping him in his cloak, +lifted him up and made for the Moslem encampment. And the Lord, the +Compassionate, protected him, so that he reached Gharib’s tent in safety and +unrolled the cloak before him. Gharib looked at its contents and seeing his +brother Ajib bound, cried out, “Allaho Akbar—God is Most Great! Aidance! +Victory!” And he blessed Sahim and bade him arouse Ajib. So he made him smell +the vinegar mixed with incense, and he opened his eyes and, finding himself +bound and shackled, hung down his head earthwards.——And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Fortieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after Sahim had aroused +Ajib, whom he had made insensible with henbane and had brought to his brother +Gharib, the captive opened his eyes and, feeling himself bound and shackled, +hung down his head earthwards. Thereupon cried Sahim, “O Accursed, lift thy +head!” So he raised his eyes and found himself amongst Arabs and Ajams and saw +his brother seated on the throne of his estate and the place of his power, +wherefore he was silent and spake not. Then Gharib cried out and said, “Strip +me this hound!” So they stripped him and came down upon him with whips, till +they weakened his body and subdued his pride, after which Gharib set over him a +guard of an hundred knights. And when this fraternal correction had been +administered they heard shouts of, “There is no God but <i>the</i> God!” and “God is +Most Great!” from the camp of the Kafirs. Now the cause of this was that, ten +days after his nephew King Al-Damigh, Gharib’s uncle, had set out from +Al-Jazirah, with twenty thousand horse, and on nearing the field of battle, had +despatched one of his scouts to get news. The man was absent a whole day, at +the end of which time he returned and told Al-Damigh all that had happened to +Gharib with his brother. So he waited till the night, when he fell upon the +Infidels, crying out, “Allaho Akbar!” and put them to the edge of the biting +scymitar. When Gharib heard the Takbir,[FN#8] he said to Sahim, “Go find out +the cause of these shouts and war-cries.” So Sahim repaired to the field of +battle and questioned the slaves and camp followers, who told him that King +Al-Damigh had come up with twenty thousand men and had fallen upon the +idolaters by night, saying, “By the virtue of Abraham the Friend, I will not +forsake my brother’s son, but will play a brave man’s part and beat back the +host of Miscreants and please the Omnipotent King!” So Sahim returned and told +his uncle’s derring-do to Gharib, who cried out to his men, saying, “Don your +arms and mount your steeds and let us succour my father’s brother!” So they +took horse and fell upon the Infidels and put them to the edge of the sharp +sword. By the morning they had killed nigh fifty thousand of the Kafirs and +made other thirty thousand prisoners, and the rest of Ajib’s army dispersed +over the length and breadth of earth. Then the Moslems returned in victory and +triumph, and Gharib rode out to meet his uncle, whom he saluted and thanked for +his help. Quoth Al-Damigh, “I wonder if that dog Ajib fell in this day’s +affair.” Quoth Gharib, “O uncle, be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and +clear: know that he is with me in chains.” When Al-Damigh heard this he +rejoiced with exceeding joy and the two kings dismounted and entered the +pavilion, but found no Ajib there; whereupon Gharib exclaimed, “O glory of +Abraham, the Friend (with whom be peace!),” adding, “Alas, what an ill end is +this to a glorious day!” and he cried out to the tent-pitchers, saying, “Woe to +you! Where is my enemy who oweth me so much?” Quoth they, “When thou mountest +and we went with thee, thou didst not bid us guard him;” and Gharib exclaimed, +“There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the +Great!” But Al-Damigh said to him, “Hasten not nor be concerned, for where can +he go, and we in pursuit of him?” Now the manner of Ajib’s escape was in this +wise. His page Sayyar had been ambushed in the camp and when he saw Gharib +mount and ride forth, leaving none to guard his enemy Ajib, he could hardly +credit his eyes. So he waited awhile and presently crept to the tent and taking +Ajib, who was senseless for the pain of the bastinado, on his back, made off +with him into the open country and fared on at the top of his speed from early +night to the next day, till he came to a spring of water, under an apple tree. +There he set down Ajib from his back and washed his face, whereupon he opened +his eyes and seeing Sayyar, said to him, “O Sayyar, carry me to Cufa that I may +recover there and levy horsemen and soldiers wherewith to overthrow my foe: and +know, O Sayyar, that I am anhungered.” So Sayyar sprang up and going out to the +desert caught an ostrich-poult and brought it to his lord. Then he gathered +fuel and deftly using the fire-sticks kindled a fire, by which he roasted the +bird which he had hallal’d[FN#9] and fed Ajib with its flesh and gave him to +drink of the water of the spring, till his strength returned to him, after +which he went to one of the Badawi tribal encampments, and stealing thence a +steed mounted Ajib upon it and journeyed on with him for many days till they +drew near the city of Cufa. The Viceroy of the capital came out to meet and +salute the King, whom he found weak with the beating his brother had inflicted +upon him; and Ajib entered the city and called his physicians. When they +answered his summons, he bade them heal him in less than ten days’ time: they +said, “We hear and we obey,” and they tended him till he became whole of the +sickness that was upon him and of the punishment. Then he commanded his Wazirs +to write letters to all his Nabobs and vassals, and he indited one- and-twenty +writs and despatched them to the governors, who assembled their troops and set +out for Cufa by forced marches.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ajib sent orders to +assemble the troops, who marched forthright to Cufa. Meanwhile, Gharib, being +troubled for Ajib’s escape, despatched in quest of him a thousand braves, who +dispersed on all sides and sought him a day and a night, but found no trace of +him; so they returned and told Gharib, who called for his brother Sahim, but +found him not; whereat he was sore concerned, fearing for him from the shifts +of Fortune. And lo! Sahim entered and kissed ground before Gharib, who rose, +when he saw him, and asked, “Where hast thou been, O Sahim?” He answered, “O +King, I have been to Cufa and there I find that the dog Ajib hath made his way +to his capital and is healed of his hurts: eke, he hath written letters to his +vassals and sent them to his Nabobs who have brought him troops.” When Gharib +heard this, he gave the command to march; so they struck tents and fared for +Cufa. When they came in sight of the city, they found it compassed about with a +host like the surging main, having neither beginning nor end. So Gharib with +his troops encamped in face of the Kafirs and set up his standards, and +darkness fell down upon the two hosts, whereupon they lighted camp-fires and +kept watch till daybreak. Then King Gharib rose and making the Wuzu-ablution, +prayed a two-bow prayer according to the rite of our father Abraham the Friend +(on whom be the Peace!); after which he commanded the battle-drums to sound the +point of war. Accordingly, the kettle-drums beat to combat and the standards +fluttered whilst the fighting men armour donned and their horses mounted and +themselves displayed and to plain fared. Now the first to open the gate of war +was King Al-Damigh, who urged his charger between the two opposing armies and +displayed himself and played with the swords and the spears, till both hosts +were confounded and at him marvelled, after which he cried out, saying, “Who is +for jousting? Let no sluggard come out to me or weakling; for I am Al-Damigh, +the King, brother of Kundamir the King.” Then there rushed forth a horseman of +the Kafirs, as he were a flame of fire, and drave at Al-Damigh, without word +said; but the King received him with a lance-thrust in the breast so dour that +the point issued from between his shoulders and Allah hurried his soul to the +fire, the abiding-place dire. Then came forth a second he slew, and a third he +slew likewise, and they ceased not to come out to him and he to slay them, till +he had made an end of six- and-seventy fighting men. Hereupon the Miscreants and +men of might hung back and would not encounter him; but Ajib cried out to his +men and said, “Fie on you, O folk! if ye all go forth to him, one by one, he +will not leave any of you, sitting or standing. Charge on him all at once and +cleanse of them our earthly wone and strew their heads for your horses’ hoofs +like a plain of stone!” So they waved the awe-striking flag and host was heaped +upon host; blood rained in streams upon earth and railed and the Judge of +battle ruled, in whose ordinance is no unright. The fearless stood firm on feet +in the stead of fight, whilst the faint-heart gave back and took to flight +thinking the day would never come to an end nor the curtains of gloom would be +drawn by the hand of Night; and they ceased not to battle with swords and to +smite till light darkened and murk starkened. Then the kettle-drums of the +Infidels beat the retreat, but Gharib, refusing to stay his arms, drave at the +Paynimry, and the Believers in Unity, the Moslems, followed him. How many heads +and hands they shore, how many necks and sinews they tore, how many knees and +spines they mashed and how many grown men and youths they to death bashed! With +the first gleam of morning grey the Infidels broke and fled away, in disorder +and disarray; and the Moslems followed them till middle-day and took over +twenty thousand of them, whom they brought to their tents in bonds to stay. +Then Gharib sat down before the gate of Cufa and commanded a herald to proclaim +pardon and protection for every wight who should leave the worship to idols +dight and profess the unity of His All-might the Creator of mankind and of +light and night. So was made proclamation as he bade in the streets of Cufa and +all that were therein embraced the True Faith, great and small; then they +issued forth in a body and renewed their Islam before King Gharib, who rejoiced +in them with exceeding joy and his breast broadened and he threw off all annoy. +Presently he enquired of Mardas and his daughter Mahdiyah, and, being told that +he had taken up his abode behind the Red Mountain, he called Sahim and said to +him, “Find out for me what is become of thy father.” Sahim mounted steed +without stay or delay and set his berry-brown spear in rest and fared on in +quest till he reached the Red Mountain, where he sought for his father, yet +found no trace of him nor of his tribe; however, he saw in their stead an elder +of the Arabs, a very old man, broken with excess of years, and asked him of the +folk and whither they were gone. Replied he, “O my son, when Mardas heard of +Gharib’s descent upon Cufa he feared with great fear and, taking his daughter +and his folk, set out with his handmaids and negroes into the wild and wold, +and I wot not whither he went.” So Sahim, hearing the Shaykh’s words, returned +to Gharib and told him thereof, whereat he was greatly concerned. Then he sat +down on his father’s throne and, opening his treasuries, distributed largesse +to each and every of his braves. And he took up his abode in Cufa and sent out +spies to get news of Ajib. He also summoned the Grandees of the realm, who came +and did him homage; as also did the citizens and he bestowed on them sumptuous +robes of honour and commended the Ryots to their care.——And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Gharib, after giving +robes of honour to the citizens of Cufa and commending the Ryots to their care, +went out on a day of the days to hunt, with an hundred horse, and fared on till +he came to a Wady, abounding in trees and fruits and rich in rills and birds. +It was a pasturing-place for roes and gazelles, to the spirit a delight whose +scents reposed from the langour of fight. They encamped in the valley, for the +day was clear and bright, and there passed the night. On the morrow, Gharib made +the Wuzu-ablution and prayed the two-bow dawn-prayer, offering up praise and +thanks to Almighty Allah; when, lo and behold! there arose a clamour and +confusion in the meadows, and he bade Sahim go see what was to do. So Sahim +mounted forthright and rode till he espied goods being plundered and horses +haltered and women carried off and children crying out. Whereupon he questioned +one of the shepherds, saying, “What be all this?”; and they replied, “This is +the Harim of Mardas, Chief of the Banu Kahtan, and his good and that of his +clan; for yesterday Jamrkan slew Mardas and made prize of his women and +children and household stuff and all the belonging of his tribe. It is his wont +to go a-raiding and to cut off highways and waylay wayfarers and he is a +furious tyrant; neither Arabs nor Kings can prevail against him and he is the +scourge and curse of the country.” Now when Sahim heard these news of his +sire’s slaughter and the looting of his Harim and property, he returned to +Gharib and told him the case, wherefore fire was added to his fire and his +spirit chafed to wipe out his shame and his blood-wit to claim: so he rode with +his men after the robbers till he overtook them and fell upon them, crying out +and saying, “Almighty Allah upon the rebel, the traitor, the infidel!” and he +slew in a single charge one- and-twenty fighting-men. Then he halted in +mid-field, with no coward’s heart, and cried out, “Where is Jamrkan? Let him +come out to me, that I may make him quaff the cup of disgrace and rid of him +earth’s face!” Hardly had he made an end of speaking, when forth rushed +Jamrkan, as he were a calamity of calamities or a piece of a mountain, cased in +steel. He was a mighty huge[FN#10] Amalekite; and he drave at Gharib without +speech or salute, like the fierce tyrant he was. And he was armed with a mace +of China steel, so heavy, so potent, that had he smitten a hill he had smashed +it. Now when he charged, Gharib met him like a hungry lion, and the brigand +aimed a blow at his head with his mace; but he evaded it and it smote the earth +and sank therein half a cubit deep. Then Gharib took his battle flail and +smiting Jamrkan on the wrist, crushed his fingers and the mace dropped from his +grasp; whereupon Gharib bent down from his seat in selle and snatching it up, +swiftlier than the blinding leven, smote him therewith full on the flat of the +ribs, and he fell to the earth like a long-stemmed palm-tree. So Sahim took him +and pinioning him, haled him off with a rope, and Gharib’s horsemen fell on +those of Jamrkan and slew fifty of them: the rest fled; nor did they cease +flying till they reached their tribal camp and raised their voices in clamour; +whereupon all who were in the Castle came out to meet them and asked the news. +They told the tribe what had passed; and, when they heard that their chief was +a prisoner, they set out for the valley vying one with other in their haste to +deliver him. Now when King Gharib had captured Jamrkan and had seen his braves +take flight, he dismounted and called for Jamrkan, who humbled himself before +him, saying, “I am under thy protection, O champion of the Age!” Replied +Gharib, “O dog of the Arabs, dost thou cut the road for the servants of +Almighty Allah, and fearest thou not the Lord of the Worlds?” “O my master,” +asked Jamrkan, “and who is the Lord of the Worlds?” “O dog,” answered Gharib, +“and what calamity dost thou worship?” He said, “O my lord, I worship a god +made of dates[FN#11] kneaded with butter and honey, and at times I eat him and +make me another.” When Gharib heard this, he laughed till he fell backwards and +said, “O miserable, there is none worship-worth save Almighty Allah, who +created thee and created all things and provideth all creatures with daily +bread, from whom nothing is hid and He over all things is Omnipotent.” Quoth +Jamrkan, “And where is this great god, that I may worship him?” Quoth Gharib, +“O fellow, know that this god’s name is Allah—<i>the</i> God—and it is He who +fashioned the heavens and the earth and garred the trees to grow and the waters +to flow. He created wild beasts and birds and Paradise and Hell-fire and +veileth Himself from all eyes seeing and of none being seen. He, and He only, +is the Dweller on high. Extolled be His perfection! There is no god but He!” +When Jamrkan heard these words, the ears of his heart were opened; his skin +shuddered with horripilation and he said, “O my lord, what shall I say that I +may become of you and that this mighty Lord may accept of me?” Replied Gharib, +“Say:—There is no god but <i>the</i> God and Abraham the Friend is the Apostle of +God!” So he pronounced the profession of the Faith and was written of the +people of felicity. Then quoth Gharib, “Say me, hast thou tasted the sweetness +of Al-Islam?”; and quoth the other, “Yes;” whereupon Gharib cried, “Loose his +bonds!” So they unbound him and he kissed ground before Gharib and his feet. +Now whilst this was going on, behold, they espied a great cloud of dust that +towered till it walled the word.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Jamrkan islamised and +kissed the ground between the hands of Gharib; and, as they were thus, behold, +a great cloud of dust towered till it walled the wold and Gharib said to Sahim, +“Go and see for us what it be.” So he went forth, like a bird in full flight, +and presently returned, saying, “O King of the Age, this dust is of the Banu +Amir, the comrades of Jamrkan.” Whereupon quoth Gharib to the new Moslem, “Ride +out to thy people and offer to them Al-Islam: an they profess, they shall be +saved; but, an they refuse, we will put them to the sword.” So Jamrkan mounted +and driving steed towards his tribesmen, cried out to them; and they knew him +and dismounting, came up to him on foot and said, “We rejoice in thy safety, O +our lord!” Said he, “O folk, whoso obeyeth me shall be saved; but whoso +gainsayeth me, I will cut him in twain with this scymitar.” And they made +answer, saying, “Command us what thou wilt, for we will not oppose thy +commandment.” Quoth he, “Then say with me:—There is no god but <i>the</i> God and +Abraham is the Friend of God!” They asked, “O our lord, whence haddest thou +these words?” And he told them what had befallen him with Gharib, adding, “O +folk, know ye not that I am your chief in battle-plain and where men of cut and +thrust are fain; and yet a man single-handed me to prisoner hath ta’en and made +me the cup of shame and disgrace to drain?” When they heard his speech, they +spoke the word of Unity and Jamrkan led them to Gharib, at whose hands they +renewed their profession of Al-Islam and wished him glory and victory, after +they had kissed the earth before him. Gharib rejoiced in them and said to them, +“O folk, return to your people and expound Al-Islam to them;” but all replied, +“O our lord, we will never leave thee, whilst we live; but we will go and fetch +our families and return to thee.” And Gharib said, “Go, and join me at the city +of Cufa.” So Jamrkan and his comrades returned to their tribal camp and offered +Al-Islam to their women and children, who all to a soul embraced the True +Faith, after which they dismantled their abodes and struck their tents and set +out for Cufa, driving before them their steeds, camels and sheep. During this +time Gharib returned to Cufa, where the horsemen met him in state. He entered +his palace and sat down on his sire’s throne with his champions ranged on +either hand. Then the spies came forwards, and informed him that his brother +Ajib had made his escape and had taken refuge with Jaland[FN#12] bin Karkar, +lord of the city of Oman and land of Al-Yaman; whereupon Gharib cried aloud to +his host, “O men, make you ready to march in three days.” Then he expounded +Al-Islam to the thirty thousand men he had captured in the first affair and +exhorted them to profess and take service with him. Twenty thousand embraced +the Faith, but the rest refused and he slew them. Then came forward Jamrkan and +his tribe and kissed the ground before Gharib, who bestowed on him a splendid +robe of honour and made him captain of his vanguard, saying, “O Jamrkan, mount +with the Chiefs of thy kith and kin and twenty thousand horse and fare on +before us to the land of Jaland bin Karkar.” “Hearkening and obedience,” +answered Jamrkan and, leaving the women and children of the tribe in Cufa, he +set forward. Then Gharib passed in review the Harim of Mardas and his eye lit +upon Mahdiyah, who was among the women, wherewith he fell down fainting. They +sprinkled rose-water on his face, till he came to himself, when he embraced +Mahdiyah and carried her into a sitting-chamber, where he sat with her; and +they twain lay together that night without fornication. Next morning he went +out and sitting down on the throne of his kingship, robed his uncle Al-Damigh +with a robe of honour; and appointed him his viceroy over all Al-Irak, +commending Mahdiyah to his care, till he should return from his expedition +against Ajib; and, when the order was accepted, he set out for the land of +Al-Yaman and the City of Oman with twenty thousand horse and ten thousand foot. +Now, when Ajib and his defeated army drew in sight of Oman, King Jaland saw the +dust of their approach and sent to find out its meaning, scouts who returned +and said, “Verily this is the dust of one hight Ajib, lord of Al-Irak.” And +Jaland wondered at his coming to his country and, when assured of the tidings, +he said to his officers, “Fare ye forth and meet him.” So they went out and met +him and pitched tents for him at the city-gate; and Ajib entered in to Jaland, +weeping-eyed and heavy-hearted. Now Jaland’s wife was the daughter of Ajib’s +paternal uncle and he had children by her; so, when he saw his kinsman in this +plight, he asked for the truth of what ailed him and Ajib told him all that had +befallen him, first and last, from his brother and said, “O King, Gharib +biddeth the folk worship the Lord of the Heavens and forbiddeth them from the +service of simulacres and other of the gods.” When Jaland heard these words he +raged and revolted and said, “By the virtue of the Sun, Lord of Life and Light, +I will not leave one of thy brother’s folk in existence! But where didst thou +quit them and how many men are they?” Answered Ajib, “I left them in Cufa and +they be fifty thousand horse.” Whereupon Jaland called his Wazir +Jawámard,[FN#13] saying, “Take thee seventy thousand horse and fare to Cufa and +bring me the Moslems alive, that I may torture them with all manner of +tortures.” So Jawamard departed with his host and fared through the first day +and the second till the seventh day, when he came to a Wady abounding in trees +and rills and fruits. Here he called a halt — And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Jaland sent +Jawamard with his army to Cufa, they came upon a Wady abounding in trees and +rills where a halt was called and they rested till the middle of the Night, +when the Wazir gave the signal for departure and mounting, rode on before them +till hard upon dawn, at which time he descended into a well-wooded valley, +whose flowers were fragrant and whose birds warbled on boughs, as they swayed +gracefully to and fro, and Satan blew into his sides and puffed him up with +pride and he improvised these couplets and cried, +</p> + +<p> +“I plunge with my braves in the seething sea; * Seize the foe in<br /> + + my strength and my valiancy;<br /> + +And the doughtiest knights wot me well to be * Friend to friend<br /> + + and fierce foe to mine enemy.<br /> + +I will load Gharib with the captive’s chains * Right soon, and<br /> + + return in all joy and glee;<br /> + +For I’ve donned my mail and my weapons wield * And on all sides<br /> + + charge at the chivalry.”[FN#14]<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Hardly had Jawamard made an end of his verses when there came out upon him from +among the trees a horseman of terrible mien covered and clad in steely sheen, +who cried out to him, saying, “Stand, O riff-raff of the Arabs! Doff thy dress +and ground thine arms-gear and dismount thy destrier and be off with thy +life!” When Jawamard heard this, the light in his eyes became darkest night and +he drew his sabre and drove at Jamrkan, for he it was, saying, “O thief of the +Arabs, wilt thou cut the road for me, who am captain of the host of Jaland bin +Karkar and am come to bring Gharib and his men in bond?” When Jamrkan heard +these words, he said, “How cooling is this to my heart and liver!” And he made +at Jawamard versifying in these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“I’m the noted knight in the field of fight, * Whose sabre and<br /> + + spear every foe affright!<br /> + +Jamrkan am I, to my foes a fear, * With a lance lunge known unto<br /> + + every knight:<br /> + +Gharib is my lord, nay my pontiff, my prince, * Where the two<br /> + + hosts dash very lion of might:<br /> + +An Imam of the Faith, pious, striking awe * On the plain where<br /> + + his foes like the fawn take flight;<br /> + +Whose voice bids folk to the faith of the Friend, * False,<br /> + + doubling idols and gods despite!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Now Jamrkan had fared on with his tribesmen ten days’ journey from Cufa city +and called a halt on the eleventh day till midnight, when he ordered a march +and rode on devancing them till he descended into the valley aforesaid and +heard Jawamard reciting his verses. So he drave at him as the driving of a +ravening lion, and smiting him with his sword, clove him in twain and waited +till his captains came up, when he told them what had passed and said to them, +“Take each of you five thousand men and disperse round about the Wady, whilst I +and the Banu Amir fall upon the enemy’s van, shouting, Allaho Akbar God is Most +Great! When ye hear my slogan, do ye charge them, crying like me upon the Lord, +and smite them with the sword.” “We hear and we obey,” answered they and +turning back to their braves did his bidding and spread themselves about the +sides of the valley in the twilight forerunning the dawn. Presently, lo and +behold! up came the army of Al-Yaman, like a flock of sheep, filling plain and +steep, and Jamrkan and the Banu Amir fell upon them, shouting, “Allaho Akbar!” +till all heard it, Moslems and Miscreants. Whereupon the True Believers +ambushed in the valley answered from every side and the hills and mountains +responsive cried and all things replied, green and dried, saying, “God is Most +Great! Aidance and Victory to us from on High! Shame to the Miscreants who His +name deny!” And the Kafirs were confounded and smote one another with sabres +keen whilst the True Believers and pious fell upon them like flames of fiery +sheen and naught was seen but heads flying and blood jetting and faint-hearts +hieing. By the time they could see one another’s faces, two-thirds of the +Infidels had perished and Allah hastened their souls to the fire and +abiding-place dire. The rest fled and to the deserts sped whilst the Moslems +pursued them to slay and take captives till middle-day, when they returned in +triumph with seven thousand prisoners; and but six and twenty thousand of the +Infidels escaped and the most of them wounded. Then the Moslems collected the +horses and arms, the loads and tents of the enemy and despatched them to Cufa +with an escort of a thousand horse;——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Jamrkan in his battle +with Jawamard slew him and slew his men; and, after taking many prisoners and +much money and many horses and loads, sent them with an escort of a thousand +riders, to Cufa city. Then he and the army of Al-Islam dismounted and expounded +The saving Faith to the prisoners, who made profession with heart and tongue; +whereupon they released them from bonds and embraced them and rejoiced in them. +Then Jamrkan made his troops, who had swelled to a mighty many, rest a day and +a night and marched with the dawn, intending to attack Jaland bin Karkar in the +city of Oman; whilst the thousand horse fared back to Cufa with the loot. When +they reached the city, they went in to King Gharib and told him what had +passed, whereat he rejoiced and gave them joy and, turning to the Ghul of the +Mountain, said, “Take horse with twenty thousand and follow Jamrkan.” So +Sa’adan and his sons mounted and set out, amid twenty thousand horse for Oman. +Meanwhile, the fugitives of the defeated Kafirs reached Oman and went in to +Jaland, weeping and crying, “Woe!” and “Ruin!” whereat he was confounded and +said to them, “What calamity hath befallen you?” So they told him what had +happened and he said, “Woe to you! How many men were they?” They replied, “O +King, there were twenty standards, under each a thousand men.” When Jaland +heard these words he said, “May the sun pour no blessing on you! Fie upon you! +What, shall twenty thousand overcome you, and you seventy thousand horse and +Jawamard able to withstand three thousand in field of fight?” Then, in the +excess of his rage and mortification, he bared his blade and cried out to those +who were present, saying, “Fall on them!” So the courtiers drew their swords +upon the fugitives and annihilated them to the last man and cast them to the +dogs. Then Jaland cried aloud to his son, saying, “Take an hundred thousand +horse and go to Al-Irak and lay it waste altogether.” Now this son’s name was +Kúraján and there was no doughtier knight in all the force; for he could charge +single-handed three thousand riders. So he and his host made haste to equip +themselves and marched in battle-array, rank following rank, with the Prince at +their head, glorying in himself and improvising these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“I’m Al-Kurajan, and my name is known * To beat all who in wold<br /> + + or in city wone!<br /> + +How many a soldier my sword at will * Struck down like a cow on<br /> + + the ground bestrown?<br /> + +How many a soldier I’ve forced to fly * And have rolled their<br /> + + heads as a ball is thrown?<br /> + +Now I’ll drive and harry the land Irak[FN#15] * And like rain<br /> + + I’ll shower the blood of fone;<br /> + +And lay hands on Gharib and his men, whose doom * To the wise a<br /> + + warning shall soon be shown!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +The host fared on twelve days’ journey and, while they were still marching, +behold, a great dust cloud arose before them and walled the horizon and the +whole region. So Kurajan sent out scouts, saying, “Go forth and bring me +tidings of what meaneth this dust.” They went till they passed under the +enemy’s standards and presently returning said, “O King, verily this is the +dust of the Moslems.” Whereat he was glad and said, “Did ye count them?” And +they answered, “We counted the colours and they numbered twenty.” Quoth he, “By +my faith, I will not send one man-at-arms against them, but will go forth to +them alone by myself and strew their heads under the horses’ hooves!” Now this +was the army of Jamrkan who, espying the host of the Kafirs and seeing them as +a surging sea, called a halt; so his troops pitched the tents and set up the +standards, calling upon the name of the All-wise One, the Creator of light and +gloom, Lord of all creatures, Who seeth while Him none see, the High to +infinity, extolled and exalted be He! There is no God but He! The Miscreants +also halted and pitched their tents, and Kurajan said to them “Keep on your +arms, and in armour sleep, for during the last watch of the night we will mount +and trample yonder handful under feet!” Now one of Jamrkan’s spies was standing +nigh and heard what Kurajan had contrived; so he returned to the host and told +his chief who said to them, “Arm yourselves and as soon as it is Night, bring +me all the mules and camels and hang all the bells and clinkets and rattles ye +have about their necks.” Now they had with them more than twenty thousand +camels and mules. So they waited till the Infidels fell asleep, when Jamrkan +commanded them to mount, and they rose to ride and on the Lord of the Worlds +they relied. Then said Jamrkan, “Drive the camels and mules to the Miscreants’ +camp and push them with your spears for goads!” They did as he bade and the +beasts rushed upon the enemy’s tents, whilst the bells and clinkets and rattles +jangled[FN#16] and the Moslems followed at their heels, shouting, “God is Most +Great!” till all the hills and mountains resounded with the name of the +Highmost Deity, to whom belong glory and majesty! The cattle hearing this +terrible din, took fright and rushed upon the tents and trampled the folk, as +they lay asleep.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Jamrkan fell +upon them with his men and steeds and camels, and the camp lay sleeping, the +idolaters started up in confusion and, snatching up their arms, fell upon one +another with smiting, till the most part was slaughtered. And when the day +broke, they looked and found no Moslem slain, but saw them all on horseback, +armed and armoured; wherefore they knew that this was a sleight which had been +played upon them, and Kurajan cried out to the remnant of his folk, “O sons of +whores, what we had a mind to do with them, that have they done with us and +their craft hath gotten the better of our cunning.” And they were about to +charge when, lo and behold! a cloud of dust rose high and walled the +horizon-sky, when the wind smote it, so that it spired aloft and spread +pavilion-wise in the lift and there it hung; and presently appeared beneath it +the glint of helmet and gleam of hauberk and splendid warriors, baldrick’d with +their tempered swords and holding in rest their supple spears. When the Kafirs +saw this, they held back from the battle and each army sent out, to know the +meaning of this dust, scouts, who returned with the news that it was an army of +Moslems. Now this was the host of the Mountain-Ghul whom Gharib had despatched +to Jamrkan’s aid, and Sa’adan himself rode in their van. So the two hosts of +the True Believers joined company and rushing upon the Paynimry like a flame of +fire, plied them with keen sword and Rudaynian spear and quivering lance, what +while day was darkened and eyes for the much dust starkened. The valiant stood +fast and the faint-hearted coward fled and to the wilds and the wolds swift +sped, whilst the blood over earth was like torrents shed; nor did they cease +from fight till the day took flight and in gloom came the night. Then the +Moslems drew apart from the Miscreants and returned to their tents, where they +ate and slept, till the darkness fled away and gave place to smiling day; when +they prayed the dawn prayer and mounted to battle. Now Kurajan had said to his +men as they drew off from fight (for indeed two-thirds of their number had +perished by sword and spear), “O folk, to-morrow, I will champion it in the +stead of war where cut and thrust jar, and where braves push and wheel I will +take the field.” So, as soon as light was seen and morn appeared with its shine +and sheen, took horse the hosts twain and shouted their slogans amain and bared +the brand and hent lance in hand and in ranks took stand. The first to open the +door of war was Kurajan, who cried out, saying, “Let no coward come out to me +this day nor craven!” Whereupon Jamrkan and Sa’adan stood by the colours, but +there ran at him a captain of the Banu Amir and the two drave each at other +awhile, like two rams butting. Presently Kurajan seized the Moslem by the +jerkin under his hauberk and, dragging him from his saddle, dashed him to the +ground where he left him; upon which the Kafirs laid hands on him and bound him +and bore him off to their tents; whilst Kurajan wheeled about and careered and +offered battle, till another captain came out, whom also he took prisoner; nor +did he leave to do thus till he had made prize of seven captains before +mid-day. Then Jamrkan cried out with so mighty a cry, that the whole field made +reply and heard it the armies twain, and ran at Kurajan with a heart in rageful +pain, improvising these couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +Jamrkan am I! and a man of might, * Whom the warriors fear with<br /> + + a sore affright:<br /> + +I waste the forts and I leave the walls * To wail and weep for<br /> + + the wights I smite:<br /> + +Then, O Kurajan, tread the rightful road * And quit the paths of<br /> + + thy foul unright:<br /> + +Own the One True God, who dispread the skies * And made founts to<br /> + + flow and the hills pegged tight:<br /> + +An the slave embrace the True Faith, he’ll ’scape * Hell-pains<br /> + + and in Heaven be deckt and dight!<br /> +</p> + +<p> +When Kurajan heard these words, he snarked and snorted and foully abused the +sun and the moon and drave at Jamrkan, versifying with these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“I’m Kurajan, of this age the knight; * And my shade to the<br /> + + lions of Shara’[FN#17] is blight:<br /> + +I storm the forts and snare kings of beasts * And warriors fear<br /> + + me in field of fight;<br /> + +Then, Harkye Jamrkan, if thou doubt my word, * Come forth to the<br /> + + combat and try my might!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +When Jamrkan heard these verses, he charged him with a stout heart and they +smote each at other with swords till the two hosts lamented for them, and they +lunged with lance and great was the clamour between them: nor did they leave +fighting till the time of mid-afternoon prayer was passed and the day began to +wane. Then Jamrkan drave at Kurajan and smiting him on the breast with his +mace,[FN#18] cast him to the ground, as he were the trunk of a palm-tree; and +the Moslems pinioned him and dragged him off with ropes like a camel. Now when +the Miscreants saw their Prince captive, a hot fever-fit of ignorance seized on +them and they bore down upon the True Believers thinking to rescue him; but the +Moslem champions met them and left most of them prostrate on the earth, whilst +the rest turned and sought safety in flight, seeking surer site, while the +clanking sabres their back-sides smite. The Moslems ceased not pursuing them +till they had scattered them over mount and wold, when they returned from them +to the spoil; whereof was great store of horses and tents and so forth:—good +look to it for a spoil! Then Jamrkan went in to Kurajan and expounded to him +Al-Islam, threatening him with death unless he embraced the Faith. But he +refused; so they cut off his head and stuck it on a spear, after which they +fared on towards Oman[FN#19] city. But as regards the Kafirs, the survivors +returned to Jaland and made known to him the slaying of his son and the +slaughter of his host, hearing which he cast his crown to the ground and +buffeting his face, till the blood ran from his nostrils, fell fainting to the +floor. They sprinkled rose-water on his head, till he came to himself and cried +to his Wazir, “Write letters to all my Governors and Nabobs, and bid them leave +not a smiter with the sword nor a lunger with the lance nor a bender of the +bow, but bring them all to me in one body.” So he wrote letters and despatched +them by runners to the Governors, who levied their power and joined the King +with a prevailing host, whose number was one hundred and eighty thousand men. +Then they made ready tents and camels and noble steeds and were about to march +when, behold, up came Jamrkan and Sa’adan the Ghul, with seventy thousand +horse, as they were lions fierce-faced, all steel-encased. When Jaland saw the +Moslems trooping on he rejoiced and said, “By the virtue of the Sun, and her +resplendent light, I will not leave alive one of my foes; no, not one to carry +the news, and I will lay waste the land of Al-Irak, that I may take my wreak +for my son, the havoc-making champion bold; nor shall my fire be quenched or +cooled!” Then he turned to Ajib and said to him, “O dog of Al-Irak, ’twas thou +broughtest this calamity on us! But by the virtue of that which I worship, +except I avenge me of mine enemy I will do thee die after foulest fashion!” +When Ajib heard these words he was troubled with sore trouble and blamed +himself; but he waited till nightfall, when the Moslems had pitched their tents +for rest. Now he had been degraded and expelled the royal camp together with +those who were left to him of his suite: so he said to them, “O my kinsmen, +know that Jaland and I are dismayed with exceeding dismay at the coming of the +Moslems, and I know that he will not avail to protect me from my brother nor +from any other; so it is my counsel that we make our escape, whilst all eyes +sleep, and flee to King Ya’arub bin Kahtán,[FN#20] for that he hath more of men +and is stronger of reign.” They, hearing his advice exclaimed “Right is thy +rede,” whereupon he bade them kindle fires at their tent-doors and march under +cover of the night. They did his bidding and set out, so by daybreak they had +already fared far away. As soon as it was morning Jaland mounted with two +hundred and sixty thousand fighting-men, clad cap-à-pie in hauberks and +cuirasses and strait-knit mail-coats, the kettle-drums beat a point of war and +all drew out for cut and thrust and fight and fray. Then Jamrkan and Sa’adan +rode out with forty thousand stalwart fighting-men, under each standard a +thousand cavaliers, doughty champions, foremost in champaign. The two hosts +drew out in battles and bared their blades and levelled their limber lances, +for the drinking of the cup of death. The first to open the gate of strife was +Sa’adan, as he were a mountain of syenite or a Marid of the Jinn. Then dashed +out to him a champion of the Infidels, and the Ghul slew him and casting him to +the earth, cried out to his sons and slaves, saying, “Light the fire and roast +me this dead one.” They did as he bade and brought him the roast and he ate it +and crunched the bones, whilst the Kafirs stood looking on from afar; and they +cried out, “Oh for aid from the light-giving Sun!” and were affrighted at the +thought of being slain by Sa’adan. Then Jaland shouted to his men, saying, +“Slay me yonder loathsome beast!” Whereupon another captain of his host drove +at the Ghul; but he slew him and he ceased not to slay horseman after horseman, +till he had made an end of thirty men. With this the blamed Kafirs held back +and feared to face him, crying, “Who shall cope with Jinns and Ghuls?” But +Jaland raised his voice saying, “Let an hundred horse charge him and bring him +to me, bound or slain.” So an hundred horse set upon Sa’adan with swords and +spears, and he met them with a heart firmer than flint, proclaiming the unity +of the Requiting King, whom no one thing diverteth from other thing. Then he +cried aloud, “Allaho Akbar!” and, smiting them with his sword, made their heads +fly and in one onset he slew of them four- and-seventy whereupon the rest took +to flight. So Jaland shouted aloud to ten of his captains, each commanding a +thousand men, and said to them, “Shoot his horse with arrows till it fall under +him, and then lay hands on him.” Therewith ten thousand horse drove at Sa’adan +who met them with a stout heart; and Jamrkan, seeing this, bore down upon the +Miscreants with his Moslems, crying out, “God is Most Great!” Before they could +reach the Ghul, the enemy had slain his steed and taken him prisoner; but they +ceased not to charge the Infidels, till the day grew dark for dust and eyes +were blinded, and the sharp sword clanged while firm stood the valiant cavalier +and destruction overtook the faint-heart in his fear; till the Moslems were +amongst the Paynims like a white patch on a black bull.——And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that battle raged between +the Moslems and the Paynims till the True Believers were like a white patch on +a black bull. Nor did they stint from the mellay till the darkness fell down, +when they drew apart, after there had been slain of the Infidels men without +compt. Then Jamrkan and his men returned to their tents; but they were in great +grief for Sa’adan, so that neither meat nor sleep was sweet to them, and they +counted their host and found that less than a thousand had been slain. But +Jamrkan said, “O folk, to-morrow I will go forth into the battle-plain and +place where cut and thrust obtain, and slay their champions and make prize of +their families after taking them captives and I will ransom Sa’adan therewith, +by the leave of the Requiting King, whom no one thing diverteth from other +thing!” Wherefore their hearts were heartened and they joyed as they separated +to their tents. Meanwhile Jaland entered his pavilion and sitting down on his +sofa of estate, with his folk about him, called for Sa’adan and forthright on +his coming, said to him, “O dog run wood and least of the Arab brood and +carrier of firewood, who was it slew my son Kurajan, the brave of the age, +slayer of heroes and caster down of warriors?” Quoth the Ghul, “Jamrkan slew +him, captain of the armies of King Gharib, Prince of cavaliers, and I roasted +and ate him, for I was anhungered.” When Jaland heard these words, his eyes +sank into his head for rage and he bade his swordbearer smite Sa’adan’s neck. +So he came forward in that intent, whereupon Sa’adan stretched himself mightily +and bursting his bonds, snatched the sword from the headsman and hewed off his +head. Then he made at Jaland who threw himself down from the throne and fled; +whilst Sa’adan fell on the bystanders and killed twenty of the King’s chief +officers, and all the rest took to flight. Therewith loud rose the crying in +the camp of the Infidels and the Ghul sallied forth of the pavilion and falling +upon the troops smote them with the sword, right and left, till they opened and +left a lane for him to pass; nor did he cease to press forward, cutting at them +on either side, till he won free of the Miscreants’ tents and made for the +Moslem camp. Now these had heard the uproar among their enemies and said, +“Haply some calamity hath befallen them.” But whilst they were in perplexity, +behold, Sa’adan stood amongst them and they rejoiced at his coming with +exceeding joy; more especially Jamrkan, who saluted him with the salam as did +other True Believers and gave him joy of his escape. Such was the case with the +Moslems; but as regards the Miscreants, when, after the Ghul’s departure, they +and their King returned to their tents, Jaland said to them, “O folk, by the +virtue of the Sun’s light-giving ray and by the darkness of the Night and the +light of the Day and the Stars that stray, I thought not this day to have +escaped death in mellay; for, had I fallen into yonder fellow’s hands, he had +eaten me, as I were a kernel of wheat or a barley-corn or any other grain.” +They replied, “O King, never saw we any do the like of this Ghul.” And he +said, “O folk, to-morrow do ye all don arms and mount steed and trample them +under your horses’ hooves.” Meanwhile the Moslems had ended their rejoicings at +Sa’adan’s return and Jamrkan said to them, “To-morrow, I will show you my +derring-do and what behoveth the like of me, for by the virtue of Abraham the +Friend, I will slay them with the foulest of slaughters and smite them with the +bite of the sword, till all who have understanding confounded at them shall +stand. But I mean to attack both right and left wings; so, when ye see me drive +at the King under the standards, do ye charge behind me with a resolute charge, +and Allah’s it is to decree what thing shall be!” Accordingly the two sides +lay upon their arms till the day broke through night and the sun appeared to +sight. Then they mounted swiftlier than the twinkling of the eyelid; the raven +of the wold croaked and the two hosts, looking each at other with the eye of +fascination, formed in line-array and prepared for fight and fray. The first to +open the chapter of war was Jamrkan who wheeled and careered and offered fight +in field; and Jaland and his men were about to charge when, behold, a cloud of +dust uprolled till it walled the wold and overlaid the day. Then the four winds +smote it and away it floated, torn to rags, and there appeared beneath it +cavaliers, with helms black and garb white and many a princely knight and +lances that bite and swords that smite and footmen who lion-like knew no +affright. Seeing this both armies left fighting and sent out scouts to +reconnoitre and report who thus had come in main and might. So they went and +within the dust cloud disappeared from sight, and returned after awhile with +the news aright that the approaching host was one of Moslems, under the command +of King Gharib. When the True Believers heard from the scouts of the coming of +their King, they rejoiced and driving out to meet him, dismounted and kissed +the earth between his hands——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Moslems saw +the presence of their King Gharib, they joyed with exceeding joy; and, kissing +the earth between his hands, saluted him and gat around him whilst he welcomed +them and rejoiced in their safety. Then they escorted him to their camp and +pitched pavilions for him and set up standards; and Gharib sat down on his +couch of estate, with his Grandees about him; and they related to him all that +had befallen, especially to Sa’adan. Meanwhile the Kafirs sought for Ajib and +finding him not among them nor in their tents, told Jaland of his flight, +whereat his Doomsday rose and he bit his fingers, saying, “By the Sun’s +light-giving round, he is a perfidious hound and hath fled with his rascal rout +to desert-ground. But naught save force of hard fighting will serve us to repel +these foes; so fortify your resolves and hearten your hearts and beware of the +Moslems.” And Gharib also said to the True Believers, “Strengthen your courage +and fortify your hearts and seek aid of your Lord, beseeching him to vouchsafe +you the victory over your enemies.” They replied, “O King, soon thou shalt see +what we will do in battle-plain where men cut and thrust amain.” So the two +hosts slept till the day arose with its sheen and shone and the rising sun +rained light upon hill and down, when Gharib prayed the two-bow prayer, after +the rite of Abraham the Friend (on whom be the Peace!) and wrote a letter, +which he despatched by his brother Sahim to the King of the Kafirs. When Sahim +reached the enemies’ camp, the guards asked him what he wanted, and he answered +them, “I want your ruler.”[FN#21] Quoth they, “Wait till we consult him anent +thee;” and he waited, whilst they went in to their Sovran and told him of the +coming of a messenger, and he cried, “Hither with him to me!” So they brought +Sahim before Jaland, who said to him, “Who hath sent thee?” Quoth he, “King +Gharib sends me, whom Allah hath made ruler over Arab and Ajam; receive his +letter and return its reply.” Jaland took the writ and opening it, read as +follows, “In the name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate * the +One, the All-knowing, the supremely Great * the Immemorial, the Lord of Noah +and Sálih and Húd and Abraham and of all things He made! * The Peace be on him +who followeth in the way of righteousness and who feareth the issues of +frowardness * who obeyeth the Almighty King and followeth the Faith saving and +preferreth the next world to any present thing! * But afterwards: O Jaland, +none is worthy of worship save Allah alone, the Victorious, the One, Creator of +night and day and the sphere revolving alway * Who sendeth the holy Prophets +and garreth the streams to flow and the trees to grow, who vaulted the heavens +and spread out the earth like a carpet below * Who feedeth the birds in their +nests and the wild beasts in the deserts * for He is Allah the All-powerful, +the Forgiving, the Long-suffering, the Protector, whom eye comprehendeth on no +wise and who maketh night on day arise * He who sent down the Apostles and +their Holy Writ. Know, O Jaland, that there is no faith but the Faith of +Abraham the Friend; so cleave to the Creed of Salvation and be saved from the +biting glaive and the Fire which followeth the grave * But, an thou refuse +Al-Islam look for ruin to haste and thy reign to be waste and thy traces +untraced * And, lastly, send me the dog Ajib hight that I may take from him my +father’s and mother’s blood-wit.” When Jaland had read this letter, he said to +Sahim, “Tell thy lord that Ajib hath fled, he and his folk, and I know not +whither he is gone; but, as for Jaland, he will not forswear his faith, and +to-morrow, there shall be battle between us and the Sun shall give us the +victory.” So Sahim returned to his brother with this reply, and when the +morning morrowed, the Moslems donned their arms and armour and bestrode their +stout steeds, calling aloud on the name of the All-conquering King, Creator of +bodies and souls, and magnifying Him with “Allaho Akbar.” Then the kettle-drums +of battle beat until earth trembled, and sought the field all the lordly +warriors and doughty champions. The first to open the gate of battle was +Jamrkan, who drave his charger into mid-plain and played with sword and +javelin, till the understanding was amazed; after which he cried out, saying, +“Ho! who is for tilting? Ho! who is for fighting? Let no sluggard come out to +me to-day nor weakling! I am the slayer of Kurajan bin Jaland; who will come +forth to avenge him?” When Jaland heard the name of his son, he cried out to +his men, “O whore-sons, bring me yonder horseman who slew my son, that I may +eat his flesh and drink his blood.” So an hundred fighting-men charged at +Jamrkan, but he slew the most part of them and put their chief to flight; which +feat when Jaland saw, he cried out to his folk, “At him all at once and assault +him with one assault.” Accordingly they waved the awe-striking banners and host +was heaped on host; Gharib rushed on with his men and Jamrkan did the same and +the two sides met like two seas together clashing. The Yamáni sword and spear +wrought havoc and breasts and bellies were rent, whilst both armies saw the +Angel of Death face to face and the dust of the battle rose to the skirts of +the sky. Ears went deaf and tongues went dumb and doom from every side came on +whilst valiant stood fast and faint-heart fled: and they ceased not from fight +and fray till ended the day, when the drums beat the retreat and the two hosts +drew apart and returned, each to its tents.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Forty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Gharib ended +the battle and the two hosts drew apart and each had returned to his own tents, +he sat down on the throne of his realm and the place of his reign, whilst his +chief officers ranged themselves about him, and he said, “I am sore concerned +for the flight of the cur Ajib and I know not whither he has gone. Except I +overtake him and take my wreak of him, I shall die of despite.” Whereupon Sahim +came forward and kissing the earth before him, said, “O King, I will go to the +army of the Kafirs and find out what is come of the perfidious dog Ajib.” Quoth +Gharib, “Go, and learn the truth anent the hog.” So Sahim disguised himself in +the habit of the Infidels and became as he were of them; then, making for the +enemy’s camp, he found them all asleep, drunken with war and battle, and none +were on wake save only the guards. He passed on and presently came to the +King’s pavilion where he found King Jaland asleep unattended; so he crept up +and made him smell and sniff up levigated Bhang and he became as one dead. Then +Sahim went out and took a male mule, and wrapping the King in the coverlet of +his bed, laid him on its back; after which he threw a mat over him and led the +beast to the Moslem camp. Now when he came to Gharib’s pavilion and would have +entered, the guards knew him not and prevented him, saying, “Who art thou?” He +laughed and uncovered his face, and they knew him and admitted him. When Gharib +saw him he said, “What bearest thou there, O Sahim?”; and he replied, “O King, +this is Jaland bin Karkar.” Then he uncovered him, and Gharib knew him and +said, “Arouse him, O Sahim.” So he made him smell vinegar[FN#22] and +frankincense; and he cast the Bhang from his nostrils and, opening his eyes, +found himself among the Moslems; whereupon quoth he, “What is this foul dream?” +and closing his eyelids again, would have slept; but Sahim dealt him a kick, +saying, “Open thine eyes, O accursed!” So he opened them and asked, “Where am +I?”; and Sahim answered, “Thou art in the presence of King Gharib bin Kundamir, +King of Irak.” When Jaland heard this, he said, “O King, I am under thy +protection! Know that I am not at fault, but that who led us forth to fight +thee was thy brother, and the same cast enmity between us and then fled.” Quoth +Gharib, “Knowest thou whither he is gone?”; and quoth Jaland, “No, by the +light-giving sun, I know not whither.” Then Gharib bade lay him in bonds and +set guards over him, whilst each captain returned to his own tent, and Jamrkan +while wending said to his men, “O sons of my uncle, I purpose this night to do +a deed wherewith I may whiten my face with King Gharib.” Quoth they, “Do as +thou wilt, we hearken to thy commandment and obey it.” Quoth he, “Arm +yourselves and, muffling your steps while I go with you, let us fare softly and +disperse about the Infidels’ camp, so that the very ants shall not be ware of +you; and, when you hear me cry ‘Allaho Akbar,’ do ye the like and cry out, +saying, ‘God is Most Great!’ and hold back and make for the city-gate; and we +seek aid from the Most High.” So the folk armed themselves cap-à-pie and waited +till the noon of night, when they dispersed about the enemy’s camp and tarried +awhile when, lo and behold! Jamrkan smote shield with sword and shouted, +“Allaho Akbar’” Thereupon they all cried out the like, till rang again valley +and mountain, hills, sands and ruins. The Miscreants awoke in dismay and fell +one upon other, and the sword went round amongst them; the Moslems drew back +and made for the city-gates, where they slew the warders and entering, made +themselves masters of the town with all that was therein of treasure and women. +Thus it befel with Jamrkan; but as regards King Gharib, hearing the noise and +clamour of “God is Most Great,” he mounted with his troops to the last man and +sent on in advance Sahim who, when he came near the field of fight, saw that +Jamrkan had fallen upon the Kafirs with the Banu Amir by night and made them +drink the cup of death. So he returned and told all to his brother, who called +down blessings on Jamrkan. And the Infidels ceased not to smite one another +with the biting sword and expending their strength till the day rose and +lighted up the land, when Gharib cried out to his men, “Charge, O ye noble, and +do a deed to please the All-knowing King!” So the True Believers fell upon the +idolaters and plied upon every false hypocritical breast the keen sword and the +quivering spear. They sought to take refuge in the city; but Jamrkan came forth +upon them with his kinsmen, who hemmed them in between two mountain-ranges, and +slew an innumerable host of them, and the rest fled into the wastes and +wolds.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Fiftieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Moslem host +charged upon the Miscreants they hewed them in pieces with the biting scymitar +and the rest fled to the wastes and words; nor did the Moslems cease pursuing +them with the sword, till they had scattered them abroad in the plains and +stony places. Then they returned to Oman city, and King Gharib entered the +palace of the King and, sitting down on the throne of his kingship, with his +Grandees and Officers ranged right and left, sent for Jaland. They brought him +in haste and Gharib expounded to him Al-Islam; but he rejected it; wherefore +Gharib bade crucify him on the gate of the city, and they shot at him with +shafts till he was like unto a porcupine. Then Gharib honourably robed Jamrkan +and said to him, “Thou shalt be lord of this city and ruler thereof with power +to loose and to bind therein, for it was thou didst open it with thy sword and +thy folk.” And Jamrkan kissed the King’s feet, thanked him and wished him +abiding victory and glory and every blessing. Moreover Gharib opened Jaland’s +treasuries and saw what was therein of coin, whereof he gave largesse to his +captains and standard-bearers and fighting-men, yea, even to the girls and +children; and thus he lavished his gifts ten days long. After this, one night +he dreamt a terrible dream and awoke, troubled and trembling. So he aroused his +brother Sahim and said to him, “I saw in my vision that we were in a wide +valley, when there pounced down on us two ravening birds of prey, never in my +life saw I greater than they; their legs were like lances, and as they swooped +we were in sore fear of them.” Replied Sahim, “O King, this be some great +enemy; so stand on thy guard against him.” Gharib slept not the rest of the +night and, when the day broke, he called for his courser and mounted. Quoth +Sahim, “Whither goest thou, my brother?” and quoth Gharib, “I awoke heavy at +heart; so I mean to ride abroad ten days and broaden my breast.” Said Sahim, +“Take with thee a thousand braves;” but Gharib replied, “I will not go forth +but with thee and only thee.” So the two brothers mounted and, seeking the +dales and leasows, fared on from Wady to Wady and from meadow to meadow, till +they came to a valley abounding in streams and sweet-smelling flowers and trees +laden with all manner eatable fruits, two of each kind. Birds warbled on the +branches their various strains; the mocking bird trilled out her sweet notes +fain and the turtle filled with her voice the plain. There sang the +nightingale, whose chant arouses the sleeper, and the merle with his note like +the voice of man and the cushat and the ring-dove, whilst the parrot with its +eloquent tongue answered the twain. The valley pleased them and they ate of its +fruits and drank of its waters, after which they sat under the shadow of its +trees till drowsiness overcame them and they slept, glory be to Him who +sleepeth not! As they lay asleep, lo! two fierce Marids swooped down on them +and, taking each one on his shoulders, towered with them high in air, till they +were above the clouds. So Gharib and Sahim awoke and found themselves betwixt +heaven and earth; whereupon they looked at those who bore them and saw that +they were two Marids, the head of the one being as that of a dog and the head +of the other as that of an ape[FN#23] with hair like horses’ tails and claws +like lions’ claws, and both were big as great palm-trees. When they espied this +case, they exclaimed, “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great!” Now the cause of this was that a certain King +of the Kings of the Jinn, hight Mura’ash, had a son called Sá’ik, who loved a +damsel of the Jinn, named Najmah;[FN#24] and the twain used to foregather in +that Wady under the semblance of two birds. Gharib and Sahim saw them thus and +deeming them birds, shot at them with shafts but wounding only Sa’ik whose +blood flowed. Najmah mourned over him; then, fearing lest the like calamity +befal herself, snatched up her lover and flew with him to his father’s palace, +where she cast him down at the gate. The warders bore him in and laid him +before his sire who, seeing the pile sticking in his rib exclaimed, “Alas, my +son! Who hath done with thee this thing, that I may lay waste his abiding-place +and hurry on his destruction, though he were the greatest of the Kings of the +Jann?” Thereupon Sa’ik opened his eyes and said, “O my father, none slew me +save a mortal in the Valley of Springs.” Hardly had he made an end of these +words, when his soul departed; whereupon his father buffeted his face, till the +blood streamed from his mouth, and cried out to two Marids, saying, “Hie ye to +the Valley of Springs and bring me all who are therein.” So they betook +themselves to the Wady in question, where they found Gharib and Sahim asleep, +and, snatching them up, carried them to King Mura’ash.[FN#25]——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the two Marids, +after snatching up Gharib and Sahim in their sleep, carried them to Mura’ash, +king of the Jann, whom they saw seated on the throne of his kinship, as he were +a huge mountain, with four heads on his body,[FN#26] the first that of a lion, +the second that of an elephant, the third that of a panther, and the fourth +that of a lynx. The Marids set them down before Mura’ash and said to him, “O +King, these twain be they we found in the Valley of Springs.” Thereupon he +looked at them with wrathful eyes and snarked and snorted and shot sparks from +his nostrils, so that all who stood by feared him. Then said he, “O dogs of +mankind, ye have slain my son and lighted fire in my liver.” Quoth Gharib, “Who +is thy son, and who hath seen him?” Quoth Mura’ash, “Were ye not in the Valley +of Springs and did ye not see my son there, in the guise of a bird, and did ye +not shoot at him with wooden bolts that he died?” Replied Gharib, “I know not +who slew him; and, by the virtue of the Great God, the One, the Immemorial who +knoweth things all, and of Abraham the Friend, we saw no bird, neither slew we +bird or beast!” Now when Mura’ash heard Gharib swear by Allah and His greatness +and by Abraham the Friend, he knew him for a Moslem (he himself being a +worshipper of Fire, not of the All-powerful Sire), so he cried out to his folk, +“Bring me my Goddess.[FN#27]” Accordingly they brought a brazier of gold and, +setting it before him, kindled therein fire and cast on drugs, whereupon there +arose therefrom green and blue and yellow flames and the King and all who were +present prostrated themselves before the brazier, whilst Gharib and Sahim +ceased not to attest the Unity of Allah Almighty, to cry out “God is Most +Great” and to bear witness to His Omnipotence. Presently, Mura’ash raised his +head and, seeing the two Princes standing in lieu of falling down to worship, +said to them, “O dogs, why do ye not prostrate yourselves?” Replied Gharib, +“Out on you, O ye accursed! Prostration befitteth not man save to the +Worshipful King, who bringeth forth all creatures into beingness from +nothingness and maketh water to well from the barren rockwell, Him who +inclineth heart of sire unto new-born scion and who may not be described as +sitting or standing; <i>the</i> God of Noah and Salih and Hud and Abraham the Friend, +Who created Heaven and Hell and trees and fruit as well,[FN#28] for He is +Allah, the One, the All-powerful.” When Mura’ash heard this, his eyes sank into +his head[FN#29] and he cried out to his guards, saying, “Pinion me these two +dogs and sacrifice them to my Goddess.” So they bound them and were about to +cast them into the fire when, behold, one of the crenelles of the +palace-parapet fell down upon the brazier and brake it and put out the fire, +which became ashes flying in air. Then quoth Gharib, “God is Most Great! He +giveth aid and victory and He forsaketh those who deny Him, worshipping Fire +and not the Almighty King!” Presently quoth Mura’ash, “Thou art a sorcerer and +hast bewitched my Goddess, so that this thing hath befallen her.” Gharib +replied, “O madman, an the fire had soul or sense it would have warded off from +self all that hurteth it.” When Mura’ash heard these words, he roared and +bellowed and reviled the Fire, saying, “By my faith, I will not kill you save +by the fire!” Then he bade cast them into gaol; and, calling an hundred Marids, +made them bring much fuel and set fire thereto. So they brought great plenty of +wood and made a huge blaze, which flamed up mightily till the morning, when +Mura’ash mounted an elephant, bearing on its back a throne of gold dubbed with +jewels, and the tribes of the Jinn gathered about him in their various kinds. +Presently they brought in Gharib and Sahim who, seeing the flaming of the fire, +sought help of the One, the All-conquering Creator of night and day, Him of +All-might, whom no sight comprehendeth, but who comprehendeth all sights, for +He is the Subtle, the All-knowing. And they ceased not humbly beseeching Him +till, behold, a cloud arose from West to East and, pouring down showers of +rain, like the swollen sea, quenched the fire. When the King saw this, he was +affrighted, he and his troops, and entered the palace, where he turned to the +Wazirs and Grandees and said to them, “How say ye of these two men?” They +replied, “O King, had they not been in the right, this thing had not befallen +the fire; wherefore we say that they be true men which speak sooth.” Rejoined +Mura’ash, “Verily the Truth hath been displayed to me, ay, and the manifest +way, and I am certified that the worship of the fire is false; for, were it +goddess, it had warded off from itself the rain which quenched it and the stone +which broke its brazier and beat it into ashes. Wherefore I believe in Him Who +created the fire and the light and the shade and the heat. And ye, what say +ye?” They answered, “O King, we also hear and follow and obey.” So the King +called for Gharib and embraced him and kissed him between the eyes and then +summoned Sahim; whereupon the bystanders all crowded to kiss their hands and +heads.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Fifth-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Mura’ash and his +men found salvation in the Saving Faith, Al-Islam, he called for Gharib and +Sahim and kissed them between the eyes and so did all the Grandees who crowded +to buss their hands and heads. Then Mura’ash sat down on the throne of his +kingship and, seating Gharib on his right and Sahim on his left hand, said to +them, “O mortals, what shall we say, that we may become Moslems?” Replied +Gharib, “Say:—There is no god but <i>the</i> God, and Abraham is the Friend of God!” +So the King and his folk professed Al-Islam with heart and tongue, and Gharib +abode with them awhile, teaching them the ritual of prayer. But presently he +called to mind his people and sighed, whereupon quoth Mura’ash, “Verily, +trouble is gone and joy and gladness are come.” Quoth Gharib, “O King, I have +many foes and I fear for my folk from them.” Then he related to him his history +with his brother Ajib from first to last, and the King of the Jinns said, “O +King of men, I will send one who shall bring thee news of thy people, for I +will not let thee go till I have had my fill of thy face.” Then he called two +doughty Marids, by name Kaylaján and Kúraján, and after they had done him +homage, he bade them repair to Al-Yaman and bring him news of Gharib’s army. +They replied, “To hear is to obey,” and departed. Thus far concerning the +brothers; but as regards the Moslems, they arose in the morning and led by +their captains rode to King Gharib’s palace, to do their service to him; but +the eunuchs told them that the King had mounted with his brother and had ridden +forth at peep o’ day. So they made for the valleys and mountains and followed +the track of the Princes, till they came to the Valley of Springs, where they +found their arms cast down and their two gallant steeds grazing and said, “The +King is missing from this place, by the glory of Abraham the Friend!” Then they +mounted and sought in the valley and the mountains three days, but found no +trace of them; whereupon they began the mourning ceremonies and, sending for +couriers, said to them, “Do ye disperse yourselves about the cities and sconces +and castles, and seek ye news of our King.” “Harkening and obedience!” cried +the couriers, who dispersed hither and thither each over one of the Seven +Climes and sought everywhere for Gharib, but found no trace of him. Now when +the tidings came to Ajib by his spies that his brother was lost and there was +no news of the missing, he rejoiced and going in to King Ya’arub bin Kahtan, +sought of him aid which he granted and gave him two hundred thousand +Amalekites, wherewith he set out for Al-Yaman and sat down before the city of +Oman. Jamrkan and Sa’adan sallied forth and offered him battle, and there were +slain of the Moslems much folk, so the True Believers retired into the city and +shut the gates and manned the walls. At this moment came up the two Marids +Kaylajan and Kurajan and, seeing the Moslem beleaguered waited till nightfall, +when they fell upon the miscreants and plied them with sharp swords of the +swords of the Jinn, each twelve cubits long, if a man smote therewith a rock, +verily he would cleave it in sunder. They charged the Idolaters, shouting, +“Allaho Akbar! God is Most Great! He giveth aid and victory and forsaketh those +who deny the Faith of Abraham the Friend!” and whilst they raged amongst the +foes, fire issued from their mouths and nostrils, and they made great slaughter +amongst them. Thereupon the Infidels ran out of their tents offering battle +but, seeing these strange things, were confounded and their hair stood on end +and their reason fled. So they snatched up their arms and fell one upon other, +whilst the Marids shore off their heads, as a reaper eareth grain, crying, “God +is Most Great! We are the lads of King Gharib, the friend of Mura’ash, King of +the Jinn!” The sword ceased not to go round amongst them till the night was +half spent, when the Misbelievers, imagining that the mountains were all +Ifrits, loaded their tents and treasure and baggage upon camels and made off; +and the first to fly was Ajib.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Misbelievers made +off and the first to fly was Ajib. Thereupon the Moslems gathered together, +marvelling at this that had betided the Infidels and fearing the tribesmen of +the Jinn. But the Marids ceased not from pursuit, till they had driven them far +away into the hills and words; and but fifty thousand Rebels[FN#30] of two +hundred thousand escaped with their lives and made for their own land, wounded +and sore discomfited. Then the two Jinns returned and said to them, “O host of +the Moslems, your lord King Gharib and his brother Sahim salute you; they are +the guests of Mura’ash, King of the Jann, and will be with you anon.” When +Gharib’s men heard that he was safe and well, they joyed with exceeding joy and +said to the Marids, “Allah gladden you twain with good news, O noble spirits!” +So Kurajan and Kaylajan returned to Mura’ash and Gharib; and acquainted them +with that which had happened, whereat Gharib finding the two sitting together +felt heart at ease and said, “Allah abundantly requite you!” Then quoth King +Mura’ash, “O my brother, I am minded to show thee our country and the city of +Japhet[FN#31] son of Noah (on whom be peace!)” Quoth Gharib, “O King, do what +seemeth good to thee.” So he called for three noble steeds and mounting, he and +Gharib and Sahim, set out with a thousand Marids, as they were a piece of a +mountain cloven lengthwise. They fared on, solacing themselves with the sight +of valleys and mountains, till they came to Jabarsá,[FN#32] the city of Japhet +son of Noah (on whom be peace!) where the townsfolk all, great and small, came +forth to meet King Mura’ash and brought them into the city in great state. Then +Mura’ash went up to the palace of Japhet son of Noah and sat down on the throne +of his kingship, which was of alabaster, ten stages high and latticed with +wands of gold wherefrom hung all manner coloured silks. The people of the city +stood before him and he said to them, “O seed of Yafis bin Nuh, what did your +fathers and grandfathers worship?” They replied, “We found them worshipping +Fire and followed their example, as thou well knowest.” “O folk,” rejoined +Mura’ash, “we have been shown that the fire is but one of the creatures of +Almighty Allah, Creator of all things; and when we knew this, we submitted +ourselves to God, the One, the All-powerful, Maker of night and day and the +sphere revolving alway, Whom comprehendeth no sight, but Who comprehendeth all +sights, for He is the Subtle, the All-wise. So seek ye Salvation and ye shall +be saved from the wrath of the Almighty One and from the fiery doom in the +world to come.” And they embraced Al-Islam with heart and tongue. Then Mura’ash +took Gharib by the hand and showed him the palace and its ordinance and all the +marvels it contained, till they came to the armoury, wherein were the arms of +Japhet son of Noah. Here Gharib saw a sword hanging to a pin of gold and asked, +“O King, whose is that?” Mura’ash answered, “’Tis the sword of Yafis bin Nuh, +wherewith he was wont to do battle against men and Jinn. The sage Jardúm forged +it and graved on its back names of might.[FN#33] It is named Al-Máhík the +Annihilator for that it never descendeth upon a man, but it annihilateth him, +nor upon a Jinni, but it crusheth him; and if one smote therewith a mountain +’twould overthrow it.” When Gharib heard tell of the virtues of the sword, he +said, “I desire to look on this blade;” and Mura’ash said, “Do as thou wilt.” +So Gharib put out his hand, and, hending the sword, drew it from its sheath; +whereupon it flashed and Death crept on its edge and glittered; and it was +twelve spans long and three broad. Now Gharib wished to become owner of it, and +King Mura’ash said, “An thou canst smite with it, take it.” “’Tis well,” Gharib +replied, and took it up, and it was in his hand as a staff; wherefore all who +were present, men and Jinn, marvelled and said, “Well done, O Prince of +Knights!” Then said Mura’ash “Lay thy hand on this hoard for which the Kings of +the earth sigh in vain, and mount, that I may show thee the city.” Then they +took horse and rode forth the palace, with men and Jinns attending them on +foot,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib and King +Mura’ash rode forth the palace of Japhet, with men and Jinns attending them on +foot, they passed through the streets and thoroughfares of the town, by palaces +and deserted mansions and gilded doorways, till they issued from the gates and +entered gardens full of trees fruit-bearing and waters welling and birds +speaking and celebrating the praises of Him to whom belong Majesty and +Eternity; nor did they cease to solace themselves in the land till nightfall, +when they returned to the palace of Japhet son of Noah and they brought them +the table of food. So they ate and Gharib turned to the King of the Jann and +said to him, “O King, I would fain return to my folk and my force; for I know +not their plight after me.” Replied Mura’ash, “By Allah, O my brother, I will +not part with thee for a full month, till I have had my fill of thy sight.” Now +Gharib could not say nay, so he abode with him in the city of Japhet, eating +and drinking and making merry, till the month ended, when Mura’ash gave him +great store of gems and precious ores, emeralds and balass-rubies, diamonds +and other jewels, ingots of gold and silver and likewise ambergris and musk and +brocaded silks and else of rarities and things of price. Moreover he clad him +and Sahim in silken robes of honour gold inwoven and set on Gharib’s head a +crown jewelled with pearls and diamonds of inestimable value. All these +treasures he made up into even loads for him and, calling five hundred Marids, +said to them, “Get ye ready to travel on the morrow, that we may bring King +Gharib and Sahim back to their own country.” And they answered, “We hear and we +obey.” So they passed the night in the city, purposing to depart on the morrow, +but, next morning, as they were about to set forth behold, they espied a great +host advancing upon the city, with horses neighing and kettle-drums beating and +trumpets braying and riders filling the earth for they numbered threescore and +ten thousand Marids, flying and diving, under a King called Barkán. Now this +Barkan was lord of the City of Carnelian and the Castle of Gold and under his +rule were five hill-strongholds, in each five hundred thousand Marids; and he +and his tribe worshipped the Fire, not the Omnipotent Sire. He was a cousin of +Mura’ash, the son of his father’s brother, and the cause of his coming was that +there had been among the subjects of King Mura’ash a misbelieving Marid, who +professed Al-Islam hypocritically, and he stole away from his people and made +for the Valley of Carnelian, where he went in to King Barkan and, kissing the +earth before him, wished him abiding glory and prosperity. Then he told him of +Mura’ash being converted to Al-Islam, and Barkan said, “How came he to tear +himself away from his faith[FN#34]?” So the rebel told him what had passed +and, when Barkan heard it, he snorted and snarked and railed at Sun and Moon +and sparkling Fire, saying, “By the virtue of my faith, I will surely slay mine +uncle’s son and his people and this mortal, nor will I leave one of them +alive!” Then he cried out to the legions of the Jinn and choosing of them +seventy thousand Marids, set out and fared on till he came to Jabarsá[FN#35] +the city of Japhet and encamped before its gates. When Mura’ash saw this, he +despatched a Marid, saying, “Go to this host and learn all that it wanteth and +return hither in haste.” So the messenger rushed away to Barkan’s camp, where +the Marids flocked to meet him and said to him, “Who art thou?” Replied he, “An +envoy from King Mura’ash;” whereupon they carried him in to Barkan, before whom +he prostrated himself, saying, “O my lord, my master hath sent me to thee, to +learn tidings of thee.” Quoth Barkan, “Return to thy lord and say to him, ‘This +is thy cousin Barkan, who is come to salute thee.’”— And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Marid-envoy of +Mura’ash was borne before Barkan and said to him, “O my lord, my master hath +sent me to thee to learn tidings of thee,” Barkan replied, “Return to thy lord +and say to him, ‘This is thy cousin Barkan who is come to salute thee!’” So the +messenger went back and told Mura’ash, who said to Gharib, “Sit thou on thy +throne whilst I go and salute my cousin and return to thee.” Then he mounted +and rode to the camp of his uncle’s son. Now this was a trick[FN#36] of Barkan, +to bring Mura’ash out and seize upon him, and he said to his Marids, whom he +had stationed about him, “When ye see me embrace him,[FN#37] lay hold of him +and pinion him.” And they replied, “To hear is to obey.” So, when King Mura’ash +came up and entered Barkan’s pavilion, the owner rose to him and threw his arms +round his neck; whereat the Jann fell upon Mura’ash and pinioned him and +chained him. Mura’ash looked at Barkan and said, “What manner of thing is +this?” Quoth Barkan, “O dog of the Jann, wilt thou leave the faith of thy +fathers and grandfathers and enter a faith thou knowest not?” Rejoined +Mura’ash, “O son of my uncle, indeed I have found the faith of Abraham the +Friend to be the True Faith and all other than it vain.” Asked Barkan, “And who +told thee of this?”; and Mura’ash answered, “Gharib, King of Irak, whom I hold +in the highest honour.” “By the right of the Fire and the Light and the Shade +and the Heat,” cried Barkan, “I will assuredly slay both thee and him!” And he +cast him into gaol. Now when Mura’ash’s henchman saw what had befallen his +lord, he fled back to the city and told the King’s legionaries who cried out +and mounted. Quoth Gharib, “What is the matter?” And they told him all that had +passed, whereupon he cried out to Sahim, “Saddle me one of the chargers that +King Mura’ash gave me.” Said Sahim, “O my brother, wilt thou do battle with the +Jinn?” Gharib replied, “Yes, I will fight them with the sword of Japhet son of +Noah, seeking help of the Lord of Abraham the Friend (on whom be the Peace!); +for He is the Lord of all things and sole Creator!” So Sahim saddled him a +sorrel horse of the horses of the Jinn, as he were a castle strong among +castles, and he armed and mounting, rode out with the legions of the Jinn, +hauberk’d cap-à-pie. Then Barkan and his host mounted also and the two hosts +drew out in lines facing each other. The first to open the gate of war was +Gharib, who drave his steed into the mid-field and bared the enchanted blade, +whence issued a glittering light that dazzled the eyes of all the Jinn and +struck terror to their hearts. Then he played[FN#38] with the sword till their +wits were wildered, and cried out, saying, “Allaho Akbar! I am Gharib, King of +Irak. There is no Faith save the Faith of Abraham the Friend!” Now when Barkan +heard Gharib’s words, he said, “This is he who seduced my cousin from his +religion; so, by the virtue of my faith, I will not sit down on my throne till +I have decapitated this Gharib and suppressed his breath of life and forced my +cousin and his people back to their belief: and whoso baulketh me, him will I +destroy.” Then he mounted an elephant paper-white as he were a tower plastered +with gypsum, and goaded him with a spike of steel which ran deep into his +flesh, whereupon the elephant trumpeted and made for the battle-plain where cut +and thrust obtain; and, when he drew near Gharib, he cried out to him, saying, +“O dog of mankind, what made thee come into our land, to debauch my cousin and +his folk and pervert them from one faith to other faith. Know that this day is +the last of thy worldly days.” Gharib replied, “Avaunt,[FN#39] O vilest of the +Jann!” Therewith Barkan drew a javelin and making it quiver[FN#40] in his hand, +cast it at Gharib; but it missed him. So he hurled a second javelin at him; but +Gharib caught it in mid-air and after poising it launched it at the elephant. +It smote him on the flank and came out on the other side, whereupon the beast +fell to the earth dead and Barkan was thrown to the ground, like a great +palm-tree. Before he could stir, Gharib smote him with the flat of Japhet’s +blade on the nape of the neck, and he fell upon the earth in a fainting-fit; +whereupon the Marids swooped down on him and surrounding him pinioned his +elbows. When Barkan’s people saw their king a prisoner, they drove at the +others, seeking to rescue him, but Gharib and the Islamised Jinn fell upon them +and gloriously done for Gharib! indeed that day he pleased the Lord who +answereth prayer and slaked his vengeance with the talisman-sword! Whomsoever +he smote, he clove him in sunder and before his soul could depart he became a +heap of ashes in the fire; whilst the two hosts of the Jinn shot each other +with flamy meteors till the battle-field was wrapped in smoke. And Gharib +tourneyed right and left among the Kafirs who gave way before him, till he came +to King Barkan’s pavilion, with Kaylajan and Kurajan on his either hand, and +cried out to them, “Loose your lord!” So they unbound Mura’ash and broke his +fetters and——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Gharib +cried out to Kaylajan and Kurajan, saying, “Loose your lord!”, they unbound +Mura’ash and broke his fetters, and he said to them, “Bring me my arms and my +winged horse.” Now he had two flying steeds, one of which he had given to +Gharib and the other he had kept for himself; and this he mounted after he had +donned his battle-harness. Then he and Gharib fell upon the enemy, flying +through the air on their winged horses, and the true-believing Jinn followed +them, shouting “Allaho Akbar—God is Most Great!”—till plains and hills, valleys +and mountains re-worded the cry. The Infidels fled before them and they +returned, after having slain more than thirty thousand Marids and Satans, to +the city of Japhet, where the two Kings sat down on their couches of estate and +sought Barkan, but found him not; for after capturing him they were diverted +from him by stress of battle, where an Ifrit of his servants made his way to +him and loosing him, carried him to his folk, of whom he found part slain and +the rest in full flight. So he flew up with the King high in air and sat him +down in the City of Carnelian and Castle of Gold, where Barkan seated himself +on the throne of his kingship. Presently, those of his people who had survived +the affair came in to him and gave him joy of his safety; and he said, “O folk, +where is safety? My army is slain and they took me prisoner and have rent in +pieces mine honour among the tribes of the Jann.” Quoth they, “O King, ’tis +ever thus that kings still afflict and are afflicted.” Quoth he, “There is no +help but I take my wreak and wipe out my shame, else shall I be for ever +disgraced among the tribes of the Jann.” Then he wrote letters to the Governors +of his fortresses, who came to him right loyally and, when he reviewed them, he +found three hundred and twenty thousand fierce Marids and Satans, who said to +him, “What is thy need?” And he replied, “Get ye ready to set out in three +days’ time;” whereto they rejoined “Harkening and obedience!” On this wise it +befel King Barkan; but as regards Mura’ash, when he discovered his prisoner’s +escape, it was grievous to him and he said, “Had we set an hundred Marids to +guard him, he had not fled; but whither shall he go from us?” Then said he to +Gharib, “Know, O my brother, that Barkan is perfidious and will never rest from +wreaking blood-revenge on us, but will assuredly assemble his legions and +return to attack us; wherefore I am minded to forestall him and follow the +trail of his defeat, whilst he is yet weakened thereby.” Replied Gharib, “This +is the right rede, and will best serve our need;” and Mura’ash, said, “Oh my +brother, let the Marids bear thee back to thine own country and leave me to +fight the battles of the Faith against the Infidels, that I may be lightened of +my sin-load.” But Gharib rejoined “By the virtue of the Clement, the Bountiful, +the Veiler, I will not go hence till I do to death all the misbelieving Jinn; +and Allah hasten their souls to the fire and dwelling-place dire; and none +shall be saved but those who worship Allah the One, the Victorious! But do thou +send Sahim back to the city of Oman, so haply he may be healed of his ailment.” +For Sahim was sick. So Mura’ash cried to the Marids, saying, “Take ye up Sahim +and these treasures and bear them to Oman city.” And after replying, “We hear +and we obey,” they took them and made for the land of men. Then Mura’ash wrote +letters to all his Governors and Captains of fortresses and they came to him +with an hundred and sixty thousand warriors. So they made them ready and +departed for the City of Carnelian and the Castle of Gold, covering in one day +a year’s journey and halted in a valley, where they encamped and passed the +night. Next morning as they were about to set forth, behold, the vanguard of +Barkan’s army appeared, whereupon the Jinn cried out and the two hosts met and +fell each upon other in that valley. Then the engagement was dight and there +befel a sore fight as though an earthquake shook the site and fair plight waxed +foul plight. Earnest came and jest took flight, and parley ceased ’twixt wight +and wight,[FN#41] whilst long lives were cut short in a trice and the +Unbelievers fell into disgrace and despite; for Gharib charged them, +proclaiming the Unity of the Worshipful, the All-might and shore through necks +and left heads rolling in the dust; nor did night betide before nigh seventy +thousand of the Miscreants were slain, and of the Moslemised over ten thousand +Marids had fallen. Then the kettle-drums beat the retreat, and the two hosts +drew apart,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the two hosts +drew apart, Gharib and Mura’ash returned to their tents, after wiping their +weapons, and supper being set before them, they ate and gave each other joy of +their safety, and the loss of their Marids being so small. As for Barkan, he +returned to his tent, grieving for the slaughter of his champions, and said to +his officers, “O folk, an we tarry here and do battle with them on this wise in +three days’ time we shall be cut off to the last wight.” Quoth they, “And how +shall we do, O King?” Quoth Barkan, “We will fall upon them under cover of +night whilst they are deep in sleep, and not one of them shall be left to tell +the tale. So take your arms and when I give the word of command, attack and +fall on your enemies as one.” Now there was amongst them a Marid named Jandal +whose heart inclined to Al-Islam; so, when he heard the Kafirs’ plot, he stole +away from them and going in to King Mura’ash and King Gharib, told the twain +what Barkan had devised; whereupon Mura’ash turned to Gharib and said to him, +“O my brother, what shall we do?” Gharib replied, “To-night we will fall upon +the Miscreants and chase them into the wilds and the wolds if it be the will of +the Omnipotent King.” Then he summoned the Captains of the Jann and said to +them, “Arm yourselves, you and yours; and, as soon as ’tis dark, steal out of +your tents on foot, hundreds after hundreds, and lie in ambush among the +mountains; and when ye see the enemy engaged among the tents, do ye fall upon +them from all quarters. Hearten your hearts and rely on your Lord, and ye shall +certainly conquer; and behold, I am with you!” So, as soon as it was dark +Night, the Infidels attacked the camp, invoking aid of the fire and light; but +when they came among the tents, the Moslems fell upon them, calling for help on +the Lord of the Worlds and saying, “O Most Merciful of Mercifuls, O Creator of +all createds!” till they left them like mown grass, cut down and dead. Nor did +morning dawn before the most part of the unbelievers were species without souls +and the rest made for the wastes and marshes, whilst Gharib and Mura’ash +returned triumphant and victorious; and, making prize of the enemy’s baggage, +they rested till the morrow, when they set out for the City of Carnelian and +Castle of Gold. As for Barkan, when the battle had turned against him and most +of his lieges were slain, he fled through the dark with the remnant of his +power to his capital where he entered his palace and assembling his legionaries +said to them, “O folk, whoso hath aught of price, let him take it and follow me +to the Mountain Káf, to the Blue King, lord of the Pied Palace; for he it is +who shall avenge us.” So they took their women and children and goods and made +for the Caucasus-mountain. Presently Mura’ash and Gharib arrived at the City of +Carnelian and Castle of Gold to find the gates open and none left to give them +news; whereupon they entered and Mura’ash led Gharib that he might show him the +city, whose walls were builded of emeralds and its gates of red carnelian, with +studs of silver, and the terrace-roofs of its houses and mansions reposed upon +beams of lign-aloes and sandal-wood. So they took their pleasure in its streets +and alleys, till they came to the Palace of Gold and entering passed through +seven vestibules, when they drew near to a building, whose walls were of royal +balass-rubies and its pavement of emerald and jacinth. The two Kings were +astounded at the goodliness of the place and fared on from vestibule to +vestibule, till they had passed through the seventh and happened upon the inner +court of the palace wherein they saw four daïses, each different from the +others, and in the midst a jetting fount of red gold, compassed about with +golden lions,[FN#42] from whose mouths issued water. These were things to daze +man’s wit. The estrade at the upper end was hung and carpeted with brocaded +silks of various colours and thereon stood two thrones of red gold, inlaid with +pearls and jewels. So Mura’ash and Gharib sat down on Barkan’s thrones and held +high state in the Palace of Gold.— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Mura’ash and Gharib +took seat on Barkan’s thrones and held high state. Then said Gharib to +Mura’ash, “What thinkest thou to do?” And Mura’ash replied, “O King of mankind, +I have despatched an hundred horse to learn where Barkan is, that we may pursue +him.” Then they abode three days in the palace, till the scouting Marids returned +with the news that Barkan had fled to the Mountain Kaf and craved protection of +the Blue King who granted it; whereupon quoth Mura’ash to Gharib, “What sayest +thou, O my brother?” and quoth Gharib, “Except we attack them they will attack +us.” So they bade the host make ready for departure and after three days, they +were about to set out with their troops, when the Marids, who had carried Sahim +and the presents back to Oman, returned and kissed ground before Gharib. He +questioned them of his people and they replied, “After the last affair, thy +brother Ajib, leaving Ya’arub bin Kahtan, fled to the King of Hind and, +submitting his case, sought his protection. The King granted his prayer and +writing letters to all his governors, levied an army as it were the surging +sea, having neither beginning nor end, wherewith he purposeth to invade Al-Irak +and lay it waste.” When Gharib heard this, he said, “Perish the Misbelievers! +Verily, Allah Almighty shall give the victory to Al-Islam and I will soon show +them hew and foin.” Said Mura’ash, “O King of humans, by the virtue of the +Mighty Name, I must needs go with thee to thy kingdom and destroy thy foes and +bring thee to thy wish.” Gharib thanked him and they rested on this resolve +till the morrow, when they set out, intending for Mount Caucasus and marched +many days till they reached the City of Alabaster and the Pied Palace. Now this +city was fashioned of alabaster and precious stones by Bárik bin Fáki’, father +of the Jinn, and he also founded the Pied Palace, which was so named because +edified with one brick of gold alternating with one of silver, nor was there +builded aught like it in all the world. When they came within half a day’s +journey of the city, they halted to take their rest, and Mura’ash sent out to +reconnoitre a scout who returned and said, “O King, within the City of +Alabaster are legions of the Jinn, for number as the leaves of the trees or as +the drops of rain.” So Mura’ash said to Gharib, “How shall we do, O King of +Mankind?” He replied, “O King, divide your men into four bodies and encompass +with them the camp of the Infidels; then, in the middle of the Night, let them +cry out, saying, ‘God is Most Great!’ and withdraw and watch what happeneth +among the tribes of the Jinn.” So Mura’ash did as Gharib counselled and the +troops waited till midnight, when they encircled the foe and shouted “Allaho +Akbar! Ho for the Faith of Abraham the Friend, on whom be the Peace!” The +Misbelievers at this cry awoke in affright and snatching up their arms, fell +one upon other till the morning, when most part of them were dead bodies and +but few remained. Then Gharib cried out to the True Believers, saying, “Up and +at the remnant of the Kafirs! Behold I am with you, and Allah is your helper!” +So the Moslems drave at the enemy and Gharib bared his magical blade Al-Mahik +and fell upon the foe, lopping off noses and making heads wax hoary and whole +ranks turn tail. At last he came up with Barkan and smote him and bereft him of +life and he fell down, drenched in his blood. On like wise he did with the Blue +King, and by undurn-hour not one of the Kafirs was left alive to tell the tale. +Then Gharib and Mura’ash entered the Pied Palace and found its walls builded of +alternate courses of gold and silver, with door-sills of crystal and keystones +of greenest emerald. In its midst was a fountain adorned with bells and +pendants and figures of birds and beasts spouting forth water, and thereby a +daïs[FN#43] furnished with gold-brocaded silk, bordered or embroidered with +jewels: and they found the treasures of the palace past count or description. +Then they entered the women’s court, where they came upon a magnificent +serraglio and Gharib saw, among the Blue King’s woman-folk a girl clad in a +dress worth a thousand dinars, never had he beheld a goodlier. About her were +an hundred slave-girls, upholding her train with golden hooks, and she was in +their midst as the moon among stars. When he saw her, his reason was confounded +and he said to one of the waiting-women, “Who may be yonder maid?” Quoth they, +“This is the Blue King’s daughter, Star o’ Morn.”——And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib asked the +slave-women saying, “Who may be yonder maid,” they replied, “This is Star o’ +Morn, daughter to the Blue King.” Then Gharib turned to Mura’ash and said to +him, “O King of the Jinn, I have a mind to take yonder damsel to wife.” Replied +Mura’ash, “The palace and all that therein is, live stock and dead, are the +prize of thy right hand; for, hadst thou not devised a stratagem to destroy the +Blue King and Barkan, they had cut us off to the last one: wherefore the +treasure is thy treasure and the folk thy thralls.” Gharib thanked him for his +fair speech and going up to the girl, gazed steadfastly upon her and loved her +with exceeding love, forgetting Fakhr Taj the Princess and even Mahdiyah. Now +her mother was the Chinese King’s daughter whom the Blue King had carried off +from her palace and perforce deflowered, and she conceived by him and bare this +girl, whom he named Star o’ Morn, by reason of her beauty and loveliness; for +she was the very Princess of the Fair. Her mother died when she was a babe of +forty days, and the nurses and eunuchs reared her, till she reached the age of +seventeen; but she hated her sire and rejoiced in his slaughter. So Gharib put +his palm to hers[FN#44] and went in unto her that night and found her a virgin. +Then he bade pull down the Pied Palace and divided the spoil with the true- +believing Jinn, and there fell to his share one- and-twenty thousand bricks of +gold and silver and money and treasure beyond speech and count. Then Mura’ash +took Gharib and showed him the Mountain Kaf and all its marvels; after which +they returned to Barkan’s fortress and dismantled it and shared the spoil +thereof. Then they repaired to Mura’ash’s capital, where they tarried five +days, when Gharib sought to revisit his native country and Mura’ash said, “O +King of mankind, I will ride at thy stirrup and bring thee to thine own land.” +Replied Gharib, “No, by the virtue of Abraham the Friend, I will not suffer +thee to weary thyself thus, nor will I take any of the Jinn save Kaylajan and +Kurajan.” Quoth the King, “Take with thee ten thousand horsemen of the Jinn, to +serve thee;” but quoth Gharib, “I will take only as I said to thee.” So +Mura’ash bade a thousand Marids carry him to his native land, with his share of +the spoil; and he commanded Kaylajan and Kurajan to follow him and obey him; +and they answered, “Hearkening and obedience.” Then said Gharib to the Marids, +“Do ye carry the treasure and Star o’ Morn;” for he himself thought to ride his +flying steed. But Mura’ash said to him, “This horse, O my brother, will live +only in our region, and, if it come upon man’s earth, ’twill die: but I have in +my stables a sea-horse, whose fellow is not found in Al-Irak, no, nor in all +the world is its like.” So he caused bring forth the horse, and when Gharib saw +it, it interposed between him and his wits.[FN#45] Then they bound it and +Kaylajan bore it on his shoulders and Kurajan took what he could carry. And +Mura’ash embraced Gharib and wept for parting from him, saying, “O my brother, +if aught befal thee wherein thou art powerless, send for me and I will come to +thine aid with an army able to lay waste the whole earth and what is thereon.” +Gharib thanked him for his kindness and zeal for the True Faith and took leave +of him; whereupon the Marids set out with Gharib and his goods; and, after +traversing fifty years’ journey in two days and a Night, alighted near the city +of Oman and halted to take rest. Then Gharib sent out Kaylajan, to learn news +of his people, and he returned and said, “O King, the city is beleaguered by a +host of Infidels, as they were the surging sea, and thy people are fighting +them. The drums beat to battle and Jamrkan goeth forth as champion in the +field.” When Gharib heard this, he cried aloud, “God is Most Great!” and said +to Kaylajan, “Saddle me the steed and bring me my arms and spear; for to-day +the valiant shall be known from the coward in the place of war and +battle-stead.” So Kaylajan brought him all he sought and Gharib armed and +belting in baldrick Al-Mahik, mounted the sea horse and made toward the hosts. +Quoth Kaylajan and Kurajan to him, “Set thy heart at rest and let us go to the +Kafirs and scatter them abroad in the wastes and wilds till, by the help of +Allah, the All-powerful, we leave not a soul alive, no, not a blower of the +fire.” But Gharib said “By the virtue of Abraham the Friend, I will not let you +fight them without me and behold, I mount!” Now the cause of the coming of that +great host was right marvellous.[FN#46]——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Sixtieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib had +bidden Kaylajan go and learn news of his people, the Jinn fared forth and +presently returning said, “Verily around thy city is a mighty host!” Now the +cause of its coming was that Ajib, having fled the field after Ya’arub’s army +had been put to the rout, said to his people, “O folk, if we return to Ya’arub +bin Kahtan, he will say to us, ‘But for you, my son and my people had not been +slain; and he will put us to death, even to the last man.’ Wherefore, methinks +we were better go to Tarkanán, King of Hind, and beseech him to avenge us.” +Replied they, “Come, let us go thither; and the blessing of the Fire be upon +thee!” So they fared days and nights till they reached King Tarkanan’s capital +city and, after asking and obtaining permission to present himself, Ajib went +in to him and kissed ground before him. Then he wished him what men use to wish +to monarchy and said to him, “O King, protect me, so may protect thee the +sparkling Fire and the Night with its thick darkness!” Tarkanan looked at Ajib +and asked, “Who art thou and what dost thou want?”; to which the other +answered, “I am Ajib King of Al-Irak; my brother hath wronged me and gotten the +mastery of the land and the subjects have submitted themselves to him. +Moreover, he hath embraced the faith of Al-Islam and he ceaseth not to chase me +from country to country; and behold, I am come to seek protection of thee and +thy power.” When Tarkanan heard Ajib’s words, he rose and sat down and cried, +“By the virtue of the Fire, I will assuredly avenge thee and will let none +serve other than my goddess the Fire!” And he called aloud to his son, saying, +“O my son, make ready to go to Al-Irak and lay it waste and bind all who serve +aught but the Fire and torment them and make example of them; yet slay them +not, but bring them to me, that I may ply them with various tortures and make +them taste the bitterness of humiliation and leave them a warning to whoso will +be warned in this our while.” Then he chose out to accompany him eighty +thousand fighting men on horseback and the like number on giraffes,[FN#47] +besides ten thousand elephants, bearing on their backs seats[FN#48] of +sandal-wood, latticed with golden rods, plated and studded with gold and silver +and shielded with pavoises of gold and emerald; moreover he sent good store of +war-chariots, in each eight men fighting with all kinds of weapons. Now the +Prince’s name was Ra’ad Sháh,[FN#49] and he was the champion of his time, for +prowess having no peer. So he and his army equipped them in ten days’ time, +then set out, as they were a bank of clouds, and fared on two months’ journey, +till they came upon Oman city and encompassed it, to the joy of Ajib, who +thought himself assured of victory. Jamrkan and Sa’adan and all their +fighting-men sallied forth into the field of fight whilst the kettle-drums beat +to battle and the horses neighed. At this moment up came King Gharib, who, as +we have said, had been warned by Kaylajan; and he urged on his destrier and +entered among the Infidels waiting to see who should come forth and open the +chapter of war. Then out rushed Sa’adan the Ghul and offered combat, whereupon +there issued forth to him one of the champions of Hind; but Sa’adan scarce let +him take stand in front ere he smote him with his mace and crushed his bones +and stretched him on the ground; and so did he with a second and a third, till +he had slain thirty fighting-men. Then there dashed out at him an Indian +cavalier, by name Battásh al-Akrán,[FN#50] uncle to King Tarkanan and of his +day the doughtiest man, reckoned worth five thousand horse in battle-plain and +cried out to Sa’adan, saying, “O thief of the Arabs, hath thy daring reached +that degree that thou shouldst slay the Kings of Hind and their champions and +capture their horsemen? But this day is the last of thy worldly days.” When +Sa’adan heard these words, his eyes waxed blood-red and he drave at Battash and +aimed a stroke at him with his club; but he evaded it and the force of the blow +bore Sa’adan to the ground; and before he could recover himself, the Indians +pinioned him and haled him off to their tents. Now when Jamrkan saw his comrade +a prisoner, he cried out, saying, “Ho for the Faith of Abraham the Friend!” and +clapping heel to his horse, ran at Battash. They wheeled about awhile, till +Battash charged Jamrkan and catching him by his jerkin[FN#51] tare him from his +saddle and cast him to the ground; whereupon the Indians bound him and dragged +him away to their tents. And Battash ceased not to overcome all who came out to +him, Captain after Captain till he had made prisoners of four- and-twenty Chiefs +of the Moslems, whereat the True Believers were sore dismayed. When Gharib saw +what had befallen his braves, he drew from beneath his knee[FN#52] a mace of +gold weighing six-score pounds which had belonged to Barkan King of the +Jann——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib beheld what +had befallen his braves he drew forth a golden mace which had belonged to +Barkan King of the Jann and clapped heel to his sea-horse, which bore him like +the wind-gust into mid-field. Then he let drive at Battash, crying out, “God is +Most Great! He giveth aid and victory and He abaseth whoso reject the Faith of +Abraham the Friend!” and smote him with the mace, whereupon he fell to the +ground and Gharib, turning to the Moslems, saw his brother Sahim and said to +him, “Pinion me this hound.” When Sahim heard his brother’s words, he ran to +Battash and bound him hard and fast and bore him off, whilst the Moslem braves +wondered who this knight could be and the Indians said one to other, “Who is +this horseman which came out from among them and hath taken our Chief +prisoner?” Meanwhile Gharib continued to offer battle and there issued forth to +him a captain of the Hindís whom he felled to earth with his mace, and Kaylajan +and Kurajan pinioned him and delivered him over to Sahim; nor did Gharib leave +to do thus, till he had taken prisoner two- and-fifty of the doughtiest Captains +of the army of Hind. Then the day came to an end and the kettle-drums beat the +retreat; whereupon Gharib left the field and rode towards the Moslem camp. The +first to meet him was Sahim, who kissed his feet in the stirrups and said, “May +thy hand never wither, O champion of the age! Tell us who thou art among the +braves.” So Gharib raised his vizor of mail and Sahim knew him and cried out, +saying, “This is your King and your lord Gharib, who is come back from the land +of the Jann!” When the Moslems heard Gharib’s name, they threw themselves off +their horses’ backs, and, crowding about him, kissed his feet in the stirrups +and saluted him, rejoicing in his safe return. Then they carried him into the +city of Oman, where he entered his palace and sat down on the throne of his +kingship, whilst his officers stood around him in the utmost joy. Food was set +on and they ate, after which Gharib related to them all that had betided him +with the Jinn in Mount Kaf, and they marvelled thereat with exceeding marvel +and praised Allah for his safety. Then he dismissed them to their sleeping +places; so they withdrew to their several lodgings, and when none abode with +him but Kaylajan and Kurajan, who never left him, he said to them, “Can ye +carry me to Cufa that I may take my pleasure in my Harim, and bring me back +before the end of the night?” They replied, “O our lord, this thou askest is +easy.” Now the distance between Cufa and Oman is sixty days’ journey for a +diligent horseman, and Kaylajan said to Kurajan, “I will carry him going and +thou coming back.” So he took up Gharib and flew off with him, in company with +Kurajan; nor was an hour past before they set him down at the gate of his +palace, in Cufa. He went in to his uncle Al-Damigh, who rose to him and +saluted him; after which quoth Gharib, “How is it with my wives Fakhr +Taj[FN#53] and Mahdiyah?” Al-Damigh answered, “They are both well and in good +case.” Then the eunuch went in and acquainted the women of the Harim with +Gharib’s coming, whereat they rejoiced and raised the trill of joy and gave him +the reward for good news. Presently in came King Gharib, and they rose and +saluting him, conversed with him, till Al-Damigh entered, when Gharib related +to them all that had befallen him in the land of the Jinn, whereat they all +marvelled. Then he lay with Fakhr Taj till near daybreak, when he took leave of +his wives and his uncle and mounted Kurajan’s back, nor was the darkness +dispelled before the two Marids set him down in the city of Oman. Then he and +his men armed and he bade open the gates when, behold, up came a horseman from +the host of the Indians, with Jamrkan and Sa’adan and the rest of the captive +captains whom he had delivered, and committed them to Gharib. The Moslems, +rejoicing in their safety, donned their mails and took horse, while the +kettle-drums beat a point of war; and the Miscreants also drew up in line.——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Moslem host +mounted and rode to the plain of cut and thrust, the first to open the door of +war was King Gharib who, drawing his sword Al-Mahik, drove his charger between +the two ranks and cried out, saying, “Whoso knoweth me hath enough of my +mischief and whoso unknoweth me, to him I will make myself known. I am Gharib, +King of Al-Irak and Al-Yaman, brother of Ajib.” When Ra’ad Shah, son of the +King of Hind, heard this, he shouted to his captains, “Bring me Ajib.” So they +brought him and Ra’ad Shah said to him, “Thou wottest that this quarrel is thy +quarrel and thou art the cause of all this slaughter. Now yonder standeth thy +brother Gharib amiddle-most the fightfield and stead where sword and spear we +shall wield; go thou to him and bring him to me a prisoner, that I may set him +on a camel arsy-versy, and make a show of him and carry him to the land of +Hind.” Answered Ajib, “O King, send out to him other than I, for I am in +ill-health this morning.” But Ra’ad Shah snarked and snorted and cried, “By the +virtue of the sparkling Fire and the light and the shade and the heat, unless +thou fare forth to thy brother and bring him to me in haste, I will cut off thy +head and make an end of thee.” So Ajib took heart and urging his horse up to +his brother in mid-field, said to him, “O dog of the Arabs and vilest of all +who hammer down tent pegs, wilt thou contend with Kings? Take what to thee +cometh and receive the glad tidings of thy death.” When Gharib heard this, he +said to him, “Who art thou among the Kings?” And Ajib answered, saying, “I am +thy brother, and this day is the last of thy worldly days.” Now when Gharib was +assured that he was indeed his brother Ajib, he cried out and said, “Ho, to +avenge my father and mother!” Then giving his sword to Kaylajan,[FN#54] he +drave at Ajib and smote him with his mace a smashing blow and a swashing, that +went nigh to beat in his ribs, and seizing him by the mail-gorget tore him from +the saddle and cast him to the ground; whereupon the two Marids pounced upon +him and binding him fast, dragged him off dejected and abject; whilst Gharib +rejoiced in the capture of his enemy and repeated these couplets of the poet, +</p> + +<p> +“I have won my wish and my need have scored * Unto Thee be the praise and the +thanks, O our<br /> + +Lord!<br /> + +I grew up dejected and abject; poor, * But Allah vouchsafed me all boons +implored:<br /> + +I have conquered countries and mastered men * But for Thee were I naught, O +thou Lord<br /> + +adored!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +When Ra’ad Shah saw how evilly Ajib fared with his brother, he called for his +charger and donning his harness and habergeon, mounted and dashed out a-field. +As soon as he drew near King Gharib, he cried out at him, saying, “O basest of +Arabs and bearer of scrubs,[FN#55] who art thou, that thou shouldest capture +Kings and braves? Down from thy horse and put elbows behind back and kiss my +feet and set my warriors free and go with me in bond of chains to my reign that +I may pardon thee and make thee a Shaykh in our own land, so mayst thou eat +there a bittock of bread.” When Gharib heard these words he laughed till he +fell backwards and answered, saying, “O mad hound and mangy wolf, soon shalt +thou see against whom the shifts of Fortune will turn!” Then he cried out to +Sahim, saying, “Bring me the prisoners;” so he brought them, and Gharib smote +off their heads; whereupon Ra’ad Shah drave at him, with the driving of a +lordly champion and the onslaught of a fierce slaughterer and they falsed and +feinted and fought till nightfall, when the kettle-drums beat the retreat.——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the kettle-drums +beat the retreat, the two Kings parted and returned, each to his own place +where his people gave him joy of his safety. And the Moslems said to Gharib, +“’Tis not thy want, O King, to prolong a fight;” and he replied, “O folk, I have +done battle with many royalties[FN#56] and champions; but never saw I a harder +hitter than this one. Had I chosen to draw Al-Mahik upon him, I had mashed his +bones and made an end of his days: but I delayed with him, thinking to take him +prisoner and give him part enjoyment in Al-Islam.” Thus far concerning Gharib; +but as regards Ra’ad Shah, he returned to his marquee and sat upon his throne, +when his Chiefs came in to him and asked him of his adversary, and he answered, +“By the truth of the sparkling Fire, never in my life saw I the like of yonder +brave! But to-morrow I will take him prisoner and lead him away dejected and +abject.” Then they slept till daybreak, when the battle-drums beat to fight and +the swords in baldric were dight; and war-cries were cried amain and all +mounted their horses of generous strain and drew out into the field, filling +every wide place and hill and plain. The first to open the door of war was the +rider outrageous and the lion rageous, King Gharib, who drave his steed between +the two hosts and wheeled and careered over the field, crying, “Who is for +fray, who is for fight? Let no sluggard come out to me this day nor dullard!” +Before he had made an end of speaking, out rushed Ra’ad Shah, riding on an +elephant, as he were a vast tower, in a seat girthed with silken bands; and +between the elephant’s ears sat the driver, bearing in hand a hook, wherewith +he goaded the beast and directed him right and left. When the elephant drew +near Gharib’s horse, and the steed saw a creature it had never before set eyes +on, it took fright;[FN#57] wherefore Gharib dismounted and gave the horse to +Kaylajan. Then he drew Al-Mahik and advanced to meet Ra’ad Shah a-foot, walking +on till he faced the elephant. Now it was Ra’ad Shah’s wont, when he found +himself overmatched by any brave, to mount an elephant, taking with him an +implement called the lasso,[FN#58] which was in the shape of a net, wide at +base and narrow at top with a running cord of silk passed through rings along +its edges. With this he would attack horsemen and casting the meshes over them, +draw the running noose and drag the rider off his horse and make him prisoner; +and thus had he conquered many cavaliers. So, as Gharib came up to him, he +raised his hand and, despreading the net over him, pulled him on to the back of +the elephant and cried out to the beast to return to the Indian camp. But +Kaylajan and Kurajan had not left Gharib and, when they beheld what had +befallen their lord, they laid hold of the elephant, whilst Gharib strove with +the net, till he rent it in sunder. Upon this the two Marids seized Ra’ad Shah +and bound him with a cord of palm fibre. Then the two armies drove each at +other and met with a shock like two seas crashing or two mountains together +dashing, whilst the dust rose to the confines of the sky and blinded was every +eye. The battle waxed fierce and fell, the blood ran in rills, nor did they +cease to wage war with lunge of lance and sway of sword in lustiest way, till +the day darkened and the night starkened, when the drums beat the retreat and +the two hosts drew asunder.[FN#59] Now the Moslems were evilly entreated that +day by reason of the riders on elephants and giraffes,[FN#60] and many of them +were killed and most of the rest were wounded. This was grievous to Gharib who +commanded the hurt to be medicined and turning to his Chief Officers, asked +them what they counselled. Answered they, “O King, ’tis only the elephants and +giraffes that irk us; were we but quit of them, we should overcome the enemy.” +Quoth Kaylajan and Kurajan, “We twain will unsheath our swords and fall on them +and slay the most part of them.” But there came forward a man of Oman, who had +been privy counsellor to Jaland and said, “O King, I will be surety for the +host, an thou wilt but hearken to me and follow my counsel.” Gharib turned to +his Captains and said to them, “Whatsoever this wise man shall say to you that +do.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib said to +his Captains, “Whatsoever this wise man shall say to you, that do”; they +replied, “Hearing and obeying!” So the Omani chose out ten captains and asked +them, “How many braves have ye under your hands?”; and they answered, “Ten +thousand fighting-men.” Then he carried them into the armoury and armed five +thousand of them with harquebuses and other five thousand with cross bows and +taught them to shoot with these new weapons.[FN#61] Now as soon as it was day, +the Indians came out to the field, armed cap-à-pie, with the elephants, +giraffes and champions in their van; whereupon Gharib and his men mounted and +both hosts drew out and the big drums beat to battle. Then the man of Oman +cried out to the archers and harquebusiers to shoot, and they plied the +elephants and giraffes with shafts and leaden bullets, which entered the +beasts’ flanks, whereat they roared out and turning upon their own ranks, trod +them down with their hoofs. Presently the Moslems charged the Misbelievers and +outflanked them right and left, whilst the elephants and giraffes trampled them +and drove them into the hills and wolds, whither the Moslems followed hard upon +them with the keen-edged sword and but few of the giraffes and elephants +escaped. Then King Gharib and his folk returned, rejoicing in their victory; +and on the morrow they divided the loot and rested five days; after which King +Gharib sat down on the throne of his kingship and sending for his brother Ajib, +said to him, “O dog, why hast thou assembled the Kings against us? But He who +hath power over all things hath given us the victory over thee. So embrace the +Saving Faith and thou shalt be saved, and I will forbear to avenge my father +and mother on thee therefor, and I will make thee King again as thou wast, +placing myself under thy hand.” But Ajib said, “I will not leave my faith.” So +Gharib bade lay him in irons and appointed an hundred stalwart slaves to guard +him; after which he turned to Ra’ad Shah and said to him, “How sayst thou of +the faith of Al-Islam?” Replied he, “O my lord, I will enter thy faith; for, +were it not a true Faith and a goodly, thou hadst not conquered us. Put forth +thy hand and I will testify that there is no god but <i>the</i> God and that Abraham +the Friend is the Apostle of God.” At this Gharib rejoiced and said to him, “Is +thy heart indeed stablished in the sweetness of this Belief?” And he answered, +saying, “Yes, O my lord!” Then quoth Gharib, “O Ra’ad Shah, wilt thou go to thy +country and thy kingdom?” and quoth he, “O, my lord, my father will put me to +death, for that I have left his faith.” Gharib rejoined, “I will go with thee +and make thee king of the country and constrain the folk to obey thee, by the +help of Allah the Bountiful, the Beneficent.” And Ra’ad Shah kissed his hands +and feet. Then Gharib rewarded the counsellor who had caused the rout of the +foe and gave him great wealth; after which he turned to Kaylajan and Kurajan, +and said to them, “Harkye, Chiefs of the Jinn, ’tis my will that ye carry me, +together with Ra’ad Shah and Jamrkan and Sa’adan to the land of Hind.” “We hear +and we obey,” answered they. So Kurajan took up Jamrkan and Sa’adan, whilst +Kaylajan took Gharib and Ra’ad Shah and made for the land of Hind.——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the two Marids had +taken up Gharib and Jamrkan, Sa’adan the Ghul and Ra’ad Shah, they flew on with +them from sundown till the last of the night, when they set them down on the +terrace of King Tarkanan’s palace at Cashmere. Now news was brought to Tarkanan +by the remnants of his host of what had befallen his son, whereat he slept not +neither took delight in aught, and he was troubled with sore trouble. As he sat +in his Harim, pondering his case, behold, Gharib and his company descended the +stairways of the palace and came in to him; and when he saw his son and those +who were with him, he was confused and fear took him of the Marids. Then Ra’ad +Shah turned to him and said, “How long wilt thou persist in thy frowardness, O +traitor and worshipper of the Fire? Woe to thee! Leave worshipping the Fire and +serve the Magnanimous Sire, Creator of day and night, whom attaineth no sight.” +When Tarkanan heard his son’s speech, he cast at him an iron club he had by +him; but it missed him and fell upon a buttress of the palace and smote out +three stones. Then cried the King, “O dog, thou hast destroyed mine army and +hast forsaken thy faith and comest now to make me do likewise!” With this +Gharib went up to him and dealt him a cuff on the neck which knocked him down; +whereupon the Marids bound him fast and all the Harim-women fled. Then Gharib +sat down on the throne of kingship and said to Ra’ad Shah, “Do thou justice +upon thy father.” So Ra’ad Shah turned to him and said, “O perverse old man, +become one of the saved and thou shalt be saved from the fire and the wrath of +the All-powerful.” But Tarkanan cried, “I will not die save in my own faith.” +Whereupon Gharib drew Al-Mahik and smote him therewith and he fell to the earth +in two pieces, and Allah hurried his soul to the fire and abiding-place +dire.[FN#62] Then Gharib bade hang his body over the palace gate and they hung +one half on the right hand and the other on the left and waited till day, when +Gharib caused Ra’ad Shah don the royal habit and sit down on his father’s +throne, with himself on his dexter hand and Jamrkan and Sa’adan and the Marids +standing right and left; and he said to Kaylajan and Kurajan, “Whoso entereth +of the Princes and Officers, seize him and bind him, and let not a single +Captain escape you.” And they answered, “Hearkening and obedience!” Presently, +the Officers made for the palace, to do their service to the King, and the +first to appear was the Chief Captain who, seeing King Tarkanan’s dead body cut +in half and hanging on either side of the gate, was seized with terror and +amazement. Then Kaylajan laid hold of him by the collar and threw him and +pinioned him; after which he dragged him into the palace and before sunrise they +had bound three hundred and fifty Captains and set them before Gharib, who said +to them, “O folk, have you seen your King hanging at the palace gate?” Asked +they, “Who hath done this deed?”; and he answered, “I did it, by the help of +Allah Almighty; and whoso opposeth me, I will do with him likewise.” Then quoth +they, “What is thy will with us?”; and quoth he, “I am Gharib, King of Al-Irak, +he who slew your warriors; and now Ra’ad Shah hath embraced the Faith of +Salvation and is become a mighty King and ruler over you. So do ye become True +Believers and all shall be well with you; but, if ye refuse, you shall repent +it.” So they pronounced the profession of the Faith and were enrolled among the +people of felicity. Then said Gharib, “Are your hearts indeed stablished in the +sweetness of the Belief?”; and they replied, “Yes”; whereupon he bade release +them and clad them in robes of honour, saying, “Go to your people and expound +Al-Islam to them. Whoso accepteth the Faith spare him; but if he refuse slay +him.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Gharib said to +the troops of Ra’ad Shah, “Go to your people and offer Al-Islam to them. Whoso +accepteth the Faith spare him; but if he refuse, slay him.” So they went out +and, assembling the men under their command, explained what had taken place and +expounded Al-Islam to them and they all professed, except a few, whom they put +to death; after which they returned and told Gharib, who blessed Allah and +glorified Him, saying, “Praised be the Almighty who hath made this thing easy +to us without strife!” Then he abode in Cashmere of India forty days, till he +had ordered the affairs of the country and cast down the shrines and temples of +the Fire and built in their stead mosques and cathedrals, whilst Ra’ad Shah +made ready for him rarities and treasures beyond count and despatched them to +Al-Irak in ships. Then Gharib mounted on Kaylajan’s back and Jamrkan and +Sa’adan on that of Kurajan, after they had taken leave of Ra’ad Shah; and +journeyed through the night till break of day, when they reached Oman city +where their troops met them and saluted them and rejoiced in them. Then they +set out for Cufa where Gharib called for his brother Ajib and commanded to hang +him. So Sahim brought hooks of iron and driving them into the tendons of Ajib’s +heels, hung him over the gate; and Gharib bade them shoot him; so they riddled +him with arrows, till he was like unto a porcupine. Then Gharib entered his +palace and sitting down on the throne of his kingship, passed the day in +ordering the affairs of the state. At nightfall he went in to his Harim, where +Star o’ Morn came to meet him and embraced him and gave him joy, she and her +women, of his safety. He spent that day and lay that night with her and on the +morrow, after he had made the Ghusl-ablution and prayed the dawn-prayer, he sat +down on his throne and commanded preparation to be made for his marriage with +Mahdiyah. Accordingly they slaughtered three thousand head of sheep and two +thousand oxen and a thousand he goats and five hundred camels and the like +number of horses, beside four thousand fowls and great store of geese; never +was such wedding in Al-Islam to that day. Then he went in to Mahdiyah and took +her maidenhead and abode with her ten days; after which he committed the +kingdom to his uncle Al-Damigh, charging him to rule the lieges justly, and +journeyed with his women and warriors, till he came to the ships laden with the +treasures and rarities which Ra’ad Shah had sent him, and divided the monies +among his men who from poor became rich. Then they fared on till they reached +the city of Babel, where he bestowed on Sahim Al-Layl a robe of honour and +appointed him Sultan of the city.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Gharib, after robing +his brother Sahim and appointing him Sultan, abode with him ten days, after +which he set out again and journeyed nor stinted travel till he reached the +castle of Sa’adan the Ghul, where they rested five days. Then quoth Gharib to +Kaylajan and Kurajan, “Pass over to Isbánír al-Madáin, to the palace of the +Chosroe, and find what is come of Fakhr Taj and bring me one of the King’s +kinsmen, who shall acquaint me with what hath passed.” Quoth they, “We hear and +we obey,” and set out forthright for Isbanir. As they flew between heaven and +earth, behold, they caught sight of a mighty army, as it were the surging sea, +and Kaylajan said to Kurajan, “Let us descend and determine what be this host.” +So they alighted and walking among the troops, found them Persians and +questioned the soldiers whose men they were and whither they were bound; +whereto they made answer, “We are <i>en route</i> for Al-Irak, to slay Gharib and all +who company him.” When the Marids heard these words, they repaired to the +pavilion of the Persian general, whose name was Rustam, and waited till the +soldiers slept, when they took up Rustam, bed and all, and made for the castle +where Gharib lay. They arrived there by midnight and going to the door of the +King’s pavilion, cried, “Permission!” which when he heard, he sat up and said, +“Come in.” So they entered and set down the couch with Rustam asleep thereon. +Gharib asked, “Who be this?” and they answered, “This be a Persian Prince, whom +we met coming with a great host, thinking to slay thee and thine, and we have +brought him to thee, that he may tell thee what thou hast a mind to know.” +“Fetch me an hundred braves!” cried Gharib, and they fetched them; whereupon he +bade them, “Draw your swords and stand at the head of this Persian carle!” Then +they awoke him and he opened his eyes; and, finding an arch of steel over his +head, shut them again, crying, “What be this foul dream?” But Kaylajan pricked +him with his sword point and he sat up and said, “Where am I?” Quoth Sahim, +“Thou art in the presence of King Gharib, son-in-law of the King of the +Persians. What is thy name and whither goest thou?” When Rustam heard Gharib’s +name, he bethought himself and said in his mind, “Am I asleep or awake?” +Whereupon Sahim dealt him a buffet, saying, “Why dost thou not answer?” And he +raised his head and asked, “Who brought me from my tent out of the midst of my +men?” Gharib answered, “These two Marids brought thee.” So he looked at +Kaylajan and Kurajan and skited in his bag-trousers. Then the Marids fell upon +him, baring their tusks and brandishing their blades, and said to him, “Wilt +thou not rise and kiss ground before King Gharib?” And he trembled at them and +was assured that he was not asleep; so he stood up and kissed the ground +between the hands of Gharib, saying, “The blessing of the Fire be on thee, and +long life be thy life, O King!” Gharib cried, “O dog of the Persians, fire is +not worshipful, for that it is harmful and profiteth not save in cooking food.” +Asked Rustam, “Who then is worshipful?”; and Gharib answered, “Alone +worship-worth is God, who formed thee and fashioned thee and created the heavens +and the earth.” Quoth the Ajami, “What shall I say that I may become of the +party of this Lord and enter thy Faith?”; and quoth Gharib, “Say:—There is no +god but <i>the</i> God, and Abraham is the Friend of God.” So Rustam pronounced the +profession of the Faith and was enrolled among the people of felicity. Then +said he to Gharib, “Know, O my lord, that thy father-in-law, King Sabur, +seeketh to slay thee; and indeed he hath sent me with an hundred thousand men, +charging me to spare none of you.” Gharib rejoined, “Is this my reward for +having delivered his daughter from death and dishonour? Allah will requite him +his ill intent. But what is thy name?” The Persian answered, “My name is +Rustam, general of Sabur;” and Gharib, “Thou shalt have the like rank in my +army,” adding, “But tell me, O Rustam, how is it with the Princess Fakhr Taj?” +“May thy head live, O King of the age!” “What was the cause of her death?” +Rustam replied, “O my lord, no sooner hadst thou left us than one of the +Princess’s women went in to King Sabur and said to him,:—O my master, didst +thou give Gharib leave to lie with the Princess my mistress? whereto he +answered,:—No, by the virtue of the fire! and drawing his sword, went in to +his daughter and said to her,:—O foul baggage, why didst thou suffer yonder +Badawi to sleep with thee, without dower or even wedding? She replied,:—O my +papa, ’twas thou gavest him leave to sleep with me. Then he asked,:—Did the +fellow have thee? but she was silent and hung down her head. Hereupon he cried +out to the midwives and slave-girls, saying,:—Pinion me this harlot’s elbows +behind her and look at her privy parts. So they did as he bade them and after +inspecting her slit said to him,:—O King, she hath lost her maidenhead. +Whereupon he ran at her and would have slain her, but her mother rose up and +threw herself between them crying,:—O King, slay her not, lest thou be for ever +dishonoured; but shut her in a cell till she die. So he cast her into prison +till nightfall, when he called two of his courtiers and said to them,:—Carry +her afar off and throw her into the river Jayhun and tell none. They did his +commandment, and indeed her memory is forgotten and her time is past.”——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib asked news +of Fakhr Taj, Rustam informed him that she had been drowned in the river by her +sire’s command. And when Gharib heard this, the world waxed wan before his eyes +and he cried, “By the virtue of Abraham the Friend, I will assuredly go to +yonder dog and overwhelm him and lay waste his realm!” Then he sent letters to +Jamrkan and to the governors of Mosul and Mayyáfáríkín; and, turning to +Rustam, said to him, “How many men hadst thou in thine army?” He replied, “An +hundred thousand Persian horse;” and Gharib rejoined, “Take ten thousand horse +and go to thy people and occupy them with war; I will follow on thy trail.” So +Rustam mounted and taking ten thousand Arab horse made for his tribe, saying in +himself, “I will do a deed shall whiten my face with King Gharib.” So he fared +on seven days, till there remained but half a day’s journey between him and the +Persian camp; when, dividing his host into four divisions he said to his men, +“Surround the Persians on all sides and fall upon them with the sword.” They +rode on from eventide till midnight, when they had compassed the camp of the +Ajams, who were asleep in security, and fell upon them, shouting, “God is Most +Great!” Whereupon the Persians started up from sleep and their feet slipped and +the sabre went round amongst them; for the All-knowing King was wroth with +them, and Rustam wrought amongst them as fire in dry fuel; till, by the end of +the night, the whole of the Persian host was slain or wounded or fled, and the +Moslems made prize of their tents and baggage, horses, camels and +treasure-chests. Then they alighted and rested in the tents of the Ajams till +King Gharib came up and, seeing what Rustam had done and how he had gained by +stratagem a great and complete victory, he invested him with a robe of honour +and said to him, “O Rustam, it was thou didst put the Persians to the rout; +wherefore all the spoil is thine.” So he kissed Gharib’s hand and thanked him, +and they rested till the end of the day, when they set out for King Sabur’s +capital. Meanwhile, the fugitives of the defeated force reached Isbanir and +went in to Sabur, crying out and saying, “Alas!” and “Well-away!” and “Woe +worth the day!” Quoth he, “What hath befallen you and who with his mischief +hath smitten you?” So they told him all that had passed and said, “Naught befel +us except that thy general Rustam, fell upon us in the darkness of the night +because he had turned Moslem; nor did Gharib come near us.” When the King heard +this, he cast his crown to the ground and said, “There is no worth left us!” +Then he turned to his son Ward Shah[FN#63] and said to him, “O my son, there is +none for this affair save thou.” Answered Ward Shah, “By thy life, O my father, +I will assuredly bring Gharib and his chiefs of the people in chains and slay +all who are with him.” Then he numbered his army and found it two hundred and +twenty thousand men. So they slept, intending to set forth on the morrow; but, +next morning, as they were about to march, behold, a cloud of dust arose and +spread till it walled the world and baffled the sight of the farthest-seeing +wight. Now Sabur had mounted to farewell his son, and when he saw this mighty +great dust, he let call a runner and said to him, “Go find me out the cause of +this dust-cloud.” The scout went and returned, saying, “O my lord, Gharib and +his braves are upon you;” whereupon they unloaded their bât-beasts and drew out +in line of battle. When Gharib came up and saw the Persians ranged in row, he +cried out to his men, saying, “Charge with the blessing of Allah!” So they +waved the flags, and the Arabs and the Ajamis drave one at other and folk were +heaped upon folk. Blood ran like water and all souls saw death face to face; +the brave advanced and pressed forward to assail and the coward hung back and +turned tail and they ceased not from fight and fray till ended day, when the +kettle-drums beat the retreat and the two hosts drew apart. Then Sabur +commanded to pitch his camp hard over the city-gate, and Gharib set up his +pavilions in front of theirs; and every one went to his tent.——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the two hosts drew +apart, every one went to his tent until the morning. As soon as it was day, the +two hosts mounted their strong steeds and levelled their lances and wore their +harness of war; then they raised their slogan cries and drew out in +battle-array, whilst came forth all the lordly knights and the lions of fights. +Now the first to open the gate of battle was Rustam, who urged his charger into +mid-field and cried out, “God is most Great! I am Rustam, champion-in-chief of +the Arabs and Ajams. Who is for tilting, who is for fighting? Let no sluggard +come out to me this day or weakling!” Then there rushed forth to him a champion +of the Persians; the two charged each other and there befel between them a sore +fight, till Rustam sprang upon his adversary and smote him with a mace he had +with him, seventy pounds in weight, and beat his head down upon his breast, and +he fell to the earth, dead and in his blood drowned. This was no light matter +to Sabur and he commanded his men to charge; so they drave at the Moslems, +invoking the aid of the light-giving Sun, whilst the True Believers called for +help upon the Magnanimous King. But the Ajams, the Miscreants, outnumbered the +Arabs, the Moslems, and made them drain the cup of death; which when Gharib saw +he drew his sword Al-Mahik and crying out his war-cry, fell upon the Persians, +with Kaylajan and Kurajan at either stirrup; nor did he leave playing upon them +with blade till he hewed his way to the standard-bearer and smote him on the +head with the flat of his sword, whereupon he fell down in a fainting-fit and +the two Marids bore him off to their camp. When the Persians saw the standard +fall, they turned and fled and for the city-gates made; but the Moslems +followed them with the blade and they crowded together to enter the city, so +that they could not shut the gates and there died of them much people. Then +Rustam and Sa’adan, Jamrkan and Sahim, Al-Damigh, Kaylajan and Kurajan and all +the braves Mohammedan and the champions of Faith Unitarian fell upon the +misbelieving Persians in the gates, and the blood of the Kafirs ran in the +streets like a torrent till they threw down their arms and harness and called +out for quarter; whereupon the Moslems stayed their swords from the slaughter +and drove them to their tents, as one driveth a flock of sheep. Meanwhile +Gharib returned to his pavilion, where he doffed his gear and washed himself of +the blood of the Infidels; after which he donned his royal robes and sat down +on his chair of estate. Then he called for the King of the Persians and said to +him, “O dog of the Ajams, what moved thee to deal thus with thy daughter? How +seest thou me unworthy to be her baron?” And Sabur answered, saying, “O King, +punish me not because of that deed which I did; for I repent me and confronted +thee not in fight but in my fear of thee.”[FN#64] When Gharib heard these +words he bade throw him flat and beat him. So they bastinadoed him, till he +could no longer groan, and cast him among the prisoners. Then Gharib expounded +Al-Islam to the Persians and one hundred and twenty thousand of them embraced +The Faith, and the rest he put to the sword. Moreover all the citizens +professed Al-Islam and Gharib mounted and entered in great state the city +Isbanir Al-Madain. Then he went into the King’s palace and sitting down on +Sabur’s throne, gave robes and largesse and distributed the booty and treasure +among the Arabs and Persians, wherefore they loved him and wished him victory +and honour and endurance of days. But Fakhr Taj’s mother remembered her +daughter and raised the voice of mourning for her, and the palace was filled +with wails and cries. Gharib heard this and entering the Harim, asked the women +what ailed them, whereupon the Princess’s mother came forward and said, “O my +lord, thy presence put me in mind of my daughter and how she would have joyed +in thy coming, had she been alive and well.” Gharib wept for her and sitting +down on his throne, called for Sabur, and they brought him stumbling in his +shackles. Quoth Gharib to him, “O dog of the Persians, what didst thou do with +thy daughter?” “I gave her to such an one and such an one,” quoth the King, +“saying,:—Drown her in the river Jayhún.” So Gharib sent for the two men and +asked them, “Is what he saith true?” Answered they, “Yes; but, O King, we did +not drown her, nay we took pity on her and left her on the banks of the Jayhun, +saying,—Save thyself and return not to the city, lest the King slay thee and +slay us with thee. This is all we know of her.”——And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Seventieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the two men ended +the tale of Fakhr Taj with these words, “And we left her upon the bank of the +river Jayhun!” Now, when Gharib heard this he bade bring the astrologers and +said to them, “Strike me a board of geomancy and find out what is come of Fakhr +Taj, and whether she is still in the bonds of life or dead.” They did so and +said, “O King of the age, it is manifest to us that the Princess is alive and +hath borne a male child; but she is with a tribe of the Jinn, and will be +parted from thee twenty years; count, therefore, how many years thou hast been +absent in travel.” So he reckoned up the years of his absence and found them +eight years and said, “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, +the Glorious, the Great!”[FN#65] Then he sent for all Sabur’s Governors of +towns and strongholds and they came and did him homage. Now one day after this, +as he sat in his palace, behold, a cloud of dust appeared in the distance and +spread till it walled the whole land and darkened the horizon. So he summoned +the two Marids and bade them reconnoitre, and they went forth under the +dust-cloud and snatching up a horseman of the advancing host, returned and set +him down before Gharib, saying, “Ask this fellow, for he is of the army.” Quoth +Gharib, “Whose power is this?” and the man answered, “O King, ’tis the army of +Khirad Shah,[FN#66] King of Shiras, who is come forth to fight thee.” Now the +cause of Khirad Shah’s coming was this. When Gharib defeated Sabur’s army, as +hath been related, and took him prisoner, the King’s son fled, with a handful +of his father’s force and ceased not flying till he reached the city of Shiras, +where he went into King Khirad Shah and kissed ground before him, whilst the +tears ran down his cheeks. When the King saw him in this case, he said to him, +“Lift thy head, O youth, and tell me what maketh thee weep.” He replied, “O +King, a King of the Arabs, by name Gharib, hath fallen on us and captured the +King my sire and slain the Persians making them drain the cup of death.” And he +told him all that had passed from first to last. Quoth Khirad Shah, “Is my +wife[FN#67] well?” and quoth the Prince, “Gharib hath taken her.” Cried the +King “As my head liveth, I will not leave a Badawi or a Moslem on the face of +the earth!” So he wrote letters to his Viceroys, who levied their troops and +joined him with an army which when reviewed numbered eighty-five thousand men. +Then he opened his armouries and distributed arms and armour to the troops, +after which he set out with them and journeyed till he came to Isbanir, and all +encamped before the city-gate. Hereupon Kaylajan and Kurajan came in to Gharib +and kissing his knee, said to him, “O our Lord, heal our hearts and give us +this host to our share.” And he said, “Up and at them!” So the two Marids flew +aloft high in the lift and lighting down in the pavilion of the King of Shiras, +found him seated on his chair of estate, with the Prince of Persia Ward Shah +son of Sabur, sitting on his right hand, and about him his Captains, with whom +he was taking counsel for the slaughter of the Moslems. Kaylajan came forward +and caught up the Prince and Kurajan snatched up the King and the twain flew +back with them to Gharib, who caused beat them till they fainted. Then the +Marids returned to the Shirazian camp and, drawing their swords, which no +mortal man had strength to wield, fell upon the Misbelievers and Allah hurried +their souls to the Fire and abiding-place dire, whilst they saw no one and +nothing save two swords flashing and reaping men, as a husbandman reaps corn. +So they left their tents and mounting their horses bare-backed, fled; and the +Marids pursued them two days and slew of them much people; after which they +returned and kissed Gharib’s hand. He thanked them for the deed they had done +and said to them, “The spoil of the Infidels is yours alone: none shall share +with you therein.” So they called down blessings on him and going forth, +gathered the booty together and abode in their own homes. On this wise it fared +with them; but as regards Gharib and his lieges,——And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after Gharib had put +to flight the host of Khirad Shah, he bade Kaylajan and Kurajan take the spoil +to their own possession nor share it with any; so they gathered the booty and +abode in their own homes. Meanwhile the remains of the beaten force ceased not +flying till they reached the city of Shiras and there lifted up the voice of +weeping and began the ceremonial lamentations for those of them that had been +slain. Now King Khirad Shah had a brother Sírán the Sorcerer hight, than whom +there was no greater wizard in his day, and he lived apart from his brother in +a certain stronghold, called the Fortalice of Fruits,[FN#68] in a place +abounding in trees and streams and birds and blooms, half a day’s journey from +Shiras. So the fugitives betook them thither and went in to Siran the Sorcerer, +weeping and wailing aloud. Quoth he, “O folk, what garreth you weep?” and they +told him all that had happened, especially how the two Marids had carried off +his brother Khirad Shah; whereupon the light of his eyes became night and he +said, “By the virtue of my faith, I will certainly slay Gharib and all his men +and leave not one alive to tell the tale!” Then he pronounced certain magical +words and summoned the Red King, who appeared and Siran said to him, “Fare for +Isbanir and fall on Gharib, as he sitteth upon his throne.” Replied he, +“Hearkening and obedience!” and, gathering his troops, repaired to Isbanir and +assailed Gharib, who seeing him, drew his sword Al-Mahik and he and Kaylajan +and Kurajan fell upon the army of the Red King and slew of them five hundred +and thirty and wounded the King himself with a grevious wound; whereupon he and +his people fled and stayed not in their flight, till they reached the Fortalice +of Fruits and went into Siran, crying out and exclaiming, “Woe!” and “Ruin!” +And the Red King said to Siran, “O sage, Gharib hath with him the enchanted +sword of Japhet son of Noah, and whomsoever he smiteth therewith he severeth +him in sunder, and with him also are two Marids from Mount Caucasus, given to +him by King Mura’ash. He it is who slew the Blue King and Barkan Lord of the +Carnelian City, and did to death much people of the Jinn.” When the Enchanter +heard this, he said to the Red King “Go,” and he went his ways; whereupon he +resumed his conjurations, and calling up a Marid, by name Zu’ázi’a gave him a +drachm of levigated Bhang and said to him, “Go thou to Isbanir and enter King +Gharib’s palace and assume the form of a sparrow. Wait till he fall asleep and +there be none with him; then put the Bhang up his nostrils and bring him to +me.” “To hear is to obey,” replied the Marid and flew to Isbanir, where, +changing himself into a sparrow, he perched on the window of the palace and +waited till all Gharib’s attendants retired to their rooms and the King himself +slept. Then he flew down and going up to Gharib, blew the powdered Bhang into +his nostrils, till he lost his senses, whereupon he wrapped him in the +bed-coverlet and flew off with him, like the storm-wind, to the Fortalice of +Fruits; where he arrived at midnight and laid his prize before Siran. The +Sorcerer thanked him and would have put Gharib to death, as he lay senseless +under Bhang; but a man of his people withheld him saying, “O Sage, an thou slay +him, his friend King Mura’ash will fall on us with all his Ifrits and lay waste +our realm.” “How then shall we do with him?” asked Siran, and the other +answered, “Cast him into the Jayhun while he is still in Bhang and he shall be +drowned and none will know who threw him in.” And Siran bade the Marid take +Gharib and cast him into Jayhun river.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Marid took Gharib +and carried him to the Jayhun purposing to cast him therein, but it was +grievous to him to drown him, wherefore he made a raft of wood and binding it +with cords, pushed it out (and Gharib thereon) into the current, which carried +it away. Thus fared it with Gharib; but as regards his people, when they awoke +in the morning and went in to do their service to their King, they found him +not and seeing his rosary on the throne, awaited him awhile, but he came not. +So they sought out the head Chamberlain and said to him, “Go into the Harim and +look for the King: for it is not his habit to tarry till this time.” +Accordingly, the Chamberlain entered the Serraglio and enquired for the King, +but the women said, “Since yesterday we have not seen him.” Thereupon he +returned and told the Officers, who were confounded and said, “Let us see if he +have gone to take his pleasure in the gardens.” Then they went out and +questioned the gardeners if they had seen the King, and they answered, “No;” +whereat they were sore concerned and searched all the garths till the end of +the day, when they returned in tears. Moreover, the two Marids sought for him +all round the city, but came back after three days, without having happened on +any tidings of him. So the people donned black and made their complaint to the +Lord of all worshipping men who doth as he is fain. Meanwhile, the current bore +the raft along for five days till it brought it to the salt sea, where the +waves disported with Gharib and his stomach, being troubled, threw up the +Bhang. Then he opened his eyes and finding himself in the midst of the main, a +plaything of the billows, said, “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save +in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Would to Heaven I wot who hath done this +deed by me!” Presently as he lay, perplexed concerning his case, lo! he caught +sight of a ship sailing by and signalled with his sleeve to the sailors, who +came to him and took him up, saying, “Who art thou and whence comest thou?” He +replied, “Do ye feed me and give me to drink, till I recover myself, and after +I will tell you who I am.” So they brought him water and victual, and he ate +and drank and Allah restored to him his reason. Then he asked them, “O folk, +what countrymen are ye and what is your Faith?;” and they answered, “We are +from Karaj[FN#69] and we worship an idol called Minkásh.” Cried Gharib, +“Perdition to you and your idol! O dogs, none is worthy of worship save Allah +who created all things, who saith to a thing Be! and it becometh.” When they +heard this, they rose up and fell upon him in great wrath and would have seized +him. Now he was without weapons, but whomsoever he struck, he smote down and +deprived of life, till he had felled forty men, after which they overcame him +by force of numbers and bound him fast, saying, “We will not slay him save in +our own land, that we may first show him to our King.” Then they sailed on till +they came to the city of Karaj.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the ship’s crew +seized Gharib and bound him fast they said, “We will not slay him save in our +own land.” Then they sailed on till they came to the city of Karaj, the builder +whereof was an Amalekite, fierce and furious; and he had set up at each gate of +the city a magical figure of copper which, whenever a stranger entered, blew a +blast on a trumpet, that all in the city heard it and fell upon the stranger +and slew him, except they embraced their creed. When Gharib entered the city, +the figure stationed at the gate blew such a horrible blast that the King was +affrighted and going into his idol, found fire and smoke issuing from its +mouth, nose and eyes. Now a Satan had entered the belly of the idol and +speaking as with its tongue, said, “O King, there is come to thy city one hight +Gharib, King of Al-Irak, who biddeth the folk quit their belief and worship his +Lord; wherefore, when they bring him before thee, look thou spare him not.” So +the King went out and sat down on his throne; and presently, the sailors +brought in Gharib and set him before the presence, saying, “O King, we found +this youth shipwrecked in the midst of the sea, and he is a Kafir and believeth +not in our gods.” Then they told him all that had passed and the King said, +“Carry him to the house of the Great Idol and cut his throat before him, so +haply our god may look lovingly upon us.” But the Wazir said, “O King, it +befitteth not to slaughter him thus, for he would die in a moment: better we +imprison him and build a pyre of fuel and burn him with fire.” Thereupon the +King commanded to cast Gharib into gaol and caused wood to be brought, and they +made a mighty pyre and set fire to it, and it burnt till the morning. Then the +King and the people of the city came forth and the Ruler sent to fetch Gharib; +but his lieges found him not; so they returned and told their King who said, +“And how made he his escape?” Quoth they, “We found the chains and shackles +cast down and the doors fast locked.” Whereat the King marvelled and asked, +“Hath this fellow to Heaven up flown or into the earth gone down?;” and they +answered, “We know not.” Then said the King, “I will go and question my God, +and he will inform me whither he is gone.” So he rose and went in, to prostrate +himself to his idol, but found it not and began to rub his eyes and say, “Am I +in sleep or on wake?” Then he turned to his Wazir and said to him, “Where is my +God and where is my prisoner? By my faith, O dog of Wazirs, haddest thou not +counselled me to burn him, I had slaughtered him; for it is he who hath stolen +my god and fled; and there is no help but I take brood-wreak of him!” Then he +drew his sword and struck off the Wazir’s head. Now there was for Gharib’s +escape with the idol a strange cause and it was on this wise. When they had +shut him up in a cell adjoining the doomed shrine under which stood the idol, +he rose to pray, calling upon the name of Almighty Allah and seeking +deliverance of Him, to whom be honour and glory! The Marid who had charge of +the idol and spoke in its name, heard him and fear got hold upon his heart and +he said, “O shame upon me! Who is this seeth me while I see him not?” So he +went in to Gharib and throwing himself at his feet, said to him, “O my Lord, +what must I say that I may become of thy company and enter thy religion?” +Replied Gharib, “Say:—There is no god but <i>the</i> God and Abraham is the Friend of +God.” So the Marid pronounced the profession of Faith and was enrolled among +the people of felicity. Now his name was Zalzál, son of Al-Muzalzil,[FN#70] one +of the Chiefs of the Kings of the Jinn. Then he unbound Gharib and taking him +and the idol, made for the higher air.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Marid took up Gharib +and the idol and made for the higher air. Such was his case; but as regards the +King, when his soldiers saw what had befallen and the slaughter of the Wazir +they renounced the worship of the idol and drawing their swords, slew the King; +after which they fell on one another, and the sword went round amongst them +three days, till there abode alive but two men, one of whom prevailed over the +other and killed him. Then the boys attacked the survivor and slew him and fell +to fighting amongst themselves, till they were all killed; and the women and +girls fled to the hamlets and forted villages; wherefore the city became desert +and none dwelt therein but the owl. Meanwhile, the Marid Zalzal flew with +Gharib towards his own country, the Island of Camphor and the Castle of Crystal +and the Land of the Enchanted Calf, so called because its King Al-Muzalzil, had +a pied calf, which he had clad in housings brocaded with red gold, and +worshipped as a god. One day the King and his people went in to the calf and +found him trembling; so the King said, “O my God, what hath troubled thee?” +whereupon the Satan in the calf’s belly cried out and said, “O Muzalzil, verily +thy son hath deserted to the Faith of Abraham the Friend, at the hands of +Gharib Lord of Al-Irak;” and went on to tell him all that had passed from first +to last. When the King heard the words of his calf he was confounded and going +forth, sat down upon his throne. Then he summoned his Grandees who came in a +body, and he told them what he had heard from the idol, whereat they marvelled +and said, “What shall we do, O King?” Quoth he, “When my son cometh and ye see +him embrace him, do ye lay hold of him.” And they said, “Hearkening and +obedience!” After two days came Zalzal and Gharib, with the King’s idol of +Karaj, but no sooner had they entered the palace-gate than the Jinn seized on +them and carried them before Al-Muzalzil, who looked at his son with eyes of +ire and said to him, “O dog of the Jann, hast thou left thy Faith and that of +thy fathers and grandfathers?” Quoth Zalzal, “I have embraced the True Faith, +and on like wise do thou (Woe be to thee!) seek salvation and thou shalt be +saved from the wrath of the King Almighty in sway, Creator of Night and Day.” +Therewith his father waxed wroth and said, “O son of adultery, dost confront me +with these words?” Then he bade clap him in prison and turning to Gharib, said +to him, “O wretch of a mortal, how hast thou abused my son’s wit and seduced +him from his Faith?” Quoth Gharib, “Indeed, I have brought him out of +wrongousness into the way of righteousness, out of Hell into Heaven and out of +unfaith to the True Faith.” Whereupon the King cried out to a Marid called +Sayyár, saying “Take this dog and cast him into the Wady of Fire, that he may +perish.” Now this valley was in the “Waste Quarter[FN#71]” and was thus named +from the excess of its heat and the flaming of its fire, which was so fierce +that none who went down therein could live an hour, but was destroyed; and it +was compassed about by mountains high and slippery wherein was no opening. So +Sayyar took up Gharib and flew with him towards the Valley of Fire, till he +came within an hour’s journey thereof, when being weary, he alighted in a +valley full of trees and streams and fruits, and setting down from his back +Gharib chained as he was, fell asleep for fatigue. When Gharib heard him snore, +he strove with his bonds till he burst them; then, taking up a heavy stone, he +cast it down on the Marid’s head and crushed his bones, so that he died on the +spot. Then he fared on into the valley.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Gharib after killing +the Marid fared on into the valley and found himself in a great island in +mid-ocean, full of all fruits that lips and tongue could desire. So he abode +alone on the island, drinking of its waters and eating of its fruits and of +fish that he caught, and days and years passed over him, till he had sojourned +there in his solitude seven years. One day, as he sat, behold, there came down +on him from the air two Marids, each carrying a man; and seeing him they said, +“Who art thou, O fellow, and of which of the tribes art thou?” Now they took +him for a Jinni, because his hair was grown long; and he replied, saying, “I am +not of the Jann,” whereupon they questioned him, and he told them all that had +befallen him. They grieved for him and one of the Ifrits said, “Abide thou here +till we bear these two lambs to our King, that he may break his fast on the one +and sup on the other, and after we will come back and carry thee to thine own +country.” He thanked them and said, “Where be the lambs?” Quoth they, “These +two mortals are the lambs.” And Gharib said, “I take refuge with Allah <i>the</i> God +of Abraham the Friend, the Lord of all creatures, who hath power over +everything!” Then the Marids flew away and Gharib abode awaiting them two days, +when one of them returned, bringing with him a suit of clothes wherewith he +clad him. Then he took him up and flew with him sky-high out of sight of +earth, till Gharib heard the angels glorifying God in Heaven, and a flaming +shaft issued from amongst them and made for the Marid, who fled from it towards +the earth. The meteor pursued him, till he came within a spear’s cast of the +ground, when Gharib leaped from his shoulders and the fiery shaft overtook the +Marid, who became a heap of ashes. As for Gharib, he fell into the sea and sank +two fathoms deep, after which he rose to the surface and swam for two days and +two nights, till his strength failed him and he made certain of death. But, on +the third day as he was despairing he caught sight of an island steep and +mountainous; so he swam for it and landing, walked on inland, where he rested a +day and a night, feeding on the growth of the ground. Then he climbed to the +mountain top, and, descending the opposite slope, fared on two days till he +came in sight of a walled and bulwarked city, abounding in trees and rills. He +walked up to it; but, when he reached the gate, the warders seized on him, and +carried him to their Queen, whose name was Ján Sháh.[FN#72] Now she was five +hundred years old, and every man who entered the city, they brought to her and +she made him sleep with her, and when he had done his work, she slew him and so +had she slain many men. When she saw Gharib, he pleased her mightily; so she +asked him, “What be thy name and Faith and whence comest thou?” and he +answered, “My name is Gharib King of Irak, and I am a Moslem.” Said she, “Leave +this Creed and enter mine and I will marry thee and make thee King.” But he +looked at her with eyes of ire and cried, “Perish thou and thy faith!” Cried +she, “Dost thou blaspheme my idol, which is of red carnelian, set with pearls +and gems?” And she called out to her men, saying, “Imprison him in the house of +the idol; haply it will soften his heart.” So they shut him up in the domed +shrine and locking the doors upon him, went their way.——And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when they took Gharib, +they jailed him in the idol’s domed shrine; and locking the doors upon him, +went their way. As soon as they were gone, Gharib gazed at the idol, which was +of red carnelian, with collars of pearls and precious stones about its neck, +and presently he went close to it and lifting it up, dashed it on the ground +and brake it in bits; after which he lay down and slept till daybreak. When +morning morrowed, the Queen took seat on her throne and said, “O men, bring me +the prisoner.” So they opened the temple doors and entering, found the idol +broken in pieces, whereupon they buffeted their faces till the blood ran from +the corners of their eyes. Then they made at Gharib to seize him; but he smote +one of them with his fist and slew him, and so did he with another and yet +another, till he had slain five- and-twenty of them and the rest fled and went +in to Queen Jan Shah, shrieking loudly. Quoth she, “What is the matter?” and +quoth they, “The prisoner hath broken thine idol and slain thy men,” and told +her all that had passed. When she heard this, she cast her crown to the ground +and said, “There is no worth left in idols!” Then she mounted amid a thousand +fighting-men and rode to the temple, where she found Gharib had gotten him a +sword and come forth and was slaying men and overthrowing warriors. When she +saw his prowess, her heart was drowned in the love of him and she said to +herself, “I have no need of the idol and care for naught save this Gharib, that +he may lie in my bosom the rest of my life.” Then she cried to her men, “Hold +aloof from him and leave him to himself!”; then, going up to him she muttered +certain magical words, whereupon his arm became benumbed, his forearm relaxed +and the sword dropped from his hand. So they seized him and pinioned him, as he +stood confounded, stupefied. Then the Queen returned to her palace, and seating +herself on her seat of estate, bade her people withdraw and leave Gharib with +her. When they were alone, she said to him, “O dog of the Arabs, wilt thou +shiver my idol and slay my people?” He replied, “O accursed woman, had he been +a god he had defended himself!” Quoth she, “Stroke me and I will forgive thee +all thou hast done.” But he replied, saying, “I will do nought of this.” And +she said, “By the virtue of my faith, I will torture thee with grievous +torture!” So she took water and conjuring over it, sprinkled it upon him and he +became an ape. And she used to feed and water and keep him in a closet, +appointing one to care for him; and in this plight he abode two years. Then she +called him to her one day and said to him, “Wilt thou hearken to me?” And he +signed to her with his head, “Yes.” So she rejoiced and freed him from the +enchantment. Then she brought him food and he ate and toyed with her and kissed +her, so that she trusted in him. When it was night she lay down and said to +him, “Come, do thy business.” He replied, “’Tis well;” and, mounting on her +breast, seized her by the neck and brake it, nor did he arise from her till +life had left her. Then, seeing an open cabinet, he went in and found there a +sword of damascened[FN#73] steel and a targe of Chinese iron; so he armed +himself cap-à-pie and waited till the day. As soon as it was morning, he went +forth and stood at the gate of the palace. When the Emirs came and would have +gone in to do their service to the Queen, they found Gharib standing at the +gate, clad in complete war-gear; and he said to them, “O folk, leave the +service of idols and worship the All-wise King, Creator of Night and Day, the +Lord of men, the Quickener of dry bones, for He made all things and hath +dominion over all.” When the Kafirs heard this, they ran at him, but he fell on +them like a rending lion and charged through them again and again, slaying of +them much people;——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Kafirs fell +upon Gharib, he slew of them much people; but, when the night came, they +overcame him by dint of numbers and would have taken him by strenuous effort, +when behold, there descended upon the Infidels a thousand Marids, under the +command of Zalzal, who plied them with the keen sabre and made them drink the +cup of destruction, whilst Allah hurried their souls to Hell-fire, till but few +were left of the people of Jan Shah to tell the tale and the rest cried out, +“Quarter! Quarter!” and believed in the Requiting King, whom no one thing +diverteth from other thing, the Destroyer of the Jabábirah[FN#74] and +Exterminator of the Akásirah, Lord of this world and of the next. Then Zalzal +saluted Gharib and gave him joy of his safety; and Gharib said to him, “How +knowest thou of my case?” and he replied, “O my lord, my father kept me in +prison two years, after sending thee to the Valley of Fire; then he released +me, and I abode with him another year, till I was restored to favour with him, +when I slew him and his troops submitted to me. I ruled them for a year’s space +till, one Night, I lay down to sleep, having thee in thought, and saw thee in a +dream, fighting against the people of Jan Shah; wherefore I took these thousand +Marids and came to thee.” And Gharib marvelled at this happy conjuncture. Then +he seized upon Jan Shah’s treasures and those of the slain and appointed a +ruler over the city; after which the Marids took up Gharib and the monies and +he lay the same night in the Castle of Crystal. He abode Zalzal’s guest six +months, when he desired to depart; so Zalzal gave him rich presents and +despatched three thousand Marids, who brought the spoils of Karaj-city and +added them to those of Jan Shah. Then Zalzal loaded forty thousand Marids with +the treasure and himself taking up Gharib, flew with his host towards the city +of Isbanir al-Madain where they arrived at midnight. But as Gharib glanced +around he saw the walls invested on all sides by a conquering army,[FN#75] as +it were the surging sea, so he said to Zalzal, “O my brother, what is the cause +of this siege and whence came this army?” Then he alighted on the terrace roof +of his palace and cried out, saying, “Ho, Star o’ Morn! Ho, Mahdiyah!” +Whereupon the twain started up from sleep in amazement and said, “Who calleth +us at this hour?” Quoth he, “’Tis I, your lord, Gharib, the Marvellous One of +the deeds wondrous.” When the Princesses heard their lord’s voice, they +rejoiced and so did the women and the eunuchs. Then Gharib went down to them +and they threw themselves upon him and lullilooed with cries of joy, so that +all the palace rang again and the Captains of the army awoke and said, “What is +to do?” So they made for the palace and asked the eunuchs, “Hath one of the +King’s women given birth to a child?”; and they answered, “No; but rejoice ye, +for King Gharib hath returned to you.” So they rejoiced, and Gharib, after +salams to the women came forth amongst his comrades, who threw themselves upon +him and kissed his hands and feet, returning thanks to Almighty Allah and +praising Him. Then he sat down on his throne, with his officers sitting about +him, and questioned them of the beleaguering army. They replied, “O King, these +troops sat down before the city three days ago and there are amongst them Jinns +as well as men; but we know not what they want, for we have had with them +neither battle nor speech.” And presently they added, “The name of the +commander of the besieging army is Murad Shah and he hath with him an hundred +thousand horse and three thousand foot, besides two hundred tribesmen of the +Jinn.” Now the manner of his coming was wondrous.——And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the cause of this army +coming upon Isbanir city was wondrous. When the two men, whom Sabur had charged +to drown his daughter Fakhr Taj, let her go, bidding her flee for her life, she +went forth distracted, unknowing whither to turn and saying, “Where is thine +eye, O Gharib, that thou mayst see my case and the misery I am in?”; and +wandered on from country to country, and valley to valley, till she came to a +Wady abounding in trees and streams, in whose midst stood a strong-based castle +and a lofty-builded as it were one of the pavilions of Paradise. So she betook +herself thither and entering the fortalice, found it hung and carpeted with +stuffs of silk and great plenty of gold and silver vessels; and therein were an +hundred beautiful damsels. When the maidens saw Fakhr Taj, they came up to her +and saluted her, deeming her of the virgins of the Jinn, and asked her of her +case. Quoth she, “I am daughter to the Persians’ King;” and told them all that +had befallen her; which when they heard, they wept over her and condoled with +her and comforted her, saying, “Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and +clear, for here shalt thou have meat and drink and raiment, and we all are thy +handmaids.” She called down blessings on them and they brought her food, of +which she ate till she was satisfied. Then quoth she to them, “Who is the owner +of this palace and lord over you girls?” and quoth they, “King Salsál, son of +Dal, is our master; he passeth a night here once in every month and fareth in +the morning to rule over the tribes of the Jann.” So Fakhr Taj took up her +abode with them and after five days she gave birth to a male child, as he were +the moon. They cut his navel cord and kohl’d his eyes then they named him Murad +Shah, and he grew up in his mother’s lap. After a while came King Salsal, +riding on a paper white elephant, as he were a tower plastered with lime and +attended by the troops of the Jinn. He entered the palace, where the hundred +damsels met him and kissed ground before him, and amongst them Fakhr Taj. When +the King saw her, he looked at her and said to the others, “Who is yonder +damsel?”; and they replied, “She is the daughter of Sabur, King of the Persians +and Turks and Daylamites.” Quoth he, “Who brought her hither?” So they repeated +to him her story; whereat he was moved to pity for her and said to her, “Grieve +not, but take patience till thy son be grown a man, when I will go to the land +of the Ajams and strike off thy father’s head from between his shoulders and +seat thy son on the throne in his stead.” So she rose and kissed his hands and +blessed him. Then she abode in the castle and her son grew up and was reared +with the children of the King. They used to ride forth together a-hunting and +birding and he became skilled in the chase of wild beasts and ravening lions +and ate of their flesh, till his heart became harder than the rock. When he +reached the age of fifteen, his spirit waxed big in him and he said to Fakhr +Taj, “O my mamma, who is my papa?” She replied, “O my son, Gharib, King of +Irak, is thy father and I am the King’s daughter, of the Persians,” and she +told him her story. Quoth he, “Did my grandfather indeed give orders to slay +thee and my father Gharib?”; and quoth she, “Yes.” Whereupon he, “By the claim +thou hast on me for rearing me, I will assuredly go to thy father’s city and +cut off his head and bring it into thy presence!”——And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Murad Shah son of +Fakhr Taj thus bespake his mother, she rejoiced in his speech. Now he used to +go a-riding with two hundred Marids till he grew to man’s estate, when he and +they fell to making raids and cutting off the roads and they pushed their +razzias farther till one day he attacked the city of Shiraz and took it. Then +he proceeded to the palace and cut off the King’s head, as he sat on his +throne, and slew many of his troops, whereupon the rest cried “Quarter! +Quarter!” and kissed his stirrups. Finding that they numbered ten thousand +horse, he led them to Balkh, where he slew the King of the city and put his men +to the rout and made himself master of the riches of the place. Thence he +passed to Núrayn,[FN#76] at the head of an army of thirty thousand horse, and +the Lord of Nurayn came out to him, with treasure and tribute, and did him +homage. Then he went on to Samarcand of the Persians and took the city, and +after that to Akhlát[FN#77] and took that town also; nor was there any city he +came to but he captured it. Thus Murad Shah became the head of a mighty host, +and all the booty he made and spoils in the sundry cities he divided among his +soldiery, who loved him for his valour and munificence. At last he came to +Isbanir al-Madain and sat down before it, saying, “Let us wait till the rest of +my army come up, when I will seize on my grandfather and solace my mother’s +heart by smiting his neck in her presence.” So he sent for her, and by reason +of this, there was no battle for three days, when Gharib and Zalzal arrived +with the forty thousand Marids, laden with treasure and presents. They asked +concerning the besiegers, but none could enlighten them beyond saying that the +host had been there encamped for three days without a fight taking place. +Presently came Fakhr Taj, and her son Murad Shah embraced her saying, “Sit in +thy tent till I bring thy father to thee.” And she sought succour for him of +the Lord of the Worlds, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earths. +Next morning, as soon as it was day, Murad Shah mounted and rode forth, with +the two hundred Marids on his right hand and the Kings of men on his left, +whilst the kettle-drums beat to battle. When Gharib heard this, he also took to +horse and, calling his people to the combat, rode out, with the Jinn on his +dexter hand and the men on his sinistral. Then came forth Murad Shah, armed +cap-à-pie and drave his charger right and left, crying, “O folk, let none come +forth to me but your King. If he conquer me, he shall be lord of both armies, +and if I conquer him, I will slay him, as I have slain others.” When Gharib +heard his speech, he said, “Avaunt, O dog of the Arabs!” And they charged at +each other and lunged with lances, till they broke, then hewed at each other +with swords, till the blades were notched; nor did they cease to advance and +retire and wheel and career, till the day was half spent and their horses fell +down under them, when they dismounted and gripped each other. Then Murad Shah +seizing Gharib lifted him up and strove to dash him to the ground; but Gharib +caught him by the ears and pulled him with his might, till it seemed to the +youth as if the heavens were falling on the earth[FN#78] and he cried out, with +his heart in his mouth, saying, “I yield myself to thy mercy, O Knight of the +Age!” So Gharib bound him,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Eightieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Gharib caught +Murad Shah by the ears and well nigh tore them off he cried, “I yield myself to +thy mercy, O Knight of the Age!” So Gharib bound him, and the Marids his +comrades would have charged and rescued him, but Gharib fell on them with a +thousand Marids and was about to smite them down, when they cried out “Quarter! +Quarter!” and threw away their arms. Then Gharib returned to his Shahmiyánah +which was of green silk, embroidered with red gold and set with pearls and +gems; and, seating himself on his throne, called for Murad Shah. So they +brought him, shuffling in his manacles and shackles. When the prisoner saw him, +he hung down his head for shame; and Gharib said to him, “O dog of the Arabs, +who art thou that thou shouldst ride forth and measure thyself against kings?” +Replied Murad Shah, “O my lord, reproach me not, for indeed I have excuse.” +Quoth Gharib, “What manner of excuse hast thou?”; And quoth he, “Know, O my +lord, that I came out to avenge my mother and my father on Sabur, King of the +Persians; for he would have slain them; but my mother escaped and I know not +whether he killed my father or not.” When Gharib heard these words, he replied, +“By Allah, thou art indeed excusable! But who were thy father and mother and +what are their names?” Murad Shah said, “My sire was Gharib, King of Al-Irak, +and my mother Fakhr Taj, daughter of King Sabur of Persia.” When Gharib heard +this, he gave a great cry and fell down fainting. They sprinkled rose-water on +him, till he came to himself, when he said to Murad Shah, “Art thou indeed +Gharib’s son by Fakhr Taj?”; and he replied, “Yes.” Cried Gharib, “Thou art a +champion, the son of a champion. Loose my child!” And Sahim and Kaylajan went +up to Murad Shah and set him free. Then Gharib embraced his son and, seating +him beside himself, said to him, “Where is thy mother?” “She is with me in my +tent,” answered Murad Shah; and Gharib said, “Bring her to me.” So Murad Shah +mounted and repaired to his camp, where his comrades met him, rejoicing in his +safety, and asked him of his case; but he answered, “This is no time for +questions.” Then he went in to his mother and told her what had passed; whereat +she was gladdened with exceeding gladness: so he carried her to Gharib, and +they two embraced and rejoiced in each other. Then Fakhr Taj and Murad Shah +islamised and expounded The Faith to their troops, who all made profession with +heart and tongue. After this, Gharib sent for Sabur and his son Ward Shah, and +upbraided them for their evil dealing and expounded Al-Islam to them; but they +refused to profess wherefore he crucified them on the gate of the city and the +people decorated the town and held high festival. Then Gharib crowned Murad +Shah with the crown of the Chosroës and made him King of the Persians and Turks +and Medes; moreover, he made his uncle Al-Damigh, King over Al-Irak, and all +the peoples and lands submitted themselves to Gharib. Then he abode in his +kingship, doing justice among his lieges, wherefore all the people loved him, +and he and his wives and comrades ceased not from all solace of life, till +there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of Societies, and +extolled be the perfection of Him whose glory endureth for ever and aye and +whose boons embrace all His creatures! This is every thing that hath come down +to us of the history of Gharib and Ajib. And Abdullah bin Ma’amar al Kaysi hath +thus related the tale of +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap02"></a>OTBAH[FN#79] AND RAYYA.</h2> + +<p> +I went one year on the pilgrimage to the Holy House of Allah, and when I had +accomplished my pilgrimage, I turned back for visitation of the tomb of the +Prophet, whom Allah bless and keep! One night, as I sat in the garden,[FN#80] +between the tomb and the pulpit, I heard a low moaning in a soft voice; so I +listened to it and it said, +</p> + +<p> +“Have the doves that moan in the lotus-tree * Woke grief in thy<br /> + + heart and bred misery?<br /> + +Or doth memory of maiden in beauty deckt * Cause this doubt in<br /> + + thee, this despondency?<br /> + +O night, thou art longsome for love-sick sprite * Complaining of<br /> + + Love and its ecstasy:<br /> + +Thou makest him wakeful, who burns with fire * Of a love, like<br /> + + the live coal’s ardency.<br /> + +The moon is witness my heart is held * By a moonlight brow of the<br /> + + brightest blee:<br /> + +I reckt not to see me by Love ensnared * Till ensnared before I<br /> + + could reck or see.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then the voice ceased and not knowing whence it came to me I abode perplexed; +but lo! it again took up its lament and recited, +</p> + +<p> +“Came Rayya’s phantom to grieve thy sight * In the thickest gloom<br /> + + of the black-haired Night!<br /> + +And hath love of slumber deprived those eyes * And the<br /> + + phantom-vision vexed thy sprite?<br /> + +I cried to the Night, whose glooms were like * Seas that surge<br /> + + and billow with might, with might:<br /> + +‘O Night, thou art longsome to lover who * Hath no aid nor help<br /> + + save the morning light!’<br /> + +She replied, ‘Complain not that I am long: * ’Tis love is the<br /> + + cause of thy longsome plight!’”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Now, at the first of the couplets, I sprang up and made for the quarter whence +the sound came, nor had the voice ended repeating them, ere I was with the +speaker and saw a youth of the utmost beauty, the hair of whose side face had +not sprouted and in whose cheeks tears had worn twin trenches.——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Eighty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Abdullah bin Ma’amar +al-Kaysi thus continued:—So I sprang up and made for the quarter whence the +sound came, nor had the voice ended repeating the verses, ere I was with the +speaker and saw a youth on whose side face the hair had not sprouted and in +whose cheeks tears had worn twin trenches. Quoth I to him, “Fair befal thee for +a youth!”; and quoth he, “And thee also! Who art thou?” I replied, “Abdullah +bin Ma’amar al-Kaysi;” and he said, “Dost thou want aught?” I rejoined, “I was +sitting in the garden and naught hath troubled me this night but thy voice. +With my life would I ransom thee! What aileth thee?” He said, “Sit thee down.” +So I sat down and he continued, “I am Otbah bin al-Hubáb bin al-Mundhir bin +al-Jamúh the Ansári.[FN#81] I went out in the morning to the Mosque +Al-Ahzáb[FN#82] and occupied myself there awhile with prayer-bows and +prostrations, after which I withdrew apart, to worship privily. But lo! up came +women, as they were moons, walking with a swaying gait, and surrounding a +damsel of passing loveliness, perfect in beauty and grace, who stopped before +me and said, ‘O Otbah, what sayst thou of union with one who seeketh union with +thee?’ Then she left me and went away; and since that time I have had no +tidings of her nor come upon any trace of her; and behold, I am distracted and +do naught but remove from place to place.” Then he cried out and fell to the +ground fainting. When he came to himself, it was as if the damask of his cheeks +were dyed with safflower,[FN#83] and he recited these couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +I see you with my heart from far countrie * Would Heaven you<br /> + + also me from far could see<br /> + +My heart and eyes for you are sorrowing; * My soul with you<br /> + + abides and you with me.<br /> + +I take no joy in life when you’re unseen * Or Heaven or Garden of<br /> + + Eternity.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Said I, “O Otbah, O son of my uncle, repent to thy Lord and drave pardon for +thy sin; for before thee is the terror of standing up to Judgment.” He replied, +“Far be it from me so to do. I shall never leave to love till the two +mimosa-gatherers return.”[FN#84] I abode with him till daybreak, when I said to +him, “Come let us go to the Mosque Al-Ahzab.” So we went thither and sat there, +till we had prayed the midday prayers, when lo! up came the women; but the +damsel was not among them. Quoth they to him, “O Otbah, what thinkest thou of +her who seeketh union with thee?” He said, “And what of her?”; and they +replied, “Her father hath taken her and departed to Al-Samawah.”[FN#85] I asked +them the name of the damsel and they said, “She is called Rayyá, daughter of +Al-Ghitríf al-Sulami.”[FN#86] Whereupon Otbah raised his head and recited +these verses, +</p> + +<p> +“My friends, Rayya hath mounted soon as morning shone, * And to<br /> + +Samawah’s wilds her caravan is gone.<br /> + +My friends, I’ve wept till I can weep no more, Oh, say, * Hath<br /> + +any one a tear that I can take on loan.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then said I to him, “O Otbah, I have brought with me great wealth, wherewith I +desire to succour generous men; and by Allah, I will lavish it before +thee,[FN#87] so thou mayst attain thy desire and more than thy desire! Come +with me to the assembly of the Ansaris.” So we rose and went, till we entered +their assembly, when I salam’d to them and they returned my greeting civilly. +Then quoth I, “O assembly, what say ye of Otbah and his father?”: and they +replied, “They are of the princes of the Arabs.” I continued, “Know that he is +smitten with the calamity of love and I desire your furtherance to Al-Samawah.” +And they said, “To hear is to obey.” So they mounted with us, the whole party, +and we rode till we drew near the place of the Banu Sulaym. Now when Ghitrif +heard of our being near, he hastened forth to meet us, saying, “Long life to +you, O nobles!”; whereto we replied, “And to thee also! Behold we are thy +guests.” Quoth he, “Ye have lighted down at a most hospitable abode and ample;” +and alighting he cried out, “Ho, all ye slaves, come down!” So they came down +and spread skin-rugs and cushions and slaughtered sheep and cattle; but we +said, “We will not taste of thy food, till thou have accomplished our need.” He +asked, “And what is your need?”; and we answered, “We demand thy noble daughter +in marriage for Otbah bin Hubab bin Mundhir the illustrious and well born.” “O +my brethren,” said he, “she whom you demand is owner of herself, and I will go +in to her and tell her.” So he rose in wrath[FN#88] and went in to Rayya, who +said to him, “O my papa, why do I see thee show anger?” And he replied, saying, +“Certain of the Ansaris have come upon me to demand thy hand of me in +marriage.” Quoth she, “They are noble chiefs; the Prophet, on whom be the +choicest blessings and peace, intercedeth for them with Allah. For whom among +them do they ask me?” Quoth he, “For a youth known as Otbah bin al-Hubab;” and +she said, “I have heard of Otbah that he performeth what he promiseth and +findeth what he seeketh.” Ghitrif cried, “I swear that I will never marry thee +to him; no, never, for there hath been reported to me somewhat of thy converse +with him.” Said she, “What was that? But in any case, I swear that the Ansaris +shall not be uncivilly rejected; wherefore do thou offer them a fair excuse.” +“How so?” “Make the dowry heavy to them and they will desist.” “Thou sayst +well,” said he, and going out in haste, told the Ansaris, “The damsel of the +tribe[FN#89] consenteth; but she requireth a dowry worthy herself. Who engageth +for this?” “I,” answered I. Then said he, “I require for her a thousand +bracelets of red gold and five thousand dirhams of the coinage of Hajar[FN#90] +and a hundred pieces of woollen cloth and striped stuffs[FN#91] of Al-Yaman and +five bladders of ambergris.” Said I, “Thou shalt have that much; dost thou +consent?”; and he said, “I do consent.” So I despatched to Al-Medinah the +Illumined[FN#92] a party of the Ansaris, who brought all for which I had become +surety; whereupon they slaughtered sheep and cattle and the folk assembled to +eat of the food. We abode thus forty days when Ghitrif said to us, “Take your +bride.” So we sat her in a dromedary-litter and her father equipped her with +thirty camel-loads of things of price; after which we farewelled him and +journeyed till we came within a day’s journey of Al-Medinah the Illumined, when +there fell upon us horsemen, with intent to plunder, and methinks they were of +the Banu Sulaym, Otbah drove at them and slew of them much people, but fell +back, wounded by a lance-thrust, and presently dropped to the earth. Then there +came to us succour of the country people, who drove away the highwaymen; but +Otbah’s days were ended. So we said, “Alas for Otbah, oh!;” and the damsel +hearing it cast herself down from the camel and throwing herself upon him, +cried out grievously and repeated these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“Patient I seemed, yet Patience shown by me * Was but<br /> + + self-guiling till thy sight I see:<br /> + +Had my soul done as due my life had gone, * Had fled before<br /> + + mankind forestalling thee:<br /> + +Then, after me and thee none shall to friend * Be just, nor any<br /> + + soul with soul agree.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then she sobbed a single sob and gave up the ghost. We dug one grave for them +and laid them in the earth, and I returned to the dwellings of my people, where +I abode seven years. Then I betook me again to Al-Hijaz and entering Al-Medinah +the Illumined for pious visitation said in my mind, “By Allah, I will go again +to Otbah’s tomb!” So I repaired thither, and, behold, over the grave was a tall +tree, on which hung fillets of red and green and yellow stuffs.[FN#93] So I +asked the people of the place, “How be this tree called?”; and they answered, +“The tree of the Bride and the Bridegroom.” I abode by the tomb a day and a +night, then went my way; and this is all I know of Otbah. Almighty Allah have +mercy upon him! And they also tell this tale of +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap03"></a>HIND, DAUGHTER OF AL-NU’MAN AND AL-HAJJAJ.[FN#94]</h2> + +<p> +It is related that Hind, daughter of Al-Nu’man, was the fairest woman of her +day, and her beauty and loveliness were reported to Al-Hajjaj, who sought her +in marriage and lavished much treasure on her. So he took her to wife, engaging +to give her a dowry of two hundred thousand dirhams in case of divorce, and +when he went into her, he abode with her a long time. One day after this, he +went in to her and found her looking at her face in the mirror and saying, +</p> + +<p> +“Hind is an Arab filly purest bred, * Which hath been covered by<br /> + + a mongrel mule;<br /> + +An colt of horse she throw by Allah! well; * If mule, it but<br /> + + results from mulish rule.”[FN#95]<br /> +</p> + +<p> +When Al-Hajjaj heard this, he turned back and went his way, unseen of Hind; +and, being minded to put her away, he sent Abdullah bin Tahir to her, to +divorce her. So Abdullah went in to her and said to her, “Al-Hajjaj Abu +Mohammed saith to thee: Here be the two hundred thousand dirhams of thy +contingent dowry he oweth thee; and he hath deputed me to divorce thee.” +Replied she, “O Ibn Tahir, I gladly agree to this; for know that I never for +one day took pleasure in him; so, if we separate, by Allah, I shall never +regret him, and these two hundred thousand dirhams I give to thee as a reward +for the glad tidings thou bringest me of my release from yonder dog of the +Thakafites.”[FN#96] After this, the Commander of the Faithful, Abd al-Malik bin +Marwan, heard of her beauty and loveliness, her stature and symmetry, her sweet +speech and the amorous grace of her glances and sent to her, to ask her in +marriage;——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Eighty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Prince of True +Believers, Abd al-Malik bin Marwan, hearing of the lady’s beauty and +loveliness, sent to ask her in marriage; and she wrote him in reply a letter, +in which, after the glorification of Allah and benediction of His Prophet, she +said, “But afterwards. Know, O Commander of the Faithful, that the dog hath +lapped in the vase.” When the Caliph read her answer, he laughed and wrote to +her, citing his saying (whom may Allah bless and keep!) “If a dog lap in the +vessel of one of you, let him wash seven times, once thereof with earth,” and +adding, “Wash the affront from the place of use.”[FN#97] With this she could +not gainsay him; so she replied to him, saying (after praise and blessing), “O +Commander of the Faithful I will not consent save on one condition, and if thou +ask me what it is, I reply that Al-Hajjaj lead my camel to the town where thou +tarriest barefoot and clad as he is.”[FN#98] When the Caliph read her letter, +he laughed long and loudly and sent to Al-Hajjaj, bidding him to do as she +wished. He dared not disobey the order, so he submitted to the Caliph’s +commandment and sent to Hind, telling her to make ready for the journey. So she +made ready and mounted her litter, when Al-Hajjaj with his suite came up to +Hind’s door and as she mounted and her damsels and eunuchs rode around her, he +dismounted and took the halter of her camel and led it along, barefooted, +whilst she and her damsels and tirewomen laughed and jeered at him and made +mock of him. Then she said to her tirewoman, “Draw back the curtain of the +litter;” and she drew back the curtain, till Hind was face to face with +Al-Hajjaj, whereupon she laughed at him and he improvised this couplet, +</p> + +<p> +“Though now thou jeer, O Hind, how many a night * I’ve left thee wakeful +sighing for the light.” +</p> + +<p> +And she answered him with these two, +</p> + +<p> +“We reck not, an our life escape from bane, * For waste of wealth<br /> + + and gear that went in vain:<br /> + +Money may be regained and rank re-won * When one is cured of<br /> + + malady and pain.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +And she ceased not to laugh at him and make sport of him, till they drew near +the city of the Caliph, when she threw down a dinar with her own hand and said +to Al-Hajjaj, “O camel-driver, I have dropped a dirham; look for it and give it +to me.” So he looked and seeing naught but the dinar, said, “This is a dinar.” +She replied, “Nay, ’tis a dirham.” But he said, “This is a dinar.” Then quoth +she, “Praised be Allah who hath given us in exchange for a paltry dirham a +dinar! Give it us.” And Al-Hajjaj was abashed at this. Then he carried her to +the palace of the Commander of the Faithful, and she went in to him and became +his favourite.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Eighty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that men also tell a tale +anent +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap04"></a>KHUZAYMAH BIN BISHR AND IKRIMAH AL-FAYYAZ.[FN#99]</h2> + +<p> +There lived once, in the days of the Caliph Sulayman bin Abd al-Malik[FN#100] a +man of the Banu Asad, by name Khuzaymah bin Bishr, who was famed for bounty and +abundant wealth and excellence and righteous dealing with his brethren. He +continued thus till times grew strait with him and he became in need of the aid +of those Moslem brethren on whom he had lavished favour and kindness. So they +succoured him a while and then grew weary of him, which when he saw, he went in +to his wife who was the daughter of his father’s brother, and said to her, “O +my cousin, I find a change in my brethren; wherefore I am resolved to keep my +house till death come to me.” So he shut his door and abode in his home, living +on that which he had by him, till it was spent and he knew not what to do. Now +Ikrimah al-Raba’í, surnamed Al-Fayyáz, governor of Mesopotamia,[FN#101] had +known him, and one day, as he sat in his Audience-chamber, mention was made of +Khuzaymah, whereupon quoth Ikrimah, “How is it with him?” And quoth they, “He +is in a plight past telling, and hath shut his door and keepeth the house.” +Ikrimah rejoined, “This cometh but of his excessive generosity: but how is it +that Khuzaymah bin Bishr findeth nor comforter nor requiter?” And they replied, +“He hath found naught of this.” So when it was night, Ikrimah took four +thousand dinars and laid them in one purse; then, bidding saddle his beast, he +mounted and rode privily to Khuzaymah’s house, attended only by one of his +pages, carrying the money. When he came to the door, he alighted and taking the +purse from the page made him withdraw afar off; after which he went up to the +door and knocked. Khuzaymah came out to him, and he gave him the purse, saying, +“Better thy case herewith.” He took it and finding it heavy put it from his +hand and laying hold of the bridle of Ikrimah’s horse, asked, “Who art thou? My +soul be thy ransom!” Answered Ikrimah, “O man I come not to thee at a time like +this desiring that thou shouldst know me.” Khuzaymah rejoined, “I will not let +thee go till thou make thyself known to me,” whereupon Ikrimah said “I am hight +Jabir Atharat al-Kiram.”[FN#102] Quoth Khuzaymah, “Tell me more.” But Ikrimah +cried, “No,” and fared forth, whilst Khuzaymah went in to his cousin and said +to her, “Rejoice for Allah hath sent us speedy relief and wealth; if these be +but dirhams, yet are they many. Arise and light the lamp.” She said, “I have +not wherewithal to light it.” So he spent the night handling the coins and felt +by their roughness that they were dinars, but could not credit it. Meanwhile +Ikrimah returned to his own house and found that his wife had missed him and +asked for him, and when they told her of his riding forth, she misdoubted of +him, and said to him, “Verily the Wali of Al-Jazirah rideth not abroad after +such an hour of the night, unattended and secretly, save to a wife or a +mistress.” He answered, “Allah knoweth that I went not forth to either of +these.” “Tell me then wherefore thou wentest forth?” “I went not forth at this +hour save that none should know it.” “I must needs be told.” “Wilt thou keep +the matter secret, if I tell thee?” “Yes!” So he told her the state of the +case, adding, “Wilt thou have me swear to thee?” Answered she, “No, no, my +heart is set at ease and trusteth in that which thou hast told me.” As for +Khuzaymah, soon as it was day he made his peace with his creditors and set his +affairs in order; after which he got him ready and set out for the Court of +Sulayman bin Abd al-Malik, who was then sojourning in Palestine.[FN#103] When +he came to the royal gate, he sought admission of the chamberlain, who went in +and told the Caliph of his presence. Now he was renowned for his beneficence +and Sulayman knew of him; so he bade admit him. When he entered, he saluted the +Caliph after the usual fashion of saluting[FN#104] and the King asked, “O +Khuzaymah, what hath kept thee so long from us?” Answered he, “Evil case,” and +quoth the Caliph, “What hindered thee from having recourse to us?” Quoth he, +“My infirmity, O Commander of the Faithful!” “And why,” said Sulayman, “comest +thou to us now?” Khuzaymah replied, “Know, O Commander of the Faithful, that I +was sitting one night late in my house, when a man knocked at the door and did +thus and thus;” and he went on to tell him of all that had passed between +Ikrimah and himself from first to last. Sulayman asked, “Knowest thou the man?” +and Khuzaymah answered, “No, O Commander of the Faithful, he was +reserved[FN#105] and would say naught save, ‘I am hight Jabir Atharat +al-Kiram.’” When Sulayman heard this, his heart burned within him for anxiety +to discover the man, and he said, “If we knew him, truly we would requite him +for his generosity.” Then he bound for Khuzaymah a banner[FN#106] and made him +Governor of Mesopotamia, in the stead of Ikrimah Al-Fayyaz; and he set out for +Al-Jazirah. When he drew near the city, Ikrimah and the people of the place +came forth to meet him and they saluted each other and went on into the town, +where Khuzaymah took up his lodging in the Government-house and bade take +security for Ikrimah and that he should be called to account.[FN#107] So an +account was taken against him and he was found to be in default for much money; +whereupon Khuzaymah required of him payment, but he said, “I have no means of +paying aught.” Quoth Khuzaymah, “It must be paid;” and quoth Ikrimah, “I have +it not; do what thou hast to do.” So Khuzaymah ordered him to gaol.——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Khuzaymah, having ordered +the imprisonment of Ikrimah Al-Fayyaz, sent to him again to demand payment of +the debt; but he replied, “I am not of those who preserve their wealth at the +expense of their honour; do what thou wilt.” Then Khuzaymah bade load him with +irons and kept him in prison a month or more, till confinement began to tell +upon him and he became wasted. After this, tidings of his plight travelled to +the daughter of his uncle who was troubled with sore concern thereat and, +sending for a freedwoman of hers, a woman of abundant judgment, and experience, +said to her, “Go forthwith to the Emir Khuzaymah’s gate and say, ‘I have a +counsel for the Emir.’ If they ask what it is, add, ‘I will not tell it save to +himself’; and when thou enterest to him, beg to see him in private and when +private ask him, ‘What be this deed thou hast done? Hath Jabir Atharat al-Kiram +deserved of thee no better reward than to be cast into strait prison and hard +bond of irons?’” The woman did as she was bid, and when Khuzaymah heard her +words, he cried out at the top of his voice, saying, “Alas, the baseness of it! +Was it indeed he?” And she answered, “Yes.” Then he bade saddle his beast +forthwith and, summoning the honourable men of the city, repaired with them to +the prison and opening the door, went in with them to Ikrimah, whom they found +sitting in evil case, worn out and wasted with blows and misery. When he looked +at Khuzaymah, he was abashed and hung his head; but the other bent down to him +and kissed his face; whereupon he raised his head and asked, “What maketh thee +do this?” Answered Khuzaymah, “The generosity of thy dealing and the vileness +of my requital.” And Ikrimah said, “Allah pardon us and thee!” Then Khuzaymah +commanded the jailor to strike off Ikrimah’s fetters and clap them on his own +feet; but Ikrimah said, “What is this thou wilt do?” Quoth the other, “I have a +mind to suffer what thou hast suffered.” Quoth Ikrimah, “I conjure thee by +Allah, do not so!” Then they went out together and returned to Khuzaymah’s +house, where Ikrimah would have farewelled him and wended his way; but he +forbade him and Ikrimah said, “What is thy will of me?” Replied Khuzaymah, “I +wish to change thy case, for my shame before the daughter of thine uncle is yet +greater than my shame before thee.” So he bade clear the bath and entering with +Ikrimah, served him there in person and when they went forth he bestowed on him +a splendid robe of honour and mounted him and gave him much money. Then he +carried him to his house and asked his leave to make his excuses to his wife +and obtained her pardon. After this he besought him to accompany him to the +Caliph who was then abiding at Ramlah[FN#108] and he agreed. So they journeyed +thither, and when they reached the royal quarters the chamberlain went in and +acquainted the Caliph Sulayman bin Abd al-Malik with Khuzaymah’s arrival, +whereat he was troubled and said, “What! is the Governor of Mesopotamia come +without our command? This can be only on some grave occasion.” Then he bade +admit him and said, before saluting him, “What is behind thee, O Khuzaymah?” +Replied he, “Good, O Commander of the Faithful.” Asked Sulayman, “What bringeth +thee?”; and he answered, saying, “I have discovered Jabir Atharat al-Kiram and +thought to gladden thee with him, knowing thine excessive desire to know him +and thy longing to see him.” “Who is he?” quoth the Caliph and quoth Khuzaymah, +“He is Ikrimah Al-Fayyaz.” So Sulayman called for Ikrimah, who approached and +saluted him as Caliph; and the King welcomed him and making him draw near his +sitting-place, said to him, “O Ikrimah, thy good deed to him hath brought thee +naught but evil,” adding, “Now write down in a note thy needs each and every, +and that which thou desirest.” He did so and the Caliph commanded to do all +that he required and that forthwith. Moreover he gave him ten thousand dinars +more than he asked for and twenty chests of clothes over and above that he +sought, and calling for a spear, bound him a banner and made him Governor over +Armenia and Azarbiján[FN#109] and Mesopotamia, saying, “Khuzaymah’s case is in +thy hands, an thou wilt, continue him in his office, and if thou wilt, degrade +him.” And Ikrimah said, “Nay, but I restore him to his office, O Commander of +the Faithful.” Then they went out from him and ceased not to be Governors under +Sulayman bin Abd al-Malik all the days of his Caliphate. And they also tell a +tale of +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap05"></a>YUNUS THE SCRIBE AND THE CALIPH WALID BIN SAHL.</h2> + +<p> +There lived in the reign of the Caliph Hishám, [FN#110] son of Abd al-Malik, a +man called Yúnus the Scribe well-known to the general, and he set out one day +on a journey to Damascus, having with him a slave-girl of surpassing beauty and +loveliness, whom he had taught all that was needful to her and whose price was +an hundred thousand dirhams. When they drew near to Damascus, the caravan +halted by the side of a lake and Yunus went down to a quiet place with his +damsel and took out some victual he had with him and a leather bottle of wine. +As he sat at meat, behold, came up a young man of goodly favour and dignified +presence, mounted on a sorrel horse and followed by two eunuchs, and said to +him, “Wilt thou accept me to guest?” “Yes,” replied Yunus. So the stranger +alighted and said, “Give me to drink of thy wine.” Yunus gave him to drink and +he said, “If it please thee, sing us a song.” So Yunus sang this couplet +extempore:— +</p> + +<p> +She joineth charms were never seen conjoined in mortal dress: * And for her +love she makes me love my tears and wakefulness. +</p> + +<p> +At which the stranger rejoiced with exceeding joy and Yunus gave him to drink +again and again, till the wine got the better of him and he said, “Bid thy +slave-girl sing.” So she improvised this couplet:— +</p> + +<p> +A houri, by whose charms my heart is moved to sore distress: *<br /> + + Nor wand of tree nor sun nor moon her rivals I confess!<br /> +</p> + +<p> +The stranger was overjoyed with this and they sat drinking till nightfall, when +they prayed the evening-prayer and the youth said to Yunus, “What bringeth thee +to our city?” He replied, “Quest of wherewithal to pay my debts and better my +case.” Quoth the other, “Wilt thou sell me this slave-girl for thirty thousand +dirhams?” Whereto quoth Yunus, “I must have more than that.” He asked, “Will +forty thousand content thee?”; but Yunus answered, “That would only settle my +debts, and I should remain empty-handed.” Rejoined the stranger, “We will take +her of thee at fifty thousand dirhams[FN#111] and give thee a suit of clothes +to boot and the expenses of thy journey and make thee a sharer in my condition +as long as thou livest.” Cried Yunus, “I sell her to thee on these terms.” Then +said the young man, “Wilt thou trust me to bring thee the money to-morrow and +let me take her with me, or shall she abide with thee till I pay down her +price?” Whereto wine and shame and awe of the stranger led Yunus to reply, “I +will trust thee; take her and Allah bless thee in her!” Whereupon the visitor +bade one of his pages sit her before him on his beast, and mounting his own +horse, farewelled of Yunus and rode away out of sight. Hardly had he left him, +when the seller bethought himself and knew that he had erred in selling her and +said to himself, “What have I done? I have delivered my slave-girl to a man +with whom I am unacquainted, neither know I who he is; and grant that I were +acquainted with him, how am I to get at him?” So he abode in thought till the +morning, when he prayed the dawn-prayers and his companions entered Damascus, +whilst he sat, perplexed and wotting not what to do, till the sun scorched him +and it irked him to abide there. He thought to enter the city, but said in his +mind, “If I enter Damascus, I cannot be sure but that the messenger will come +and find me not, in which case I shall have sinned against myself a second +sin.” Accordingly he sat down in the shade of a wall that was there, and +towards the wane of day, up came one of the eunuchs whom he had seen with the +young man, whereat great joy possessed Yunus and he said in himself, “I know +not that aught hath ever given me more delight than the sight of this +castrato.” When the eunuch reached him, he said to him, “O my lord, we have +kept thee long waiting”; but Yunus disclosed nothing to him of the torments of +anxiety he had suffered. Then quoth the castrato, “Knowest thou the man who +bought the girl of thee?”; and quoth Yunus, “No,” to which the other rejoined, +“’Twas Walid bin Sahl,[FN#112] the Heir Apparent.” And Yunus was silent. Then +said the eunuch, “Ride,” and made him mount a horse he had with him and they +rode till they came to a mansion, where they dismounted and entered. Here Yunus +found the damsel, who sprang up at his sight and saluted him. He asked her how +she had fared with him who had bought her and she answered, “He lodged me in +this apartment and ordered me all I needed.” Then he sat with her awhile, till +suddenly one of the servants of the houseowner came in and bade him rise and +follow him. So he followed the man into the presence of his master and found +him yesternight’s guest, whom he saw seated on his couch and who said to him, +“Who art thou?” “I am Yunus the Scribe.” “Welcome to thee, O Yunus! by Allah, I +have long wished to look on thee; for I have heard of thy report. How didst +thou pass the night?” “Well, may Almighty Allah advance thee!” “Peradventure +thou repentedest thee of that thou didst yesterday and saidst to thyself: I +have delivered my slave-girl to a man with who I am not acquainted, neither +know I his name nor whence he cometh?” “Allah forbid, O Emir, that I should +repent over her! Had I made gift of her to the Prince, she were the least of +the gifts that are given unto him,”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Yunus the +Scribe said to Walid, “Allah forbid I should repent over her! Had I made gift +of her to the Prince, she were the least of gifts that are given to him, nor +indeed is she worthy of his rank,” Walid rejoined, “By Allah, but I repented me +of having carried her away from thee and said to myself:—This man is a +stranger and knoweth me not, and I have taken him by surprise and acted +inconsiderately by him, in my haste to take the damsel! Dost thou recall what +passed between us?” Quoth Yunus, “Yes!” and quoth Walid, “Dost thou sell this +damsel to me for fifty thousand dirhams?” And Yunus said, “I do.” Then the +Prince called to one of his servants to bring him fifty thousand dirhams and a +thousand and five hundred dinars to boot, and gave them all to Yunus, saying, +“Take the slave’s price: the thousand dinars are for thy fair opinion of us and +the five hundred are for thy viaticum and for what present thou shalt buy for +thy people. Art thou content?” “I am content,” answered Yunus and kissed his +hands, saying, “By Allah, thou hast filled my eyes and my hands and my heart!” +Quoth Walid, “By Allah, I have as yet had no privacy of her nor have I taken my +fill of her singing. Bring her to me!” So she came and he bade her sit, then +said to her, “Sing.” And she sang these verses, +</p> + +<p> +“O thou who dost comprise all Beauty’s boons! * O sweet of<br /> + + nature, fain of coquetry!<br /> + +In Turks and Arabs many beauties dwell; * But, O my fawn, in none<br /> + + thy charms I see.<br /> + +Turn to thy lover, O my fair, and keep * Thy word, though but in<br /> + + visioned phantasy:<br /> + +Shame and disgrace are lawful for thy sake * And wakeful nights<br /> + + full fill with joy and glee:<br /> + +I’m not the first for thee who fared distraught; * Slain by thy<br /> + + love how many a many be!<br /> + +I am content with thee for worldly share * Dearer than life and<br /> + + good art thou to me!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +When he heard this, he was delighted exceedingly and praised Yunus for his +excellent teaching of her and her fair education. Then he bade his servants +bring him a roadster with saddle and housings for his riding, and a mule to +carry his gear, and said to him, “O Yunus, when it shall reach thee that +command hath come to me, do thou join me; and, by Allah, I will fill thy hands +with good and advance thee to honour and make thee rich as long as thou +livest!” So Yunus said, “I took his goods and went my ways; and when Walid +succeeded to the Caliphate, I repaired to him; and by Allah, he kept his +promise and entreated me with high honour and munificence. Then I abode with +him in all content of case and rise of rank and mine affairs prospered and my +wealth increased and goods and farms became mine, such as sufficed me and will +suffice my heirs after me; nor did I cease to abide with Walid, till he was +slain, the mercy of Almighty Allah be on him!” And men tell a tale concerning +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap06"></a>HARUN AL-RASHID AND THE ARAB GIRL.</h2> + +<p> +The Caliph Harun al-Rashid was walking one day with Ja’afar the Barmecide, when +he espied a company of girls drawing water and went up to them, having a mind +to drink. As he drew near, one of them turned to her fellows and improvised +these lines, +</p> + +<p> +“Thy phantom bid thou fleet, and fly * Far from the couch whereon<br /> + + I lie;<br /> + +So I may rest and quench the fire, * Bonfire in bones aye flaming<br /> + + high;<br /> + +My love-sick form Love’s restless palm * Rolls o’er the rug<br /> + + whereon I sigh:<br /> + +How ’tis with me thou wottest well * How long, then, union wilt<br /> + + deny?”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +The Caliph marvelled at her elegance and eloquence.——And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph, hearing +the girl’s verses, marvelled at her elegance and eloquence, and said to her, “O +daughter of nobles, are these thine own or a quotation?” Replied she, “They are +my very own,” and he rejoined, “An thou say sooth keep the sense and change the +rhyme.” So she said, +</p> + +<p> +“Bid thou thy phantom distance keep * And quit this couch the<br /> + + while I sleep;<br /> + +So I may rest and quench the flames * Through all my body rageful<br /> + + creep,<br /> + +In love-sick one, whom passion’s palms * Roll o’er the bed where<br /> + + grief I weep;<br /> + +How ’tis with me thou wottest well; * All but thy union hold I<br /> + + cheap!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Quoth the Caliph, “This also is stolen”; and quoth she, “Nay, ’tis my very +own.” He said, “If it be indeed thine own, change the rhyme again and keep the +sense.” So she recited the following, +</p> + +<p> +“Unto thy phantom deal behest * To shun my couch the while I<br /> + + rest,<br /> + +So I repose and quench the fire * That burns what lieth in my<br /> + + breast,<br /> + +My weary form Love’s restless palm * Rolls o’er with boon of<br /> + + sleep unblest.<br /> + +How ’tis with me thou wottest well * When union’s bought ’tis<br /> + + haply best!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Quoth Al-Rashid, “This too is stolen”; and quoth she, “Not, so, ’tis mine.” He +said, “If thy words be true change the rhyme once more.” And she recited, +</p> + +<p> +“Drive off the ghost that ever shows * Beside my couch when I’d<br /> + + repose,<br /> + + So I may rest and quench the fire * Beneath my ribs e’er flames<br /> + + and glows<br /> + + In love-sick one, whom passion’s palms * Roll o’er the couch<br /> + + where weeping flows.<br /> + +How ’tis with me thou wottest well * Will union come as union<br /> + + goes?”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then said the Caliph, “Of what part of this camp art thou?”; and she replied, +“Of its middle in dwelling and of its highest in tentpoles.”[FN#113] Wherefore +he knew that she was the daughter of the tribal chief. “And thou,” quoth she, +“of what art thou among the guardians of the horses?”; and quoth he, “Of the +highest in tree and of the ripest in fruit.” “Allah protect thee, O Commander +of the Faithful!” said she, and kissing ground called down blessings on him. +Then she went away with the maidens of the Arabs, and the Caliph said to +Ja’afar, “There is no help for it but I take her to wife.” So Ja’afar repaired +to her father and said to him, “The Commander of the Faithful hath a mind to +thy daughter.” He replied, “With love and goodwill, she is a gift as a handmaid +to His Highness our Lord the Commander of the Faithful.” So he equipped her and +carried her to the Caliph, who took her to wife and went in to her, and she +became of the dearest of his women to him. Furthermore, he bestowed on her +father largesse such as succoured him among Arabs, till he was transported to +the mercy of Almighty Allah. The Caliph, hearing of his death, went in to her +greatly troubled; and, when she saw him looking afflicted, she entered her +chamber and doffing all that was upon her of rich raiment, donned mourning +apparel and raised lament for her father. It was said to her, “What is the +reason of this?”; and she replied, “My father is dead.” So they repaired to the +Caliph and told him and he rose and going in to her, asked her who had informed +her of her father’s death; and she answered “It was thy face, O Commander of +the Faithful!” Said he, “How so?”; and she said, “Since I have been with thee, +I never saw thee on such wise till this time, and there was none for whom I +feared save my father, by reason of his great age; but may thy head live, O +Commander of the Faithful!” The Caliph’s eyes filled with tears and he condoled +with her; but she ceased not to mourn for her father, till she followed +him—Allah have mercy on the twain! And a tale is also told of +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap07"></a>AL-ASMA’I AND THE THREE GIRLS OF BASSORAH.</h2> + +<p> +The Commander of the Faithful Harun Al-Rashid was exceeding restless one night +and rising from his bed, paced from chamber to chamber, but could not compose +himself to sleep. As soon as it was day, he said, “Fetch me Al-Asma’i!”[FN#114] +So the eunuch went out and told the doorkeepers; these sent for the poet and +when he came, informed the Caliph who bade admit him and said to him, “O +Asma’i, I wish thee to tell me the best thou hast heard of stories of women and +their verses.” Answered Al-Asma’i, “Hearkening and obedience! I have heard +great store of women’s verses; but none pleased me save three sets of couplets +I once heard from three girls.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Al-Asma’i said to the +Prince of True Believers, “Verily I have heard much, but nothing pleased me +save three sets of couplets improvised by as many girls.” Quoth the Caliph, +“Tell me of them,” and quoth he, “Know then, O Commander of the Faithful, that +I once abode in Bassorah, and one day, as I was walking, the heat was sore upon +me and I sought for a siesta-place but found none. However by looking right and +left I came upon a porch swept and sprinkled, at the upper end whereof was a +wooden bench under an open lattice-window, whence exhaled a scent of musk. I +entered the porch and sitting down on the bench, would have stretcht me at full +length when I heard from within a girl’s sweet voice talking and saying:—O my +sisters, we are here seated to spend our day in friendly converse; so come, let +us each put down an hundred dinars and recite a line of verse; and whoso +extemporiseth the goodliest and sweetest line, the three hundred dinars shall +be hers.” “With love and gladness,” said the others; and the eldest recited the +first couplet which is this:— +</p> + +<p> +Would he come to my bed during sleep ’twere delight * But a visit on wake were +delightsomer sight! +</p> + +<p> +Quoth the second:— +</p> + +<p> +Naught came to salute me in sleep save his shade * But “welcome, fair +welcome,” I cried to the spright! +</p> + +<p> +Then said the youngest:— +</p> + +<p> +My soul and my folk I engage for the youth * Musk-scented I see in my bed +every night! +</p> + +<p> +Quoth I, “An she be fair as her verse hath grace, the thing is complete in +every case.” Then I came down from my bench[FN#115] and was about to go away, +when behold, the door opened and out came a slave-girl, who said to me, “Sit, O +Shaykh!” So I climbed up and sat down again when she gave me a scroll, wherein +was written, in characters of the utmost beauty, with straight Alifs,[FN#116] +big-bellied Hás and rounded Waws, the following:—We would have the Shaykh +(Allah lengthen his days!) to know that we are three maidens, sisters, sitting +in friendly converse, who have laid down each an hundred dinars, conditioning +that whoso recite the goodliest and sweetest couplet shall have the whole three +hundred dinars; and we appoint thee umpire between us: so decide as thou seest +best, and the Peace be on thee! Quoth I to the girl, Here to me inkcase and +paper. So she went in and, returning after a little, brought me a silvered +inkcase and gilded pens[FN#117] with which I wrote these couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +They talked of three beauties whose converse was quite * Like the<br /> + + talk of a man with experience dight:<br /> + +Three maidens who borrowed the bloom of the dawn * Making<br /> + + hearts of their lovers in sorriest plight.<br /> + +They were hidden from eyes of the prier and spy * Who<br /> + + slept and their modesty mote not affright;<br /> + +So they opened whatever lay hid in their hearts * And in<br /> + + frolicsome fun began verse to indite.<br /> + +Quoth one fair coquette with her amorous grace * Whose<br /> + + teeth for the sweet of her speech flashèd bright:—<br /> + +Would he come to my bed during sleep ’twere delight * But a<br /> + + visit on wake were delightsomer sight!<br /> + +When she ended, her verse by her smiling was gilt: * Then<br /> + + the second ‘gan singing as nightingale might:—<br /> + +Naught came to salute me in sleep save his shade * But<br /> + + ‘welcome, fair welcome,’ I cried to the spright!<br /> + +But the third I preferred for she said in reply, * With<br /> + + expression most apposite, exquisite:—<br /> + +My soul and my folk I engage for the youth * Musk-<br /> + + scented I see in my bed every night!<br /> + +So when I considered their words to decide, * And not<br /> + + make me the mock of the cynical wight;<br /> + +I pronounced for the youngest, declaring her verse * Of all<br /> + + verses be that which is nearest the right.’<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then I gave the scroll to the slave-girl, who went upstairs with it, and behold, I +heard a noise of dancing and clapping of hands and Doomsday astir. Quoth I to +myself, “’Tis no time of me to stay here.” So I came down from the platform and +was about to go away, when the damsel cried out to me, ‘Sit down, O Asma’i!’ +Asked I, ‘Who gave thee to know that I was Al-Asma’i?’ and she answered, ‘O +Shaykh, an thy name be unknown to us, thy poetry is not!’ So I sat down again +and suddently the door opened and out came the first damsel, with a dish of +fruits and another of sweetmeats. I ate of both and praised their fashion and +would have ganged my gait; but she cried out, ‘Sit down, O Asma’i!’ Wherewith I +raised my eyes to her and saw a rosy palm in a saffron sleeve, meseemed it was +the full moon rising splendid in the cloudy East. Then she threw me a purse +containing three hundred dinars and said to me, “This is mine and I give it to +thee by way of douceur in requital of thy judgment.” Quoth the Caliph, “Why +didst thou decide for the youngest?” and quoth Al-Asma’i, “O Commander of the +Faithful, whose life Allah prolong! the eldest said, ‘I should delight in him, +if he visited my couch in sleep.’ Now this is restricted and dependent upon a +condition which may befal or may not befal; whilst, for the second, an image of +dreams came to her in sleep, and she saluted it; but the youngest’s couplet +said that she actually lay with her lover and smelt his breath sweeter than +musk and she engaged her soul and her folk for him, which she had not done, +were he not dearer to her than her sprite.” Said the Caliph, “Thou didst well, +O Asma’i.” and gave him other three hundred ducats in payment of his story. And +I have heard a tale concerning +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap08"></a>IBRAHIM OF MOSUL AND THE DEVIL.[FN#118]</h2> + +<p> +Quoth Abu Ishak Ibrahim al-Mausili:—I asked Al-Rashid once to give me a day’s +leave that I might be private with the people of my household and my brethren, +and he gave me leave for Saturday the Sabbath. So I went home and betook myself +to making ready meat and drink and other necessaries and bade the doorkeepers +shut the doors and let none come in to me. However, presently, as I sat in my +sitting-chamber, with my women who were looking after my wants, behold, there +appeared an old man of comely and reverend aspect,[FN#119] clad in white +clothes and a shirt of fine stuff with a doctor’s turband on his head and a +silver-handled staff in his hand, and the house and porch were full of the +perfumes wherewith he was scented. I was greatly vexed at his coming in to me +and thought to turn away the doorkeepers; but he saluted me after the goodliest +fashion and I returned his greeting and bade him be seated. So he sat down and +began entertaining me with stories of the Arabs and their verses, till my anger +left me and methought my servants had sought to pleasure me by admitting a man +of such good breeding and fine culture. Then I asked him, “Art thou for meat?”; +and he answered, “I have no need of it.” “And for drink?” quoth I, and quoth +he, “That is as thou wilt.” So I drank off a pint of wine and poured him out +the like. Then said he, “O Abu Ishak, wilt thou sing us somewhat, so we may +hear of thine art that wherein thou excellest high and low?” His words angered +me; but I swallowed my anger and taking the lute played and sang. “Well done, O +Abu Ishak!”[FN#120] said he; whereat my wrath redoubled and I said to myself, +“Is it not enough that he should intrude upon me, without my leave, and +importune me thus, but he must call me by name, as though he knew not the right +way to address me?” Quoth he, “An thou wilt sing something more we will requite +thee.” I dissembled my annoyance and took the lute and sang again, taking pains +with what I sang and rising thereto altogether, in consideration of his saying, +“We will requite thee.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Shaykh said +to Abu Ishak, “If thou wilt sing something more we will requite thee,” I +dissembled my annoyance (continued Ibrahim) and, taking the lute, sang again +with great attention to my singing and rising altogether thereto, in +consideration of his saying, “We will requite thee.” He was delighted, and +cried, “Well done, O my lord!”; presently adding, “Dost thou give me leave to +sing?” “As thou wilt,” answered I, deeming him weak of wit, in that he should +think to sing in my presence, after that which he had heard from me. So he took +the lute and swept the strings, and by Allah, I fancied they spoke in Arabic +tongue, with a sweet and liquid and murmurous voice; then he began and sang +these couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +I bear a hurt heart, who will sell me for this * A heart whole<br /> + + and free from all canker and smart?<br /> + +Nay, none will consent or to barter or buy * Such loss, ne’er<br /> + + from sorrow and sickness to part:<br /> + +I groan wi’ the groaning of wine-wounded men * And pine for the<br /> + + pining ne’er freeth my heart.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +And by Allah, meseemed the doors and the walls and all that was in the house +answered and sang with him, for the beauty of his voice, so that I fancied my +very limbs and clothes replied to him, and I abode amazed and unable to speak +or move, for the trouble of my heart. Then he sang these couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +Culvers of Liwa![FN#121] to your nests return; * Your mournful<br /> + + voices thrill this heart of mine.<br /> + +Then back a-copse they flew, and well-nigh took * My life and<br /> + + made me tell my secret pine.<br /> + +With cooing call they one who’s gone, as though * Their breasts<br /> + + were maddened with the rage of wine:<br /> + +Ne’er did mine eyes their like for culvers see * Who weep yet<br /> + + tear-drops never dye their eyne.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +And also these couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +O Zephyr of Najd, when from Najd thou blow, * Thy breathings + heap only new woe on woe!<br /> + +The turtle bespake me in bloom of morn * From the cassia-twig and + the willow-bough<br /> + +She moaned with the moaning of love-sick youth * And exposed + love-secret I ne’er would show:<br /> + +They say lover wearies of love when near * And is cured of love + an afar he go:<br /> + +I tried either cure which ne’er cured my love; * But that + nearness is better than farness I know:[FN#122]<br /> + +Yet,—the nearness of love shall no ’vantage prove * An whoso + thou lovest deny thee of love.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then said he, “O Ibrahim, sing this song after me, and preserving the mode +thereof in thy singing, teach it to thy slave-girls.” Quoth I, “Repeat it to +me.” But he answered, “There needs no repetition; thou hast it by heart nor is +there more to learn.” Then he suddenly vanished from my sight. At this I was +amazed and running to my sword drew it and made for the door of the Harim, but +found it closed and said to the women, “What have ye heard?” Quoth they, “We +have heard the sweetest of singing and the goodliest.” Then I went forth +amazed, to the house-door and, finding it locked, questioned the doorkeepers of +the old man. They replied, “What old man? By Allah, no one hath gone in to thee +this day!” So I returned pondering the matter, when, behold, there arose from +one of the corners of the house, a Vox et præterea nihil, saying, “O Abu +Ishak, no harm shall befal thee. ’Tis I, Abú Murrah,[FN#123] who have been thy +cup-companion this day, so fear nothing!” Then I mounted and rode to the +palace, where I told Al-Rashid what had passed, and he said, “Repeat to me the +airs thou heardest from him.” So I took the lute and played and sang them to +him; for, behold, they were rooted in my heart. The Caliph was charmed with +them and drank thereto, albeit he was no confirmed wine-bibber, saying, “Would +he would some day pleasure us with his company, as he hath pleasured +thee!”[FN#124] Then he ordered me a present and I took it and went away. And +men relate this story anent +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap09"></a>THE LOVERS OF THE BANU UZRAH.[FN#125]</h2> + +<p> +Quoth Masrur the Eunuch:—The Caliph Harun Al-Rashid was very wakeful one night +and said to me, “See which of the poets is at the door to-night.” So I went out +and finding Jamíl bin Ma’amar al-Uzrí[FN#126] in the antechamber, said to +him, “Answer the Commander of the Faithful.” Quoth he, “I hear and I obey,” and +going in with me, saluted the Caliph, who returned his greeting and bade him +sit down. Then he said to him, “O Jamil, hast thou any of thy wonderful new +stories to tell us?” He replied, “Yes, O Commander of the Faithful: wouldst +thou fainer hear that which I have seen with mine eyes or that which I have +only heard?” Quoth the Caliph, “Tell me something thou hast actually beheld.” +Quoth Jamil, “’Tis well, O Prince of True Believers; incline thy heart to me +and lend me thine ears.” The Caliph took a bolster of red brocade, purfled with +gold and stuffed with ostrich-feathers and, laying it under his thighs, propped +up both elbows thereon; then he said to Jamil, “Now[FN#127] for thy tale, O +Jamil!” Thereupon he begun:—Know, O Commander of the Faithful, that I was once +desperately enamoured of a certain girl and used to pay her frequent +visits.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph had +propped his elbows upon the brocaded cushion, he said, “Out with thy tale, O +Jamil!” and the poet begun:—Know, O Commander of the Faithful, I was +desperately in love with a girl and used often to visit her, because she was my +desire and delight of all the things of this world. After a while, her people +removed with her, by reason of scarcity of pasture, and I abode some time +without seeing her, till I grew restless for desire and longed for her sight +and the flesh[FN#128] urged me to journey to her. One night, I could hold out +no longer; so I rose and saddling my she-camel, bound on my turban and donned +my oldest dress.[FN#129] Then I baldricked myself with my sword and slinging my +spear behind me, mounted and rode forth in quest of her. I fared on fast till, +one night, it was pitch dark and exceeding black, yet I persisted in the hard +task of climbing down Wadys and up hills, hearing on all sides the roaring of +lions and howling of wolves and the cries of the wild beasts. My reason was +troubled thereat and my heart sank within me; but for all that my tongue ceased +not to call on the name of Almighty Allah. As I went along thus, sleep overtook +me and the camel carried me aside out of my road, till, presently, +something[FN#130] smote me on the head, and I woke, startled and alarmed, and +found myself in a pasturage full of trees and streams and birds on the +branches, warbling their various speech and notes. As the trees were tangled I +alighted and, taking my camel’s halter in hand, fared on softly with her, till +I got clear of the thick growth and came out into the open country, where I +adjusted her saddle and mounted again, knowing not where to go nor whither the +Fates should lead me; but, presently, peering afar into the desert, I espied a +fire in its middle depth. So I smote my camel and made for the fire. When I +drew near, I saw a tent pitched, and fronted by a spear stuck in the ground, +with a pennon flying[FN#131] and horses tethered and camels feeding, and said +in myself, “Doubtless there hangeth some grave matter by this tent, for I see +none other than it in the desert.” So I went up thereto and said, “Peace be +with you, O people of the tent, and the mercy of Allah and His Blessing!” +Whereupon there came forth to me a young man as youths are when nineteen years +old, who was like the full moon shining in the East, with valour written +between his eyes, and answered, saying, “And with thee be the Peace, and +Allah’s mercy and His blessing! O brother of the Arabs, methinks thou hast lost +thy way?” Replied I, “Even so, direct me right, Allah have mercy on thee!” He +rejoined, “O brother of the Arabs, of a truth this our land is infested with +lions and the night is exceeding dark and dreary, beyond measure cold and +gloomy, and I fear lest the wild beasts rend thee in pieces; wherefore do thou +alight and abide with me this night in ease and comfort, and to-morrow I will +put thee in the right way.” Accordingly, I dismounted and hobbled my she-camel +with the end of her halter;[FN#132] then I put off my heavy upper clothes and +sat down. Presently the young man took a sheep and slaughtered it and kindled a +brisk fire; after which he went into the tent and bringing out finely powdered +salt and spices, fell to cutting off pieces of mutton and roasting them over +the fire and feeding me therewith, weeping at one while and sighing at another. +Then he groaned heavily and wept sore and improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“There remains to him naught save a flitting breath * And an eye<br /> + + whose babe ever wandereth.<br /> + +There remains not a joint in his limbs, but what * Disease firm<br /> + + fixt ever tortureth.<br /> + +His tears are flowing, his vitals burning; * Yet for all his<br /> + + tongue still he silenceth.<br /> + +All foemen in pity beweep his woes; * Ah for freke whom the<br /> + + foeman pitieth!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +By this I knew, O Commander of the Faithful, that the youth was a distracted +lover (for none knoweth passion save he who hath tasted the passion-savour), +and quoth I to myself, “Shall I ask him?” But I consulted my judgment and said, +“How shall I assail him with questioning, and I in his abode?” So I restrained +myself and ate my sufficiency of the meat. When we had made an end of eating, +the young man arose and entering the tent, brought out a handsome basin and +ewer and a silken napkin, whose ends were purfled with red gold and a +sprinkling-bottle full of rose-water mingled with musk. I marvelled at his +dainty delicate ways and said in my mind, “Never wot I of delicacy in the +desert.” Then we washed our hands and talked a while, after which he went into +the tent and making a partition between himself and me with a piece of red +brocade, said to me, “Enter, O Chief of the Arabs, and take thy rest; for thou +hast suffered more of toil and travel than sufficeth this night and in this thy +journey.” So I entered and finding a bed of green brocade, doffed my dress and +passed a night such as I had never passed in my life.——And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Ninetieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Jamil spoke, +saying:—Never in my life passed I a night like that. I pondered the young man’s +case, till the world was dark and all eyes slept, when I was aroused by the +sound of a low voice, never heard I a softer or sweeter. I raised the curtain +which hung between us and saw a damsel (never beheld I a fairer of face), by +the young man’s side and they were both weeping and complaining, one to other +of the pangs of passion and desire and of the excess of their longing for +union.[FN#133] Quoth I, “By Allah, I wonder who may be this second one! When I +entered this tent, there was none therein save this young man.” And after +reflection I added, “Doubtless this damsel is of the daughters of the Jinn and +is enamoured of this youth; so they have secluded themselves with each other in +this solitary place.” Then I considered her closely and behold, she was a +mortal and an Arab girl, whose face, when she unveiled, shamed the shining sun, +and the tent was lit up by the light of her countenance. When I was assured +that she was his beloved, I bethought me of lover-jealousy; so I let drop the +curtain and covering my face, fell asleep. As soon as it was dawn I arose and +donning my clothes, made the Wuzu-ablution and prayed such prayers as are +obligatory and which I had deferred. Then I said, “O brother of the Arabs, wilt +thou direct me into the right road and thus add to thy favours?” He replied, +“At thy leisure, O chief of the Arabs, the term of the guest-rite is three +days,[FN#134] and I am not one to let thee go before that time.” So I abode +with him three days, and on the fourth day as we sat talking, I asked him of +his name and lineage. Quoth he “As for my lineage, I am of the Banú Odhrah; my +name is such an one, son of such an one and my father’s brother is called such +an one.” And behold, O Commander of the Faithful, he was the son of my paternal +uncle and of the noblest house of the Banú Uzrah. Said I, “O my cousin, what +moved thee to act on this wise, secluding thyself in the waste and leaving thy +fair estate and that of thy father and thy slaves and handmaids?” When he heard +my words, his eyes filled with tears and he replied, “Know, O my cousin, that I +fell madly in love of the daughter of my father’s brother, fascinated by her, +distracted for her, passion-possessed as by a Jinn, wholly unable to let her +out of my sight. So I sought her in marriage of her sire, but he refused and +married her to a man of the Banu Odhrah, who went in to her and carried her to +his abiding-place this last year. When she was thus far removed from me and I +was prevented from looking on her, the fiery pangs of passion and excess of +love-longing and desire drove me to forsake my clan[FN#135] and friends and +fortune and take up my abode in this desert, where I have grown used to my +solitude.” I asked, “Where are their dwellings?” and he answered, “They are +hard by, on the crest of yonder hill; and every night, at the dead time, when +all eyes sleep, she stealeth secretly out of the camp, unseen of any one, and I +satisfy my desire of her converse and she of mine.[FN#136] So I abide thus, +solacing myself with her a part of the night, till Allah work out that which is +to be wrought; either I shall compass my desire, in spite[FN#137] of the +envious, or Allah will determine for me and He is the best of determinators.” +Now when the youth told me his case, O Commander of the Faithful, I was +concerned for him and perplexed by reason of my jealousy for his honour; so I +said to him, “O son of my uncle, wilt thou that I point out to thee a plan and +suggest to thee a project, whereby (please Allah) thou shalt find perfect +welfare and the way of right and successful issue whereby the Almighty shall do +away from thee that thou dreadest?” He replied, “Say on, O my cousin”; and +quoth I, “When it is night and the girl cometh, set her on my she-camel which +is swift of pace, and mount thou thy steed, whilst I bestride one of these +dromedaries. So will we fare on all night and when the morrow morns, we shall +have traversed wolds and wastes, and thou wilt have attained thy desire and won +the beloved of thy heart. The Almighty’s earth is wide, and by Allah, I will +back thee with heart and wealth and sword.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Ninety-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Jamil advised the +elopement and night journey, promising his aid as long as he lived, the youth +accepted and said, “O cousin, wait till I take counsel with her, for she is +quick-witted and prudent and hath insight into affairs.” So (continued Jamil) +when the night darkened and the hour of her coming arrived, and he awaiting her +at the appointed tide, she delayed beyond her usual time, and I saw him go +forth the door of the tent and opening his mouth, inhale the wafts of breeze +that blew from her quarter, as if to snuff her perfume, and he repeated these +two couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +“Breeze of East who bringest me gentle air * From the place of<br /> + + sojourn where dwells my fair:<br /> + +O Breeze, of the lover thou bearest sign, * Canst not of her<br /> + + coming some signal bear?”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he entered the tent and sat weeping awhile; after which he said to me, “O +my cousin, some mischance must have betided the daughter of mine uncle, or some +accident must have hindered her from coming to me this night,” presently +adding, “But abide where thou art, till I bring thee the news.” And he took +sword and shield and was absent a while of the night, after which he returned, +carrying something in hand and called aloud to me. So I hastened to him and he +said, “O my cousin, knowest thou what hath happened?” I replied, “No, by +Allah!” Quoth he, “Verily, I am distraught concerning my cousin this night; +for, as she was coming to me, a lion met her in the way and devoured her, and +there remaineth of her but what thou seest.” So saying, he threw down what he +had in his hand, and behold, it was the damsel’s turband and what was left of +her bones. Then he wept sore and casting down his bow,[FN#138] took a bag and +went forth again saying, “Stir not hence till I return to thee, if it please +Almighty Allah.” He was absent a while and presently returned, bearing in his +hand a lion’s head, which he threw on the ground and called for water. So I +brought him water, with which he washed the lion’s mouth and fell to kissing it +and weeping; and he mourned for her exceedingly and recited these couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +Ho thou lion who broughtest thyself to woe, * Thou art slain and<br /> + + worse sorrows my bosom rend!<br /> + +Thou hast reft me of fairest companionship, * Made her home<br /> + + Earth’s womb till the world shall end.<br /> + +To Time, who hath wrought me such grief, I say, * ‘Allah grant in<br /> + + her stead never show a friend!’<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then said he to me, “O cousin, I conjure thee by Allah and the claims of +kindred and consanguinity[FN#139] between us, keep thou my charge. Thou wilt +presently see me dead before thee; whereupon do thou wash me and shroud me and +these that remain of my cousin’s bones in this robe and bury us both in one +grave and write thereon these two couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +On Earth surface we lived in rare ease and joy * By fellowship<br /> + + joined in one house and home.<br /> + +But Fate with her changes departed us, * And the shroud conjoins<br /> + + us in Earth’s cold womb.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he wept with sore weeping and, entering the tent, was absent awhile, after +which he came forth, groaning and crying out. Then he gave one sob and departed +this world. When I saw that he was indeed dead, it was grievous to me and so +sore was my sorrow for him that I had well-nigh followed him for excess of +mourning over him. Then I laid him out and did as he had enjoined me, shrouding +his cousin’s remains with him in one robe and laying the twain in one grave. I +abode by their tomb three days, after which I departed and continued to pay +frequent pious visits[FN#140] to the place for two years. This then is their +story, O Commander of the Faithful! Al-Rashid was pleased with Jamil’s story +and rewarded him with a robe of honour and a handsome present. And men also +tell a tale concerning +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap10"></a>THE BADAWI AND HIS WIFE.[FN#141]</h2> + +<p> +Caliph Mu’áwiyah was sitting one day in his palace[FN#142] at Damascus, in a +room whose windows were open on all four sides, that the breeze might enter +from every quarter. Now it was a day of excessive heat, with no breeze from the +hills stirring, and the middle of the day, when the heat was at its height, and +the Caliph saw a man coming along, scorched by the heat of the ground and +limping, as he fared on barefoot. Mu’awiyah considered him awhile and said to +his courtiers, “Hath Allah (may He be extolled and exalted!) created any +miserabler than he who need must hie abroad at such an hour and in such sultry +tide as this?” Quoth one of them, “Haply he seeketh the Commander of the +Faithful;” and quoth the Caliph, “By Allah, if he seek me, I will assuredly +give to him, and if he be wronged, I will certainly succour him. Ho, boy! Stand +at the door, and if yonder wild Arab seek to come in to me, forbid him not +therefrom.” So the page went out and presently the Arab came up to him and he +said, “What dost thou want?” Answered the other, “I want the Commander of the +Faithful,” and the page said, “Enter.” So he entered and saluted the +Caliph,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Ninety-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the page allowed him +to enter, the Badawi saluted the Caliph, who said to him, “Who art thou?” +Replied the Arab, “I am a man of the Banú Tamím.”[FN#143] “And what bringeth +thee here at this season?” asked Mu’awiyah; and the Arab answered, “I come to +thee, complaining and thy protection imploring.” “Against whom?” “Against +Marwan bin al-Hakam,[FN#144] thy deputy,” replied he, and began reciting, +</p> + +<p> +“Mu’áwiyah,[FN#145] thou gen’rous lord, and best of men that be;<br /> + + * And oh, thou lord of learning, grace and fair humanity,<br /> + +Thee-wards I come because my way of life is strait to me: * O<br /> + + help! and let me not despair thine equity to see.<br /> + +Deign thou redress the wrong that dealt the tyrant whim of him *<br /> + + Who better had my life destroyed than made such wrong to<br /> + + dree.<br /> + +He robbed me of my wife Su’ad and proved him worst of foes, *<br /> + + Stealing mine honour ’mid my folk with foul iniquity;<br /> + +And went about to take my life before th’ appointed day * Hath<br /> + + dawned which Allah made my lot by destiny’s decree.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Now when Mu’awiyah heard him recite these verses, with the fire flashing from +his mouth, he said to him, “Welcome and fair welcome, O brother of the Arabs! +Tell me thy tale and acquaint me with thy case.” Replied the Arab, “O Commander +of the Faithful, I had a wife whom I loved passing dear with love none came +near; and she was the coolth of mine eyes and the joy of my heart; and I had a +herd of camels, whose produce enabled me to maintain my condition; but there +came upon us a bad year which killed off hoof and horn and left me naught. When +what was in my hand failed me and wealth fell from me and I lapsed into evil +case, I at once became abject and a burden to those who erewhile wished to +visit me; and when her father knew it, he took her from me and abjured me and +drove me forth without ruth. So I repaired to thy deputy, Marwan bin al-Hakam, +and asked his aid. He summoned her sire and questioned him of my case, when he +denied any knowledge of me. Quoth I, ‘Allah assain the Emir! An it please him +to send for the woman and question her of her father’s saying, the truth will +appear.’ So he sent for her and brought her; but no sooner had he set eyes on +her than he fell in love with her; so, becoming my rival, he denied me succour +and was wroth with me, and sent me to prison, where I became as I had fallen +from heaven and the wind had cast me down in a far land. Then said Marwan to +her father, ‘Wilt thou give her to me to wife, on a present settlement of a +thousand dinars and a contingent dowry of ten thousand dirhams,[FN#146] and I +will engage to free her from yonder wild Arab!’ Her father was seduced by the +bribe and agreed to the bargain; whereupon Marwan sent for me and looking at me +like an angry lion, said to me, ‘O Arab, divorce Su’ad.’ I replied, ‘I will not +put her away;’ but he set on me a company of his servants, who tortured me with +all manner of tortures, till I found no help for it but to divorce her. I did +so and he sent me back to prison, where I abode till the days of her +purification were accomplished, when he married her and let me go. So now I +come hither in thee hoping and thy succour imploring and myself on thy +protection throwing.” And he spoke these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“Within my heart is fire * Whichever flameth higher;<br /> + +Within my frame are pains * For skill of leach too dire.<br /> + +Live coals in vitals burn * And sparks from coal up spire:<br /> + +Tears flood mine eyes and down * Coursing my cheek ne’er tire:<br /> + +Only God’s aid and thine * I crave for my desire!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he was convulsed,[FN#147] and his teeth chattered and he fell down in a +fit, squirming like a scotched snake. When Mu’awiyah heard his story and his +verse, he said, “Marwan bin al-Hakam hath transgressed against the laws of the +Faith and hath violated the Harim of True Believers!”——And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Ninety-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph +Mu’awiyah heard the wild Arab’s words, he said, “The son of Al-Hakam hath +indeed transgressed against the laws of the Faith and hath violated the Harim +of True Believers,” presently adding, “O Arab, thou comest to me with a story, +the like whereof I never heard!” Then he called for inkcase and paper and wrote +to Marwan as follows, “Verily it hath reached me that thou transgresseth the +laws of the Faith with regard to thy lieges. Now it behoveth the Wali who +governeth the folk to keep his eyes from their lusts and stay his flesh from +its delights.” And after he wrote many words, which (quoth he who told me the +tale) I omit, for brevity’s sake, and amongst them these couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +Thou wast invested (woe to thee!)[FN#148] with rule for thee<br /> + + unfit; * Crave thou of Allah pardon for thy foul adultery.<br /> + +Th’ unhappy youth to us is come complaining ’mid his groans * And<br /> + + asks redress for parting-grief and saddened me through<br /> + + thee.<br /> + +An oath have I to Allah sworn shall never be forsworn; * Nay,<br /> + + for I’ll do what Faith and Creed command me to decree.<br /> + +An thou dare cross me in whate’er to thee I now indite * I of<br /> + + thy flesh assuredly will make the vulture free.<br /> + +Divorce Su’ad, equip her well, and in the hottest haste * With<br /> + + Al-Kumayt and Ziban’s son, hight Nasr, send to me.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he folded the letter and, sealing it with his seal, delivered it to +Al-Kumayt[FN#149] and Nasr bin Zibán (whom he was wont to employ on weighty +matters, because of their trustiness) who took the missive and carried it to +Al-Medinah, where they went in to Marwan and saluting him delivered to him the +writ and told him how the case stood. He read the letter and fell a-weeping; +but he went in to Su’ad (as ’twas not in his power to refuse obedience to the +Caliph) and, acquainting her with the case, divorced her in the presence of +Al-Kumayt and Nasr; after which he equipped her and delivered her to them, +together with a letter to the Caliph wherein he versified as follows, +</p> + +<p> +“Hurry not, Prince of Faithful Men! with best of grace thy vow<br /> + + * I will accomplish as ’twas vowed and with the gladdest<br /> + + gree.<br /> + +I sinned not adulterous sin when loved her I, then how * Canst<br /> + + charge me with advowtrous deed or any villainy?<br /> + +Soon comes to thee that splendid sun which hath no living peer<br /> + + * On earth, nor aught in mortal men or Jinns her like<br /> + + shalt see.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +This he sealed with his own signet and gave to the messengers who returned with +Su’ad to Damascus and delivered to Mu’awiyah the letter, and when he had read +it he cried, “Verily, he hath obeyed handsomely, but he exceedeth in his praise +of the woman.” Then he called for her and saw beauty such as he had never seen, +for comeliness and loveliness, stature and symmetrical grace; moreover, he +talked with her and found her fluent of speech and choice in words. Quoth he, +“Bring me the Arab.” So they fetched the man, who came, sore disordered for +shifts and changes of fortune, and Mu’awiyah said to him, “O Arab, an thou wilt +freely give her up to me, I will bestow upon thee in her stead three slave-girls, +high-bosomed maids like moons, with each a thousand dinars; and I will +assign thee on the Treasury such an annual sum as shall content thee and enrich +thee.” When the Arab heard this, he groaned one groan and swooned away, so that +Mu’awiyah thought he was dead; and, as soon as he revived, the Caliph said to +him, “What aileth thee?” The Arab answered, “With heavy heart and in sore need +have I appealed to thee from the injustice of Marwan bin al-Hakam; but to whom +shall I appeal from thine injustice?” And he versified in these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“Make me not (Allah save the Caliph!) one of the betrayed *<br /> + + Who from the fiery sands to fire must sue for help and<br /> + + aid:<br /> + +Deign thou restore Su’ád to this afflicted heart distraught, *<br /> + + Which every morn and eve by sorest sorrow is waylaid:<br /> + +Loose thou my bonds and grudge me not and give her back to me;<br /> + + * And if thou do so ne’er thou shalt for lack of thanks<br /> + + upbraid!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then said he, “By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, wert thou to give me all +the riches contained in the Caliphate, yet would I not take them without +Su’ad.” And he recited this couplet, +</p> + +<p> +“I love Su’ád and unto all but hers my love is dead, * Each morn I feel her +love to me is drink and daily bread.” +</p> + +<p> +Quoth the Caliph, “Thou confessest to having divorced her and Marwan owned the +like; so now we will give her free choice. An she choose other than thee, we +will marry her to him, and if she choose thee, we will restore her to thee.” +Replied the Arab, “Do so.” So Mu’awiyah said to her, “What sayest thou, O +Su’ad? Which dost thou choose; the Commander of the Faithful, with his honour +and glory and dominion and palaces and treasures and all else thou seest at +this command, or Marwin bin al-Hakam with his violence and tyranny, or this +Arab, with his hunger and poverty?” So she improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“This one, whom hunger plagues, and rags unfold, * Dearer than<br /> + + tribe and kith and kin I hold;<br /> + +Than crownèd head, or deputy Marwán, * Or all who boast of<br /> + + silver coins and gold.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then said she, “By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I will not forsake him +for the shifts of Fortune or the perfidies of Fate, there being between us old +companionship we may not forget, and love beyond stay and let; and indeed ’tis +but just that I bear with him in his adversity, even as I shared with him in +prosperity.” The Caliph marvelled at her wit and love and constancy and, +ordering her ten thousand dirhams, delivered her to the Arab, who took his wife +and went away.[FN#150] And they likewise tell a tale of +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap11"></a>THE LOVERS OF BASSORAH.</h2> + +<p> +The Caliph Harun al-Rashid was sleepless one night; so he sent for Al-Asma’i +and Husayn al-Khalí’a[FN#151] and said to them, “Tell me a story you twain and +do thou begin, O Husayn.” He said, “’Tis well, O Commander of the Faithful;” +and thus began: Some years ago, I dropped down stream to Bassorah, to present +to Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Rabí’í[FN#152] a Kasidah or elegy I had composed +in his praise; and he accepted it and bade me abide with him. One day, I went +out to Al-Mirbad,[FN#153] by way of Al-Muháliyah;[FN#154] and, being oppressed +by the excessive heat, went up to a great door, to ask for drink, when I was +suddenly aware of a damsel, as she were a branch swaying, with eyes +languishing, eyebrows arched and finely pencilled and smooth cheeks rounded, +clad in a shift the colour of a pomegranate-flower, and a mantilla of +Sana’á[FN#155] work; but the perfect whiteness of her body overcame the redness +of her shift, through which glittered two breasts like twin granadoes and a +waist, as it were a roll of fine Coptic linen, with creases like scrolls of +pure white paper stuffed with musk.[FN#156] Moreover, O Prince of True +Believers, round her neck was slung an amulet of red gold that fell down +between her breasts, and on the plain of her forehead were browlocks like +jet.[FN#157] Her eyebrows joined and her eyes were like lakes; she had an +aquiline nose and thereunder shell-like lips showing teeth like pearls. +Pleasantness prevailed in every part of her; but she seemed dejected, +disturbed, distracted and in the vestibule came and went, walking upon the +hearts of her lovers, whilst her legs[FN#158] made mute the voices of their +ankle-rings; and indeed she was as saith the poet:— +</p> + +<p> +Each portion of her charms we see * Seems of the whole a simile +</p> + +<p> +I was overawed by her, O Commander of the Faithful, and drew near her to greet +her, and behold, the house and vestibule and highways breathed fragrant with +musk. So I saluted her and she returned my salam with a voice dejected and +heart depressed and with the ardour of passion consumed. Then said I to her, “O +my lady, I am an old man and a stranger and sore troubled by thirst. Wilt thou +order me a draught of water, and win reward in heaven?” She cried, “Away, O +Shaykh, from me! I am distracted from all thought of meat and drink.”——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Ninety-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the damsel said, “O +Shaykh, I am distracted from all thought of meat and drink.” Quoth I (continued +Husayn), “By what ailment, O my lady?” and quoth she, “I love one who dealeth +not justly by me and I desire one who of me will none. Wherefore I am afflicted +with the wakefulness of those who wake star-gazing.” I asked, “O my lady, is +there on the wide expanse of earth one to whom thou hast a mind and who to thee +hath no mind?” Answered she, “Yes; and this for the perfection of beauty and +loveliness and goodliness wherewith he is endowed.” “And why standeth thou in +this porch?” enquired I. “This is his road,” replied she, “and the hour of his +passing by.” I said, “O my lady, have ye ever foregathered and had such +commerce and converse as might cause this passion?” At this she heaved a deep +sigh; the tears rained down her cheeks, as they were dew falling upon roses, +and she versified with these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“We were like willow-boughs in garden shining * And scented<br /> + + joys in happiest life combining;<br /> + +Whenas one bough from other self would rend * And oh! thou<br /> + + seest this for that repining!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Quoth I, “O maid, and what betideth thee of thy love for this man?”; and quoth +she, “I see the sun upon the walls of his folk and I think the sun is he; or +haply I catch sight of him unexpectedly and am confounded and the blood and the +life fly my body and I abide in unreasoning plight a week or e’en a se’nnight.” +Said I, “Excuse me, for I also have suffered that which is upon thee of +love-longing and distraction of soul and wasting of frame and loss of strength; +and I see in thee pallor of complexion and emaciation, such as testify of the +fever-fits of desire. But how shouldst thou be unsmitten of passion and thou a +sojourner in the land of Bassorah?” Said she, “By Allah, before I fell in love +of this youth, I was perfect in beauty and loveliness and amorous grace which +ravished all the Princes of Bassorah, till he fell in love with me.” I asked, +“O maid, and who parted you?”; and she answered, “The vicissitudes of fortune, +but the manner of our separation was strange; and ’twas on this wise. One New +Year’s day I had invited the damsels of Bassorah and amongst them a girl +belonging to Siran, who had bought her out of Oman for four score thousand +dirhams. She loved me and loved me to madness and when she entered she threw +herself upon me and well nigh tore me in pieces with bites and pinches.[FN#159] +Then we withdrew apart, to drink wine at our ease, till our meat was +ready[FN#160] and our delight was complete, and she toyed with me and I with +her, and now I was upon her and now she was upon me. Presently, the fumes of +the wine moved her to strike her hand on the inkle of my petticoat-trousers, +whereby it became loosed, unknown of either of us, and my trousers fell down in +our play. At this moment he came in unobserved and, seeing me thus, was wroth +at the sight and made off, as the Arab filly hearing the tinkle of her +bridle.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the maiden said to +Husayn al-Khali’a, “When my lover saw me playing, as I described to thee, with +Siran’s girl, he went forth in anger. And ’tis now, O Shaykh, three years ago, +and since then I have never ceased to excuse myself to him and coax him and +crave his indulgence, but he will neither cast a look at me from the corner of +his eye, nor write me a word nor speak to me by messenger nor hear from me +aught.” Quoth I, “Harkye maid, is he an Arab or an Ajam?”; and quoth she, “Out +on thee! He is of the Princes of Bassorah.” “Is he old or young?” asked I; and +she looked at me laughingly and answered, “Thou art certainly a simpleton! He +is like the moon on the night of its full, smooth-cheeked and beardless, nor is +there any defect in him except his aversion to me.” Then I put the question, +“What is his name?” and she replied, “What wilt thou do with him?” I rejoined, +“I will do my best to come at him, that I may bring about reunion between you.” +Said she, “I will tell thee on condition that thou carry him a note;” and I +said “I have no objection to that.” Then quoth she, “His name is Zamrah bin +al-Mughayrah, hight Abú al-Sakhá,[FN#161] and his palace is in the Mirbad.” +Therewith she called to those within for inkcase and paper and tucking +up[FN#162] her sleeves, showed two wrists like broad rings of silver. She then +wrote after the Basmalah as follows, “My lord, the omission of +blessings[FN#163] at the head of this my letter shows mine insufficiency, and +know that had my prayer been answered, thou hadst never left me; for how often +have I prayed that thou shouldest not leave me, and yet thou didst leave me! +Were it not that distress with me exceedeth the bounds of restraint, that which +thy servant hath forced herself to do in writing this writ were an aidance to +her, despite her despair of thee, because of her knowledge of thee that thou +wilt fail to answer. Do thou fulfil her desire, my lord, of a sight of thee +from the porch, as thou passest in the street, wherewith thou wilt quicken the +dead soul in her. Or, far better for her still than this, do thou write her a +letter with thine own hand (Allah endow it with all excellence!), and appoint +it in requital of the intimacy that was between us in the nights of time past, +whereof thou must preserve the memory. My lord, was I not to thee a lover sick +with passion? An thou answer my prayer, I will give to thee thanks and to Allah +praise; and so—The Peace!”[FN#164] Then she gave me the letter and I went away. +Next morning I repaired to the door of the Viceroy Mohammed bin Sulayman, where +I found an assembly of the notables of Bassorah, and amongst them a youth who +adorned the gathering and surpassed in beauty and brightness all who were +there; and indeed the Emir Mohammed set him above himself. I asked who he was +and behold, it was Zamrah himself: so I said in my mind, “Verily, there hath +befallen yonder unhappy one that which hath befallen her[FN#165]!” Then I +betook myself to the Mirbad and stood waiting at the door of his house, till he +came riding up in state, when I accosted him and invoking more than usual +blessings on him, handed him the missive. When he read it and understood it he +said to me, “O Shaykh, we have taken other in her stead. Say me, wilt thou see +the substitute?” I answered, “Yes.” Whereupon he called out a woman’s name, and +there came forth a damsel who shamed the two greater lights; swelling-breasted, +walking the gait of one who hasteneth without fear, to whom he gave the note, +saying, “Do thou answer it.” When she read it, she turned pale at the contents +and said to me, “O old man, crave pardon of Allah for this that thou hast +brought.” So I went out, O Commander of the Faithful, dragging my feet and +returning to her asked leave to enter. When she saw me, she asked, “What is +behind thee?”; and I answered, “Evil and despair.” Quoth she, “Have thou no +concern of him. Where are Allah and His power?”[FN#166] Then she ordered me +five hundred dinars and I took them and went away. Some days after I passed by +the place and saw there horsemen and footmen. So I went in and lo! these were +the companions of Zamrah, who were begging her to return to him; but she said, +“No, by Allah, I will not look him in the face!” And she prostrated herself in +gratitude to Allah and exultation over Zamrah’s defeat. Then I drew near her, +and she pulled out to me a letter, wherein was written, after the Bismillah, +“My lady, but for my forbearance towards thee (whose life Allah lengthen!) I +would relate somewhat of what betided from thee and set out my excuse, in that +thou transgressedst against me, whenas thou wast manifestly a sinner against +thyself and myself in breach of vows and lack of constancy and preference of +another over us; for, by Allah, on whom we call for help against that which was +of thy free will, thou didst transgress against the love of me; and so The +Peace!” Then she showed me the presents and rarities he had sent her, which +were of the value of thirty thousand dinars. I saw her again after this, and +Zamrah had married her. Quoth Al-Rashid, “Had not Zamrah been beforehand with +us, I should certainly have had to do with her myself.”[FN#167] And men tell +the tale of +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap12"></a>ISHAK OF MOSUL AND HIS MISTRESS AND THE DEVIL.[FN#168]</h2> + +<p> +Quoth Ishak bin Ibrahim al-Mausili: I was in my house one night in the winter +time, when the clouds had dispread themselves and the rains poured down in +torrents, as from the mouths of water-skins, and the folk forbore to come and +go about the ways for that which was therein of rain and slough. Now I was +straitened in breast because none of my brethren came to me nor could I go to +them, by reason of the mud and mire; so I said to my servant, “Bring me +wherewithal I may divert myself.” Accordingly he brought me meat and drink, but +I had no heart to eat, without some one to keep me company, and I ceased not to +look out of window and watch the ways till nightfall, when I bethought myself +of a damsel belonging to one of the sons of Al-Mahdi,[FN#169] whom I loved and +who was skilled in singing and playing upon instruments of music, and said to +myself, “Were she here with us to-night, my joy would be complete and my night +would be abridged of the melancholy and restlessness which are upon me.” At +this moment one knocked at the door, saying, “Shall a beloved enter in who +standeth at the door?” Quoth I to myself, “Meseems the plant of my desire hath +fruited.” So I went to the door and found my mistress, with a long green +skirt[FN#170] wrapped about her and a kerchief of brocade on her head, to fend +her from the rain. She was covered with mud to her knees and all that was upon +her was drenched with water from gargoyles[FN#171] and house spouts; in short, +she was in sorry plight. So I said to her, “O my mistress, what bringeth thee +hither through all this mud?” Replied she, “Thy messenger came and set forth to +me that which was with thee of love and longing, so that I could not choose but +yield and hasten to thee.” I marvelled at this——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Ninety-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damsel came and +knocked at Ishak’s door, he went forth to her and cried, “O my lady, what +bringeth thee hither through all this mud?”; and she replied, “Thy messenger +came and set forth to me that which was with thee of love and longing, so that +I could not choose but yield and hasten to thee.” I marvelled at this, but did +not like to tell her that I had sent no messenger; wherefore I said, “Praised +be Allah for that He hath brought us together, after all I have suffered by the +mortification of patience! Verily, hadst thou delayed an hour longer, I must +have run to thee, because of my much love for thee and longing for thy +presence.” Then I called to my boy for water, that I might better her plight, +and he brought a kettle full of hot water such as she wanted. I bade pour it +over her feet, whilst I set to work to wash them myself; after which I called +for one of my richest dresses and clad her therein after she had doffed the +muddy clothes. Then, as soon as we were comfortably seated, I would have called +for food, but she refused and I said to her, “Art thou for wine?”; and she +replied, “Yes.” So I fetched cups and she asked me, “Who shall sing?” “I, O my +princess!” “I care not for that;” “One of my damsels?” “I have no mind to that +either!” “Then sing thyself.” “Not I!” “Who then shall sing for thee?” I +enquired, and she rejoined, “Go out and seek some one to sing for me.” So I +went out, in obedience to her, though I despaired of finding any one in such +weather and fared on till I came to the main street, where I suddenly saw a +blind man striking the earth with his staff and saying, “May Allah not requite +with weal those with whom I was! When I sang, they listened not, and when I was +silent, they made light of me.” So I said to him, “Art thou a singer?” and he +replied, “Yes.” Quoth I, “Wilt thou finish thy night with us and cheer us with +thy company?”; and quoth he, “If it be thy will, take my hand.” So I took his +hand and, leading him to my house, said to the damsel, “O my mistress, I have +brought a blind singer, with whom we may take our pleasure and he will not see +us.” She said, “Bring him to me.” So I brought him in and invited him to eat. +He ate but a very little and washed his hands, after which I brought him wine +and he drank three cupsful. Then he said to me, “Who art thou?”; and I replied, +“I am Ishak bin Ibrahim al-Mausili.” Quoth he, “I have heard of thee and now I +rejoice in thy company;” and I, “O my lord, I am glad in thy gladness.” He +said, “O Ishak, sing to me.” So I took the lute by way of jest, and cried, “I +hear and I obey.” When I had made an end of my song, he said to me, “O Ishak, +thou comest nigh to be a singer!” His words belittled me in mine own eyes and I +threw the lute from my hand, whereupon he said, “Hast thou not with thee some +one who is skilled in singing?” Quoth I, “I have a damsel with me;” and quoth +he “Bid her sing.” I asked him, “Wilt thou sing, when thou hast had enough of +her singing?”; and he answered “Yes.” So she sang and he said, “Nay, thou hast +shown no art.” Whereupon she flung the lute from her hand in wrath and cried, +“We have done our best: if thou have aught, favour us with it by way of an +alms.” Quoth he, “Bring me a lute hand hath not touched.” So I bade the servant +bring him a new lute and he tuned it and preluding in a mode I knew not began +to sing, improvising these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“Clove through the shades and came to me in night so dark and<br /> + + sore * The lover weeting of herself ’twas trysting-tide<br /> + + once more:<br /> + +Naught startled us but her salaam and first of words she said<br /> + + * ‘May a beloved enter in who standeth at the door!’”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +When the girl heard this, she looked at me askance and said, “What secret was +between us could not thy breast hold for one hour, but thou must discover it to +this man?” However, I swore to her that I had not told him and excused myself +to her and fell to kissing her hands and tickling her breasts and biting her +cheeks, till she laughed and, turning to the blind man, said to him, “Sing, O +my lord!” So he took the lute and sang these two couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +Ah, often have I sought the fair; how often lief and fain *<br /> + + My palming felt the finger ends that bear the varied<br /> + + stain!<br /> + +And tickled pouting breasts that stand firm as pomegranates<br /> + + twain * And bit the apple of her cheek kissed o’er and<br /> + + o’er again.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +So I said to her, “O my princess, who can have told him what we were about?” +Replied she, “True,” and we moved away from him. Presently quoth he, “I must +make water;” and quoth I, “O boy, take the candle and go before him.” Then he +went out and tarried a long while. So we went in search of him, but could not +find him; and behold, the doors were locked and the keys in the closet, and we +knew not whether to heaven he had flown or into earth had sunk. Wherefore I +knew that he was Iblis and that he had done me pimp’s duty, and I returned, +recalling to myself the words of Abu Nowas in these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“I marvel in Iblis such pride to see * Beside his low intent<br /> + + and villainy:<br /> + +He sinned to Adam who to bow refused, * Yet pimps for all of<br /> + + Adam’s progeny,”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +And they tell a tale concerning +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap13"></a>THE LOVERS OF AL-MEDINAH.</h2> + +<p> +Quoth Ibrahim the father of Ishak,[FN#172] I was ever a devoted friend to the +Barmecide family. And it so happened to me one day, as I sat at home quite +alone, a knock was heard at the door; so my servant went out and returned, +saying, “A comely youth is at the door, asking admission.” I bade admit him and +there came in to me a young man, on whom were signs of sickness, and he said, +“I have long wished to meet thee, for I have need of thine aid.” “What is it +thou requirest?” asked I. Whereupon he pulled out three hundred dinars and +laying them before me, said, “I beseech thee to accept these and compose me an +air to two couplets I have made.” Said I, “Repeat them to me;”——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Ninety-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the youth came +in to Ibrahim and placed the gold in his hands, saying, “Prithee accept it and +compose me an air to two couplets,” he replied, “Recite them to me,” whereupon +he recited:— +</p> + +<p> +By Allah, glance of mine! thou hast opprest * My heart, so<br /> + + quench the fire that burns my breast.<br /> + +Blames me the world because in him[FN#173] I live * Yet cannot<br /> + + see him till in shroud I rest.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Accordingly, quoth Ibrahim, I set the verses to an air plaintive as a dirge and +sang it to him; whereupon he swooned away and I thought that he was dead. +However, after a while, he came to himself, and said to me, “Repeat the air.” +But I conjured him by Allah to excuse me, saying, “I fear lest thou die.” +“Would Heaven it were so!” replied he and ceased not humbly to importune me, +till I had pity on him and repeated it; whereupon he cried out with a grievous +cry and fell into a fit worse than before and I doubted not but that he was +dead; but I sprinkled rose-water on him till he revived and sat up. I praised +Allah for his recovery and laying the ducats before him, said, “Take thy money +and depart from me.” Quoth he, “I have no need of the money and thou shalt have +the like of it, if thou wilt repeat the air.” My breast broadened at the +mention of the money and I said, “I will repeat it, but on three conditions: +the first, that thou tarry with me and eat of my victual, till thou regain +strength; the second, that thou drink wine enough to hearten thy heart, and the +third, that thou tell me thy tale.” He agreed to this and ate and drank; after +which he said, “I am of the citizens of Al-Medinah and I went forth one day +a-pleasuring with my friends;” and, following the road to Al-Akík,[FN#174] saw +a company of girls and amongst them a damsel as she were a branch pearled with +dew, with eyes whose sidelong glances were never withdrawn till they had stolen +away his soul who looked on them. The maidens rested in the shade till the end +of the day, when they went away, leaving in my heart wounds slow to heal. I +returned next morning to scent out news of her, but found none who could tell +me of her; so I sought her in the streets and markets, but could come on no +trace of her; wherefore I fell ill of grief and told my case to one of my +kinsmen, who said to me, ‘No harm shall befall thee: the days of spring are not +yet past and the skies show sign of rain,[FN#175] whereupon she will go forth, +and I will go out with thee, and do thou thy will.’ His words comforted my +heart and I waited till al-Akik ran with water, when I went forth with my +friends and kinsmen and sat in the very same place where I first saw her. We +had not been seated long before up came the women, like horses running for a +wager; and I whispered to a girl of my kindred, “Say to yonder damsel—Quoth +this man to thee, He did well who spoke this couplet:— +</p> + +<p> +She shot my heart with shaft, then turned on heel * And flying dealt fresh +wound and scarring wheal.” +</p> + +<p> +So she went to her and repeated my words, to which she replied saying, “Tell +him that he said well who answered in this couplet:— +</p> + +<p> +The like of whatso feelest thou we feel; * Patience! perchance swift cure our +hearts shall heal.” +</p> + +<p> +I refrained from further speech for fear of scandal and rose to go away. She +rose at my rising, and I followed and she looked back at me, till she saw I had +noted her abode. Then she began to come to me and I to go to her, so that we +foregathered and met often, till the case was noised abroad and grew notorious +and her sire came to know of it. However I ceased not to meet her most +assiduously and complained of my condition to my father, who assembled our +kindred and repaired to ask her in marriage for me, of her sire, who cried, +“Had this been proposed to me before he gave her a bad name by his +assignations, I would have consented; but now the thing is notorious and I am +loath to verify the saying of the folk.” Then (continued Ibrahim) I repeated +the air to him and he went away, after having acquainted me with his abode, and +we became friends. Now I was devoted to the Barmecides; so next time Ja’afar +bin Yahya sat to give audience, I attended, as was my wont, and sang to him the +young man’s verses. They pleased him and he drank some cups of wine and said, +“Fie upon thee! whose song is this?” So I told him the young man’s tale and he +bade me ride over to him and give him assurances of the winning of his wish. +Accordingly I fetched him to Ja’afar who asked him to repeat his story. He did +so and Ja’afar said, “Thou art now under my protection: trust me to marry thee +to her.” So his heart was comforted and he abode with us. When the morning +morrowed Ja’afar mounted and went in to Al-Rashid, to whom he related the +story. The Caliph was pleased with it and sending for the young man and myself, +commanded me to repeat the air and drank thereto. Then he wrote to the Governor +of Al-Hijaz, bidding him despatch the girl’s father and his household in +honourable fashion to his presence and spare no expense for their outfit. So, +in a little while, they came and the Caliph, sending for the man, commanded him +to marry his daughter to her lover; after which he gave him an hundred thousand +dinars, and the father went back to his folk. As for the young man, he abode +one of Ja’afar’s cup companions till there happened what happened[FN#176] +whereupon he returned with his household to al-Medinah; may Almighty Allah have +mercy upon their souls one and all! And they also tell, O auspicious King, a +tale of +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap14"></a>AL-MALIK AL-NASIR AND HIS WAZIR.</h2> + +<p> +There was given to Abú Ámir bin Marwán,[FN#177] a boy of the Christians, than +whom never fell eyes on a handsomer. Al-Nasir the conquering Soldan saw him and +said to Abu Amir, who was his Wazir, “Whence cometh this boy?” Replied he, +“From Allah;” whereupon the other, “Wilt thou terrify us with stars and make us +prisoner with moons?” Abu Amir excused himself to him and preparing a present, +sent it to him with the boy, to whom he said, “Be thou part of the gift: were +it not of necessity, my soul had not consented to give thee away.” And he wrote +with him these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“My lord, this full moon takes in Heaven of thee new birth; *<br /> + + Nor can deny we Heaven excelleth humble earth:<br /> + +Thee with my soul I please and—oh! the pleasant case! * No man<br /> + + e’er saw I who to give his soul prefer’th.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +The thing pleased Al-Nasir and he requited him with much treasure and the +Minister became high in favour with him. After this, there was presented to the +Wazir a slave-girl, one of the loveliest women in the world, and he feared lest +this should come to the King’s ears and he desire her, and the like should +happen as with the boy. So he made up a present still costlier than the first +and sent it with her to the King,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Ninety-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Abu Amir, +when presented with the beautiful slave-girl, feared lest it come to the +Conquering King’s ears and that the like should happen as with the boy, so he +made up a present still costlier than the first and sent it with her to his +master, accompanying it with these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“My lord, this be the Sun, the Moon thou hadst before; * So<br /> + + the two greater lights now in thy Heaven unite:<br /> + +Conjunction promising to me prosperity, * And Kausar draught<br /> + + to thee and Eden’s long delight.<br /> + +Earth shows no charms, by Allah, ranking as their third, * Nor<br /> + + King who secondeth our Conquering King in might.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Wherefore his credit redoubled with al-Nasir; but, after a while, one of his +enemies maligned him to the King, alleging that there still lurked in him a hot +lust for the boy and that he ceased not to desire him, whenever the cool +northern breezes moved him, and to gnash his teeth for having given him away. +Cried the King, “Wag not thou thy tongue at him, or I will shear off thy head.” +However, he wrote Abu Amir a letter, as from the boy, to the following effect: +“O my lord, thou knowest that thou wast all and one to me and that I never +ceased from delight with thee. Albeit I am with the Sultan, yet would I choose +rather solitude with thee, but that I fear the King’s majesty: wherefore devise +thou to demand me of him.” This letter he sent to Abu Amir by a little foot +page, whom he enjoined to say, “This is from such an one: the King never +speaketh to him.” When the Wazir read the letter and heard the cheating +message, he noted the poison draught[FN#178] and wrote on the back of the note +these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“Shall man experience-lectured ever care * Fool-like to thrust<br /> + + his head in lion’s lair?<br /> + +I’m none of those whose wits to love succumb * Nor witless of<br /> + + the snares my foes prepare:<br /> + +Wert thou my sprite, I’d give thee loyally; * Shall sprite,<br /> + + from body sundered, backwards fare?”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +When al-Nasir knew of this answer, he marvelled at the Wazir’s quickness of wit +and would never again lend ear to aught of insinuations against him. Then said +he to him, “How didst thou escape falling into the net?” And he replied, +“Because my reason is unentangled in the toils of passion.” And they also tell +a tale of +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap15"></a>THE ROGUERIES OF DALILAH THE CRAFTY AND HER DAUGHTER +ZAYNAB THE CONEY-CATCHER.[FN#179]</h2> + +<p> +There lived in the time of Harun al-Rashid a man named Ahmad al-Danaf and +another Hasan Shúmán[FN#180] hight, the twain past masters in fraud and feints, +who had done rare things in their day; wherefore the Caliph invested them with +caftans of honour and made them Captains of the Watch for Baghdad (Ahmad of +the right hand and Hasan of the left hand); and appointed to each of them a +stipend of a thousand dinars a month and forty stalwart men to be at their +bidding. Moreover to Calamity Ahmad was committed the watch of the district +outside the walls. So Ahmad and Hasan went forth in company of the Emir +Khalid, the Wali or Chief of Police, attended each by his forty followers on +horseback, and preceded by the Crier, crying aloud and saying, “By command of +the Caliph! None is captain of the watch of the right hand but Ahmad al-Danaf +and none is captain of the watch of the left hand but Hasan Shuman, and both +are to be obeyed when they bid and are to be held in all honour and worship.” +Now there was in the city an old woman called Dalílah the Wily, who had a +daughter by name Zaynab the Coney-catcher. They heard the proclamation made +and Zaynab said to Dalilah, “See, O my mother, this fellow, Ahmad al-Danaf! He +came hither from Cairo, a fugitive, and played the double-dealer in Baghdad, +till he got into the Caliph’s company and is now become captain of the right +hand, whilst that mangy chap Hasan Shuman is captain of the left hand, and +each hath a table spread morning and evening and a monthly wage of a thousand +dinars; whereas we abide unemployed and neglected in this house, without estate +and without honour, and have none to ask of us.” Now Dalilah’s husband had +been town-captain of Baghdad with a monthly wage of one thousand dinars; but +he died leaving two daughters, one married and with a son by name Ahmad al- +Lakít[FN#181] or Ahmad the Abortion; and the other called Zaynab, a spinster. +And this Dalilah was a past mistress in all manner of craft and trickery and +double dealing; she could wile the very dragon out of his den and Iblis +himself might have learnt deceit of her. Her father[FN#182] had also been +governor of the carrier-pigeons to the Caliph with a solde of one thousand +dinars a month. He used to rear the birds to carry letters and messages, +wherefore in time of need each was dearer to the Caliph than one of his own +sons. So Zaynab said to her mother, “Up and play off some feint and fraud that +may haply make us notorious”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Six Hundred and Ninety-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zaynab thus addressed +her dam, “Up and play off some feint and fraud which may haply make us +notorious in Baghdad, so perchance we shall win our father’s stipend for +ourselves.” Replied the old trot, “As thy head liveth, O my daughter, I will +play off higher-class rogueries in Baghdad than ever played Calamity Ahmad or +Hasan the Pestilent.” So saying, she rose and threw over her face the +Lisam-veil and donned clothes such as the poorer Sufis wear, +petticoat-trousers falling over her heels, and a gown of white wool with a +broad girdle. She also took a pitcher[FN#183] and filled it with water to the +neck; after which she set three dinars in the mouth and stopped it up with a +plug of palm fibre. Then she threw round her shoulder, baldrick-wise, a rosary +as big as a load of firewood, and taking in her hand a flag, made of +parti-coloured rags, red and yellow and green, went out, crying, “Allah! +Allah!” with tongue celebrating the praises of the Lord, whilst her heart +galloped in the Devil’s race-course, seeking how she might play some sharping +trick upon town. She walked from street to street, till she came to an alley +swept and watered and marble-paved, where she saw a vaulted gateway, with a +threshold of alabaster, and a Moorish porter standing at the door, which was +of sandal-wood plated with brass and furnished with a ring of silver for +knocker. Now this house belonged to the Chief of the Caliph’s Serjeant-ushers, +a man of great wealth in fields, houses and allowances, called the Emir Hasan +Sharr al-Tarík, or Evil of the Way, and therefor called because his blow +forewent his word. He was married to a fair damsel, Khátún[FN#184] hight, whom +he loved and who had made him swear, on the night of his going in unto her, +that he would take none other to wife over her nor lie abroad for a single +night. And so things went on till one day, he went to the Divan and saw that +each Emir had with him a son or two. Then he entered the Hammam-bath and +looking at his face in the mirror, noted that the white hairs in his beard +overlay its black, and he said in himself, “Will not He who took thy sire +bless thee with a son?” So he went in to his wife, in angry mood, and she +said to him, “Good evening to thee”; but he replied, “Get thee out of my +sight: from the day I saw thee I have seen naught of good.” “How so?” quoth +she. Quoth he, “On the night of my going in unto thee, thou madest me swear to +take no other wife over thee, and this very day I have seen each Emir with a +son and some with two. So I minded me of death[FN#185]; and also that to me +hath been vouchsafed neither son nor daughter and that whoso leaveth no male +hath no memory. This, then, is the reason of my anger, for thou art barren; and +knowing thee is like planing a rock.” Cried she, “Allah’s name upon thee. +Indeed, I have worn out the mortars with beating wool and pounding +drugs,[FN#186] and I am not to blame; the barrenness is with thee, for that +thou art a snub-nosed mule and thy sperm is weak and watery and impregnateth +not neither getteth children.” Said he, “When I return from my journey, I will +take another wife;” and she, “My luck is with Allah!” Then he went out from +her and both repented of the sharp words spoken each to other. Now as the +Emir’s wife looked forth of her lattice, as she were a Bride of the +Hoards[FN#187] for the jewellery upon her, behold, there stood Dalilah espying +her and seeing her clad in costly clothes and ornaments, said to herself, +“’Twould be a rare trick, O Dalilah, to entice yonder young lady from her +husband’s house and strip her of all her jewels and clothes and make off with +the whole lot.” So she took up her stand under the windows of the Emir’s house, +and fell to calling aloud upon Allah’s name and saying, “Be present, O ye +Walis, ye friends of the Lord!” Whereupon every woman in the street looked +from her lattice and, seeing a matron clad, after Sufi fashion, in clothes of +white wool, as she were a pavilion of light, said, “Allah bring us a blessing +by the aidance of this pious old person, from whose face issueth light!” And +Khatun, the wife of the Emir Hasan, burst into tears and said to her handmaid, +“Get thee down, O Makbúlah, and kiss the hand of Shaykh Abú Alí, the porter, +and say to him, ‘Let yonder Religious enter to my lady, so haply she may get a +blessing of her.’” So she went down to the porter and kissing his hand, said +to him, “My mistress telleth thee, ‘Let yonder pious old woman come in to me, +so may I get a blessing of her’; and belike her benediction may extend to us +likewise.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundredth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the handmaid went +down and said to the porter, “Suffer yonder Religious enter to my lady so haply +she may get a blessing of her, and we too may be blessed, one and all,” the +gate-keeper went up to Dalilah and kissed her hand, but she forbade him, +saying, “Away from me, lest my ablution be made null and void.[FN#188] Thou, +also, art of the attracted God-wards and kindly looked upon by Allah’s Saints +and under His especial guardianship. May He deliver thee from this servitude, +O Abu Ali!” Now the Emir owed three months’ wage to the porter who was +straitened thereby, but knew not how to recover his due from his lord; so he +said to the old woman, “O my mother, give me to drink from thy pitcher, so I +may win a blessing through thee.” She took the ewer from her shoulder and +whirled it about in air, so that the plug flew out of its mouth and the three +dinars fell to the ground. The porter saw them and picked them up, saying in +his mind, “Glory to God! This old woman is one of the Saints that have hoards +at their command! It hath been revealed to her of me that I am in want of +money for daily expenses; so she hath conjured me these three dinars out of +the air.” Then said he to her, “Take, O my aunt, these three dinars which fell +from thy pitcher;” and she replied, “Away with them from me! I am of the folk +who occupy not themselves with the things of the world, no never! Take them +and use them for thine own benefit, in lieu of those the Emir oweth thee.” +Quoth he, “Thanks to Allah for succour! This is of the chapter of revelation!” +Thereupon the maid accosted her and kissing her hand, carried her up to her +mistress. She found the lady as she were a treasure, whose guardian talisman +had been loosed; and Khatun bade her welcome and kissed her hand. Quoth she, “O +my daughter, I come not to thee save for thy weal and by Allah’s will.” Then +Khatun set food before her; but she said, “O my daughter, I eat naught except +of the food of Paradise and I keep continual fast breaking it but five days in +the year. But, O my child, I see thee chagrined and desire that thou tell me +the cause of thy concern.” “O my mother,” replied Khatun, “I made my husband +swear, on my wedding-night, that he would wive none but me, and he saw others +with children and longed for them and said to me, ‘Thou art a barren thing!’ I +answered, ‘Thou art a mule which begetteth not’; so he left me in anger, +saying, ‘When I come back from my journey, I will take another wife,’ for he +hath villages and lands and large allowances, and if he begat children by +another, they will possess the money and take the estates from me.” Said +Dalilah, “O my daughter, knowest thou not of my master, the Shaykh Abú +al-Hamlát,[FN#189] whom if any debtor visit, Allah quitteth him his debt, and +if a barren woman, she conceiveth?” Khatun replied, “O my mother, since the day +of my wedding I have not gone forth the house, no, not even to pay visits of +condolence or congratulation.” The old woman rejoined, “O my child, I will +carry thee to him and do thou cast thy burden on him and make a vow to him: +haply when thy husband shall return from his journey and lie with thee thou +shalt conceive by him and bear a girl or a boy: but, be it female or male, it +shall be a dervish of the Shaykh Abu al-Hamlat.” Thereupon Khatun rose and +arrayed herself in her richest raiment, and donning all her jewellery said, +“Keep thou an eye on the house,” to her maid, who replied, “I hear and obey, O +my lady.” Then she went down and the porter Abu Ali met her and asked her, +“Whither away, O my lady?” “I go to visit the Shaykh Abu al-Hamlat;” answered +she; and he, “Be a year’s fast incumbent on me! Verily yon Religious is of +Allah’s saints and full of holiness, O my lady, and she hath hidden treasure +at her command, for she gave me three dinars of red gold and divined my case, +without my asking her, and knew that I was in want.” Then the old woman went +out with the young lady Khatun, saying to her, “Inshallah, O my daughter, when +thou hast visited the Shaykh Abu al-Hamlat, there shall betide thee solace of +soul and by leave of Almighty Allah thou shalt conceive, and thy husband the +Emir shall love thee by the blessing of the Shaykh and shall never again let +thee hear a despiteful word.” Quoth Khatun, “I will go with thee to visit him, +O my mother!” But Dalilah said to herself, “Where shall I strip her and take +her clothes and jewellery, with the folk coming and going?” Then she said to +her, “O my daughter, walk thou behind me, within sight of me, for this thy +mother is a woman sorely burdened; everyone who hath a burden casteth it on me +and all who have pious offerings[FN#190] to make give them to me and kiss my +hand.” So the young lady followed her at a distance, whilst her anklets +tinkled and her hair-coins[FN#191] clinked as she went, till they reached the +bazar of the merchants. Presently, they came to the shop of a young merchant, +by name Sídí Hasan who was very handsome[FN#192] and had no hair on his +face. He saw the lady approaching and fell to casting stolen glances at her, +which when the old woman saw, she beckoned to her and said, “Sit down in this +shop, till I return to thee.” Khatun obeyed her and sat down in the shop- +front of the young merchant, who cast at her one glance of eyes that cost him a +thousand sighs. Then the old woman accosted him and saluted him, saying, “Tell +me, is not thy name Sidi Hasan, son of the merchant Mohsin?” He replied, “Yes, +who told thee my name?” Quoth she, “Folk of good repute direct me to thee. +Know that this young lady is my daughter and her father was a merchant who +died and left her much money. She is come of marriageable age and the wise +say, ‘Offer thy daughter in marriage and not thy son’; and all her life she +hath not come forth the house till this day. Now a divine warning and a command +given in secret bid me wed her to thee; so, if thou art poor, I will give thee +capital and will open for thee instead of one shop two shops.” Thereupon quoth +the young merchant to himself, “I asked Allah for a bride, and He hath given +me three things, to wit, coin, clothing, and coynte.” Then he continued to the +old trot, “O my mother, that whereto thou directest me is well; but this long +while my mother saith to me, ‘I wish to marry thee,’ but I object replying, ‘I +will not marry except on the sight of my own eyes.’” Said Dalilah, “Rise and +follow my steps, and I will show her to thee, naked.”[FN#193] So he rose and +took a thousand dinars, saying in himself, “Haply we may need to buy +somewhat”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and First Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman said +to Hasan, son of Mohsin the merchant, “Rise up and follow me, and I will show +her naked to thee.” So he rose and took with him a thousand dinars, saying in +himself, “Haply we may need to buy somewhat or pay the fees for drawing up the +marriage contract.” The old woman bade him walk behind the young lady at a +distance but within shot of sight and said to herself, “Where wilt thou carry +the young lady and the merchant that thou mayest strip them both whilst his +shop is still shut?” Then she walked on and Khatun after her, followed by the +young merchant, till she came to a dyery, kept by a master dyer, by name Hajj +Mohammed, a man of ill-repute; like the colocasia[FN#194] seller’s knife +cutting male and female, and loving to eat both figs and pomegranates.[FN#195] +He heard the tinkle of the ankle rings and, raising his head, saw the lady and +the young man. Presently the old woman came up to him and, after salaming to +him and sitting down opposite him, asked him, “Art thou not Hajj Mohammed the +dyer?” He answered, “Yes, I am he: what dost thou want?” Quoth she, “Verily, +folks of fair repute have directed me to thee. Look at yonder handsome girl, +my daughter, and that comely beardless youth, my son; I brought them both up +and spent much money on both of them. Now, thou must know that I have a big +old ruinous house which I have shored up with wood, and the builder saith to +me, ‘Go and live in some other place, lest belike it fall upon thee; and when +this is repaired return hither.’ So I went forth to seek me a lodging, and +people of worth directed me to thee, and I wish to lodge my son and daughter +with thee.” Quoth the dyer in his mind, “Verily, here is fresh butter upon +cake come to thee.” But he said to the old woman, “’Tis true I have a house +and saloon and upper floor; but I cannot spare any part thereof, for I want it +all for guests and for the indigo-growers my clients.” She replied, “O my +son, ’twill be only for a month or two at the most, till our house be +repaired, and we are strange folk. Let the guest-chamber be shared between us +and thee, and by thy life, O my son, an thou desire that thy guests be ours, we +will welcome them and eat with them and sleep with them.” Then he gave her the +keys, one big and one small and one crooked, saying to her “The big key is +that of the house, the crooked one that of the saloon and the little one that +of the upper floor.” So Dalilah took the keys and fared on, followed by the +lady who forwent the young merchant, till she came to the lane wherein was the +house. She opened the door and entered, introducing the damsel to whom said +she, “O my daughter, this (pointing to the saloon) is the lodging of the +Shaykh Abu al-Hamlat; but go thou into the upper floor and loose thy outer +veil and wait till I come to thee.” So she went up and sat down. Presently +appeared the young merchant, whom Dalilah carried into the saloon, saying, +“Sit down, whilst I fetch my daughter and show her to thee.” So he sat down +and the old trot went up to Khatun who said to her, “I wish to visit the +Shaykh, before the folk come.” Replied the beldame, “O my daughter, we fear for +thee.” Asked Khatun, “Why so?” and Dalilah answered, “Because here is a son of +mine, a natural who knoweth not summer from winter, but goeth ever naked. He +is the Shaykh’s deputy and, if he saw a girl like thee come to visit his +chief, he would snatch her earrings and tear her ears and rend her silken +robes.[FN#196] So do thou doff thy jewellery and clothes and I will keep them +for thee, till thou hast made thy pious visitation.” Accordingly the damsel +did off her outer dress and jewels and gave them to the old woman, who said, +“I will lay them for thee on the Shaykh’s curtain, that a blessing may betide +thee.” Then she went out, leaving the lady in her shift and +petticoat-trousers, and hid the clothes and jewels in a place on the +staircase; after which she betook herself to the young merchant, whom she found +impatiently awaiting the girl, and he cried, “Where is thy daughter, that I may +see her?” But she smote palm on breast and he said “What aileth thee?” Quoth +she, “Would there were no such thing as the ill neighbour and the envious! +They saw thee enter the house with me and asked me of thee; and I said, ‘This +is a bridegroom I have found for my daughter.’ So they envied me on thine +account and said to my girl, ‘Is thy mother tired of keeping thee, that she +marrieth thee to a leper?’ Thereupon I swore to her that she should not see +thee save naked.” Quoth he, “I take refuge with Allah from the envious,” and +baring his forearm, showed her that it was like silver. Said she, “Have no +fear; thou shalt see her naked, even as she shall see thee naked;” and he +said, “Let her come and look at me. Then he put off his pelisse and sables and +his girdle and dagger and the rest of his raiment, except his shirt and +bag-trousers, and would have laid the purse of a thousand dinars with them, +but Dalilah cried, “Give them to me, that I may take care of them.” So she +took them and fetching the girl’s clothes and jewellery shouldered the whole +and locking the door upon them went her ways.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old woman had +taken the property of the young merchant and the damsel and wended her ways, +having locked the door upon them, she deposited her spoils with a druggist of +her acquaintance and returned to the dyer, whom she found sitting, awaiting +her. Quoth he, “Inshallah, the house pleaseth thee?”; and quoth she, “There +is a blessing in it; and I go now to fetch porters to carry hither our goods +and furniture. But my children would have me bring them a <i>panade</i> with meat; so +do thou take this dinar and buy the dish and go and eat the morning meal with +them.” Asked the dyer, “Who shall guard the dyery meanwhile and the people’s +goods that be therein?”; and the old woman answered, “Thy lad!” “So be it,” +rejoined he, and taking a dish and cover, went out to do her bidding. So far +concerning the dyer who will again be mentioned in the tale; but as regards +the old woman, she fetched the clothes and jewels she had left with the +druggist and going back to the dyery, said to the lad, “Run after thy master, +and I will not stir hence till you both return.” “To hear is to obey,” +answered he and went away, while she began to collect all the customers’ +goods. Presently, there came up an ass-driver, a scavenger, who had been out +of work for a week and who was an Hashish-eater to boot; and she called him, +saying, “Hither, O donkey-boy!” So he came to her and she asked, “Knowest thou +my son the dyer?”; whereto he answered, “Yes, I know him.” Then she said, +“The poor fellow is insolvent and loaded with debts, and as often as he is put +in prison, I set him free. Now we wish to see him declared bankrupt and I am +going to return the goods to their owners; so do thou lend me thine ass to +carry the load and receive this dinar to its hire. When I am gone, take the +handsaw and empty out the vats and jars and break them, so that if there come +an officer from the Kází’s court, he may find nothing in the dyery.” Quoth +he, “I owe the Hajj a kindness and will do something for Allah’s love.” So she +laid the things on the ass and, the Protector protecting her, made for her own +house; so that she arrived there in safety and went in to her daughter Zaynab, +who said to her, “O my mother, my heart hath been with thee! What hast thou +done by way of roguery?” Dalilah replied, “I have played off four tricks on +four wights; the wife of the Serjeant-usher, a young merchant, a dyer and an +ass-driver, and have brought thee all their spoil on the donkey-boy’s beast.” +Cried Zaynab, “O my mother, thou wilt never more be able to go about the town, +for fear of the Serjeant-usher, whose wife’s raiment and jewellery thou hast +taken, and the merchant whom thou hast stripped naked, and the dyer whose +customers’ goods thou hast stolen and the owner of the ass.” Rejoined the old +woman, “Pooh, my girl! I reck not of them, save the donkey-boy, who knoweth +me.” Meanwhile the dyer bought the meat-panade and set out for the house, +followed by his servant with the food on head. On his way thither, he passed +his shop, where he found the donkey-boy breaking the vats and jars and saw +that there was neither stuff nor liquor left in them and that the dyery was +in ruins. So he said to him, “Hold thy hand, O ass-driver;” and the donkey-boy +desisted and cried, “Praised be Allah for thy safety, O master! Verily my heart +was with thee.” “Why so?” “Thou art become bankrupt and they have filed a +docket of thine insolvency.” “Who told thee this?” “Thy mother told me, and +bade me break the jars and empty the vats, that the Kazi’s officers might find +nothing in the shop, if they should come.” “Allah confound the far +One!”[FN#197] cried the dyer; “My mother died long ago.” And he beat his +breast, exclaiming, “Alas, for the loss of my goods and those of the folk!” +The donkey-boy also wept and ejaculated, “Alas, for the loss of my ass!”; and +he said to the dyer, “Give me back my beast which thy mother stole from me.” +The dyer laid hold of him by the throat and fell to buffeting him, saying, +“Bring me the old woman;” whilst the other buffeted him in return saying, +“Give me back my beast.” So they beat and cursed each other, till the folk +collected around them——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the dyer caught hold +of the donkey-boy and the donkey-boy caught hold of the dyer and they beat and +cursed each other till the folk collected round them and one of them asked, +“What is the matter, O Master Mohammed?” The ass-driver answered, “I will tell +thee the tale,” and related to them his story, saying, “I deemed I was doing +the dyer a good turn; but, when he saw me he beat his breast and said, ‘My +mother is dead.’ And now, I for one require my ass of him, it being he who +hath put this trick on me, that he might make me lose my beast.” Then said the +folk to the dyer, “O Master Mohammed, dost thou know this matron, that thou +didst entrust her with the dyery and all therein?” And he replied, “I know her +not; but she took lodgings with me to-day, she and her son and daughter.” +Quoth one, “In my judgment, the dyer is bound to indemnify the ass-driver.” +Quoth another, “Why so?” “Because,” replied the first, “he trusted not the old +Woman nor gave her his ass save only because he saw that the dyer had +entrusted her with the dyery and its contents.” And a third said, “O master, +since thou hast lodged her with thee, it behoveth thee to get the man back his +ass.” Then they made for the house, and the tale will come round to them +again. Meanwhile, the young merchant remained awaiting the old woman’s coming +with her daughter, but she came not nor did her daughter; whilst the young +lady in like manner sat expecting her return with leave from her son, <i>the</i> +God-attended one, the Shaykh’s deputy, to go in to the holy presence. So weary +of waiting, she rose to visit the Shaykh by herself and went down into the +saloon, where she found the young merchant, who said to her, “Come hither! +where is thy mother, who brought me to marry thee?” She replied, “My mother is +dead, art thou the old woman’s son, the ecstatic, the deputy of the Shaykh Abu +al-Hamlat?” Quoth he, “The swindling old trot is no mother of mine; she hath +cheated me and taken my clothes and a thousand dinars.” Quoth Khatun, “And me +also hath she swindled for she brought me to see the Shaykh Abu al-Hamlat and +in lieu of so doing she hath stripped me.” Thereupon he, “I look to thee to +make good my clothes and my thousand dinars;” and she, “I look to thee to make +good my clothes and jewellery.” And, behold, at this moment in came the dyer +and seeing them both stripped of their raiment, said to them, “Tell me where +your mother is.” So the young lady related all that had befallen her and the +young merchant related all that had betided him, and the Master-dyer exclaimed, +“Alas, for the loss of my goods and those of the folk!”; and the ass-driver +ejaculated, “Alas, for my ass! Give me, O dyer, my ass!” Then said the dyer, +“This old woman is a sharper. Come forth, that I may lock the door.” Quoth the +young merchant, “’Twere a disgrace to thee that we should enter thy house +dressed and go forth from it undressed.” So the dyer clad him and the damsel +and sent her back to her house where we shall find her after the return of her +husband. Then he shut the dyery and said to the young merchant, “Come, let us +go and search for the old woman and hand her over to the Wali,[FN#198] the +Chief of Police.” So they and the ass-man repaired to the house of the master +of police and made their complaint to him. Quoth he, “O folk, what want ye?” +and when they told him he rejoined, “How many old women are there not in the +town! Go ye and seek for her and lay hands on her and bring her to me, and I +will torture her for you and make her confess.” So they sought for her all +round the town; and an account of them will presently be given.[FN#199] As for +old Dalilah the Wily, she said, “I have a mind to play off another trick,” to +her daughter who answered, “O my mother, I fear for thee;” but the beldam +cried, “I am like the bean husks which fall, proof against fire and water.” So +she rose, and donning a slave-girl’s dress of such as serve people of +condition, went out to look for some one to defraud. Presently she came to a +by-street, spread with carpets and lighted with hanging lamps, and heard a +noise of singing-women and drumming of tambourines. Here she saw a handmaid +bearing on her shoulder a boy, clad in trousers laced with silver and a little +Abá-cloak of velvet, with a pearl embroidered Tarbush-cap on his head, and +about his neck a collar of gold set with jewels. Now the house belonged to the +Provost of the Merchants of Baghdad, and the boy was his son. He had a virgin +daughter, to boot, who was promised in marriage, and it was her betrothal they +were celebrating that day. There was with her mother a company of noble dames +and singing-women, and whenever she went upstairs or down, the boy clung to +her. So she called the slave-girl and said to her, “Take thy young master and +play with him, till the company break up.” Seeing this, Dalilah asked the +handmaid, “What festivities are these in your mistress’s house;” and was +answered “She celebrates her daughter’s betrothal this day, and she hath +singing-women with her.” Quoth the old woman to herself, “O Dalilah, the +thing to do is to spirit away this boy from the maid,”——And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old trot said to +herself, “O Dalilah, the thing to do is to spirit away this boy from the +maid!” she began crying out, “O disgrace! O ill luck!” Then pulling out a brass +token, resembling a dinar, she said to the maid, who was a simpleton, “Take +this ducat and go in to thy mistress and say to her, ‘Umm al-Khayr rejoiceth +with thee and is beholden to thee for thy favours, and on the day of assembly +she and her daughters will visit thee and handsel the tiring-women with the +usual gifts.’” Said the girl, “O my mother, my young master here catcheth hold +of his mamma, whenever he seeth her;” and she replied “Give him to me, whilst +thou goest in and comest back.” So she gave her the child and taking the +token, went in; whereupon Dalilah made off with the boy to a by-lane, where +she stripped him of his clothes and jewels, saying to herself, “O Dalilah, +’twould indeed be the finest of tricks, even as thou hast cheated the maid and +taken the boy from her, so now to carry on the game and pawn him for a +thousand dinars.” So she repaired to the jewel-bazar, where she saw a Jew +goldsmith seated with a cage full of jewellery before him, and said to herself, +“’Twould be a rare trick to chouse this Jew fellow and get a thousand gold +pieces worth of jewellery from him and leave the boy in pledge for it.” +Presently the Jew looked at them and seeing the boy with the old woman, knew +him for the son of the Provost of the Merchants. Now the Israelite was a man +of great wealth, but would envy his neighbour if he sold and himself did not +sell; so espying Dalilah, he said to her, “What seekest thou, O my mistress?” +She asked, “Art thou Master Azariah[FN#200] the Jew?” having first enquired +his name of others; and he answered, “Yes.” Quoth she, “This boy’s sister, +daughter of the Shahbandar of the Merchants, is a promised bride, and to-day +they celebrate her betrothal; and she hath need of jewellery. So give me two +pair of gold ankle-rings, a brace of gold bracelets, and pearl ear-drops, with +a girdle, a poignard and a seal-ring.” He brought them out and she took of him +a thousand dinars’ worth of jewellery, saying, “I will take these ornaments on +approval; and whatso pleaseth them, they will keep and I will bring thee the +price and leave this boy with thee till then.” He said, “Be it as thou wilt!” +So she took the jewellery and made off to her own house, where her daughter +asked her how the trick had sped. She told her how she had taken and stripped +the Shahbandar’s boy, and Zaynab said, “Thou wilt never be able to walk +abroad again in the town.” Meanwhile, the maid went in to her mistress and +said to her, “O my lady, Umm al-Khayr saluteth thee and rejoiceth with thee +and on assembly-day she will come, she and her daughters, and give the +customary presents.” Quoth her mistress, “Where is thy young master?” Quoth +the slave-girl, “I left him with her lest he cling to thee, and she gave me +this, as largesse for the singing-women.” So the lady said to the chief of the +singers, “Take thy money;” and she took it and found it a brass counter; +whereupon the lady cried to the maid, “Get thee down, O whore, and look to thy +young master.” Accordingly, she went down and finding neither boy nor old +woman, shrieked aloud and fell on her face. Their joy was changed into annoy, +and behold, the Provost came in, when his wife told him all that had befallen +and he went out in quest of the child, whilst the other merchants also fared +forth and each sought his own road. Presently, the Shahbandar, who had looked +everywhere, espied his son seated, naked, in the Jew’s shop and said to the +owner, “This is my son.” “’Tis well,” answered the Jew. So he took him up, +without asking for his clothes, of the excess of his joy at finding him; but +the Jew laid hold of him, saying, “Allah succour the Caliph against +thee!”[FN#201] The Provost asked, “What aileth thee, O Jew?”; and he answered, +“Verily the old woman took of me a thousand dinars’ worth of jewellery for thy +daughter, and left this lad in pledge for the price; and I had not trusted +her, but that she offered to leave the child whom I knew for thy Son.” Said +the Provost, “My daughter needeth no jewellery, give me the boy’s clothes.” +Thereupon the Jew shrieked out, “Come to my aid, O Moslems!” but at that +moment up came the dyer and the ass-man and the young merchant, who were going +about, seeking the old woman, and enquired the cause of their jangle. So they +told them the case and they said, “This old woman is a cheat, who hath cheated +us before you.” Then they recounted to them how she had dealt with them, and +the Provost said, “Since I have found my son, be his clothes his ransom! If I +come upon the old woman, I will require them of her.” And he carried the child +home to his mother, who rejoiced in his safety. Then the Jew said to the three +others “Whither go ye?”; and they answered, “We go to look for her.” Quoth the +Jew, “Take me with you,” presently adding, “Is there any one of you knoweth +her?” The donkey-boy cried, “I know her;” and the Jew said, “If we all go forth +together, we shall never catch her; for she will flee from us. Let each take a +different road, and be our rendezvous at the shop of Hajj Mas’úd, the Moorish +barber.” They agreed to this and set off, each in a different direction. +Presently, Dalilah sallied forth again to play her tricks and the ass-driver +met her and knew her. So he caught hold of her and said to her, “Woe to thee! +Hast thou been long at this trade?” She asked, “What aileth thee?”; and he +answered, “Give me back my ass.” Quoth she, “Cover what Allah covereth, O my +son! Dost thou seek thine ass and the people’s things?” Quoth he, “I want my +ass; that’s all;” and quoth she, “I saw that thou wast poor: so I deposited +thine ass for thee with the Moorish barber. Stand off, whilst I speak him +fair, that he may give thee the beast.” So she went up to the Maghrabi and +kissed his hand and shed tears. He asked her what ailed her and she said, “O +my son, look at my boy who standeth yonder. He was ill and exposed himself to +the air, which injured his intellect. He used to buy asses and now, if he +stand he saith nothing but, My ass! if he sit he crieth, My ass! and if he +walk he crieth, My ass! Now I have been told by a certain physician that his +mind is disordered and that nothing will cure him but drawing two of his +grinders and cauterising him twice on either temple. So do thou take this +dinar and call him to thee, saying, ‘Thine ass is with me.’” Said the barber, +“May I fast for a year, if I do not give him his ass in his fist!” Now he had +with him two journeymen, so he said to one of them “Go, heat the irons.” Then +the old woman went her way and the barber called to the donkey-boy,[FN#202] +saying, “Thine ass is with me, good fellow! come and take him, and as thou +livest, I will give him into thy palm.” So he came to him and the barber +carried him into a dark room, where he knocked him down and the journeymen +bound him hand and foot. Then the Maghrabi arose and pulled out two of his +grinders and fired him on either temple; after which he let him go, and he +rose and said, “O Moor, why hast thou used me with this usage?” Quoth the +barber, “Thy mother told me that thou hadst taken cold whilst ill, and hadst +lost thy reason, so that, whether sitting or standing or walking, thou wouldst +say nothing but My ass! So here is thine ass in thy fist.” Said the other, +“Allah requite thee for pulling out my teeth.” Then the barber told him all +that the old woman had related and he exclaimed, “Allah torment her!”; and +the twain left the shop and went out, disputing. When the barber returned, he +found his booth empty, for, whilst he was absent, the old woman had taken all +that was therein and made off with it to her daughter, whom she acquainted +with all that had befallen and all she had done. The barber, seeing his place +plundered, caught hold of the donkey-boy and said to him, “Bring me thy +mother.” But he answered, saying, “She is not my mother; she is a sharper who +hath cozened much people and stolen my ass.” And lo! at this moment up came +the dyer and the Jew and the young merchant, and seeing the Moorish barber +holding on to the ass-driver who was fired on both temples, they said to him, +“What hath befallen thee, O donkey-boy?” So he told them all that had betided +him and the barber did the like; and the others in turn related to the Moor the +tricks the old woman had played them. Then he shut up his shop and went with +them to the office of the Police-master to whom they said, “We look to thee for +our case and our coin.”[FN#203] Quoth the Wali, “And how many old women are +there not in Baghdad! Say me, doth any of you know her?” Quoth the ass-man, “I +do; so give me ten of thine officers.” He gave them half a score archers and +they all five went out, followed by the sergeants, and patrolled the city, +till they met the old woman, when they laid hands on her and carrying her to +the house of the Chief of Police, stood waiting under his office windows till +he should come forth. Presently, the warders fell asleep, for excess of +watching with their chief, and old Dalilah feigned to follow their example, +till the ass-man and his fellows slept likewise, when she stole away from them +and, going in to the Wali’s Harim, kissed the hand of the mistress of the +house and asked her “Where is the Chief of Police?” The lady answered, “He is +asleep; what wouldst thou with him?” Quoth Dalilah, “My husband is a merchant +of chattels and gave me five Mamelukes to sell, whilst he went on a journey. +The Master of Police met me and bought them of me for a thousand dinars and +two hundred for myself, saying, ‘Bring them to my house.’ So I have brought +them.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman, +entering the Harim of the Police-Master, said to his wife, “Verily the Wali +bought of me five slaves for one thousand ducats and two hundred for myself, +saying, ‘Bring them to my quarters.’ So I have brought them.” Hearing the old +woman’s story she believed it and asked her, “Where are the slaves?” Dalilah +replied, “O my lady, they are asleep under the palace window”; whereupon the +dame looked out and seeing the Moorish barber clad in a Mameluke habit and the +young merchant as he were a drunken Mameluke[FN#204] and the Jew and the dyer +and the ass-driver as they were shaven Mamelukes, said in herself, “Each of +these white slaves is worth more than a thousand dinars.” So she opened her +chest and gave the old woman the thousand ducats, saying, “Fare thee forth now +and come back anon; when my husband waketh, I will get thee the other two +hundred dinars from him.” Answered the old woman, “O my lady, an hundred of +them are thine, under the sherbet-gugglet whereof thou drinkest,[FN#205] and +the other hundred do thou keep for me against I come back,” presently adding, +“Now let me out by the private door.” So she let her out, and the Protector +protected her and she made her way home to her daughter, to whom she related +how she had gotten a thousand gold pieces and sold her five pursuers into +slavery, ending with, “O my daughter, the one who troubleth me most is the +ass-driver, for he knoweth me.” Said Zaynab, “O my mother, abide quiet awhile +and let what thou hast done suffice thee, for the crock shall not always escape +the shock.” When the Chief of Police awoke, his wife said to him, “I give thee +joy of the five slaves thou hast bought of the old woman.” Asked he, “What +slaves?” And she answered, “Why dost thou deny it to me? Allah willing, they +shall become like thee people of condition.” Quoth he, “As my head liveth, I +have bought no slaves! Who saith this?” Quoth she, “The old woman, the +brokeress, from whom thou boughtest them; and thou didst promise her a +thousand dinars for them and two hundred for herself.” Cried he, “Didst thou +give her the money?” And she replied, “Yes; for I saw the slaves with my own +eyes, and on each is a suit of clothes worth a thousand dinars; so I sent out +to bid the sergeants have an eye to them.” The Wali went out and, seeing the +five plaintiffs, said to the officers, “Where are the five slaves we bought +for a thousand dinars of the old woman?” Said they, “There are no slaves here; +only these five men, who found the old woman, and seized her and brought her +hither. We fell asleep, whilst waiting for thee, and she stole away and +entered the Harim. Presently out came a maid and asked us:—Are the five with +you with whom the old woman came?”; and we answered, “Yes.” Cried the Master +of Police, “By Allah, this is the biggest of swindles!”; and the five men +said, “We look to thee for our goods.” Quoth the Wali, “The old woman, your +mistress, sold you to me for a thousand gold pieces.” Quoth they, “That were +not allowed of Allah; we are free-born men and may not be sold, and we appeal +from thee to the Caliph.” Rejoined the Master of Police, “None showed her the +way to the house save you, and I will sell you to the galleys for two hundred +dinars apiece.” Just then, behold, up came the Emir Hasan Sharr al-Tarik who, +on his return from his journey, had found his wife stripped of her clothes +and jewellery and heard from her all that had passed; whereupon quoth he, “The +Master of Police shall answer me this” and repairing to him, said, “Dost thou +suffer old women to go round about the town and cozen folk of their goods? +This is thy duty and I look to thee for my wife’s property.” Then said he to +the five men, “What is the case with you?” So they told him their stories and +he said, “Ye are wronged men,” and turning to the Master of Police, asked him, +“Why dost thou arrest them?” Answered he, “None brought the old wretch to my +house save these five, so that she took a thousand dinars of my money and +sold them to my women.” Whereupon the five cried, “O Emir Hasan, be thou our +advocate in this cause.” Then said the Master of Police to the Emir, “Thy +wife’s goods are at my charge and I will be surety for the old woman. But +which of you knoweth her?” They cried, “We all know her: send ten apparitors +with us, and we will take her.” So he gave them ten men, and the ass-driver +said to them, “Follow me, for I should know her with blue eyes.”[FN#206] Then +they fared forth and lo! they met old Dalilah coming out of a by-street: so +they at once laid hands on her and brought her to the office of the Wali who +asked her, “Where are the people’s goods?” But she answered, saying, “I have +neither gotten them nor seen them.” Then he cried to the gaoler, “Take her +with thee and clap her in gaol till the morning;” but he replied, “I will not +take her nor will I imprison her lest she play a trick on me and I be +answerable for her.” So the Master of Police mounted and rode out with Dalilah +and the rest to the bank of the Tigris, where he bade the lamp-lighter crucify +her by her hair. He drew her up by the pulley and bound her on the cross; +after which the Master of Police set ten men to guard her and went home. +Presently, the night fell down and sleep overcame the watchmen. Now a certain +Badawi had heard one man say to a friend, “Praise be to Allah for thy safe +return! Where hast thou been all this time?” Replied the other, “In Baghdad +where I broke my fast on honey-fritters.”[FN#207] Quoth the Badawi to himself, +“Needs must I go to Baghdad and eat honey-fritters therein”; for in all his +life he had never entered Baghdad nor seen fritters of the sort. So he mounted +his stallion and rode on towards Baghdad, saying in his mind, “’Tis a fine +thing to eat honey-fritters! On the honour of an Arab, I will break my fast +with honey-fritters and naught else!”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the wild Arab mounted +horse and made for Baghdad saying in his mind, “’Tis a fine thing to eat +honey-fritters! On the honour of an Arab I will break my fast with +honey-fritters and naught else;” and he rode on till he came to the place +where Dalilah was crucified and she heard him utter these words. So he went up +to her and said to her, “What art thou?” Quoth she, “I throw myself on thy +protection, O Shaykh of the Arabs!” and quoth he, “Allah indeed protect thee! +But what is the cause of thy crucifixion?” Said she, “I have an enemy, an +oilman, who frieth fritters, and I stopped to buy some of him, when I chanced +to spit and my spittle fell on the fritters. So he complained of me to the +Governor who commanded to crucify me, saying, ‘I adjudge that ye take ten +pounds of honey-fritters and feed her therewith upon the cross. If she eat +them, let her go, but if not, leave her hanging.’ And my stomach will not brook +sweet things.” Cried the Badawi, “By the honour of the Arabs, I departed not +the camp but that I might taste of honey-fritters! I will eat them for thee.” +Quoth she, “None may eat them, except he be hung up in my place.” So he fell +into the trap and unbound her; whereupon she bound him in her stead, after she +had stripped him of his clothes and turband and put them on; then covering +herself with his burnouse and mounting his horse, she rode to her house, +where Zaynab asked her, “What meaneth this plight?”; and she answered, “They +crucified me;” and told her all that had befallen her with the Badawi. This is +how it fared with her; but as regards the watchmen, the first who woke roused +his companions and they saw that the day had broken. So one of them raised his +eyes and cried, “Dalilah.” Replied the Badawi, “By Allah! I have not eaten +all night. Have ye brought the honey-fritters?” All exclaimed, “This is a man +and a Badawi,” and one of them asked him, “O Badawi, where is Dalilah and who +loosed her?” He answered, “’Twas I; she shall not eat the honey-fritters +against her will; for her soul abhorreth them.” So they knew that the Arab +was ignorant of her case, whom she had cozened, and said to one another, +“Shall we flee or abide the accomplishment of that which Allah hath written for +us?” As they were talking, up came the Chief of Police, with all the folk whom +the old woman had cheated, and said to the guards, “Arise, loose Dalilah.” +Quoth the Badawi, “We have not eaten to-night. Hast thou brought the +honey-fritters?” Whereupon the Wali raised his eyes to the cross and seeing +the Badawi hung up in the stead of the old woman, said to the watchmen, “What +is this?” “Pardon, O our lord!” “Tell me what hath happened.” “We were weary +with watching with thee on guard and said:—Dalilah is crucified. So we fell +asleep, and when we awoke, we found the Badawi hung up in her room; and we are +at thy mercy.” “O folk, Allah’s pardon be upon you! She is indeed a clever +cheat!” Then they unbound the Badawi, who laid hold of the Master of Police, +saying, “Allah succour the Caliph against thee! I look to none but thee for my +horse and clothes!” So the Wali questioned him and he told him what had +passed between Dalilah and himself. The magistrate marvelled and asked him, +“Why didst thou release her?”; and the Badawi answered, “I knew not that she +was a felon.” Then said the others, “O Chief of Police, we look to thee in the +matter of our goods; for we delivered the old woman into thy hands and she +was in thy guard; and we cite thee before the Divan of the Caliph.” Now the +Emir Hasan had gone up to the Divan, when in came the Wali with the Badawi and +the five others, saying, “Verily, we are wronged men!” “Who hath wronged you?” +asked the Caliph; so each came forward in turn and told his story, after which +said the Master of Police, “O Commander of the Faithful, the old woman cheated +me also and sold me these five men as slaves for a thousand dinars, albeit they +are free-born.” Quoth the Prince of True Believers, “I take upon myself all +that you have lost”; adding to the Master of Police, “I charge thee with the +old woman.” But he shook his collar, saying, “O Commander of the Faithful, I +will not answer for her; for, after I had hung her on the cross, she tricked +this Badawi and, when he loosed her, she tied him up in her room and made off +with his clothes and horse.” Quoth the Caliph, “Whom but thee shall I charge +with her?”; and quoth the Wali, “Charge Ahmad al-Danaf, for he hath a +thousand dinars a month and one- and-forty followers, at a monthly wage of an +hundred dinars each.” So the Caliph said, “Harkye, Captain Ahmad!” “At thy +service, O Commander of the Faithful,” said he; and the Caliph cried, “I +charge thee to bring the old woman before us.” Replied Ahmad, “I will answer +for her.” Then the Caliph kept the Badawi and the five with him,——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph said +to Calamity Ahmad, “I charge thee to bring the old woman before us,” he said, +“I will answer for her, O Commander of the Faithful!” Then the Caliph kept the +Badawi and the five with him, whilst Ahmad and his men went down to their +hall,[FN#208] saying to one another, “How shall we lay hands on her, seeing +that there are many old women in the town?” And quoth Ahmad to Hasan Shuman, +“What counsellest thou?” Whereupon quoth one of them, by name Ali Kitf al- +Jamal,[FN#209] to Al-Danaf, “Of what dost thou take counsel with Hasan Shuman? +Is the Pestilent one any great shakes?” Said Hasan, “O Ali, why dost thou +disparage me? By the Most Great Name, I will not company with thee at this +time!”; and he rose and went out in wrath. Then said Ahmad, “O my braves, let +every sergeant take ten men, each to his own quarter and search for Dalilah.” +All did his bidding, Ali included, and they said, “Ere we disperse let us +agree to rendezvous in the quarter Al-Kalkh.” It was noised abroad in the +city that Calamity Ahmad had undertaken to lay hands on Dalilah the Wily, and +Zaynab said to her, “O my mother, an thou be indeed a trickstress, do thou +befool Ahmad al-Danaf and his company.” Answered Dalilah, “I fear none save +Hasan Shuman;” and Zaynab said, “By the life of my browlock, I will assuredly +get thee the clothes of all the one- and-forty.” Then she dressed and veiled +herself and going to a certain druggist, who had a saloon with two doors, +salamed to him and gave him an ashrafí and said to him, “Take this gold piece +as a douceur for thy saloon and let it to me till the end of the day.” So he +gave her the keys and she fetched carpets and so forth on the stolen ass and +furnishing the place, set on each raised pavement a tray of meat and wine. +Then she went out and stood at the door, with her face unveiled and behold, up +came Ali Kitf al-Jamal and his men. She kissed his hand; and he fell in love +with her, seeing her to be a handsome girl, and said to her, “What dost thou +want?” Quoth she, “Art thou Captain Ahmad al-Danaf?”; and quoth he, “No, but I +am of his company and my name is Ali Camel-shoulder.” Asked she, “Whither fare +you?”; and he answered, “We go about in quest of a sharkish old woman, who +hath stolen folk’s good, and we mean to lay hands on her. But who art thou and +what is thy business?” She replied, “My father was a taverner at Mosul and he +died and left me much money. So I came hither, for fear of the Dignities, and +asked the people who would protect me, to which they replied, ‘None but Ahmad +al-Danaf.’” Said the men, “From this day forth, thou art under his +protection”; and she replied, “Hearten me by eating a bit and drinking a sup +of water.”[FN#210] They consented and entering, ate and drank till they were +drunken, when she drugged them with Bhang and stripped them of their clothes +and arms; and on like wise she did with the three other companions. Presently, +Calamity Ahmad went out to look for Dalilah, but found her not, neither set +eyes on any of his followers, and went on till he came to the door where +Zaynab was standing. She kissed his hand and he looked on her and fell in love +with her. Quoth she, “Art thou Captain Ahmad al-Danaf?”; and quoth he, “Yes: +who art thou?” She replied, “I am a stranger from Mosul. My father was a +vintner at that place and he died and left me much money wherewith I came to +this city, for fear of the powers that be, and opened this tavern. The Master +of Police hath imposed a tax on me, but it is my desire to put myself under +thy protection and pay thee what the police would take of me, for thou hast +the better right to it.” Quoth he, “Do not pay him aught: thou shalt have my +protection and welcome.” Then quoth she, “Please to heal my heart and eat of +my victual,” So he entered and ate and drank wine, till he could not sit +upright, when she drugged him and took his clothes and arms. Then she loaded +her purchase on the Badawi’s horse and the donkey-boy’s ass and made off with +it, after she had aroused Ali Kitf al-Jamal. Camel-shoulder awoke and found +himself naked and saw Ahmad and his men drugged and stripped: so he revived +them with the counter-drug and they awoke and found themselves naked. Quoth +Calamity Ahmad, “O lads, what is this? We were going to catch her, and lo! +this strumpet hath caught us! How Hasan Shuman will rejoice over us! But we +will wait till it is dark and then go away.” Meanwhile Pestilence Hasan said +to the hall-keeper, “Where are the men?”; and as he asked, up they came naked; +and he recited these two couplets[FN#211]:— +</p> + +<p> +Men in their purposes are much alike, * But in their issues<br /> + + difference comes to light:<br /> + +Of men some wise are, others simple souls; * As of the stars<br /> + + some dull, some pearly bright.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he looked at them and asked, “Who hath played you this trick and made you +naked?”; and they answered, “We went in quest of an old woman, and a pretty +girl stripped us.” Quoth Hasan, “She hath done right well.” They asked, “Dost +thou know her?”; and he answered, “Yes, I know her and the old trot too.” Quoth +they, “What shall we say to the Caliph?”; and quoth he, “O Danaf, do thou shake +thy collar before him, and he will say, ‘Who is answerable for her’; and if he +ask why thou hast not caught her; say thou, ‘We know her not; but charge +Hasan Shuman with her.’ And if he give her into my charge, I will lay hands on +her.” So they slept that night and on the morrow they went up to the Caliph’s +Divan and kissed ground before him. Quoth he, “Where is the old woman, O +Captain Ahmad?” But he shook his collar. The Caliph asked him why he did so, +and he answered, “I know her not; but do thou charge Hasan Shuman to lay hands +on her, for he knoweth her and her daughter also.” Then Hasan interceded for +her with the Caliph, saying, “Indeed, she hath not played off these tricks, +because she coveted the folk’s stuff, but to show her cleverness and that of +her daughter, to the intent that thou shouldst continue her husband’s stipend +to her and that of her father to her daughter. So an thou wilt spare her life +I will fetch her to thee.” Cried the Caliph, “By the life of my ancestors, if +she restore the people’s goods, I will pardon her on thine intercession!” And +said the Pestilence, “Give me a pledge, O Prince of True Believers!” Whereupon +Al-Rashid gave him the kerchief of pardon. So Hasan repaired to Dalilah’s +house and called to her. Her daughter Zaynab answered him and he asked her, +“Where is thy mother?” “Upstairs,” she answered; and he said, “Bid her take the +people’s goods and come with me to the presence of the Caliph; for I have +brought her the kerchief of pardon, and if she will not come with a good +grace, let her blame only herself.” So Dalilah came down and tying the +kerchief about her neck gave him the people’s goods on the donkey-boy’s ass +and the Badawi’s horse. Quoth he, “There remain the clothes of my Chief and +his men”; and quoth she, “By the Most Great Name, ’twas not I who stripped +them!” Rejoined Hasan, “Thou sayst sooth, it was thy daughter Zaynab’s doing, +and this was a good turn she did thee.” Then he carried her to the Divan and +laying the people’s goods and stuff before the Caliph, set the old trot in his +presence. As soon as he saw her, he bade throw her down on the carpet of +blood, whereat she cried, “I cast myself on thy protection, O Shuman.” So he +rose and kissing the Caliph’s hands, said, “Pardon, O Commander of the +Faithful! Indeed, thou gavest me the kerchief of pardon.” Said the Prince of +True Believers, “I pardon her for thy sake: come hither, O old woman; what is +thy name?” “My name is Wily Dalilah,” answered she, and the Caliph said “Thou +art indeed crafty and full of guile.” Whence she was dubbed Dalilah the Wily +One. Then quoth he, “Why hast thou played all these tricks on the folk and +wearied our hearts?” and quoth she, “I did it not of lust for their goods, but +because I had heard of the tricks which Ahmad al-Danaf and Hasan Shuman played +in Baghdad and said to myself, ‘I too will do the like.’ And now I have +returned the folk their goods.” But the ass-driver rose and said “I invoke +Allah’s law[FN#212] between me and her; for it sufficed her not to take my +ass, but she must needs egg on the Moorish barber to tear out my eye-teeth and +fire me on both temples.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the donkey-boy rose +and cried out, “I invoke Allah’s law between me and her; for it sufficed her +not to take my ass, but she must needs egg on the barber to tear out my +eye-teeth and fire me on both temples;” thereupon the Caliph bade give him an +hundred dinars and ordered the dyer the like, saying, “Go; set up thy dyery +again.” So they called down blessings on his head and went away. The Badawi +also took his clothes and horse and departed, saying, “’Tis henceforth +unlawful and forbidden me to enter Baghdad and eat honey-fritters.” And the +others took their goods and went away. Then said the Caliph, “Ask a boon of +me, O Dalilah!”; and she said, “Verily, my father was governor of the +carrier-pigeons to thee and I know how to rear the birds; and my husband was +town-captain of Baghdad. Now I wish to have the reversion of my husband and my +daughter wisheth to have that of her father.” The Caliph granted both their +requests and she said, “I ask of thee that I may be portress of thy Khan.” +Now he had built a Khan of three stories, for the merchants to lodge in, and +had assigned to its service forty slaves and also forty dogs he had brought +from the King of the Sulaymániyah,[FN#213] when he deposed him; and there was +in the Khan a cook-slave, who cooked for the chattels and fed the hounds for +which he let make collars. Said the Caliph, “O Dalilah, I will write thee a +patent of guardianship of the Khan, and if aught be lost therefrom, thou +shalt be answerable for it.” “’Tis well,” replied she; “but do thou lodge my +daughter in the pavilion over the door of the Khan, for it hath terraced roofs, +and carrier-pigeons may not be reared to advantage save in an open space.” The +Caliph granted her this also and she and her daughter removed to the pavilion +in question, where Zaynab hung up the one- and-forty dresses of Calamity Ahmad +and his company. Moreover, they delivered to Dalilah the forty pigeons which +carried the royal messages, and the Caliph appointed the Wily One mistress +over the forty slaves and charged them to obey her. She made the place of her +sitting behind the door of the Khan, and every day she used to go up to the +Caliph’s Divan, lest he should need to send a message by pigeon-post and stay +there till eventide whilst the forty slaves stood on guard at the Khan; and +when darkness came on they loosed the forty dogs that they might keep watch +over the place by night. Such were the doings of Dalilah the Wily One in +Baghdad and much like them were +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap16"></a>The Adventures of Mercury Ali of Cairo.[FN#214]</h3> + +<p> +Now as regards the works of Mercury ’Alí; there lived once at Cairo,[FN#215] +in the days of Saláh the Egyptian, who was Chief of the Cairo Police and had +forty men under him, a sharper named Ali, for whom the Master of Police used +to set snares and think that he had fallen therein; but, when they sought for +him, they found that he had fled like zaybak, or quicksilver, wherefore they +dubbed him Ali Zaybak or Mercury Ali of Cairo. Now one day, as he sat with +his men in his hall, his heart became heavy within him and his breast was +straitened. The hall-keeper saw him sitting with frowning face and said to +him, “What aileth thee, O my Chief? If thy breast be straitened take a turn in +the streets of Cairo, for assuredly walking in her markets will do away with +thy irk.” So he rose up and went out and threaded the streets awhile, but only +increased in cark and care. Presently, he came to a wine-shop and said to +himself, “I will go in and drink myself drunken.” So he entered and seeing +seven rows of people in the shop, said, “Harkye, taverner! I will not sit +except by myself.” Accordingly, the vintner placed him in a chamber alone and +set strong pure wine before him whereof he drank till he lost his senses. Then +he sallied forth again and walked till he came to the road called Red, whilst +the people left the street clear before him, out of fear of him. Presently, he +turned and saw a water-carrier trudging along, with his skin and gugglet, +crying out and saying, “O exchange! There is no drink but what raisins make, +there is no love-delight but what of the lover we take and none sitteth in the +place of honour save the sensible freke[FN#216]!” So he said to him, “Here, +give me to drink!” The water-carrier looked at him and gave him the gugglet +which he took and gazing into it, shook it up and lastly poured it out on the +ground. Asked the water-carrier, “Why dost thou not drink?”; and he answered, +saying, “Give me to drink.” So the man filled the cup a second time and he +took it and shook it and emptied it on the ground; and thus he did a third +time. Quoth the water-carrier, “An thou wilt not drink, I will be off.” And +Ali said, “Give me to drink.” So he filled the cup a fourth time and gave it +to him; and he drank and gave the man a dinar. The water-carrier looked at +him with disdain and said, belittling him, “Good luck to thee! Good luck to +thee, my lad! Little folk are one thing and great folk another!”——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say, +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the water-carrier +receiving the dinar, looked at the giver with disdain and said “Good luck to +thee! Good luck to thee! Little folk are one thing and great folk another.” +Now when Mercury Ali heard this, he caught hold of the man’s gaberdine and +drawing on him a poignard of price, such an one as that whereof the poet +speaketh in these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“Watered steel-blade, the world perfection calls, * Drunk with<br /> + + the viper poison foes appals,<br /> + +Cuts lively, burns the blood whene’er it falls; * And picks up<br /> + + gems from pave of marble halls;”[FN#217]<br /> +</p> + +<p> +cried to him, “O Shaykh, speak reasonably to me! Thy water-skin is worth if +dear three dirhams, and the gugglets I emptied on the ground held a pint or so +of water.” Replied the water-carrier “’Tis well,” and Ali rejoined, “I gave +thee a golden ducat: why, then dost thou belittle me? Say me, hast thou ever +seen any more valiant than I or more generous than I?” Answered the +water-carrier; “I have indeed, seen one more valiant than thou and eke more +generous than thou; for, never, since women bare children, was there on +earth’s face a brave man who was not generous.” Quoth Ali, “And who is he thou +deemest braver and more generous than I?” Quoth the other, “Thou must know +that I have had a strange adventure. My father was a Shaykh of the +Water-carriers who give drink in Cairo and, when he died, he left me five male +camels, a he-mule, a shop and a house; but the poor man is never satisfied; +or, if he be satisfied he dieth. So I said to myself:—I will go up to +Al-Hijaz; and, taking a string of camels, bought goods on tick, till I had +run in debt for five hundred ducats, all of which I lost in the pilgrimage. +Then I said in my mind:—If I return to Cairo the folk will clap me in jail +for their goods. So I fared with the pilgrims-caravan of Damascus to Aleppo +and thence I went on to Baghdad, where I sought out the Shaykh of the +Water-carriers of the city and finding his house I went in and repeated the +opening chapter of the Koran to him. He questioned me of my case and I told +him all that had betided me, whereupon he assigned me a shop and gave me a +water-skin and gear. So I sallied forth a-morn trusting in Allah to provide, +and went round about the city.” I offered the gugglet to one, that he might +drink; but he cried, “I have eaten naught whereon to drink; for a niggard +invited me this day and set two gugglets before me; so I said to him:—O son +of the sordid, hast thou given me aught to eat that thou offerest me drink +after it? Wherefore wend thy ways, O water-carrier, till I have eaten +somewhat: then come and give me to drink.” Thereupon I accosted another and he +said:—Allah provide thee! And so I went on till noon, without taking hansel, +and I said to myself, ‘Would Heaven I had never come to Baghdad!’ Presently, +I saw the folk running as fast as they could; so I followed them and behold, a +long file of men riding two and two and clad in steel, with double neck-rings +and felt bonnets and burnouses and swords and bucklers. I asked one of the +folk whose suite this was, and he answered, ‘That of Captain Ahmad al-Danaf.’ +Quoth I, ‘And what is he?’ and quoth the other, ‘He is town-captain of Baghdad +and her Divan, and to him is committed the care of the suburbs. He getteth a +thousand dinars a month from the Caliph and Hasan Shuman hath the like. +Moreover, each of his men draweth an hundred dinars a month; and they are now +returning to their barrack from the Divan.’ And lo! Calamity Ahmad saw me and +cried out, ‘Come give me drink.’ So I filled the cup and gave it him, and he +shook it and emptied it out, like unto thee; and thus he did a second time. +Then I filled the cup a third time and he took a draught as thou diddest; +after which he asked me, ‘O water-carrier, whence comest thou?’ And I +answered, ‘From Cairo,’ and he, ‘Allah keep Cairo and her citizens! What may +bring thee thither?’ So I told him my story and gave him to understand that I +was a debtor fleeing from debt and distress. He cried, ‘Thou art welcome to +Baghdad’; then he gave me five dinars and said to his men, ‘For the love of +Allah be generous to him.’ So each of them gave me a dinar and Ahmad said to +me, ‘O Shaykh, what while thou abidest in Baghdad thou shalt have of us the +like every time thou givest us to drink.’ Accordingly, I paid them frequent +visits and good ceased not to come to me from the folk till, one day, +reckoning up the profit I had made of them, I found it a thousand dinars and +said to myself, The best thing thou canst do is to return to Egypt. So I +went to Ahmad’s house and kissed his hand, and he said, What seekest thou? +Quoth I, I have a mind to depart; and I repeated these two couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +Sojourn of stranger, in whatever land, * Is like the castle based<br /> + + upon the wind:<br /> + +The breaths of breezes level all he raised. * And so on<br /> + + homeward-way’s the stranger’s mind.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +I added, The caravan is about to start for Cairo and I wish to return to my +people. So he gave me a she-mule and an hundred dinars and said to me, I +desire to send somewhat by thee, O Shaykh! Dost thou know the people of +Cairo? Yes, answered I;——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Tenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It bath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ahmad al-Danaf +had given the water-carrier a she-mule and an hundred dinars and said to him, +“I desire to send a trust by thee. Dost thou know the people of Cairo?” “I +answered (quoth the water-carrier), Yes; and he said, Take this letter and +carry it to Ali Zaybak of Cairo and say to him, Thy Captain saluteth thee +and he is now with the Caliph. So I took the letter and journeyed back to +Cairo, where I paid my debts and plied my water-carrying trade; but I have not +delivered the letter, because I know not the abode of Mercury Ali.” Quoth Ali, +“O elder, be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear: I am that Ali, +the first of the lads of Captain Ahmad: here with the letter!” So he gave him +the missive and he opened it and read these two couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +“O adornment of beauties to thee write I * On a paper that<br /> + + flies as the winds go by:<br /> + +Could I fly, I had flown to their arms in desire, * But a bird<br /> + + with cut wings; how shall ever he fly?”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +“But after salutation from Captain Ahmad al-Danaf to the eldest of his sons, +Mercury Ali of Cairo. Thou knowest that I tormented Salah al-Din the Cairene +and befooled him till I buried him alive and reduced his lads to obey me, and +amongst them Ali Kitf al-Jamal; and I am now become town-captain of Baghdad in +the Divan of the Caliph who hath made me over-seer of the suburbs. An thou be +still mindful of our covenant, come to me; haply thou shalt play some trick in +Baghdad which may promote thee to the Caliph’s service, so he may appoint thee +stipends and allowances and assign thee a lodging, which is what thou wouldst +see and so peace be on thee.” When Ali read this letter, he kissed it and +laying it on his head, gave the water-carrier ten dinars; after which he +returned to his barracks and told his comrades and said to them, “I commend +you one to other.” Then he changed all his clothes and, donning a travelling +cloak and a tarboosh, took a case, containing a spear of bamboo-cane, +four- and-twenty cubits long, made in several pieces, to fit into one another. +Quoth his lieutenant, “Wilt thou go a journey when the treasury is empty?”; +and quoth Ali, “When I reach Damascus I will send you what shall suffice you.” +Then he set out and fared on, till he overtook a caravan about to start, +whereof were the Shah-bandar, or Provost of the Merchants, and forty other +traders. They had all loaded their beasts, except the Provost, whose loads lay +upon the ground, and Ali heard his caravan-leader, who was a Syrian, say to the +muleteers, “Bear a hand, one of you!” But they reviled him and abused him. +Quoth Ali in himself, “None will suit me so well to travel withal as this +leader.” Now Ali was beardless and well-favoured; so he went up to and +saluted the leader who welcomed him and said, “What seekest thou?” Replied +Ali, “O my uncle, I see thee alone with forty mule-loads of goods; but why +hast thou not brought hands to help thee?” Rejoined the other, “O my son, I +hired two lads and clothed them and put in each one’s pocket two hundred +dinars; and they helped me till we came to the Dervishes’ Convent,[FN#218] +when they ran away.” Quoth Ali, “Whither are you bound?” and quoth the Syrian, +“to Aleppo,” when Ali said, “I will lend thee a hand.” Accordingly they loaded +the beasts and the Provost mounted his she-mule and they set out he rejoicing +in Ali; and presently he loved him and made much of him and on this wise they +fared on till nightfall, when they dismounted and ate and drank. Then came the +time of sleep and Ali lay down on his side and made as if he slept; whereupon +the Syrian stretched himself near him and Ali rose from his stead and sat down +at the door of the merchant’s pavilion. Presently the Syrian turned over and +would have taken Ali in his arms, but found him not and said to himself, +“Haply he hath promised another and he hath taken him; but I have the first +right and another night I will keep him.” Now Ali continued sitting at the +door of the tent till nigh upon daybreak, when he returned and lay down near +the Syrian, who found him by his side, when he awoke, and said to himself, “If +I ask him where he hath been, he will leave me and go away.” So he dissembled +with him and they went on till they came to a forest, in which was a cave, +where dwelt a rending lion. Now whenever a caravan passed, they would draw lots +among themselves and him on whom the lot fell they would throw to the beast. So +they drew lots and the lot fell not save upon the Provost of the Merchants. +And lo! the lion cut off their way awaiting his prey, wherefore the Provost +was sore distressed and said to the leader, “Allah disappoint the +fortunes[FN#219] of the far one and bring his journey to naught! I charge +thee, after my death, give my loads to my children.” Quoth Ali the Clever +One, “What meaneth all this?” So they told him the case and he said, “Why do +ye run from the tom-cat of the desert? I warrant you I will kill him.” So the +Syrian went to the Provost and told him of this and he said, “If he slay him, +I will give him a thousand dinars,” and said the other merchants, “We will +reward him likewise one and all.” With this Ali put off his mantle and there +appeared upon him a suit of steel; then he took a chopper of steel[FN#220] and +opening it turned the screw; after which he went forth alone and standing in +the road before the lion, cried out to him. The lion ran at him, but Ali of +Cairo smote him between the eyes with his chopper and cut him in sunder, +whilst the caravan-leader and the merchants looked on. Then said he to the +leader, “Have no fear, O nuncle!” and the Syrian answered, saying, “O my son, I +am thy servant for all future time.” Then the Provost embraced him and kissed +him between the eyes and gave him the thousand dinars, and each of the other +merchants gave him twenty dinars. He deposited all the coin with the Provost +and they slept that night till the morning, when they set out again, intending +for Baghdad, and fared on till they came to the Lion’s Clump and the Wady of +Dogs, where lay a villain Badawi, a brigand and his tribe, who sallied forth +on them. The folk fled from the highwaymen, and the Provost said, “My monies +are lost!”; when, lo! up came Ali in a buff coat hung with bells, and bringing +out his long lance, fitted the pieces together. Then he seized one of the +Arab’s horses and mounting it cried out to the Badawi Chief, saying, “Come out +to fight me with spears!” Moreover he shook his bells and the Arab’s mare +took fright at the noise and Ali struck the Chief’s spear and broke it. Then +he smote him on the neck and cut off his head.[FN#221] When the Badawin saw +their chief fall, they ran at Ali, but he cried out, saying, “Allaho Akbar—God +is Most Great!”—and, falling on them broke them and put them to flight. Then +he raised the Chief’s head on his spear-point and returned to the merchants, +who rewarded him liberally and continued their journey, till they reached +Baghdad. Thereupon Ali took his money from the Provost and committed it to the +Syrian caravan-leader, saying, “When thou returnest to Cairo, ask for my +barracks and give these monies to my deputy.” Then he slept that night and on +the morrow he entered the city and threading the streets enquired for Calamity +Ahmad’s quarters; but none would direct him thereto.[FN#222] So he walked on, +till he came to the square Al-Nafz, where he saw children at play, and amongst +them a lad called Ahmad al-Lakít,[FN#223] and said to himself, “O my Ali, thou +shalt not get news of them but from their little ones.” Then he turned and +seeing a sweetmeat seller bought Halwá of him and called to the children; but +Ahmad al-Lakit drove the rest away and coming up to him, said, “What seekest +thou?” Quoth Ali, “I had a son and he died and I saw him in a dream asking for +sweetmeats: wherefore I have bought them and wish to give each child a bit.” +So saying, he gave Ahmad a slice, and he looked at it and seeing a dinar +sticking to it, said “Begone! I am no catamite: seek another than I.” Quoth +Ali, “O my son, none but a sharp fellow taketh the hire, even as he is a sharp +one who giveth it. I have sought all day for Ahmad al-Danaf’s barrack, but +none would direct me thereto; so this dinar is thine an thou wilt guide me +thither.” Quoth the lad, “I will run before thee and do thou keep up with me, +till I come to the place, when I will catch up a pebble with my foot[FN#224] +and kick it against the door; and so shalt thou know it.” Accordingly he ran on +and Ali after him, till they came to the place, when the boy caught up a pebble +between his toes and kicked it against the door so as to make the place +known.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Eleventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ahmad the +Abortion had made known the place, Ali laid hold of him and would have taken +the dinar from him, but could not; so he said to him, “Go: thou deservest +largesse for thou art a sharp fellow, whole of wit and stout of heart. +Inshallah, if I become a captain to the Caliph, I will make thee one of my +lads.” Then the boy made off and Ali Zaybak went up to the door and knocked; +whereupon quoth Ahmad al-Danaf, “O doorkeeper, open the door; that is the +knock of Quicksilver Ali the Cairene.” So he opened the door and Ali entered +and saluted with the salam Ahmad who embraced him, and the Forty greeted him. +Then Calamity Ahmad gave him a suit of clothes, saying, “When the Caliph made +me captain, he clothed my lads and I kept this suit[FN#225] for thee.” Then +they seated him in the place of honour and setting on meat they ate well and +drink they drank hard and made merry till the morning, when Ahmad said to Ali, +“Beware thou walk not about the streets of Baghdad, but sit thee still in +this barrack.” Asked Ali, “Why so? Have I come hither to be shut up? No, I +came to look about me and divert myself.” Replied Ahmad, “O my son, think not +that Baghdad be like Cairo. Baghdad is the seat of the Caliphate; sharpers +abound therein and rogueries spring therefrom as worts spring out of earth.” +So Ali abode in the barrack three days when Ahmad said to him, “I wish to +present thee to the Caliph, that he may assign thee an allowance.” But he +replied, “When the time cometh.” So he let him go his own way. One day, as +Ali sat in the barrack, his breast became straitened and his soul troubled and +he said in himself, “Come, let us up and thread the ways of Baghdad and +broaden my bosom.” So he went out and walked from street to street, till he +came to the middle bazar, where he entered a cook-shop and dined;[FN#226] +after which he went out to wash his hands. Presently he saw forty slaves, with +felt bonnets and steel cutlasses, come walking, two by two; and last of all +came Dalilah the Wily, mounted on a she-mule, with a gilded helmet which bore a +ball of polished steel, and clad in a coat of mail, and such like. Now she was +returning from the Divan to the Khan of which she was portress; and when she +espied Ali, she looked at him fixedly and saw that he resembled Calamity +Ahmad in height and breadth. Moreover, he was clad in a striped Abá-cloak and +a burnous, with a steel cutlass by his side and similar gear, while valour +shone from his eyes, testifying in favour of him and not in disfavour of him. +So she returned to the Khan and going in to her daughter, fetched a table of +sand, and struck a geomantic figure, whereby she discovered that the +stranger’s name was Ali of Cairo and that his fortune overcame her fortune +and that of her daughter. Asked Zaynab, “O my mother, what hath befallen thee +that thou hast recourse to the sand-table?” Answered Dalilah, “O my daughter, +I have seen this day a young man who resembleth Calamity Ahmad, and I fear +lest he come to hear how thou didst strip Ahmad and his men and enter the Khan +and play us a trick, in revenge for what we did with his chief and the forty; +for methinks he has taken up his lodging in Al-Danaf’s barrack.” Zaynab +rejoined, “What is this? Methinks thou hast taken his measure.” Then she +donned her fine clothes and went out into the streets. When the people saw +her, they all made love to her and she promised and sware and listened and +coquetted and passed from market to market, till she saw Ali the Cairene +coming, when she went up to him and rubbed her shoulder against him. Then she +turned and said “Allah give long life to folk of discrimination!” Quoth he, +“How goodly is thy form! To whom dost thou belong?”; and quoth she, “To the +gallant[FN#227] like thee;” and he said, “Art thou wife or spinster?” +“Married,” said she. Asked Ali, “Shall it be in my lodging or thine?”[FN#228] +and she answered, “I am a merchant’s daughter and a merchant’s wife and in all +my life I have never been out of doors till to-day, and my only reason was +that when I made ready food and thought to eat, I had no mind thereto without +company. When I saw thee, love of thee entered my heart: so wilt thou deign +solace my soul and eat a mouthful with me?” Quoth he, “Whoso is invited, let +him accept.” Thereupon she went on and he followed her from street to street, +but presently he bethought himself and said, “What wilt thou do and thou a +stranger? Verily ’tis said, ‘Whoso doth whoredom in his strangerhood, Allah +will send him back disappointed.’ But I will put her off from thee with fair +words.” So he said to her, “Take this dinar and appoint me a day other than +this;” and she said, “By the Mighty Name, it may not be but thou shalt go home +with me as my guest this very day and I will take thee to fast friend.” So he +followed her till she came to a house with a lofty porch and a wooden bolt on +the door and said to him, “Open this lock.”[FN#229] Asked he “Where is the +key?”; and she answered, “’Tis lost.” Quoth he, “Whoso openeth a lock without a +key is a knave whom it behoveth the ruler to punish, and I know not how to +open doors without keys?”[FN#230] With this she raised her veil and showed him +her face, whereat he took one glance of eyes that cost him a thousand sighs. +Then she let fall her veil on the lock and repeating over it the names of the +mother of Moses, opened it without a key and entered. He followed her and saw +swords and steel-weapons hanging up; and she put off her veil and sat down +with him. Quoth he to himself, “Accomplish what Allah hath decreed to thee,” +and bent over her, to take a kiss of her cheek; but she caught the kiss upon +her palm, saying, “This beseemeth not but by night.” Then she brought a tray +of food and wine, and they ate and drank; after which she rose and drawing +water from the well, poured it from the ewer over his hands, whilst he washed +them. Now whilst they were on this wise, she cried out and beat upon her +breast, saying, “My husband had a signet-ring of ruby, which was pledged to +him for five hundred dinars, and I put it on; but ’twas too large for me, so I +straitened it with wax, and when I let down the bucket,[FN#231] that ring +must have dropped into the well. So turn thy face to the door, the while I +doff my dress and go down into the well and fetch it.” Quoth Ali, “’Twere +shame on me that thou shouldst go down there I being present; none shall do it +save I.” So he put off his clothes and tied the rope about himself and she let +him down into the well. Now there was much water therein and she said to him, +“The rope is too short; loose thyself and drop down.” So he did himself loose +from the rope and dropped into the water, in which he sank fathoms deep +without touching bottom; whilst she donned her mantilla and taking his +clothes, returned to her mother— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When is was the Seven Hundred and Twelfth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ali of Cairo was in +the well, Zaynab donned her mantilla and, taking his clothes, returned to her +mother and said, “I have stripped Ali the Egyptian and cast him into the Emir +Hasan’s well, whence alas for his chance of escaping!”[FN#232] Presently, the +Emir Hasan, the master of the house, who had been absent at the Divan, came +home and, finding the door open, said to his Syce, “Why didst thou not draw +the bolt?” “O my lord,” replied the groom, “indeed I locked it with my own +hand.” The Emir cried, “As my head liveth, some robber hath entered my house!” +Then he went in and searched, but found none and said to the groom, “Fill the +ewer, that I may make the Wuzu-ablution.” So the man lowered the bucket into +the well but, when he drew it up, he found it heavy and looking down, saw +something therein sitting; whereupon he let it fall into the water and cried +out, saying, “O my lord, an Ifrit came up to me out of the well!” Replied the +Emir, “Go and fetch four doctors of the law, that they may read the Koran over +him, till he go away.” So he fetched the doctors and the Emir said to them, +“Sit round this well and exorcise me this Ifrit.” They did as he bade them; +after which the groom and another servant lowered the bucket again and Ali +clung to it and hid himself under it patiently till he came near the top, when +he sprang out and landed among the doctors, who fell a-cuffing one another +and crying out, “Ifrit! Ifrit!” The Emir looked at Ali and seeing him a young +man, said to him, “Art thou a thief?” “No,” replied Ali; “Then what dost thou +in the well?” asked the Emir; and Ali answered, “I was asleep and dreamt a wet +dream;[FN#233] so I went down to the Tigris to wash myself and dived, +whereupon the current carried me under the earth and I came up in this well.” +Quoth the other, “Tell the truth.”[FN#234] So Ali told him all that had +befallen him, and the Emir gave him an old gown and let him go. He returned to +Calamity Ahmad’s lodging and related to him all that had passed. Quoth Ahmad, +“Did I not warn thee that Baghdad is full of women who play tricks upon men?” +And quoth Ali Kitf al-Jamal, “I conjure thee by the Mighty Name, tell me how +it is that thou art the chief of the lads of Cairo and yet hast been stripped +by a girl?” This was grievous to Ali and he repented him of not having +followed Ahmad’s advice. Then the Calamity gave him another suit of clothes +and Hasan Shuman said to him, “Dost thou know the young person?” “No,” replied +Ali; and Hasan rejoined, “’Twas Zaynab, the daughter of Dalilah the Wily, the +portress of the Caliph’s Khan; and hast thou fallen into her toils, O Ali?” +Quoth he, “Yes,” and quoth Hasan, “O Ali, ’twas she who took thy Chief’s +clothes and those of all his men.” “This is a disgrace to you all!” “And what +thinkest thou to do?” “I purpose to marry her.” “Put away that thought far +from thee, and console thy heart of her.” “O Hasan, do thou counsel me how I +shall do to marry her.” “With all my heart: if thou wilt drink from my hand +and march under my banner, I will bring thee to thy will of her.” “I will +well.” So Hasan made Ali put off his clothes; and, taking a cauldron heated +therein somewhat as it were pitch, wherewith he anointed him and he became +like unto a blackamoor slave. Moreover, he smeared his lips and cheeks and +pencilled his eyes with red Kohl.[FN#235] Then he clad him in a slave’s habit +and giving him a tray of kabobs and wine, said to him, “There is a black cook +in the Khan who requires from the bazar only meat; and thou art now become his +like; so go thou to him civilly and accost him in friendly fashion and speak to +him in the blacks’ lingo, and salute him, saying, ’Tis long since we met in +the beer-ken. He will answer thee, I have been too busy: on my hands be forty +slaves, for whom I cook dinner and supper, besides making ready a tray for +Dalilah and the like for her daughter Zaynab and the dogs’ food. And do thou +say to him, Come, let us eat kabobs and lush swipes.[FN#236] Then go with +him into the saloon and make him drunken and question him of his service, how +many dishes and what dishes he hath to cook, and ask him of the dogs’ food and +the keys of the kitchen and the larder; and he will tell thee; for a man, when +he is drunken, telleth all he would conceal were he sober. When thou hast done +this drug him and don his clothes and sticking the two knives in thy girdle, +take the vegetable-basket and go to the market and buy meat and greens, with +which do thou return to the Khan and enter the kitchen and the larder and cook +the food. Dish it up and put Bhang in it, so as to drug the dogs and the +slaves and Dalilah and Zaynab and lastly serve up. When all are asleep, hie +thee to the upper chamber and bring away every suit of clothes thou wilt find +hanging there. And if thou have a mind to marry Zaynab, bring with thee also +the forty carrier-pigeons.” So Ali went to the Khan and going in to the cook, +saluted him and said, “’Tis long since I have met thee in the beer-ken.” The +slave replied, “I have been busy cooking for the slaves and the dogs.” Then he +took him and making him drunken, questioned him of his work. Quoth the +kitchener, “Every day I cook five dishes for dinner and the like for supper; +and yesterday they sought of me a sixth dish,[FN#237] yellow rice,[FN#238] and +a seventh, a mess of cooked pomegranate seed.” Ali asked, “And what is the +order of thy service?” and the slave answered, “First I serve up Zaynab’s tray, +next Dalilah’s; then I feed the slaves and give the dogs their sufficiency of +meat, and the least that satisfies them is a pound each.” But, as fate would +have it, he forgot to ask him of the keys. Then he drugged him and donned his +clothes; after which he took the basket and went to the market. There he +bought meat and greens.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirteenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ali of Cairo, after +drugging the cook-slave with Bhang, took the two knives which he stuck in his +belt and, carrying the vegetable-basket, went to the market where he bought +meat and greens; and, presently returning to the Khan, he saw Dalilah seated +at the gate, watching those who went in and came out, and the forty slaves +with her, armed. So he heartened his heart and entered; but Dalilah knew him +and said to him, “Back, O captain of thieves! Wilt thou play a trick on me in +the Khan?” Thereupon he (dressed as a slave) turned and said to her, “What +sayest thou, O portress?” She asked, “What hast thou done with the slave, our +cook?; say me if thou hast killed or drugged him?” He answered, “What cook? Is +there here another slave-cook than I?” She rejoined, “Thou liest, thou art +Mercury Ali the Cairene.” And he said to her, in slaves’ patois, “O portress, +are the Cairenes black or white? I will slave for you no longer.” Then said +the slaves to him, “What is the matter with thee, O our cousin?” Cried +Dalilah, “This is none of your uncle’s children, but Ali Zaybak the Egyptian; +and meseems he hath either drugged your cousin or killed him.” But they said, +“Indeed this is our cousin Sa’adu’llah the cook;” and she, “Not so, ’tis +Mercury Ali, and he hath dyed his skin.” Quoth the sharper, “And who is Ali? I +am Sa’adu’llah.” Then she fetched unguent of proof, with which she anointed +Ali’s forearm and rubbed it; but the black did not come off; whereupon quoth +the slaves “Let him go and dress us our dinner.” Quoth Dalilah, “If he be +indeed your cousin, he knoweth what you sought of him yesternight[FN#239] and +how many dishes he cooketh every day.” So they asked him of this and he said, +“Every day I cook you five dishes for the morning and the like for the evening +meal, lentils and rice and broth and stew[FN#240] and sherbet of roses; and +yesternight ye sought of me a sixth dish and a seventh, to wit yellow rice and +cooked pomegranate seed.” And the slaves said “Right!” Then quoth Dalilah, “In +with him and if he know the kitchen and the larder, he is indeed your cousin; +but, if not, kill him.” Now the cook had a cat which he had brought up, and +whenever he entered the kitchen it would stand at the door and spring to his +back, as soon as he went in. So, when Ali entered, the cat saw him and jumped +on his shoulders; but he threw it off and it ran before him to the door of the +kitchen and stopped there. He guessed that this was the kitchen door; so he +took the keys and seeing one with traces of feathers thereon, knew it for the +kitchen key and therewith opened the door. Then he entered and setting down +the greens, went out again, led by the cat, which ran before him and stopped +at another door. He guessed that this was the larder and seeing one of the +keys marked with grease, knew it for the key and opened the door therewith; +whereupon quoth the slaves, “O Dalilah, were he a stranger, he had not known +the kitchen and the larder, nor had he been able to distinguish the keys +thereof from the rest; verily, he is our cousin Sa’adu’llah.” Quoth she, “He +learned the places from the cat and distinguished the keys one from the other +by the appearance: but this cleverness imposeth not upon me.” Then he returned +to the kitchen where he cooked the dinner and, carrying Zaynab’s tray up to +her room, saw all the stolen clothes hanging up; after which he went down and +took Dalilah her tray and gave the slaves and the dogs their rations. The like +he did at sundown and drugged Dalilah’s food and that of Zaynab and the +slaves. Now the doors of the Khan were opened and shut with the sun. So Ali +went forth and cried out, saying, “O dwellers in the Khan, the watch is set +and we have loosed the dogs; whoso stirreth out after this can blame none save +himself.” But he had delayed the dogs’ supper and put poison therein; +consequently when he set it before them, they ate of it and died while the +slaves and Dalilah and Zaynab still slept under Bhang. Then he went up and +took all the clothes and the carrier-pigeons and, opening the gate made off to +the barrack of the Forty, where he found Hasan Shuman the Pestilence who said +to him, “How hast thou fared?” Thereupon he told him what had passed and he +praised him. Then he caused him to put off his clothes and boiled a decoction +of herbs wherewith he washed him, and his skin became white as it was; after +which he donned his own dress and going back to the Khan, clad the cook in the +habit he had taken from him and made him smell to the counter-drug; upon which +the slave awoke and going forth to the greengrocer’s, bought vegetables and +returned to the Khan. Such was the case with Al-Zaybak of Cairo; but as +regards Dalilah the Wily, when the day broke, one of the lodgers in the Khan +came out of his chamber and, seeing the gate open and the slaves drugged and +the dogs dead, he went in to her and found her lying drugged, with a scroll on +her neck and at her head a sponge steeped in the counter-drug. He set the +sponge to her nostrils and she awoke and asked, “Where am I?” The merchant +answered, “When I came down from my chamber I saw the gate of the Khan open and +the dogs dead and found the slaves and thee drugged.” So she took up the paper +and read therein these words, “None did this deed save Ali the Egyptian.” Then +she awoke the slaves and Zaynab by making them smell the counter-Bhang and +said to them, “Did I not tell you that this was Ali of Cairo?”; presently +adding to the slaves, “But do ye conceal the matter.” Then she said to her +daughter, “How often have I warned thee that Ali would not forego his +revenge? He hath done this deed in requital of that which thou diddest with +him and he had it in his power to do with thee other than this thing; but he +refrained therefrom out of courtesy and a desire that there should be love and +friendship between us.” So saying, she doffed her man’s gear and donned woman’s +attire[FN#241] and, tying the kerchief of peace about her neck, repaired to +Ahmad al-Danaf’s barrack. Now when Ali entered with the clothes and the +carrier-pigeons, Hasan Shuman gave the hall-keeper the price of forty pigeons +and he bought them and cooked them amongst the men. Presently there came a +knock at the door and Ahmad said, “That is Dalilah’s knock: rise and open to +her, O hall-keeper.” So he admitted her and——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fourteenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Dalilah was +admitted, Hasan asked her, “What bringeth thee hither, O ill-omened old woman? +Verily, thou and thy brother Zurayk the fishmonger are of a piece!”; and she +answered, “O captain I am in the wrong and this my neck is at thy mercy; but +tell me which of you it was that played me this trick?” Quoth Calamity Ahmad, +“’Twas the first of my lads.” Rejoined Dalilah, “For the sake of Allah +intercede with him to give me back the carrier-pigeons and what not, and thou +wilt lay me under great obligation.” When Hasan heard this he said, “Allah +requite thee, O Ali! Why didst thou cook the pigeons?”; and Ali answered, “I +knew not that they were carrier-pigeons.” Then said Ahmad, “O hall-keeper +bring us the cooked pigeons.” So he brought them and Dalilah took a piece and +tasting it, said, “This is none of the carrier-pigeons’ flesh, for I fed them +on grains of musk and their meat is become even as musk.” Quoth Shuman, “An +thou desire to have the carrier-pigeons, comply with Ali’s will.” Asked she +“What is that?” And Hasan answered, “He would have thee marry him to thy +daughter Zaynab.” She said, “I have not command over her except of affection”; +and Hasan said to Ali the Cairene “Give her the pigeons.” So he gave them to +her, and she took them and rejoiced in them. Then quoth Hasan to her, “There +is no help but thou return us a sufficient reply”; and Dalilah rejoined, “If +it be indeed his wish to marry her, it availed nothing to play this clever +trick upon us: it behoveth him rather to demand her in marriage of her +mother’s brother and her guardian, Captain Zurayk, him who crieth out, saying, +‘Ho! a pound of fish for two farthings!’ and who hangeth up in his shop a +purse containing two thousand dinars.” When the Forty heard this, they all +rose and cried out, saying, “What manner of blather is this, O harlot? Dost +thou wish to bereave us of our brother Ali of Cairo?” Then she returned to the +Khan and said to her daughter, “Ali the Egyptian seeketh thee in marriage.” +Whereat Zaynab rejoiced, for she loved him because of his chaste forbearance +towards her,[FN#242] and asked her mother what had passed. So she told her, +adding, “I made it a condition that he should demand thy hand of thine uncle, +so I might make him fall into destruction.” Meanwhile Ali turned to his +fellows and asked them, “What manner of man is this Zurayk?”; and they +answered, “He was chief of the sharpers of Al-Irak land and could all but +pierce mountains and lay hold upon the stars. He would steal the Kohl from +the eye and, in brief, he had not his match for roguery; but he hath repented +his sins and foresworn his old way of life and opened him a fishmonger’s shop. +And now he hath amassed two thousand dinars by the sale of fish and laid them +in a purse with strings of silk, to which he hath tied bells and rings and +rattles of brass, hung on a peg within the doorway. Every time he openeth his +shop he suspendeth the said purse and crieth out, saying, ‘Where are ye, O +sharpers of Egypt, O prigs of Al-Irak, O tricksters of Ajam-land? Behold, +Zurayk the fishmonger hath hung up a purse in front of his shop, and whoso +pretendeth to craft and cunning, and can take it by sleight, it is his.’ So +the long fingered and greedy-minded come and try to take the purse, but +cannot; for, whilst he frieth his fish and tendeth the fire, he layeth at his +feet scone-like circles of lead; and whenever a thief thinketh to take him +unawares and maketh a snatch at the purse he casteth at him a load of lead and +slayeth him or doeth him a damage. So O Ali, wert thou to tackle him, thou +wouldst be as one who jostleth a funeral cortège, unknowing who is +dead;[FN#243] for thou art no match for him, and we fear his mischief for +thee. Indeed, thou hast no call to marry Zaynab, and he who leaveth a thing +alone liveth without it.” Cried Ali, “This were shame, O comrades; needs must +I take the purse: but bring me a young lady’s habit.” So they brought him +women’s clothes and he clad himself therein and stained his hands with Henna, +and modestly hung down his veil. Then he took a lamb and killing it, cut out +the long intestine[FN#244] which he cleaned and tied up below; moreover he +filled it with the blood and bound it between his thighs; after which he +donned petticoat-trousers and walking boots. He also made himself a pair of +false breasts with birds’ crops and filled them with thickened milk and tied +round his hips and over his belly a piece of linen, which he stuffed with +cotton, girding himself over all with a kerchief of silk well starched. Then +he went out, whilst all who saw him exclaimed, “What a fine pair of hind +cheeks!” Presently he saw an ass-driver coming, so he gave him a dinar and +mounting, rode till he came to Zurayk’s shop, where he saw the purse hung up +and the gold glittering through it. Now Zurayk was frying fish, and Ali said, +“O ass-man, what is that smell?” Replied he, “It’s the smell of Zurayk’s +fish.” Quoth Ali, “I am a woman with child and the smell harmeth me; go, fetch +me a slice of the fish.” So the donkey-boy said to Zurayk, “What aileth thee to +fry fish so early and annoy pregnant women with the smell? I have here the +wife of the Emir Hasan Sharr al-Tarik, and she is with child; so give her a +bit of fish, for the babe stirreth in her womb. O Protector, O my God, avert +from us the mischief of this day!” Thereupon Zurayk took a piece of fish and +would have fried it, but the fire had gone out and he went in to rekindle it. +Meanwhile Ali dismounted and sitting down, pressed upon the lamb’s intestine +till it burst and the blood ran out from between his legs. Then he cried +aloud, saying, “O my back! O my side!” Whereupon the driver turned and seeing +the blood running, said, “What aileth thee, O my lady?” Replied Ali, “I have +miscarried”; whereupon Zurayk looked out and seeing the blood fled affrighted +into the inner shop. Quoth the donkey-driver, “Allah torment thee, O Zurayk! +The lady hath miscarried and thou art no match for her husband. Why must thou +make a stench so early in the morning? I said to thee, ‘Bring her a slice,’ +but thou wouldst not.” Thereupon, he took his ass and went his way and, as +Zurayk still did not appear, Ali put out his hand to the purse; but no sooner +had he touched it than the bells and rattles and rings began to jingle and the +gold to chink. Quoth Zurayk, who returned at the sound, “Thy perfidy hath come +to light, O gallows-bird! Wilt thou put a cheat on me and thou in a woman’s +habit? Now take what cometh to thee!” And he threw a cake of lead at him, but +it went agley and lighted on another; whereupon the people rose against Zurayk +and said to him, “Art thou a tradesman or a swashbuckler? An thou be a +tradesman, take down thy purse and spare the folk thy mischief.” He replied, +“Bismillah, in the name of Allah! On my head be it.” As for Ali, he made off +to the barrack and told Hasan Shuman what had happened, after which he put off +his woman’s gear and donning a groom’s habit which was brought to him by his +chief took a dish and five dirhams. Then he returned to Zurayk’s shop and the +fishmonger said to him, “What dost thou want, O my master?”[FN#245] He showed +him the dirhams and Zurayk would have given him of the fish in the tray, but he +said, “I will have none save hot fish.” So he set fish in the earthen pan and +finding the fire dead, went in to relight it; whereupon Ali put out his hand +to the purse and caught hold of the end of it. The rattles and rings and bells +jingled and Zurayk said, “Thy trick hath not deceived me. I knew thee for all +thou art disguised as a groom by the grip of thy hand on the dish and the +dirhams.”— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fifteenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ali of Egypt put +out his hand to the purse, the bells and rings jingled and Zurayk said, “Thy +trick hath not deceived me for all thou comest disguised as a groom I knew +thee by the grip of thy hand on the dish and the dirhams!” So saying, he threw +the lead at him, but he avoided it and it fell into the pan full of hot fish +and broke it and overturned it, fat and all, upon the breast and shoulders of +the Kazi, who was passing. The oil ran down inside his clothes to his privy +parts and he cried out, “O my privities! What a sad pickle you are in! Alas, +unhappy I! Who hath played me this trick?” Answered the people, “O our lord, +it was some small boy that threw a stone into the pan: but for Allah’s word, +it had been worse.” Then they turned and seeing the loaf of lead and that it +was Zurayk who had thrown it, rose against him and said to him, “O Zurayk, +this is not allowed of Allah! Take down the purse or it shall go ill for +thee.” Answered he, “I will take it down, Inshallah!” Meanwhile Ali returned +to the barrack and told his comrades who cried, “Where is the purse?”, all +that had passed and they said, “Thou hast exhausted two-thirds of his +cunning.” Then he changed his groom’s dress for the garb of a merchant and +going out, met a snake-charmer, with a bag of serpents and a wallet containing +his kit to whom said he, “O charmer, come and amuse my lads, and thou shalt +have largesse.” So he accompanied him to the barrack, where he fed him and +drugging him with Bhang, doffed his clothes and put them on. Then he took the +bags and repairing to Zurayk’s shop began to play the reed-pipe. Quoth Zurayk, +“Allah provide thee!” But Ali pulled out the serpents and cast them down +before him; whereat the fishseller, who was afraid of snakes, fled from them +into the inner shop. Thereupon Ali picked up the reptiles and, thrusting them +back into the bag, stretched out his hand and caught hold of the end of the +purse. The rings again rang and the bells and rattles jangled, and Zurayk +cried, “Wilt thou never cease to play me tricks? Now thou feignest thyself a +serpent-charmer!” So saying, he took up a piece of lead, and hurled it at Ali; +but it missed him and fell on the head of a groom, who was passing by, +following his master, a trooper, and knocked him down. Quoth the soldier, “Who +felled him?”; and the folk said, “’Twas a stone fell from the roof.” So the +soldier passed on and the people, seeing the piece of lead, went up to Zurayk +and cried to him, “Take down the purse!”; and he said, “Inshallah, I will take +it down this very night!” Ali ceased not to practice upon Zurayk till he had +made seven different attempts but without taking the purse. Then he returned +the snake-charmer his clothes and kit and gave him due benevolence; after +which he went back to Zurayk’s shop and heard him say, “If I leave the purse +here to-night, he will dig through the shop-wall and take it; I will carry it +home with me.” So he arose and shut the shop; then he took down the purse and +putting it in his bosom set out home, till he came near his house, when he saw +a wedding in a neighbour’s lodging and said to himself, “I will hie me home +and give my wife the purse and don my fine clothes and return to the +marriage.” And Ali followed him. Now Zurayk had married a black girl, one of +the freed women of the Wazir Ja’afar and she had borne him a son, whom he +named Abdallah, and he had promised her to spend the money in the purse on the +occasion of the boy’s circumcision and of his marriage-procession. So he went +into his house and, as he entered, his wife saw that his face was overcast and +asked him, “What hath caused thy sadness?” Quoth he, “Allah hath afflicted me +this day with a rascal who made seven attempts to get the purse, but without +avail;” and quoth she, “Give it to me, that I may lay it up against the boy’s +festival-day.” (Now Ali, who had followed him lay hidden in a closet whence he +could see and hear all.) So he gave her the purse and changed his clothes, +saying, “Keep the purse safely, O Umm Abdallah, for I am going to the +wedding.” But she said, “Take thy sleep awhile.” So he lay down and fell +asleep. Presently, Ali rose and going on tiptoe to the purse, took it and went +to the house of the wedding and stood there, looking on at the fun. Now +meanwhile, Zurayk dreamt that he saw a bird fly away with the purse and +awaking in affright, said to his wife, “Rise; look for the purse.” So she +looked and finding it gone, buffeted her face and said, “Alas the blackness of +thy fortune, O Umm Abdallah! A sharker hath taken the purse.” Quoth Zurayk, +“By Allah it can be none other than rascal Ali who hath plagued me all day! He +hath followed me home and seized the purse; and there is no help but that I go +and get it back.” Quoth she, “Except thou bring it, I will lock on thee the +door and leave thee to pass the night in the street.” So he went up to the +house of the wedding, and seeing Ali looking on, said to himself, “This is he +who took the purse; but he lodgeth with Ahmad al-Danaf.” So he forewent him to +the barrack and, climbing up at the back, dropped down into the saloon, where +he found every one asleep. Presently there came a rap at the door and Zurayk +asked, “Who is there!” “Ali of Cairo,” answered the knocker; and Zurayk said, +“Hast thou brought the purse?” So Ali thought it was Hasan Shuman and replied, +“I have brought it;[FN#246] open the door.” Quoth Zurayk, “Impossible that I +open to thee till I see the purse; for thy chief and I have laid a wager +about it.” Said Ali, “Put out thy hand.” So he put out his hand through the +hole in the side-door and Ali laid the purse in it; whereupon Zurayk took it +and going forth, as he had come in, returned to the wedding. Ali stood for a +long while at the door, but none opened to him; and at last he gave a +thundering knock that awoke all the men and they said, “That is Ali of Cairo’s +peculiar rap.” So the hall-keeper opened to him and Hasan Shuman said to him, +“Hast thou brought the purse?” Replied Ali, “Enough of jesting, O Shuman: didst +thou not swear that thou wouldest not open to me till I showed thee the purse, +and did I not give it thee through the hole in the side door? And didst thou +not say to me, I am sworn never to open the door till thou show me the +purse?” Quoth Hasan, “By Allah, ’twas not I who took it, but Zurayk!” Quoth +Ali, “Needs must I get it again,” and repaired to the house of the wedding, +where he heard the buffoon[FN#247] say, “Bravo,[FN#248] O Abu Abdallah! Good +luck to thee with thy son!” Said Ali, “My luck is in the ascendant,” and +going to the fishmonger’s lodging, climbed over the back wall of the house and +found his wife asleep. So he drugged her with Bhang and clad himself in her +clothes. Then he took the child in his arms and went round, searching, till he +found a palm-leaf basket containing buns,[FN#249] which Zurayk of his +niggardliness, had kept from the Greater Feast. Presently, the fishmonger +returned and knocked at the door, whereupon Ali imitated his wife’s voice and +asked, “Who is at the door?” “Abu Abdallah,” answered Zurayk and Ali said, “I +swore that I would not open the door to thee, except thou broughtest back the +purse.” Quoth the fishmonger, “I have brought it.” Cried Ali, “Here with it +into my hand before I open the door;” and Zurayk answered, saying, “Let down +the basket and take it therein.” So Sharper Ali let down the basket and the +other put the purse therein, whereupon Ali took it and drugged the child. Then +he aroused the woman and making off by the back way as he had entered, +returned with the child and the purse and the basket of cakes to the barrack +and showed them all to the Forty, who praised his dexterity. Thereupon he +gave them cakes, which they ate, and made over the boy to Hasan Shuman, +saying, “This is Zurayk’s child; hide it by thee.” So he hid it and fetching a +lamb, gave it to the hall-keeper who cooked it whole, wrapped in a cloth, and +laid it out shrouded as it were a dead body. Meanwhile Zurayk stood awhile, +waiting at the door, then gave a knock like thunder and his wife said to him, +“Hast thou brought the purse?” He replied, “Didst thou not take it up in the +basket thou diddest let down but now?”; and she rejoined, “I let no basket +down to thee, nor have I set eyes on the purse.” Quoth he, “By Allah the +sharper hath been beforehand with me and hath taken the purse again!” Then he +searched the house and found the basket of cakes gone and the child missing +and cried out, saying, “Alas, my child!” whereupon the woman beat her breast +and said, “I and thee to the Wazir, for none hath killed my son save this +sharper, and all because of thee.” Cried Zurayk, “I will answer for him.” So +he tied the kerchief of truce about his neck and going to Ahmad al-Danaf’s +lodging, knocked at the door. The hall-keeper admitted him and as he entered +Hasan Shuman asked him, “What bringeth thee here?” He answered, “Do ye +intercede with Ali the Cairene to restore me my child and I will yield to him +the purse of gold.” Quoth Hasan, “Allah requite thee, O Ali! Why didst thou +not tell me it was his child?” “What hath befallen him?” cried Zurayk, and +Hasan replied, “We gave him raisins to eat, and he choked and died and this is +he.” Quoth Zurayk “Alas, my son! What shall I say to his mother?” Then he +rose and opening the shroud, saw it was a lamb barbecued and said, “Thou +makest sport of me, O Ali!” Then they gave him the child and Calamity Ahmad +said to him, “Thou didst hang up the purse, proclaiming that it should be the +property of any sharper who should be able to take it, and Ali hath taken it; +so ’tis the very property of our Cairene.” Zurayk answered “I make him a +present of it;” but Ali said to him, “Do thou accept it on account of thy +niece Zaynab.” And Zurayk replied, “I accept it.” Then quoth the Forty, “We +demand of thee Zaynab in marriage for Ali of Cairo;” but quoth he, “I have no +control over her save of kindness.” Hasan asked, “Dost thou grant our suit?”; +and he answered, “Yes, I will grant her in marriage to him who can avail to +her mahr or marriage-settlement.” “And what is her dowry?” enquired Hasan; and +Zurayk replied, “She hath sworn that none shall mount her breast save the man +who bringeth her the robe of Kamar, daughter of Azariah the Jew and the rest +of her gear.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixteenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zurayk replied to +Shuman, “She hath sworn that none shall ride astraddle upon her breast save the +man who bringeth her the clothes of Kamar, daughter of Azariah the Jew and her +crown and girdle and pantoufle[FN#250] of gold,” Ali cried, “If I do not bring +her the clothes this very night, I renounce my claim to her.” Rejoined Zurayk, +“O Ali, thou art a dead man if thou play any of thy pranks on Kamar.” “Why +so?” asked Ali and the other answered, “Her father, Jew Azariah, is a skilful, +wily, perfidious magician who hath the Jinn at his service. He owneth without +the city a castle, whose walls are one brick of gold and one of silver and +which is visible to the folk only whilst he is therein: when he goeth forth, +it disappeareth. He brought his daughter this dress I speak of from an +enchanted treasure, and every day he layeth it in a charger of gold and, +opening the windows of the palace, crieth out, ‘Where are the sharpers of +Cairo, the prigs of Al-Irak, the master-thieves of Ajam-land? Whoso prevaileth +to take this dress, ’tis his.’ So all the long-fingered ones essayed the +adventure, but failed to take it, and he turned them by his magic into apes +and asses.” But Ali said, “I will assuredly take it, and Zaynab shall be +displayed therein.”[FN#251] So he went to the shop of the Jew and found him a +man of stern and forbidding aspect, seated with scales and stone-weights and +gold and silver and nests of drawers and so forth before him, and a she-mule +tethered hard by. Presently he rose and shutting his shop, laid the gold and +silver in two purses, which he placed in a pair of saddle-bags and set on the +she-mule’s back. Then he mounted and rode till he reached the city-outskirts +followed, without his knowledge, by Ali, when he took out some dust from a +pocket-purse and, muttering over it, sprinkled it upon the air. No sooner had +he done this than sharper Ali saw a castle which had not its like, and the Jew +mounted the steps upon his beast which was a subject Jinni; after which he +dismounted and taking the saddle-bags off her back, dismissed the she-mule and +she vanished. Then he entered the castle and sat down. Presently, he arose and +opening the lattices, took a wand of gold, which he set up in the open window +and, hanging thereto a golden charger by chains of the same metal, laid in it +the dress, whilst Ali watched him from behind the door, and presently he cried +out, saying, “Where are the sharpers of Cairo? Where are the prigs of Al-Irak, +the master-thieves of the Ajam-land? Whoso can take this dress by his sleight, +’tis his!” Then he pronounced certain magical words and a tray of food spread +itself before him. He ate and conjured a second time, whereupon the tray +disappeared; and yet a third time, when a table of wine was placed between his +hands and he drank. Quoth Ali, “I know not how I am to take the dress except +if he be drunken.” Then he stole up behind the Jew whinger in grip; but the +other turned and conjured, saying to his hand, “Hold with the sword;” +whereupon Ali’s right arm was held and abode half-way in the air hending the +hanger. He put out his left hand to the weapon, but it also stood fixed in the +air, and so with his right foot, leaving him standing on one foot. Then the +Jew dispelled the charm from him and Ali became as before. Presently Azariah +struck a table of sand and found that the thief’s name was Mercury Ali of +Cairo; so he turned to him and said, “Come nearer! Who art thou and what dost +thou here?” He replied, “I am Ali of Cairo, of the band of Ahmad al-Danaf. I +sought the hand of Zaynab, daughter of Dalilah the Wily, and she demanded thy +daughter’s dress to her dowry; so do thou give it to me and become a Moslem, +an thou wouldst save thy life.” Rejoined the Jew, “After thy death! Many have +gone about to steal the dress, but failed to take it from me; wherefore an +thou deign be advised, thou wilt begone and save thyself; for they only seek +the dress of thee, that thou mayst fall into destruction; and indeed, had I +not seen by geomancy that thy fortune overrideth my fortunes I had smitten thy +neck.” Ali rejoiced to hear that his luck overcame that of the Jew and said to +him, “There is no help for it but I must have the dress and thou must become a +True Believer.” Asked the Jew, “Is this thy will and last word,” and Ali +answered, “Yes.” So the Jew took a cup and filling it with water, conjured +over it and said to Ali, “Come forth from this shape of a man into the form of +an ass.” Then he sprinkled him with the water and straightway he became a +donkey, with hoofs and long ears, and fell to braying after the manner of +asinines. The Jew drew round him a circle which became a wall over against +him, and drank on till the morning, when he said to Ali, “I will ride thee +to-day and give the she-mule a rest.” So he locked up the dress, the charger, +the rod and the charms in a cupboard[FN#252] and conjured over Ali, who +followed him. Then he set the saddle-bags on his back and mounting, fared +forth of the Castle, whereupon it disappeared from sight and he rode into +Baghdad, till he came to his shop, where he alighted and emptied the bags of +gold and silver into the trays before him. As for Ali, he was tied up by the +shop-door, where he stood in his asinine form hearing and understanding all +that passed, without being able to speak. And behold, up came a young merchant +with whom fortune had played the tyrant and who could find no easier way of +earning his livelihood than water-carrying. So he brought his wife’s bracelets +to the Jew and said to him, “Give me the price of these bracelets, that I may +buy me an ass.” Asked the Jew, “What wilt thou do with him?”; and the other +answered, “O master, I mean to fetch water from the river on his back, and +earn my living thereby.” Quoth the Jew, “Take this ass of mine.” So he sold +him the bracelets and received the ass-shaped Ali of Cairo in part payment +and carried him home. Quoth Ali to himself, “If the Ass-man clap the pannel on +thee and load thee with water-skins and go with thee half a score journeys a +day he will ruin thy health and thou wilt die.” So, when the water-carrier’s +wife came to bring him his fodder, he butted her with his head and she fell on +her back; whereupon he sprang on her and smiting her brow with his mouth, put +out and displayed that which his begetter left him. She cried aloud and the +neighbours came to her assistance and beat him and raised him off her breast. +When her husband the intended water-carrier came home, she said to him, “Now +either divorce me or return the ass to his owner.” He asked, “What hath +happened?”; and she answered, “This is a devil in the guise of a donkey. He +sprang upon me, and had not the neighbours beaten him off my bosom he had done +with me a foul thing.” So he carried the ass back to the Jew, who said to him, +“Wherefore hast thou brought him back?” and he replied, “He did a foul thing +with my wife.” So the Jew gave him his money again and he went away; and +Azariah said to Ali, “Hast thou recourse to knavery, unlucky wretch that thou +art, in order that”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventeenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +water-carrier brought back the ass, its Jew owner returned to him the monies +and turning to Ali of Cairo said, “Hast thou recourse to knavery, unlucky +wretch that thou art, in order that he may return thee to me? But since it +pleaseth thee to be an ass, I will make thee a spectacle and a laughing stock +to great and small.” Then he mounted him and rode till he came without the +city, when he brought out the ashes in powder and conjuring over it sprinkled +it upon the air and immediately the Castle appeared. He entered and taking the +saddle-bags off the ass’s back set up the rod and hung to it the charger +wherein were the clothes proclaiming aloud, “Where be the clever ones of all +quarters who may avail to take this dress?” Then he conjured as before and +meat was set before him and he ate and then wine when he drank; after which he +took a cup of water and muttering certain words thereover, sprinkled it on the +ass Ali, saying, “Quit this form and return to thy former shape.” Ali +straightway became a man once more and Azariah said to him, “O Ali, take good +advice and be content with my mischief. Thou hast no call to marry Zaynab nor +to take my daughter’s dress, for ’tis no easy matter for thee: so leave greed +and ’twill be better for thee; else will I turn thee into a bear or an ape or +set on thee an Ifrit, who will cast thee behind the Mountain Kaf.” He replied, +“I have engaged to take the dress and needs must I have it and thou must +Islamize or I will slay thee.” Rejoined the Jew, “O Ali, thou art like a +walnut; unless it be broken it cannot be eaten.” Then he took a cup of water +and conjuring over it, sprinkled Ali with somewhat thereof, saying, “Take thou +shape of bear;” whereupon he instantly became a bear and the Jew put a collar +about his neck, muzzled him and chained him to a picket of iron. Then he sat +down and ate and drank, now and then throwing him a morsel of his orts and +emptying the dregs of the cup over him, till the morning, when he rose and +laid by the tray and the dress and conjured over the bear, which followed him +to the shop. There the Jew sat down and emptied the gold and silver into the +trays before Ali, after binding him by the chain; and the bear there abode +seeing and comprehending but not able to speak. Presently up came a man and a +merchant, who accosted the Jew and said to him, “O Master, wilt thou sell me +yonder bear? I have a wife who is my cousin and is sick; and they have +prescribed for her to eat bears’ flesh and anoint herself with bears’ grease.” +At this the Jew rejoiced and said to himself, “I will sell him to this +merchant, so he may slaughter him and we be at peace from him.” And Ali also +said in his mind, “By Allah, this fellow meaneth to slaughter me; but +deliverance is with the Almighty.” Then said the Jew, “He is a present from me +to thee.” So the merchant took him and carried him to the butcher, to whom he +said, “Bring thy tools and company me.” The butcher took his knives and +followed the merchant to his house, where he bound the beast and fell to +sharpening his blade: but, when he went up to him to slaughter him, the bear +escaped from his hands and rising into the air, disappeared from sight between +heaven and earth; nor did he cease flying till he alighted at the Jew’s +castle. Now the reason thereof was on this wise. When the Jew returned home, +his daughter questioned him of Ali and he told her what had happened; +whereupon she said, “Summon a Jinni and ask him of the youth, whether he be +indeed Mercury Ali or another who seeketh to put a cheat on thee.” So Azariah +called a Jinni by conjurations and questioned him of Ali; and he replied, +“’Tis Ali of Cairo himself. The butcher hath pinioned him and whetted his +knife to slaughter him.” Quoth the Jew, “Go, snatch him up and bring him +hither, ere the butcher cut his throat.” So the Jinni flew off and, snatching +Ali out of the butcher’s hands, bore him to the palace and set him down before +the Jew, who took a cup of water and conjuring over it, sprinkled him +therewith, saying, “Return to thine own shape.” And he straightway became a +man again as before. The Jew’s daughter Kamar,[FN#253] seeing him to be a +handsome young man, fell in love with him and he fell in love with her; and +she said to him, “O unlucky one, why dost thou go about to take my dress, +enforcing my father to deal thus with thee?” Quoth he, “I have engaged to get +it for Zaynab the Coney-catcher, that I may wed her therewith.” And she said, +“Others than thou have played pranks with my father to get my dress, but could +not win to it,” presently adding, “So put away this thought from thee.” But he +answered, “Needs must I have it, and thy father must become a Moslem, else I +will slay him.” Then said the Jew, “See, O my daughter, how this unlucky fellow +seeketh his own destruction,” adding, “Now I will turn thee into a dog.” So he +took a cup graven with characters and full of water and conjuring over it, +sprinkled some of it upon Ali, saying, “Take thou form of dog.” Whereupon he +straightway became a dog, and the Jew and his daughter drank together till +the morning, when the father laid up the dress and charger and mounted his +mule. Then he conjured over the dog, which followed him, as he rode towards +the town, and all dogs barked at Ali[FN#254] as he passed, till he came to the +shop of a broker, a seller of second-hand goods, who rose and drove away the +dogs, and Ali lay down before him. The Jew turned and looked for him, but +finding him not, passed onwards. Presently, the broker shut up his shop and +went home, followed by the dog, which, when his daughter saw enter the house, +she veiled her face and said, “O my papa, dost thou bring a strange man in to +me?” He replied, “O my daughter, this is a dog.” Quoth she, “Not so, ’tis Ali +the Cairene, whom the Jew Azariah hath enchanted;” and she turned to the dog +and said to him, “Art not Ali of Cairo?” And he signed to her with his head, +“Yes.” Then her father asked her, “Why did the Jew enchant him?”; and she +answered, “Because of his daughter Kamar’s dress; but I can release him.” Said +the broker, “An thou canst indeed do him this good office, now is the time,” +and she, “If he will marry me, I will release him.” And he signed to her with +his head, “Yes.” So she took a cup of water, graven with certain signs and +conjuring over it, was about to sprinkle Ali therewith, when lo and behold! +she heard a great cry and the cup fell from her hand. She turned and found +that it was her father’s handmaid, who had cried out; and she said to her, “O +my mistress, is’t thus thou keepest the covenant between me and thee? None +taught thee this art save I, and thou didst agree with me that thou wouldst do +naught without consulting me and that whoso married thee should marry me also, +and that one night should be mine and one night thine.” And the broker’s +daughter said, “’Tis well.” When the broker heard the maid’s words, he asked +his daughter, “Who taught the maid?”; and she answered, “O my papa, enquire of +herself.” So he put the question and she replied, “Know, O my lord, that, when +I was with Azariah the Jew, I used to spy upon him and listen to him, when he +performed his gramarye; and when he went forth to his shop in Baghdad, I +opened his books and read in them, till I became skilled in the +Cabbala-science. One day, he was warm with wine and would have me lie with +him, but I objected, saying, ‘I may not grant thee this except thou become a +Moslem.’ He refused and I said to him, ‘Now for the Sultan’s market.’[FN#255] +So he sold me to thee and I taught my young mistress, making it a condition +with her that she should do naught without my counsel, and that whoso might +wed her should wed me also, one night for me and one night for her.” Then she +took a cup of water and conjuring over it, sprinkled the dog therewith; +saying, “Return thou to form of man.” And he straightway was restored to his +former shape; whereupon the broker saluted him with the salam and asked him +the reason of his enchantment. So Ali told him all that had passed——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighteenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the broker, having +saluted Ali of Cairo with the salam, asked him the reason of his enchantment +and what had befallen him; and he answered by telling him all that had passed, +when the broker said to him, “Will not my daughter and the handmaid suffice +thee?” but he answered, “Needs must I have Zaynab also.” Now suddenly there +came a rap at the door and the maid said, “Who is at the door?” The knocker +replied, “Kamar, daughter of Azariah the Jew; say me, is Ali of Cairo with +you?” Replied the broker’s daughter, “O thou daughter of a dog! If he be with +us, what wilt thou with him? Go down, O maid, and open to her.” So the maid +let her in, and when she looked upon Ali and he upon her, he said, “What +bringeth thee hither O dog’s daughter?” Quoth she, “I testify that there is +no god but <i>the</i> God and I testify that Mohammed is the Apostle of God.” And, +having thus Islamised, she asked him, “Do men in the Faith of Al-Islam give +marriage portions to women or do women dower men?” Quoth he, “Men endow +women.” “Then,” said she, “I come and dower myself for thee, bringing thee, as +my marriage-portion, my dress together with the rod and charger and chains and +the head of my father, the enemy of thee and the foeman of Allah.” And she +threw down the Jew’s head before him. Now the cause of her slaying her sire +was as follows. On the night of his turning Ali into a dog, she saw, in a +dream, a speaker who said to her, “Become a Moslemah.” She did so; and as soon +as she awoke next morning she expounded Al-Islam to her father who refused to +embrace the Faith; so she drugged him with Bhang and killed him. As for Ali, +he took the gear and said to the broker, “Meet we to-morrow at the Caliph’s +Divan, that I may take thy daughter and the handmaid to wife.” Then he set out +rejoicing, to return to the barrack of the Forty. On his way he met a +sweetmeat seller, who was beating hand upon hand and saying, “There is no +Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Folk’s +labour hath waxed sinful and man is active only in fraud!” Then said he to +Ali, “I conjure thee, by Allah, taste of this confection!” So Ali took a +piece and ate it and fell down senseless, for there was Bhang therein; +whereupon the sweetmeat-seller seized the dress and the charger and the rest +of the gear and thrusting them into the box where he kept his sweetmeats +hoisted it up and made off. Presently he met a Kazi, who called to him, +saying, “Come hither, O sweetmeat seller!” So he went up to him and setting +down his sack laid the tray of sweetmeats upon it and asked, “What dost thou +want?” “Halwá and dragées,[FN#256]” answered the Kazi and, taking some in his +hand, said, “Both of these are adulterated.” Then he brought out sweetmeats +from his breast-pocket[FN#257] and gave them to the sweetmeat-seller, saying, +“Look at this fashion; how excellent it is! Eat of it and make the like of it.” +So he ate and fell down senseless, for the sweetmeats were drugged with Bhang, +whereupon the Kazi bundled him into the sack and made off with him, charger and +chest and all, to the barrack of the Forty. Now the Judge in question was Hasan +Shuman and the reason of this was as follows. When Ali had been gone some days +in quest of the dress and they heard no news of him, Calamity Ahmad said to his +men, “O lads, go and seek for your brother Ali of Cairo.” So they sallied forth +in quest of him and among the rest Hasan Shuman the Pestilence, disguised in a +Kazi’s gear. He came upon the sweetmeat-seller and, knowing him for Ahmad +al-Lakit[FN#258] suspected him of having played some trick upon Ali; so he +drugged him and did as we have seen. Meanwhile, the other Forty fared about +the streets and highways making search in different directions, and amongst +them Ali Kitf al-Jamal, who espying a crowd, made towards the people and +found the Cairene Ali lying drugged and senseless in their midst. So he +revived him and he came to himself and seeing the folk flocking around him +asked, “Where am I?” Answered Ali Camel-shoulder and his comrades, “We found +thee lying here drugged but know not who drugged thee.” Quoth Ali, “’Twas a +certain sweetmeat-seller who drugged me and took the gear from me; but where +is he gone?” Quoth his comrades, “We have seen nothing of him; but come, rise +and go home with us.” So they returned to the barrack, where they found Ahmad +al-Danaf, who greeted Ali and enquired if he had brought the dress. He +replied, “I was coming hither with it and other matters, including the Jew’s +head, when a sweetmeat-seller met me and drugged me with Bhang and took them +from me.” Then he told him the whole tale ending with, “If I come across that +man of goodies again, I will requite him.” Presently Hasan Shuman came out of +a closet and said to him, “Hast thou gotten the gear, O Ali?” So he told him +what had befallen him and added, “If I know whither the rascal is gone and +where to find the knave, I would pay him out. Knowest thou whither he went?” +Answered Hasan, “I know where he is,” and opening the door of the closet, +showed him the sweetmeat-seller within, drugged and senseless. Then he +aroused him and he opened his eyes and finding himself in presence of Mercury +Ali and Calamity Ahmad and the Forty, started up and said, “Where am I and who +hath laid hands on me?” Replied Shuman, “’Twas I laid hands on thee;” and Ali +cried, “O perfidious wretch, wilt thou play thy pranks on me?” And he would +have slain him: but Hasan said to him, “Hold thy hand for this fellow is +become thy kinsman.” “How my kinsman?” quoth Ali; and quoth Hasan, “This is +Ahmad al-Lakit son of Zaynab’s sister.” Then said Ali to the prisoner, “Why +didst thou thus, O Lakit?” and he replied, “My grandmother, Dalilah the Wily, +bade me do it; only because Zurayk the fishmonger foregathered with the old +woman and said, ‘Mercury Ali of Cairo is a sharper and a past master in +knavery, and he will certainly slay the Jew and bring hither the dress.’ So +she sent for me and said to me, ‘O Ahmad, dost thou know Ali of Cairo?’ +Answered I, ‘Indeed I do and ’twas I directed him to Ahmad al-Danaf’s lodging +when he first came to Baghdad.’ Quoth she, ‘Go and set thy nets for him, and +if he have brought back the gear, put a cheat on him and take it from him.’ So +I went round about the highways of the city, till I met a sweetmeat-seller and +buying his clothes and stock-in-trade and gear for ten dinars, did what was +done.” Thereupon quoth Ali, “Go back to thy grandmother and Zurayk, and tell +them that I have brought the gear and the Jew’s head and say to them:—Meet me +to-morrow at the Caliph’s Divan, there to receive Zaynab’s dowry.” And +Calamity Ahmad rejoiced in this and said, “We have not wasted our pains in +rearing thee, O Ali!” Next morning Ali took the dress, the charger, the rod +and the chains of gold, together with the head of Azariah the Jew mounted on a +pike, and went up, accompanied by Ahmad al-Danaf and the Forty, to the Divan, +where they kissed ground before the Caliph——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Nineteenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ali the Cairene went +up to the Caliph’s Divan, accompanied by his uncle Ahmad al-Danaf and his lads +they kissed ground before the Caliph who turned and seeing a youth of the most +valiant aspect, enquired of Calamity Ahmad concerning him and he replied, “O +Commander of the Faithful, this is Mercury Ali the Egyptian captain of the +brave boys of Cairo, and he is the first of my lads.” And the Caliph loved him +for the valour that shone from between his eyes, testifying for him and not +against him. Then Ali rose; and, casting the Jew’s head down before him, said, +“May thine every enemy be like this one, O Prince of True Believers!” Quoth +Al-Rashid, “Whose head is this?”; and quoth Ali, “’Tis the head of Azariah the +Jew.” “Who slew him?” asked the Caliph. So Ali related to him all that had +passed, from first to last, and the Caliph said, “I had not thought thou +wouldst kill him, for that he was a sorcerer.” Ali replied, “O Commander of +the Faithful, my Lord made me prevail to his slaughter.” Then the Caliph sent +the Chief of Police to the Jew’s palace, where he found him lying headless; so +he laid the body on a bier,[FN#259] and carried it to Al-Rashid, who commanded +to burn it. Whereat, behold, up came Kamar and kissing the ground before the +Caliph, informed him that she was the daughter of Jew Azariah and that she +had become a Moslemah. Then she renewed her profession of Faith before the +Commander of the Faithful and said to him “Be thou my intercessor with Sharper +Ali that he take me to wife.” She also appointed him her guardian to consent +to her marriage with the Cairene, to whom he gave the Jew’s palace and all +its contents, saying, “Ask a boon of me.” Quoth Ali, “I beg of thee to let me +stand on thy carpet and eat of thy table;” and quoth the Caliph, “O Ali, hast +thou any lads?” He replied, “I have forty lads; but they are in Cairo.” +Rejoined the Caliph, “Send to Cairo and fetch them hither,” presently adding, +“But, O Ali, hast thou a barrack for them?” “No,” answered Ali; and Hasan +Shuman said, “I make him a present of my barrack with all that is therein, O +Commander of the Faithful.” However, the Caliph retorted, saying, “Thy lodging +is thine own, O Hasan;” and he bade his treasurer give the court architect ten +thousand dinars, that he might build Ali a hall with four daïses and forty +sleeping-closets for his lads. Then said he, “O Ali, hast thou any further +wish, that we may command its fulfilment?”; and said Ali, “O King of the age, +be thou my intercessor with Dalilah the Wily that she give me her daughter +Zaynab to wife and take the dress and gear of Azariah’s girl in lieu of +dower.” Dalilah accepted the Caliph’s intercession and accepted the charger +and dress and what not, and they drew up the marriage contracts between Ali +and Zaynab and Kamar, the Jew’s daughter and the broker’s daughter and the +handmaid. Moreover, the Caliph assigned him a solde with a table morning and +evening, and stipends and allowances for fodder; all of the most liberal. +Then Ali the Cairene fell to making ready for the wedding festivities and, +after thirty days, he sent a letter to his comrades in Cairo, wherein he gave +them to know of the favours and honours which the Caliph had bestowed upon him +and said, “I have married four maidens and needs must ye come to the wedding.” +So, after a reasonable time the forty lads arrived and they held high +festival; he homed them in his barrack and entreated them with the utmost +regard and presented them to the Caliph, who bestowed on them robes of honour +and largesse. Then the tiring-women displayed Zaynab before Ali in the dress of +the Jew’s daughter, and he went in unto her and found her a pearl unthridden +and a filly by all save himself unridden. Then he went in unto the three other +maidens and found them accomplished in beauty and loveliness. After this it +befel that Ali of Cairo was one night on guard by the Caliph who said to him, +“I wish thee O Ali, to tell me all that hath befallen thee from first to last +with Dalilah the Wily and Zaynab the Coney-catcher and Zurayk the +Fishmonger.” So Ali related to him all his adventures and the Commander of the +Faithful bade record them and lay them up in the royal muniment-rooms. So they +wrote down all that had befallen him and kept it in store with other histories +for the people of Mohammed the Best of Men. And Ali and his wives and +comrades abode in all solace of life, and its joyance, till there came to them +the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of Societies; and Allah (be He extolled +and exalted!) is All-knowing![FN#260] And also men relate the tale of +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap17"></a>ARDASHIR AND HAYAT AL-NUFUS.[FN#261]</h2> + +<p> +There was once in the city of Shíráz a mighty King called Sayf al-A’azam Shah, +who had grown old, without being blessed with a son. So he summoned the +physicists and physicians and said to them, “I am now in years and ye know my +case and the state of the kingdom and its ordinance; and I fear for my subjects +after me; for that up to this present I have not been vouchsafed a son.” +Thereupon they replied, “We will compound thee a somewhat of drugs wherein +shall be efficacy, if it please Almighty Allah!” So they mixed him drugs, which +he used and knew his wife carnally, and she conceived by leave of the Most High +Lord, who saith to a thing, “Be,” and it becometh. When her months were +accomplished, she gave birth to a male child like the moon, whom his father +named Ardashir,[FN#262] and he grew up and throve and applied himself to the +study of learning and letters, till he attained the age of fifteen. Now there +was in Al-Irak a King called Abd al-Kádir who had a daughter, by name Hayát +al-Nufús, and she was like the rising full moon, but she had an hatred for men +and the folk very hardly dared name mankind in her presence. The Kings of the +Chosroës had sought her in marriage of her sire; but, when he spoke with her +thereof, she said, “Never will I do this; and if thou force me thereto, I will +slay myself.” Now Prince Ardashir heard of her fame and fell in love with her +and told his father who, seeing his case, took pity on him and promised him day +by day that he should marry her. So he despatched his Wazir to demand her in +wedlock, but King Abd al-Kadir refused, and when the Minister returned to King +Sayf al-A’azam and acquainted him with what had befallen his mission and the +failure thereof, he was wroth with exceeding wrath and cried, “Shall the like +of me send to one of the Kings on a requisition and he accomplish it not?” Then +he bade a herald make proclamation to his troops, bidding them bring out the +tents and equip them for war with all diligence, though they should borrow +money for the necessary expenses; and he said, “I will on no wise turn back, +till I have laid waste King Abd al-Kadir’s dominions and slain his men and +plundered his treasures and blotted out his traces!” When the report of this +reached Ardashir he rose from his carpet-bed, and going in to his father, +kissed ground[FN#263] between his hands and said, “O mighty King, trouble not +thyself with aught of this thing”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Twentieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when report of this +reached the Prince he went in to his sire the King and, kissing ground between +his hands, said, “O mighty King, trouble not thy soul with aught of this thing +and levy not thy champions and armies neither spend thy monies. Thou art +stronger than he, and if thou loose upon him this thy host, thou wilt lay waste +his cities and dominions and spoil his good and slay his strong men and +himself; but when his daughter shall come to know what hath befallen her father +and his people by reason of her, she will slay herself, and I shall die on her +account; for I can never live after her; no, never.” Asked the King, “And what +then thinkest thou to do, O my son?” and the Prince answered, “I will don a +merchant’s habit and cast about how I may win to the Princess and compass my +desire of her.” Quoth Sayf al-A’azam, “Art thou determined upon this?”; and +quoth the Prince, “Yes, O my sire;” whereupon the King called to his Wazir, and +said to him, “Do thou journey with my son, the core of my heart, and help him +to win his will and watch over him and guide him with thy sound judgment, for +thou standest to him even in my stead.” “I hear and obey,” answered the +Minister; and the King gave his son three hundred thousand dinars in gold and +great store of jewels and precious stones and goldsmiths’ ware and stuffs and +other things of price. Then Prince Ardashir went in to his mother and kissed +her hands and asked her blessing. She blessed him and, forthright opening her +treasures, brought out to him necklaces and trinkets and apparel and all manner +of other costly objects hoarded up from the time of the bygone Kings, whose +price might not be evened with coin. Moreover, he took with him of his +Mamelukes and negro-slaves and cattle all that he needed for the road and clad +himself and the Wazir and their company in traders’ gear. Then he farewelled +his parents and kinsfolk and friends; and, setting out, fared on over wolds and +wastes all hours of the day and watches of the night; and whenas the way was +longsome upon him he improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“My longing bred of love with mine unease for ever grows; *<br /> + + Nor against all the wrongs of time one succourer arose:<br /> + +When Pleiads and the Fishes show in sky the rise I watch, * As<br /> + + worshipper within whose breast a pious burning glows:<br /> + +For Star o’ Morn I speer until at last when it is seen, * I’m<br /> + + madded with my passion and my fancy’s woes and throes:<br /> + +I swear by you that never from your love have I been loosed; *<br /> + + Naught am I save a watcher who of slumber nothing knows!<br /> + +Though hard appear my hope to win, though languor aye<br /> + + increase, * And after thee my patience fails and ne’er a<br /> + + helper shows;<br /> + +Yet will I wait till Allah shall be pleased to join our loves;<br /> + + * I’ll mortify the jealous and I’ll mock me of my foes.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +When he ended his verse he swooned away and the Wazir sprinkled rose-water on +him, till the Prince came to himself, when the Minister said to him, “O King’s +son, possess thy soul in patience; for the consequence of patience is +consolation, and behold, thou art on the way to whatso thou wishest.” And he +ceased not to bespeak him fair and comfort him till his trouble subsided; and +they continued their journey with all diligence. Presently, the Prince again +became impatient of the length of the way and bethought him of his beloved and +recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“Longsome is absence, restlessness increaseth and despite; *<br /> + + And burn my vitals in the blaze my love and longings<br /> + + light:<br /> + +Grows my hair gray from pains and pangs which I am doomèd bear<br /> + + * For pine, while tear-floods stream from eyes and sore<br /> + + offend my sight:<br /> + +I swear, O Hope of me, O End of every wish and will, * By Him<br /> + + who made mankind and every branch with leafage dight,<br /> + +A passion-load for thee, O my Desire, I must endure, * And<br /> + + boast I that to bear such load no lover hath the might.<br /> + +Question the Night of me and Night thy soul shall satisfy *<br /> + + Mine eyelids never close in sleep throughout the livelong<br /> + + night.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he wept with sore weeping and ‘plained of that he suffered for stress of +love-longing; but the Wazir comforted him and spoke him fair, promising him the +winning of his wish; after which they fared on again for a few days, when they +drew near to the White City, the capital of King Abd al-Kadir, soon after +sunrise. Then said the Minister to the Prince, “Rejoice, O King’s son, in all +good; for see, yonder is the White City, that which thou seekest.” Whereat the +Prince rejoiced with exceeding joy and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“My friends, I yearn in heart distraught for him; * Longing<br /> + + abides and with sore pains I brim:<br /> + +I mourn like childless mother, nor can find * One to<br /> + + console me when the light grows dim;<br /> + +Yet when the breezes blow from off thy land, * I feel<br /> + + their freshness shed on heart and limb;<br /> + +And rail mine eyes like water-laden clouds, * While in a<br /> + + tear-sea shed by heart I swim.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Now when they entered the White City they asked for the Merchants’ Khan, a +place of moneyed men; and when shown the hostelry they hired three magazines +and on receiving the keys[FN#264] they laid up therein all their goods and +gear. They abode in the Khan till they were rested, when the Wazir applied +himself to devise a device for the Prince,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Prince and the +Minister alighted at the Khan and lodged their goods in the ground-floor +magazines and there settled their servants. Then they tarried awhile till they +had rested, when the Wazir arose and applied himself to devise a device for the +Prince, and said to him, “I have bethought me of somewhat wherein, methinks, +will be success for thee, so it please Almighty Allah.” Quoth Ardashir, “O thou +Wazir of good counsel, do what cometh to thy mind, and may the Lord direct thy +rede aright!” Quoth the Minister, “I purpose to hire thee a shop in the +market-street of the stuff-sellers and set thee therein; for that all, great +and small, have recourse to the bazar and, meseems, when the folk see thee with +their own eyes sitting in the shop their hearts will incline to thee and thou +wilt thus be enabled to attain thy desire, for thou art fair of favour and +souls incline to thee and sight rejoiceth in thee.” The other replied, “Do what +seemeth good to thee.” So the Wazir forthright began to robe the Prince and +himself in their richest raiment and, putting a purse of a thousand dinars in +his breast-pocket, went forth and walked about the city, whilst all who looked +upon them marvelled at the beauty of the King’s son, saying, “Glory be to Him +who created this youth ‘of vile water[FN#265]‘! Blessed be Allah excellentest +of Creators!” Great was the talk anent him and some said, “This is no mortal, +‘this is naught save a noble angel’”;[FN#266] and others, “Hath Rizwan, the +door-keeper of the Eden-garden, left the gate of Paradise unguarded, that this +youth hath come forth?” The people followed them to the stuff-market, where +they entered and stood, till there came up to them an old man of dignified +presence and venerable appearance, who saluted them, and they returned his +salam. Then the Shaykh said to them, “O my lords, have ye any need, that we may +have the honour of accomplishing?”; and the Wazir asked him, “Who art thou, O +elder?” He answered, “I am the Overseer of the market.” Quoth the Wazir, “Know +then, O Shaykh, that this youth is my son and I wish to hire him a shop in the +bazar, that he may sit therein and learn to sell and buy and take and give, and +come to ken merchants’ ways and habits.” “I hear and I obey,” replied the +Overseer and brought them without stay or delay the key of a shop, which he +caused the brokers sweep and clean. And they did his bidding. Then the Wazir +sent for a high mattress, stuffed with ostrich-down, and set it up in the shop, +spreading upon it a small prayer-carpet, and a cushion fringed with broidery of +red gold. Moreover he brought pillows and transported thither so much of the +goods and stuffs that he had brought with him as filled the shop. Next morning +the young Prince came and opening the shop, seated himself on the divan, and +stationed two Mamelukes, clad in the richest of raiment before him and two +black slaves of the goodliest of the Abyssinians in the lower part of the shop. +The Wazir enjoined him to keep his secret from the folk, so thereby he might +find aid in the winning of his wishes; then he left him and charging him to +acquaint him with what befel him in the shop, day by day returned to the Khan. +The Prince sat in the shop till night as he were the moon at its fullest, +whilst the folk, hearing tell of his comeliness, flocked to the place, without +errand, to gaze on his beauty and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace and +glorify the Almighty who created and shaped him, till none could pass through +that bazar for the excessive crowding of the folk about him. The King’s son +turned right and left, abashed at the throng of people that stared at him, +hoping to make acquaintance with some one about the court, of whom he might get +news of the Princess; but he found no way to this, wherefore his breast was +straitened. Meanwhile, the Wazir daily promised him the attainment of his +desire and the case so continued for a time till, one morning, as the youth sat +in the shop, there came up an old woman of respectable semblance and dignified +presence clad in raiment of devotees[FN#267] and followed by two slave-girls +like moons. She stopped before the shop and, having considered the Prince +awhile, cried, “Glory be to God who fashioned that face and perfected that +figure!” Then she saluted him and he returned her salam and seated her by his +side. Quoth she, “Whence cometh thou, O fair of favour?”; and quoth he, “From +the parts of Hind, O my mother; and I have come to this city to see the world +and look about me.” “Honour to thee for a visitor! What goods and stuffs hast +thou? Show me something handsome, fit for Kings.” “If thou wish for handsome +stuffs, I will show them to thee; for I have wares that beseem persons of every +condition.” “O my son, I want somewhat costly of price and seemly to sight; +brief, the best thou hast.” “Thou must needs tell me for whom thou seekest it, +that I may show thee goods according to the rank of the requiter.” “Thou +speakest sooth, O my son,” said she. “I want somewhat for my mistress, Hayat +al-Nufus, daughter of Abd al-Kadir, lord of this land and King of this +country.” Now when Ardashir heard his mistress’s name, his reason flew for joy +and his heart fluttered and he gave no order to slave or servant, but, putting +his hand behind him, pulled out a purse of an hundred dinars and offered it to +the old woman, saying, “This is for the washing of thy clothes.” Then he again +put forth his hand and brought out of a wrapper a dress worth ten thousand +dinars or more and said to her, “This is of that which I have brought to your +country.” When the old woman saw it, it pleased her and she asked, “What is the +price of this dress, O perfect in qualities?” Answered he, “I will take no +price for it!” whereupon she thanked him and repeated her question; but he +said, “By Allah, I will take no price for it. I make thee a present of it, an +the Princess will not accept it and ’tis a guest-gift from me to thee. +Alhamdolillah—Glory be to God—who hath brought us together, so that, if one day I +have a want, I shall find in thee a helper to me in winning it!” She marvelled +at the goodliness of his speech and the excess of his generosity and the +perfection of his courtesy and said to him, “What is thy name, O my lord?” He +replied, “My name is Ardashir;” and she cried, “By Allah this is a rare name! +Therewith are Kings’ sons named, and thou art in a guise of the sons of the +merchants!” Quoth he, “Of the love my father bore me, he gave me this name, but +a name signifieth naught;” and quoth she in wonder, “O my son, take the price +of thy goods.” But he swore that he would not take aught. Then the old lady +said to him, “O my dear one, Truth (I would have thee know) is the greatest of +all things and thou hadst not dealt thus generously by me but for a special +reason: so tell me thy case and thy secret thought; belike thou hast some wish +to whose winning I may help thee.” Thereupon he laid his hand in hers and, +after exacting an oath of secrecy, told her the whole story of his passion for +the Princess and his condition by reason thereof. The old woman shook her head +and said, “True; but O my son, the wise say, in the current adage, ‘An thou +wouldest be obeyed, abstain from ordering what may not be made’; and thou, my +son, thy name is Merchant, and though thou hadst the keys of the Hidden Hoards, +yet wouldst thou be called naught but Merchant. An thou wouldst rise to high +rank, according to thy station, then seek the hand of a Kazi’s daughter or even +an Emir’s; but why, O my son, aspirest thou to none but the daughter of the +King of the age and the time, and she a clean maid, who knoweth nothing of the +things of the world and hath never in her life seen anything but her palace +wherein she dwelleth? Yet, for all her tender age, she is intelligent, shrewd, +vivacious, penetrating, quick of wit, sharp of act and rare of rede: her father +hath no other child and she is dearer to him than his life and soul. Every +morning he cometh to her and giveth her good-morrow, and all who dwell in the +palace stand in dread of her. Think not, O my son, that any dare bespeak her +with aught of these words; nor is there any way for me thereto. By Allah, O my +son, my heart and vitals love thee and were it in my power to give thee access +to her, I would assuredly do it; but I will tell thee somewhat, wherein Allah +may haply appoint the healing of thy heart, and will risk life and goods for +thee, till I win thy will for thee.” He asked, “And what is that, O my mother?” +and she answered, “Seek of me the daughter of a Wazir or an Emir, and I will +grant thy request; but it may not be that one should mount from earth to heaven +at one bound.” When the Prince heard this, he replied to her with courtesy and +sense, “O my mother, thou art a woman of wit and knowest how things go. Say me +doth a man, when his head irketh him, bind up his hand?” Quoth she, “No, by +Allah, O my son”; and quoth he, “Even so my heart seeketh none but her and +naught slayeth me but love of her. By Allah, I am a dead man, and I find not +one to counsel me aright and succour me! Allah upon thee, O my mother, take +pity on my strangerhood and the streaming of my tears!”——And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ardashir, the King’s +son said to the old woman, “Allah upon thee, O my mother, take pity on my +strangerhood and the streaming of my tears.” Replied she, “By Allah, O my son, +thy words rend my heart, but my hand hath no cunning wherewith to help thee.” +Quoth he, “I beseech thee of thy favour, carry her a letter and kiss her hands +for me.” So she had compassion on him and said, “Write what thou wilt and I +will bear it to her.” When he heard this, he was ready to fly for joy and +calling for ink-case and paper, wrote these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“O Hayát al-Nufús, be gen’rous, and incline * To one who<br /> + + loving thee for parting’s doomed to pine.<br /> + +I was in all delight, in gladsomest of life, * But now I am<br /> + + distraught with sufferings condign.<br /> + +To wakefulness I cling through longsomeness of night * And<br /> + + with me sorrow chats[FN#268] through each sad eve of<br /> + + mine;<br /> + +Pity a lover sad, a sore afflicted wretch * Whose eyelids<br /> + + ever ulcered are with tearful brine;<br /> + +And when the morning comes at last, the real morn * He finds<br /> + + him drunken and distraught with passion’s wine.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he folded the scroll and kissing it, gave it to the old woman; after which +he put his hand to a chest and took out a second purse containing an hundred +dinars, which he presented to her, saying, “Divide this among the slave-girls.” +She refused it and cried, “By Allah, O my son, I am not with thee for aught of +this!”; however, he thanked her and answered, “There is no help but that thou +accept of it.” So she took it and kissing his hands, returned home; and going +in to the Princess, cried, “O my lady, I have brought thee somewhat the like +whereof is not with the people of our city, and it cometh from a handsome young +man, than whom there is not a goodlier on earth’s face!” She asked “O my nurse, +and whence cometh the youth?” and the old woman answered, “From the parts of +Hind; and he hath given me this dress of gold brocade, embroidered with pearls +and gems and worth the Kingdom of Chosroës and Cæsar.” Thereupon she opened the +dress and the whole palace was illuminated by its brightness, because of the +beauty of its fashion and the wealth of unions and jewels wherewith it was +broidered, and all who were present marvelled at it. The Princess examined it +and, judging it to be worth no less than a whole year’s revenue of her father’s +kingdom, said to the old woman, “O my nurse, cometh this dress from him or from +another?”[FN#269] Replied she, “From him;” and Hayat al-Nufus asked, “Is this +trader of our town or a stranger?” The old woman answered, “He is a foreigner, +O my lady, newly come hither; and by Allah he hath servants and slaves; and he +is fair of face, symmetrical of form, well mannered, open-handed and +open-hearted, never saw I a goodlier than he, save thyself.” The King’s +daughter rejoined, “Indeed this is an extraordinary thing, that a dress like +this, which money cannot buy, should be in the hands of a merchant! What price +did he set on it, O my nurse?” Quoth she, “By Allah, he would set no price on +it, but gave me back the money thou sentest by me and swore that he would take +naught thereof, saying:—’Tis a gift from me to the King’s daughter; for it +beseemeth none but her; and if she will not accept it, I make thee a present of +it.” Cried the Princess, “By Allah, this is indeed marvellous generosity and +wondrous munificence! But I fear the issue of his affair, lest haply[FN#270] he +be brought to necessity. Why didst thou not ask him, O my nurse, if he had any +desire, that we might fulfil it for him?” The nurse replied, “O my lady, I did +ask him, and he said to me, ‘I have indeed a desire’; but he would not tell me +what it was. However, he gave me this letter and said, ‘Carry it to the +Princess.’” So Hayat al-Nufus took the letter and opened and read it to the +end; whereupon she was sore chafed; and lost temper and changing colour for +anger she cried out to the old woman, saying, “Woe to thee, O nurse! What is +the name of this dog who durst write this language to a King’s daughter? What +affinity is there between me and this hound that he should address me thus? By +Almighty Allah, Lord of the well Zemzem and of the Hatim Wall,[FN#271] but that +I fear the Omnipotent, the Most High, I would send and bind the cur’s hands +behind him and slit his nostrils, and shear off his nose and ears and after, by +way of example, crucify him on the gate of the bazar wherein is his booth!” +When the old woman heard these words, she waxed yellow; her +side-muscles[FN#272] quivered and her tongue clave to her mouth; but she +heartened her heart and said, “Softly, O my lady! What is there in his letter +to trouble thee thus? Is it aught but a memorial containing his complaint to +thee of poverty or oppression, from which he hopeth to be relieved by thy +favour?” Replied she, “No, by Allah, O my nurse, ’tis naught of this; but +verses and shameful words! However, O my nurse, this dog must be in one of +three cases: either he is Jinn-mad, and hath no wit, or he seeketh his own +slaughter, or else he is assisted to his wish of me by some one of exceeding +puissance and a mighty Sultan. Or hath he heard that I am one of the baggages +of the city, who lie a night or two with whosoever seeketh them, that he +writeth me immodest verses to debauch my reason by talking of such matters?” +Rejoined the old woman, “By Allah, O my lady, thou sayst sooth! But reck not +thou of yonder ignorant hound, for thou art seated in thy lofty, firm-builded +and unapproachable palace, to which the very birds cannot soar neither the wind +pass over it, and as for him, he is clean distraught. Wherefore do thou write +him a letter and chide him angrily and spare him no manner of reproof, but +threaten him with dreadful threats and menace him with death and say to him, +‘Whence hast thou knowledge of me, that thou durst write me, O dog of a +merchant, O thou who trudgest far and wide all thy days in wilds and wolds for +the sake of gaining a dirham or a dinar? By Allah, except thou awake from thy +sleep and put off thine intoxication, I will assuredly crucify thee on the gate +of the market-street wherein is thy shop!’” Quoth the Princess, “I fear lest he +presume, if I write to him”; and quoth the nurse, “And pray what is he and what +is his rank that he should presume to us? Indeed, we write him but to the +intent that his presumption may be cut off and his fear magnified.” And she +ceased not craftily to persuade her, till she called for ink-case and paper and +wrote him these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“O thou who claimest to be prey of love and ecstasy; * Thou,<br /> + + who for passion spendest nights in grief and saddest<br /> + + gree:<br /> + +Say, dost thou (haughty one!) desire enjoyment of the moon? *<br /> + + Did man e’er sue the moon for grace whate’er his lunacy?<br /> + +I verily will counsel thee with rede the best to hear: * Cut<br /> + + short this course ere come thou nigh sore risk, nay<br /> + + death, to dree!<br /> + +If thou to this request return, surely on thee shall fall *<br /> + + Sore punishment, for vile offence a grievous penalty.<br /> + +Be reasonable then, be wise, hark back unto thy wits; *<br /> + + Behold, in very truth I speak with best advice to thee:<br /> + +By Him who did all things that be create from nothingness; *<br /> + + Who dressed the face of heaven with stars in brightest<br /> + + radiancy:<br /> + +If in the like of this thy speech thou dare to sin again! *<br /> + + I’ll surely have thee crucified upon a trunk of tree.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then she rolled up the letter and gave it to the old woman who took it and, +repairing to Ardashir’s shop, delivered it to him,——And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old woman took +that letter from Hayat al-Nufus she fared forth till she found the youth who +was sitting in his shop and gave it to him, saying, “Read thine answer and know +that when she perused thy paper she was wroth with exceeding wrath; but I +soothed her and spake her fair, till she consented to write thee a reply.” He +took the letter joyfully but, when he had read it and understood its drift, he +wept sore, whereat the old woman’s heart ached and she cried, “O my son, Allah +never cause thine eyes to weep nor thy heart to mourn! What can be more +gracious than that she should answer thy letter when thou hast done what thou +diddest?” He replied, “O my mother what shall I do for a subtle device? Behold, +she writeth to me, threatening me with death and crucifixion and forbidding me +from writing to her; and I, by Allah, see my death to be better than my life; +but I beg thee of thy grace[FN#273] to carry her another letter from me.” She +said, “Write and I warrant I’ll bring thee an answer. By Allah, I will +assuredly venture my life to win for thee thy wish, though I die to pleasure +thee!” He thanked her and kissing her hands, wrote these verses, +</p> + +<p> +“Do you threaten me wi’ death for my loving you so well? *<br /> + + When Death to me were rest and all dying is by Fate?<br /> + +And man’s death is but a boon, when so longsome to him grows *<br /> + + His life, and rejected he lives in lonest state:<br /> + +Then visit ye a lover who hath ne’er a soul to aid; * For on<br /> + + pious works of men Heaven’s blessing shall await.<br /> + +But an ye be resolved on this deed then up and on; * I’m in<br /> + + bonds to you, a bondsman confined within your gate:<br /> + +What path have I whose patience without you is no more? * How<br /> + + is this, when a lover’s heart in stress of love is<br /> + + strait?<br /> + +O my lady show me ruth, who by passion am misused; * For all<br /> + + who love the noble stand for evermore excused.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +He then folded the scroll and gave it to the old woman, together with two +purses of two hundred dinars, which she would have refused, but he conjured her +by oath to accept of them. So she took them both and said, “Needs must I bring +thee to thy desire, despite the noses of thy foes.” Then she repaired to the +palace and gave the letter to Hayat al-Nufus who said, “What is this, O my +nurse? Here are we in a correspondence and thou coming and going! Indeed, I +fear lest the matter get wind and we be disgraced.” Rejoined the old woman, +“How so, O my lady? Who dare speak such word?” So she took the letter and after +reading and understanding it she smote hand on hand, saying “Verily, this is a +calamity which is fallen upon us, and I know not whence this young man came to +us!” Quoth the old woman, “O my lady, Allah upon thee, write him another +letter; but be rough with him this time and say to him, ‘An thou write me +another word after this, I will have thy head struck off.’” Quoth the Princess, +“O my nurse, I am assured that the matter will not end on such wise; ’twere +better to break off this exchange of letters; and, except the puppy take +warning by my previous threats, I will strike off his head.” The old woman +said, “Then write him a letter and give him to know this condition.” So Hayat +al-Nufus called for pen-case and paper and wrote these couplets:— +</p> + +<p> +Ho, thou heedless of Time and his sore despight! * Ho, thou<br /> + + heart whom hopes of my favours excite!<br /> + +Think O pride-full! would’st win for thyself the skies? *<br /> + + Would’st attain to the moon shining clear and bright?<br /> + +I will burn thee with fire that shall ne’er be quenched, * Or<br /> + + will slay thee with scymitar’s sharpest bite!<br /> + +Leave it, friend, and ’scape the tormenting pains, * Such as<br /> + + turn hair-partings[FN#274] from black to white.<br /> + +Take my warning and fly from the road of love; * Draw thee<br /> + + back from a course nor seemly nor right!<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then she folded the scroll and gave it to the old woman, who was puzzled and +perplexed by the matter. She carried it to Ardashir, and the Prince read the +letter and bowed his head to the earth, making as if he wrote with his finger +and speaking not a word. Quoth the old woman, “How is it I see thee silent stay +and not say thy say?”; and quoth he, “O my mother, what shall I say, seeing +that she doth but threaten me and redoubleth in hard-heartedness and aversion?” +Rejoined the nurse, “Write her a letter of what thou wilt: I will protect thee; +nor let thy heart be cast down, for needs must I bring you twain together.” He +thanked her for her kindness and kissing her hand, wrote these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“A heart, by Allah! never soft to lover-wight, * Who sighs for<br /> + + union only with his friends, his sprite!<br /> + +Who with tear-ulcered eyelids evermore must bide, * When<br /> + + falleth upon earth first darkness of the night:<br /> + +Be just, be gen’rous, lend thy ruth and deign give alms * To<br /> + + love-molested lover, parted, forced to flight!<br /> + +He spends the length of longsome night without a doze; *<br /> + + Fire-brent and drent in tear-flood flowing infinite:<br /> + +Ah; cut not off the longing of my fondest heart * Now<br /> + + disappointed, wasted, flutt’ring for its blight.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he folded the scroll and gave it to the old woman, together with three +hundred dinars, saying, “This is for the washing of thy hands.” She thanked him +and kissed his hands, after which she returned to the palace and gave the +letter to the Princess, who took it and read it and throwing it from her +fingers, sprang to her feet. Then she walked, shod as she was with pattens of +gold, set with pearls and jewels, till she came to her sire’s palace, whilst +the vein of anger started out between her eyes, and none dared ask her of her +case. When she reached the palace, she enquired for the King, and the +slave-girls and concubines replied to her, “O my lady, he is gone forth +a-hunting and sporting.” So she returned, as she were a rending lioness, and +bespake none for the space of three hours, when her brow cleared and her wrath +cooled. As soon as the old woman saw that her irk and anger were past, she went +up to her and, kissing ground between her hands, asked her, “O my lady, whither +went those noble steps?” The Princess answered, “To the palace of the King my +sire.” “And could no one do thine errand?” enquired the nurse. Replied the +Princess, “No, for I went to acquaint him of that which hath befallen me with +yonder cur of a merchant, so he might lay hands on him and on all the merchants +of his bazar and crucify them over their shops nor suffer a single foreign +merchant to tarry in our town.” Quoth the old woman, “And was this thine only +reason, O my lady, for going to thy sire?”; and quoth Hayat al-Nufus, “Yes, but +I found him absent a-hunting and sporting and now I await his return.” Cried +the old nurse, “I take refuge with Allah, the All-hearing, the All-knowing! +Praised be He! O my lady, thou art the most sensible of women and how couldst +thou think of telling the King these fond words, which it behoveth none to +publish?” Asked the Princess, “And why so?” and the nurse answered, “Suppose +thou had found the King in his palace and told him all this tale and he had +sent after the merchants and commanded to hang them over their shops, the folk +would have seen them hanging and asked the reason and it would have been +answered them, ‘They sought to seduce the King’s daughter.’”——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman said +to the Princess, “Suppose thou had told this to the King and he had ordered the +merchants to be hanged, would not folk have seen them and have asked the cause +of the execution when the answer would have been, ‘They sought to seduce the +King’s daughter?’ Then would they have dispread divers reports concerning thee, +some saying, ‘She abode with them ten days, away from her palace, till they had +taken their fill of her’; and other some in otherguise: for woman’s honour, O +my lady, is like curded milk, the least dust fouleth it; and like glass, which, +if it be cracked, may not be mended. So beware of telling thy sire or any other +of this matter, lest thy fair fame be smirched, O mistress mine, for ’twill +never profit thee to tell folk aught; no, never! Weigh what I say with thy keen +wit, and if thou find it not just, do whatso thou wilt.” The Princess pondered +her words, and seeing them to be altogether profitable and right, said, “Thou +speaketh sooth, O my nurse; but anger had blinded my judgment.” Quoth the old +woman, “Thy resolve to tell no one is pleasing to the Almighty; but something +remaineth to be done: we must not let the shamelessness of yonder vile dog of a +merchant pass without notice. Write him a letter and say to him ‘O vilest of +traders, but that I found the King my father absent, I had straightway +commanded to hang thee and all thy neighbours. But thou shalt gain nothing by +this; for I swear to thee, by Allah the Most High, that an thou return to the +like of this talk, I will blot out the trace of thee from the face of earth!’ +And deal thou roughly with him in words, so shalt thou discourage him in this +attempt and arouse him from his heedlessness.” “And will these words cause him +to abstain from his offending?” asked the Princess; and the old woman answered, +“How should he not abstain? Besides, I will talk with him and tell him what +hath passed.” So the Princess called for ink-case and paper and wrote these +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“To win our favours still thy hopes are bent; * And still<br /> + + to win thy will art confident!<br /> + +Naught save his pride-full aim shall slay a man; * And he by<br /> + + us shall die of his intent.<br /> + + Thou art no lord of might, no chief of men, * Nabob or<br /> + + Prince or Soldan Heaven-sent;<br /> + +And were this deed of one who is our peer, * He had<br /> + + returned with hair for fear white-sprent:<br /> + +Yet will I deign once more excuse thy sin * So from<br /> + + this time thou prove thee penitent.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then she gave the missive to the old woman, saying, “O my nurse, do thou +admonish this puppy lest I be forced to cut off his head and sin on his +account.” Replied the old woman, “By Allah, O my lady, I will not leave him a +side to turn on!” Then she returned to the youth and, when salams had been +exchanged, she gave him the letter. He read it and shook his head, saying, +“Verily, we are Allah’s and unto him shall we return!” adding, “O my mother, +what shall I do? My fortitude faileth me and my patience palleth upon me!” She +replied, “O my son, be long-suffering: peradventure, after this Allah shall +bring somewhat to pass. Write that which is in thy mind and I will fetch thee +an answer, and be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear; for needs +must I bring about union between thee and her,— Inshallah!” He blessed her and +wrote to the Princess a note containing these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“Since none will lend my love a helping hand, * And I by<br /> + + passion’s bale in death low-lain,<br /> + +I bear a flaming fire within my heart * By day and night nor<br /> + + place of rest attain,<br /> + +How cease to hope in thee, my wishes’ term? * Or with my<br /> + + longings to be glad and fain?<br /> + +The Lord of highmost Heaven to grant my prayer * Pray I, whom<br /> + + love of lady fair hath slain;<br /> + +And as I’m clean o’erthrown by love and fear, * To grant me<br /> + + speedy union deign, oh deign!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he folded the scroll and gave it to the old woman, bringing out at the +same time a purse of four hundred dinars. She took the whole and returning to +the palace sought the Princess to whom she gave the letter; but the King’s +daughter refused to take it and cried, “What is this?” Replied the old woman, +“O my lady, this is only the answer to the letter thou sentest to that merchant +dog.” Quoth Hayat al-Nufus, “Didst thou forbid him as I told thee?”; and quoth +she, “Yes, and this is his reply.” So the Princess took the letter and read it +to the end; then she turned to the old woman and exclaimed, “Where is the +result of thy promise?” “O my lady, saith he not in his letter that he +repenteth and will not again offend, excusing himself for the past?” “Not so, +by Allah!: on the contrary, he increaseth.” “O my lady, write him a letter and +thou shalt presently see what I will do with him.” “There needeth nor letter +nor answer.” “I must have a letter that I may rebuke him roughly and cut off +his hopes.” “Thou canst do that without a letter.” “I cannot do it without the +letter.” So Hayat al-Nufus called for pen-case and paper and wrote these +verses, +</p> + +<p> +“Long have I chid thee but my chiding hindereth thee not * How<br /> + + often would my verse with writ o’ hand ensnare thee, ah!<br /> + +Then keep thy passion hidden deep and ever unrevealed, * And<br /> + + if thou dare gainsay me Earth shall no more bear thee,<br /> + + ah!<br /> + +And if, despite my warning, thou dost to such words return, *<br /> + + Death’s Messenger[FN#275] shall go his rounds and dead<br /> + + declare thee, ah!<br /> + +Soon shall the wold’s fierce chilling blast o’erblow that<br /> + + corse o’ thine; * And birds o’ the wild with ravening<br /> + + bills and beaks shall tear thee, ah!<br /> + +Return to righteous course; perchance that same will profit<br /> + + thee; * If bent on wilful aims and lewd I fain forswear<br /> + + thee, ah!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +When she had made an end of her writing this, she cast the writ from her hand +in wrath, and the old woman picked it up and went with it to Ardashir. When he +read it to the last he knew that she had not softened to him, but only +redoubled in rage against him and that he would never win to meet her, so he +bethought himself to write her an answer invoking Allah’s help against her. +Thereupon he indited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“O Lord, by the Five Shaykhs, I pray deliver me * From love,<br /> + + which gars me bear such grief and misery.<br /> + +Thou knowest what I bear for passion’s fiery flame; * What<br /> + + stress of sickness for that merciless maid I dree.<br /> + +She hath no pity on the pangs to me decreed; * How long on<br /> + + weakly wight shall last her tyranny?<br /> + +I am distraught for her with passing agonies * And find no<br /> + + friend, O folk! to hear my plaint and plea.<br /> + +How long, when Night hath drooped her pinions o’er the world,<br /> + + * Shall I lament in public as in privacy?<br /> + +For love of you I cannot find forgetfulness; * And how forget<br /> + + when Patience taketh wings to flee?<br /> + +O thou wild parting-bird[FN#276] say is she safe and sure *<br /> + + From shift and change of time and the world’s cruelty?”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he folded the scroll and gave it to the old woman, adding a purse of five +hundred dinars; and she took it and carried it to the Princess, who read it to +the end and learned its purport. Then, casting it from her hand, she cried, +“Tell me O wicked old woman, the cause of all that hath befallen me from thee +and from thy cunning and thine advocacy of him, so that thou hast made me write +letter after letter and thou ceasest not to carry messages, going and coming +between us twain, till thou hast brought about a correspondence and a +connection. Thou leavest not to say, ‘I will ensure thee against his mischief +and cut off from thee his speech’; but thou speakest not thus save only to the +intent that I may continue to write thee letters and thou to fetch and carry +between us, evening and morning, till thou ruin my repute. Woe to thee! Ho, +eunuchs, seize her!” Then Hayat al-Nufus commanded them to beat her, and they +lashed her till her whole body flowed with blood and she fainted away, +whereupon the King’s daughter caused her slave-women to drag her forth by the +feet and cast her without the palace and bade one of them stand by her head +till she recovered, and say to her, “The Princess hath sworn an oath that thou +shalt never return to and re-enter this palace; and she hath commanded to slay +thee without mercy an thou dare return hither.” So, when she came to herself, +the damsel told her what the King’s daughter said and she answered, “Hearkening +and obedience.” Presently the slave-girls fetched a basket and a porter whom +they caused carry her to her own house; and they sent after her a physician, +bidding him tend her assiduously till she recovered. He did what he was told to +do and as soon as she was whole she mounted and rode to the shop of Ardashir +who was concerned with sore concern for her absence and was longing for news of +her. As soon as he saw her, he sprang up and coming to meet her, saluted her; +then he noticed that she was weak and ailing; so he questioned her of her case +and she told him all that had befallen her from her nursling. When he heard +this, he found it grievous and smote hand upon hand, saying, “By Allah, O my +mother, this that hath betided thee straiteneth my heart! But, what, O my +mother, is the reason of the Princess’s hatred to men?” Replied the old woman, +“Thou must know O my son, that she hath a beautiful garden, than which there is +naught goodlier on earth’s face and it chanced that she lay there one night. In +the joyance of sleep, she dreamt a dream and ’twas this, that she went down +into the garden, where she saw a fowler set up his net and strew corn +thereabout, after which he withdrew and sat down afar off to await what game +should fall into it. Ere an hour had passed the birds flocked to pick up the +corn and a male pigeon[FN#277] fell into the net and struggled in it, whereat +all the others took fright and fled from him. His mate was amongst them, but +she returned to him after the shortest delay; and, coming up to the net, sought +out the mesh wherein his foot was entangled and ceased not to peck at it with +her bill, till she severed it and released her husband, with whom she flew +away. All this while, the fowler sat dozing, and when he awoke, he looked at +the net and found it spoilt. So he mended it and strewed fresh grain, then +withdrew to a distance and sat down to watch it again. The birds soon returned +and began to pick up the corn, and among the rest the pair of pigeons. +Presently, the she-pigeon fell into the net and struggled to get free; +whereupon all the other birds flew away, and her mate, whom she had saved, fled +with the rest and did not return to her. Meantime, sleep had again overcome the +fowler; and, when he awoke after long slumbering, he saw the she-pigeon caught +in the net; so he went up to her and freeing her feet from the meshes, cut her +throat. The Princess startled by the dream awoke troubled, and said, ‘Thus do +men with women, for women have pity on men and throw away their lives for them, +when they are in difficulties; but if the Lord decree against a woman and she +fall into calamity, her mate deserteth her and rescueth her not, and wasted is +that which she did with him of kindness. Allah curse her who putteth her trust +in men, for they ill requite the fair offices which women do them!’ And from +that day she conceived an hatred to men.” Said the King’s son, “O my mother, +doth she never go out into the highways?”; and the old woman replied, “Nay, O +my son; but I will tell thee somewhat wherein, Allah willing, there shall be +profit for thee. She hath a garden which is of the goodliest pleasaunces of the +age; and every year, at the time of the ripening of the fruits, she goeth +thither and taketh her pleasure therein only one day, nor layeth the night but +in her pavilion. She entereth the garden by the private wicket of the palace +which leadeth thereto; and thou must know that it wanteth now but a month to +the time of her going forth. So take my advice and hie thee this very day to +the keeper of that garden and make acquaintance with him and gain his good +graces, for he admitteth not one of Allah’s creatures into the garth, because +of its communication with the Princess’s palace. I will let thee know two days +beforehand of the day fixed for her coming forth, when do thou repair to the +garden, as of thy wont, and make shift to night there. When the King’s daughter +cometh be thou hidden in some place or other”;——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman charged +the King’s son, saying, “I will let thee know two days beforehand of the King’s +daughter going down to the garden: do thou hide thee in some place or other; +and, when thou espiest her, come forth and show thyself to her. When she seeth +thee, she will fall in love with thee; for thou art fair to look upon and love +covereth all things. So keep thine eyes cool and clear[FN#278] and be of good +cheer, O my son, for needs must I bring about union between thee and her.” The +young Prince kissed her hand and thanked her and gave her three pieces of +Alexandrian silk and three of satin of various colours, and with each piece, +linen for shifts and stuff for trousers and a kerchief for the turband and fine +white cotton cloth of Ba’albak for the linings, so as to make her six complete +suits, each handsomer than its sister. Moreover, he gave her a purse containing +six hundred gold pieces and said to her, “This is for the tailoring.” She took +the whole and said to him, “O my son, art thou not pleased to acquaint me with +thine abiding-place and I also will show thee the way to my lodging?” “Yes,” +answered he and sent a Mameluke with her to note her home and show her his own +house. Then he rose and bidding his slaves shut the shop, went back to the +Wazir, to whom he related all that had passed between him and the old woman, +from first to last. Quoth the Minister, “O my son, should the Princess Hayat +al-Nufus come out and look upon thee and thou find no favour with her what wilt +thou do?” Quoth Ardashir, “There will be nothing left but to pass from words to +deeds and risk my life with her; for I will snatch her up from amongst her +attendants and set her behind me on a swift horse and make for the wildest of +the wold. If I escape, I shall have won my wish and if I perish, I shall be at +rest from this hateful life.” Rejoined the Minister, “O my son, dost thou think +to do this thing and live? How shall we make our escape, seeing that our +country is far distant, and how wilt thou deal thus with a King of the Kings of +the Age, who hath under his hand an hundred thousand horse, nor can we be sure +but that he will despatch some of his troops to cut off our way? Verily, there +is no good in this project which no wise man would attempt.” Asked Ardashir, +“And how then shall we do, O Wazir of good counsel? For unless I win her I am a +dead man without a chance.” The Minister answered, “Wait till to-morrow when we +will visit this garden and note its condition and see what betideth us with the +care-taker.” So when the morning morrowed they took a thousand dinars in a poke +and, repairing to the garden, found it compassed about with high walls and +strong, rich in trees and rill-full leas and goodly fruiteries. And indeed its +flowers breathed perfume and its birds warbled amid the bloom as it were a +garden of the gardens of Paradise. Within the door sat a Shaykh, an old man on +a stone bench and they saluted him. When he saw them and noted the fairness of +their favour, he rose to his feet after returning their salute, and said, “O my +lords, perchance ye have a wish which we may have the honour of satisfying?” +Replied the Wazir, “Know, O elder, that we are strangers and the heat hath +overcome us: our lodging is afar off at the other end of the city; so we desire +of thy courtesy that thou take these two dinars and buy us somewhat of provaunt +and open us meanwhile the door of this flower-garden and seat us in some shaded +place, where there is cold water, that we may cool ourselves there, against thy +return with the provision, when we will eat, and thou with us, and then, rested +and refreshed, we shall wend our ways.” So saying, he pulled out of his pouch a +couple of dinars and put them into the keeper’s hand. Now this care-taker was a +man aged three-score and ten, who had never in all his life possessed so much +money: so, when he saw the two dinars in his hand, he was like to fly for joy +and rising forthwith opened the garden gate to the Prince and the Wazir, and +made them enter and sit down under a wide-spreading, fruit-laden, +shade-affording tree, saying, “Sit ye here and go no further into the garden, +for it hath a privy door communicating with the palace of the Princess Hayat +al-Nufus.” They replied, “We will not stir hence.” Whereupon he went out to buy +what they had ordered and returned after awhile, with a porter bearing on his +head a roasted lamb and bread. They ate and drank together and talked awhile, +till, presently, the Wazir, looking about him in all corners right and left, +caught sight of a lofty pavilion at the farther end of the garden; but it was +old and the plaster was peeled from its walls and its buttresses were broken +down. So he said to the Gardener, “O Shaykh, is this garden thine own or dost +thou hire it?”; and he replied, “I am neither owner nor tenant of the garden, +only its care-taker.” Asked the Minister, “And what is thy wage?” whereto the +old man answered, “A dinar a month,” and quoth the Wazir, “Verily they wrong +thee, especially an thou have a family.” Quoth the elder, “By Allah, O my lord, +I have eight children and I”— The Wazir broke in, “There is no Majesty and +there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Thou makest me bear +thy grief my poor fellow! What wouldst thou say of him who should do thee a +good turn, on account of this family of thine?” Replied the old man, “O my +lord, whatsoever good thou dost shall be garnered up for thee with God the Most +High!” Thereupon said the Wazir, “O Shaykh, thou knowest this garden of thine +to be a goodly place; but the pavilion yonder is old and ruinous. Now I mean to +repair it and stucco it anew and paint it handsomely, so that it will be the +finest thing in the garth; and when the owner comes and finds the pavilion +restored and beautified, he will not fail to question thee concerning it. Then +do thou say, ‘O my lord, at great expense I set it in repair, for that I saw it +in ruins and none could make use of it nor could anyone sit therein.’ If he +says, ‘Whence hadst thou the money for this?’ reply, ‘I spent of my own money +upon the stucco, thereby thinking to whiten my face with thee and hoping for +thy bounties.’ And needs must he recompense thee fairly over the extent of +thine expenses. To-morrow I will bring builders and plasterers and painters to +repair this pavilion and will give thee what I promised thee.” Then he pulled +out of his poke a purse of five hundred dinars and gave it to the Gardener, +saying, “Take these gold pieces and expend them upon thy family and let them +pray for me and for this my son.” Thereupon the Prince asked the Wazir, “What +is the meaning of all this?” and he answered, “Thou shalt presently see the +issue thereof.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Wazir gave +five hundred ducats to the old Gardener, saying, “Take these gold pieces and +expend them upon thy family and let them pray for this my son,” the old man +looked at the gold and his wits fled; so he fell down at the Wazir’s feet, +kissing them and invoking blessings on him and his son; and when they went +away, he said to them, “I shall expect you to-morrow: for by Allah Almighty, +there must be no parting between us, night or day.” Next morning the Wazir went +to the Prince’s shop and sent for the syndic of the builders; then he carried +him and his men to the garth, where the Gardener rejoiced in their sight. He +gave them the price of rations[FN#279] and what was needful to the work-men +for the restoration of the pavilion, and they repaired it and stucco’d it and +decorated it. Then said the Minister to the painters, “Harkye, my masters, +listen to my words and apprehend my wish and my aim. Know that I have a garden +like this, where I was sleeping one night among the nights and saw in a dream a +fowler set up nets and sprinkle corn thereabout. The birds flocked to pick up +the grain, and a cock-bird fell into the net, whereupon the others took fright +and flew away, and amongst the rest his mate; but, after awhile, she returned +alone and picked at the mesh that held his feet, till she set him free and they +flew away together. Now the fowler had fallen asleep and, when he awoke, he +found the net empty; so he mended it and strewing fresh grain sat down afar +off, waiting for game to fall into that snare. Presently the birds assembled +again to pick up the grains, and amongst the rest the two pigeons. By- and-by, +the hen-bird fell into the net, when all the other birds took fright at her and +flew away, and her husband flew with them and did not return; whereupon the +fowler came up and taking the quarry, cut her throat. Now, when her mate flew +away with the others, a bird of raven seized him and slew him and ate his flesh +and drank his blood, and I would have you pourtray me the presentment of this +my dream, even as I have related it to you, in the liveliest colours, laying +the fair scene in this rare garden, with its walls and trees and rills, and +dwell especially on the fowler and the falcon. If ye do this I have set forth +to you and the work please me, I will give you what shall gladden your hearts, +over and above your wage.” The painters, hearing these words, applied +themselves with all diligence to do what he required of them and wrought it out +in masterly style; and when they had made an end of the work, they showed it to +the Wazir who, seeing his so-called dream set forth as it was[FN#280] was +pleased and thanked them and rewarded them munificently. Presently, the Prince +came in, according to his custom, and entered the pavilion, unweeting what the +Wazir had done. So when he saw the portraiture of the fowler and the birds and +the net and beheld the male pigeon in the clutches of the hawk, which had slain +him and was drinking his blood and eating his flesh, his understanding was +confounded and he returned to the Minister and said, “O Wazir of good counsel, +I have seen this day a marvel which, were it graven with needle-gravers on the +eye-corners would be a warner to whoso will be warned.” Asked the Minister, +“And what is that, O my lord?”; and the Prince answered, “Did I not tell thee +of the dream the Princess had and how it was the cause of her hatred for men?” +“Yes,” replied the Wazir; and Ardashir rejoined, “By Allah, O Minister, I have +seen the whole dream pourtrayed in painting, as I had eyed it with mine own +eyes; but I found therein a circumstance which was hidden from the Princess, so +that she saw it not, and ’tis upon this that I rely for the winning of my +wish.” Quoth the Wazir, “And what is that, O my son?”; and quoth the Prince, “I +saw that, when the male bird flew away; and, leaving his mate entangled in the +net, failed to return and save her, a falcon pounced on him and slaying him, +ate his flesh and drank his blood. Would to Heaven the Princess had seen the +whole of the dream and had beheld the cause of his failure to return and rescue +her!” Replied the Wazir, “By Allah, O auspicious King, this is indeed a rare +thing and a wonderful!” And the King’s son ceased not to marvel at the picture +and lament that the King’s daughter had not beheld the dream to its end, saying +in himself, “Would she had seen it to the last or might see the whole over +again, though but in the imbroglio of sleep!” Then quoth the Wazir to him, +“Thou saidst to me, ‘Why wilt thou repair the pavilion?’; and I replied, ‘Thou +shalt presently see the issue thereof.’ And behold, now its issue thou seest; +for it was I did this deed and bade the painters pourtray the Princess’s dream +thus and paint the male bird in the pounces of the falcon which eateth his +flesh and drinketh his blood; so that when she cometh to the pavilion, she will +behold her dream depicted and see how the cock-pigeon was slain and excuse him +and turn from her hate for men.” When the Prince heard the Wazir’s words, he +kissed his hands and thanked him, saying, “Verily, the like of thee is fit to +be Minister to the most mighty King, and, by Allah, an I win my wish and return +to my sire, rejoicing, I will assuredly acquaint him with this, that he may +redouble in honouring thee and advance thee in dignity and hearken to thine +every word.” So the Wazir kissed his hand and they both went to the old +Gardener and said, “Look at yonder pavilion and see how fine it is!” And he +replied, “This is all of your happy thought.” Then said they, “O elder, when +the owners of the place question thee concerning the restoration of the +pavilion, say thou, ’Twas I did it of my own monies; to the intent that there +may betide thee fair favour and good fortune.” He said, “I hear and I obey”; +and the Prince continued to pay him frequent visits. Such was the case with the +Prince and the Wazir; but as regards Hayat al-Nufus, when she ceased to receive +the Prince’s letters and messages and when the old woman was absent from her, +she rejoiced with joy exceeding and concluded that the young man had returned +to his own country. One day, there came to her a covered tray from her father; +so she uncovered it and finding therein fine fruits, asked her waiting-women, +“Is the season of these fruits come?” Answered they, “Yes.” Thereupon she +cried, “Would we might make ready to take our pleasure in the +flower-garden!”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Princess, after +receiving the fruit from her sire, asked, “Is the season of these fruits set +in?”; and they answered, “Yes!” Thereupon she cried, “Would we might make ready +to take our pleasure in the flower-garden!” “O my lady,” they replied, “thou +sayest well, and by Allah, we also long for the garden!” So she enquired, “How +shall we do, seeing that every year it is none save my nurse who taketh us to +walk in the garden and who pointeth out to us the various trees and plants; and +I have beaten her and forbidden her from me? Indeed, I repent me of what was +done by me to her, for that, in any case, she is my nurse and hath over me the +right of fosterage. But there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great!” When her handmaids heard this, they all sprang +up; and, kissing the ground between her hands, exclaimed, “Allah upon thee, O +my lady, do thou pardon her and bid her to the presence!”; and quoth she, “By +Allah, I am resolved upon this; but which of you will go to her, for I have +prepared her a splendid robe of honour?” Hereupon two damsels came forward, by +name Bulbul and Siwád al-‘Ayn, who were comely and graceful and the principals +among the Princess’s women, and her favourites. And they said, “We will go to +her, O King’s daughter!”; and she said, “Do what seemeth good to you.” So they +went to the house of the nurse and knocked at the door and entered; and she, +recognising the twain, received them with open arms and welcomed them. When +they had sat awhile with her, they said to her, “O nurse, the Princess +pardoneth thee and desireth to take thee back into favour.” She replied, “This +may never be, though I drink the cup of ruin! Hast thou forgotten how she put +me to shame before those who love me and those who hate me, when my clothes +were dyed with my blood and I well nigh died for stress of beating, and after +this they dragged me forth by the feet, like a dead dog, and cast me without +the door? So by Allah, I will never return to her nor fill my eyes with her +sight!” Quoth the two girls, “Disappoint not our pains in coming to thee nor +send us away unsuccessful. Where is thy courtesy uswards? Think but who it is +that cometh in to visit thee: canst thou wish for any higher of standing than +we with the King’s daughter?” She replied, “I take refuge with Allah: well I +wot that my station is less than yours; were it not that the Princess’s favour +exalted me above all her women, so that, were I wroth with the greatest of +them, she had died in her skin of fright.” They rejoined, “All is as it was and +naught is in anywise changed. Indeed, ’tis better than before, for the Princess +humbleth herself to thee and seeketh a reconciliation without intermediary.” +Said the old woman, “By Allah, were it not for your presence and intercession +with me, I had never returned to her; no, not though she had commanded to slay +me!” They thanked her for this and she rose and dressing herself accompanied +them to the palace. Now when the King’s daughter saw her, she sprang to her +feet in honour, and the old woman said, “Allah! Allah! O King’s daughter, say +me, whose was the fault, mine or thine?” Hayat al-Nufus replied, “The fault was +mine, and ’tis thine to pardon and forgive. By Allah, O my nurse, thy rank is +high with me and thou hast over me the right of fosterage; but thou knowest +that Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) hath allotted to His creatures four +things, disposition, life, daily bread and death; nor is it in man’s power to +avert that which is decreed. Verily, I was beside myself and could not recover +my senses; but, O my nurse, I repent of what deed I did.” With this, the +crone’s anger ceased from her and she rose and kissed the ground before the +Princess, who called for a costly robe of honour and threw it over her, whereat +she rejoiced with exceeding joy in the presence of the Princess’s slaves and +women. When all ended thus happily, Hayat al-Nufus said to the old woman, “O my +nurse, how go the fruits and growths of our garth?”; and she replied, “O my +lady, I see excellent fruits in the town; but I will enquire of this matter and +return thee an answer this very day.” Then she withdrew, honoured with all +honour and betook herself to Ardashir, who received her with open arms and +embraced her and rejoiced in her coming, for that he had expected her long and +longingly. She told him all that had passed between herself and the Princess +and how her mistress was minded to go down into the garden on such a day.——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman betook +herself to the Prince and told him all that had passed between herself and the +Princess Hayat al-Nufus; and how her mistress was minded to go down into the +garden on such a day and said to him, “Hast thou done as I bade thee with the +Warder of the garden and hast thou made him taste of thy bounties?” He replied, +“Yes, and the oldster is become my good friend: my way is his way and he would +well I had need of him.” Then he told her all that had happened and of the +dream-paintings which the Wazir had caused to be limned in the pavilion; +especially of the fowler, the net and the falcon: whereat she joyed with great +joy and said, “Allah upon thee, do thou set thy Minister midmost thy heart, for +this that he hath done pointeth to the keenness of his wit and he hath helped +thee to the winning thy wish. So rise forthright, O my son, and go to the +Hammam-bath and don thy daintiest dress, wherein may be our success. Then fare +thou to the Gardener and make shift to pass the night in the garden, for though +he should give the earth full of gold none may win to pass into it, whilst the +King’s daughter is therein. When thou hast entered, hide thee where no eye may +espy thee and keep concealed till thou hear me cry, ‘O Thou whose boons are +hidden, save us from that we fear!’ Then come forth from thine ambush and walk +among the trees and show thy beauty and loveliness which put the moons to +shame, to the intent that Princess Hayat al-Nufus may see thee and that her +heart and soul may be filled with love of thee; so shalt thou attain to thy +wish and thy grief be gone.” “To hear is to obey,” replied the young Prince and +gave her a purse of a thousand dinars, which she took and went away. Thereupon +Ardashir fared straight for the bath and washed; after which he arrayed himself +in the richest of robes of the apparel of the Kings of the Chosroës and girt +his middle with a girdle wherein were conjoined all manner precious stones and +donned a turband inwoven with red gold and purfled with pearls and gems. His +cheeks shone rosy-red and his lips were scarlet; his eyelids like the gazelle’s +wantoned; like a wine-struck wight in his gait he swayed; beauty and loveliness +garbed him, and his shape shamed the bowing of the bough. Then he put in his +pocket a purse containing a thousand dinars and, repairing to the +flower-garden, knocked at the door. The Gardener opened to him and rejoicing +with great joy salamed to him in most worshipful fashion; then, observing that +his face was overcast, he asked him how he did. The King’s son answered, “Know, +O elder, that I am dear to my father and he never laid his hand on me till this +day, when words arose between us and he abused me and smote me on the face and +struck me with his staff and drave me away. Now I have no friend to turn to and +I fear the perfidy of Fortune, for thou knowest that the wrath of parents is no +light thing. Wherefore I come to thee, O uncle, seeing that to my father thou +art known, and I desire of thy favour that thou suffer me abide in the garden +till the end of the day, or pass the night there, till Allah grant good +understanding between myself and my sire.” When the old man heard these words +he was concerned anent what had occurred and said, “O my lord, dost thou give +me leave to go to thy sire and be the means of reconciliation between thee and +him?” Replied Ardashir, “O uncle, thou must know that my father is of impatient +nature, and irascible; so an thou proffer him reconciliation in his heat of +temper he will make thee no answer; but when a day or two shall have passed, +his heat will soften. Then go thou in to him and thereupon he will relent.” +“Hearkening and obedience,” quoth the Gardener; “but, O my lord, do thou come +with me to my house, where thou shalt night with my children and my family and +none shall reproach this to us.” Quoth Ardashir, “O uncle, I must be alone when +I am angry.”[FN#281] The old man said, “It irketh me that thou shouldst lie +solitary in the garden, when I have a house.” But Ardashir said, “O uncle, I +have an aim in this, that the trouble of my mind may be dispelled from me and I +know that in this lies the means of regaining his favour and softening his +heart to me.” Rejoined the Gardener, “I will fetch thee a carpet to sleep on +and a coverlet wherewith to cover thee;” and the Prince said, “There is no harm +in that, O uncle.” So the keeper rose and opened the garden to him, and brought +him the carpet and coverlet, knowing not that the King’s daughter was minded to +visit the garth. On this wise fared it with the Prince; but as regards the +nurse, she returned to the Princess and told her that the fruits were kindly +ripe on the garden trees; whereupon she said, “O my nurse, go down with me +to-morrow into the garden, that we may walk about in it and take our +pleasure,—Inshallah; and send meanwhile to the Gardener, to let him know what +we purpose.” So she sent to the Gardener to say, “The Princess will visit the +parterre to-morrow, so leave neither water-carriers nor tree-tenders therein, +nor let one of Allah’s creatures enter the garth.” When word came to him, he +set his water-ways and channels in order and, going to Ardashir, said to him, +“O my lord, the King’s daughter is mistress of this garden; and I have only to +crave thy pardon, for the place is thy place and I live only in thy favours, +except that my tongue is under thy feet.[FN#282] I must tell thee that the +Princess Hayat al-Nufus hath a mind to visit it to-morrow at the first of the +day and hath bidden me leave none therein who might look upon her. So I would +have thee of thy favour go forth of the garden this day, for the Queen will +abide only in it till the time of mid-afternoon prayer and after it shall be at +thy service for se’nnights and fortnights, months and years.” Ardashir asked, +“O elder, haply we have caused thee some mishap?”; and the other answered, “By +Allah, O my lord, naught hath betided me from thee but honour!” Rejoined the +Prince, “An it be so, nothing but all good shall befal thee through us; for I +will hide in the garden and none shall espy me, till the King’s daughter hath +gone back to her palace.” Said the Gardener, “O my lord, an she espy the shadow +of a man in the garden or any of Allah’s male creatures she will strike off my +head;”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Gardener +said to the Prince, “An the King’s daughter espy the shadow of a man in her +garden, she will strike off my head;” the youth replied, “Have no fear, I will +on no wise let any see me. But doubtless to-day thou lackest of spending-money +for thy family.” Then he put his hand to his purse and pulled out five hundred +ducats, which he gave to him saying, “Take this gold and lay it out on thy +family, that thy heart may be at ease concerning them.” When the Shaykh looked +upon the gold, his life seemed a light thing to him[FN#283] and he suffered the +Prince to tarry where he was, charging him straitly not to show himself in the +garden. Then he left him loitering about. Meanwhile, when the eunuchs went in +to the Princess at break of day, she bade open the private wicket leading from +the palace to the parterres and donned a royal robe, embroidered with pearls +and jewels and gems, over a shift of fine silk purfled with rubies. Under the +whole was that which tongue refuseth to explain, whereat was confounded the +brain and whose love would embrave the craven’s strain. On her head she set a +crown of red gold, inlaid with pearls and gems and she tripped in pattens of +cloth of gold, embroidered with fresh pearls[FN#284] and adorned with all +manner precious stones. Then she put her hand upon the old woman’s shoulder and +commanded to go forth by the privy door; but the nurse looked at the garden +and, seeing it full of eunuchs and handmaids walking about, eating the fruits +and troubling the streams and taking their ease of sport and pleasure in the +water said to the Princess, “O my lady, is this a garden or a madhouse?” Quoth +the Princess, “What meaneth thy speech, O nurse?”; and quoth the old woman, +“Verily the garden is full of slave-girls and eunuchs, eating of the fruits and +troubling the streams and scaring the birds and hindering us from taking our +ease and sporting and laughing and what not else; and thou hast no need of +them. Wert thou going forth of thy palace into the highway, this would be +fitting, as an honour and a ward to thee; but, now, O my lady, thou goest forth +of the wicket into the garden, where none of Almighty Allah’s creatures may +look on thee.” Rejoined the Princess, “By Allah, O nurse mine, thou sayst +sooth! But how shall we do?”; and the old woman said, “Bid the eunuchs send +them all away and keep only two of the slave-girls, that we may make merry with +them.” So she dismissed them all, with the exception of two of her handmaids who +were most in favour with her. But when the old woman saw that her heart was +light and that the season was pleasant to her, she said to her, “Now we can +enjoy ourselves aright: so up and let us take our pleasance in the garden.” The +Princess put her hand upon her shoulder and went out by the private door. The +two waiting-women walked in front and she followed them laughing at them and +swaying gracefully to and fro in her ample robes; whilst the nurse forewent +her, showing her the trees and feeding her with fruits; and so they fared on +from place to place, till they came to the pavilion, which when the King’s +daughter beheld and saw that it had been restored, she asked the old woman, “O +my nurse, seest thou yonder pavilion? It hath been repaired and its walls +whitened.” She answered, “By Allah, O my lady, I heard say that the keeper of +the garden had taken stuffs of a company of merchants and sold them and bought +bricks and lime and plaster and stones and so forth with the price; so I asked +him what he had done with all this, and he said, ‘I have repaired the pavilion +which lay in ruins,’ presently adding, ‘And when the merchants sought their due +of me, I said to them, ‘Wait ‘till the Princess visit the garden and see the +repairs and they satisfy her; then will I take of her what she is pleased to +bestow on me, and pay you what is your due.’ Quoth I, ‘What moved thee to do +this thing?’; and quoth he, ‘I saw the pavilion in ruins, the coigns thrown +down and the stucco peeled from the walls, and none had the grace to repair it; +so I borrowed the coin on my own account and restored the place; and I trust in +the King’s daughter to deal with me as befitteth her dignity.’ I said, ‘The +Princess is all goodness and generosity and will no doubt requite thee.’ And he +did all this but in hopes of thy bounty.” Replied the Princess, “By Allah, he +hath dealt nobly in rebuilding it and hath done the deed of generous men! Call +me my purse-keeperess.” The old woman accordingly fetched the purse-keeperess, +whom the Princess bade give the Gardener two thousand dinars; whereupon the +nurse sent to him, bidding him to the presence of the King’s daughter. But when +the messenger said to him, “Obey the Queen’s order,” the Gardener felt feeble +and, trembling in every joint, said in himself, “Doubtless, the Princess hath +seen the young man, and this day will be the most unlucky of days for me.” So +he went home and told his wife and children what had happened and gave them his +last charges and farewelled them, while they wept for and with him. Then he +presented himself before the Princess, with a face the colour of turmeric and +ready to fall flat at full length. The old woman remarked his plight and +hastened to forestall him, saying “O Shaykh, kiss the earth in thanksgiving to +Almighty Allah and be constant in prayer to Him for the Princess. I told her +what thou didst in the matter of repairing the ruined pavilion, and she +rejoiceth in this and bestoweth on thee two thousand dinars in requital of thy +pains; so take them from the purse-keeperess and kiss the earth before the +King’s daughter and bless her and wend thy way.” Hearing these words he took +the gold and kissed the ground before Hayat al-Nufus, calling down blessings on +her. Then he returned to his house, and his family rejoiced in him and blessed +him[FN#285] who had been the prime cause of this business.——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirtieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Care-taker +took the two thousand ducats from the Princess and returned to his house, all +his family rejoiced in him and blessed him who had been the prime cause of this +business. Thus it fared with these; but as regards the old woman, she said to +the Princess, “O my lady, this is indeed become a fine place! Never saw I a +purer white than its plastering nor properer than its painting! I wonder if he +have also repaired it within: else hath he made the outside white and left the +inside black. Come, let us enter and inspect.” So they went in, the nurse +preceding, and found the interior painted and gilded in the goodliest way. The +Princess looked right and left, till she came to the upper end of the estrade, +when she fixed her eyes upon the wall and gazed long and earnestly thereat; +whereupon the old woman knew that her glance had lighted on the presentment of +her dream and took the two waiting-women away with her, that they might not +divert her mind. When the King’s daughter had made an end of examining the +painting, she turned to the old woman, wondering and beating hand on hand, and +said to her, “O my nurse, come, see a wondrous thing which were it graven with +needle-gravers on the eye-corners would be a warner to whoso will be warned.” +She replied, “And what is that, O my lady?”; when the Princess rejoined, “Go, +look at the upper end of the estrade, and tell me what thou seest there.” So +she went up and considered the dream-drawing: then she came down, wondering, +and said, “By Allah, O my lady, here is depicted the garden and the fowler and +his net and the birds and all thou sawest in thy dream; and verily, nothing but +urgent need withheld the male pigeon from returning to free his mate after he +had fled her, for I see him in the talons of a bird of raven which hath +slaughtered him and is drinking his blood and rending his flesh and eating it; +and this, O my lady, caused his tarrying to return and rescue her from the net. +But, O my mistress, the wonder is how thy dream came to be thus depicted, for, +wert thou minded to set it forth in painture, thou hadst not availed to portray +it. By Allah, this is a marvel which should be recorded in histories! Surely, O +my lady, the angels appointed to attend upon the sons of Adam, knew that the +cock-pigeon was wronged of us, because we blamed him for deserting his mate; so +they embraced his cause and made manifest his excuse; and now for the first +time we see him in the hawk’s pounces a dead bird.” Quoth the Princess, “O my +nurse, verily, Fate and Fortune had course against this bird, and we did him +wrong.” Quoth the nurse, “O my mistress, foes shall meet before Allah the Most +High: but, O my lady, verily, the truth hath been made manifest and the male +pigeon’s excuse certified to us; for had the hawk not seized him and drunk his +blood and rent his flesh he had not held aloof from his mate, but had returned +to her, and set her free from the net; but against death there is no recourse, +nor, O my lady, is there aught in the world more tenderly solicitous than the +male for the female, among all creatures which Almighty Allah hath created. And +especially ’tis thus with man; for he starveth himself to feed his wife, +strippeth himself to clothe her, angereth his family to please her and +disobeyeth and denieth his parents to endow her. She knoweth his secrets and +concealeth them and she cannot endure from him a single hour.[FN#286] An he be +absent from her one night, her eyes sleep not, nor is there a dearer to her +than he: she loveth him more than her parents and they lie down to sleep in +each other’s arms, with his hand under her neck and her hand under his neck, +even as saith the poet, +</p> + +<p> +‘I made my wrist her pillow and I lay with her in litter; *<br /> + + And I said to Night ‘Be long!’ while the full moon showed<br /> + + glitter:<br /> + +Ah me, it <i>was</i> a night, Allah never made its like; * Whose<br /> + + first was sweetest sweet and whose last was bitt’rest<br /> + + bitter!’[FN#287]<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he kisseth her and she kisseth him; and I have heard of a certain King +that, when his wife fell sick and died, he buried himself alive with her, +submitting himself to death, for the love of her and the strait companionship +which was between them. Moreover, a certain King sickened and died, and when +they were about to bury him, his wife said to her people: ‘Let me bury myself +alive with him: else will I slay myself and my blood shall be on your heads.’ +So, when they saw she would not be turned from this thing, they left her, and +she cast herself into the grave with her dead husband, of the greatness of her +love and tenderness for him.” And the old woman ceased not to ply the Princess +with anecdotes of conjugal love between men and women, till there ceased that +which was in her heart of hatred for the sex masculine; and when she felt that +she had succeeded in renewing in her the natural inclination of woman to man, +she said to her, “’Tis time to go and walk in the garden.” So they fared forth +from the pavilion and paced among the trees. Presently the Prince chanced to +turn and his eyes fell on Hayat al-Nufus; and when he saw the symmetry of her +shape and the rosiclearness of her cheeks and the blackness of her eyes and her +exceeding grace and her passing loveliness and her excelling beauty and her +prevailing elegance and her abounding perfection, his reason was confounded and +he could not take his eyes off her. Passion annihilated his right judgment and +love overpassed all limits in him; his vitals were occupied with her service +and his heart was aflame with the fire of repine, so that he swooned away and +fell to the ground. When he came to himself, she had passed from his sight and +was hidden from him among the trees;——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Prince Ardashir, +who lay hid in the garden, saw the Princess and her nurse walking amongst the +trees, he swooned away for very love-longing. When he came to himself Hayat +al-Nufus had passed from his sight and was hidden from him among the trees; so +he sighed from his heart-core and improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“Whenas mine eyes behold her loveliness, * My heart is torn<br /> + + with love’s own ecstasy.<br /> + +I wake o’erthrown, castdown on face of earth * Nor can the<br /> + + Princess[FN#288] my sore torment see.<br /> + +She turned and ravished this sad Love-thrall’d sprite; *<br /> + + Mercy, by Allah, ruth; nay, sympathy!<br /> + +O Lord, afford me union, deign Thou soothe * My soul, ere<br /> + + grave-niche house this corse of me;<br /> + +I’ll kiss her ten times ten times, and times ten * For lover’s<br /> + + wasted cheek the kisses be!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +The old woman ceased not to lead the Princess a-pleasuring about the garden, +till they reached the place where the Prince lay ambushed, when, behold she +said, “O Thou whose bounties are hidden, vouchsafe us assurance from that we +fear!” The King’s son hearing the signal, left his lurking-place and, surprised +by the summons, walked among the trees, swaying to and fro with a proud and +graceful gait and a shape that shamed the branches. His brow was crowned with +pearly drops and his cheeks red as the afterglow, extolled be Allah the +Almighty in that He hath created! When the King’s daughter caught sight of him, +she gazed a long while on him and noticed his beauty and grace and loveliness +and his eyes that wantoned like the gazelle’s, and his shape that outvied the +branches of the myrobalan; wherefore her wits were confounded and her soul +captivated and her heart transfixed with the arrows of his glances. Then she +said to the old woman, “O my nurse, whence came yonder handsome youth?”; and +the nurse asked, “Where is he, O my lady?” “There he is,” answered Hayat +al-Nufus; “near hand, among the trees.” The old woman turned right and left, as +if she knew not of his presence, and cried, “And pray, who can have taught this +youth the way into this garden?” Quoth Hayat al-Nufus, “Who shall give us news +of the young man? Glory be to Him who created men! But say me, dost thou know +him, O my nurse?” Quoth the old woman, “O my lady, he is the young merchant who +wrote to thee by me.” The Princess (and indeed she was drowned in the sea of +her desire and the fire of her passion and love-longing) broke out, “O my +nurse, how goodly is this youth! Indeed he is fair of favour. Methinks, there +is not on the face of earth a goodlier than he!” Now when the old woman was +assured that the love of him had gotten possession of the Princess, she said to +her, “Did I not tell thee, O my lady, that he was a comely youth with a beaming +favour?” Replied Hayat al-Nufus, “O my nurse, King’s daughters know not the +ways of the world nor the manners of those that be therein, for that they +company with none, neither give they nor take they. O my nurse, how shall I do +to bring about a meeting and present myself to him, and what shall I say to him +and what will he say to me?” Said the old woman, “What device is left me? +Indeed, we were confounded in this matter by thy behaviour”; and the Princess +said, “O my nurse, know thou that if any ever died of passion, I shall do so, +and behold, I look for nothing but death on the spot by reason of the fire of +my love-longing.” When the old woman heard her words and saw the transport of +her desire for him, she answered, “O my lady, now as for his coming to thee, +there is no way thereto; and indeed thou art excused from going to him, because +of thy tender age; but rise with me and follow me. I will accost him: so shalt +thou not be put to shame, and in the twinkling of an eye affection shall ensue +between you.” The King’s daughter cried, “Go thou before me, for the decree of +Allah may not be rejected.” Accordingly they went up to the place where +Ardashir sat, as he were the full moon at its fullest, and the old woman said +to him, “See O youth, who is present before thee! ’Tis the daughter of our King +of the age, Hayat al-Nufus: bethink thee of her rank and appreciate the honour +she doth thee in coming to thee and rise out of respect for her and stand +before her.” The Prince sprang to his feet in an instant and his eyes met her +eyes, whereupon they both became as they were drunken without wine. Then the +love of him and desire redoubled upon the Princess and she opened her arms and +he his, and they embraced; but love-longing and passion overcame them and they +swooned away and fell to the ground and lay a long while without sense. The old +woman, fearing scandalous exposure, carried them both into the pavilion, and, +sitting down at the door, said to the two waiting-women, “Seize the occasion to +take your pleasure in the garden, for the Princess sleepeth.” So they returned +to their diversion. Presently the lovers revived from their swoon and found +themselves in the pavilion, whereat quoth the Prince, “Allah upon thee, O +Princess of fair ones, is this vision or sleep-illusion?” Then the twain +embraced and intoxicated themselves without wine, complaining each to other of +the anguish of passion; and the Prince improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“Sun riseth sheen from her brilliant brow, * And her cheek<br /> + + shows the rosiest afterglow:<br /> + +And when both appear to the looker-on, * The skyline star<br /> + + ne’er for shame will show:<br /> + +An the leven flash from those smiling lips, * Morn breaks and<br /> + + the rays dusk and gloom o’erthrow.<br /> + +And when with her graceful shape she sways, * Droops leafiest<br /> + + Bán-tree[FN#289] for envy low:<br /> + +Me her sight suffices; naught crave I more: * Lord of Men and<br /> + + Morn, be her guard from foe!<br /> + +The full moon borrows a part of her charms; * The sun would<br /> + + rival but fails his lowe.<br /> + +Whence could Sol aspire to that bending grace? * Whence should<br /> + + Luna see such wit and such mind-gifts know?<br /> + +Who shall blame me for being all love to her, * ’Twixt accord<br /> + + and discord aye doomed to woe:<br /> + +’Tis she won my heart with those forms that bend * What shall<br /> + + lover’s heart from such charms defend?”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Prince had made +an end of his verses, the Princess strained him to her bosom and kissed him on +the mouth and between the eyes; whereupon his soul returned to him and he fell +to complaining to her of that he had endured for stress of love and tyranny of +longing and excess of transport and distraction and all he had suffered for the +hardness of her heart. Hearing those words she kissed his hands and feet and +bared her head,[FN#290] whereupon the gloom gathered and the full moons dawned +therein. Then said she to him, “O my beloved and term of all my wishes, would +the day of estrangement had never been and Allah grant it may never return +between us!” And they embraced and wept together, whilst she recited these +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“O who shamest the Moon and the sunny glow: * Thou whose<br /> + + slaught’ring tyranny lays me low;<br /> + +With the sword of a look thou hast shorn my heart, * How<br /> + + escape thy sword-glance fatal of blow?<br /> + +Thus eke are thine eyebrows a bow that shot * My bosom with<br /> + + shafts of fiercest lowe:<br /> + +From thy cheeks’ rich crop cometh Paradise; * How, then, shall<br /> + + my heart the rich crop forego?<br /> + +Thy graceful shape is a blooming branch, * And shall pluck the<br /> + + fruits who shall bear that bough.<br /> + +Perforce thou drawest me, robst my sleep; * In thy love I<br /> + + strip me and shameless show:[FN#291]<br /> + +Allah lend thee the rays of most righteous light, * Draw the<br /> + + farthest near and a tryst bestow:<br /> + +Then have ruth on the vitals thy love hath seared, * And the<br /> + + heart that flies to thy side the mo’e!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +And when she ended her recitation, passion overcame her and she was distraught +for love and wept copious tears, rain-like streaming down. This burnt the +Prince’s heart and he in turn became troubled and distracted for love of her. +So he drew nearer to her and kissed her hands and wept with sore weeping and +they ceased not from lover-reproaches and converse and versifying, until the +call to mid-afternoon prayer (nor was there aught between them other than +this), when they bethought them of parting and she said to him, “O light of +mine eyes and core of my heart, the time of severance has come between us +twain: when shall we meet again?” “By Allah,” replied he (and indeed her words +shot him as with shafts), “to mention of parting I am never fain!” Then she +went forth of the pavilion, and he turned and saw her sighing sighs would melt +the rock and weeping shower-like tears; whereupon he for love was sunken in the +sea of desolation and improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“O my heart’s desire! grows my misery * From the stress of<br /> + + love, and what cure for me?<br /> + +By thy face, like dawn when it lights the dark, * And thy hair<br /> + + whose hue beareth night-tide’s blee,<br /> + +And thy form like the branch which in grace inclines * To<br /> + + Zephyr’s[FN#292] breath blowing fain and free,<br /> + +By the glance of thine eyes like the fawn’s soft gaze, * When<br /> + + she views pursuer of high degree,<br /> + +And thy waist down borne by the weight of hips, * These so<br /> + + heavy and that lacking gravity,<br /> + +By the wine of thy lip-dew, the sweetest of drink, * Fresh<br /> + + water and musk in its purity,<br /> + +O gazelle of the tribe, ease my soul of grief, * And grant me<br /> + + thy phantom in sleep to see!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Now when she heard his verses in praise of her, she turned back to him and +embracing him, with a heart on fire for the anguish of severance, fire which +naught save kisses and embraces might quench, cried, “Sooth the byword saith, +Patience is for a lover and not the lack thereof. There is no help for it but I +contrive a means for our reunion.” Then she farewelled him and fared forth, +knowing not where she set her feet, for stress of her love; nor did she stay +her steps till she found herself in her own chamber. When she was gone, passion +and love-longing redoubled upon the young Prince and the delight of sleep was +forbidden him, and the Princess in her turn tasted not food and her patience +failed and she sickened for desire. As soon as dawned the day, she sent for the +nurse, who came and found her condition changed and she cried, “Question me not +of my case; for all I suffer is due to thy handiwork. Where is the beloved of +my heart?” “O my lady, when did he leave thee? Hath he been absent from thee +more than this night?” “Can I endure absence from him an hour? Come, find some +means to bring us together speedily, for my soul is like to flee my body.” “O +my lady, have patience till I contrive thee some subtle device, whereof none +shall be ware.” “By the Great God, except thou bring him to me this very day, I +will tell the King that thou hast corrupted me, and he will cut off thy head!” +“I conjure thee, by Allah, have patience with me, for this is a dangerous +matter!” And the nurse humbled herself to her, till she granted her three days’ +delay, saying, “O my nurse, the three days will be three years to me; and if +the fourth day pass and thou bring him not, I will go about to slay thee.” So +the old woman left her and returned to her lodging, where she abode till the +morning of the fourth day, when she summoned the tirewomen of the town and +sought of them fine dyes and rouge for the painting of a virgin girl and +adorning; and they brought her cosmetics of the best. Then she sent for the +Prince and, opening her chest, brought out a bundle containing a suit of +woman’s apparel, worth five thousand dinars, and a head-kerchief fringed with +all manner gems. Then said she to him, “O my son, hast thou a mind to +foregather with Hayat al-Nufus?”; and he replied, “Yes.” So she took a pair of +tweezers and pulled out the hairs of his face and pencilled his eyes with +Kohl.[FN#293] Then she stripped him and painted him with Henna[FN#294] from his +nails to his shoulders and from his insteps to his thighs and tattooed[FN#295] +him about the body, till he was like red roses upon alabaster slabs. After a +little, she washed him and dried him and bringing out a shift and a pair of +petticoat-trousers made him put them on. Then she clad him in the royal suit +aforesaid and, binding the kerchief about his head, veiled him and taught him +how to walk, saying, “Advance thy left and draw back thy right.” He did her +bidding and forewent her, as he were a Houri faring abroad from Paradise. Then +said she to him, “Fortify thy heart, for thou art going to the King’s palace, +where there will without fail be guards and eunuchs at the gate; and if thou be +startled at them and show doubt or dread, they will suspect thee and examine +thee, and we shall both get into grievous trouble and haply lose our lives: +wherefore an thou feel thyself unable to this, tell me.” He answered, “In very +sooth this thing hath no terrors for me, so be of good cheer and keep thine +eyes cool and clear.” Then she went out preceding him till the twain came to +the palace-gate, which was full of eunuchs. She turned and looked at him, as +much as to say, “Art thou troubled or no?” and finding him all unchanged, went +on. The chief eunuch glanced at the nurse and knew her but, seeing a damsel +following her, whose charms confounded the reason, he said in his mind, “As for +the old woman, she is the nurse; but as for the girl who is with her there is +none in our land resembleth her in favour or approacheth her in fairness save +the Princess Hayat al-Nufus, who is secluded and never goeth out. Would I knew +how she came into the streets and would Heaven I wot whether or no ’twas by +leave of the King!” Then he rose to learn somewhat concerning her and well nigh +thirty castratos followed him; which when the old woman saw, her reason fled +for fear and she said, “Verily, we are Allah’s and to Him we shall return! +Without recourse we are dead folk this time.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old nurse +saw the head of the eunuchry and his assistants making for her she was in +exceeding fear and cried, “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Verily we are God’s and unto him we shall +return; without recourse we be dead folk this time.” When the head eunuch heard +her speak thus, fear gat hold upon him, by reason of that which he knew of the +Princess’s violence and that her father was ruled by her, and he said to +himself, “Belike the King hath commanded the nurse to carry his daughter forth +upon some occasion of hers, whereof she would have none know; and if I oppose +her, she will be wroth with me and will say, ‘This eunuch fellow stopped me, +that he might pry into my affairs.’ So she will do her best to kill me, and I +have no call to meddle in this matter.” So saying, he turned back, and with him +the thirty assistants who drove the people from the door of the palace; +whereupon the nurse entered and saluted the eunuchs with her head, whilst all +the thirty stood to do her honour and returned her salam. She led in the Prince +and he ceased not following her from door to door, and the Protector protected +them, so that they passed all the guards, till they came to the seventh door: +it was that of the great pavilion, wherein was the King’s throne, and it +communicated with the chambers of his women and the saloons of the Harim, as +well as with his daughter’s pavilion. So the old woman halted and said, “Here +we are, O my son, and glory be to Him who hath brought us thus far in safety! +But, O my son, we cannot foregather with the Princess except by night; for +night enveileth the fearful.” He replied, “True, but what is to be done?” Quoth +she, “Hide thee in this black hole,” showing him behind the door a dark and +deep cistern, with a cover thereto. So he entered the cistern, and she went +away and left him there till ended day, when she returned and carried him into +the palace, till they came to the door of Hayat al-Nufus’s apartment. The old +woman knocked and a little maid came out and said, “Who is at the door?” Said +the nurse, “’Tis I,” whereupon the maid returned and craved permission of her +lady, who said, “Open to her and let her come in with any who may accompany +her.” So they entered and the nurse, casting a glance around, perceived that +the Princess had made ready the sitting-chamber and ranged the lamps in row and +lighted candles of wax in chandeliers of gold and silver and spread the divans +and estrades with carpets and cushions. Moreover, she had set on trays of food +and fruits and confections and she had perfumed the place with musk and +aloes-wood and ambergris. She was seated among the lamps and the tapers and the +light of her face outshone the lustre of them all. When she saw the old woman, +she said to her, “O nurse, where is the beloved of my heart?”; and the other +replied, “O my lady, I cannot find him nor have mine eyes espied him, but I +have brought thee his own sister; and here she is.” Cried the Princess, “Art +thou Jinn-mad? What need have I of his sister? Say me, an a man’s head irk him, +doth he bind up his hand?” The old woman answered, “No, by Allah, O my lady! +But look on her, and if she pleases thee, let her be with thee.” Then she +uncovered the Prince’s face, whereupon Hayat al-Nufus knew him and running to +him, pressed him to her bosom, and he pressed her to his breast. Then they both +fell down in a swoon and lay without sense a long while. The old woman +sprinkled rose-water upon them till they came to themselves, when she kissed +him on the mouth more than a thousand times and improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“Sought me this heart’s dear love at gloom of night; * I rose<br /> + + in honour till he sat forthright,<br /> + +And said, ‘O aim of mine, O sole desire * In such night-visit<br /> + + hast of guards no fright?’<br /> + +Replied he, ‘Yes, I fearèd much, but Love * Robbed me of all<br /> + + my wits and reft my sprite.’<br /> + +We clipt with kisses and awhile clung we, * For here ’twas<br /> + + safe; nor feared we watchman-wight:<br /> + +Then rose we parting without doubtful deed * And shook out<br /> + + skirts where none a stain could sight.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when her lover visited +Hayat al-Nufus in her palace, the twain embraced and she improvised some happy +couplets beseeming the occasion. And when she had ended her extempore lines she +said, “Is it indeed true that I see thee in my abode and that thou art my +cup-mate and my familiar?” Then passion grew on her and love was grievous to +her, so that her reason well-nigh fled for joy and she improvised these +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“With all my soul I’ll ransom him who came to me in gloom * Of<br /> + + night, whilst I had waited long to see his figure loom;<br /> + +And naught aroused me save his weeping voice of tender tone *<br /> + + And whispered I, ‘Fair fall thy foot and welcome and well<br /> + + come!’<br /> + +His cheek I kissed a thousand times, and yet a thousand more;<br /> + + * Then clipt and clung about his breast enveiled in<br /> + + darkling room.<br /> + +And cried, ‘Now verily I’ve won the aim of every wish * So<br /> + + praise and prayers to Allah for this grace now best<br /> + + become.’<br /> + +Then slept we even as we would the goodliest of nights * Till<br /> + + morning came to end our night and light up earth with<br /> + + bloom.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +As soon as it was day, she made him enter a place in her apartment unknown to +any and he abode there till nightfall, when she brought him out and they sat in +converse and carouse. Presently he said to her, “I wish to return to my own +country and tell my father what hath passed between us, that he may equip his +Wazir to demand thee in marriage of thy sire.” She replied, “O my love, I fear, +an thou return to thy country and kingdom, thou wilt be distracted from me and +forget the love of me; or that thy father will not further thy wishes in this +matter and I shall die. Meseems the better rede were that thou abide with me +and in my hand-grasp, I looking on thy face, and thou on mine, till I devise +some plan, whereby we may escape together some night and flee to thy country; +for I have cut off my hopes from my own people and I despair of them.” He +rejoined, “I hear and obey;” and they fell again to their carousal and +conversing. He tarried with her thus for some time till, one night, the wine +was pleasant to them and they lay not down nor did they sleep till break of +day. Now it chanced that one of the Kings sent her father a present, and +amongst other things, a necklace of union jewels, nine- and-twenty grains, to +whose price a King’s treasures might not suffice. Quoth Abd al-Kadir, “This +rivière beseemeth none but my daughter Hayat al-Nufus;” and, turning to an +eunuch, whose jaw-teeth the Princess had knocked out for reasons best known to +herself,[FN#296] he called to him and said, “Carry the necklace to thy lady and +say to her, ‘One of the Kings hath sent thy father this, as a present, and its +price may not be paid with money; put it on thy neck.’” The slave took the +necklace, saying in himself, “Allah Almighty make it the last thing she shall +put on in this world, for that she deprived me of the benefit of my +grinder-teeth!”; and repairing to the Princess’s apartment, found the door +locked and the old woman asleep before the threshold. He shook her, and she +awoke in affright and asked, “What dost thou want?”; to which he answered, “The +King hath sent me on an errand to his daughter.” Quoth the nurse, “The key is +not here, go away, whilst I fetch it;” but quoth he, “I cannot go back to the +King without having done his commandment.” So she went away, as if to fetch the +key; but fear overtook her and she sought safety in flight. Then the eunuch +awaited her awhile; then, finding she did not return, he feared that the King +would be angry at his delay; so he rattled at the door and shook it, whereupon +the bolt gave way and the leaf opened. He entered and passed on, till he came +to the seventh door and walking in to the Princess’s chamber found the place +splendidly furnished and saw candles and flagons there. At this spectacle he +marvelled and going close up to the bed, which was curtained by a hanging of +silk, embroidered with a net-work of jewels, drew back the curtain from before +the Princess and saw her sleeping with her arms about the neck of a young man +handsomer than herself; whereat he magnified Allah Almighty, who had created +such a youth of vile water, and said, “How goodly be this fashion for one who +hateth men! How came she by this fellow? Methinks ’twas on his account that she +knocked out my back teeth!” Then he drew the curtain and made for the door; but +the King’s daughter awoke in affright and seeing the eunuch, whose name was +Káfúr, called to him. He made her no answer: so she came down from the bed on +the estrade; and catching hold of his skirt laid it on her head and kissed his +feet, saying, “Veil what Allah veileth!” Quoth he, “May Allah not veil thee nor +him who would veil thee! Thou didst knock out my grinders and saidst to me, +‘Let none make mention to me aught of men and their ways!’” So saying, he +disengaged himself from her grasp and running out, locked the door on them and +set another eunuch to guard it. Then he went in to the King who said to him +“Hast thou given the necklace to Hayat al-Nufus?” The eunuch replied, “By +Allah, thou deservest altogether a better fate;” and the King asked, “What hath +happened? Tell me quickly;” whereto he answered, “I will not tell thee, save in +private and between our eyes,” but the King retorted, saying, “Tell me at once +and in public.” Cried the eunuch, “Then grant me immunity.” So the King threw +him the kerchief of immunity and he said, “O King, I went into the Princess +Hayat al-Nufus and found her asleep in a carpeted chamber and on her bosom was +a young man. So I locked the door upon the two and came back to thee.” When the +King heard these words he started up and taking a sword in his hand, cried out +to the Rais of the eunuchs, saying, “Take thy lads and go to the Princess’s +chamber and bring me her and him who is with her as they twain lie on the bed; +but cover them both up.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the King +commanded the head eunuch to take his lads and to fetch and set before him +Hayat al-Nufus and him who was with her, the chief and his men entered the +Princess’s apartment where he found her standing up, dissolved in railing +tears, and the Prince by her side; so he said to them, “Lie down on the bed, as +thou wast and let him do likewise.” The King’s daughter feared for her +lover[FN#297] and said to him, “This is no time for resistance.” So they both +lay down and the eunuchs covered them up and carried the twain into the King’s +presence. Thereupon Abd al-Kadir pulled off the coverings and the Princess +sprang to her feet. He looked at her and would have smitten her neck: but the +Prince threw himself on the father’s breast, saying, “The fault was not hers +but mine only: kill me before thou killest her.” The King made at him, to cut +him down, but Hayat al-Nufus cast herself on her father and said, “Kill me not +him; for he is the son of a great King, lord of all the land in its length and +breadth.” When the King heard this, he turned to the Chief Wazir, who was a +gathering-place of all that is evil, and said to him, “What sayst thou of this +matter, O Minister?” Quoth his Wazir, “What I say is that all who find +themselves in such case as this have need of lying, and there is nothing for it +but to cut off both their heads, after torturing them with all manner of +tortures.” Hereupon the King called his sworder of vengeance, who came with his +lads, and said to him, “Take this gallows-bird and strike off his head and +after do the like with this harlot and burn their bodies, and consult me not +about them a second time.” So the headsmen put his hand to her back, to take +her; but the King cried out at him and cast at him somewhat he hent in hand, +which had well-nigh killed him, saying, “O dog, how durst thou show ruth to +those with whom I am wroth? Put thy hand to her hair and drag her along by it, +so that she may fall on her face.” Accordingly he haled her by her hair and the +Prince in like manner to the place of blood, where he tore off a piece of his +skirt and therewith bound the Prince’s eyes putting the Princess last, in the +hope that some one would intercede for her. Then, having made ready the Prince +he swung his sharp sword three times (whilst all the troops wept and prayed +Allah to send them deliverance by some intercessor), and raised his hand to cut +off Ardashir’s head when, behold, there arose a cloud of dust, that spread and +flew till it veiled the view. Now the cause thereof was that when the young +Prince had delayed beyond measure, the King, his sire, had levied a mighty host +and had marched with it in person to get tidings of his son. Such was his case; +but as regards King Abd al-Kadir, when he saw this, he said, “O wights, what is +the meaning of yonder dust that dimmeth sights?” The Grand Wazir sprang up and +went out to reconnoitre and found behind the cloud men like locusts, of whom no +count could be made nor aught avail of aid, filling the hills and plains and +valleys. So he returned with the report to the King, who said to him, “Go down +and learn for us what may be this host and the cause of its marching upon our +country. Ask also of their commander and salute him for me and enquire the +reason of his coming. An he came in quest of aught, we will aid him, and if he +have a blood-feud with one of the Kings, we will ride with him; or, if he +desire a gift, we will handsel him; for this is indeed a numerous host and a +power uttermost, and we fear for our land from its mischief.” So the Minister +went forth and walked among the tents and troopers and body-guards, and ceased +not faring on from the first of the day till near sundown, when he came to the +warders with gilded swords in tents star-studded. Passing these, he made his +way through Emirs and Wazirs and Nabobs and Chamberlains, to the pavilion of +the Sultan, and found him a mighty King. When the King’s officers saw him, they +cried out to him, saying, “Kiss ground! Kiss ground!”[FN#298] He did so and +would have risen, but they cried out at him a second and a third time. So he +kissed the earth again and again and raised his head and would have stood up, +but fell down at full length for excess of awe. When at last he was set between +the hands of the King he said to him, “Allah prolong thy days and increase thy +sovranty and exalt thy rank, O thou auspicious King! And furthermore, of a +truth, King Abd al-Kadir saluteth thee and kisseth the earth before thee and +asketh on what weighty business thou art come. An thou seek to avenge thee for +blood on any King, he will take horse in thy service; or, an thou come in quest +of aught, wherein it is in his power to help thee, he standeth up at thy +service on account thereof.” So Ardashir’s father replied to the Wazir, saying, +“O messenger, return to thy lord and tell him that the most mighty King Sayf +al-A’azam Shah, Lord of Shiraz, had a son who hath been long absent from him +and news of him have not come and all traces of him have been cut off. An he be +in this city, he will take him and depart from you; but, if aught have befallen +him or any mischief have ensued to him from you, his father will lay waste your +land and make spoil of your goods and slay your men and seize your women. +Return, therefore, to thy lord in haste and tell him this, ere evil befal him.” +Answered the Minister, “To hear is to obey!” and turned to go away, when the +Chamberlains cried out to him, saying, “Kiss ground! Kiss ground!” So he kissed +the ground a score of times and rose not till his life-breath was in his +nostrils.[FN#299] Then he left the King’s high court and returned to the city, +full of anxious thought concerning the affair of this King and the multitude of +his troops, and going in to King Abd al-Kadir, pale with fear and trembling in +his side-muscles, acquainted him with that had befallen him;——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir returned from +the court of the Great King, pale with fear and with side-muscles quivering for +dread exceeding; and acquainted his lord with that had befallen him. Hereat +disquietude and terror for himself and for his people laid hold upon him and he +said to the Minister, “O Wazir, and who is this King’s son?” Replied the other, +“’Tis even he whom thou badest put to death, but praised be Allah who hastened +not his slaughter! Else had his father wasted our lands and spoiled our good.” +Quoth the King “See now thy corrupt judgment, in that thou didst counsel us to +slay him! Where is the young man, the son of yonder magnanimous King?” And +quoth the Wazir, “O mighty King, thou didst command him be put to death.” When +the King heard this, he was clean distraught and cried out from his heart’s +core and in-most of head, saying, “Woe to you! Fetch me the Headsman +forthright, lest death fall on him!” So they fetched the Sworder and he said, +“O King of the Age, I have smitten off his head even as thou badest me.” Cried +Abd al-Kadir “O dog, an this be true, I will assuredly send thee after him.” +The Headsman replied, “O King, thou didst command me to slay him without +consulting thee a second time.” Said the King, “I was in my wrath; but speak +the truth, ere thou lose thy life;” and said the Sworder, “O King, he is yet in +the chains of life.” At this Abd al-Kadir rejoiced and his heart was set at +rest; then he called for Ardashir, and when he came, he stood up to receive him +and kissed his mouth, saying, “O my son, I ask pardon of Allah Almighty for the +wrong I have done thee, and say thou not aught that may lower my credit with +thy sire, the Great King.” The Prince asked “O King of the Age, and where is my +father?” and the other answered, “He is come hither on thine account.” +Thereupon quoth Ardashir, “By thy worship, I will not stir from before thee +till I have cleared my honour and the honour of thy daughter from that which +thou laidest to our charge; for she is a pure virgin. Send for the midwives and +let them examine her before thee. An they find her maidenhead gone, I give thee +leave to shed my blood; and if they find her a clean maid, her innocence of +dishonour and mine also will be made manifest.” So he summoned the midwives, +who examined the Princess and found her a pure virgin and so told the King, +seeking largesse of him. He gave them what they sought, putting off his royal +robes to bestow on them, and in like manner he was bountiful to all who were in +the Harim. And they brought forth the scent-cups and perfumed all the Lords of +estate and Grandees; and not one but rejoiced with exceeding joy. Then the King +threw his arms about Ardashir’s neck and entreated him with all worship and +honour, bidding his chief eunuchs bear him to the bath. When he came out, he +cast over his shoulders a costly robe and crowned him with a coronet of jewels; +he also girt him with a girdle of silk, purfled with red gold and set with +pearls and gems, and mounted him on one of his noblest mares, with selle and +trappings of gold inlaid with pearls and jewels. Then he bade his Grandees and +Captains mount on his service and escort him to his father’s presence; and +charged him tell his sire that King Abd al-Kadir was at his disposal, +hearkening to and obeying him in whatso he should bid or forbid. “I will not +fail of this,” answered Ardashir and farewelling him, repaired to his father +who, at sight of him, was transported for delight and springing up, advanced to +meet him and embraced him, whilst joy and gladness spread among all the host of +the Great King. Then came the Wazirs and Chamberlains and Captains and guards +and kissed the ground before the Prince and rejoiced in his coming: and it was +a great day with them for enjoyment, for the King’s son gave leave to those of +King Abd al-Kadir’s officers who had accompanied him and others of the +townsfolk, to view the ordinance of his father’s host, without let or stay, so +they might know the multitude of the Great King’s troops and the might of his +empire. And all who had seen him selling stuffs in the linendrapers’ bazar +marvelled how his soul could have consented thereto, considering the nobility +of his spirit and the loftiness of his dignity; but it was his love and +inclination to the King’s daughter that to this had constrained him. Meanwhile, +news of the multitude of her lover’s troops came to Hayat al-Nufus, who was +still jailed by her sire’s commandment, till they knew what he should order +respecting her, whether pardon and release or death and burning; and she looked +down from the terrace-roof of the palace and, turning towards the mountains, +saw even these covered with armed men. When she beheld all those warriors and +knew that they were the army of Ardashir’s father, she feared lest he should be +diverted from her by his sire and forget her and depart from her, whereupon her +father would slay her. So she called a handmaid that was with her in her +apartment by way of service, and said to her, “Go to Ardashir, son of the Great +King, and fear not. When thou comest into his presence, kiss the ground before +him and tell him what thou art and say to him, ‘My lady saluteth thee and would +have thee to know that she is a prisoner in her father’s palace, awaiting his +sentence, whether he be minded to pardon her or put her to death, and she +beseecheth thee not to forget her or forsake her; for to-day thou art +all-powerful; and, in whatso thou commandest, no man dare cross thee. +Wherefore, an it seem good to thee to rescue her from her sire and take her +with thee, it were of thy bounty, for indeed she endureth all these trials for +thy sake. But, an this seem not good to thee, for that thy desire of her is at +an end, still speak to thy sire, so haply he may intercede for her with her +father and he depart not, till he have made him set her free and taken surety +from and made covenant with him, that he will not go about to put her to death +nor work her aught of harm. This is her last word to thee, may Allah not +desolate her of thee, and so The Peace!’”[FN#300]——And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the bondmaid sent by +Hayat al-Nufus made her way to Ardashir and delivered him her lady’s message, +which when he heard, he wept with sore weeping and said to her, “Know that +Hayat al-Nufus is my mistress and that I am her slave and the captive of her +love. I have not forgotten what was between us nor the bitterness of the +parting day; so do thou say to her, after thou hast kissed her feet, that I +will speak with my father of her, and he shall send his Wazir, who sought her +aforetime in marriage for me, to demand her hand once more of her sire, for he +dare not refuse. So, if he send to her to consult her, let her make no +opposition; for I will not return to my country without her.” Then the handmaid +returned to Hayat al-Nufus; and, kissing her hands, delivered to her the +message, which when she heard, she wept for very joy and returned thanks to +Almighty Allah. Such was her case; but as regards Ardashir, he was alone with +his father that night and the Great King questioned him of his case, whereupon +he told him all that had befallen him, first and last. Then quoth the King, +“What wilt thou have me do for thee, O my son? An thou desire Abd al-Kadir’s +ruin, I will lay waste his lands and spoil his hoards and dishonour his house.” +Replied Ardashir, “I do not desire that, O my father, for he hath done nothing +to me deserving thereof; but I wish for union with her; wherefore I beseech +thee of thy favour to make ready a present for her father (but let it be a +magnificent gift!) and send it to him by thy Minister, the man of just +judgment.” Quoth the King, “I hear and consent;” and sending for the treasures +he had laid up from time past, brought out all manner precious things and +showed them to his son, who was pleased with them. Then he called his Wazir and +bade him bear the present with him[FN#301] to King Abd al-Kadir and demand his +daughter in marriage for Ardashir, saying, “Accept the present and return him a +reply.” Now from the time of Ardashir’s departure, King Abd al-Kadir had been +troubled and ceased not to be heavy at heart, fearing the laying waste of his +reign and the spoiling of his realm; when behold, the Wazir came in to him and +saluting him, kissed ground before him. He rose up standing and received him +with honour; but the Minister made haste to fall at his feet and kissing them +cried, “Pardon, O King of the Age! The like of thee should not rise to the like +of me, for I am the least of servants’ slaves. Know, O King, that Prince +Ardashir hath acquainted his father with some of the favours and kindnesses +thou hast done him, wherefore he thanketh thee and sendeth thee in company of +thy servant who standeth before thee, a present, saluting thee and wishing thee +especial blessings and prosperities.” Abd al-Kadir could not believe what he +heard of the excess of his fear, till the Wazir laid the present before him, +when he saw it to be such gift as no money could purchase nor could one of the +Kings of the earth avail to the like thereof; wherefore he was belittled in his +own eyes and springing to his feet, praised Almighty Allah and glorified Him +and thanked the Prince. Then said the Minister to him, “O noble King, give ear +to my word and know that the Great King sendeth to thee, desiring thine +alliance, and I come to thee seeking and craving the hand of thy daughter, the +chaste dame and treasured gem Hayat al-Nufus, in wedlock for his son Ardashir, +wherefore, if thou consent to this proposal and accept of him, do thou agree +with me for her marriage-portion.” Abd al-Kadir hearing these words replied, “I +hear and obey. For my part, I make no objection, and nothing can be more +pleasurable to me; but the girl is of full age and reason and her affair is in +her own hand. So be assured that I will refer it to her and she shall choose +for herself.” Then he turned to the chief eunuch and bade him go and acquaint +the Princess with the event. So he repaired to the Harim and, kissing the +Princess’s hands, acquainted her with the Great King’s offer adding, “What +sayest thou in answer?” “I hear and I obey,” replied she.——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the chief eunuch of +the Harim having informed the Princess how she had been demanded in marriage by +the Great King and having heard her reply, “I hear and I obey,” returned +therewith to the King and gave him this answer, whereat he rejoiced with +exceeding joy and, calling for a costly robe of honour, threw it over the +Wazir’s shoulders. Furthermore, he ordered him ten thousand dinars and bade him +carry the answer to the Great King and crave leave for him to pay him a visit. +“Hearing and obeying,” answered the Minister; and, returning to his master, +delivered him the reply and Abd al-Kadir’s message, and repeated all their +talk, whereat he rejoiced greatly and Ardashir was transported for delight and +his breast broadened and he was a most happy man. King Sayf al-A’azam also gave +King Abd al-Kadir leave to come forth to visit him; so, on the morrow, he took +horse and rode to the camp of the Great King, who came to meet him and saluting +him, seated him in the place of honour, and gave him welcome; and they two sat +whilst Ardashir stood before them. Then arose an orator of the King Abd +al-Kadir’s court and pronounced an eloquent discourse, giving the Prince joy of +the attainment of his desire and of his marriage with the Princess, a Queen +among King’s daughters. When he sat down the Great King caused bring a chest +full of pearls and gems, together with fifty thousand dinars, and said to King +Abd al-Kadir, “I am my son’s deputy in all that concerneth this matter.” So Abd +al-Kadir acknowledged receipt of the marriage-portion and amongst the rest, +fifty thousand dinars for the nuptial festivities; after which they fetched the +Kazis and the witnesses, who wrote out the contract of marriage between the +Prince and Princess, and it was a notable day, wherein all lovers made merry +and all haters and enviers were mortified. They spread the marriage-feasts and +banquets and lastly Ardashir went in unto the Princess and found her a jewel +which had been hidden, an union pearl unthridden and a filly that none but he +had ridden, so he notified this to his sire. Then King Sayf al-A’azam asked his +son, “Hast thou any wish thou wouldst have fulfilled ere we depart?”; and he +answered, “Yes, O King, know that I would fain take my wreak of the Wazir who +entreated us on evil wise and the eunuch who forged a lie against us.” So the +King sent forthright to Abd al-Kadir, demanding of him the Minister and the +castrato, whereupon he despatched them both to him and he commanded to hang +them over the city-gate. After this, they abode a little while and then sought +of Abd al-Kadir leave for his daughter to equip her for departure. So he +equipped her and mounted her in a Takhtrawán, a travelling litter of red gold, +inlaid with pearls and gems and drawn by noble steeds. She carried with her all +her waiting-women and eunuchs, as well as the nurse, who had returned, after +her flight, and resumed her office. Then King Sayf al-A’azam and his son +mounted and Abd al-Kadir mounted also with all the lords of his land, to take +leave of his son-in-law and daughter; and it was a day to be reckoned of the +goodliest of days. After they had gone some distance, the Great King conjured +Abd al-Kadir to turn back; so he farewelled him and his son, after he had +strained him to his breast and kissed him between the eyes and thanked him for +his grace and favours and commended his daughter to his care. Then he went in +to the Princess and embraced her; and she kissed his hands and they wept in the +standing-place of parting. After this he returned to his capital and Ardashir +and his company fared on, till they reached Shiraz, where they celebrated the +marriage-festivities anew. And they abode in all comfort and solace and +joyance of life, till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and Severer +of societies; the Depopulator of palaces and the Garnerer of graveyards. And +men also relate the tale of +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap18"></a>JULNAR THE SEA-BORN AND HER SON KING BADR BASIM OF PERSIA.</h2> + +<p> +There was once in days of yore and in ages and times long gone before, in +Ajam-land a King Shahrimán[FN#302] hight, whose abiding place was Khorásán. He +owned an hundred concubines, but by none of them had he been blessed with boon +of child, male or female, all the days of his life. One day, among the days, he +bethought him of this and fell lamenting for that the most part of his +existence was past and he had not been vouchsafed a son, to inherit the kingdom +after him, even as he had inherited it from his fathers and forebears; by +reason whereof there betided him sore cark and care and chagrin exceeding. As +he sat thus one of his Mamelukes came in to him and said, “O my lord, at the +door is a slave-girl with her merchant, and fairer than she eye hath never +seen.” Quoth the King, “Hither to me with merchant and maid!”; and both came in +to him. Now when Shahriman beheld the girl, he saw that she was like a +Rudaynian lance,[FN#303] and she was wrapped in a veil of gold-purfled silk. +The merchant uncovered her face, whereupon the place was illumined by her +beauty and her seven tresses hung down to her anklets like horses’ tails. She +had Nature-kohl’d eyes, heavy hips and thighs and waist of slenderest guise; +her sight healed all maladies and quenched the fire of sighs, for she was even +as the poet cries, +</p> + +<p> +“I love her madly for she is perfect fair, * Complete in<br /> + + gravity and gracious way;<br /> + +Nor overtall nor overshort, the while * Too full for trousers<br /> + + are those hips that sway:<br /> + +Her shape is midmost ’twixt o’er small and tall; * Nor long to<br /> + + blame nor little to gainsay:<br /> + +O’erfall her anklets tresses black as night * Yet in her face<br /> + + resplends eternal day.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +The King seeing her marvelled at her beauty and loveliness, her symmetry and +perfect grace and said to the merchant, “O Shaykh, how much for this maiden?” +Replied the merchant, “O my lord, I bought her for two thousand dinars of the +merchant who owned her before myself, since when I have travelled with her +three years and she hath cost me, up to the time of my coming hither, other +three thousand gold pieces; but she is a gift from me to thee.” The King robed +him with a splendid robe of honour and ordered him ten thousand ducats, +whereupon he kissed his hands, thanking him for his bounty and beneficence, +and went his ways. Then the King committed the damsel to the tire-women, +saying, “Amend ye the case of this maiden[FN#304] and adorn her and furnish +her a bower and set her therein.” And he bade his chamberlains carry her +everything she needed and shut all the doors upon her. Now his capital wherein +he dwelt, was called the White City and was seated on the sea-shore; so they +lodged her in a chamber, whose latticed casements overlooked the main.——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the King after taking the +maiden, committed her to the tire-women bidding them amend her case and set her +in a bower, and ordered his chamberlains to shut all the doors upon her when +they had lodged her in a chamber whose latticed casements overlooked the main. +Then Shahriman went in to her; but she spake not to him neither took any note +of him.[FN#305] Quoth he, “’Twould seem she hath been with folk who have not +taught her manners.” Then he looked at the damsel and saw her surpassing beauty +and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace, with a face like the rondure of +the moon at its full or the sun shining in the sheeny sky. So he marvelled at +her charms of favour and figure and he praised Allah the Creator (magnified be +His might!), after which he walked up to her and sat him down by her side; then +he pressed her to his bosom and seating her on his thighs, sucked the dew of +her lips, which he found sweeter than honey. Presently he called for trays +spread with richest viands of all kinds and ate and fed her by mouthfuls, till +she had enough; yet she spoke not one word. The King began to talk to her and +asked her of her name; but she abode still silent and uttered not a syllable +nor made him any answer, neither ceased to hang down her head groundwards; and +it was but the excess of her beauty and loveliness and the amorous grace that +saved her from the royal wrath. Quoth he to himself, “Glory be to God, the +Creator of this girl! How charming she is, save that she speaketh not! But +perfection belongeth only to Allah the Most High.” And he asked the slave-girls +whether she had spoken, and they said, “From the time of her coming until now +she hath not uttered a word nor have we heard her address us.” Then he summoned +some of his women and concubines and bade them sing to her and make merry with +her, so haply she might speak. Accordingly they played before her all manner +instruments of music and sports and what not and sang, till the whole company +was moved to mirth, except the damsel, who looked at them in silence, but +neither laughed nor spoke. The King’s breast was straitened; thereupon he +dismissed the women and abode alone with that damsel: after which he doffed his +clothes and disrobing her with his own hand, looked upon her body and saw it as +it were a silvern ingot. So he loved her with exceeding love and falling upon +her, took her maidenhead and found her a pure virgin; whereat he rejoiced with +excessive joy and said in himself, “By Allah, ’tis a wonder that a girl so fair +of form and face should have been left by the merchants a clean maid as she +is!”[FN#306] Then he devoted himself altogether to her, heeding none other and +forsaking all his concubines and favourites, and tarried with her a whole year +as it were a single day. Still she spoke not till, one morning he said to her +(and indeed the love of her and longing waxed upon him), “O desire of souls, +verily passion for thee is great with me, and I have forsaken for thy sake all +my slave-girls and concubines and women and favourites and I have made thee my +portion of the world and had patience with thee a whole year; and now I beseech +Almighty Allah, of His favour, to soften thy heart to me, so thou mayst speak +to me. Or, an thou be dumb, tell me by a sign, that I may give up hope of thy +speech. I pray the Lord (extolled be He!) to vouchsafe me by thee a son child, +who shall inherit the kingdom after me; for I am old and lone and have none to +be my heir. Wherefore, Allah upon thee, an thou love me, return me a reply.” +The damsel bowed her head awhile in thought, and presently raising it, smiled +in his face, whereat it seemed to him as if lightning filled the chamber. Then +she said, “O magnanimous liege lord, and valorous lion, Allah hath answered thy +prayer, for I am with child by thee and the time of my delivery is near at +hand, though I know not if the unborn babe be male or female.[FN#307] But, had +I not conceived by thee, I had not spoken to thee one word.” When the King +heard her speech, his face shone with joy and gladness and he kissed her head +and hands for excess of delight, saying, “Alhamdolillah—laud to Lord—who hath +vouchsafed me the things I desired!, first, thy speech, and secondly, thy +tidings that thou art with child by me.” Then he rose up and went forth from +her and, seating himself on the throne of his kingship, in an ecstasy of +happiness, bade his Wazir distribute to the poor and needy and widows and +others an hundred thousand dinars, by way of thank-offering to Allah Most High +and alms on his own account. The Minister did as bidden by the King who, +returning to the damsel, sat with her and embraced and pressed her to his +breast, saying, “O my lady, my queen, whose slave I am, prithee what was the +cause of this thy silence? Thou hast been with me a whole year, night and day, +waking and sleeping, yet hast not spoken to me till this day.” She replied, +“Hearken, O King of the Age, and know that I am a wretched exile, +broken-hearted and far-parted from my mother and my family and my brother.” +When the King heard her words, he knew her desire and said, “As for thy saying +that thou art wretched, there is for such speech no ground, inasmuch as my +kingdom and good and all I possess are at thy service and I also am become thy +bondman; but, as for thy saying, ‘I am parted from my mother and brother and +family’, tell me where they are and I will send and fetch them to thee.” +Thereupon she answered, “Know, then, O auspicious King, that I am called +Julnár[FN#308] the Sea-born and that my father was of the Kings of the Main. He +died and left us his reign, but while we were yet unsettled, behold, one of the +other Kings arose against us and took the realm from our hands. I have a +brother called Sálih, and my mother also is a woman of the sea; but I fell out +with my brother ‘The Pious’ and swore that I would throw myself into the hands +of a man of the folk of the land. So I came forth of the sea and sat down on +the edge of an island in the moonshine[FN#309], where a passer-by found me and, +carrying me to his house, besought me of love-liesse; but I smote him on the +head, so that he all but died; whereupon he carried me forth and sold me to the +merchant from whom thou hadst me, and this was a good man and a virtuous; +pious, loyal and generous. Were it not that thy heart loved me and that thou +promotedest me over all thy concubines, I had not remained with thee a single +hour, but had cast myself from this window into the sea and gone to my mother +and family; but I was ashamed to fare themwards, being with child by thee; for +they would have deemed evilly of me and would not have credited me, even +although I swore to them, an I told them that a King had bought me with his +gold and made me his portion of the world and preferred me over all his wives +and every thing that his right hand possessed. This then is my story and—the +Peace!”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fortieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Julnar[FN#310] +the Sea-born, answering the question of King Shahriman, told him her past from +first to last, the King thanked her and kissed her between the eyes, saying, +“By Allah, O my lady and light of mine eyes, I cannot bear to be parted from +thee one hour; and given thou leave me, I shall die forthright. What then is to +be done?” Replied she, “O my lord, the time of my delivery is at hand and my +family needs must be present, that they may tend me; for the women of the land +know not the manner of child-bearing of the women of the sea, nor do the +daughters of the ocean know the manner of the daughters of the earth; and when +my people come, I shall be reconciled to them and they will be reconciled to +me.” Quoth the King, “How do the people of the sea walk therein, without being +wetted?”; and quoth she, “O King of the Age, we walk in the waters with our +eyes open, as do ye on the ground, by the blessing of the names graven upon the +seal-ring of Solomon David-son (on whom be peace!). But, O King, when my kith +and kin come, I will tell them how thou boughtest me with thy gold, and hast +entreated me with kindness and benevolence. It behoveth that thou confirm my +words to them and that they witness thine estate with their own eyes and they +learn that thou art a King, son of a King.” He rejoined, “O my lady, do what +seemeth good to thee and what pleaseth thee and I will consent to thee in all +thou wouldst do.” The damsel continued, “Yes, we walk in the sea and see what +is therein and behold the sun, moon, stars and sky, as it were on the surface +of earth; and this irketh us naught. Know also that there be many peoples in +the main and various forms and creatures of all kinds that are on the land, and +that all that is on the land compared with that which is in the main is but a +very small matter.” And the King marvelled at her words. Then she pulled out +from her bosom two bits of Comorin lign-aloes and, kindling fire in a +chafing-dish, chose somewhat of them and threw it in, then she whistled a loud +whistle and spake words none understood. Thereupon arose a great smoke and she +said to the King, who was looking on, “O my lord, arise and hide thyself in a +closet, that I may show thee my brother and mother and family, whilst they see +thee not; for I design to bring them hither, and thou shalt presently espy a +wondrous thing and shalt marvel at the several creatures and strange shapes +which Almighty Allah hath created.” So he arose without stay or delay and +entering a closet, fell a-watching what she should do. She continued her +fumigations and conjurations till the sea foamed and frothed turbid and there +rose from it a handsome young man of a bright favour, as he were the moon at +its full, with brow flower-white, cheeks of ruddy light and teeth like the +marguerite. He was the likest of all creatures to his sister and the tongue of +the case spoke in his praise these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“The full moon groweth perfect once a month * But thy face<br /> + + each day we see perfectèd.<br /> + +And the full moon dwelleth in single sign, * But to thee all<br /> + + hearts be a dwelling stead.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +After him there came forth of the sea an ancient dame with hair speckled gray +and five maidens, as they were moons, bearing a likeness to the damsel hight +Julnar. The King looked upon them as they all walked upon the face of the +water, till they drew near the window and saw Julnar, whereupon they knew her +and went in to her. She rose to them and met them with joy and gladness, and +they embraced her and wept with sore weeping. Then said they to her, “O Julnar, +how couldst thou leave us four years, and we unknowing of thine abiding place? +By Allah the world hath been straitened upon us for stress of severance from +thee, and we have had no delight of food or drink; no, not for one day, but +have wept with sore weeping night and day for the excess of our longing after +thee!” Then she fell to kissing the hands of the youth her brother and her +mother and cousins, and they sat with her awhile, questioning her of her case +and of what had betided her, as well as of her present estate. “Know,” replied +she, “that, when I left you, I issued from the sea and sat down on the shore of +an island, where a man found me and sold me to a merchant, who brought me to +this city and sold me for ten thousand dinars to the King of the country, who +entreated me with honour and forsook all his concubines and women and +favourites for my sake and was distracted by me from all he had and all that +was in his city.” Quoth her brother, “Praised be Allah, who hath reunited us +with thee! But now, O my sister, ’tis my purpose that thou arise and go with us +to our country and people.” When the King heard these words, his wits fled him +for fear lest the damsel accept her brother’s words and he himself avail not to +stay her, albeit he loved her passionately, and he became distracted with fear +of losing her. But Julnar answered, “By Allah, O my brother, the mortal who +bought me is lord of this city and he is a mighty King and a wise man, good and +generous with extreme generosity. Moreover, he is a personage of great worth +and wealth and hath neither son nor daughter. He hath entreated me with honour +and done me all manner of favour and kindness; nor, from the day of his buying +me to this time have I heard from him an ill word to hurt my heart: but he hath +never ceased to use me courteously; doing nothing save with my counsel, and I +am in the best of case with him and in the perfection of fair fortune. +Furthermore, were I to leave him, he would perish; for he cannot endure to be +parted from me an hour; and if I left him, I also should die, for the excess of +the love I bear him, by reason of his great goodness to me during the time of +my sojourn with him; for, were my father alive, my estate with him would not be +like my estate with this great and glorious and puissant potentate. And verily, +ye see me with child by him and praise be to Allah, who hath made me a daughter +of the Kings of the sea, and my husband the mightiest of the Kings of the land, +and Allah, in very sooth, he hath compensated me for whatso I lost.”——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Forty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Julnar the Sea born told +her brother all her tale, adding “Allah hath not cut me off, but hath +compensated me for whatso I lost. Now this King hath no issue, male or female, +so I pray the Almighty to vouchsafe me a son who shall inherit of this mighty +sovran that which the Lord hath bestowed upon him of lands and palaces and +possessions.” Now when her brother and the daughters of her uncle heard this +her speech, their eyes were cooled thereby and they said, “O Julnar, thou +knowest thy value with us and thou wottest the affection we bear thee and thou +art certified that thou art to us the dearest of all creatures and thou art +assured that we seek but ease for thee, without travail or trouble. Wherefore, +an thou be in unease, arise and go with us to our land and our folk; but, an +thou be at thine ease here, in honour and happiness, this is our wish and our +will; for we desire naught save thy welfare in any case.”[FN#311] Quoth she, +“By Allah, I am here in the utmost ease and solace and honour and grace!” When +the King heard what she said, he joyed with a heart set at rest and thanked her +silently for this; the love of her redoubled on him and entered his heart-core +and he knew that she loved him as he loved her and that she desired to abide +with him, that she might see his child by her. Then Julnar bade her women lay +the tables and set on all sorts of viands, which had been cooked in kitchen +under her own eyes, and fruits and sweetmeats, whereof she ate, she and her +kinsfolk. But, presently, they said to her, “O Julnar, thy lord is a stranger +to us, and we have entered his house, without his leave or weeting. Thou hast +extolled to us his excellence and eke thou hast set before us of his victual +whereof we have eaten; yet have we not companied with him nor seen him, neither +hath he seen us nor come to our presence and eaten with us, so there might be +between us bread and salt.” And they all left eating and were wroth with her, +and fire issued from their mouths, as from cressets; which when the King saw, +his wits fled for excess of fear of them. But Julnar arose and soothed them and +going to the closet where was the King her lord, said to him, “O my lord, hast +thou seen and heard how I praised thee and extolled thee to my people and hast +thou noted what they said to me of their desire to carry me away with them?” +Quoth he, “I both heard and saw: May the Almighty abundantly requite thee for +me! By Allah, I knew not the full measure of thy fondness until this blessed +hour, and now I doubt not of thy love to me!” Quoth she, “O my lord, is the +reward of kindness aught but kindness? Verily, thou hast dealt generously with +me and hast entreated me with worship and I have seen that thou lovest me with +the utmost love, and thou hast done me all manner of honour and kindness and +preferred me above all thou lovest and desirest. So how should my heart be +content to leave thee and depart from thee, and how should I do thus after all +thy goodness to me? But now I desire of thy courtesy that thou come and salute +my family, so thou mayst see them and they thee and pure love and friendship +may be between you; for know, O King of the Age, that my brother and mother and +cousins love thee with exceeding love, by reason of my praises of thee to them, +and they say, ‘We will not depart from thee nor go to our homes till we have +foregathered with the King and saluted him.’ For indeed they desire to see thee +and make acquaintance with thee.” The King replied, “To hear is to obey, for +this is my very own wish.” So saying, he rose and went in to them and saluted +them with the goodliest salutation; and they sprang up to him and received him +with the utmost worship, after which he sat down in the palace and ate with +them; and he entertained them thus for the space of thirty days. Then, being +desirous of returning home, they took leave of the King and Queen and departed +with due permission to their own land, after he had done them all possible +honour. Awhile after this, Julnar completed the days of her pregnancy and the +time of her delivery being come, she bore a boy, as he were the moon at its +full; whereat the utmost joy betided the King, for that he had never in his +life been vouchsafed son or daughter. So they held high festival and decorated +the city seven days, in the extreme of joy and jollity: and on the seventh day +came Queen Julnar’s mother, Faráshah hight,[FN#312] and brother and cousins, +whenas they knew of her delivery.——And Shahrazad perceived the light of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Forty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Julnar was brought +to bed and was visited by her people, the King received them with joy at their +coming and said to them, “I said that I would not give my son a name till you +should come and name him of your knowledge.” So they named him Badr +Básim,[FN#313] and all agreed upon this name. Then they showed the child to his +uncle Salih, who took him in his arms and arising began to walk about the +chamber with him in all directions right and left. Presently he carried him +forth of the palace and going down to the salt sea, fared on with him, till he +was hidden from the King’s sight. Now when Shahriman saw him take his son and +disappear with him in the depth of the sea, he gave the child up for lost and +fell to weeping and wailing; but Julnar said to him, “O King of the Age, fear +not, neither grieve for thy son, for I love my child more than thou and he is +with my brother, so reck thou not of the sea neither fear for him drowning. Had +my brother known that aught of harm would betide the little one, he had not +done this deed; and he will presently bring thee thy son safe, Inshallah—an it +please the Almighty.” Nor was an hour past before the sea became turbid and +troubled and King Salih came forth and flew from the sea till he came up to +them with the child lying quiet and showing a face like the moon on the night +of fulness. Then, looking at the King he said, “Haply thou fearedst harm for +thy son, whenas I plunged into the sea with him?” Replied the father, “Yes, O +my lord, I did indeed fear for him and thought he would never be saved +therefrom.” Rejoined Salih, “O King of the land, we pencilled his eyes with an +eye powder we know of and recited over him the names graven upon the seal-ring +of Solomon David-son (on whom be the Peace!), for this is what we use to do +with children newly born among us; and now thou needst not fear for him +drowning or suffocation in all the oceans of the world, if he should go down +into them; for, even as ye walk on the land, so walk we in the sea.” Then he +pulled out of his pocket a casket, graven and sealed and, breaking open the +seals, emptied it; whereupon there fell from it strings of all manner jacinths +and other jewels, besides three hundred bugles of emerald and other three +hundred hollow gems, as big as ostrich eggs, whose light dimmed that of sun and +moon. Quoth Salih, “O King of the Age, these jewels and jacinths are a present +from me to thee. We never yet brought thee a gift, for that we knew not +Julnar’s abiding place neither had we of her any tidings or trace; but now that +we see thee to be united with her and we are all become one thing, we have +brought thee this present; and every little while we will bring thee the like +thereof, Inshallah! for that these jewels and jacinths are more plentiful with +us than pebbles on the beach and we know the good and the bad of them and their +whereabouts and the way to them, and they are easy to us.” When the King saw +the jewels, his wits were bewildered and his sense was astounded and he said, +“By Allah, one single gem of these jewels is worth my realm!” Then he thanked +for his bounty Salih the Sea-born and, looking towards Queen Julnar, said, “I +am abashed before thy brother, for that he hath dealt munificently by me and +bestowed on me this splendid gift, which the folk of the land were unable to +present.” So she thanked her brother for his deed and he said, “O King of the +Age, thou hast the prior claim on us and it behoves us to thank thee, for thou +hast entreated our sister with kindness and we have entered thy dwelling and +eaten of thy victual; and the poet saith[FN#314], +</p> + +<p> +‘Had I wept before she did in my passion for Saada, * I had<br /> + + healed my soul before repentance came.<br /> + +But she wept before I did: her tears drew mine; and I said, *<br /> + + The merit belongs to the precedent.’”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +“And” (resumed Salih the Pious) “if we stood on our faces in thy service, O +King of the Age, a thousand years, yet had we not the might to requite thee, +and this were but a scantling of thy due.” The King thanked him with heartiest +thanks and the Merman and Merwomen abode with him forty days’ space, at the end +of which Salih arose and kissed the ground before his brother in law, who asked +“What wantest thou, O Salih?” He answered, “O King of the Age, indeed thou hast +done us overabundant favours, and we crave of thy bounties that thou deal +charitably with us and grant us permission to depart; for we yearn after our +people and country and kinsfolk and our homes; so will we never forsake thy +service nor that of my sister and my nephew; and by Allah, O King of the Age, +’tis not pleasant to my heart to part from thee; but how shall we do, seeing +that we have been reared in the sea and that the sojourn of the shore liketh us +not?” When the King heard these words he rose to his feet and farewelled Salih +the Sea-born and his mother and his cousins, and all wept together, because of +parting and presently they said to him, “Anon we will be with thee again, nor +will we forsake thee, but will visit thee every few days.” Then they flew off +and descending into the sea, disappeared from sight.——And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Forty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the relations of +Julnar the Sea-born farewelled the King and her, weeping together because of +parting; then they flew off and descending into the depths disappeared from +sight. After this King Shahriman showed the more kindness to Julnar and +honoured her with increase of honour; and the little one grew up and +flourished, whilst his maternal uncle and grandam and cousins visited the King +every few days and abode with him a month or two months at a time. The boy +ceased not to increase in beauty and loveliness with increase of years, till he +attained the age of fifteen and was unique in his perfection and symmetry. He +learnt writing and Koran reading; history, syntax and lexicography; archery, +spearplay and horsemanship and what not else behoveth the sons of Kings; nor +was there one of the children of the folk of the city, men or women, but would +talk of the youth’s charms, for he was of surpassing beauty and perfection, +even such an one as is praised in the saying of the poet,[FN#315] +</p> + +<p> +“The whiskers write upon his cheek, with ambergris on pearl, *<br /> + + Two lines, as ’twere with jet upon an apple, line for<br /> + + line.<br /> + +Death harbours in his languid eye and slays with every glance,<br /> + + * And in his cheek is drunkenness, and not in any wine.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +And in that of another:— +</p> + +<p> +Upsprings from table of his lovely cheek[FN#316] * A growth<br /> + + like broidery my wonder is:<br /> + +As ’twere a lamp that burns through night hung up * Beneath<br /> + + the gloom[FN#317] in chains of ambergris.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +And indeed the King loved him with exceeding love, and summoning his Wazir and +Emirs and the Chief Officers of state and Grandees of his realm, required of +them a binding oath that they would make Badr Basim King over them after his +sire; and they sware the oath gladly, for the sovran was liberal to the lieges, +pleasant in parley and a very compend of goodness, saying naught but that +wherein was advantage for the people. On the morrow Shahriman mounted, with all +his troops and Emirs and Lords, and went forth into the city and returned. When +they drew near the palace, the King dismounted, to wait upon his son who abode +on horseback, and he and all the Emirs and Grandees bore the saddlecloth of +honour before him, each and every of them bearing it in his turn, till they +came to the vestibule of the palace, where the Prince alighted and his father +and the Emirs embraced him and seated him on the throne of Kingship, whilst +they (including his sire) stood before him. Then Badr Basim judged the people, +deposing the unjust and promoting the just and continued so doing till near +upon noon, when he descended from the throne and went in to his mother, Julnar +the Sea-born, with the crown upon his head, as he were the moon. When she saw +him, with the King standing before him, she rose and kissing him, gave him joy +of the Sultanate and wished him and his sire length of life and victory over +their foes. He sat with her and rested till the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, +when he took horse and repaired, with the Emirs before him, to the Maydan +plain, where he played at arms with his father and his lords, till night fall, +when he returned to the palace, preceded by all the folk. He rode forth thus +every day to the tilting ground, returning to sit and judge the people and do +justice between carl and churl; and thus he continued doing a whole year, at +the end of which he began to ride out a-hunting and a-chasing and to go round +about in the cities and countries under his rule, proclaiming security and +satisfaction and doing after the fashion of Kings; and he was unique among the +people of his day for glory and valour and just dealing among the subjects. And +it chanced that one day the old King fell sick and his fluttering heart +forebode him of translation to the Mansion of Eternity. His sickness grew upon +him till he was nigh upon death, when he called his son and commended his +mother and subjects to his care and caused all the Emirs and Grandees once more +swear allegiance to the Prince and assured himself of them by strongest oaths; +after which he lingered a few days and departed to the mercy of Almighty Allah. +His son and widow and all the Emirs and Wazirs and Lords mourned over him, and +they built him a tomb and buried him therein. They ceased not ceremonially to +mourn for him a whole month, till Salih and his mother and cousins arrived and +condoled with their grieving for the King and said, “O Julnar, though the King +be dead, yet hath he left this noble and peerless youth, and not dead is whoso +leaveth the like of him, the rending lion and the shining moon.”——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Forty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Salih brother of +Julnar and her mother and cousins said to her, “Albeit the King be dead, yet +hath he left behind him as successor this noble and peerless youth, the rending +lion and the shining moon.” Thereupon the Grandees and notables of the Empire +went in to King Badr Basim and said to him, “O King, there is no harm in +mourning for the late sovran: but over-mourning beseemeth none save women; +wherefore occupy thou not thy heart and our hearts with mourning for thy sire; +inasmuch as he hath left thee behind him, and whoso leaveth the like of thee is +not dead.” Then they comforted him and diverted him and lastly carried him to +the bath. When he came out of the Hammam, he donned a rich robe, purfled with +gold and embroidered with jewels and jacinths; and, setting the royal crown on +his head, sat down on his throne of kingship and ordered the affairs of the +folk, doing equal justice between strong and weak, and exacting from the prince +the dues of the pauper; wherefore the people loved him with exceeding love. +Thus he continued doing for a full year, whilst, every now and then, his +kinsfolk of the sea visited him, and his life was pleasant and his eye was +cooled. Now it came to pass that his uncle Salih went in one night of the +nights to Julnar and saluted her; whereupon she rose and embracing him seated +him by her side and asked him, “O my brother, how art thou and my mother and my +cousins?” He answered, “O my sister, they are well and glad and in good case, +lacking naught save a sight of thy face.” Then she set somewhat of food before +him and he ate, after which talk ensued between the twain and they spake of +King Badr Basim and his beauty and loveliness, his symmetry and skill in +cavalarice and cleverness and good breeding. Now Badr was propped upon his +elbow hard by them; and, hearing his mother and uncle speak of him, he feigned +sleep and listened to their talk.[FN#318] Presently Salih said to his sister, +“Thy son is now seventeen years old and is unmarried, and I fear lest mishap +befal him and he have no son; wherefore it is my desire to marry him to a +Princess of the princesses of the sea, who shall be a match for him in beauty +and loveliness.” Quoth Julnar, “Name them to me for I know them all.” So Salih +proceeded to enumerate them to her, one by one, but to each she said, “I like +not this one for my son; I will not marry him but to one who is his equal in +beauty and loveliness and wit and piety and good breeding and magnanimity and +dominion and rank and lineage.”[FN#319] Quoth Salih, “I know none other of the +daughters of the Kings of the sea, for I have numbered to thee more than an +hundred girls and not one of them pleaseth thee: but see, O my sister, whether +thy son be asleep or no.” So she felt Badr and finding on him the signs of +slumber said to Salih, “He is asleep; what hast thou to say and what is thine +object in making sure his sleeping?” Replied he, “O my sister, know that I have +bethought me of a Mermaid of the mermaids who befitteth thy son; but I fear to +name her, lest he be awake and his heart be taken with her love and maybe we +shall be unable to win to her; so should he and we and the Grandees of the +realm be wearied in vain and trouble betide us through this; for, as saith the +poet, +</p> + +<p> +‘Love, at first sight, is a spurt of spray;[FN#320] * But a spreading sea when +it gaineth sway.’” +</p> + +<p> +When she heard these words, she cried, “Tell me the condition of this girl, and +her name for I know all the damsels of the sea, Kings’ daughters and others; +and, if I judge her worthy of him, I will demand her in marriage for him of her +father, though I spend on her whatso my hand possesseth. So recount to me all +anent her and fear naught, for my son sleepeth.” Quoth Salih, “I fear lest he +be awake; and the poet saith, +</p> + +<p> +‘I loved him, soon as his praise I heard; * For ear oft loveth ere eye survey.’” +</p> + +<p> +But Julnar said, “Speak out and be brief and fear not, O my brother.” So he +said, “By Allah, O my sister, none is worthy of thy son save the Princess +Jauharah, daughter of King Al-Samandal,[FN#321] for that she is like unto him +in beauty and loveliness and brilliancy and perfection; nor is there found, in +sea or on land, a sweeter or pleasanter of gifts than she; for she is prime in +comeliness and seemlihead of face and symmetrical shape of perfect grace; her +cheek is ruddy dight, her brow flower-white, her teeth gem-bright, her eyes +blackest black and whitest white, her hips of heavy weight, her waist slight +and her favour exquisite. When she turneth she shameth the wild cattle[FN#322] +and the gazelles and when she walketh, she breedeth envy in the willow branch: +when she unveileth her face outshineth sun and moon and all who look upon her +she enslaveth soon: sweet-lipped and soft-sided indeed is she.” Now when Julnar +heard what Salih said, she replied, “Thou sayest sooth, O my brother! By Allah, +I have seen her many and many a time and she was my companion, when we were +little ones; but now we have no knowledge of each other, for constraint of +distance; nor have I set eyes on her for eighteen years. By Allah, none is +worthy of my son but she!” Now Badr heard all they said and mastered what had +passed, first and last, of these praises bestowed on Jauharah daughter of King +Al-Samandal; so he fell in love with her on hearsay, pretending sleep the +while, wherefore fire was kindled in his heart on her account full sore and he +was drowned in a sea without bottom or shore.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Forty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Badr Basim +heard the words of his uncle Salih and his mother Julnar, praising the daughter +of King Al-Samandal, a flame of fire burnt in his heart full sore and he was +drowned in a sea which hath nor bottom nor shore. Then Salih, looking at his +sister, exclaimed, “By Allah, O my sister, there is no greater fool among the +Kings of the sea than her father nor one more violent of temper than he! So +name thou not the girl to thy son, till we demand her in marriage of her +father. If he favour us with his assent, we will praise Allah Almighty; and if +he refuse us and will not give her to thy son to wife, we will say no more +about it and seek another match.” Answered Julnar, “Right is thy rede;” and +they parleyed no more: but Badr passed the night with a heart on fire with +passion for Princess Jauharah. However he concealed his case and spake not of +her to his mother or his uncle, albeit he was on coals of fire for love of her. +Now when it was morning, the King and his uncle went to the Hammam-bath and +washed, after which they came forth and drank wine and the servants set food +before them, whereof they and Julnar ate their sufficiency, and washed their +hands. Then Salih rose and said to his nephew and sister, “With your leave, I +would fain go to my mother and my folk for I have been with you some days and +their hearts are troubled with awaiting me.” But Badr Basim said to him, “Tarry +with us this day;” and he consented. Then quoth the King, “Come, O my uncle, +let us go forth to the garden.” So they sallied forth and promenaded about the +pastures and took their solace awhile, after which King Badr lay down under a +shady tree, thinking to rest and sleep; but he remembered his uncle’s +description of the maiden and her beauty and loveliness and shed railing tears, +reciting these two couplets[FN#323], +</p> + +<p> +“Were it said to me while the flame is burning within me, *<br /> + + And the fire blazing in my heart and bowels,<br /> + +‘Wouldst thou rather that thou shouldest behold them * Or a<br /> + + draught of pure water?’—I would answer, ‘Them.’”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he sighed and wept and lamented, reciting these verses also, +</p> + +<p> +“Who shall save me from love of a lovely gazelle, * Brighter<br /> + + browed than the sunshine, my bonnibel!<br /> + +My heart, erst free from her love, now burns * With fire for<br /> + + the maid of Al-Samandal.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +When Salih heard what his nephew said, he smote hand upon hand and said, “There +is no god but <i>the</i> God! Mohammed is the Apostle of God and there is no Majesty +and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!” adding, “O my +son, heardest thou what passed between me and thy mother respecting Princess +Jauharah?” Replied Badr Basim, “Yes, O my uncle, and I fell in love with her by +hearsay through what I heard you say. Indeed, my heart cleaveth to her and I +cannot live without her.” Rejoined his uncle, “O King, let us return to thy +mother and tell her how the case standeth and crave her leave that I may take +thee with me and seek the Princess in marriage of her sire; after which we will +farewell her and I and thou will return. Indeed, I fear to take thee and go +without her leave, lest she be wroth with me; and verily the right would be on +her side, for I should be the cause of her separation from us. Moreover, the +city would be left without king and there would be none to govern the citizens +and look to their affairs, so should the realm be disordered against thee and +the kingship depart from thy hands.” But Badr Basim, hearing these words, +cried, “O my uncle, if I return to my mother and consult her on such matter, +she will not suffer me to do this; wherefore I will not return to my mother nor +consult her.” And he wept before him and presently added, “I will go with thee +and tell her not and after will return.” When Salih heard what his nephew said, +he was confused anent his case and said, “I crave help of the Almighty in any +event.” Then, seeing that Badr Basim was resolved to go with him, whether his +mother would let him or no, he drew from his finger a seal-ring, whereon were +graven certain of the names of Allah the Most High, and gave it to him, saying, +“Put this on thy finger, and thou shalt be safe from drowning and other perils +and from the mischief of sea beasts and great fishes.” So King Badr Basim took +the ring and set it on his finger. Then they dove into the deep——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Forty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Badr Basim and his uncle, +after diving into the deep, fared on till they came to Salih’s palace, where +they found Badr Basim’s grandmother, the mother of his mother, seated with her +kinsfolk and, going in to them, kissed their hands. When the old Queen saw +Badr, she rose to him and embracing him, kissed him between the eyes and said +to him, “A blessed coming, O my son! How didst thou leave thy mother Julnar?” +He replied, “She is well in health and fortune, and saluteth thee and her +uncle’s daughters.” Then Salih related to his mother what had occurred between +him and his sister and how King Badr Basim had fallen in love with the Princess +Jauharah daughter of Al-Samandal by report and told her the whole tale from +beginning to end adding, “He hath not come save to demand her in wedlock of her +sire;” which when the old Queen heard, she was wroth against her son with +exceeding wrath and sore troubled and concerned and said, “O Salih, O my son, +in very sooth thou diddest wrong to name the Princess before thy nephew, +knowing, as thou dost, that her father is stupid and violent, little of wit and +tyrannical of temper, grudging his daughter to every suitor; for all the +Monarchs of the Main have sought her hand, but he rejected them all; nay, he +would none of them, saying, ‘Ye are no match for her in beauty or in loveliness +or in aught else.’ Wherefore we fear to demand her in wedlock of him, lest he +reject us, even as he hath rejected others; and we are a folk of high spirit +and should return broken-hearted.” Hearing these words Salih answered, “O my +mother what is to do? For King Badr Basim saith, ‘There is no help but that I +seek her in marriage of her sire, though I expend my whole kingdom’; and he +avoucheth that, an he take her not to wife, he will die of love for her and +longing.” And Salih continued, “He is handsomer and goodlier than she; his +father was King of all the Persians, whose King he now is, and none is worthy +of Jauharah save Badr Basim. Wherefore I purpose to carry her father a gift of +jacinths and jewels befitting his dignity, and demand her of him in marriage. +An he object to us that he is a King, behold, our man also is a King and the +son of a King; or, if he object to us her beauty, behold our man is more +beautiful than she; or, again, if he object to us the vastness of his dominion, +behold our man’s dominion is vaster than hers and her father’s and numbereth +more troops and guards, for that his kingdom is greater than that of Al- +Samandal. Needs must I do my endeavour to further the desire of my sister’s +son, though it relieve me of my life; because I was the cause of whatso hath +betided; and, even as I plunged him into the ocean of her love, so will I go +about to marry him to her, and may Almighty Allah help me thereto!” Rejoined +his mother, “Do as thou wilt, but beware of giving her father rough words, +whenas thou speakest with him; for thou knowest his stupidity and violence and +I fear lest he do thee a mischief, for he knoweth not respect for any.” And +Salih answered, “Hearkening and obedience.” Then he sprang up and taking two +bags full of gems such as rubies and bugles of emerald, noble ores and all +manner jewels gave them to his servants to carry and set out with his nephew +for the palace of Al-Samandal. When they came thither, he sought audience of +the King and being admitted to his presence, kissed ground before him and +saluted him with the goodliest Salam. The King rose to him and honouring him +with the utmost honour, bade him be seated. So he sat down and presently the +King said to him, “A blessed coming: indeed thou hast desolated us, O Salih! +But what bringeth thee to us? Tell me thine errand that we may fulfil it to +thee.” Whereupon Salih arose and, kissing the ground a second time, said, “O +King of the Age, my errand is to Allah and the magnanimous liege lord and the +valiant lion, the report of whose good qualities the caravans far and near have +dispread and whose renown for benefits and beneficence and clemency and +graciousness and liberality to all climes and countries hath sped.” Thereupon +he opened the two bags and, displaying their contents before Al-Samandal, said +to him, “O King of the Age, haply wilt thou accept my gift and by showing +favour to me heal my heart.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Forty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Salih offered +his gift to the King, saying, “My aim and end is that the Sovran show favour to +me and heal my heart by accepting my present,” King Al-Samandal asked, “With +what object dost thou gift me with this gift? Tell me thy tale and acquaint me +with thy requirement. An its accomplishment be in my power I will straightway +accomplish it to thee and spare thee toil and trouble; and if I be unable +thereunto, Allah compelleth not any soul aught beyond its power.”[FN#324] So +Salih rose and kissing ground three times, said, “O King of the Age, that which +I desire thou art indeed able to do; it is in thy power and thou art master +thereof; and I impose not on the King a difficulty, nor am I Jinn-demented, +that I should crave of the King a thing whereto he availeth not; for one of the +sages saith, ‘An thou wouldst be complied with ask that which can be readily +supplied’. Wherefore, that of which I am come in quest, the King (whom Allah +preserve!) is able to grant.” The King replied, “Ask what thou wouldst have, +and state thy case and seek thy need.” Then said Salih,[FN#325] “O King of the +Age, know that I come as a suitor, seeking the unique pearl and the hoarded +jewel, the Princess Jauharah, daughter of our lord the King; wherefore, O King +disappoint thou not thy suitor.” Now when the King heard this, he laughed till +he fell backwards, in mockery of him and said, “O Salih, I had thought thee a +man of worth and a youth of sense, seeking naught save what was reasonable and +speaking not save advisedly. What then hath befallen thy reason and urged thee +to this monstrous matter and mighty hazard, that thou seekest in marriage +daughters of Kings, lords of cities and climates? Say me, art thou of a rank to +aspire to this great eminence and hath thy wit failed thee to this extreme pass +that thou affrontest me with this demand?” Replied Salih, “Allah amend the +King! I seek her not for myself (albeit, an I did, I am her match and more than +her match, for thou knowest that my father was King of the Kings of the sea, +for all thou art this day our King), but I seek her for King Badr Basim, lord +of the lands of the Persians and son of King Shahriman, whose puissance thou +knowest. An thou object that thou art a mighty great King, King Badr is a +greater; and if thou object thy daughter’s beauty, King Badr is more beautiful +than she and fairer of form and more excellent of rank and lineage; and he is +the champion of the people of his day. Wherefore, if thou grant my request, O +King of the Age, thou wilt have set the thing in its stead; but, if thou deal +arrogantly with us, thou wilt not use us justly nor travel with us the ‘road +which is straight’.[FN#326] Moreover, O King, thou knowest that the Princess +Jauharah, the daughter of our lord the King must needs be wedded and bedded, +for the sage saith, a girl’s lot is either grace of marriage or the +grave.[FN#327] Wherefore, an thou mean to marry her, my sister’s son is +worthier of her than any other man.” Now when King Al-Samandal heard Salih’s +words, he was wroth with exceeding wrath; his reason well nigh fled and his +soul was like to depart his body for rage, and he cried, “O dog, shall the like +of thee dare to bespeak me thus and name my daughter in the assemblies,[FN#328] +saying that the son of thy sister Julnar is a match for her? Who art thou and +who is this sister of thine and who is her son and who was his father,[FN#329] +that thou durst say to me such say and address me with such address? What are +ye all, in comparison with my daughter, but dogs?” And he cried out to his +pages, saying, “Take yonder gallows-bird’s head!” So they drew their swords and +made for Salih but he fled and for the palace-gate sped; and reaching the +entrance, he found of his cousins and kinsfolk and servants, more than a +thousand horse armed cap-à-pie in iron and close knitted mail-coats, hending +in hand spears and naked swords glittering white. And these when they saw Salih +come running out of the palace (they having been sent by his mother to his +succour), questioned him and he told them what was to do; whereupon they knew +that the King was a fool and violent-tempered to boot. So they dismounted and +baring their blades, went in to the King Al-Samandal, whom they found seated +upon the throne of his Kingship, unaware of their coming and enraged against +Salih with furious rage; and they beheld his eunuchs and pages and officers +unprepared. When the King saw them enter, drawn brand in hand, he cried out to +his people, saying “Woe to you! Take me the heads of these hounds!” But ere an +hour had sped Al-Samandal’s party were put to the rout and relied upon flight, +and Salih and his kinsfolk seized upon the King and pinioned him.——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Forty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Salih and his +kinsfolk pinioned the King, Princess Jauharah awoke and knew that her father +was a captive and his guards slain. So she fled forth the palace to a certain +island, and climbing up into a high tree, hid herself in its summit. Now when +the two parties came to blows, some of King Al-Samandal’s pages fled and Badr +Basim meeting them, questioned them of their case and they told him what had +happened. But when he heard that the King was a prisoner, Badr feared for +himself and fled, saying in his heart, “Verily, all this turmoil is on my +account and none is wanted but I.” So he sought safety in flight, security to +sight, knowing not whither he went; but destiny from Eternity fore-ordained +drave him to the very island where the Princess had taken refuge, and he came +to the very tree whereon she sat and threw himself down, like a dead man, +thinking to lie and repose himself and knowing not there is no rest for the +pursued, for none knoweth what Fate hideth for him in the future. As he lay +down, he raised his eyes to the tree and they met the eyes of the Princess. So +he looked at her and seeing her to be like the moon rising in the East, cried, +“Glory to Him who fashioned yonder perfect form, Him who is the Creator of all +things and who over all things is Almighty! Glory to the Great God, the Maker, +the Shaper and Fashioner! By Allah, if my presentiments be true, this is +Jauharah, daughter of King Al-Samandal! Methinks that, when she heard of our +coming to blows with her father, she fled to this island and, happening upon +this tree, hid herself on its head; but, if this be not the Princess herself, +’tis one yet goodlier than she.” Then he bethought himself of her case and said +in himself, “I will arise and lay hands on her and question her of her +condition; and, if she be indeed the she, I will demand her in wedlock of +herself and so win my wish.” So he stood up and said to her, “O end of all +desire, who art thou and who brought thee hither?” She looked at Badr Basim and +seeing him to be as the full moon,[FN#330] when it shineth from under the black +cloud, slender of shape and sweet of smile, answered, “O fair of fashion, I am +Princess Jauharah, daughter of King Al-Samandal, and I took refuge in this +place, because Salih and his host came to blows with my sire and slew his +troops and took him prisoner, with some of his men, wherefore I fled, fearing +for my very life,” presently adding, “And I weet not what fortune hath done +with my father.” When King Badr Basim heard these words he marvelled with +exceeding marvel at this strange chance, and thought: “Doubtless I have won my +wish by the capture of her sire.” Then he looked at Jauharah and said to her, +“Come down, O my lady; for I am slain for love of thee and thine eyes have +captivated me. On my account and thine are all these broils and battles; for +thou must know that I am King Badr Basim, Lord of the Persians and Salih is my +mother’s brother and he it is who came to thy sire to demand thee of him in +marriage. As for me, I have quitted my kingdom for thy sake, and our meeting +here is the rarest coincidence. So come down to me and let us twain fare for +thy father’s palace, that I may beseech uncle Salih to release him and I may +make thee my lawful wife.” When Jauharah heard his words, she said in herself, +“’Twas on this miserable gallows-bird’s account, then, that all this hath +befallen and that my father hath fallen prisoner and his chamberlains and suite +have been slain and I have been departed from my palace, a miserable exile and +have fled for refuge to this island. But, an I devise not against him some +device to defend myself from him, he will possess himself of me and take his +will of me; for he is in love and for aught that he doeth a lover is not +blamed.” Then she beguiled him with winning words and soft speeches, whilst he +knew not the perfidy against him she purposed, and asked him, “O my lord and +light of my eyes, say me, art thou indeed King Badr Basim, son of Queen +Julnar?” And he answered, “Yes, O my lady.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Forty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Jauharah, daughter of +King Al-Samandal, asked the youth, “Art thou in very sooth King Badr Basim, son +of Queen Julnar?” And he answered, “Yes, O my lady!” Then she, “May Allah cut +off my father and gar his kingdom cease from him and heal not his heart neither +avert from him strangerhood, if he could desire a comelier than thou or aught +goodlier than these fair qualities of thine! By Allah, he is of little wit and +judgment!” presently adding, “But, O King of the Age, punish him not for that +he hath done; more by token that an thou love me a span, verily I love thee a +cubit. Indeed, I have fallen into the net of thy love and am become of the +number of thy slain. The love that was with thee hath transferred itself to me +and there is left thereof with thee but a tithe of that which is with me.” So +saying, she came down from the tree and drawing near him strained him to her +bosom and fell to kissing him; whereat passion and desire for her redoubled on +him and doubting not but she loved him, he trusted in her, and returned her +kisses and caresses. Presently he said to her, “By Allah, O Princess, my uncle +Salih set forth to me not a fortieth part of thy charms; no, nor a +quarter-carat[FN#331] of the four- and-twenty.” Then Jauharah pressed him to her +bosom and pronounced some unintelligible words; then spat on his face, saying, +“Quit this form of man and take shape of bird, the handsomest of birds, white +of robe, with red bill and legs.” Hardly had she spoken, when King Badr Basim +found himself transformed into a bird, the handsomest of birds, who shook +himself and stood looking at her. Now Jauharah had with her one of her +slave-girls, by name Marsínah[FN#332]; so she called her and said to her, “By +Allah, but that I fear for the life of my father, who is his uncle’s prisoner, +I would kill him! Allah never requite him with good! How unlucky was his coming +to us; for all this trouble is due to his hard-headedness! But do thou, O +slave-girl, bear him to the Thirsty Island and leave him there to die of +thirst.” So Marsinah carried him to the island in question and would have +returned and left him there but she said in herself, “By Allah, the lord of +such beauty and loveliness deserveth not to die of thirst!” So she went forth +from that island and brought him to another abounding in trees and fruits and +rills and, setting him down there, returned to her mistress and told her, “I +have left him on the Thirsty Island.” Such was the case with Badr Basim; but as +regards King Salih he sought for Jauharah after capturing the King and killing +his folk; but, finding her not, returned to his palace and said to his mother, +“Where is my sister’s son, King Badr Basim?” “By Allah, O my son,” replied she, +“I know nothing of him! For when it reached him that you and King Al-Samandal +had come to blows and that strife and slaughter had betided between you, he was +affrighted and fled.” When Salih heard this, he grieved for his nephew and +said, “O my mother, by Allah, we have dealt negligently by King Badr and I fear +lest he perish or lest one of King Al-Samandal’s soldiers or his daughter +Jauharah fall in with him. So should we come to shame with his mother and no +good betide us from her, for that I took him without her leave.” Then he +despatched guards and scouts throughout the sea and elsewhere to seek for Badr; +but they could learn no tidings of him; so they returned and told King Salih, +wherefore cark and care redoubled on him and his breast was straitened for King +Badr Basim. So far concerning nephew and uncle, but as for Julnar the Sea-born, +after their departure she abode in expectation of them, but her son returned +not and she heard no report of him. So when many days of fruitless waiting had +gone by, she arose and going down into the sea, repaired to her mother, who +sighting her rose to her and kissed her and embraced her, as did the Mermaids +her cousins. Then she questioned her mother of King Badr Basim, and she +answered, saying, “O my daughter, of a truth he came hither with his uncle, who +took jacinths and jewels and carrying them to King Al-Samandal, demanded his +daughter in marriage for thy son but he consented not and was violent against +thy brother in words. Now I had sent Salih nigh upon a thousand horse and a +battle befel between him and King Al-Samandal; but Allah aided thy brother +against him, and he slew his guards and troops and took himself prisoner. +Meanwhile, tidings of this reached thy son, and it would seem as if he feared +for himself; wherefore he fled forth from us, without our will, and returned +not to us, nor have we heard any news of him.” Then Julnar enquired for King +Salih, and his mother said, “He is seated on the throne of his kingship, in the +stead of King Al-Samandal, and hath sent in all directions to seek thy son and +Princess Jauharah.” When Julnar heard the maternal words, she mourned for her +son with sad mourning and was highly incensed against her brother Salih for +that he had taken him and gone down with him into the sea without her leave; +and she said, “O my mother, I fear for our realm; as I came to thee without +letting any know; and I dread tarrying with thee, lest the state fall into +disorder and the kingdom pass from our hands. Wherefore I deem best to return +and govern the reign till it please Allah to order our son’s affair for us. But +look ye forget him not neither neglect his case; for should he come to any +harm, it would infallibly kill me, since I see not the world save in him and +delight but in his life.” She replied, “With love and gladness, O my daughter. +Ask not what we suffer by reason of his loss and absence.” Then she sent to +seek for her grandson, whilst Julnar returned to her kingdom, weeping-eyed and +heavy-hearted, and indeed the gladness of the world was straitened upon +her.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fiftieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Queen Julnar +returned from her mother to her own realm, her breast was straitened and she +was in ill case. So fared it with her; but as regards King Badr Basim, after +Princess Jauharah had ensorcelled him and had sent him with her handmaid to the +Thirsty Island, saying, “Leave him there to die of thirst,” and Marsinah had +set him down in a green islet, he abode days and nights in the semblance of a +bird eating of its fruits and drinking of its waters and knowing not whither to +go nor how to fly; till, one day, there came a certain fowler to the island to +catch somewhat wherewithal to get his living. He espied King Badr Basim in his +form of a white-robed bird, with red bill and legs, captivating the sight and +bewildering the thought; and, looking thereat, said in himself “Verily, yonder +is a beautiful bird: never saw I its like in fairness or form.” So he cast his +net over Badr and taking him, carried him to the town, mentally resolved to +sell him for a high price. On his way one of the townsfolk accosted him and +said, “For how much this fowl, O fowler?” Quoth the fowler, “What wilt thou do +with him an thou buy him?” Answered the other, “I will cut his throat and eat +him;” whereupon said the birder, “Who could have the heart to kill this bird +and eat him? Verily, I mean to present him to our King, who will give me more +than thou wouldest give me and will not kill him, but will divert himself by +gazing upon his beauty and grace, for in all my life, since I have been a +fowler, I never saw his like among land game or water fowl. The utmost thou +wouldst give me for him, however much thou covet him, would be a dirham, and, +by Allah Almighty I will not sell him!” Then he carried the bird up to the +King’s palace and when the King saw it, its beauty and grace pleased him and +the red colour of its beak and legs. So he sent an eunuch to buy it, who +accosted the fowler and said to him, “Wilt thou sell this bird?” Answered he, +“Nay, ’tis a gift from me to the King.”[FN#333] So the eunuch carried the bird +to the King and told him what the man had said; and he took it and gave the +fowler ten dinars, whereupon he kissed ground and fared forth. Then the eunuch +carried the bird to the palace and placing him in a fine cage, hung him up +after setting meat and drink by him. When the King came down from the Divan, he +said to the eunuch, “Where is the bird? Bring it to me, that I may look upon +it; for, by Allah, ’tis beautiful!” So the eunuch brought the cage and set it +between the hands of the King, who looked and seeing the food untouched, said, +“By Allah, I wis not what it will eat, that I may nourish it!” Then he called +for food and they laid the tables and the King ate. Now when the bird saw the +flesh and meats and fruits and sweet meats, he ate of all that was upon the +trays before the King, whereat the Sovran and all the bystanders marvelled and +the King said to his attendants, eunuchs and Mamelukes, “In all my life I never +saw a bird eat as doth this bird!” Then he sent an eunuch to fetch his wife +that she might enjoy looking upon the bird, and he went in to summon her and +said, “O my lady, the King desireth thy presence, that thou mayst divert +thyself with the sight of a bird he hath bought. When we set on the food, it +flew down from its cage and perching on the table, ate of all that was thereon. +So arise, O my lady, and solace thee with the sight for it is goodly of aspect +and is a wonder of the wonders of the age.” Hearing these words she came in +haste; but, when she noted the bird, she veiled her face and turned to fare +away. The King rose up and looking at her, asked, “Why dost thou veil thy face +when there is none in presence save the women and eunuchs who wait on thee and +thy husband?” Answered she, “O King, this bird is no bird, but a man like +thyself.” He rejoined, “Thou liest, this is too much of a jest. How should he +be other than a bird?”; and she “O King, by Allah, I do not jest with thee nor +do I tell thee aught but the truth; for verily this bird is King Badr Basim, +son of King Shahriman, Lord of the land of the Persians, and his mother is +Julnar the Sea-born.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the King’s wife +said to the King, “Verily, this is no bird but a man like thyself: he is King +Badr Basim son of King Shahriman and his mother is Julnar the Sea-born,” quoth +the King, “And how came he in this shape?”; and quoth she, “Princess Jauharah, +daughter of King Al-Samandal, hath enchanted him:” and told him all that had +passed with King Badr Basim from first to last.[FN#334] The King marvelled +exceedingly at his wife’s words and conjured her, on his life, to free Badr +from his enchantment (for she was the notablest enchantress of her age), and +not leave him in torment, saying, “May Almighty Allah cut off Jauharah’s hand, +for a foul witch as she is! How little is her faith and how great her craft and +perfidy!” Said the Queen, “Do thou say to him, ‘O Badr Basim, enter yonder +closet!’” So the King bade him enter the closet and he went in obediently. Then +the Queen veiled her face and taking in her hand a cup of water,[FN#335] +entered the closet where she pronounced over the water certain incomprehensible +words ending with, “By the virtue of these mighty names and holy verses and by +the majesty of Allah Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, the Quickener of +the dead and Appointer of the means of daily bread and the terms determined, +quit this thy form wherein thou art and return to the shape in which the Lord +created thee!” Hardly had she made an end of her words, when the bird trembled +once and became a man; and the King saw before him a handsome youth, than whom +on earth’s face was none goodlier. But when King Badr Basim found himself thus +restored to his own form he cried, “There is no god but <i>the</i> God and Mohammed is +the Apostle of God! Glory be to the Creator of all creatures and Provider of +their provision, and Ordainer of their life terms preordained!” Then he kissed +the King’s hand and wished him long life, and the King kissed his head and said +to him, “O Badr Basim, tell me thy history from commencement to conclusion.” So +he told him his whole tale, concealing naught; and the King marvelled thereat +and said to him, “O Badr Basim, Allah hath saved thee from the spell: but what +hath thy judgment decided and what thinkest thou to do?” Replied he, “O King of +the Age, I desire thy bounty that thou equip me a ship with a company of thy +servants and all that is needful; for ’tis long since I have been absent and I +dread lest the kingdom depart from me. And I misdoubt me my mother is dead of +grief for my loss; and this doubt is the stronger for that she knoweth not what +is come of me nor whether I am alive or dead. Wherefore, I beseech thee, O +King, to crown thy favours to me by granting me what I seek.” The King, after +beholding the beauty and grace of Badr Basim and listening to his sweet speech, +said, “I hear and obey.” So he fitted him out a ship, to which he transported +all that was needful and which he manned with a company of his servants; and +Badr Basim set sail in it, after having taken leave of the King. They sailed +over the sea ten successive days with a favouring wind; but, on the eleventh +day, the ocean became troubled with exceeding trouble, the ship rose and fell +and the sailors were powerless to govern her. So they drifted at the mercy of +the waves, till the craft neared a rock in mid-sea which fell upon her[FN#336] +and broke her up and all on board were drowned, save King Badr Basim who got +astride one of the planks of the vessel, after having been nigh upon +destruction. The plank ceased not to be borne by the set of the sea, whilst he +knew not whither he went and had no means of directing its motion, as the wind +and waves wrought for three whole days. But on the fourth the plank grounded +with him on the sea-shore where he sighted a white city, as it were a dove +passing white, builded upon a tongue of land that jutted out into the deep and +it was goodly of ordinance, with high towers and lofty walls against which the +waves beat. When Badr Basim saw this, he rejoiced with exceeding joy, for he +was well-nigh dead of hunger and thirst, and dismounting from the plank, would +have gone up the beach to the city; but there came down to him mules and asses +and horses, in number as the sea-sands and fell to striking at him and staying +him from landing. So he swam round to the back of the city, where he waded to +shore and entering the place, found none therein and marvelled at this, saying, +“Would I knew to whom doth this city belong, wherein is no lord nor any liege, +and whence came these mules and asses and horses that hindered me from +landing?” And he mused over his case. Then he walked on at hazard till he +espied an old man, a grocer.[FN#337] So he saluted him and the other returned +his salam and seeing him to be a handsome young man, said to him, “O youth, +whence comest thou and what brought thee to this city?” Badr told him his +story; at which the old man marvelled and said, “O my son, didst thou see any +on thy way?” He replied, “Indeed, O my father, I wondered in good sooth to +sight a city void of folk.” Quoth the Shaykh, “O my son, come up into the shop, +lest thou perish.” So Badr Basim went up into the shop and sat down; whereupon +the old man set before him somewhat of food, saying, “O my son, enter the inner +shop; glory be to Him who hath preserved thee from yonder she-Sathanas!” King +Badr Basim was sore affrighted at the grocer’s words; but he ate his fill and +washed his hands; then glanced at his host and said to him, “O my lord, what is +the meaning of these words? Verily thou hast made me fearful of this city and +its folk.” Replied the old man, “Know, O my son, that this is the City of the +Magicians and its Queen is as she were a she-Satan, a sorceress and a mighty +enchantress, passing crafty and perfidious exceedingly. All thou sawest of +horses and mules and asses were once sons of Adam like thee and me; they were +also strangers, for whoever entereth this city, being a young man like thyself, +this miscreant witch taketh him and hometh him for forty days, after which she +enchanteth him, and he becometh a mule or a horse or an ass, of those animals +thou sawest on the sea-shore.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old grocer related +to King Badr Basim the history of the enchantress ending with, “All these +people hath she spelled; and, when it was thy intent to land they feared lest +thou be transmewed like themselves; so they counselled thee by signs that said, +‘Land not,’ of their solicitude for thee, fearing that haply she should do with +thee like as she had done with them. She possessed herself of this city and +seized it from its citizens by sorcery and her name is Queen Láb, which being +interpreted, meaneth in Arabic ‘Almanac of the Sun.’”[FN#338] When Badr Basim +heard what the old man said, he was affrighted with sore affright and trembled +like reed in wind saying in himself, “Hardly do I feel me free from the +affliction wherein I was by reason of sorcery, when Destiny casteth me into yet +sorrier case!” And he fell amusing over his condition and that which had +betided him. When the Shaykh looked at him and saw the violence of his terror, +he said to him, “O my son, come, sit at the threshold of the shop and look upon +yonder creatures and upon their dress and complexion and that wherein they are +by reason of gramarye and dread not; for the Queen and all in the city love and +tender me and will not vex my heart or trouble my mind.” So King Badr Basim +came out and sat at the shop-door, looking out upon the folk; and there passed +by him a world of creatures without number. But when the people saw him, they +accosted the grocer and said to him, “O elder, is this thy captive and thy prey +gotten in these days?” The old man replied, “He is my brother’s son, I heard +that his father was dead; so I sent for him and brought him here that I might +quench with him the fire of my home-sickness.” Quoth they, “Verily, he is a +comely youth; but we fear for him from Queen Lab, lest she turn on thee with +treachery and take him from thee, for she loveth handsome young men.” Quoth the +Shaykh, “The Queen will not gainsay my commandment, for she loveth and +tendereth me; and when she shall know that he is my brother’s son, she will not +molest him or afflict me in him neither trouble my heart on his account.” Then +King Badr Basim abode some months with the grocer, eating and drinking, and the +old man loved him with exceeding love. One day, as he sat in the shop according +to his custom, behold, there came up a thousand eunuchs, with drawn swords and +clad in various kinds of raiment and girt with jewelled girdles: all rode +Arabian steeds and bore in baldrick Indian blades. They saluted the grocer, as +they passed his shop and were followed by a thousand damsels like moons, clad +in various raiments of silks and satins fringed with gold and embroidered with +jewels of sorts, and spears were slung to their shoulders. In their midst rode +a damsel mounted on a Rabite mare, saddled with a saddle of gold set with +various kinds of jewels and jacinths; and they reached in a body the Shaykh’s +shop. The damsels saluted him and passed on, till, lo and behold! up came Queen +Lab, in great state, and seeing King Badr Basim sitting in the shop, as he were +the moon at its full, was amazed at his beauty and loveliness and became +passionately enamoured of him, and distraught with desire of him. So she +alighted and sitting down by King Badr Basim said to the old man, “Whence hadst +thou this handsome one?”; and the Shaykh replied, “He is my brother’s son, and +is lately come to me.” Quoth Lab, “Let him be with me this night, that I may +talk with him;” and quoth the old man, “Wilt thou take him from me and not +enchant him?” Said she, “Yes,” and said he, “Swear to me.” So she sware to him +that she would not do him any hurt or ensorcell him, and bidding bring him a +fine horse, saddled and bridled with a golden bridle and decked with trappings +all of gold set with jewels, gave the old man a thousand dinars saying, “Use +this.”[FN#339] Then she took Badr Basim and carried him off, as he were the +full moon on its fourteenth night, whilst all the folk, seeing his beauty, were +grieved for him and said, “By Allah, verily, this youth deserveth not to be +bewitched by yonder sorceress, the accursed!” Now King Badr Basim heard all +they said, but was silent, committing his case to Allah Almighty, till they +came to——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Badr Basim ceased +not faring with Queen Lab and her suite till they came to her palace-gate, +where the Emirs and eunuchs and Lords of the realm took foot and she bade the +Chamberlains dismiss her Officers and Grandees, who kissed ground and went +away, whilst she entered the palace with Badr Basim and her eunuchs and women. +Here he found a place, whose like he had never seen at all, for it was builded +of gold and in its midst was a great basin brimfull of water midmost a vast +flower-garden. He looked at the garden and saw it abounding in birds of +various kinds and colours, warbling in all manner tongues and voices, +pleasurable and plaintive. And everywhere he beheld great state and dominion +and said, “Glory be to God, who of His bounty and long-suffering provideth +those who serve other than Himself!” The Queen sat down at a latticed window +overlooking the garden on a couch of ivory, whereon was a high bed, and King +Badr Basim seated himself by her side. She kissed him and pressing him to her +breast, bade her women bring a tray of food. So they brought a tray of red +gold, inlaid with pearls and jewels and spread with all manner of viands and he +and she ate, till they were satisfied, and washed their hands; after which the +waiting-women set on flagons of gold and silver and glass, together with all +kinds of flowers and dishes of dried fruits. Then the Queen summoned the +singing-women and there came ten maidens, as they were moons, hending all +manner of musical instruments. Queen Lab crowned a cup and drinking it off, +filled another and passed it to King Badr Basim, who took it and drank; and +they ceased not to drink till they had their sufficiency. Then she bade the +damsels sing, and they sang all manner modes till it seemed to Badr Basim as if +the palace danced with him for joy. His sense was ecstasied and his breast +broadened, and he forgot his strangerhood and said in himself, “Verily, this +Queen is young and beautiful[FN#340] and I will never leave her; for her +kingdom is vaster than my kingdom and she is fairer than Princess Jauharah.” So +he ceased not to drink with her till eventide came, when they lighted the +lamps and waxen candles and diffused censer-perfumes; nor did they leave +drinking, till they were both drunken, and the singing-women sang the while. +Then Queen Lab, being in liquor, rose from her seat and lay down on a bed and +dismissing her women called to Badr Basim to come and sleep by her side. So he +lay with her, in all delight of life till the morning.——And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Queen awoke she +repaired to the Hammam-bath in the palace, King Badr Basim being with her, and +they bathed and were purified; after which she clad him in the finest of +raiment and called for the service of wine. So the waiting women brought the +drinking-gear and they drank. Presently, the Queen arose and taking Badr Basim +by the hand, sat down with him on chairs and bade bring food, whereof they ate, +and washed their hands. Then the damsels fetched the drinking gear and fruits +and flowers and confections, and they ceased not to eat and drink,[FN#341] +whilst the singing-girls sang various airs till the evening. They gave not over +eating and drinking and merry-making for a space of forty days, when the Queen +said to him, “O Badr Basim, say me whether is the more pleasant, this place or +the shop of thine uncle the grocer?” He replied, “By Allah, O Queen, this is +the pleasanter, for my uncle is but a beggarly man, who vendeth pot-herbs.” She +laughed at his words and the twain lay together in the pleasantest of case till +the morning, when King Badr Basim awoke from sleep and found not Queen Lab by +his side, so he said, “Would Heaven I knew where can she have gone!” And indeed +he was troubled at her absence and perplexed about the case, for she stayed +away from him a great while and did not return; so he donned his dress and went +seeking her but not finding her, and he said to himself, “Haply, she is gone to +the flower-garden.” Thereupon he went out into the garden and came to a running +rill beside which he saw a white she-bird and on the stream-bank a tree full of +birds of various colours, and he stood and watched the birds without their +seeing him. And behold, a black bird flew down upon that white she-bird and +fell to billing her pigeon-fashion, then he leapt on her and trod her three +consecutive times, after which the bird changed and became a woman. Badr looked +at her and lo! it was Queen Lab. So he knew that the black bird was a man +transmewed and that she was enamoured of him and had transformed herself into a +bird, that he might enjoy her; wherefore jealousy got hold upon him and he was +wroth with the Queen because of the black bird. Then he returned to his place +and lay down on the carpet-bed and after an hour or so she came back to him and +fell to kissing him and jesting with him; but being sore incensed against her +he answered her not a word. She saw what was to do with him and was assured +that he had witnessed what befel her when she was a white bird and was trodden +by the black bird; yet she discovered naught to him but concealed what ailed +her. When he had done her need, he said to her, “O Queen, I would have thee +give me leave to go to my uncle’s shop, for I long after him and have not seen +him these forty days.” She replied, “Go to him but tarry not from me, for I +cannot brook to be parted from thee, nor can I endure without thee an hour.” He +said, “I hear and I obey,” and mounting, rode to the shop of the Shaykh, the +grocer, who welcomed him and rose to him and embracing him said to him, “How +hast thou fared with yonder idolatress?” He replied, “I was well in health and +happiness till this last night,” and told him what had passed in the garden +with the black bird.[FN#342] Now when the old man heard his words, he said, +“Beware of her, for know that the birds upon the tree were all young men and +strangers, whom she loved and enchanted and turned into birds. That black bird +thou sawest was one of her Mamelukes whom she loved with exceeding love, till +he cast his eyes upon one of her women, wherefore she changed him into a black +bird”;——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Badr Basim +acquainted the old grocer with all the doings of Queen Lab and what he had seen +of her proceedings, the Shaykh gave him to know that all the birds upon the +tree were young men and strangers whom she had enchanted, and that the black +bird was one of her Mamelukes whom she had transmewed. “And,” continued the +Shaykh, “whenas she lusteth after him she transformeth herself into a she-bird +that he may enjoy her, for she still loveth him with passionate love. When she +found that thou knewest of her case, she plotted evil against thee, for she +loveth thee not wholly. But no harm shall betide thee from her, so long as I +protect thee; therefore fear nothing; for I am a Moslem, by name Abdallah, and +there is none in my day more magical than I; yet do I not make use of gramarye +save upon constraint. Many a time have I put to naught the sorceries of yonder +accursed and delivered folk from her, and I care not for her, because she can +do me no hurt: nay, she feareth me with exceeding fear, as do all in the city +who, like her, are magicians and serve the fire, not the Omnipotent Sire. So +to-morrow, come thou to me and tell me what she doth with thee; for this very +night she will cast about to destroy thee, and I will tell thee how thou shalt +do with her, that thou mayst save thyself from her malice.” Then King Badr +Basim farewelled the Shaykh and returned to the Queen whom he found awaiting +him. When she saw him, she rose and seating him and welcoming him brought him +meat and drink and the two ate till they had enough and washed their hands; +after which she called for wine and they drank till the night was well nigh +half spent, when she plied him with cup after cup till he was drunken and lost +sense[FN#343] and wit. When she saw him thus, she said to him, “I conjure thee +by Allah and by whatso thou worshippest, if I ask thee a question wilt thou +inform me rightly and answer me truly?” And he being drunken, answered, “Yes, O +my lady.” Quoth she, “O my lord and light of mine eyes, when thou awokest last +night and foundest me not, thou soughtest me, till thou sawest me in the +garden, under the guise of a white she-bird, and also thou sawest the black +bird leap on me and tread me. Now I will tell the truth of this matter. That +black bird was one of my Mamelukes, whom I loved with exceeding love; but one +day he cast his eyes upon a certain of my slave-girls, wherefore jealousy gat +hold upon me and I transformed him by my spells into a black bird and her I +slew. But now I cannot endure without him a single hour; so, whenever I lust +after him, I change myself into a she-bird and go to him, that he may leap me +and enjoy me, even as thou hast seen. Art thou not therefore incensed against +me, because of this, albeit by the virtue of Fire and Light, Shade and Heat, I +love thee more than ever and have made thee my portion of the world?” He +answered (being drunken), “Thy conjecture of the cause of my rage is correct, +and it had no reason other than this.” With this she embraced him and kissed +him and made great show of love to him; then she lay down to sleep and he by +her side. Presently about midnight she rose from the carpet-bed and King Badr +Basim was awake; but he feigned sleep and watched stealthily to see what she +would do. She took out of a red bag a something red, which she planted +a-middlemost the chamber, and it became a stream, running like the sea; after +which she took a handful of barley and strewing it on the ground, watered it +with water from the river; whereupon it became wheat in the ear, and she +gathered it and ground it into flour. Then she set it aside and returning to +bed, lay down by Badr Basim till morning when he arose and washed his face and +asked her leave to visit the Shaykh his uncle. She gave him permission and he +repaired to Abdallah and told him what had passed. The old man laughed and +said, “By Allah, this miscreant witch plotteth mischief against thee; but reck +thou not of her ever!” Then he gave him a pound of parched corn[FN#344] and +said to him, “Take this with thee and know that, when she seeth it, she will +ask thee, ‘What is this and what wilt thou do with it?’ Do thou answer, +‘Abundance of good things is good’; and eat of it. Then will she bring forth to +thee parched grain of her own and say to thee, ‘Eat of this Sawík; and do thou +feign to her that thou eatest thereof, but eat of this instead, and beware and +have a care lest thou eat of hers even a grain; for, an thou eat so much as a +grain thereof, her spells will have power over thee and she will enchant thee +and say to thee, ‘Leave this form of a man.’ Whereupon thou wilt quit thine own +shape for what shape she will. But, an thou eat not thereof, her enchantments +will be null and void and no harm will betide thee therefrom; whereat she will +be shamed with shame exceeding and say to thee, ‘I did but jest with thee!’ +Then will she make a show of love and fondness to thee; but this will all be +but hypocrisy in her and craft. And do thou also make a show of love to her and +say to her, ‘O my lady and light of mine eyes, eat of this parched barley and +see how delicious it is.’ And if she eat thereof, though it be but a grain, +take water in thy hand and throw it in her face, saying, ‘Quit this human form’ +(for what form soever thou wilt have her take). Then leave her and come to me +and I will counsel thee what to do.” So Badr Basim took leave of him and +returning to the palace, went in to the Queen, who said to him, “Welcome and +well come and good cheer to thee!” And she rose and kissed him, saying, “Thou +hast tarried long from me, O my lord.” He replied, “I have been with my uncle, +and he gave me to eat of this Sawik.” Quoth she, “We have better than that.” +Then she laid his parched Sawik in one plate and hers in another and said to +him, “Eat of this, for ’tis better than thine.” So he feigned to eat of it and +when she thought he had done so, she took water in her hand and sprinkled him +therewith, saying, “Quit this form, O thou gallows-bird, thou miserable, and +take that of a mule one-eyed and foul of favour.” But he changed not; which +when she saw, she arose and went up to him and kissed him between the eyes, +saying, “O my beloved, I did but jest with thee; bear me no malice because of +this.” Quoth he, “O my lady, I bear thee no whit of malice; nay, I am assured +that thou lovest me: but eat of this my parched barley.” So she ate a mouthful +of Abdallah’s Sawik; but no sooner had it settled in her stomach than she was +convulsed; and King Badr Basim took water in his palm and threw it in her face, +saying, “Quit this human form and take that of a dapple mule.” No sooner had he +spoken than she found herself changed into a she-mule, whereupon the tears +rolled down her cheeks and she fell to rubbing her muzzle against his feet. +Then he would have bridled her, but she would not take the bit; so he left her +and, going to the grocer, told him what had passed. Abdallah brought out for +him a bridle and bade him rein her forthwith. So he took it to the palace, and +when she saw him, she came up to him and he set the bit in her mouth and +mounting her, rode forth to find the Shaykh. But when the old man saw her, he +rose and said to her, “Almighty Allah confound thee, O accursed woman!” Then +quoth he to Badr, “O my son, there is no more tarrying for thee in this city; +so ride her and fare with her whither thou wilt and beware lest thou commit the +bridle[FN#345] to any.” King Badr thanked him and farewelling him, fared on +three days, without ceasing, till he drew near another city and there met him +an old man, gray-headed and comely, who said to him, “Whence comest thou, O my +son?” Badr replied, “From the city of this witch”; and the old man said, “Thou +art my guest to-night.” He consented and went with him; but by the way behold, +they met an old woman, who wept when she saw the mule, and said, “There is no +god but <i>the</i> God! Verily, this mule resembleth my son’s she-mule, which is dead, +and my heart acheth for her; so, Allah upon thee, O my lord, do thou sell her +to me!” He replied, “By Allah, O my mother, I cannot sell her.” But she cried, +“Allah upon thee, do not refuse my request, for my son will surely be a dead +man except I buy him this mule.” And she importuned him, till he exclaimed, “I +will not sell her save for a thousand dinars,” saying in himself, “Whence +should this old woman get a thousand gold pieces?” Thereupon she brought out +from her girdle a purse containing a thousand ducats, which when King Badr +Basim saw, he said, “O my mother, I did but jest with thee; I cannot sell her.” +But the old man looked at him and said, “O my son, in this city none may lie, +for whoso lieth they put to death.” So King Badr Basim lighted down from the +mule.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Badr Basim +dismounted from and delivered the mule to the old woman, she drew the bit from +her mouth and, taking water in her hand, sprinkled the mule therewith, saying, +“O my daughter, quit this shape for that form wherein thou wast aforetime!” +Upon this she was straightway restored to her original semblance and the two +women embraced and kissed each other. So King Badr Basim knew that the old +woman was Queen Lab’s mother and that he had been tricked and would have fled; +when, lo! the old woman whistled a loud whistle and her call was obeyed by an +Ifrit as he were a great mountain, whereat Badr was affrighted and stood still. +Then the old woman mounted on the Ifrit’s back, taking her daughter behind her +and King Badr Basim before her, and the Ifrit flew off with them; nor was it a +full hour ere they were in the palace of Queen Lab, who sat down on the throne +of kingship and said to Badr, “Gallows-bird that thou art, now am I come hither +and have attained to that I desired and soon will I show thee how I will do +with thee and with yonder old man the grocer! How many favours have I shown +him! Yet he doth me frowardness; for thou hast not attained thine end but by +means of him.” Then she took water and sprinkled him therewith, saying, “Quit +the shape wherein thou art for the form of a foul-favoured fowl, the foulest of +all fowls”; and she set him in a cage and cut off from him meat and drink; but +one of her women seeing this cruelty, took compassion on him and gave him food +and water without her knowledge. One day, the damsel took her mistress at +unawares and going forth the palace, repaired to the old grocer, to whom she +told the whole case, saying, “Queen Lab is minded to make an end of thy +brother’s son.” The Shaykh thanked her and said, “There is no help but that I +take the city from her and make thee Queen thereof in her stead.” Then he +whistled a loud whistle and there came forth to him an Ifrit with four wings, +to whom he said, “Take up this damsel and carry her to the city of Julnar the +Sea-born and her mother Faráshah[FN#346] for they twain are the most powerful +magicians on face of earth.” And he said to the damsel, “When thou comest +thither, tell them that King Badr Basim is Queen Lab’s captive.” Then the Ifrit +took up his load and, flying off with her, in a little while set her down upon +the terrace roof of Queen Julnar’s palace. So she descended and going in to the +Queen, kissed the earth and told her what had passed to her son, first and +last, whereupon Julnar rose to her and entreated her with honour and thanked +her. Then she let beat the drums in the city and acquainted her lieges and the +lords of her realm with the good news that King Badr Basim was found; after +which she and her mother Farashah and her brother Salih assembled all the +tribes of the Jinn and the troops of the main; for the Kings of the Jinn obeyed +them since the taking of King Al-Samandal. Presently they all flew up into the +air and lighting down on the city of the sorceress, sacked the town and the +palace and slew all the Unbelievers therein in the twinkling of an eye. Then +said Julnar to the damsel, “Where is my son?” And the slave-girl brought her +the cage and signing to the bird within, cried, “This is thy son.” So Julnar +took him forth of the cage and sprinkled him with water, saying, “Quit this +shape for the form wherein thou wast aforetime;” nor had she made an end of her +speech ere he shook and became a man as before: whereupon his mother, seeing +him restored to human shape, embraced him and he wept with sore weeping. On +like wise did his uncle Salih and his grandmother and the daughters of his +uncle and fell to kissing his hands and feet. Then Julnar sent for Shaykh +Abdallah and thanking him for his kind dealing with her son, married him to the +damsel, whom he had despatched to her with news of him, and made him King of +the city. Moreover, she summoned those who survived of the citizens (and they +were Moslems), and made them swear fealty to him and take the oath of loyalty, +whereto they replied, “Hearkening and obedience!” Then she and her company +farewelled him and returned to their own capital. The townsfolk came out to +meet them, with drums beating, and decorated the place three days and held high +festival, of the greatness of their joy for the return of their King Badr +Basim. After this Badr said to his mother, “O my mother, naught remains but +that I marry and we be all united.” She replied, “Right is thy rede, O my son, +but wait till we ask who befitteth thee among the daughters of the Kings.” And +his grandmother Farashah, and the daughters of both his uncles said, “O Badr +Basim, we will help thee to win thy wish forthright.” Then each of them arose +and fared forth questing in the lands, whilst Julnar sent out her waiting-women +on the necks of Ifrits, bidding them leave not a city nor a King’s palace +without noting all the handsome girls that were therein. But, when King Badr +Basim saw the trouble they were taking in this matter, he said to Julnar, “O my +mother, leave this thing, for none will content me save Jauharah, daughter of +King Al-Samandal; for that she is indeed a jewel,[FN#347] according to her +name.” Replied Julnar, “I know that which thou seekest;” and bade forthright +bring Al-Samandal the King. As soon as he was present, she sent for Badr Basim +and acquainted him with the King’s coming, whereupon he went in to him. Now +when Al-Samandal was aware of his presence, he rose to him and saluted him and +bade him welcome; and King Badr Basim demanded of him his daughter Jauharah in +marriage. Quoth he, “She is thine handmaid and at thy service and disposition,” +and despatched some of his suite bidding them seek her abode and, after telling +her that her sire was in the hands of King Badr Basim, to bring her forthright. +So they flew up into the air and disappeared and they returned after a while, +with the Princess who, as soon as she saw her father, went up to him and threw +her arms round his neck. Then looking at her he said, “O my daughter, know that +I have given thee in wedlock to this magnanimous Sovran, and valiant lion King +Badr Basim, son of Queen Julnar the Sea-born, for that he is the goodliest of +the folk of his day and most powerful and the most exalted of them in degree +and the noblest in rank; he befitteth none but thee and thou none but him.” +Answered she, “I may not gainsay thee, O my sire do as thou wilt, for indeed +chagrin and despite are at an end, and I am one of his handmaids.” So they +summoned the Kazi and the witnesses who drew up the marriage contract between +King Badr Basim and the Princess Jauharah, and the citizens decorated the city +and beat the drums of rejoicing, and they released all who were in the jails, +whilst the King clothed the widows and the orphans and bestowed robes of honour +upon the Lords of the Realm and Emirs and Grandees: and they made bride-feasts +and held high festival night and morn ten days, at the end of which time they +displayed the bride, in nine different dresses, before King Badr Basim who +bestowed an honourable robe upon King Al-Samandal and sent him back to his +country and people and kinsfolk. And they ceased not from living the most +delectable of life and the most solaceful of days, eating and drinking and +enjoying every luxury, till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and +the Sunderer of Societies; and this is the end of their story[FN#348], may +Allah have mercy on them all! Moreover, O auspicious King, a tale is also told +anent +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap19"></a>KING MOHAMMED BIN SABAIK AND THE MERCHANT HASAN.</h2> + +<p> +There was once, in days of yore and in ages and times long gone before, a King +of the Kings of the Persians, by name Mohammed bin Sabáik, who ruled over +Khorásán-land and used every year to go on razzia into the countries of the +Miscreants in Hind and Sind and China and the lands of Máwarannahr beyond the +Oxus and other regions of the barbarians and what not else. He was a just King, +a valiant and a generous, and loved table-talk[FN#349] and tales and verses and +anecdotes and histories and entertaining stories and legends of the ancients. +Whoso knew a rare recital and related it to him in such fashion as to please +him he would bestow on him a sumptuous robe of honour and clothe him from head +to foot and give him a thousand dinars, and mount him on a horse saddled and +bridled besides other great gifts; and the man would take all this and wend his +way. Now it chanced that one day there came an old man before him and related +to him a rare story, which pleased the King and made him marvel, so he ordered +him a magnificent present, amongst other things a thousand dinars of Khorasan +and a horse with its housings and trappings. After this, the bruit of the +King’s munificence was blazed abroad in all countries and there heard of him a +man, Hasan the Merchant hight, who was a generous, open-handed and learned, a +scholar and an accomplished poet. Now the King had an envious Wazir, a +multum-in-parvo of ill, loving no man, rich nor poor, and whoso came before the +King and he gave him aught he envied him and said, “Verily, this fashion +annihilateth wealth and ruineth the land; and such is the custom of the King.” +But this was naught save envy and despite in that Minister. Presently the King +heard talk of Hasan the Merchant and sending for him, said to him as soon as he +came into the presence, “O Merchant Hasan, this Wazir of mine vexeth and +thwarteth me concerning the money I give to poets and boon-companions and +story-tellers and glee-men, and I would have thee tell me a goodly history and +a rare story, such as I have never before heard. An it please me, I will give +thee lands galore, with their forts, in free tenure, in addition to thy fiefs +and untaxed lands; besides which I will put my whole kingdom in thy hands and +make thee my Chief Wazir; so shalt thou sit on my right hand and rule my +subjects. But, an thou bring me not that which I bid thee, I will take all that +is in thy hand and banish thee my realm.” Replied Hasan, “Hearkening and +obedience to our lord the King! But thy slave beseecheth thee to have patience +with him a year; then will he tell thee a tale, such as thou hast never in thy +life heard, neither hath other than thou heard its like, not to say a better +than it.” Quoth the King, “I grant thee a whole year’s delay.” And he called +for a costly robe of honour wherein he robed Hasan, saying, “Keep thy house and +mount not horse, neither go nor come for a year’s time, till thou bring me that +I seek of thee. An thou bring it, especial favour awaiteth thee and thou mayst +count upon that which I have promised thee; but an thou bring it not, thou art +not of us nor are we of thee.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Mohammed son of +Sabaik said to Hasan the Merchant, “An thou bring me that I seek of thee, +especial favour awaiteth thee and thou mayest now rejoice in that which I have +promised thee; but, an thou bring it not, thou art not of us nor are we of +thee.” Hasan kissed ground before the King and went out from the presence. Then +he chose five of the best of his Mamelukes, who could all write and read and +were learned, intelligent, accomplished; and he gave each of them five thousand +dinars, saying, “I reared you not save for the like of this day; so do ye help +me to further the King’s desire and deliver me from his hand.” Quoth they, +“What wilt thou have us do? Our lives be thy ransom!” Quoth he, “I wish you to +go each to a different country and seek out diligently the learned and erudite +and literate and the tellers of wondrous stories and marvellous histories and +do your endeavour to procure me the story of Sayf al-Mulúk. If ye find it with +any one, pay him what price soever he asketh for it although he demand a +thousand dinars; give him what ye may and promise him the rest and bring me the +story; for whoso happeneth on it and bringeth it to me, I will bestow on him a +costly robe of honour and largesse galore, and there shall be to me none more +worshipped than he.” Then said he to one of them, “Hie thou to Al-Hind and +Al-Sind and all their provinces and dependencies.” To another, “Hie thou to the +home of the Persians and to China and her climates.” To the third, “Hie thou to +the land of Khorasan with its districts.” To the fourth, “Hie thou to +Mauritania and all its regions, districts, provinces and quarters.” And to the +fifth, “Hie thou to Syria and Egypt and their outliers.” Moreover, he chose +them out an auspicious day and said to them, “Fare ye forth this day and be +diligent in the accomplishment of my need and be not slothful, though the case +cost you your lives.” So they farewelled him and departed, each taking the +direction prescribed to him. Now, four of them were absent four months, and +searched but found nothing; so they returned and told their master, whose +breast was straitened, that they had ransacked towns and cities and countries +for the thing he sought, but had happened upon naught thereof. Meanwhile, the +fifth servant journeyed till he came to the land of Syria and entered Damascus, +which he found a pleasant city and a secure, abounding in trees and rills, leas +and fruiteries and birds chanting the praises of Allah the One, the +All-powerful of sway, Creator of Night and Day. Here he tarried some time, +asking for his master’s desire, but none answered him, wherefore he was on the +point of departing thence to another place, when he met a young man running and +stumbling over his skirts. So he asked of him, “Wherefore runnest thou in such +eagerness and whither dost thou press?” And he answered, “There is an elder +here, a man of learning, who every day at this time taketh his seat on a +stool[FN#350] and relateth tales and stories and delectable anecdotes, whereof +never heard any the like; and I am running to get me a place near him and fear +I shall find no room, because of the much folk.” Quoth the Mameluke, “Take me +with thee;” and quoth the youth, “Make haste in thy walking.” So he shut his +door and hastened with him to the place of recitation, where he saw an old man +of bright favour seated on a stool holding forth to the folk. He sat down near +him and addressed himself to hear his story, till the going down of the sun, +when the old man made an end of his tale and the people, having heard it all, +dispersed from about him; whereupon the Mameluke accosted him and saluted him, +and he returned his salam and greeted him with the utmost worship and courtesy. +Then said the messenger to him, “O my lord Shaykh, thou art a comely and +reverend man, and thy discourse is goodly; but I would fain ask thee of +somewhat.” Replied the old man, “Ask of what thou wilt!” Then said the +Mameluke, “Hast thou the story of Sayf al-Muluk and Badí’a al-Jamál?” Rejoined +the elder, “And who told thee of this story and informed thee thereof?” +Answered the messenger, “None told me of it, but I am come from a far country, +in quest of this tale, and I will pay thee whatever thou askest for its price +if thou have it and wilt, of thy bounty and charity, impart it to me and make +it an alms to me, of the generosity of thy nature for, had I my life in my hand +and lavished it upon thee for this thing, yet were it pleasing to my heart.” +Replied the old man, “Be of good cheer and keep thine eye cool and clear: thou +shalt have it; but this is no story that one telleth in the beaten highway, nor +do I give it to every one.” Cried the other, “By Allah, O my lord, do not +grudge it me, but ask of me what price thou wilt.” And the old man, “If thou +wish for the history give me an hundred dinars and thou shalt have it; but upon +five conditions.” Now when the Mameluke knew that the old man had the story and +was willing to sell it to him, he joyed with exceeding joy and said, “I will +give thee the hundred dinars by way of price and ten to boot as a gratuity and +take it on the conditions of which thou speakest.” Said the old man, “Then go +and fetch the gold pieces, and take that thou seekest.” So the messenger kissed +his hands and joyful and happy returned to his lodging, where he laid an +hundred and ten dinars[FN#351] in a purse he had by him. As soon as morning +morrowed, he donned his clothes and taking the dinars, repaired to the +story-teller, whom he found seated at the door of his house. So he saluted him +and the other returned his salam. Then he gave him the gold and the old man +took it and carrying the messenger into his house made him sit down in a +convenient place, when he set before him ink-case and reed-pen and paper and +giving him a book, said to him, “Write out what thou seekest of the +night-story[FN#352] of Sayf al-Muluk from this book.” Accordingly the Mameluke +fell to work and wrote till he had made an end of his copy, when he read it to +the old man, and he corrected it and presently said to him, “Know, O my son, +that my five conditions are as follows; firstly, that thou tell not this story +in the beaten high road nor before women and slave-girls nor to black slaves +nor feather-heads; nor again to boys; but read it only before Kings and Emirs +and Wazirs and men of learning, such as expounders of the Koran and others.” +Thereupon the messenger accepted the conditions and kissing the old man’s hand, +took leave of him, and fared forth.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Mameluke of +Hasan the Merchant had copied the tale out of the book belonging to the old man +of Damascus, and had accepted his conditions and farewelled him, he fared forth +on the same day, glad and joyful, and journeyed on diligently, of the excess of +his contentment, for that he had gotten the story of Sayf al-Muluk, till he +came to his own country, when he despatched his servant to bear the good news +to his master and say to him, “Thy Mameluke is come back in safety and hath won +his will and his aim.” (Now of the term appointed between Hasan and the King +there wanted but ten days.) Then, after taking rest in his own quarters he +himself went in to the Merchant and told him all that had befallen him and gave +him the book containing the story of Sayf al-Muluk and Badi’a al-Jamal, when +Hasan joyed with exceeding joy at the sight and bestowed on him all the clothes +he had on and gave him ten thoroughbred horses and the like number of camels +and mules and three negro chattels and two white slaves. Then Hasan took the +book and copied out the story plainly in his own hand; after which he presented +himself before the King and said to him, “O thou auspicious King, I have +brought thee a night-story and a rarely pleasant relation, whose like none ever +heard at all.” When these words reached the King’s ear, he sent forthright for +all the Emirs, who were men of understanding, and all the learned doctors and +folk of erudition and culture and poets and wits; and Hasan sat down and read +the history before the King, who marvelled thereat and approved it, as did all +who were present, and they showered gold and silver and jewels upon the +Merchant. Moreover, the King bestowed on him a costly robe of honour of the +richest of his raiment and gave him a great city with its castles and outliers; +and he appointed him one of his Chief Wazirs and seated him on his right hand. +Then he caused the scribes write the story in letters of gold and lay it up in +his privy treasures: and whenever his breast was straitened, he would summon +Hasan and he would read him the story,[FN#353] which was as follows:— +</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap20"></a>Story of Prince Sayf al-Muluk and the Princess Badi’a +al-Jamal.</h3> + +<p> +There was once, in days of old and in ages and times long told, a King in Egypt +called Asim bin Safwán,[FN#354] who was a liberal and beneficent sovran, +venerable and majestic. He owned many cities and sconces and fortresses and +troops and warriors and had a Wazir named Fáris bin Sálih,[FN#355] and he and +all his subjects worshipped the sun and the fire, instead of the All-powerful +Sire, the Glorious, the Victorious. Now this King was become a very old man, +weakened and wasted with age and sickness and decrepitude; for he had lived an +hundred and fourscore years and had no child, male or female, by reason whereof +he was ever in cark and care from morning to night and from night to morn. It +so happened that one day of the days, he was sitting on the throne of his +Kingship, with his Emirs and Wazirs and Captains and Grandees in attendance on +him, according to their custom, in their several stations, and whenever there +came in an Emir, who had with him a son or two sons, or haply three who stood +at the sides of their sires the King envied him and said in himself, “Every one +of these is happy and rejoiceth in his children, whilst I, I have no child, and +to-morrow I die and leave my reign and throne and lands and hoards, and +strangers will take them and none will bear me in memory nor will there remain +any mention of me in the world.” Then he became drowned in the sea of thought +and for the much thronging of griefs and anxieties upon his heart, like +travellers faring for the well, he shed tears and descending from his throne, +sat down upon the floor,[FN#356] weeping and humbling himself before the Lord. +Now when the Wazir and notables of the realm and others who were present in the +assembly saw him do thus with his royal person, they feared for their lives and +let the poursuivants cry aloud to the lieges, saying, “Hie ye to your homes and +rest till the King recover from what aileth him.” So they went away, leaving +none in the presence save the Minister who, as soon as the King came to +himself, kissed ground between his hands and said, “O King of the Age and the +Time, wherefore this weeping and wailing? Tell me who hath transgressed against +thee of the Kings or Castellans or Emirs or Grandees, and inform me who hath +thwarted thee, O my liege lord, that we may all fall on him and tear his soul +from his two sides.” But he spake not neither raised his head; whereupon the +Minister kissed ground before him a second time and said to him, “O +Master,[FN#357] I am even as thy son and thy slave, nay, I have reared thee; +yet know I not the cause of thy cark and chagrin and of this thy case; and who +should know but I who should stand in my stead between thy hands? Tell me +therefore why this weeping and wherefore thine affliction.” Nevertheless, the +King neither opened his mouth nor raised his head, but ceased not to weep and +cry with a loud crying and lament with exceeding lamentation and ejaculate, +“Alas!” The Wazir took patience with him awhile, after which he said to him, +“Except thou tell me the cause of this thine affliction, I will set this sword +to my heart and will slay myself before thine eyes, rather than see thee thus +distressed.” Then King Asim raised his head and, wiping away his tears, said, +“O Minister of good counsel and experience, leave me to my care and my chagrin, +for that which is in my heart of sorrow sufficeth me.” But Faris said, “Tell +me, O King, the cause of this thy weeping, haply Allah will appoint thee relief +at my hands.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir said to King +Asim, “Tell me the cause of this thy weeping: haply Allah shall appoint thee +relief at my hands.” Replied the King, “O Wazir, I weep not for monies nor +horses nor kingdoms nor aught else, but that I am become an old man, yea, very +old, nigh upon an hundred and fourscore years of age, and I have not been +blessed with a child, male or female; so, when I die, they will bury me and my +trace will be effaced and my name cut off; the stranger will take my throne and +reign and none will ever make mention of my being.” Rejoined the Minister +Faris, “O King of the Age, I am older than thou by an hundred years yet have I +never been blest with boon of child and cease not day and night from cark and +care and concern; so how shall we do, I and thou?” Quoth Asim, “O Wazir, hast +thou no device or shift in this matter?” and quoth the Minister, “Know, O King +that I have heard of a Sovran in the land of Sabá[FN#358] by name Solomon +David-son (upon the twain be the Peace!),[FN#359] who pretendeth to prophetship +and avoucheth that he hath a mighty Lord who can do all things and whose +kingdom is in the Heavens and who hath dominion over all mankind and birds and +beasts and over the wind and the Jinn. Moreover, he kenneth the speech of birds +and the language of every other created thing; and withal, he calleth all +creatures to the worship of his Lord and discourseth to them of their service. +So let us send him a messenger in the King’s name and seek of him our need, +beseeching him to put up prayer to his Lord, that He vouchsafe each of us boon +of issue. If his Faith be soothfast and his Lord Omnipotent, He will assuredly +bless each of us with a child male or female, and if the thing thus fall out, +we will enter his faith and worship his Lord; else will we take patience and +devise us another device.” The King cried, “This is well seen, and my breast is +broadened by this thy speech; but where shall we find a messenger befitting +this grave matter, for that this Solomon is no Kinglet and the approaching him +is no light affair? Indeed, I will send him none, on the like of this matter, +save thyself; for thou art ancient and versed in all manner affairs and the +like of thee is the like of myself; wherefore I desire that thou weary thyself +and journey to him and occupy thyself sedulously with accomplishing this +matter, so haply solace may be at thy hand.” The Minister said, “I hear and I +obey; but rise thou forthwith and seat thee upon the throne, so the Emirs and +Lords of the realm and officers and the lieges may enter applying themselves to +thy service, according to their custom; for they all went away from thee, +troubled at heart on thine account. Then will I go out and set forth on the +Sovran’s errand.” So the King arose forthright and sat down on the throne of +his kingship, whilst the Wazir went out and said to the Chamberlain, “Bid the +folk proceed to their service, as of their wont.” Accordingly the troops and +Captains and Lords of the land entered, after they had spread the tables and +ate and drank and withdrew as was their wont, after which the Wazir Faris went +forth from King Asim and, repairing to his own house, equipped himself for +travel and returned to the King, who opened to him the treasuries and provided +him with rarities and things of price and rich stuffs and gear without compare, +such as nor Emir nor Wazir hath power to possess. Moreover, King Asim charged +him to accost Solomon with reverence, foregoing him with the salam, but not +exceeding in speech; “and (continued he) then do thou ask of him thy need, and +if he say ’tis granted, return to us in haste, for I shall be awaiting thee.” +Accordingly, the Minister kissed hands and took the presents and setting out, +fared on night and day, till he came within fifteen days’ journey of Saba. +Meanwhile Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) inspired Solomon the son of David +(the Peace be upon both!) and said to him, “O Solomon, the King of Egypt +sendeth unto thee his Chief Wazir, with a present of rarities and such and such +things of price; so do thou also despatch thy Counsellor Asaf bin Barkhiyá to +meet him with honour and with victual at the halting-places; and when he cometh +to thy presence, say unto him, ‘Verily, thy King hath sent thee in quest of +this and that and thy business is thus and thus.’ Then do thou propound to him +The Saving Faith.”[FN#360] Whereupon Solomon bade his Wazir make ready a +company of his retainers and go forth to meet the Minister of Egypt with honour +and sumptuous provision at the halting-places. So Asaf made ready all that was +needed for their entertainment and setting out, fared on till he fell in with +Faris and accosted him with the salam, honouring him and his company with +exceeding honour. Moreover, he brought them provaunt and provender at the +halting-places and said to them, “Well come and welcome and fair welcome to the +coming guests! Rejoice in the certain winning of your wish! Be your souls of +good cheer and your eyes cool and clear and your breasts be broadened!” Quoth +Faris in himself, “Who acquainted him with this?”; and he said to Asaf,[FN#361] +“O my lord, and who gave thee to know of us and our need?” “It was Solomon son +of David (on whom be the Peace!), told us of this!” “And who told our lord +Solomon?” “The Lord of the heaven and the earth told him, <i>the</i> God of all +creatures!” “This is none other than a mighty God!” “And do ye not worship +him?” “We worship the Sun, and prostrate ourselves thereto.” “O Wazir Faris, +the sun is but a star of the stars created by Allah (extolled and exalted be +He!), and Allah forbid that it should be a Lord! Because whiles it riseth and +whiles it setteth, but our Lord is ever present and never absent and He over +all things is Omnipotent!” Then they journeyed on a little while till they came +to the land Saba and drew near the throne of Solomon David-son, (upon the twain +be peace!), who commanded his hosts of men and Jinn and others[FN#362] to form +line on their road. So the beasts of the sea and the elephants and leopards and +lynxes and all beasts of the land ranged themselves in espalier on either side +of the way, after their several kinds, and similarly the Jinn drew out in two +ranks, appearing all to mortal eyes without concealment, in divers forms grisly +and gruesome. So they lined the road on either hand, and the birds bespread +their wings over the host of creatures to shade them, warbling one to other in +all manner of voices and tongues. Now when the people of Egypt came to this +terrible array, they dreaded it and durst not proceed; but Asaf said to them, +“Pass on amidst them and walk forward and fear them not: for they are slaves of +Solomon son of David, and none of them will harm you.” So saying, he entered +between the ranks, followed by all the folk and amongst them the Wazir of Egypt +and his company, fearful: and they ceased not faring forwards till they reached +the city, where they lodged the embassy in the guest-house and for the space of +three days entertained them sumptuously, entreating them with the utmost +honour. Then they carried them before Solomon, prophet of Allah (on whom be the +Peace!), and when entering they would have kissed the earth before him; but he +forbade them, saying, “It befitteth not a man prostrate himself to earth save +before Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!), Creator of Earth and Heaven +and all other things; wherefore, whosoever of you hath a mind to sit let him be +seated in my service, or to stand, let him stand, but let none stand to do me +worship.” So they obeyed him and the Wazir Faris and some of his intimates sat +down, whilst certain of the lesser sort remained afoot to wait on him. When +they had sat awhile, the servants spread the tables and they all, men and +beasts, ate their sufficiency.[FN#363] Then Solomon bade Faris expound his +errand, that it might be accomplished, saying, “Speak and hide naught of that +wherefor thou art come; for I know why ye come and what is your errand, which +is thus and thus. The King of Egypt who despatched thee, Asim hight, hath +become a very old man, infirm, decrepit; and Allah (whose name be exalted!) +hath not blessed him with offspring, male or female. So he abode in cark and +care and chagrin from morn to night and from night to morn. It so happened that +one day of the days as he sat upon the throne of his kingship with his Emirs +and Wazirs, and Captains and Grandees in attendance on him, he saw some of them +with two sons, others with one, and others even three, who came with their +sires to do him service. So he said in himself, of the excess of his sorrow, +‘Who shall get my kingdom after my death? Will any save a stranger take it? And +thus shall I pass out of being as though I had never been!’ On this account he +became drowned in the sea of thought, until his eyes were flooded with tears +and he covered his face with his kerchief and wept with sore weeping. Then he +rose from off his throne and sat down upon the floor wailing and lamenting and +none knew what was in heart as he grovelled in the ground save Allah +Almighty.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixtieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Solomon David-son +(upon both of whom be peace!) after disclosing to the Wazir Faris that which +had passed between himself and his master, King Asim, said to him, “Is this +that I have told thee the truth, O Wazir?” Replied Faris, “O prophet of Allah, +this thou hast said is indeed sooth and verity; but when we discoursed of this +matter, none was with the King and myself, nor was any ware of our case; who, +then told thee of all these things?” Answered Solomon, “They were told to me by +my Lord who knoweth whatso is concealed[FN#364] from the eye and what is hidden +in the breasts.” Quoth Faris, “O Prophet of Allah, verily this is none other +than a mighty Lord and an omnipotent God!” And he Islamized with all his many. +Then said Solomon to him, “Thou hast with thee such and such presents and +rarities;” and Faris replied “Yes.” The prophet continued, “I accept them all +and give them in free gift unto thee. So do ye rest, thou and thy company, in +the place where you have been lodging, till the fatigue of the journey shall +cease from you; and to-morrow, Inshallah! thine errand shall be accomplished to +the uttermost, if it be the will of Allah the Most High, Lord of heaven and +earth and the light which followeth the gloom; Creator of all creatures.” So +Faris returned to his quarters and passed the night in deep thought. But when +morning morrowed he presented himself before the Lord Solomon, who said to him, +“When thou returnest to King Asim bin Safwan and you twain are reunited, do ye +both go forth some day armed with bow, bolts and brand, and fare to such a +place, where ye shall find a certain tree. Mount upon it and sit silent until +the midhour between noon-prayer and that of mid-afternoon, when the noontide +heat hath cooled; then descend and look at the foot of the tree, whence ye will +see two serpents come forth, one with a head like an ape’s and the other with a +head like an Ifrit’s. Shoot them ye twain with bolts and kill them both; then +cut off a span’s length from their heads and the like from their tails and +throw it away. The rest of the flesh cook and cook well and give it to your +wives to eat: then lie with them that night and, by Allah’s leave, they shall +conceive and bear male children.” Moreover, he gave him a seal-ring, a sword +and a wrapper containing two tunics[FN#365] embroidered with gold and jewels, +saying, “O Wazir Faris, when your sons grow up to man’s estate, give to each of +them one of these tunics.” Then said he, “In the name of Allah! May the +Almighty accomplish your desire! And now nothing remaineth for thee but to +depart, relying on the blessing of the Lord the Most High, for the King looketh +for thy return night and day and his eye is ever gazing on the road.” So the +Wazir advanced to the prophet Solomon son of David (upon both of whom be the +Peace!) and farewelled him and fared forth from him after kissing his hands. +Rejoicing in the accomplishment of his errand he travelled on with all +diligence night and day, and ceased not wayfaring till he drew near to Cairo, +when he despatched one of his servants to acquaint King Asim with his approach +and the successful issue of his journey; which when the King heard he joyed +with exceeding joy, he and his Grandees and Officers and troops especially in +the Wazir’s safe return. When they met, the Minister dismounted and, kissing +ground before the King, gave him the glad news anent the winning of his wish in +fullest fashion; after which he expounded the True Faith to him, and the King +and all his people embraced Al-Islam with much joy and gladness. Then said Asim +to his Wazir, “Go home and rest this night and a week to boot; then go to the +Hammam-bath and come to me, that I may inform thee of what we shall have to +consider.” So Faris kissed ground and withdrew, with his suite, pages and +eunuchs, to his house, where he rested eight days; after which he repaired to +the King and related to him all that had passed between Solomon and himself, +adding, “Do thou rise and go forth with me alone.” Then the King and the +Minister took two bows and two bolts and repairing to the tree indicated by +Solomon, clomb up into it and there sat in silence till the mid-day heat had +passed away and it was near upon the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, when they +descended and looking about them saw a serpent-couple[FN#366] issue from the +roots of the tree. The King gazed at them, marvelling to see them ringed with +collars of gold about their necks, and said to Faris, “O Wazir, verily these +snakes have golden torques! By Allah, this is forsooth a rare thing! Let us +catch them and set them in a cage and keep them to look upon.” But the Minister +said, “These hath Allah created for profitable use;[FN#367] so do thou shoot +one and I will shoot the other with these our shafts.” Accordingly they shot at +them with arrows and slew them; after which they cut off a span’s length of +their heads and tails and threw it away. Then they carried the rest to the +King’s palace, where they called the kitchener and giving him the flesh said, +“Dress this meat daintily, with onion-sauce[FN#368] and spices, and ladle it +out into two saucers and bring them hither at such an hour, without delay!”——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the King and the +Wazir gave the serpents’ flesh to the kitchener, saying, “Cook it and ladle it +out into two saucers and bring them hither without delay!”; the cook took the +meat and went with it to the kitchen, where he cooked it and dressed it in +skilful fashion with a mighty fine onion-sauce and hot spices; after which he +ladled it out into two saucers and set them before the King and the Wazir, who +took each a dish and gave their wives to eat of the meat. Then they went in +that night unto them and knew them carnally, and by the good pleasure of Allah +(extolled and exalted be He!) and His all-might and furtherance, they both +conceived on one and the same night. The King abode three months, troubled in +mind and saying in himself, “I wonder whether this thing will prove true or +untrue”; till one day, as the lady his Queen was sitting, the child stirred in +her womb and she felt a pain and her colour changed. So she knew that she was +with child and calling the chief of her eunuchs, gave him this command, “Go to +the King, wherever he may be and congratulate him saying, ‘O King of the Age, I +bring thee the glad tidings that our lady’s pregnancy is become manifest, for +the child stirreth in her womb’.” So the eunuch went out in haste, rejoicing, +and finding the King alone, with cheek on palm, pondering this thing, kissed +ground between his hands and acquainted him with his wife’s pregnancy. When the +King heard his words, he sprang to his feet and in the excess of his joy, he +kissed[FN#369] the eunuch’s hands and head and doffing the clothes he had on, +gave them to him. Moreover, he said to those who were present in his assembly, +“Whoso loveth me, let him bestow largesse upon this man.”[FN#370] And they gave +him of coin and jewels and jacinths and horses and mules and estates and +gardens what was beyond count or calculation. At that moment in came the Wazir +Faris and said to Asim, “O my master, but now I was sitting alone at home and +absorbed in thought, pondering the matter of the pregnancy and saying to +myself, ‘Would I wot an this thing be true and whether my wife Khátún[FN#371] +have conceived or not!’ when, behold, an eunuch came in to me and brought me +the glad tidings that his lady was indeed pregnant, for that her colour was +changed and the child stirred in her womb; whereupon, in my joy, I doffed all +the clothes I had on and gave them to him, together with a thousand dinars, and +made him Chief of the Eunuchs.” Rejoined the King, “O Minister, Allah (extolled +and exalted be He!) hath, of His grace and bounty and goodness, and +beneficence, made gift to us of the True Faith and brought us out of night into +light, and hath been bountiful to us, of His favour and benevolence; wherefore +I am minded to solace the folk and cause them to rejoice.” Quoth Faris, “Do +what thou wilt,[FN#372]” and quoth the King, “O Wazir, go down without stay or +delay and set free all who are in the prisons, both criminals and debtors, and +whoso transgresseth after this, we will requite as he deserveth even to the +striking off of his head. Moreover, we forgive the people three years’ taxes, +and do thou set up kitchens all around about the city walls[FN#373] and bid the +kitcheners hang over the fire all kinds of cooking pots and cook all manner of +meats, continuing their cooking night and day, and let all comers, both of our +citizens and of the neighbouring countries, far and near, eat and drink and +carry to their houses. And do thou command the people to make holiday and +decorate the city seven days and shut not the taverns night nor day[FN#374]; +and if thou delay I will behead thee[FN#375]!” So he did as the King bade him +and the folk decorated the city and citadel and bulwarks after the goodliest +fashion and, donning their richest attire, passed their time in feasting and +sporting and making merry, till the days of the Queen’s pregnancy were +accomplished and she was taken, one night, with labour pains hard before dawn. +Then the King bade summon all the Olema and astronomers, mathematicians and men +of learning, astrologers, scientists and scribes in the city, and they +assembled and sat awaiting the throwing of a bead into the cup[FN#376] which +was to be the signal to the Astrophils, as well as to the nurses and +attendants, that the child was born. Presently, as they sat in expectation, the +Queen gave birth to a boy like a slice of the moon when fullest and the +astrologers fell to calculating and noted his star and nativity and drew his +horoscope. Then, on being summoned they rose and, kissing the earth before the +King, gave him the glad tidings, saying, “In very sooth the new-born child is +of happy augury and born under an auspicious aspect, but” they added, “in the +first of his life there will befall him a thing which we fear to name before +the King.” Quoth Asim, “Speak and fear not;” so quoth they, “O King, this boy +will fare forth from this land and journey in strangerhood and suffer shipwreck +and hardship and prisonment and distress, and indeed he hath before him the +sorest of sufferings; but he shall free him of them in the end, and win to his +wish and live the happiest of lives the rest of his days, ruling over subjects +with a strong hand and having dominion in the land, despite enemies and +enviers.” Now when the King heard the astrologers’ words, he said, “The matter +is a mystery; but all that Allah Almighty hath written for the creature of good +and bad cometh to pass and needs must betide him from this day to that a +thousand solaces.” So he paid no heed to their words or attention to their +speeches but bestowed on them robes of honour, as well upon all who were +present, and dismissed them; when, behold, in came Faris the Wazir and kissed +the earth before the King in huge joy, saying, “Good tidings, O King! My wife +hath but now given birth to a son, as he were a slice of the moon.” Replied +Asim, “O Wazir, go, bring thy wife and child hither, that she may abide with my +wife in my palace, and they shall bring up the two boys together.” So Faris +fetched his wife and son and they committed the two children to the nurses wet +and dry. And after seven days had passed over them, they brought them before +the King and said to him, “What wilt thou name the twain?” Quoth he, “Do ye +name them;” but quoth they, “None nameth the son save his sire.” So he said, +“Name my son Sayf al-Muluk, after my grandfather, and the Minister’s son +Sa’id.”[FN#377] Then he bestowed robes of honour on the nurses wet and dry and +said to them, “Be ye ruthful over them and rear them after the goodliest +fashion.” So they brought up the two boys diligently till they reached the age +of five, when the King committed them to a doctor of Sciences[FN#378] who +taught them to read the Koran and write. When they were ten years old, King +Asim gave them in charge to masters, who instructed them in cavalarice and +shooting with shafts and lunging with lance and play of Polo and the like till, +by the time they were fifteen years old, they were clever in all manner of +martial exercises, nor was there one to vie with them in horsemanship, for each +of them would do battle with a thousand men and make head against them single +handed. So when they came to years of discretion, whenever King Asim looked on +them he joyed in them with exceeding joy; and when they attained their +twenty-fifth year, he took Faris his Minister apart one day and said to him, “O +Wazir, I am minded to consult with thee concerning a thing I desire to do.” +Replied he, “Whatever thou hast a mind to do, do it; for thy judgment is +blessed.” Quoth the King, “O Wazir, I am become a very old and decrepit man, +sore stricken in years, and I desire to take up my abode in an oratory, that I +may worship Allah Almighty and give my kingdom and Sultanate to my son Sayf +al-Muluk for that he is grown a goodly youth, perfect in knightly exercises and +intellectual attainments, polite letters and gravity, dignity and the art of +government. What sayst thou, O Minister, of this project?” And quoth the +counsellor, “Right indeed is thy rede: the idea is a blessed and a fortunate, +and if thou do this, I will do the like and my son Sa’id shall be the Prince’s +Wazir, for he is a comely young man and complete in knowledge and judgment. +Thus will the two youths be together, and we will order their affair and +neglect not their case, but guide them to goodness and in the way that is +straight.” Quoth the King, “Write letters and send them by couriers to all the +countries and cities and sconces and fortresses that be under our hands, +bidding their chiefs be present on such a day at the Horse-course of the +Elephant.”[FN#379] So the Wazir went out without stay or delay and despatched +letters of this purport to all the deputies and governors of fortresses and +others under King Asim; and he commanded also that all in the city should be +present, far and near, high and low. When the appointed time drew nigh, King +Asim bade the tent-pitchers plant pavilions in the midst of the Champ-de-Mars +and decorate them after the most sumptuous fashion and set up the great throne +whereon he sat not but on festivals. And they at once did his bidding. Then he +and all his Nabobs and Chamberlains and Emirs sallied forth, and he commanded +proclamation be made to the people, saying, “In the name of Allah, come forth +to the Maydán!” So all the Emirs and Wazirs and Governors of provinces and +Feudatories[FN#380] came forth to the place of assembly and, entering the royal +pavilion, addressed themselves to the service of the King as was their wont, +and abode in their several stations, some sitting and others standing, till all +the people were gathered together, when the King bade spread the tables and +they ate and drank and prayed for him. Then he commanded the +Chamberlains[FN#381] to proclaim to the people that they should not depart: so +they made proclamation to them, saying, “Let none of you fare hence till he +have heard the King’s words!” So they withdrew the curtains of the royal +pavilion and the King said, “Whoso loveth me, let him remain till he have heard +my speech!” Whereupon all the folk sat down in mind tranquil after they had +been fearful, saying, “Wherefore have we been summoned by the King?” Then the +Sovran rose to his feet, and making them swear that none would stir from his +stead, said to them, “O ye Emirs and Wazirs and Lords of the land; the great +and the small of you, and all ye who are present of the people; say me, wot ye +not that this kingdom was an inheritance to me from my fathers and +forefathers?” Answered they, “Yes, O King we all know that.” And he continued, +“I and you, we all worshipped the sun and moon, till Allah (extolled and +exalted be He!) vouchsafed us the knowledge of the True Faith and brought us +out of darkness unto light, and directed us to the religion of Al-Islam. Know +that I am become a very old man, feeble and decrepit, and I desire to take up +my abode in a hermitage[FN#382] there to worship Allah Almighty and crave His +pardon for past offenses and make this my son Sayf al-Muluk ruler. Ye know full +well that he is a comely youth, eloquent, liberal, learned, versed in affairs, +intelligent, equitable; wherefore I am minded presently to resign to him my +realm and to make him ruler over you and seat him as Sultan in my stead, whilst +I give myself to solitude and to the worship of Allah in an oratory, and my son +and heir shall judge between you. What say ye then, all of you?” Thereupon they +all rose and kissing ground before him, made answer with “Hearing and +obedience,” saying, “O our King and our defender an thou should set over us one +of thy blackamoor slaves we would obey him and hearken to thy word and accept +thy command: how much more then with thy son Sayf al-Muluk? Indeed, we accept +of him and approve him on our eyes and heads!” So King Asim bin Safwan arose +and came down from his seat and seating his son on the great throne,[FN#383] +took the crown from his own head and set it on the head of Sayf al-Muluk and +girt his middle with the royal girdle.[FN#384] Then he sat down beside his son +on the throne of his kingship, whilst the Emirs and Wazirs and Lords of the +land and all the rest of the folk rose and kissed ground before him, saying, +“Indeed, he is worthy of the kingship and hath better right to it than any +other.” Then the Chamberlains made proclamation crying, “Amán! Amán! Safety! +Safety!” and offered up prayers for his victory and prosperity. And Sayf +al-Muluk scattered gold and silver on the heads of the lieges one and all.——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Asim seated his +son, Sayf al-Muluk, upon the throne and all the people prayed for his victory +and prosperity, the youth scattered gold and silver on the heads of the lieges, +one and all, and conferred robes of honour and gave gifts and largesse. Then, +after a moment, the Wazir Faris arose and kissing ground said, “O Emirs, O +Grandees, ye ken that I am Wazir and that my Wazirate dateth from old, before +the accession of King Asim bin Safwan, who hath now divested himself of the +Kingship and made his son King in his stead?” Answered they, “Yes, we know that +thy Wazirate is from sire after grandsire.” He continued, “And now in my turn I +divest myself of office and invest this my son Sa’id, for he is intelligent, +quick-witted, sagacious. What say ye all?” And they replied, “None is worthy to +be Wazir to King Sayf al-Muluk but thy son Sa’id, and they befit each other.” +With this Faris arose and taking off his Wazirial turband, set it on his son’s +head and eke laid his ink-case of office before him, whilst the Chamberlains +and the Emirs said, “Indeed, he is deserving of the Wazirship” and the Heralds +cried aloud, “Mubárak! Mubarak!—Felix sit et faustus!” After this, King Asim +and Faris the Minister arose and, opening the royal treasuries, conferred +magnificent robes of honour on all the Viceroys and Emirs and Wazirs and Lords +of the land and other folk and gave salaries and benefactions and wrote them +new mandates and diplomas with the signatures of King Sayf al-Muluk and his +Wazir Sa’id. Moreover, he made distribution of money to the men-at-arms and +gave guerdons, and the provincials abode in the city a full week ere they +departed each to his own country and place. Then King Asim carried his son and +his Wazir Sa’id back to the palace which was in the city and bade the treasurer +bring the seal-ring and signet,[FN#385] sword and wrapper; which being done, he +said to the two young men, “O my sons, come hither and let each of you choose +two of these things and take them.” The first to make choice was Sayf al-Muluk, +who put out his hand and took the ring and the wrapper, whilst Sa’id took the +sword and the signet; after which they both kissed the King’s hands and went +away to their lodging. Now Sayf al-Muluk opened not the wrapper to see what was +therein, but threw it on the couch where he and Sa’id slept by night, for it +was their habit to lie together. Presently they spread them the bed and the two +lay down with a pair of wax candles burning over them, and slept till midnight, +when Sayf al-Muluk awoke and, seeing the bundle at his head, said in his mind, +“I wonder what thing of price is in this wrapper my father gave me!” So he took +it together with a candle and descended from the couch leaving Sa’id sleeping +and carried the bundle into a closet, where he opened it and found within a +tunic of the fabric of the Jann. He spread it out and saw on the lining[FN#386] +of the back, the portraiture wroughten in gold of a girl and marvellous was her +loveliness; and no sooner had he set eyes on the figure than his reason fled +his head and he became Jinn-mad for love thereof, so that he fell down in a +swoon and presently recovering, began to weep and lament, beating his face and +breast and kissing her. And he recited these verses, +</p> + +<p> +“Love, at the first, is a spurt of spray[FN#387] * Which Doom<br /> + + disposes and Fates display;<br /> + +Till, when deep diveth youth in passion-sea * Unbearable<br /> + + sorrows his soul waylay.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +And also these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“Had I known of love in what fashion he * Robbeth heart and<br /> + + soul I had guarded me:<br /> + +But of malice prepense I threw self away, * Unwitting of Love<br /> + + what his nature be.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +And Sayf al-Muluk ceased not to weep and wail and beat face and breast, till +Sa’id awoke and missing him from the bed and seeing but a single candle, said +to himself, “Whither is Sayf al-Muluk gone?” Then he took the other candle and +went round about the palace, till he came upon the closet where he saw the +Prince lying at full length, weeping with sore weeping and lamenting aloud. So +he said to him, “O my brother, for what cause are these tears and what hath +befallen thee? Speak to me and tell me the reason thereof.” But Sayf al-Muluk +spoke not neither raised his head and continued to weep and wail and beat hand +on breast. Seeing him in this case quoth Sa’id, “I am thy Wazir and thy +brother, and we were reared together, I and thou; so an thou do not unburden +thy breast and discover thy secret to me, to whom shalt thou reveal it and +disclose its cause?” And he went on to humble himself and kiss the ground +before him a full hour, whilst Sayf al-Muluk paid no heed to him nor answered +him a word, but gave not over to weeping. At last, being affrighted at his case +and weary of striving with him, he went out and fetched a sword, with which he +returned to the closet, and setting the point to his own breast, said to the +Prince, “Rouse thee, O my brother! An thou tell me not what aileth thee, I will +slay myself and see thee no longer in this case.” Whereupon Sayf al-Muluk +raised his head towards the Wazir and answered him, “O my brother, I am ashamed +to tell thee what hath betided me;” but Sa’id said, “I conjure thee by Allah, +Lord of Lords, Liberator of Necks,[FN#388] Causer of causes, the One, the +Ruthful, the Gift-full, the Bountiful, that thou tell me what aileth thee and +be not abashed at me, for I am thy slave and thy Minister and counsellor in all +thine affairs!” Quoth Sayf al-Muluk, “Come and look at this likeness.” So Sa’id +looked at it awhile and considering it straitly, behold, he saw written, as a +crown over its head, in letters of pearl, these words, “This is the counterfeit +presentment of Badi’a al-Jamal, daughter of Shahyál bin Shárukh, a King of the +Kings of the true-believing Jann who have taken up their abode in the city of +Babel and sojourn in the garden of Iram, Son of ‘Ad the Greater”[FN#389]——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sa’id, son of +the Wazir Faris, had read to Sayf al-Muluk, son of King Asim, the writ on the +tunic, which showed the portraiture of Badi’a al-Jamal, daughter of Shahyal bin +Sharukh, a King of the Kings of the Moslem Jinns dwelling in Babel-city and in +the Garden of Iram, son of ‘Ad the Greater, he cried, “O my brother, knowest +thou of what woman this is the presentment, that we may seek for her?” Sayf +al-Muluk replied, “No, by Allah, O my brother, I know her not!” and Sa’id +rejoined, “Come, read this writing on the crown.” So Sayf al-Muluk read it and +cried out from his heart’s core and very vitals, saying, “Alas! Alas! Alas!” +Quoth Sa’id, “O my brother, an the original of the portrait exist and her name +be Badi’a al-Jamal, and she abide in the world, I will hasten to seek her, that +thou mayst win thy will without delay. But, Allah upon thee, O my brother, +leave this weeping and ascend thy throne, that the Officers of the State may +come in to do their service to thee, and in the undurn, do thou summon the +merchants and fakirs and travellers and pilgrims and paupers and ask of them +concerning this city and the garden of Iram; haply by the help and blessing of +Allah (extolled and exalted be He!), some one of them shall direct us thither.” +So, when it was day, Sayf al-Muluk went forth and mounted the throne, clasping +the tunic in his arms, for he could neither stand nor sit without it, nor would +sleep visit him save it were with him; and the Emirs and Wazirs and Lords and +Officers came in to him. When the Divan was complete all being assembled in +their places he said to his Minister, “Go forth to them and tell them that the +King hath been suddenly struck by sickness and he, by Allah, hath passed the +night in ill case.” So Sa’id fared forth and told the folk what he said; which +when old King Asim heard, he was concerned for his son and, summoning the +physicians and astrologers, carried them in to Sayf al-Muluk. They looked at +him and prescribed him ptisanes and diet-drinks, simples and medicinal waters +and wrote him characts and incensed him with Nadd and aloes-wood and ambergris +three days’ space; but his malady persisted three months, till King Asim was +wroth with the leaches and said to them, “Woe to you, O dogs! What? Are all of +you impotent to cure my son? Except ye heal him forthright, I will put the +whole of you to death.” The Archiater replied, “O King of the Age, in very +sooth we know that this is thy son and thou wottest that we fail not of +diligence in tending a stranger; so how much more with medicining thy son? But +thy son is afflicted with a malady hard to heal, which, if thou desire to know, +we will discover it to thee.” Quoth Asim, “What then find ye to be the malady +of my son?”; and quoth the leach, “O King of the Age, thy son is in love and he +loveth one to whose enjoyment he hath no way of access.” At this the King was +wroth and asked, “How know ye that my son is in love and how came love to +him?”; they answered, “Enquire of his Wazir and brother Sa’id, for he knoweth +his case.” The King rose and repaired to his private closet and summoning Sa’id +said to him, “Tell me the truth of thy brother’s malady.” But Sa’id replied, “I +know it not.” So King Asim said to the Sworder, “Take Sa’id and bind his eyes +and strike his neck.” Whereupon Sa’id feared for himself and cried, “O King of +the Age, grant me immunity.” Replied the King, “Speak and thou shalt have it.” +“Thy son is in love.” “With whom is he in love?” “With a King’s daughter of the +Jann.” “And where could he have espied a daughter of the Jinns?” “Her portrait +is wroughten on the tunic that was in the bundle given thee by Solomon, prophet +of Allah!” When the King heard this, he rose, and going in to Sayf al-Muluk, +said to him, “O my son, what hath afflicted thee? What is this portrait whereof +thou art enamoured? And why didst thou not tell me.” He replied, “O my sire, I +was ashamed to name this to thee and could not bring myself to discover aught +thereof to any one at all; but now thou knowest my case, look how thou mayest +do to cure me.” Rejoined his father, “What is to be done? Were this one of the +daughters of men we might devise a device for coming at her; but she is a +King’s daughter of the Jinns and who can woo and win her, save it be Solomon +David-son, and hardly he?[FN#390] However, O my son, do thou arise forthright +and hearten thy heart and take horse and ride out a-hunting or to weapon-play +in the Maydan. Divert thyself with eating and drinking and put away cark and +care from thy heart, and I will bring thee an hundred maids of the daughters of +Kings; for thou hast no need to the daughters of the Jann, over whom we lack +controul and of kind other than ours.” But he said, “I cannot renounce her nor +will I seek other than her.” Asked King Asim, “How then shall we do, O my +son?”; and Sayf al-Muluk answered, “Bring us all the merchants and travellers +and wanderers in the city, that we may question them thereof. Peradventure, +Allah will lead us to the city of Babel and the garden of Iram.” So King Asim +bade summon all the merchants in the city and strangers and sea-captains and, +as each came, enquired of him anent the city of Babel and its peninsula[FN#391] +and the garden of Iram; but none of them knew these places nor could any give +him tidings thereof. However, when the séance broke up, one of them said, “O +King of the Age, an thou be minded to ken this thing, up and hie thee to the +land of China; for it hath a vast city[FN#392] and a safe, wherein are store of +rarities and things of price and folk of all kinds; and thou shalt not come to +the knowledge of this city and garden but from its folk; it may be one of them +will direct thee to that thou seekest.” Whereupon quoth Sayf al-Muluk, “O my +sire, equip me a ship, that I may fare to the China-land; and do thou rule the +reign in my stead.” Replied the old King, “O my son, abide thou on the throne +of thy kingship and govern thy commons, and I myself will make the voyage to +China and ask for thee of the city of Babel and the garden of Iram.” But Sayf +al-Muluk rejoined, “O my sire, in very sooth this affair concerneth me and none +can search after it like myself: so, come what will, an thou give me leave to +make the voyage, I will depart and wander awhile. If I find trace or tidings of +her, my wish will be won, and if not, belike the voyage will broaden my breast +and recruit my courage; and haply by foreign travel my case will be made easy +to me, and if I live, I shall return to thee safe and sound.”——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sayf al-Muluk said to +his sire King Asim, “Equip me a ship that I may fare therein to the China-land +and search for the object of my desire. If I live I shall return to thee safe +and sound.” The old King looked at his son and saw nothing for it but to do +what he desired; so he gave him the leave he wanted and fitted him forty ships, +manned with twenty thousand armed Mamelukes, besides servants, and presented +him with great plenty of money and necessaries and warlike gear, as much as he +required. When the ships were laden with water and victual, weapons and troops, +Sayf al-Muluk’s father and mother farewelled him and King Asim said, “Depart, O +my son, and travel in weal and health and safety. I commend thee to Him with +Whom deposits are not lost.”[FN#393] So the Prince bade adieu to his parents +and embarked, with his brother Sa’id, and they weighed anchor and sailed till +they came to the City of China. When the Chinamen heard of the coming of forty +ships, full of armed men and stores, weapons and hoards, they made sure that +these were enemies come to battle with them and seige them; so they bolted the +gates of the town and made ready the mangonels.[FN#394] But Sayf al-Muluk, +hearing of this, sent two of his Chief Mamelukes to the King of China, bidding +them say to him, “This is Sayf al-Muluk, son of King Asim of Egypt, who is come +to thy city as a guest, to divert himself by viewing thy country awhile, and +not for conquest or contention; wherefore, an thou wilt receive him, he will +come ashore to thee; and if not he will return and will not disquiet thee nor +the people of thy capital.” They presented themselves at the city-gates and +said, “We are messengers from King Sayf al-Muluk.” Whereupon the townsfolk +opened the gates and carried them to their King, whose name was Faghfúr[FN#395] +Shah and between whom and King Asim there had erst been acquaintance. So, when +he heard that the new-comer Prince was the son of King Asim, he bestowed robes +of honour on the messengers and, bidding open the gates, made ready guest-gifts +and went forth in person with the chief officers of his realm, to meet Sayf +al-Muluk, and the two Kings embraced. Then Faghfur said to his guest, “Well +come and welcome and fair cheer to him who cometh to us! I am thy slave and the +slave of thy sire: my city is between thy hands to command and whatso thou +seekest shall be brought before thee.” Then he presented him with the +guest-gifts and victual for the folk at their stations; and they took horse, +with the Wazir Sa’id and the chiefs of their officers and the rest of their +troops, and rode from the sea-shore to the city, which they entered with +cymbals clashing and drums beating in token of rejoicing. There they abode in +the enjoyment of fair entertainment for forty days, at the end of which quoth +the King of China to Sayf al-Muluk, “O son of my brother, how is thy +case[FN#396]? Doth my country please thee?”; and quoth Sayf al-Muluk, “May +Allah Almighty long honour it with thee, O King!” Said Faghfur, “Naught hath +brought thee hither save some need which hath occurred to thee; and whatso thou +desirest of my country I will accomplish it to thee.” Replied Sayf al-Muluk, “O +King, my case is a wondrous,” and told him how he had fallen in love with the +portrait of Badi’a al-Jamal, and wept bitter tears. When the King of China +heard his story, he wept for pity and solicitude for him and cried, “And what +wouldst thou have now, O Sayf al-Muluk?”; and he rejoined, “I would have thee +bring me all the wanderers and travellers, the seafarers and sea-captains, that +I may question them of the original of this portrait; perhaps one of them may +give me tidings of her.” So Faghfur Shah sent out his Nabobs and Chamberlains +and body-guards to fetch all the wanderers and travellers in the land, and they +brought them before the two Kings, and they were a numerous company. Then Sayf +al-Muluk questioned them of the City of Babel and the Garden of Iram, but none +of them returned him a reply, whereupon he was bewildered and wist not what to +do; but one of the sea-captains said to him, “O auspicious King, an thou +wouldst know of this city and that garden, up and hie thee to the Islands of +the Indian realm.”[FN#397] Thereupon Sayf al-Muluk bade bring the ships; which +being done, they freighted them with vivers and water and all that they needed, +and the Prince and his Wazir re-embarked, with all their men, after they had +farewelled King Faghfur Shah. They sailed the seas four months with a fair +wind, in safety and satisfaction till it chanced that one day of the days there +came out upon them a wind and the billows buffeted them from all quarters. The +rain and hail[FN#398] descended on them and during twenty days the sea was +troubled for the violence of the wind; wherefor the ships drave one against +other and brake up, as did the carracks[FN#399] and all on board were drowned, +except Sayf al-Muluk and some of his servants, who saved themselves in a little +cock-boat. Then the wind fell by the decree of Allah Almighty and the sun shone +out; whereupon Sayf al-Muluk opened his eyes and seeing no sign of the ships +nor aught but sky and sea, said to the Mamelukes who were with him, “Where are +the carracks and cock-boats and where is my brother Sa’id?” They replied, “O +King of the Age, there remain nor ships nor boats nor those who were therein; +for they are all drowned and become food for fishes.” Now when he heard this, +he cried aloud and repeated the saying which whoso saith shall not be +confounded, and it is, “There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great!” Then he fell to buffeting his face and would +have cast himself into the sea, but his Mamelukes withheld him, saying “O King, +what will this profit thee? Thou hast brought all this on thyself; for, hadst +thou hearkened to thy father’s words, naught thereof had betided thee. But this +was written from all eternity by the will of the Creator of Souls.”——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sayf al-Muluk +would have cast himself into the main, his Mamelukes withheld him saying, “What +will this profit thee? Thou hast done this deed by thyself, yet was it written +from all eternity by the will of the Creator of Souls, that the creature might +accomplish that which Allah hath decreed unto him. And indeed, at the time of +thy birth, the astrologers assured thy sire that all manner troubles should +befal thee. So there is naught for it but patience till Allah deliver us from +this our strait.” Replied the Prince, “There is no Majesty and there is no +Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Neither is there refuge nor +fleeing from that which He decreeth!” And he sighed and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“By the Compassionate, I’m dazed about my case for lo! *<br /> + + Troubles and griefs beset me sore; I know not whence they<br /> + + grow.<br /> + +I will be patient, so the folk, that I against a thing *<br /> + + Bitt’rer than very aloes’ self,[FN#400] endurèd have, may<br /> + + know.<br /> + +Less bitter than my patience is the taste of aloes-juice; *<br /> + + I’ve borne with patience what’s more hot than coals with<br /> + + fire aglow.<br /> + +In this my trouble what resource have I, save to commit * My<br /> + + case to Him who orders all that is, for weal or woe?”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he became drowned in the depth of thoughts and his tears ran down upon his +cheeks like torrent-rain; and he slept a while of the day, after which he awoke +and sought of food somewhat. So they set meat before him and he ate his +sufficiency, till they removed the food from before him, whilst the boat drove +on with them they knew not whither it was wandering. It drifted with them at +the will of the winds and the waves, night and day a great while, till their +victual was spent and they saw themselves shent and were reduced to extreme +hunger and thirst and exhaustion, when behold, suddenly they sighted an island +from afar and the breezes wafted them on, till they came thither. Then, making +the cock-boat fast to the coast and leaving one therein to guard it, they fared +on into the island, where they found abundance of fruits of all colours and ate +of them till they were satisfied. Presently, they saw a person sitting among +those trees and he was long-faced, of strange favour and white of beard and +body. He called to one of the Mamelukes by his name, saying, “Eat not of these +fruits, for they are unripe; but come hither to me, that I may give thee to eat +of the best and the ripest.” The slave looked at him and thought that he was +one of the shipwrecked, who had made his way to that island; so he joyed with +exceeding joy at sight of him and went close up to him, knowing not what was +decreed to him in the Secret Purpose nor what was writ upon his brow. But, when +he drew near, the stranger in human shape leapt upon him, for he was a +Marid,[FN#401] and riding upon his shoulderblades and twisting one of his legs +about his neck, let the other hang down upon his back, saying, “Walk on, +fellow; for there is no escape for thee from me and thou art become mine ass.” +Thereupon the Mameluke fell a-weeping and cried out to his comrades, “Alas, my +lord! Flee ye forth of this wood and save yourselves, for one of the dwellers +therein hath mounted on my shoulders, and the rest seek you, desiring to ride +you like me.” When they heard these words, all fled down to the boat and pushed +off to sea; whilst the islanders followed them into the water, saying, “Whither +wend ye? Come, tarry with us and we will mount on your backs and give you meat +and drink, and you shall be our donkeys.” Hearing this they hastened the more +seawards till they left them in the distance and fared on, trusting in Allah +Almighty; nor did they leave faring for a month, till another island rose +before them and thereon they landed. Here they found fruits of various kinds +and busied themselves with eating of them, when behold, they saw from afar, +somewhat lying in the road, a hideous creature as it were a column of silver. +So they went up to it and one of the men gave it a kick, when lo! it was a +thing of human semblance, long of eyes and cloven of head and hidden under one +of his ears, for he was wont, whenas he lay down to sleep, to spread one ear +under his head, and cover his face with the other ear.[FN#402] He snatched up +the Mameluke who had kicked him and carried him off into the middle of the +island, and behold, it was all full of Ghuls who eat the sons of Adam. The man +cried out to his fellows, “Save yourselves, for this is the island of the +man-eating Ghuls, and they mean to tear me to bits and devour me.” When they +heard these words they fled back to the boat, without gathering any store of +the fruits and, putting out to sea, fared on some days till it so happened that +they came to another island, where they found a high mountain. So they climbed +to the top and there saw a thick copse. Now they were sore anhungered; so they +took to eating of the fruits; but, before they were aware, there came upon them +from among the trees black men of terrible aspect, each fifty cubits high with +eye-teeth[FN#403] protruding from their mouths like elephants’ tusks; and, +laying hands on Sayf al-Muluk and his company, carried them to their King, whom +they found seated on a piece of black felt laid on a rock, and about him a +great company of Zanzibar-blacks, standing in his service. The blackamoors who +had captured the Prince and his Mamelukes set them before the King and said to +him, “We found these birds among the trees”; and the King was sharp-set; so he +took two of the servants and cut their throats and ate them;——And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Zanzibar-blacks took +Sayf al-Muluk and his Mamelukes and set them before the King, saying, “O King, +we came upon these birds among the trees.” Thereupon the King seized two of the +Mamelukes and cut their throats and ate them; which, when Sayf al-Muluk saw, he +feared for himself and wept and repeated these verses, +</p> + +<p> +“Familiar with my heart are woes and with them I * Who shunned<br /> + + them; for familiar are great hearts and high.<br /> + +The woes I suffer are not all of single kind. * I have, thank<br /> + + Allah, varied thousands to aby!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he signed and repeated these also, +</p> + +<p> +“The World hath shot me with its sorrows till * My heart is<br /> + + coverèd with shafts galore;<br /> + +And now, when strike me other shafts, must break * Against th’<br /> + + old points the points that latest pour.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +When the King heard his weeping and wailing, he said, “Verily these birds have +sweet voices and their song pleaseth me: put them in cages.” So they set them +each in his own cage and hung them up at the King’s head that he might listen +to their warbling. On this wise Sayf al-Muluk and his Mamelukes abode and the +blackamoors gave them to eat and drink: and now they wept and now laughed, now +spake and now were hushed, whilst the King of the blacks delighted in the sound +of their voices. And so they continued for a long time. Now this King had a +daughter married in another island who, hearing that her father had birds with +sweet voices, sent a messenger to him seeking of him some of them. So he sent +her, by her Cossid,[FN#404] Sayf al-Muluk and three of his men in four cages; +and, when she saw them, they pleased her and she bade hang them up in a place +over her head. The Prince fell to marvelling at that which had befallen him and +calling to mind his former high and honourable estate and weeping for himself; +and the three servants wept for themselves; and the King’s daughter deemed that +they sang. Now it was her wont, whenever any one from the land of Egypt or +elsewhere fell into her hands and he pleased her, to advance him to great +favour with her; and by the decree of Allah Almighty it befel that, when she +saw Sayf al-Muluk she was charmed by his beauty and loveliness and symmetry and +perfect grace, and she commanded to entreat him and his companions with honour +and to loose them from their cages. Now one day she took the Prince apart and +would have him enjoy her; but he refused, saying, “O my lady, I am a banisht +wight and with passion for a beloved one in piteous plight, nor with other will +I consent to love-delight.” Then she coaxed him and importuned him, but he held +aloof from her, and she could not approach him nor get her desire of him by any +ways and means. At last, when she was weary of courting him in vain, she waxed +wroth with him and his Mamelukes, and commanded that they should serve her and +fetch her wood and water. In such condition they abode four years till Sayf +al-Muluk became weary of his life and sent to intercede with the Princess, so +haply she might release them and let them wend their ways and be at rest from +that their hard labour. So she sent for him and said to him, “If thou wilt do +my desire, I will free thee from this thy durance vile and thou shalt go to thy +country, safe and sound.” And she wept and ceased not to humble herself to him +and wheedle him, but he would not hearken to her words; whereupon she turned +from him, in anger, and he and his companions abode on the island in the same +plight. The islanders knew them for “The Princess’s birds” and durst not work +them any wrong; and her heart was at ease concerning them, being assured that +they could not escape from the island. So they used to absent themselves from +her two and three days at a time and go round about the desert parts in all +directions, gathering firewood, which they brought to the Princess’s kitchen; +and thus they abode five[FN#405] years. Now one day it so chanced that the +Prince and his men were sitting on the sea-shore, devising of what had +befallen, and Sayf al-Muluk, seeing himself and his men in such case, bethought +him of his mother and father and his brother Sa’id and, calling to mind what +high degree he had been in, fell a-weeping and lamenting passing sore, whilst +his slaves wept likewise. Then said they to him, “O King of the Age, how long +shall we weep? Weeping availeth not; for this thing was written on our brows by +the ordinance of Allah, to whom belong Might and Majesty. Indeed, the Pen +runneth with that He decreeth and nought will serve us but patience: haply +Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) who hath saddened us shall gladden us!” +Quoth he, “O my brothers, how shall we win free from this accursed woman? I see +no way of escape for us, save Allah of his grace deliver us from her; but +methinks we may flee and be at rest from this hard labour.” And quoth they, “O +King of the Age, whither shall we flee? For the whole island is full of Ghuls +which devour the Sons of Adam, and whithersoever we go, they will find us there +and either eat us or capture and carry us back to that accursed, the King’s +daughter, who will be wroth with us.” Sayf al-Muluk rejoined, “I will contrive +you somewhat, whereby peradventure Allah Almighty shall deliver us and help us +to escape from this island.” They asked, “And how wilt thou do?”; and he +answered, “Let us cut some of these long pieces of wood, and twist ropes of +their bark and bind them one with another, and make of them a raft[FN#406] +which we will launch and load with these fruits: then we will fashion us +paddles and embark on the raft after breaking our bonds with the axe. It may be +that Almighty Allah will make it the means of our deliverance from this +accursed woman and vouchsafe us a fair wind to bring us to the land of Hind, +for He over all things is Almighty!” Said they, “Right is thy rede,” and +rejoiced thereat with exceeding joy. So they arose without stay or delay and +cut with their axes wood for the raft and twisted ropes to bind the logs and at +this they worked a whole month. Every day about evening they gathered somewhat +of fuel and bore it to the Princess’s kitchen, and employed the rest of the +twenty-four hours working at the raft.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sayf al-Muluk and +his Mamelukes, having cut the wood and twisted the ropes for their raft, made +an end of it and launched it upon the sea; then, after breaking their bonds +with the axe, and loading the craft with fruits plucked from the island-trees, +they embarked at close of day; nor did any wot of their intent. They put out to +sea in their raft and paddled on four months, knowing not whither the craft +carried them, till their provaunt failed them and they were suffering the +severest extreme of hunger and thirst, when behold, the sea waxed troubled and +foamed and rose in high waves, and there came forth upon them a frightful +crocodile,[FN#407] which put out its claw and catching up one of the Mamelukes +swallowed him. At the sight of this horror Sayf al-Muluk wept bitterly and he +and the two men[FN#408] that remained to him pushed off from the place where +they had seen the crocodile, sore affrighted. After this they continued +drifting on till one day they espied a mountain terrible tall and spiring high +in air, whereat they rejoiced, when presently an island appeared. They made +towards it with all their might congratulating one another on the prospect of +making land; but hardly had they sighted the island on which was the mountain, +when the sea changed face and boiled and rose in big waves and a second +crocodile raised its head and putting out its claw caught up the two remaining +Mamelukes and swallowed them. So Sayf al-Muluk abode alone, and making his way +to the island, toiled till he reached the mountain top, where he looked about +and found a copse, and walking among the trees fell to eating of the fruits. +Presently, he saw among the branches more than twenty great apes, each bigger +than a he-mule, whereat he was seized with exceeding fear. The apes came down +and surrounded him;[FN#409] then they forewent him, signing to him to follow +them, and walked on, and he too, till he came to a castle, tall of base and +strong of build whose ordinance was one brick of gold and one of silver. The +apes entered and he after them, and he saw in the castle all manner of +rarities, jewels and precious metals such as tongue faileth to describe. Here +also he found a young man, passing tall of stature with no hair on his cheeks, +and Sayf al-Muluk was cheered by the sight for there was no human being but he +in the castle. The stranger marvelled exceedingly at sight of the Prince and +asked him, “What is thy name and of what land art thou and how camest thou +hither? Tell me thy tale and hide from me naught thereof.” Answered the Prince, +“By Allah, I came not hither of my own consent nor is this place of my intent; +yet I cannot but go from place to place till I win my wish.” Quoth the youth, +“And what is thy object?”; and quoth the other, “I am of the land of Egypt and +my name is Sayf al-Muluk son of King Asim bin Safwan”; and told him all that +had passed with him, from first to last. Whereupon the youth arose and stood in +his service, saying, “O King of the Age, I was erst in Egypt and heard that +thou hadst gone to the land of China; but where is this land and where lies +China-land?[FN#410] Verily, this is a wondrous thing and marvellous matter!” +Answered the Prince, “Sooth thou speakest but, when I left China-land, I set +out, intending for the land of Hind and a stormy wind arose and the sea boiled +and broke all my ships”; brief, he told him all that had befallen him till he +came thither; whereupon quoth the other, “O King’s son, thou hast had enough of +strangerhood and its sufferings; Alhamdolillah,—praised be Allah who hath +brought thee hither! So now do thou abide with me, that I may enjoy thy company +till I die, when thou shalt become King over this island, to which no bound is +known, and these apes thou seest are indeed skilled in all manner of crafts; +and whatso thou seekest here shalt thou find.” Replied Sayf al-Muluk, “O my +brother I may not tarry in any place till my wish be won, albeit I compass the +whole world in pursuit thereof and make quest of every one so peradventure +Allah may bring me to my desire or my course lead me to the place wherein is +the appointed term of my days, and I shall die my death.” Then the youth turned +with a sign to one of the apes, and he went out and was absent awhile, after +which he returned with other apes girt with silken zones.[FN#411] They brought +the trays and set on near[FN#412] an hundred chargers of gold and saucers of +silver, containing all manner of meats. Then they stood, after the manner of +servants between the hands of Kings, till the youth signalled to the +Chamberlains, who sat down, and he whose wont it was to serve stood, whilst the +two Princes ate their sufficiency. Then the apes cleared the table and brought +basins and ewers of gold, and they washed their hands in rose-water; after +which they set on fine sugar and nigh forty flagons, in each a different kind +of wine, and they drank and took their pleasure and made merry and had a fine +time. And all the apes danced and gambolled before them, what while the eaters +sat at meat; which when Sayf al-Muluk saw, he marvelled at them and forgot that +which had befallen him of sufferings.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sayf al-Muluk saw +the gestures and gambols of the apes, he marvelled thereat and forgot that +which had betided him of strangerhood and its sufferings. At nightfall they +lighted waxen candles in candlesticks of gold studded with gems and set on +dishes of confections and fruits of sugar-candy. So they ate; and when the hour +of rest was come, the apes spread them bedding and they slept. And when morning +morrowed, the young man arose, as was his wont, before sunrise and waking Sayf +al-Muluk said to him, “Put thy head forth of this lattice and see what standeth +beneath it.” So he put out his head and saw the wide waste and all the wold +filled with apes, whose number none knew save Allah Almighty. Quoth he, “Here +be great plenty of apes, for they cover the whole country: but why are they +assembled at this hour?” Quoth the youth, “This is their custom. Every +Sabbath,[FN#413] all the apes in the island come hither, some from two and +three days’ distance, and stand here till I awake from sleep and put forth my +head from this lattice, when they kiss ground before me and go about their +business.” So saying, he put his head out of the window; and when the apes saw +him, they kissed the earth before him and went their way. Sayf al-Muluk abode +with the young man a whole month when he farewelled him and departed, escorted +by a party of nigh a hundred apes, which the young man bade escort him. They +journeyed with him seven days, till they came to the limits of their +islands,[FN#414] when they took leave of him and returned to their places, +while Sayf al-Muluk fared on alone over mount and hill, desert and plain, four +months’ journey, one day anhungered and the next satiated, now eating of the +herbs of the earth and then of the fruits of the trees, till he repented him of +the harm he had done himself by leaving the young man; and he was about to +retrace his steps to him, when he saw something black afar off and said to +himself, “Is this a city or trees? But I will not turn back till I see what it +is.” So he made towards it and when he drew near, he saw that it was a palace +tall of base. Now he who built it was Japhet son of Noah (on whom be peace!) +and it is of this palace that God the Most High speaketh in His precious Book, +whenas He saith, “And an abandoned well and a high-builded palace.”[FN#415] +Sayf al-Muluk sat down at the gate and said in his mind, “Would I knew what is +within yonder palace and what King dwelleth there and who shall acquaint me +whether its folk are men or Jinn? Who will tell me the truth of the case?” He +sat considering awhile, but, seeing none go in or come out, he rose and +committing himself to Allah Almighty entered the palace and walked on, till he +had counted seven vestibules; yet saw no one. Presently looking to his right he +beheld three doors, while before him was a fourth, over which hung a curtain. +So he went up to this and raising the curtain, found himself in a great +hall[FN#416] spread with silken carpets. At the upper end rose a throne of gold +whereon sat a damsel, whose face was like the moon, arrayed in royal raiment +and beautified as she were a bride on the night of her displaying; and at the +foot of the throne was a table of forty trays spread with golden and silvern +dishes full of dainty viands. The Prince went up and saluted her, and she +returned his salam, saying, “Art thou of mankind or of the Jinn?” Replied he, +“I am a man of the best of mankind;[FN#417] for I am a King, son of a King.” +She rejoined, “What seekest thou? Up with thee and eat of yonder food, and +after tell me thy past from first to last and how thou camest hither.” So he +sat down at the table and removing the cover from a tray of meats (he being +hungry), ate till he was full; then washed his right hand and going up to the +throne, sat down by the damsel who asked him, “Who art thou and what is thy +name and whence comest thou and who brought thee hither?” He answered, “Indeed +my story is a long but do thou first tell me who and what and whence thou art +and why thou dwellest in this place alone.” She rejoined, “My name is Daulat +Khátún[FN#418] and I am the daughter of the King of Hind. My father dwelleth in +the Capital-city of Sarandíb and hath a great and goodly garden, there is no +goodlier in all the land of Hind or its dependencies; and in this garden is a +great tank. One day, I went out into the garden with my slave-women and I +stripped me naked and they likewise and, entering the tank, fell to sporting +and solacing ourselves therein. Presently, before I could be ware, a something +as it were a cloud swooped down on me and snatching me up from amongst my +handmaids, soared aloft with me betwixt heaven and earth, saying, ‘Fear not, O +Daulat Khatun, but be of good heart.’ Then he flew on with me a little while, +after which he set me down in this palace and straightway without stay or delay +became a handsome young man daintily apparelled, who said to me, ‘Now dost thou +know me?’ Replied I, ‘No, O my lord’; and he said, ‘I am the Blue King, Sovran +of the Jann; my father dwelleth in the Castle Al-Kulzum[FN#419] hight, and hath +under his hand six hundred thousand Jinn, flyers and divers. It chanced that +while passing on my way I saw thee and fell in love with thee for thy lovely +form: so I swooped down on thee and snatched thee up from among the slave-girls +and brought thee to this the High-builded Castle, which is my dwelling-place. +None may fare hither be he man or be he Jinni, and from Hind hither is a +journey of an hundred and twenty years: wherefore do thou hold that thou wilt +never again behold the land of thy father and thy mother; so abide with me +here, in contentment of heart and peace, and I will bring to thy hands whatso +thou seekest.’ Then he embraced me and kissed me,”——And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the damsel said to +Sayf al-Muluk, “Then the King of the Jann, after he had acquainted me with his +case, embraced me and kissed me, saying, ‘Abide here and fear nothing’; +whereupon he went away from me for an hour and presently returned with these +tables and carpets and furniture. He comes to me every Third[FN#420] and +abideth with me three days and on Friday, at the time of mid-afternoon prayer, +he departeth and is absent till the following Third. When he is here, he eateth +and drinketh and kisseth and huggeth me, but doth naught else with me, and I am +a pure virgin, even as Allah Almighty created me. My father’s name is Táj +al-Mulúk, and he wotteth not what is come of me nor hath he hit upon any trace +of me. This is my story: now tell me thy tale.” Answered the Prince, “My story +is a long and I fear lest while I am telling it to thee the Ifrit come.” Quoth +she “He went out from me but an hour before thy entering and will not return +till Third: so sit thee down and take thine ease and hearten thy heart and tell +me what hath betided thee, from beginning to end.” And quoth he, “I hear and I +obey.” So he fell to telling her all that had befallen him from commencement to +conclusion but, when she heard speak of Badi’a al-Jamal, her eyes ran over with +railing tears and she cried, “O Badi’a al-Jamal, I had not thought this of +thee! Alack for our luck! O Badi’a al-Jamal, dost thou not remember me nor say, +‘My sister Daulat Khatun whither is she gone?’” And her weeping redoubled, +lamenting for that Badi’a al-Jamal had forgotten her.[FN#421] Then said Sayf +al-Muluk, “O Daulat Khatun, thou art a mortal and she is a Jinniyah: how then +can she be thy sister?” Replied the Princess, “She is my sister by fosterage +and this is how it came about. My mother went out to solace herself in the +garden, when labour-pangs seized her and she bare me. Now the mother of Badi’a +al-Jamal chanced to be passing with her guards, when she also was taken with +travail-pains; so she alighted in a side of the garden and there brought forth +Badi’a al-Jamal. She despatched one of her women to seek food and +childbirth-gear of my mother, who sent her what she sought and invited her to +visit her. So she came to her with Badi’a al-Jamal and my mother suckled the +child, who with her mother tarried with us in the garden two months. And before +wending her ways the mother of Badi’a al-Jamal gave my mother somewhat,[FN#422] +saying, ‘When thou hast need of me, I will come to thee a-middlemost the +garden,’ and departed to her own land; but she and her daughter used to visit +us every year and abide with us awhile before returning home. Wherefore an I +were with my mother, O Sayf al-Muluk, and if thou wert with me in my own +country and Badi’a al-Jamal and I were together as of wont, I would devise some +device with her to bring thee to thy desire of her: but I am here and they know +naught of me; for that an they kenned what is become of me, they have power to +deliver me from this place; however, the matter is in Allah’s hands (extolled +and exalteth be He!) and what can I do?” Quoth Sayf al-Muluk, “Rise and let us +flee and go whither the Almighty willeth;” but, quoth she, “We cannot do that: +for, by Allah, though we fled hence a year’s journey that accursed would +overtake us in an hour and slaughter us.” Then said the Prince, “I will hide +myself in his way, and when he passeth by I will smite him with the sword and +slay him.” Daulat Khatun replied, “Thou canst not succeed in slaying him save +thou slay his soul.” Asked he, “And where is his soul?”; and she answered, “Many a +time have I questioned him thereof but he would not tell me, till one day I +pressed him and he waxed wroth with me and said to me, ‘How often wilt thou ask +me of my soul? What hast thou to do with my soul?’ I rejoined, ‘O +Hátim,[FN#423] there remaineth none to me but thou, except Allah; and my life +dependeth on thy life and whilst thou livest, all is well for me; so, except I +care for thy soul and set it in the apple of this mine eye, how shall I live in +thine absence? An I knew where thy soul abideth, I would never cease whilst I +live, to hold it in mine embrace and would keep it as my right eye.’ Whereupon +said he to me, ‘What time I was born, the astrologers predicted that I should +lose my soul at the hands of the son of a king of mankind. So I took it and set +it in the crop of a sparrow, and shut up the bird in a box. The box I set in a +casket, and enclosing this in seven other caskets and seven chests, laid the +whole in a alabastrine coffer,[FN#424] which I buried within the marge of yon +earth-circling sea; for that these parts are far from the world of men and none +of them can win hither. So now see I have told thee what thou wouldst know, and +do thou tell none thereof, for it is a secret between me and thee.’”——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Daulat Khatun +acquainted Sayf al-Muluk with the whereabouts of the soul of the Jinni who had +carried her off and repeated to him his speech ending with, “And this is a +secret between me and thee!” “I rejoined,” quoth she, “‘To whom should I tell +it, seeing that none but thou cometh hither with whom I may talk thereof?’ +adding, ‘By Allah, thou hast indeed set thy soul in the strongest of +strongholds to which none may gain access! How should a man win to it, unless +the impossible be fore-ordained and Allah decree like as the astrologers +predicted?’ Thereupon the Jinni, ‘Peradventure one may come, having on his +finger the seal-ring of Solomon son of David (on the twain be peace!) and lay +his hand with the ring on the face of the water, saying, ‘By the virtue of the +names engraven upon this ring, let the soul of such an one come forth!’ +Whereupon the coffer will rise to the surface and he will break it open and do +the like with the chests and caskets, till he come to the little box, when he +will take out the sparrow and strangle it, and I shall die.’” Then said Sayf +al-Muluk, “I am the King’s son of whom he spake, and this is the ring of +Solomon David-son on my finger: so rise, let us go down to the sea-shore and +see if his words be leal or leasing!” Thereupon the two walked down to the +sea-shore and the Princess stood on the beach, whilst the Prince waded into the +water to his waist and laying his hand with the ring on the surface of the sea, +said, “By the virtue of the names and talismans engraven on this ring, and by +the might of Sulayman bid Dáúd (on whom be the Peace!), let the soul of Hatim +the Jinni, son of the Blue King, come forth!” Whereat the sea boiled in billows +and the coffer of alabaster rose to the surface. Sayf al-Muluk took it and +shattered it against the rock and broke open the chests and caskets, till he +came to the little box and drew thereout the sparrow. Then the twain returned +to the castle and sat down on the throne; but hardly had they done this, when +lo and behold! there arose a dust-cloud terrifying and some huge thing came +flying and crying, “Spare me, O King’s son, and slay me not; but make me thy +freedman, and I will bring thee to thy desire!” Quoth Daulat Khatun, “The Jinni +cometh; slay the sparrow, lest this accursed enter the palace and take it from +thee and slaughter me and slaughter thee after me.” So the Prince wrung the +sparrow’s neck and it died, whereupon the Jinni fell down at the palace-door +and became a heap of black ashes. Then said Daulat Khatun, “We are delivered +from the hand of yonder accursed; what shall we do now?”; and Sayf al-Muluk +replied, “It behoveth us to ask aid of Allah Almighty who hath afflicted us; +belike He will direct us and help us to escape from this our strait.” So +saying, he arose and pulling up[FN#425] half a score of the doors of the +palace, which were of sandal-wood and lign-aloes with nails of gold and silver, +bound them together with ropes of silk and floss[FN#426]-silk and fine linen +and wrought of them a raft, which he and the Princess aided each other to hale +down to the sea-shore. They launched it upon the water till it floated and, +making it fast to the beach, returned to the palace, whence they removed all +the chargers of gold and saucers of silver and jewels and precious stones and +metals and what else was light of load and weighty of worth and freighted the +raft therewith. Then they embarked after fashioning two pieces of wood into the +likeness of paddles and casting off the rope-moorings, let the raft drift out +to sea with them, committing themselves to Allah the Most High, who contenteth +those that put their trust in Him and disappointeth not them who rely upon Him. +They ceased not faring on thus four months until their victual was exhausted +and their sufferings waxed severe and their souls were straitened; so they +prayed Allah to vouchsafe them deliverance from that danger. But all this time +when they lay down to sleep, Sayf al-Muluk set Daulat Khatun behind him and +laid a naked brand at his back, so that, when he turned in sleep the sword was +between them.[FN#427] At last it chanced one night, when Sayf al-Muluk was +asleep and Daulat Khatun awake, that behold, the raft drifted landwards and +entered a port wherein were ships. The Princess saw the ships and heard a man, +he being the chief and head of the captains, talking with the sailors; whereby +she knew that this was the port of some city and that they were come to an +inhabited country. So she joyed with exceeding joy and waking the Prince said +to him, “Ask the captain the name of the city and harbour.” Thereupon Sayf +al-Muluk arose and said to the captain, “O my brother, how is this harbour +hight and what be the names of yonder city and its King?” Replied the Captain, +“O false face![FN#428] O frosty beard! an thou knew not the name of this port +and city, how camest thou hither?” Quoth Sayf al-Muluk, “I am a stranger and +had taken passage in a merchant ship which was wrecked and sank with all on +board; but I saved myself on a plank and made my way hither; wherefore I asked +thee the name of the place, and in asking is no offence.” Then said the +captain, “This is the city of ‘Amáriyah and this harbour is called Kamín +al-Bahrayn.”[FN#429] When the Princess heard this she rejoiced with exceeding +joy and said, “Praised be Allah!” He asked, “What is to do?”; and she answered, +“O Sayf al-Muluk, rejoice in succour near hand; for the King of this city is my +uncle, my father’s brother.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Daulat Khatun said +to Sayf al-Muluk, “Rejoice in safety near hand; for the King of this city is my +uncle, my father’s brother and his name is ‘Ali al-Mulúk,”[FN#430] adding, “Say +thou then to the captain, ‘Is the Sultan of the city, Ali al-Muluk, well?’” He +asked but the captain was wroth with him and cried, “Thou sayest, ‘I am a +stranger and never in my life came hither.’ Who then told thee the name of the +lord of the city?” When Daulat Khatun heard this, she rejoiced and knew him for +Mu’ín al-Dín,[FN#431] one of her father’s captains. Now he had fared forth in +search of her, after she was lost and finding her not, he never ceased cruising +till he came to her uncle’s city. Then she bade Sayf al-Muluk say to him, “O +Captain Mu’in al-Din, come and speak with thy mistress!” So he called out to +him as she bade, whereat he was wroth with exceeding wrath and answered, “O +dog, O thief, O spy, who art thou and how knowest thou me?” Then he said to one +of the sailors, “Give me an ash[FN#432]-stave, that I may go to yonder plaguing +Arab and break his head.” So he took the stick and made for Sayf al-Muluk, but, +when he came to the raft, he saw a something, wondrous, beauteous, which +confounded his wits and considering it straitly he made sure that it was Daulat +Khatun sitting there, as she were a slice of the moon; whereat he said to the +Prince, “Who is that with thee?” Replied he, “A damsel by name Daulat Khatun.” +When the captain heard the Princess’s name and knew that she was his mistress +and the daughter of his King, he fell down in a fainting-fit, and when he came +to himself, he left the raft and whatso was thereon and riding up to the +palace, craved an audience of the King; whereupon the chamberlain went in to +the presence and said, “Captain Mu’in al-Din is come to bring thee good news; +so bid he be brought in.” The King bade admit him; accordingly he entered and +kissing ground[FN#433] said to him, “O King, thou owest me a gift for glad +tidings; for thy brother’s daughter Daulat Khatun hath reached our city safe +and sound, and is now on a raft in the harbour, in company with a young man +like the moon on the night of its full.” When the King heard this, he rejoiced +and conferred a costly robe of honour on the captain. Then he straightway bade +decorate the city in honour of the safe return of his brother’s daughter, and +sending for her and Sayf al-Muluk, saluted the twain and gave them joy of their +safety; after which he despatched a messenger to his brother, to let him know +that his daughter was found and was with him. As soon as the news reached Taj +al-Muluk he gat him ready and assembling his troops set out for his brother’s +capital, where he found his daughter and they rejoiced with exceeding joy. He +sojourned with his brother a week, after which he took his daughter and Sayf +al-Muluk and returned to Sarandib, where the Princess foregathered with her +mother and they rejoiced at her safe return; and held high festival and that +day was a great day, never was seen its like. As for Sayf al-Muluk, the King +entreated him with honour and said to him, “O Sayf al-Muluk, thou hast done me +and my daughter all this good for which I cannot requite thee nor can any +requite thee, save the Lord of the three Worlds; but I wish thee to sit upon +the throne in my stead and rule the land of Hind, for I offer thee of my throne +and kingdom and treasures and servants, all this in free gift to thee.” +Whereupon Sayf al-Muluk rose and kissing the ground before the King, thanked +him and answered, “O King of the Age, I accept all thou givest me and return it +to thee in freest gift; for I, O King of the Age, covet not sovranty nor +sultanate nor desire aught but that Allah the Most High bring me to my desire.” +Rejoined the King, “O Sayf al-Muluk these my treasures are at thy disposal: +take of them what thou wilt, without consulting me, and Allah requite thee for +me with all weal!” Quoth the Prince, “Allah advance the King! There is no +delight for me in money or in dominion till I win my wish: but now I have a +mind to solace myself in the city and view its thoroughfares and +market-streets.” So the King bade bring him a mare of the thoroughbreds, +saddled and bridled; and Sayf al-Muluk mounted her and rode through the streets +and markets of the city. As he looked about him right and left, lo! his eyes +fell on a young man, who was carrying a tunic and crying it for sale at fifteen +dinars: so he considered him and saw him to be like his brother Sa’id; and +indeed it was his very self, but he was wan of blee and changed for long +strangerhood and the travails of travel, so that he knew him not. However, he +said to his attendants, “Take yonder youth and carry him to the palace where I +lodge, and keep him with you till my return from the ride when I will question +him.” But they understood him to say, “Carry him to the prison,” and said in +themselves “Haply this is some runaway Mameluke of his.” So they took him and +bore him to the bridewell, where they laid him in irons and left him seated in +solitude, unremembered by any. Presently Sayf al-Muluk returned to the palace, +but he forgot his brother Sa’id, and none made mention of him. So he abode in +prison, and when they brought out the prisoners, to cut ashlar from the +quarries they took Sa’id with them, and he wrought with the rest. He abode a +month’s space, in this squalor and sore sorrow, pondering his case and saying +in himself, “What is the cause of my imprisonment?”; while Sayf al-Muluk’s mind +was diverted from him by rejoicing and other things; but one day, as he sat, he +bethought him of Sa’id and said to his Mamelukes, “Where is the white slave I +gave into your charge on such a day?” Quoth they, “Didst thou not bid us bear +him to the bridewell?”; and quoth he, “Nay, I said not so; I bade you carry him +to my palace after the ride.” Then he sent his Chamberlains and Emirs for Sa’id +and they fetched him in fetters, and loosing him from his irons set him before +the Prince, who asked him, “O young man, what countryman art thou?”; and he +answered, “I am from Egypt and my name is Sa’id, son of Faris the Wazir.” Now +hearing these words Sayf al-Muluk sprang to his feet and throwing himself off +the throne and upon his friend, hung on his neck, weeping aloud for very joy +and saying, “O my brother, O Sa’id, praise be Allah for that I see thee alive! +I am thy brother Sayf al-Muluk, son of King Asim.” Then they embraced and shed +tears together and all who were present marvelled at them. After this Sayf +al-Muluk bade his people bear Sa’id to the Hammam-bath: and they did so. When +he came out, they clad him in costly clothing and carried him back to Sayf +al-Muluk who seated him on the throne beside himself. When King Taj al-Muluk +heard of the reunion of Sayf al-Muluk and his brother Sa’id, he joyed with joy +exceeding and came to them, and the three sat devising of all that had befallen +them in the past from first to last. Then said Sa’id, “O my brother, O Sayf +al-Muluk, when the ship sank with all on board I saved myself on a plank with a +company of Mamelukes and it drifted with us a whole month, when the wind cast +us, by the ordinance of Allah Almighty, upon an island. So we landed and +entering among the trees took to eating of the fruits, for we were anhungered. +Whilst we were busy eating, there fell on us unawares, folk like Ifrits[FN#434] +and springing on our shoulders rode us[FN#435] and said to us, ‘Go on with us; +for ye are become our asses.’ So I said to him who had mounted me, ‘What art +thou and why mountest thou me?’ At this he twisted one of his legs about my +neck, till I was all but dead, and beat upon my back the while with the other +leg, till I thought he had broken my backbone. So I fell to the ground on my +face, having no strength left in me for famine and thirst. From my fall he knew +that I was hungry and taking me by the hand, led me to a tree laden with fruit +which was a pear-tree[FN#436] and said to me, ‘Eat thy fill of this tree.’ So I +ate till I had enough and rose to walk against my will; but, ere I had fared +afar the creature turned and leaping on my shoulders again drove me on, now +walking, now running and now trotting, and he the while mounted on me, laughing +and saying, ‘Never in my life saw I a donkey like unto thee!’ We abode thus for +years till, one day of the days, it chanced that we saw there great plenty of +vines, covered with ripe fruit; so we gathered a quantity of grape-bunches and +throwing them into a pit, trod them with our feet, till the pit became a great +water-pool. Then we waited awhile and presently returning thither, found that +the sun had wroughten on the grape-juice and it was become wine. So we used to +drink it till we were drunken and our faces flushed and we fell to singing and +dancing and running about in the merriment of drunkenness;[FN#437] whereupon +our masters said to us, ‘What is it that reddeneth your faces and maketh you +dance and sing?’ We replied, ‘Ask us not, what is your quest in questioning us +hereof?’ But they insisted, saying, ‘You must tell us so that we may know the +truth of the case,’ till we told them how we had pressed grapes and made wine. +Quoth they, ‘Give us to drink thereof’; but quoth we, ‘The grapes are spent.’ +So they brought us to a Wady, whose length we knew not from its breadth nor its +beginning from its end wherein were vines each bunch of grapes on them weighing +twenty pounds[FN#438] by the scale and all within easy reach, and they said, +‘Gather of these.’ So we gathered a mighty great store of grapes and finding +there a big trench bigger than the great tank in the King’s garden we filled it +full of fruit. This we trod with our feet and did with the juice as before till +it became strong wine, which it did after a month; whereupon we said to them, +’Tis come to perfection; but in what will ye drink it?’ And they replied, ‘We +had asses like unto you; but we ate them and kept their heads: so give us to +drink in their skulls.’ We went to their caves which we found full of heads and +bones of the Sons of Adam, and we gave them to drink, when they became drunken +and lay down, nigh two hundred of them. Then we said to one another, ‘Is it not +enough that they should ride us, but they must eat us also? There is no Majesty +and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! But we will ply +them with wine, till they are overcome by drunkenness, when we will slay them +and be at rest from them.’ Accordingly, we awoke them and fell to filling the +skulls and gave them to drink, but they said, ‘This is bitter.’ We replied, +‘Why say ye ’tis bitter? Whoso saith thus, except he drink of it ten times, he +dieth the same day.’ When they heard this, they feared death and cried to us, +‘Give us to drink the whole ten times.’ So we gave them to drink, and when they +had swallowed the rest of the ten draughts they waxed drunken exceedingly and +their strength failed them and they availed not to mount us. Thereupon we +dragged them together by their hands and laying them one upon another, +collected great plenty of dry vine-stalks and branches and heaped it about and +upon them: then we set fire to the pile and stood afar off, to see what became +of them.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sa’id continued:—When +we set fire to the pile wherein were the Ghuls, I with the Mamelukes stood afar +off to see what became of them; and, as soon the fire was burnt out, we came +back and found them a heap of ashes, wherefore we praised Allah Almighty who +had delivered us from them. Then we went forth about the island and sought the +sea-shore, where we parted and I and two of the Mamelukes fared on till we came +to a thick copse full of fruit and there busied ourselves with eating, and +behold, presently up came a man tall of stature, long of beard and lengthy of +ear, with eyes like cressets, driving before him and feeding a great flock of +sheep.[FN#439] When he saw us he rejoiced and said to us, ‘Well come, and fair +welcome to you! Draw near me that I may slaughter you an ewe of these sheep and +roast it and give you to eat.’ Quoth we, ‘Where is thine abode?’ And quoth he, +‘Hard by yonder mountain; go on towards it till ye come to a cave and enter +therein, for you will see many guests like yourselves; and do ye sit with them, +whilst we make ready for you the guest-meal.’ We believed him so fared on, as +he bade us, till we came to the cavern, where we found many guests, Sons of +Adam like ourselves, but they were all blinded;[FN#440] and when we entered, +one said, ‘I’m sick’; and another, ‘I’m weak.’ So we cried to them, ‘What is +this you say and what is the cause of your sickness and weakness?’ They asked, +‘Who are ye?’; and we answered, ‘We are guests.’ Then said they, ‘What hath +made you fall into the hands of yonder accursed? But there is no Majesty and +there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! This is a Ghul who +devoureth the Sons of Adam and he hath blinded us and meaneth to eat us.’ Said +we, ‘And how did he blind you?’ and they replied, ‘Even as he will blind +yourselves anon.’ Quoth we, ‘And how so?’ And quoth they, ‘He will bring you +bowls of soured milk[FN#441] and will say to you, ‘Ye are weary with wayfare: +take this milk and drink it.’ And when ye have drunken thereof, ye will become +blind like us.’ Said I to myself, ‘There is no escape for us but by +contrivance.’ So I dug a hole in the ground and sat over it. After an hour or +so in came the accursed Ghul with bowls of milk, whereof he gave to each of us, +saying, ‘Ye come from the desert and are athirst: so take this milk and drink +it, whilst I roast you the flesh.’ I took the cup and carried it to my mouth +but emptied it into the hole; then I cried out, ‘Alas! my sight is gone and I +am blind!’ and clapping my hand to my eyes, fell a-weeping and a-wailing, +whilst the accursed laughed and said, ‘Fear not, thou art now become like mine +other guests.’ But, as for my two comrades, they drank the milk and became +blind. Thereupon the Ghul arose and stopping up the mouth of the cavern came to +me and felt my ribs, but found me lean and with no flesh on my bones: so he +tried another and finding him fat, rejoiced. Then he slaughtered three sheep +and skinned them and fetching iron spits, spitted the flesh thereon and set +them over the fire to roast. When the meat was done, he placed it before my +comrades who ate and he with them; after which he brought a leather-bag full of +wine and drank thereof and lay down prone and snored. Said I to myself, ‘He’s +drowned in sleep: how shall I slay him?’ Then I bethought me of the spits and +thrusting two of them into the fire, waited till they were as red-hot coals: +whereupon I arose and girded myself and taking a spit in each hand went up to +the accursed Ghul and thrust them into his eyes, pressing upon them with all my +might. He sprang to his feet for sweet life and would have laid hold of me; but +he was blind. So I fled from him into the inner cavern, whilst he ran after me; +but I found no place of refuge from him nor whence I might escape into the open +country, for the cave was stopped up with stones; wherefore I was bewildered +and said to the blind men, ‘How shall I do with this accursed?’ Replied one of +them, ‘O Sa’id, with a run and a spring mount up to yonder niche[FN#442] and +thou wilt find there a sharpened scymitar of copper: bring it to me and I will +tell thee what to do.’ So I climbed to the niche and taking the blade, returned +to the blind man, who said to me, ‘Smite him with the sword in his middle, and +he will die forthright.’ So I rushed after the Ghul, who was weary with running +after me and felt for the blind men that he might kill them and, coming up to +him smote him with the sword a single stroke across his waist and he fell in +twain. Then he screamed and cried out to me, “O man, an thou desire to slay me, +strike me a second stroke.” Accordingly, I was about to smite him another cut; +but he who had directed me to the niche and the scymitar said, “Smite him not a +second time, for then he will not die, but will live and destroy us.”——And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sa’id continued, “Now +when I struck the Ghul with the sword he cried out to me, ‘O man, an thou +desire to slay me, strike me a second stroke!” I was about so to do when he who +had directed me to the scymitar said, ‘Smite him not a second time, for then he +will not die but will live and destroy us!’ So I held my hand as he bade me, +and the Ghul died. Then said the blind man to me, ‘Open the mouth of the cave +and let us fare forth; so haply Allah may help us and bring us to rest from +this place.’ And I said, ‘No harm can come to us now; let us rather abide here +and repose and eat of these sheep and drink of this wine, for long is the +land.’ Accordingly we tarried there two months, eating of the sheep and of the +fruits of the island and drinking the generous grape-juice till it so chanced +one day, as we sat upon the beach, we caught sight of a ship looming large in +the distance; so we made signs for the crew and holla’d to them. They feared to +draw near, knowing that the island was inhabited by a Ghul[FN#443] who ate +Adamites, and would have sheered off; but we ran down to the marge of the sea +and made signs to them, with our turband-ends and shouted to them, whereupon +one of the sailors, who was sharp of sight, said to the rest, “Harkye, +comrades, I see these men formed like ourselves, for they have not the fashion +of Ghuls.’ So they made for us, little by little, till they drew near us in the +dinghy[FN#444] and were certified that we were indeed human beings, when they +saluted us and we returned their salam and gave them the glad tidings of the +slaying of the accursed, wherefore they thanked us. Then we carried to the ship +all that was in the cave of stuffs and sheep and treasure, together with a +viaticum of the island-fruits, such as should serve us days and months, and +embarking, sailed on with a fair breeze three days; at the end of which the +wind veered round against us and the air became exceeding dark; nor had an hour +passed before the wind drave the craft on to a rock, where it broke up and its +planks were torn asunder.[FN#445] However, the Great God decreed that I should +lay hold of one of the planks, which I bestrode, and it bore me along two days, +for the wind had fallen fair again, and I paddled with my feet awhile, till +Allah the Most High brought me safe ashore and I landed and came to this city, +where I found myself a stranger, solitary, friendless, not knowing what to do; +for hunger was sore upon me and I was in great tribulation. Thereupon I, O my +brother, hid myself and pulling off this my tunic, carried it to the market, +saying in my mind, ‘I will sell it and live on its price, till Allah accomplish +to me whatso he will accomplish.’ Then I took the tunic in my hand and cried it +for sale, and the folk were looking at it and bidding for it, when, O my +brother, thou camest by and seeing me commandedst me to the palace; but thy +pages arrested and thrust me into the prison and there I abode till thou +bethoughtest thee of me and badest bring me before thee. So now I have told thee +what befel me, and Alhamdolillah—Glorified be God—for reunion!” Much marvelled +the two Kings at Sa’id’s tale and Taj al-Muluk having made ready a goodly +dwelling for Sayf al-Muluk and his Wazir, Daulat Khatun used to visit the +Prince there and thank him for his favours and talk with him. One day, he met +her and said to her, “O my lady, where is the promise thou madest me, in the +palace of Japhet son of Noah, saying, ‘Were I with my people, I would make +shift to bring thee to thy desire?’” And Sa’id said to her, “O Princess, I +crave thine aid to enable him to win his will.” Answered she, “Yea, verily; I +will do my endeavour for him, that he may attain his aim, if it please Allah +Almighty.” And she turned to Sayf al-Muluk and said to him, “Be of good cheer +and keep thine eyes cool and clear.” Then she rose and going in to her mother, +said to her, “Come with me forthright and let us purify ourselves and make +fumigations[FN#446] that Badi’a al-Jamal and her mother may come and see me and +rejoice in me.” Answered the Queen, “With love and goodly gree;” and rising, +betook herself to the garden and burnt off these perfumes which she always had +by her; nor was it long before Badi’a al-Jamal and her mother made their +appearance. The Queen of Hind foregathered with the other Queen and acquainted +her with her daughter’s safe return, whereat she rejoiced; and Badi’a al-Jamal +and Daulat Khatun foregathered likewise and rejoiced in each other. Then they +pitched the pavilions[FN#447] and dressed dainty viands and made ready the +place of entertainment; whilst the two Princesses withdrew to a tent apart and +ate together and drank and made merry; after which they sat down to converse, +and Badi’a al-Jamal said, “What hath befallen thee in thy strangerhood?” +Replied Daulat Khatun, “O my sister how sad is severance and how gladsome is +reunion; ask me not what hath befallen me! Oh, what hardships mortals suffer!” +cried she, “How so?” and the other said to her, “O my sister, I was inmured in +the High-builded Castle of Japhet son of Noah, whither the son of the Blue King +carried me off till Sayf al-Muluk slew the Jinni and brought me back to my +sire;” and she told her to boot all that the Prince had undergone of hardships +and horrors before he came to the Castle.[FN#448] Badi’a al-Jamal marvelled at +her tale and said, “By Allah, O my sister, this is the most wondrous of +wonders! This Sayf al-Muluk is indeed a man! But why did he leave his father +and mother and betake himself to travel and expose himself to these perils?” +Quoth Daulat Khatun, “I have a mind to tell thee the first part of his history; +but shame of thee hindereth me therefrom.” Quoth Badi’a al-Jamal, “Why shouldst +thou have shame of me, seeing that thou art my sister and my bosom-friend and +there is muchel a matter between thee and me and I know thou willest me naught +but well? Tell me then what thou hast to say and be not abashed at me and hide +nothing from me and have no fear of consequences.” Answered Daulat Khatun, “By +Allah, all the calamities that have betided this unfortunate have been on thine +account and because of thee!” Asked Badi’a al-Jamal, “How so, O my sister?”; +and the other answered, “Know that he saw thy portrait wrought on a tunic which +thy father sent to Solomon son of David (on the twain be peace!) and he opened +it not neither looked at it, but despatched it, with other presents and +rarities to Asim bin Safwan, King of Egypt, who gave it, still unopened, to his +son Sayf al-Muluk. The Prince unfolded the tunic, thinking to put it on, and +seeing thy portrait, became enamoured of it; wherefore he came forth in quest +of thee, and left his folk and reign and suffered all these terrors and +hardships on thine account.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Daulat Khatun related to +Badi’a al-Jamal the first part of Sayf al-Muluk’s history; how his love for her +was caused by the tunic whereon her presentment was wrought; how he went forth, +passion-distraught, in quest of her; how he forsook his people and his kingdom +for her sake and how he had suffered all these terrors and hardships on her +account. When Badi’a al-Jamal heard this, she blushed rosy red and was +confounded at Daulat Khatun and said, “Verily this may never, never be; for man +accordeth not with the Jann.” Then Daulat Khatun went on to praise Sayf +al-Muluk and extol his comeliness and courage and cavalarice, and ceased not +repeating her memories of his prowess and his excellent qualities till she +ended with saying, “For the sake of Almighty Allah and of me, O sister mine, +come and speak with him, though but one word!” But Badi’a al-Jamal cried, “By +Allah, O sister mine, this that thou sayest I will not hear, neither will I +assent to thee therein;” and it was as if she heard naught of what the other +said and as if no love of Sayf al-Muluk and his beauty and bearing and bravery +had gotten hold upon her heart. Then Daulat Khatun humbled herself and said, “O +Badi’a al-Jamal, by the milk we have sucked, I and thou, and by that which is +graven on the seal-ring of Solomon (on whom be peace!) hearken to these my +words for I pledged myself in the High-builded Castle of Japhet, to show him +thy face. So Allah upon thee, show it to him once, for the love of me, and look +thyself on him!” And she ceased not to weep and implore her and kiss her hands +and feet, till she consented and said, “For thy sake I will show him my face +once and he shall have a single glance.” With that Daulat Khatun’s heart was +gladdened and she kissed her hands and feet. Then she went forth and fared to +the great pavilion in the garden and bade her slave-women spread it with +carpets and set up a couch of gold and place the wine-vessels in order; after +which she went into Sayf al-Muluk and to his Wazir Sa’id, whom she found seated +in their lodging, and gave the Prince the glad tidings of the winning of his +wish, saying, “Go to the pavilion in the garden, thou and thy brother, and hide +yourselves there from the eyes of men so none in the palace may espy you, till +I come to you with Badi’a al-Jamal.” So they rose and repaired to the appointed +pavilion, where they found the couch of gold set and furnished with cushions, +and meat and wine ready served. So they sat awhile, whilst Sayf al-Muluk +bethought him of his beloved and his breast was straitened and love and longing +assailed him: wherefore he rose and walked forth from the vestibule of the +pavilion. Sa’id would have followed him, but he said to him, “O my brother, +follow me not, but sit in thy stead till I return to thee.” So Sa’id abode +seated, whilst Sayf al-Muluk went down into the garden, drunken with the wine +of desire and distracted for excess of love-longing and passion-fire: yearning +agitated him and transport overcame him and he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“O passing Fair[FN#449] I have none else but thee; * Pity this<br /> + + slave in thy love’s slavery!<br /> + +Thou art my search, my joy and my desire! * None save thyself<br /> + + shall love this heart of me:<br /> + +Would Heaven I knew thou knewest of my wails * Night-long and<br /> + + eyelids oped by memory.<br /> + +Bid sleep to sojourn on these eyen-lids * Haply in vision I thy<br /> + + sight shall see.<br /> + +Show favour then to one thus love-distraught: * Save him from<br /> + + ruin by thy cruelty!<br /> + +Allah increase thy beauty and thy weal; * And be thy ransom<br /> + + every enemy!<br /> + +So shall on Doomsday lovers range beneath * Thy flag, and<br /> + + beauties ‘neath thy banner be.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he wept and recited these also, +</p> + +<p> +“That rarest beauty ever bides my foe * Who holds my heart and<br /> + + lurks in secresy:<br /> + +Speaking, I speak of nothing save her charms * And when I’m<br /> + + dumb in heart-core woneth she.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he wept sore and recited the following, +</p> + +<p> +“And in my liver higher flames the fire; * You are my wish and<br /> + + longsome still I yearn:<br /> + +To you (none other!) bend I and I hope * (Lovers long-<br /> + + suffering are!) your grace to earn;<br /> + +And that you pity me whose frame by Love * Is waste and weak<br /> + + his heart with sore concern:<br /> + +Relent, be gen’rous, tender-hearted, kind: * From you I’ll<br /> + + ne’er remove, from you ne’er turn!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he wept and recited these also, +</p> + +<p> +“Came to me care when came the love of thee, * Cruel sleep<br /> + + fled me like thy cruelty:<br /> + +Tells me the messenger that thou are wroth: * Allah forfend<br /> + + what evils told me he!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Presently Sa’id waxed weary of awaiting him and going forth in quest of him, +found him walking in the garden, distraught and reciting these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“By Allah, by th’ Almighty, by his right[FN#450] * Who read<br /> + + the Koran-Chapter ‘Fátír[FN#451] hight;<br /> + +Ne’er roam my glances o’er the charms I see; * Thy grace, rare<br /> + + beauty, is my talk by night.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +So he joined him and the twain walked about the garden together solacing +themselves and ate of its fruits. Such was their case;[FN#452] but as regards +the two Princesses, they came to the pavilion and entering therein after the +eunuchs had richly furnished it, according to command, sat down on the couch of +gold, beside which was a window that gave upon the garden. The castratos then +set before them all manner rich meats and they ate, Daulat Khatun feeding her +foster-sister by mouthfuls,[FN#453] till she was satisfied; when she called for +divers kinds of sweetmeats, and when the neutrals brought them, they ate what +they would of them and washed their hands. After this Daulat Khatun made ready +wine and its service, setting on the ewers and bowls and she proceeded to crown +the cups and give Badi’a al-Jamal to drink, filling for herself after and +drinking in turn. Then Badi’a al-Jamal looked from the window into the garden +and gazed upon the fruits and branches that were therein, till her glance fell +on Sayf al-Muluk, and she saw him wandering about the parterres, followed by +Sa’id, and she heard him recite verses, raining the while railing tears. And +that glance of eyes cost her a thousand sighs,——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Badi’a al-Jamal +caught sight of Sayf al-Muluk as he wandered about the garden, that glance of +eyes cost her a thousand sighs, and she turned to Daulat Khatun and said to her +(and indeed the wine sported with her senses), “O my sister, who is that young +man I see in the garden, distraught, love-abying, disappointed, sighing?” Quoth +the other, “Dost thou give me leave to bring him hither, that we may look on +him?”; and quoth the other, “An thou can avail to bring him, bring him.” So +Daulat Khatun called to him, saying “O King’s son, come up to us and bring us +thy beauty and thy loveliness!” Sayf al-Muluk recognised her voice and came up +into the pavilion; but no sooner had he set eyes on Badi’a al-Jamal, than he +fell down in a swoon; whereupon Daulat Khatun sprinkled on him a little +rose-water and he revived. Then he rose and kissed ground before Badi’a +al-Jamal who was amazed at his beauty and loveliness; and Daulat Khatun said to +her, “Know, O Princess, that this is Sayf al-Muluk, whose hand saved me by the +ordinance of Allah Almighty and he it is who hath borne all manner burthens on +thine account: wherefore I would have thee look upon him with favour.” Hearing +this Badi’a al-Jamal laughed and said, “And who keepeth faith, that this youth +should do so? For there is no true love in men.” Cried Sayf al-Muluk, “O +Princess, never shall lack of faith be in me, and all men are not created +alike.” And he wept before her and recited these verses, +</p> + +<p> +“O thou, Badi’a ‘l-Jamál, show thou some clemency * To one<br /> + + those lovely eyes opprest with witchery!<br /> + +By rights of beauteous hues and tints thy cheeks combine * Of<br /> + + snowy white and glowing red anemone,<br /> + +Punish not with disdain one who is sorely sick * By long, long<br /> + + parting waste hath waxed this frame of me:<br /> + +This is my wish, my will, the end of my desire, * And Union is<br /> + + my hope an haply this may be!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then he wept with violent weeping; and love and longing got the mastery over +him and he greeted her with these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“Peace be to you from lover’s wasted love, * All noble hearts<br /> + + to noble favour show:<br /> + +Peace be to you! Ne’er fail your form my dreams; * Nor hall<br /> + + nor chamber the fair sight forego!<br /> + +Of you I’m jealous: none may name your name: * Lovers to<br /> + + lovers aye should bend thee low:<br /> + +So cut not off your grace from him who loves * While sickness<br /> + + wastes and sorrows overthrow.<br /> + +I watch the flowery stars which frighten me; * While cark and<br /> + + care mine every night foreslow.<br /> + +Nor Patience bides with me nor plan appears: * What shall I<br /> + + say when questioned of my foe?<br /> + +God’s peace be with you in the hour of need, * Peace sent by<br /> + + lover patient bearing woe!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Then for the excess of his desire and ecstasy he repeated these couplets also:— +</p> + +<p> +If I to aught save you, O lords of me, incline; * Ne’er may I<br /> + + win of you my wish, my sole design!<br /> + +Who doth comprise all loveliness save only you? * Who makes<br /> + + the Doomsday dawn e’en now before these eyne?<br /> + +Far be it Love find any rest, for I am one * Who lost for love<br /> + + of you this heart, these vitals mine.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +When he had made an end of his verses, he wept with sore weeping and she said +to him, “O Prince, I fear to grant myself wholly to thee lest I find in thee +nor fondness nor affection; for oftentimes man’s fidelity is small and his +perfidy is great and thou knowest how the lord Solomon, son of David (on whom +be the Peace!), took Bilkis to his love but, whenas he saw another fairer than +she, turned from her thereto.” Sayf al-Muluk replied, “O my eye and O my soul, +Allah hath not made all men alike, and I, Inshallah, will keep my troth and die +beneath thy feet. Soon shalt thou see what I will do in accordance with my +words, and for whatso I say Allah is my warrant.” Quoth Badi’a al-Jamal, “Sit +and be of good heart and swear to me by the right of thy Faith and let us +covenant together that each will not be false to other; and whichever of us +breaketh faith may Almighty Allah punish!” At these words he sat down and set +his hand in her hand and they sware each to other that neither of them would +ever prefer to the other any one, either of man or of the Jann. Then they +embraced for a whole hour and wept for excess of their joy, whilst passion +overcame Sayf al-Muluk and he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +“I weep for longing love’s own ardency * To her who claims the<br /> + + heart and soul of me.<br /> + +And sore’s my sorrow parted long from you, * And short’s my<br /> + + arm to reach the prize I see;<br /> + +And mourning grief for what my patience marred * To blamer’s<br /> + + eye unveiled my secresy;<br /> + +And waxed strait that whilome was so wide * Patience nor force<br /> + + remains nor power to dree.<br /> + +Would Heaven I knew if God will ever deign to join * Our<br /> + + lives, and from our cark and care and grief set free!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +After this mutual troth-plighting, Sayf al-Muluk arose and walked in the garden +and Badi’a al-Jamal arose also and went forth also afoot followed by a +slave-girl bearing somewhat of food and a flask[FN#454] of wine. The Princess +sat down and the damsel set the meat and wine before her: nor remained they +long ere they were joined by Sayf al-Muluk, who was received with greeting and +the two embraced and sat them down.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that having provided food +and wine, Badi’a al-Jamal met Sayf al-Muluk with greetings, and the twain +having embraced and kissed sat them down awhile to eat and drink. Then said she +to him, “O King’s son, thou must now go to the garden of Iram, where dwelleth +my grandmother, and seek her consent to our marriage. My slave-girl Marjánah +will convey thee thither and as thou farest therein thou wilt see a great +pavilion of red satin, lined with green silk. Enter the pavilion heartening +thyself and thou wilt see inside it an ancient dame sitting on a couch of red +gold set with pearls and jewels. Salute her with respect and courtesy: then +look at the foot of the couch, where thou wilt descry a pair of sandals[FN#455] +of cloth interwoven with bars of gold, embroidered with jewels. Take them and +kiss them and lay them on thy head[FN#456]; then put them under thy right +armpit and stand before the old woman, in silence and with thy head bowed down. +If she ask thee, ‘Who art thou and how camest thou hither and who led thee to +this land? And why hast thou taken up the sandals?’ make her no answer, but +abide silent till Marjanah enter, when she will speak with her and seek to win +her aproof for thee and cause her look on thee with consent; so haply Allah +Almighty may incline her heart to thee and she may grant thee thy wish.” Then +she called the handmaid Marjanah hight and said to her, “As thou lovest me, do +my errand this day and be not neglectful therein! An thou accomplish it, thou +shalt be a free woman for the sake of Allah Almighty, and I will deal +honourably by thee with gifts and there shall be none dearer to me than thou, +nor will I discover my secrets to any save thee. So, by my love for thee, +fulfil this my need and be not slothful therein.” Replied Marjanah, “O my lady +and light of mine eyes, tell me what is it thou requirest of me, that I may +accomplish it with both mine eyes.” Badi’a rejoined, “Take this mortal on thy +shoulders and bear him to the bloom-garden of Iram and the pavilion of my +grandmother, my father’s mother, and be careful of his safety. When thou hast +brought him into her presence and seest him take the slippers and do them +homage, and hearest her ask him, saying:—Whence art thou and by what road art +come and who led thee to this land, and why hast thou taken up the sandals and +what is thy need that I give heed to it? do thou come forward in haste and +salute her with the salam and say to her:—O my lady, I am she who brought him +hither and he is the King’s son of Egypt.”[FN#457] ’Tis he who went to the +High-builded Castle and slew the son of the Blue King and delivered the +Princess Daulat Khatun from the Castle of Japhet son of Noah and brought her +back safe to her father: and I have brought him to thee, that he may give thee +the glad tidings of her safety: so deign thou be gracious to him. Then do thou +say to her:—Allah upon thee! is not this young man handsome, O my lady? She +will reply, Yes; and do thou rejoin:—O my lady, indeed he is complete in +honour and manhood and valour and he is lord and King of Egypt and compriseth +all praiseworthy qualities. An she ask thee, What is his need? do thou make +answer, My lady saluteth thee and saith to thee, how long shall she sit at +home, a maid and unmarried? Indeed, the time is longsome upon her for she is as +a magazine wherein wheat is heaped up.[FN#458] What then is thine intent in +leaving her without a mate and why dost thou not marry her in thy lifetide and +that of her mother, like other girls? If she say, How shall we do to marry +her? An she have any one in mind, let her tell us of him, and we will do her +will as far as may be! do thou make answer, O my lady, thy daughter saith to +thee, “Ye were minded aforetime to marry me to Solomon (on whom be peace!) and +portrayed him my portrait on a tunic. But he had no lot in me; so he sent the +tunic to the King of Egypt and he gave it to his son, who saw my portrait +figured thereon and fell in love with me; wherefore he left his father and +mother’s realm and turning away from the world and whatso is therein, went +forth at a venture, a wanderer, love-distraught, and hath borne the utmost +hardships and honours for the sake of me.’ Now thou seest his beauty and +loveliness, and thy daughter’s heart is enamoured of him; so if ye have a mind +to marry her, marry her to this young man and forbid her not from him for he is +young and passing comely and King of Egypt, nor wilt thou find a goodlier than +he; and if ye will not give her to him, she will slay herself and marry none +neither man nor Jinn.’” “And,” continued Badi’a al-Jamal, “Look thou, O +Marjanah, <i>ma mie</i>,[FN#459] how thou mayst do with my grandmother, to win her +consent, and beguile her with soft words, so haply she may do my desire.” Quoth +the damsel, “O my lady, upon my head and eyes will I serve thee and do what +shall content thee.” Then she took Sayf al-Muluk on her shoulders and said to +him, “O King’s son, shut thine eyes.” He did so and she flew up with him into +the welkin; and after awhile she said to him, “O King’s son, open thine eyes.” +He opened them and found himself in a garden, which was none other than the +garden of Iram; and she showed him the pavilion and said, “O Sayf al-Muluk, +enter therein!” Thereupon he pronounced the name of Allah Almighty and entering +cast a look upon the garden, when he saw the old Queen sitting on the couch, +attended by her waiting women. So he drew near her with courtesy and reverence +and taking the sandals bussed them and did as Badi’a al-Jamal had enjoined him. +Quoth the ancient dame, “Who art thou and what is thy country; whence comest +thou and who brought thee hither and what may be thy wish? Wherefore dost thou +take the sandals and kiss them and when didst thou ask of me a favour which I +did not grant?” With this in came Marjanah[FN#460] and saluting her reverently +and worshipfully, repeated to her what Badi’a al-Jamal had told her; which when +the old Queen heard, she cried out at her and was wroth with her and said, “How +shall there be accord between man and Jinn?”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +End of Vol. 7 +</p> + +<p> + Arabian Nights, Volume 7<br /> + + Footnotes<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#1] Mayyafarikin, whose adjective for shortness is “Fárikí”: the place is +often mentioned in The Nights as the then capital of Diyár Bakr, thirty +parasangs from Násibín, the classical Nisibis, between the upper Euphrates and +Tigris. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#2] This proportion is singular to moderns but characterised Arab and more +especially Turcoman armies. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#3] Such is the bathos caused by the Saja’-assonance: in the music of the +Arabic it contrasts strangely with the baldness of translation. The same is the +case with the Koran beautiful in the original and miserably dull in European +languages, it is like the glorious style of the “Anglican Version” by the side +of its bastard brothers in Hindostani or Marathi; one of these marvels of +stupidity translating the “Lamb of God” by “God’s little goat.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#4] This incident is taken from the Life of Mohammed who, in the “Year of +Missions” (A. H. 7) sent letters to foreign potentates bidding them embrace +Al-Islam, and, his seal being in three lines, Mohammed|Apostle|of Allah, +Khusrau Parwíz (=the Charming) was offended because his name was placed below +Mohammed’s. So he tore the letter in pieces adding, says Firdausi, these +words:— +</p> + +<p> + Hath the Arab’s daring performed such feat,<br /> + + Fed on camel’s milk and the lizard’s meat,<br /> + + That he cast on Kayánian crown his eye?<br /> + + Fie, O whirling world! on thy faith and fie!<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Hearing of this insult Mohammed exclaimed, “Allah shall tear his kingdom!” a +prophecy which was of course fulfilled, or we should not have heard of it. +These lines are horribly mutilated in the Dabistan (iii. 99). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#5] This “Taklíd” must not be translated “girt on the sword.” The Arab +carries his weapon by a baldrick or bandoleer passed over his right shoulder. +In modern days the “Majdal” over the left shoulder supports on the right hip a +line of Tatárif or brass cylinders for cartridges: the other cross-belt +(Al-Masdar) bears on the left side the Kharízah or bullet-pouch of hide; and +the Hizám or waist-belt holds the dagger and extra cartridges. (Pilgrimage iii. +90.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#6] Arab. “Bab,” which may mean door or gate. The plural form (Abwáb) occurs +in the next line, meaning that he displayed all manner of martial prowess. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#7] Arab. “Farrásh” (also used in Persian), a man of general utility who +pitches tents, sweeps the floors, administers floggings, etc. etc. (Pilgrimage +iii. 90.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#8] <i>i.e.</i> the slogan-cry of “Allaho Akbar,” which M. C.<br /> + +Barbier de Meynard compares with the Christian “Te Deum.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#9] The Anglo-Indian term for the Moslem rite of killing animals for food. +(Pilgrimage i. 377.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#10] Arab. “tawílan jiddan” a hideous Cairenism in these days; but formerly +used by Al-Mas’údí and other good writers. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#11] Arab. “‘Ajwah,” enucleated dates pressed together into a solid mass so +as to be sliced with a knife like cold pudding. The allusion is to the +dough-idols of the Hanífah tribe, whose eating their gods made the saturnine +Caliph Omar laugh. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#12] Mr. Payne writes “Julned.” In a fancy name we must not look for +grammar, but a quiescent lám (<i>l</i>) followed by nún (<i>n</i>) is unknown to Arabic while +we find sundry cases of “lan” (fath’d lám and nún), and Jalandah means noxious +or injurious. In Oman also there was a dynasty called Julándah for which see +Mr. Badger (xiii. and <i>passim</i>). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#13] Doubtless for Jawan-mard—un giovane, a brave See vol. iv., p. 208. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#14] Mr. Payne transposes the distichs, making the last first. I have +followed the Arabic order finding it in the Mac. and Bul. Edits. (ii. 129). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#15] Al-Irak like Al-Yaman may lose the article in verse. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#16] Arab. “Ka’ka’at”: hence Jabal Ka’ka’án, the higher levels in Meccah, of +old inhabited by the Jurhamites and so called from their clashing and jangling +arms; whilst the Amalekites dwelt in the lower grounds called Jiyád from their +generous steeds. (Pilgrimage iii. 191.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#17] Al-Shara’, a mountain in Arabia. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#18] See vol. vi., 249. “This (mace) is a dangerous weapon when struck on +the shoulders or unguarded arm: I am convinced that a blow with it on a head +armoured with a salade (cassis cælata, a light iron helmet) would stun a man” +(says La Brocquière). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#19] Oman, which the natives pronounce “Amán,” is the region best known by +its capital Maskat. These are the Omana Moscha and Omanum Emporium of Ptolemy +and the Periplus. Ibn Batutah writes Ammán, but the best dictionaries give +“Oman.” (N.B.—Mr. Badger, p. 1, wrongly derives Sachalitis from “Sawáhíly”: it +is evidently “Sáhili.”) The people bear by no means the best character: Ibn +Batutah (fourteenth century) says, “their wives are most base; yet, without +denying this, their husbands express nothing like jealousy on the subject.” +(Lee, p. 62.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#20] The name I have said of a quasi-historical personage, son of Joktan, +the first Arabist and the founder of the Tobbá (“successor”) dynasty in +Al-Yaman; while Jurham, his brother, established that of Al-Hijaz. The name is +probably chosen because well-known. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#21] Arab. “Hákim”: lit. one who orders; often confounded by the +unscientific with Hakím, doctor, a philosopher. The latter re-appears in the +Heb. Khákhám applied in modern days to the Jewish scribe who takes the place of +the Rabbi. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#22] As has been seen, acids have ever been and are still administered as +counter-inebriants, while hot spices and sweets greatly increase the effect of +Bhang, opium, henbane, datura &c. The Persians have a most unpleasant form +of treating men when dead-drunk with wine or spirits. They hang them up by the +heels, as we used to do with the drowned, and stuff their mouths with human +ordure which is sure to produce emesis. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#23] Compare the description of the elephant-faced Vetála<br /> + +(Kathá S.S. Fasc. xi. p. 388).<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#24] The lover’s name Sá’ik= the Striker (with lightning);<br /> + +Najmah, the beloved= the star.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#25] I have modified the last three lines of the Mac. Edit. which contain a +repetition evidently introduced by the carelessness of the copyist. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#26] The Hindu Charvakas explain the Triad, Bramha, Vishnu and Shiva, by the +sexual organs and upon Vishnu’s having four arms they gloss, “At the time of +sexual intercourse, each man and woman has as many.” (Dabistan ii. 202.) This +is the Eastern view of Rabelais’ “beast with two backs.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#27] Arab. “Rabbat-i,” my she Lord, fire (nár) being feminine. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#28] The prose-rhyme is answerable for this galimatias. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#29] A common phrase equivalent to our “started from his head.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#30] Arab. “Máridúna”=rebels (against Allah and his orders). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#31] Arab. Yáfis or Yáfat. He had eleven sons and was entitled Abú al-Turk +because this one engendered the Turcomans as others did the Chinese, Scythians, +Slaves (Saklab), Gog, Magog, and the Muscovites or Russians. According to the +Moslems there was a rapid falling off in size amongst this family. Noah’s grave +at Karak (the Ruin) a suburb of Zahlah, in La Brocquière’s “Valley of Noah, +where the Ark was built,” is 104 ft. 10 in. Iong by 8 ft. 8 in. broad. (N.B.—It +is a bit of the old aqueduct which Mr. Porter, the learned author of the “Giant +Cities of Bashan,” quotes as a “traditional memorial of primeval +giants”—talibus carduis pascuntur asini!). Nabi Ham measures only 9 ft. 6 in. +between headstone and tombstone, being in fact about as long as his father was +broad. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#32] See Night dcliv., vol. vii, p. 43, <i>infra.</i> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#33] According to Turcoman legends (evidently post-Mohammedan) Noah gave +his son, Japhet a stone inscribed with the Greatest Name, and it had the virtue +of bringing on or driving off rain. The Moghuls long preserved the tradition +and hence probably the sword. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#34] This expresses Moslem sentiment; the convert to Al-<br /> + +Islam being theoretically respected and practically despised.<br /> + +The Turks call him a “Burmá”=twister, a turncoat, and no one<br /> + +either trusts him or believes in his sincerity.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#35] The name of the city first appears here: it is found also in the Bul. +Edit., vol. ii. p. 132. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#36] Arab. “‘Amala hílah,” a Syro-Egyptian vulgarism. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#37] <i>i.e.</i> his cousin, but he will not use the word. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#38] Arab. “La’ab,” meaning very serious use of the sword: we still preserve +the old “sword-play.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#39] Arab. “Ikhsa,” from a root meaning to drive away a dog. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#40] Arab. “Hazza-hu,” the quivering motion given to the “Harbak” (a light +throw-spear or javelin) before it leaves the hand. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#41] Here the translator must either order the sequence of the sentences or +follow the rhyme. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#42] Possibly taken from the Lions’ Court in the<br /> + +Alhambra=(Dár) Al-hamrá, the Red House.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#43] Arab. “Sházarwán” from Pers. Shadurwán, a palace, cornice, etc. That of +the Meccan Ka’abah is a projection of about a foot broad in pent-house shape +sloping downwards and two feet above the granite pavement: its only use appears +in the large brass rings welded into it to hold down the covering. There are +two breaks in it, one under the doorway and the other opposite Ishmael’s tomb; +and pilgrims are directed during circuit to keep the whole body outside it. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#44] The “Musáfahah” before noticed, vol. vi., p. 287. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#45] <i>i.e.</i> He was confounded at its beauty. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#46] Arab. “‘Ajíb,” punning upon the name. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#47] Arab. “Zarráf” (whence our word) from “Zarf”=walking hastily: the old +“cameleopard” which originated the nursery idea of its origin. It is one of the +most timid of the antelope tribe and unfit for riding. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#48] Arab. “Takht,” a useful word, meaning even a saddle.<br /> + +The usual term is “Haudaj”=the Anglo-Indian “howdah.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#49] “Thunder-King,” Arab. and Persian. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#50] <i>i.e.</i> “He who violently assaults his peers” (the best men of the age). +Batshat al-Kubrá=the Great Disaster, is applied to the unhappy “Battle of +Bedr” (Badr) on Ramazan 17, A.H. 2 (=Jan. 13, 624) when Mohammed was so nearly +defeated that the Angels were obliged to assist him (Koran, chapts. iii. 11; i. +42; viii. 9). Mohammed is soundly rated by Christian writers for beheading two +prisoners Utbah ibn Rabí’a who had once spat on his face and Nazir ibn Háris +who recited Persian romances and preferred them to the “foolish fables of the +Koran.” What would our forefathers have done to a man who spat in the face of +John Knox and openly preferred a French play to Pentateuch ? +</p> + +<p> +[FN#51] Arab. “Jilbáb” either habergeon (mail-coat) or the buff-jacket worn +under it. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#52] A favourite way, rough and ready, of carrying light weapons, often +alluded to in The Nights. So Khusrawán in Antar carried “under his thighs four +small darts, each like a blazing flame.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#53] Mr. Payne very reasonably supplants here and below Fakhr Taj (who in +Night dcxxxiv. is left in her father’s palace and who is reported to be dead in +Night dclxvii.) by Star o’ Morn. But the former is also given in the Bul. Edit. +(ii. 148), so the story-teller must have forgotten all about her. I leave it as +a model specimen of Eastern incuriousness. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#54] There is some chivalry in his unwillingness to use the magical blade. +As a rule the Knights of Romance utterly ignore fair play and take every dirty +advantage in the magic line that comes to hand. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#55] Arab. “Hammál al-Hatabi”=one who carries to market the fuel-sticks +which he picks up in the waste. In the Koran (chapt. cxi.) it is applied to Umm +Jamíl, wife of Mohammed’s hostile cousin, Abd al-Uzza, there termed Abú Lahab +(Father of smokeless Flame) with the implied meaning that she will bear fuel to +feed Hell-fire. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#56] Arab. “Akyál,” lit. whose word (Kaul) is obeyed, a title of the +Himyarite Kings, of whom Al-Bergendi relates that one of them left an +inscription at Samarcand, which many centuries ago no man could read. This +evidently alludes to the dynasty which preceded the “Tobba” and to No. xxiv. +Shamar Yar’ash (Shamar the Palsied). Some make him son of Malik surnamed Náshir +al-Ni’am (Scatterer of Blessings) others of Afríkús (No. xviii.), who, +according to Al-Jannabi, Ahmad bin Yusuf and Ibn Ibdun (Pocock, Spec. Hist. +Arab.) founded the Berber (Barbar) race, the remnants of the Causanites +expelled by the “robber, Joshua son of Nún,” and became the eponymus of +“Africa.” This word which, under the Romans, denoted a small province on the +Northern Sea-board, is, I would suggest, A’far-Káhi (Afar-land), the Afar being +now the Dankali race, the country of Osiris whom my learned friend, the late +Mariette Pasha, derived from the Egyptian “Punt” identified by him with the +Somali country. This would make “Africa,” as it ought to be, an Egyptian +(Coptic) term. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#57] Herodotus (i. 80) notes this concerning the camel. Elephants are not +allowed to walk the streets in Anglo-Indian cities, where they have caused many +accidents. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#58] Arab. Wahk or Wahak, suggesting the Roman retiarius. But the lasso pure +and simple, the favourite weapon of shepherd and herdsmen was well-known to the +old Egyptians and in ancient India. It forms one of the T-letters in the +hieroglyphs. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#59] Compare with this and other Arab battle-pieces the Pandit’s description +in the Kathá Sarit Sagara, <i>e.g.</i> “Then a confused battle arose with dint of +arrow, javelin, lance, mace and axe, costing the lives of countless soldiers +(N.B.— Millions are nothing to him); rivers of blood flowed with the bodies of +elephants and horses for alligators, with the pearls from the heads of +elephants for sands and with the heads of heroes for stones. That feast of +battle delighted the flesh-loving demons who, drunk with blood instead of +wine, were dancing with the palpitating trunks,” etc. etc. Fasc. xii. 526. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#60] The giraffe is here mal-placé: it is, I repeat, one of the most timid +of the antelope tribe. Nothing can be more graceful than this huge game as it +stands under a tree extending its long and slender neck to the foliage above +it; but when in flight all the limbs seem loose and the head is carried almost +on a level with the back. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#61] The fire-arms may have been inserted by the copier; the cross-bow +(Arcubalista) is of unknown antiquity. I have remarked in my book of the Sword +(p. 19) that the bow is the first crucial evidence of the distinction between +the human weapon and the bestial arm, and like the hymen or membrane of +virginity proves a difference of degree if not of kind between man and the +so-called lower animals. I note from Yule’s Marco Polo (ii., 143) “that the +cross-bow was re-introduced into European warfare during the twelfth century”; +but the arbalesta was well known to the bon roi Charlemagne (Regnier Sat. X). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#62] In Al-Islam this was unjustifiable homicide, excused only because the +Kafir had tried to slay his own son. He should have been summoned to become a +tributary and then, on express refusal, he might legally have been put to +death. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#63] <i>i.e.</i> “Rose King,” like the Sikh name “Gulab Singh”=Rosewater Lion, +sounding in translation almost too absurd to be true. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#64] “Repentance acquits the penitent” is a favourite and noble saying +popular in Al-Islam. It is first found in Seneca; and is probably as old as the +dawn of literature. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#65] Here an ejaculation of impatience. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#66] <i>i.e.</i> “King Intelligence”: it has a ludicrous sound suggesting only +“Dandanha-i-Khirad”=wisdom-teeth. The Mac. Edit. persistently keeps “Ward +Shah,” copyist error. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#67] <i>i.e.</i> Fakhr Taj, who had been promised him in marriage.<br /> + +See Night dcxxxiii. supra, vol. vi.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#68] The name does not appear till further on, after vague Eastern fashion +which, here and elsewhere I have not had the heart to adopt. The same may be +found in Ariosto, <i>passim</i>. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#69] A town in Persian Irak, unhappily far from the “Salt sea.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#70] “Earthquake son of Ennosigaius” (the Earthquake-maker). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#71] Arab. “Ruba’al-Kharáb” or Ruba’al-Khálí (empty quarter), the great +central wilderness of Arabia covering some 50,000 square miles and still left +white on our maps. (Pilgrimage, i 14.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#72] Pers. “Life King”, women also assume the title of<br /> + +Shah.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#73] Arab. “Mujauhar”: the watery or wavy mark upon Eastern blades is called +the “jauhar,” lit.=jewel. The peculiarity is also called water and grain, which +gives rise to a host of <i>double-entendres</i>, puns, paronomasias and conceits more +or less frigid. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#74] Etymologically meaning tyrants or giants; and applied to great heathen +conquerors like Nimrod and the mighty rulers of Syria, the Anakim, Giants and +other peoples of Hebrew fable. The Akásirah are the Chosroës before noticed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#75] Arab. “Asker jarrár” lit. “drawing”: so in Egyptian slang “Nás +jarrár”=folk who wish to draw your money out of your pocket, greedy cheats. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#76] In Turkestan: the name means “Two lights.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#77] In Armenia, mentioned by Sadik Isfaháni (Transl. p. 62). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#78] This is the only ludicrous incident in the tale which justifies Von +Hammer’s suspicion. Compare it with the combat between Rustam and his son +Sohráb. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#79] I cannot understand why Trébutien, iii., 457, writes<br /> + +this word Afba. He remarks that it is the “Oina and Riya” of<br /> + +Jámí, elegantly translated by M. de Chezy in the Journal<br /> + +Asiatique, vol. 1, 144.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#80] I have described this part of the Medinah Mosque in Pilgrimage ii., +62-69. The name derives from a saying of Mohammed (of which there are many +variants), “Between my tomb and my pulpit is a garden of the Gardens of +Paradise” (Burckhardt, Arabia, p. 337). The whole Southern portico (not only a +part) now enjoys that honoured name and the tawdry decorations are intended to +suggest a parterre. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#81] Mohammed’s companions (Asháb), numbering some five hundred, were +divided into two orders, the Muhájirin (fugitives) or Meccans who accompanied +the Apostle to Al-Medinah (Pilgrimage ii. 138) and the Ansár (Auxiliaries) or +Medinites who invited him to their city and lent him zealous aid (Ibid. ii. +130). The terms constantly occur in Arab history. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#82] The “Mosque of the Troops,” also called Al-Fath (victory), the largest +of the “Four Mosques:” it is still a place of pious visitation where prayer is +granted. Koran, chap. xxxiii., and Pilgrimage ii. 325. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#83] Arab. “Al-Wars,” with two meanings. The Alfáz Adwiyah gives it=Kurkum, +curcuma, turmeric, safran d’Inde; but popular usage assigns it to Usfur, Kurtum +or safflower (<i>carthamus tinctorius</i>). I saw the shrub growing all about Harar +which exports it, and it is plentiful in Al-Yaman (Niebuhr, p. 133), where +women affect it to stain the skin a light yellow and remove freckles: it is +also an internal remedy in leprosy. But the main use is that of a dye, and the +Tob stained with Wars is almost universal in some parts of Arabia. Sonnini (p. +510) describes it at length and says that Europeans in Egypt call it +“Parrot-seeds” because the bird loves it, and the Levant trader “Saffrenum.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#84] Two men of the great ‘Anazah race went forth to gather Karaz, the fruit +of the Sant (Mimosa Nilotica) both used for tanning, and never returned. Hence +the proverb which is obsolete in conversation. See Burckhardt, Prov. 659: where +it takes the place of “ad Graecas Kalendas.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#85] Name of a desert (Mafázah) and a settlement on the + +Euphrates’ bank between Basrah and the site of old Kufah near + +Kerbela; the well-known visitation place in Babylonian Irak.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#86] Of the Banu Sulaym tribe; the adjective is Sulami not + +Sulaymi.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#87] Arab. “Amám-ak”=before thee (in space); from the same root as +Imam=antistes, leader of prayer; and conducing to perpetual puns, <i>e.g.</i> “You are +Imám-i (my leader) and therefore should be Amám-i” (in advance of me). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#88] He was angry, as presently appears, because he had heard of certain +love passages between the two and this in Arabia is a dishonour to the family. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#89] Euphemy for “my daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#90] The Badawin call a sound dollar “Kirsh hajar” or “Riyal hajar” (a stone +dollar; but the word is spelt with the greater h). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#91] Arab. Burdah and Habárah. The former often translated mantle is a thick +woollen stuff, brown or gray, woven oblong and used like a plaid by day and by +night. Mohammed’s Burdah woven in his Harem and given to the poet, Ka’ab, was 7½ +ft. long by 4½: it is still in the upper Serraglio of Stambul. In early +days the stuff was mostly striped; now it is either plain or with lines so +narrow that it looks like one colour. The Habarah is a Burd made in Al-Yaman +and not to be confounded with the Egyptian mantilla of like name (Lane, M. E. +chapt. iii.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#92] Every Eastern city has its special title. Al-Medinah is entitled +“Al-Munawwarah” (the Illumined) from the blinding light which surrounds the +Prophet’s tomb and which does not show to eyes profane (Pilgrimage ii. 3). I +presume that the idea arose from the huge lamps of “The Garden.” I have noted +that Mohammed’s coffin suspended by magnets is an idea unknown to Moslems, but +we find the fancy in Al-Harawi related of St. Peter, “Simon Cephas (the rock) +is in the City of Great Rome, in its largest church within a silver ark hanging +by chains from the ceiling.” (Lee, Ibn Batutah, p. 161). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#93] Here the fillets are hung instead of the normal rag-strips to denote an +honoured tomb. Lane (iii. 242) and many others are puzzled about the use of +these articles. In many cases they are suspended to trees in order to transfer +sickness from the body to the tree and whoever shall touch it. The Sawáhílí +people term such articles a Keti (seat or vehicle) for the mysterious haunter +of the tree who prefers occupying it to the patient’s person. Briefly the +custom still popular throughout Arabia, is African and Fetish. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#94] Al-Mas’údí (chap. xcv.), mentions a Hind bint Asmá and tells a +facetious story of her and the “enemy of Allah,” the poet Jarir. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#95] Here the old Shiah hatred of the energetic conqueror of Oman crops out +again. Hind’s song is that of Maysum concerning her husband Mu’áwiyah which +Mrs. Godfrey Clark (‘Ilâm-en-Nâs, p. 108) thus translates:— +</p> + +<p> + A hut that the winds make tremble<br /> + + Is dearer to me than a noble palace;<br /> + + And a dish of crumbs on the floor of my home<br /> + + Is dearer to me than a varied feast;<br /> + + And the soughing of the breeze through every crevice<br /> + + Is dearer to me than the beating of drums.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Compare with Dr. Carlyle’s No. X.:— +</p> + +<p> + The russet suit of camel’s hair<br /> + + With spirits light and eye serene<br /> + + Is dearer to my bosom far<br /> + + Than all the trappings of a queen, etc. etc.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +And with mine (Pilgrimage iii. 262):— +</p> + +<p> + O take these purple robes away,<br /> + + Give back my cloak of camel’s hair<br /> + + And bear me from this towering pile<br /> + + To where the black tents flap i’ the air, etc. etc.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#96] AI-Hajjaj’s tribal name was Al-Thakifi or descendant of Thakíf. +According to Al-Mas’udi, he was son of Faríghah (the tall Beauty) by Yúsuf bin +Ukayl the Thakafite and vint au monde tout difforme avec l’anus obstrué. As he +refused the breast, Satan, in human form, advised suckling him with the blood +of two black kids, a black buck-goat and a black snake; which had the desired +effect. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#97] Trebutien, iii., 465, translates these sayings into<br /> + +Italian.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#98] Making him a “Kawwád”=leader, <i>i.e.</i> pimp; a true piece of feminine +spite. But the Caliph prized Al-Hajjaj too highly to treat him as in the text. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#99] <i>i.e.</i> “The overflowing,” with benefits; on account of his generosity. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#100] The seventh Ommiade A. H. 96-99 (715-719). He died of his fine +appetite after eating at a sitting a lamb, six fowls, seventy pomegranates, and +11¼ lbs. of currants. He was also proud of his youth and beauty and was wont +to say, “Mohammed was the Apostle and Abu Bakr witness to the Truth; Omar the +Discriminator and Othman the Bashful, Mu’awiyah the Mild and Yazid the Patient; +Abd al-Malik the Administrator and Walid the Tyrant; but I am the Young King!” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#101] Arab. Al-Jazírah, “the Island;” name of the region and the capital. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#102] <i>i.e.</i> “Repairer of the Slips of the Generous,” an evasive reply, which +of course did not deceive the questioner. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#103] Arab. “Falastín,” now obsolete. The word has echoed far west and the +name of the noble race has been degraded to “Philister,” a bourgeois, a greasy +burgher. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#104] Saying, “The Peace be with thee, O Prince of True<br /> + +Believers!”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#105] Arab. “Mutanakkir,” which may also mean proud or in disguise. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#106] On appointment as viceroy. See vol. iii., 307. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#107] The custom with outgoing Governors. It was adopted by the Spaniards +and Portuguese especially in America. The generosity of Ikrimah without the +slightest regard to justice or common honesty is characteristic of the Arab in +story-books. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#108] The celebrated half-way house between Jaffa and<br /> + +Jerusalem.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#109] Alias the Kohistan or mountain region, Susiana (Khuzistan) whose +capital was Susa; and the head quarters of fire-worship. Azar (fire) was the +name of Abraham’s father whom Eusebius calls “Athar.” (Pilgrimage iii. 336.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#110] Tenth Ommiade A.H. 105-125 (=724-743), a wise and discreet ruler with +an inclination to avarice and asceticism. According to some, the Ommiades +produced only three statesmen, Mu’awayah, Abd al-Malik and Hisham; and the +reign of the latter was the end of sage government and wise administration. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#111] About £1,250, which seems a long price; but in those days Damascus +had been enriched with the spoils of the world adjacent. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#112] Eleventh Ommiade dynasty, A.H. 125-126 (=743-744). Ibn Sahl (son of +ease, <i>i.e.</i> free and easy) was a nickname; he was the son of Yazíd II. and +brother of Hishám. He scandalised the lieges by his profligacy, wishing to make +the pilgrimage in order to drink upon the Ka’abah-roof; so they attacked the +palace and lynched him. His death is supposed to have been brought about (27th +of Jamáda al-Akhirah = April 16, 744) by his cousin and successor Yazíd (No. +iii.) surnamed the Retrencher. The tale in the text speaks well for him; but +generosity amongst the Arabs covers a multitude of sins, and people say, +“Better a liberal sinner than a stingy saint.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#113] The tents of black wool woven by the Badawi women are generally +supported by three parallel rows of poles lengthways and crossways (the highest +line being the central) and the covering is pegged down. Thus the outline of +the roofs forms two or more hanging curves, and these characterise the +architecture of the Tartars and Chinese; they are still preserved in the +Turkish (and sometimes in the European) “Kiosque,” and they have extended to +the Brazil where the upturned eaves, often painted vermilion below, at once +attract the traveller’s notice. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#114] See vol. iv., 159. The author of “Antar,” known to Englishmen by the +old translation of Mr. Terrick Hamilton, secretary of Legation at +Constantinople. There is an abridgement of the forty-five volumes of +Al-Asma’i’s “Antar” which mostly supplies or rather supplied the “Antariyyah” +or professional tale-tellers; whose theme was the heroic Mulatto lover. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#115] The “Dakkah” or long wooden sofa, as opposed to the “mastabah” or +stone bench, is often a tall platform and in mosques is a kind of ambo railed +round and supported by columns. Here readers recite the Koran: Lane (M.E. +chapt. iii.) sketches it in the “Interior of a Mosque.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#116] Alif (<span lang='ar' xml:lang='ar' dir='rtl'>ا</span>) Ha (<span lang='ar' xml:lang='ar' dir='rtl'>ه</span>) and Waw (<span lang='ar' xml:lang='ar' dir='rtl'>و</span>), the first, twenty-seventh and twenty-sixth letters +of the Arabic alphabet: No. 1 is the most simple and difficult to write +caligraphically. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#117] Reeds washed with gold and used for love-letters, &c. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#118] Lane introduced this tale into vol. i., p. 223, notes on chapt. iii., +apparently not knowing that it was in The Nights. He gives a mere abstract, +omitting all the verse, and he borrowed it either from the Halbat al-Kumayt +(chapt. xiv.) or from Al-Mas’údí (chapt. cxi.). See the French translation, +vol. vi. p. 340. I am at pains to understand why M. C. Barbier de Maynard +writes “Réchid” with an accented vowel; although French delicacy made him +render, by “fils de courtisane,” the expression in the text, “O biter of thy +mother’s enlarged (or uncircumcised) clitoris” (Bazar). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#119] In Al-Mas’údi the Devil is “a young man fair of favour and formous of +figure,” which is more appropriate to a “Tempter.” He also wears light stuffs +of dyed silks. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#120] It would have been more courteous in an utter stranger to say, O my +lord. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#121] The Arab Tempe (of fiction, not of grisly fact). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#122] These four lines are in Al-Mas’údi, chapt, cxviii. Fr. Trans. vii. +313, but that author does not tell us who wrote them. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#123] <i>i.e.</i> Father of Bitterness=the Devil. This legend of the Foul Fiend +appearing to Ibrahim of Mosul (and also to Isam, N. dcxcv.) seems to have been +accepted by contemporaries and reminds us of similar visitations in +Europe—notably to Dr. Faust. One can only exclaim, “Lor, papa, what nonsense +you are talking!” the words of a small girl whose father thought proper to +indoctrinate her into certain Biblical stories. I once began to write a +biography of the Devil; but I found that European folk-lore had made such an +unmitigated fool of the grand old Typhon-Ahriman as to take away from him all +human interest. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#124] In Al-Mas’udi the Caliph exclaims, “Verily thou hast received a visit +from Satan!” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#125] Al-Mas’udi, chapt. cxix. (Fr. transl. vii., 351) mentions the Banu +Odhrah as famed for lovers and tells the pathetic tale of ‘Orwah and ‘Afrá. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#126] Jamil bin Ma’amar the poet has been noticed in Vol. ii. 102; and he +has no business here as he died years before Al-Rashid was born. The tale +begins like that of Ibn Mansúr and the Lady Budúr (Night cccxxvii.), except +that Mansur does not offer his advice. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#127] Arab. “Halumma,” an interjection=bring! a congener of the Heb. +“Halúm”; the grammarians of Kufah and Bassorah are divided concerning its +origin. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#128] Arab. “Nafs-í” which here corresponds with our canting “the flesh” +the “Old Adam,” &c. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#129] Arab. “Atmárí” used for travel. The Anglo-Americans are the only +people who have the common sense to travel (where they are not known) in their +“store clothes” and reserve the worst for where they are known. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#130] <i>e.g.</i> a branch or bough. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#131] Arab. “Ráyah káimah,” which Lane translates a “beast standing”! +</p> + +<p> +[FN#132] Tying up the near foreleg just above the knee; and even with this a +camel can hop over sundry miles of ground in the course of a night. The +hobbling is shown in Lane. (Nights vol. ii., p. 46.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#133] As opposed to “Severance” in the old knightly language of love, which +is now apparently lost to the world. I tried it in the Lyrics of Camoens and +found that I was speaking a forgotten tongue, which mightily amused the common +sort of critic and reviewer. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#134] More exactly three days and eight hours, after which the guest becomes +a friend, and as in the Argentine prairies is expected to do friend’s duty. The +popular saying is, “The entertainment of a guest is three days; the viaticum +(jáizah) is a day and a night, and whatso exceedeth this is alms.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#135] Arab. “‘Ashírah.” Books tell us there are seven degrees of connection +among the Badawin: Sha’ab, tribe or rather race; nation (as the Anazah) +descended from a common ancestor; Kabílah the tribe proper (whence <i>les +Kabyles</i>); Fasílah (sept), Imarah; Ashirah (all a man’s connections); Fakhiz +(lit. the thigh, i.e., his blood relations) and Batn (belly) his kith and kin. +Practically Kabílah is the tribe, Ashírah the clan, and Bayt the household; +while Hayy may be anything between tribe and kith and kin. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#136] This is the true platonic love of noble Arabs, the<br /> + +Ishk ‘uzrí, noted in vol. ii., 104.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#137] Arab. “‘Alá raghm,” a favourite term. It occurs in theology; for +instance, when the Shí’ahs are asked the cause of such and such a ritual +distinction they will reply, “Ala raghmi ‘l-Tasannun”: lit.=to spite the +Sunnis. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#138] In the text “Al-Kaus” for which Lane and Payne substitute a shield. +The bow had not been mentioned but—<i>n’importe</i>, the Arab reader would say. In +the text it is left at home because it is a cowardly, far-killing weapon +compared with sword and lance. Hence the Spaniard calls and justly calls the +knife the “bravest of arms” as it wants a man behind it. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#139] Arab. “Rahim” or “Rihm”=womb, uterine relations, pity or sympathy, +which may here be meant. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#140] Reciting Fátihahs and so forth, as I have described in the Cemetery of +Al-Medinah (ii. 300). Moslems do not pay for prayers to benefit the dead like +the majority of Christendom and, according to Calvinistic Wahhábi-ism, their +prayers and blessings are of no avail. But the mourner’s heart loathes reason +and he prays for his dead instinctively like the so-termed “Protestant.” +Amongst the latter, by the bye, I find four great <i>Sommités</i>, (1) Paul of Tarsus +who protested against the Hebraism of Peter; (2) Mohammed who protested against +the perversions of Christianity; (3) Luther who protested against Italian rule +in Germany, and lastly (4) one (who shall be nameless) that protests against +the whole business. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#141] Lane transfers this to vol. i. 520 (notes to chapt. vii); and gives a +mere abstract as of that preceding. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#142] We learn from Ibn Batutah that it stood South of the Great Mosque and +afterwards became the Coppersmiths’ Bazar. The site was known as Al-Khazrá (the +Green) and the building was destroyed by the Abbasides. See Defrémery and +Sanguinetti, i. 206. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#143] This great tribe or rather nation has been noticed before (vol. ii. +170). The name means “Strong,” and derives from one Tamim bin Murr of the race +of Adnan, nat. circ. A.D. 121. They hold the North-Eastern uplands of Najd, +comprising the great desert Al-Dahná and extend to Al-Bahrayn. They are split +up into a multitude of clans and septs; and they can boast of producing two +famous sectarians. One was Abdullah bin Suffár, head of the Suffriyah; and the +other Abdullah bin Ibáz (Ibadh) whence the Ibázíyah heretics of Oman who long +included her princes. Mr. Palgrave wrongly writes Abadeeyah and Biadeeyah and +my “Bayázi” was an Arab vulgarism used by the Zanzibarians. Dr. Badger rightly +prefers Ibáziyah which he writes Ibâdhiyah (Hist. of the Imams, etc.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#144] Governor of Al-Medinah under Mu’awiyah and afterwards (A.H. +64-65=683-4) fourth Ommiade. Al-Siyúti (p. 216) will not account him amongst +the princes of the Faithful, holding him a rebel against Al-Zubayr. Ockley +makes Ibn al-Zubayr ninth and Marwán tenth Caliph. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#145] The address, without the vocative particle, is more emphatic; and the +P.N. Mu’awiyah seems to court the omission. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#146] This may also mean that the £500 were the woman’s “mahr” or marriage +dowry and the £250 a present to buy the father’s consent. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#147] Quite true to nature. See an account of the quasi-epileptic fits to +which Syrians are subject and by them called Al-Wahtah in “The Inner Life of +Syria,” i. 233. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#148] Arab. “Wayha-k” here equivalent to Wayla-k. M. C. Barbier de Meynard +renders the first “mon ami” and the second “misérable.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#149] This is an instance when the article (Al) is correctly used with one +proper name and not with another. Al-Kumayt (P. N. of poet) lit. means a bay +horse with black points: Nasr is victory. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#150] This anecdote, which reads like truth, is ample set off for a +cart-load of abuse of women. But even the Hindus, determined misogynists in +books, sometimes relent. Says the Katha Sarit Sagara: “So you see, King, +honourable matrons are devoted to their husbands, and it is not the case that +all women are always bad” (ii. 624). Let me hope that after all this Mistress +Su’ad did not lead her husband a hardish life. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#151] Al-Khalí’a has been explained in vol. i. 311 {Vol 1, FN#633}: the +translation of Al-Mas’udi (vi. 10) renders it “scélérat.” Abú Alí al-Husayn +the Wag was a Bassorite and a worthy companion of Abu Nowas the Debauchee; but +he adorned the Court of Al-Amin the son, not of Al-Rashid the father. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#152] Governor of Bassorah, but not in Al-Husayn’s day. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#153] The famous market-place where poems were recited, mentioned by +Al-Hariri. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#154] A quarter of Bassorah. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#155] Capital of Al-Yaman, and then famed for its leather and other work +(vol. v. 16). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#156] The creases in the stomach like the large navel are always insisted +upon. Says the Kathá (ii. 525) “And he looked on that torrent river of the +elixir of beauty, adorned with a waist made charming by those wave-like +wrinkles,” etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#157] Arab. Sabaj (not Sabah, as the Mac. Edit. misprints it): I am not sure +of its meaning. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#158] A truly Arab conceit, suggesting— +</p> + +<p> +The music breathing from her face; +</p> + +<p> +her calves moved rhythmically, suggesting the movement and consequent sound of +a musical instrument. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#159] The <i>morosa voluptas</i> of the Catholic divines. The Sapphist described in +the text would procure an orgasm (<i>in gloria</i>, as the Italians call it) by biting +and rolling over the girl she loved; but by loosening the trouser-string she +evidently aims at a closer tribadism—the Arab “Musáhikah.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#160] We drink (or drank) after dinner, Easterns before the meal and +half-Easterns (like the Russians) before and after. We talk of liquor being +unwholesome on an empty stomach; but the truth is that all is purely habit. And +as the Russian accompanies his Vodki with caviare, etc., so the Oriental drinks +his Raki or Mahayá (Ma al-hayát=aqua vitæ) alternately with a Salátah, for +whose composition see Pilgrimage i. 198. The Eastern practice has its +advantages: it awakens the appetite, stimulates digestion and, what Easterns +greatly regard, it is economical; half a bottle doing the work of a whole. +Bhang and Kusumbá (opium dissolved and strained through a pledget of cotton) +are always drunk before dinner and thus the “jolly” time is the preprandial, +not the postprandial. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#161] “Abu al-Sakhá” (pronounced Abussakhá) = Father of munificence. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#162] ‘Arab. “Shammara,” also used for gathering up the gown, so as to run +the faster. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#163] i.e., blessing the Prophet and all True Believers (herself included). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#164] The style of this letter is that of a public scribe in a Cairo +market-place thirty years ago. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#165] i.e., she could not help falling in love with this beauty man. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#166] “Kudrat,” used somewhat in the sense of our vague “Providence.” The +sentence means, leave Omnipotence to manage him. Mr. Redhouse, who forces a +likeness between Moslem and Christian theology, tells us that “Qader is +unjustly translated by Fate and Destiny, an old pagan idea abhorrent to +Al-Islam which reposes on God’s providence.” He makes Kazá and Kismet +quasi-synonymes of “Qazá” and “Qader,” the former signifying God’s decree, the +latter our allotted portion, and he would render both by dispensation. Of +course it is convenient to forget the Guarded Tablet of the learned and the +Night of Power and skull-lectures of the vulgar. The eminent Turkish scholar +would also translate Salát by worship (du’á being prayer) because it signifies +a simple act of adoration without entreaty. If he will read the Opener of the +Koran, recited in every set of prayers, he will find an especial request to be +“led to the path which is straight.” These vagaries are seriously adopted by +Mr. E. J. W. Gibb in his Ottoman Poems (p. 245, etc.) London: Trübner and Co., +1882; and they deserve, I think, reprehension, because they serve only to +mislead; and the high authority of the source whence they come necessarily +recommends them to many. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#167] The reader will have noticed the likeness of this tale to that of Ibn +Mansúr and the Lady Budúr (vol. iv., 228 et seq.){Vol 4, Tale 42} For this +reason Lane leaves it untranslated (iii. 252). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#168] Lane also omits this tale (iii. 252). See Night dclxxxviii., vol. vii. +p. 113 et seq., for a variant of the story. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#169] Third Abbaside, A.H. 158-169 (=775-785), and father of Harun +Al-Rashid. He is known chiefly for his eccentricities, such as cutting the +throats of all his carrier-pigeons, making a man dine off marrow and sugar and +having snow sent to him at Meccah, a distance of 700 miles. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#170] Arab. “Mirt”; the dictionaries give a short shift, cloak or breeches +of wool or coarse silk. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#171] Arab. “Mayázíb” plur. of the Pers. Mizáb (orig. Míz-i-áb=channel of +water) a spout for roof-rain. That which drains the Ka’abah on the N.-W. side +is called Mizáb al-Rahmah (Gargoyle of Mercy) and pilgrims stand under it for a +douche of holy water. It is supposed to be of gold, but really of silver +gold-plated and is described of Burckhardt and myself. (Pilgrimage iii. 164.) +The length is 4 feet 10 in.; width 9 in.; height of sides 8 in.; and slope at +mouth 1 foot 6 in long. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#172] The Mac. and Bul. Edits. have by mistake “Son of<br /> + +Ishak.” Lane has “Is-hak the son of Ibrahim” following<br /> + +Trébutien (iii. 483) but suggests in a note the right reading<br /> + +as above.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#173] Again masculine for feminine. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#174] There are two of this name. The Upper al-Akik contains the whole site +of Al-Medinah; the Lower is on the Meccan road about four miles S.W. of the +city. The Prophet called it “blessed” because ordered by an angel to pray +therein. The poets have said pretty things about it, <i>e.g.</i> +</p> + +<p> + O friend, this is the vale Akik; here stand and strive in<br /> + +thought:<br /> + + If not a very lover, strive to be by love-distraught!<br /> +</p> + +<p> +for whose esoteric meaning see Pilgrimage ii. 24. I passed through Al-Akík in +July when it was dry as summer dust and its “beautiful trees” were mere +vegetable mummies. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#175] Those who live in the wet climates of the Northern temperates can +hardly understand the delight of a shower in rainless lands, like Arabia and +Nubia. In Sind we used to strip and stand in the downfall and raise faces +sky-wards to get the full benefit of the douche. In Southern Persia food is +hastily cooked at such times, wine strained, Kaliuns made ready and horses +saddled for a ride to the nearest gardens and a happy drinking-bout under the +cypresses. If a man refused, his friends would say of him, “See how he turns +his back upon the blessing of Allah!” (like an ass which presents its tail to +the weather). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#176] <i>i.e.</i> the destruction of the Barmecides. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#177] He was Wazir to the Great “Saladin” (Saláh al-Din = one conforming +with the Faith): see vol. iv. 271, where Saladin is also entitled Al-Malik +al-Nasir = the Conquering King. He was a Kurd and therefore fond of boys (like +Virgil, Horace, etc.), but that perversion did not prevent his being one of the +noblest of men. He lies in the Great Amawi Mosque of Damascus and I never +visited a tomb with more reverence. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#178] Arab. “Ahassa bi’l-Shurbah;” in our idiom “he smelt a rat”. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#179] This and the next tale are omitted by Lane (iii. 254) on “account of +its vulgarity, rendered more objectionable by indecent incidents.” It has been +honoured with a lithographed reprint at Cairo A.H. 1278 and the Bresl. Edit. +ix. 193 calls it the “Tale of Ahmad al-Danaf with Dalílah.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#180] “Ahmad, the Distressing Sickness,” or “Calamity;” Hasan the Pestilent +and Dalílah the bawd. See vol. ii. 329, and vol. iv. 75. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#181] A fœtus, a foundling, a contemptible fellow. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#182] In the Mac. Edit. “her husband”: the end of the tale shows the error, +<i>infra</i>, p. 171. The Bresl. Edit., x. 195, informs us that Dalilah was a +“Faylasúfiyah”=philosopheress. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#183] Arab. “Ibrík” usually a ewer, a spout-pot, from the Pers. +Ab-ríz=water-pourer: the old woman thus vaunted her ceremonial purity. The +basin and ewer are called in poetry “the two rumourers,” because they rattle +when borne about. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#184] Khátún in Turk. is=a lady, a dame of high degree; at times as here and +elsewhere, it becomes a P. N. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#185] Arab. “Maut,” a word mostly avoided in the Koran and by the Founder of +Christianity. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#186] Arab. “Akákír,” drugs, spices, simples which cannot be distinguished +without study and practice. Hence the proverb (Burckhardt, 703), Is this an art +of drugs?—difficult as the druggist’s craft? +</p> + +<p> +[FN#187] <i>i.e.</i> Beautiful as the fairy damsels who guard enchanted treasures, +such as that of Al-Shamardal (vol. vi. 221). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#188] <i>i.e.</i> by contact with a person in a state of ceremonial impurity; +servants are not particular upon this point and “Salát mamlúkíyah” (Mameluke’s +prayers) means praying without ablution. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#189] <i>i.e.</i> Father of assaults, burdens or pregnancies; the last being here +the meaning. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#190] Ex votos and so forth. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#191] Arab. “Iksah,” plaits, braids, also the little gold coins and other +ornaments worn in the hair, now mostly by the middle and lower classes. Low +Europeans sometimes take advantage of the native prostitutes by detaching these +valuables, a form of “bilking” peculiar to the Nile-Valley. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#192] In Bresl. Edit. Malíh Kawí (pron. ‘Awi), a Cairene vulgarism. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#193] Meaning without veil or upper clothing. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#194] Arab. “Kallakás” the edible African arum before explained. This +Colocasia is supposed to bear, unlike the palm, male and female flowers in one +spathe. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#195] See vol. iii. 302. The figs refer to the anus and the pomegranates, +like the sycomore, to the female parts. Me nec fæmina nec puer, &c., says +Horace in pensive mood. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#196] It is in accordance to custom that the Shaykh be attended by a +half-witted fanatic who would be made furious by seeing gold and silks in the +reverend presence so coyly curtained. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#197] In English, “God damn everything an inch high!” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#198] Burckhardt notes that the Wali, or chief police officer at Cairo, was +exclusively termed Al-Aghá and quotes the proverb (No. 156) “One night the +whore repented and cried:—What! no Wali (Al-Aghá) to lay whores by the heels?” +Some of these Egyptian by-words are most amusing and characteristic; but they +require literal translation, not the timid touch of the last generation. I am +preparing, for the use of my friend, Bernard Quaritch, a bonâ fide version +which awaits only the promised volume of Herr Landberg. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#199] Lit. for “we leave them for the present”: the formula is much used in +this tale, showing another hand, author or copyist. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#200] Arab. “Uzrah.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#201] <i>i.e.</i> “Thou art unjust and violent enough to wrong even the Caliph!” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#202] I may note that a “donkey-boy” like our “post-boy” can be of any age +in Egypt. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#203] They could legally demand to be recouped but the chief would have +found some pretext to put off payment. Such at least is the legal process of +these days. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#204] <i>i.e.</i> drunk with the excess of his beauty. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#205] A delicate way of offering a fee. When officers commanding regiments +in India contracted for clothing the men, they found these douceurs under their +dinner-napkins. All that is now changed; but I doubt the change being an +improvement: the public is plundered by a “Board” instead of an individual. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#206] This may mean, I should know her even were my eyes blue (or blind) +with cataract and the Bresl. Edit. ix. 231, reads “Ayní”=my eye; or it may be, +I should know her by her staring, glittering, hungry eyes, as opposed to the +“Hawar” soft-black and languishing (Arab. Prov. i. 115, and ii. 848). The +Prophet said “blue-eyed (women) are of good omen.” And when one man reproached +another saying “Thou art Azrak” (blue-eyed!) he retorted, “So is the falcon!” +“Zurk-an” in Kor. xx. 102, is translated by Mr. Rodwell “leaden eyes.” It ought +to be blue-eyed, dim-sighted, purblind. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#207] Arab, “Zalábiyah bi-‘Asal.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#208] Arab. “Ká’ah,” their mess-room, barracks. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#209] <i>i.e.</i> Camel shoulder-blade. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#210] So in the Brazil you are invited to drink a copa d’agua and find a +splendid banquet. There is a smack of Chinese ceremony in this practice which +lingers throughout southern Europe; but the less advanced society is, the more +it is fettered by ceremony and “etiquette.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#211] The Bresl. edit. (ix. 239) prefers these lines:— +</p> + +<p> + Some of us be hawks and some sparrow-hawks, *<br /> + + And vultures some which at carrion pike;<br /> + + And maidens deem all alike we be *<br /> + + But, save in our turbands, we’re not alike.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#212] Arab. Shar’a=holy law; here it especially applies to Al-Kisás=<i>lex +talionis</i>, which would order her eye-tooth to be torn out. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#213] i.e., of the Afghans. Sulaymáni is the Egypt and Hijazi term for an +Afghan and the proverb says “Sulaymáni harámi”—the Afghan is a villainous man. +See Pilgrimage i. 59, which gives them a better character. The Bresl. Edit. +simply says, “King Sulaymán.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#214] This is a sequel to the Story of Dalilah and both are highly relished +by Arabs. The Bresl. Edit. ix. 245, runs both into one. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#215] Arab. “Misr” (Masr), the Capital, says Savary, applied alternately to +Memphis, Fostat and Grand Cairo each of which had a Jízah (pron. Gízah), +skirt, angle, outlying suburb. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#216] For the curious street-cries of old Cairo see Lane (M. E. chapt. xiv.) +and my Pilgrimage (i. 120): here the rhymes are of Zabíb (raisins), habíb +(lover) and labíb (man of sense). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#217] The Mac. and Bul. Edits. give two silly couplets of moral advice:— +</p> + +<p> + Strike with thy stubborn steel, and never fear *<br /> + + Aught save the Godhead of Almighty Might;<br /> + + And shun ill practices and never show *<br /> + + Through life but generous gifts to human sight.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +The above is from the Bresl. Edit. ix. 247. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#218] Arab. “Al-Khanakah” now more usually termed a<br /> + +Takíyah. (Pilgrim. i. 124.)<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#219] Arab. “Ka’b al-ba’íd” (Bresl. Edit. ix. 255)=heel or ankle, metaph. +for fortune, reputation: so the Arabs say the “Ka’b of the tribe is gone!” here +“the far one”=the caravan-leader. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#220] Arab. “Sharít,” from Sharata=he Scarified; “Mishrat”=a lancet and +“Sharítah”=a mason’s rule. Mr. Payne renders “Sharít” by whinyard: it must be +a chopper-like weapon, with a pin or screw (laulab) to keep the blade open like +the snap of the Spaniard’s cuchillo. Dozy explains it=epée, synonyme de Sayf. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#221] Text “Dimágh,” a Persianism when used for the head: the word properly +means brain or meninx. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#222] They were afraid even to stand and answer this remarkable ruffian. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#223] Ahmad the Abortion, or the Foundling, nephew (sister’s son) of Zaynab +the Coney-catcher. See supra, p. 145. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#224] Here the sharp lad discovers the direction without pointing it out. I +need hardly enlarge upon the prehensile powers of the Eastern foot: the tailor +will hold his cloth between his toes and pick up his needle with it, whilst the +woman can knead every muscle and at times catch a mosquito between the toes. I +knew an officer in India whose mistress hurt his feelings by so doing at a +critical time when he attributed her movement to pleasure. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#225] Arab. “Hullah”=dress. In old days it was composed of the Burd or Ridá, +the shoulder-cloth from 6 to 9 or 10 feet long, and the Izár or waistcloth +which was either tied or tucked into a girdle of leather or metal. The woman’s +waistcloth was called Nitáh and descended to the feet while the upper part was +doubled and provided with a Tikkah or string over which it fell to the knees, +overhanging the lower folds. This doubling of the “Hujrah,” or part round the +waist, was called the “Hubkah.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#226] Arab. “Taghaddá,” the dinner being at eleven a.m. or noon. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#227] Arab. Ghandúr for which the Dictionaries give only “fat, thick.” It +applies in Arabia especially to a Harámi, brigand or freebooter, most +honourable of professions, slain in foray or fray, opposed to “Fatís” or +carrion (the <i>corps crévé</i> of the Klephts), the man who dies the straw-death. +Pilgrimage iii. 66. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#228] My fair readers will note with surprise how such matters are hurried +in the East. The picture is, however, true to life in lands where “flirtation” +is utterly unknown and, indeed, impossible. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#229] Arab. “Zabbah,” the wooden bolt (before noticed) which forms the lock +and is opened by a slider and pins. It is illustrated by Lane (M. E. +Introduction). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#230] <i>i.e.</i> I am not a petty thief. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#231] Arab. Satl=kettle, bucket. Lat. Situla (?). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#232] <i>i.e.</i> “there is no chance of his escaping.” It may also mean, “And far +from him (Hayhát) is escape.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#233] Arab. “Ihtilám,” the sign of puberty in boy or girl; this, like all +emissions of semen, voluntary or involuntary, requires the Ghuzl or total +ablution before prayers can be said, etc. See vol. v. 199, in the Tale of +Tawaddud. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#234] This is the way to take an Eastern when he tells a deliberate lie; and +it often surprises him into speaking the truth. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#235] The conjunctiva in Africans is seldom white; often it is red and more +frequently yellow. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#236] So in the texts, possibly a clerical error for the wine which he had +brought with the kabobs. But beer is the especial tipple of African slaves in +Egypt. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#237] Arab. “Laun”, prop.=color, hue; but applied to species and genus, our +“kind”; and especially to dishes which differ in appearance; whilst in Egypt it +means any dish. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#238] Arab. “Zardah”=rice dressed with honey and saffron.<br /> + +Vol. ii. 313. The word is still common in Turkey.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#239] Arab. “Laylat Ams,” the night of yesterday (Al-bárihah) not our “last +night” which would be the night of the day spoken of. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#240] Arab. “Yakhní,” a word much used in Persia and India and properly +applied to the complicated broth prepared for the rice and meat. For a good +recipe see Herklots, Appendix xxix. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#241] In token of defeat and in acknowledgment that she was no match for +men. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#242] This is a neat touch of nature. Many a woman, even of the world, has +fallen in love with a man before indifferent to her because he did not take +advantage of her when he had the opportunity. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#243] The slightest movement causes a fight at a funeral or a +wedding-procession in the East; even amongst the “mild Hindus.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#244] Arab. “Al-Musrán” (plur. of “Masír”) properly the intestines which +contain the chyle. The bag made by Ali was, in fact, a “Cundum” (so called from +the inventor, Colonel Cundum of the Guards in the days of Charles Second) or +“French letter”; une capote anglaise, a “check upon child.” Captain Grose says +(Class. Dict. etc. s.v. Cundum) “The dried gut of a sheep worn by a man in the +act of coition to prevent venereal infection. These machines were long prepared +and sold by a matron of the name of Philips at the Green Canister in Half Moon +Street in the Strand * * * Also a false scabbard over a sword and the oilskin +case for the colours of a regiment.” Another account is given in the Guide +Pratique des Maladies Secrètes, Dr. G. Harris, Bruxelles. Librairie Populaire. +He calls these petits sachets de baudruche “Candoms, from the doctor who +invented them” (Littré ignores the word) and declares that the famous Ricord +compared them with a bad umbrella which a storm can break or burst, while +others term them cuirasses against pleasure and cobwebs against infection. They +were much used in the last century. “Those pretended stolen goods were Mr. +Wilkes’s Papers, many of which tended to prove his authorship of the North +Briton, No. 45, April 23, 1763, and some <i>Cundums</i> enclosed in an envelope” +(Records of C. of King’s Bench, London, 1763). “Pour finir l’inventaire de ces +curiosités du cabinet de Madame Gourdan, il ne faut pas omettre une multitude +de <i>redingottes</i> appelées <i>d’Angleterre</i>, je ne sais pourquois. Vous connoissez, au +surplus, ces espèces de boucliers qu’on oppose aux traits empoisonnés de +l’amour; et qui n’emoussent que ceux du plaisir.” (L’Observateur Anglois, +Londres 1778, iii. 69.) Again we read:— +</p> + +<p> + “Les capotes mélancoliques<br /> + + Qui pendent chez les gros Millan (?)<br /> + + S’enflent d’elles-memes, lubriques,<br /> + + Et dechargent en se gonflant.”<br /> + + Passage Satyrique.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Also in Louis Prolat:— +</p> + +<p> +“Il fuyait, me laissant une capote au cul.” +</p> + +<p> +The articles are now of two kinds mostly of baudruche (sheep’s gut) and a few +of caout-chouc. They are made almost exclusively in the faubourgs of Paris, +giving employment to many women and young girls; Grenelle turns out the +baudruche and Grenelle and Lilas the India-rubber article; and of the three or +four makers M. Deschamps is best known. The sheep’s gut is not joined in any +way but of single piece as it comes from the animal after, of course, much +manipulation to make it thin and supple; the inferior qualities are stuck +together at the sides. Prices vary from 4½ to 36 francs per gross. Those of +India-rubber are always joined at the side with a solution especially prepared +for the purpose. I have also heard of fish-bladders but can give no details on +the subject. The Cundum was unknown to the ancients of Europe although syphilis +was not: even prehistoric skeletons show traces of its ravages. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#245] Arab. “Yá Ustá” (for “Ustáz.”) The Pers. term is Ustád=a craft-master, +an artisan and especially a barber. Here it is merely a polite address. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#246] In common parlance Arabs answer a question (like the classics of +Europe who rarely used Yes and No, Yea and Nay), by repeating its last words. +They have, however, many affirmative particles <i>e.g.</i> Ni’am which answers a +negative “Dost thou not go?”—Ni’am (Yes!); and Ajal, a stronger form following +a command, <i>e.g.</i> Sir (go)—Ajal, Yes verily. The popular form is Aywá +(‘lláhi)=Yes, by Allah. The chief negatives are Má and Lá, both often used in +the sense of “There is not.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#247] Arab. “Khalbús,” prop. the servant of the Almah-girls who acts buffoon +as well as pimp. The “Maskharah” (whence our “mask”) corresponds with the fool +or jester of mediæval Europe: amongst the Arnauts he is called “Suttari” and is +known by his fox’s tails: he mounts a mare, tom-toms on the kettle-drum and is +generally one of the bravest of the corps. These buffoons are noted for extreme +indecency: they generally appear in the ring provided with an enormous phallus +of whip-cord and with this they charge man, woman and child, to the infinite +delight of the public. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#248] Arab. “Shúbash” pronounced in Egypt Shobash: it is the Persian +Sháh-básh lit.=be a King, equivalent to our bravo. Here, however, the allusion +is to the buffoon’s cry at an Egyptian feast, “Shohbash ‘alayk, yá Sáhib +al-faraj,”=a present is due from thee, O giver of the fête! See Lane M. E. +xxvii. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#249] Arab. “Ka’ak al-I’d:” the former is the Arab form of the Persian +“Kahk” (still retained in Egypt) whence I would derive our word “cake.” It +alludes to the sweet cakes which are served up with dates, the quatre mendiants +and sherbets during visits of the Lesser (not the greater) Festival, at the end +of the Ramazan fast. (Lane M.E. xxv.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#250] Arab. “Tásúmah,” a rare word for a peculiar slipper. Dozy (s. v.) says +only, espece de chaussure, sandale, pantoufle, soulier. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#251] Arab. “Ijtilá”=the displaying of the bride on her wedding night so +often alluded to in The Nights. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#252] Arab. Khiskhánah; a mixed word from Klaysh=canvass or stuffs generally +and Pers. Khánah=house room. Dozy (s.v.) says armoire, buffet. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#253] The Bresl. Edit. “Kamaríyah”=Moon-like (fem.) for<br /> + +Moon.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#254] Every traveller describes the manners and customs of dogs in Eastern +cities where they furiously attack all canine intruders. I have noticed the +subject in writing of Al-Medinah where the beasts are confined to the suburbs. +(Pilgrimage ii. 52-54.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#255] She could legally compel him to sell her; because, being an Infidel, +he had attempted to debauch a Moslemah. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#256] Arab. “Haláwat wa Mulabbas”; the latter etymologically means one +dressed or clothed. Here it alludes to almonds, etc., clothed or coated with +sugar. See Dozy (s.v.) “labas.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#257] Arab. “‘Ubb” from a root=being long: Dozy (s.v.), says poche au sein; +Habb al-‘ubb is a woman’s ornament. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#258] Who, it will be remembered, was Dalilah’s grandson. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#259] Arab. “Tábút,” a term applied to the Ark of the Covenant (Koran ii. +249), which contained Moses’ rod and shoes, Aaron’s mitre, the manna-pot, the +broken Tables of the Law, and the portraits of all the prophets which are to +appear till the end of time—an extensive list for a box measuring 3 by 2 +cubits. Europeans often translate it coffin, but it is properly the wooden case +placed over an honoured grave. “Irán” is the Ark of Moses’ exposure, also the +large hearse on which tribal chiefs were carried to earth. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#260] <i>i.e.</i> What we have related is not “Gospel Truth.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#261] Omitted by Lane (iii. 252) “because little more than a repetition” of +Taj al-Mulúk and the Lady Dunyá. This is true; but the nice progress of the +nurse’s pimping is a well-finished picture and the old woman’s speech (<i>infra</i> p. +243) is a gem. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#262] Artaxerxes; in the Mac. Edit. Azdashir, a misprint. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#263] I use “kiss ground” as we say “kiss hands.” But it must not be +understood literally: the nearest approach would be to touch the earth with the +finger-tips and apply them to the lips or brow. Amongst Hindus the +Ashtánga-prostration included actually kissing the ground. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#264] The “key” is mentioned because a fee so called (miftáh) is paid on its +being handed to the new lodger. (Pilgrimage i. 62.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#265] The Koranic term for semen, often quoted. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#266] Koran, xii. 31, in the story of Joseph, before noticed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#267] Probably the white woollens, so often mentioned, whose use is now +returning to Europe, where men have a reasonable fear of dyed stuffs, +especially since Aniline conquered Cochineal. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#268] Arab. “samír,” one who enjoys the musámarah or night-talk outside the +Arab tents. “Samar” is the shade of the moon, or half darkness when only stars +shine without a moon, or the darkness of a moonless night. Hence the proverb +(A. P. ii. 513) “Má af’al-hú al-samar wa’l kamar;” I will not do it by +moondarkness or by moonshine, <i>i.e.</i> never. I have elsewhere remarked that “Early +to bed and early to rise” is a civilised maxim; most barbarians sit deep into +the night in the light of the moon or a camp-fire and will not rise till nearly +noon. They agree in our modern version of the old saw:— +</p> + +<p> + Early to bed and early to rise<br /> + + Makes a man surly and gives him red eyes.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +The Shayks of Arab tribes especially transact most of their public business +during the dark hours. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#269] Suspecting that it had been sent by some Royal lover. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#270] Arab. “Rubbamá” a particle more emphatic than rubba,=perhaps, +sometimes, often. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#271] “The broken (wall)” from Hatim=breaking. It fences the Hijr or space +where Ishmael is buried (vol. vi. 205); and I have described it in Pilgrimage +iii. 165. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#272] Arab. “Faráis” (plur. of farísah): the phrase has often occurred and +is=our “trembled in every nerve.” As often happens in Arabic, it is “horsey;” +alluding to the shoulder-muscles (not shoulder-blades, Preston p. 89) between +neck and flank which readily quiver in blood-horses when excited or frightened. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#273] Arab. “Fazl”=exceeding goodness as in “Fazl wa ma’rifah”=virtue and +learning. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#274] Arab. “Al-Mafárik” (plur. of Mafrak),=the pole or crown of the head, +where the hair parts naturally and where baldness mostly begins. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#275] Arab. “Ná’i al-maut”, the person sent round to announce a death to the +friends and relations of the deceased and invite them to the funeral. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#276] Arab. “Táir al-bayn”, any bird, not only the Hátim or black crow, +which announces separation. Crows and ravens flock for food to the camps broken +up for the springtide and autumnal marches, and thus become emblems of +desertion and desolation. The same birds are also connected with Abel’s burial +in the Koran (v. 34), a Jewish tradition borrowed by Mohammed. Lastly, here is +a paranomasia in the words “Ghuráb al-Bayn”=Raven of the Wold (the black bird +with white breast and red beak and legs): “Ghuráb” (Heb. Oreb) connects with +Ghurbah=strangerhood, exile, and “Bayn” with distance, interval, disunion, the +desert (between the cultivated spots). There is another and a similar pun anent +the Bán-tree; the first word meaning “he fared, he left.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#277] Arab. “Tayr,” any flying thing, a bird; with true<br /> + +Arab carelessness the writer waits till the tale is nearly<br /> + +ended before letting us know that the birds are pigeons<br /> + +(Hamám).<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#278] Arab. “Karr’aynan.” The Arabs say, “Allah cool thine eye,” because +tears of grief are hot and those of joy cool (Al-Asma’i); others say the cool +eye is opposed to that heated by watching; and Al-Hariri (Ass. xxvii.) makes a +scorching afternoon “hotter than the tear of a childless mother.” In the +burning climate of Arabia coolth and refrigeration are equivalent to +refreshment and delight. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#279] Arab. “Muunah,” the “Mona” of Maroccan travellers (English not Italian +who are scandalised by “Mona”) meaning the provisions supplied gratis by the +unhappy villagers to all who visit them with passport from the Sultan. Our +cousins German have lately scored a great success by paying for all their +rations which the Ministers of other nations, England included, were mean +enough to accept. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#280] Arab. “Kaannahu huwa”; lit.=as he (was) he. This reminds us of the +great grammarian, Sibawayh, whose name the Persians derive from +“Apple-flavour”(Sib + bú). He was disputing, in presence of Harun al-Rashid +with a rival Al-Kisá’í, and advocated the Basrian form, “Fa-izá huwa hú” +(behold, it was he) against the Kufan, “Fa-izá huwa iyyáhu” (behold, it was +him). The enemy overcame him by appealing to Badawin, who spoke impurely, +whereupon Sibawayh left the court, retired to Khorasan and died, it is said of +a broken heart. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#281] This is a sign of the Saudáwí or melancholic temperament in which +black bile pre-dominates. It is supposed to cause a distaste for society and a +longing for solitude, an unsettled habit of mind and neglect of worldly +affairs. I remarked that in Arabia students are subject to it, and that amongst +philosophers and literary men of Mecca and Al-Medinah there was hardly one who +was not spoken of as a “Saudawi.” See Pilgrimage ii. 49, 50. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#282] <i>i.e.</i> I am a servant and bound to tell thee what my orders are. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#283] A touching lesson on how bribes settle matters in the<br /> + +East.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#284] <i>i.e.</i> fresh from water (Arab. “Rutub”), before the air can tarnish +them. The pearl (margarita) in Arab. is Lu’lu’; the “unio” or large pearl Durr, +plur. Durar. In modern parlance Durr is the second quality of the twelve into +which pearls are divided. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#285] <i>i.e.</i> the Wazir, but purposely left vague. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#286] The whole of the nurse’s speech is admirable: its naïve and striking +picture of conjugal affection goes far to redeem the grossness of The Nights. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#287] The bitterness was the parting in the morning. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#288] English “Prin’cess,” too often pronounced in French fashion Princess. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#289] In dictionaries “Bán” (Anglice ben-tree) is the myrobalan which +produces gum benzoin. It resembles the tamarisk. Mr. Lyall (p. 74 Translations +of Ancient Arab Poetry, Williams and Norgate, 1885), calls it a species of +Moringa, tall, with plentiful and intensely green foliage used for comparisons +on account of its straightness and graceful shape of its branches. The nut +supplies a medicinal oil. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#290] A sign of extreme familiarity: the glooms are the hands and the full +moons are the eyes. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#291] Arab. “Khal’a al-‘izár”: lit.=stripping off jaws or side-beard. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#292] Arab. “Shimál”=the north wind. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#293] An operation well described by Juvenal— +</p> + +<p> + Illa supercilium, modicâ fuligine tactum,<br /> + + Obliquâ producit acu, pingitque, trementes<br /> + + Attolens oculos.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +Sonnini (Travels in Egypt, chapt. xvi.) justly remarks that this pencilling the +angles of the eyes with Kohl, which the old Levant trade called alquifoux or +arquifoux, makes them appear large and more oblong; and I have noted that the +modern Egyptian (especially Coptic) eye, like that of the Sphinx and the old +figures looks in profile as if it were seen in full. (Pilgrimage i. 214.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#294] The same traveller notes a singular property in the Henna-flower that +when smelt closely it exhales a “very powerful spermatic odour,” hence it +became a favourite with women as the tea-rose with us. He finds it on the nails +of mummies, and identifies it with the Kupros of the ancient Greeks (the +moderns call it Kene or Kena) and the {Bótrys tês kýproy} (Botrus cypri) of +Solomon’s Song (i. 14). The Hebr. is “Copher,” a well-known word which the A. +V. translates by “a cluster of camphire (?) in the vineyards of En-gedi”; and a +note on iv. 13 ineptly adds, “or, cypress.” The Revised Edit. amends it to “a +cluster of henna-flowers.” The Solomonic (?) description is very correct; the +shrub affects vineyards, and about Bombay forms fine hedges which can be smelt +from a distance. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#295] Hardly the equivalent of the Arab. “Kataba” (which includes true +tattooing with needles) and is applied to painting “patches” of blue or green +colour, with sprigs and arabesques upon the arms and especially the breasts of +women. “Kataba” would also be applied to striping the fingers with Henna which +becomes a shining black under a paste of honey, lime and sal-ammoniac. This +“patching” is alluded to by Strabo and Galen (Lane M. E. chapt. ii.); and we +may note that savages and barbarians can leave nothing of beauty unadorned; +they seem to hate a plain surface like the Hindu silversmith, whose art is +shown only in chasing. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#296] A violent temper, accompanied with <i>voies de fait</i> and personal +violence, is by no means rare amongst Eastern princesses; and terrible tales +are told in Persia concerning the daughters of Fath Ali Shah. Few men and no +woman can resist the temptations of absolute command. The daughter of a certain +Dictator all-powerful in the Argentine Republic was once seen on horseback with +a white bridle of peculiar leather; it was made of the skin of a man who had +boasted of her favours. The slave-girls suffer first from these masterful young +persons and then it is the turn of the eunuchry. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#297] A neat touch; she was too thorough-bred to care for herself first. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#298] Here the ground or earth is really kissed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#299] Corresponding with our phrase, “His heart was in his mouth.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#300] Very artful is the contrast of the love-lorn Princess’s humility with +her furious behaviour, in the pride of her purity, while she was yet a +virginette and fancy free. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#301] Arab. “Suhbat-hu” lit.=in company with him, a popular idiom in Egypt +and Syria. It often occurs in the Bresl. Edit. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#302] In the Mac. Edit. “Shahzamán,” a corruption of Sháh<br /> + +Zamán=King of the Age. (See vol. i. 2)<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#303] For a note on this subject see vol. ii. 2. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#304] <i>i.e.</i> bathe her and apply cosmetics to remove all traces of travel. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#305] These pretentious and curious displays of coquetry are not uncommon in +handsome slave-girls when newly bought; and it is a kind of pundonor to humour +them. They may also refuse their favours and a master who took possession of +their persons by brute force would be blamed by his friends, men and women. +Even the most despotic of despots, Fath Ali Shah of Persia, put up with +refusals from his slave-girls and did not, as would the mean-minded, marry them +to the grooms or cooks of the palace. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#306] Such continence is rarely shown by the young Jallabs or slave-traders; +when older they learn how much money is lost with the chattel’s virginity. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#307] Midwives in the East, as in the less civilised parts of the West, have +many nostrums for divining the sex of the unborn child. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#308] Arabic (which has no written “g”) from Pers. Gulnár (Gul-i-anár) +pomegranate-flower, the “Gulnare” of Byron who learnt his Orientalism at the +Mekhitarist (Armenian) Convent, Venice. I regret to see the little honour now +paid to the gallant poet in the land where he should be honoured the most. The +systematic depreciation was begun by the late Mr. Thackeray, perhaps the last +man to value the noble independence of Byron’s spirit; and it has been +perpetuated, I regret to see, by better judges. These critics seem wholly to +ignore the fact that Byron founded a school which covered Europe from Russia to +Spain, from Norway to Sicily, and which from England passed over to the two +Americas. This exceptional success, which has not yet fallen even to +Shakespeare’s lot, was due to genius only, for the poet almost ignored study +and poetic art. His great misfortune was being born in England under the +Georgium Sidus. Any Continental people would have regarded him as one of the +prime glories of his race. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#309] Arab. “Fí al-Kamar,” which Lane renders “in the moonlight.” It seems +to me that the allusion is to the Comorin Islands; but the sequel speaks simply +of an island. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#310] The Mac. Edit. misprints Julnár as Julnáz (so the Bul. Edit. ii. 233), +and Lane’s Jullanár is an Egyptian vulgarism. He is right in suspecting the +“White City” to be imaginary; but its sea has no apparent connection with the +Caspian. The mermen and mermaids appear to him to be of an inferior order of +the Jinn, termed Al-Ghawwásah, the Divers, who fly through air and are made of +fire which at times issues from their mouths. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#311] Arab. “Alá Kulli hál,” a popular phrase, like the<br /> + +Anglo-American “anyhow.”<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#312] In the text the name does not appear till near the end of the tale. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#313] <i>i.e.</i> Full moon smiling. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#314] These lines have occurred in vol. iii. 264. so I quote<br /> + +Lane ii. 499.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#315] ‘These lines occurred in vol. ii. 301. I quote Mr.<br /> + +Payne.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#316] Arab. “Khadd” = cheek from the eye-orbit to the place where the beard +grows; also applied to the side of a rough highland, the side-planks of a +litter, etc. etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#317] The black hair of youth. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#318] This manner of listening is not held dishonourable amongst Arabs or +Easterns generally; who, however, hear as little good of themselves as Westerns +declare in proverb. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#319] Arab. “Hasab wa nasab,” before explained as inherited degree and +acquired dignity. See vol. iv. 171. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#320] Arab. “Mujájat”=spittle running from the mouth: hence Lane, “is like +running saliva,” which, in poetry is not pretty. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#321] Arab. and Heb. “Salmandra” from Pers. Samandal (— dar—duk—dun, etc.), +a Salamander, a mouse which lives in fire, some say a bird in India and China +and others confuse with the chameleon (Bochart Hiero. Part ii. chapt. vi). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#322] Arab. “Mahá” one of the four kinds of wild cows or bovine antelopes, +bubalus, Antelope defassa, A. Ieucoryx, etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#323] These lines have occurred in vol. iii. 279; so I quote Lane (iii. 274) +by way of variety; although I do not like his “bowels.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#324] The last verse (286) of chapt. ii. The Cow: “compelleth” in the sense +of “burdeneth.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#325] Salih’s speeches are euphuistic. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#326] From the Fátihah. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#327] A truly Eastern saying, which ignores the “old maids” of the West. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#328] <i>i.e.</i> naming her before the lieges as if the speaker were her and his +superior. It would have been more polite not to have gone beyond “the unique +pearl and the hoarded jewel:” the offensive part of the speech was using the girl’s name. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#329] Meaning emphatically that one and all were nobodies. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#330] Arab Badr, the usual pun. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#331] Arab. “Kirát” (κεράτιον) the bean of the <i>Abrus precatorius</i>, used as a +weight in Arabia and India and as a bead for decoration in Africa. It is equal +to four Kamhahs or wheat grains and about 3 grs. avoir.; and being the twenty +fourth of a miskal, it is applied to that proportion of everything. Thus the +Arabs say of a perfect man, “He is of four- and-twenty Kirát” <i>i.e.</i> pure gold. +See vol. iii. 239. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#332] The (she) myrtle: Kazimirski (A. de Biberstein)<br /> + +Dictionnaire Arabe-Francais (Pairs Maisonneuve 1867) gives<br /> + +Marsín=Rose de Jericho: myrte.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#333] Needless to note that the fowler had a right to expect a return +present worth double or treble the price of his gift. Such is the universal +practice of the East: in the West the extortioner says, “I leave it to you, +sir!” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#334] And she does tell him all that the reader well knows. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#335] This was for sprinkling him, but the texts omit that operation. Arabic +has distinct terms for various forms of metamorphosis. “Naskh” is change from +a lower to a higher, as beast to man; “Maskh” (the common expression) is the +reverse; “Raskh” is from animate to inanimate (man to stone) and “Faskh” is +absolute wasting away to corruption. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#336] I render this improbable detail literally: it can only mean that the +ship was dashed against a rock. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#337] Who was probably squatting on his shop counter. The “Bakkál” (who must +not be confounded with the <i>épicier</i>), lit. “vender of herbs” = greengrocer, and +according to Richardson used incorrectly for Baddál ( ?) vendor of provisions. +Popularly it is applied to a seller of oil, honey, butter and fruit, like the +Ital. “Pizzicagnolo” = Salsamentarius, and in North-West Africa to an inn-keeper. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#338] Here the Shaykh is mistaken: he should have said, “The Sun in old +Persian.” “Almanac” simply makes nonsense of the Arabian Circe’s name. In Arab. +it is “Takwím,” whence the Span. and Port. “Tacuino:” in Heb. +Hakamathá-Takunah=sapientia dispositionis astrorum (Asiat. Research. iii. 120). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#339] <i>i.e.</i> for thy daily expenses. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#340] <i>Un adolescent aime toutes les femmes.</i> Man is by nature polygamic +whereas woman as a rule is monogamic and polyandrous only when tired of her +lover. For the man, as has been truly said, loves the woman, but the love of +the woman is for the love of the man. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#341] I have already noted that the heroes and heroines of Eastern +love-tales are always <i>bonnes fourchettes</i>: they eat and drink hard enough to +scandalise the sentimental amourist of the West; but it is understood that this +abundant diet is necessary to qualify them for the Herculean labours of the +love night. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#342] Here again a little excision is necessary; the reader already knows +all about it. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#343] Arab. “Hiss,” prop. speaking a perception (as of sound or motion) as +opposed to “Hadas,” a surmise or opinion without proof. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#344] Arab. “Sawík,” the old and modern name for native frumenty, green +grain (mostly barley) toasted, pounded, mixed with dates or sugar and eaten on +journeys when cooking is impracticable. M. C. de Perceval (iii. 54), gives it a +different and now unknown name; and Mr. Lane also applies it to “ptisane.” It +named the “Day of Sawaykah” (for which see Pilgrimage ii. 19), called by our +popular authors the “War of the Meal-sacks.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#345] Mr. Keightley (H. 122-24 Tales and Popular Fictions, a book now +somewhat obsolete) remarks, “There is nothing said about the bridle in the +account of the sale (<i>infra</i>), but I am sure that in the original tale, Badr’s +misfortunes must have been owing to his having parted with it. In Chaucer’s +Squier’s Tale the bridle would also appear to have been of some importance.” He +quotes a story from the Notti Piacevoli of Straparola, the Milanese, published +at Venice in 1550. And there is a popular story of the kind in Germany. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#346] Here, for the first time we find the name of the mother who has often +been mentioned in the story. Faráshah is the fem. or singular form of “Farásh,” +a butterfly, a moth. Lane notes that his Shaykh gives it the very unusual sense +of “a locust.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#347] Punning upon Jauharah = “a jewel” a name which has an<br /> + +Hibernian smack.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#348] In the old version “All the lovers of the Magic Queen resumed their +pristine forms as soon as she ceased to live;” moreover, they were all sons of +kings, princes, or persons of high degree. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#349] Arab. “Munádamah,” = conversation over the cup (Lane), used somewhat +in the sense of “Musámarah” = talks by moonlight. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#350] Arab. “Kursi,” a word of many meanings; here it would allure to the +square crate-like seat of palm-fronds used by the Ráwi or public reciter of +tales when he is not pacing about the coffee-house. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#351] Von Hammer remarks that this is precisely the sum paid in Egypt for a +MS. copy of The Nights. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#352] Arab. “Samar,” the origin of Musámarah, which see, vol. iv. 237. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#353] The pomp and circumstance, with which the tale is introduced to the +reader showing the importance attached to it. Lane, most injudiciously I think, +transfers the Proemium to a note in chapt. xxiv., thus converting an Arabian +Night into an Arabian Note. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#354] ‘Asim = defending (honour) or defended, son of Safwán = clear, cold +(dry). Trébutien ii. 126, has Safran. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#355] Fáris = the rider, the Knight, son of Sálih = the righteous, the +pious, the just. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#356] In sign of the deepest dejection, when a man would signify that he can +fall no lower. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#357] Arab. Yá Khawand (in Bresl. Edit. vol. iv. 191) and fem. form +Khawandah (p. 20) from Pers. Kháwand or Kháwandagár = superior, lord, master; +Khudáwand is still used in popular as in classical Persian, and is universally +understood in Hindostan. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#358] The Biblical Sheba, whence came the Queen of many<br /> + +Hebrew fables.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#359] These would be the interjections of the writer or story-teller. The +Mac. Edit. is here a sketch which must be filled up by the Bresl. Edit. vol. +iv. 189-318: “Tale of King Asim and his son Sayf al-Mulúk with Badí’a +al-Jamál.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#360] The oath by the Seal-ring of Solomon was the Stygian “swear” in +Fairy-land. The signet consisted of four jewels, presented by as many angels, +representing the Winds, the Birds, Earth (including sea) and Spirits, and the +gems were inscribed with as many sentences: (1) To Allah belong Majesty and +Might; (2) All created things praise the Lord; (3) Heaven and Earth are Allah’s +slaves and (4) There is no god but <i>the</i> God and Mohammed is His messenger. For +Sakhr and his theft of the signet see Dr. Weil’s, “The Bible, the Koran, and +the Talmud.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#361] Trébutien (ii. 128) remarks, “Cet Assaf peut être celui auquel David +adresse plusieurs de ses psaumes, et que nos interprètes disent avoir été son +maître de chapelle (from Biblioth. Orient).” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#362] Mermen, monsters, beasts, etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#363] This is in accordance with Eastern etiquette; the guest must be fed +before his errand is asked. The Porte, in the days of its pride, managed in +this way sorely to insult the Ambassadors of the most powerful European +kingdoms and the first French Republic had the honour of abating the +barbarians’ nuisance. So the old Scottish Highlanders never asked the name or +clan of a chance guest, lest he prove a foe before he had eaten their food. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#364] In Bresl. Edit. (301) Kháfiyah: in Mac. Kháinah, the perfidy. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#365] So in the Mac. Edit., in the Bresl. only one “Kabá” or Kaftan; but +from the sequel it seems to be a clerical error. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#366] Arab. “Su’ubán” (Thu’ubán) popularly translated “basilisk.” The +Egyptians suppose that when this serpent forms ring round the Ibn ‘Irs (weasel +or ichneumon) the latter emits a peculiar air which causes the reptile to +burst. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#367] <i>i.e.</i> that prophesied by Solomon. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#368] Arab. “Takliyah” from kaly, a fry: Lane’s Shaykh explained it as +“onions cooked in clarified butter, after which they are put upon other cooked +food.” The mention of onions points to Egypt as the origin of this tale and +certainly not to Arabia, where the strong-smelling root is hated. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#369] Von Hammer quotes the case of the Grand Vizier Yúsuf<br /> + +throwing his own pelisse over the shoulders of the Aleppine<br /> + +Merchant who brought him the news of the death of his enemy,<br /> + +Jazzár Pasha.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#370] This peculiar style of generosity was also the custom in contemporary +Europe. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#371] Khátún, which follows the name (<i>e.g.</i> Hurmat Khatun), in India +corresponds with the male title Khan, taken by the Pathan Moslems (<i>e.g.</i> Pír +Khán). Khánum is the affix to the Moghul or Tartar nobility, the men assuming a +double designation <i>e.g.</i> Mirza Abdallah Beg. See Oriental collections +(Ouseley’s) vol. i. 97. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#372] Lit. “Whatso thou wouldest do that do!” a contrast with our European +laconism. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#373] These are booths built against and outside the walls, made of +palm-fronds and light materials. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#374] Von Hammer in Trébutien (ii. 135) says, “Such rejoicings are still +customary at Constantinople, under the name of Donánmá, not only when the +Sultanas are <i>enceintes</i>, but also when they are brought to bed. In 1803 the +rumour of the pregnancy of a Sultana, being falsely spread, involved all the +Ministers in useless expenses to prepare for a Donánmá which never took place.” +Lane justly remarks upon this passage that the title Sultán precedes while the +feminine Sultánah follows the name. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#375] These words (Bresl. Edit.) would be spoken in jest, a grim joke +enough, but showing the elation of the King’s spirits. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#376] A signal like a gong: the Mac. Edit. reads “Tákah,” = in at the +window. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#377] Sayf al-Mulúk = “Sword (Egyptian Sif, Arab. Sayf, Gr. {xíphos}) of the +Kings”; and he must not be called tout bonnement Sayf. Sái’d = the forearm. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#378] Arab. “Fakíh” = a divine, from Fikh = theology, a man versed in law +and divinity <i>i.e.</i> (1) the Koran and its interpretation comprehending the sacred +ancient history of the creation and prophets (Chapters iii., iv., v. and vi.), +(2) the traditions and legends connected with early Moslem History and (3) some +auxiliary sciences as grammar, syntax and prosody; logic, rhetoric and +philosophy. See p. 18 of “El-Mas’údí’s Historical Encyclopædia etc.,” by my +friend Prof. Aloys Springer, London 1841. This fine fragment printed by the +Oriental Translation Fund has been left unfinished when the Asiatic Society of +Paris has printed in Eight Vols. 8vo the text and translation of MM. Barbier de +Meynard and Pavet de Courteille. What a national disgrace! And the same with +the mere abridgment of Ibn Batutah by Prof. Lee (Orient. Tr. Fund 1820) when +the French have the fine Edition and translation by Defrémery and Sanguinetti +with index etc. in 4 vols. 8vo 1858-59. But England is now content to rank in +such matters as encouragement of learning, endowment of research etc., into the +basest of kingdoms, and the contrast of status between the learned Societies of +London and of Paris, Berlin, Vienna or Rome is mortifying to an Englishman—a +national opprobrium. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#379] Arab. “Maydán al-Fíl,” prob. for Birkat al-Fíl, the Tank of the +Elephant before-mentioned. Lane quotes Al-Makrizi who in his Khitat informs us +that the lakelet was made about the end of the seventh century (A.H.), and in +the seventeenth year of the eighth century became the site of the stables. The +Bresl. Edit. (iv. 214) reads “Maydan al-‘Adl,” prob. for Al-‘Ádil the name of +the King who laid out the Maydán. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#380] Arab. “Asháb al-Ziyá’,” the latter word mostly signifies estates +consisting, strictly speaking, of land under artificial irrigation. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#381] The Bresl. Edit. (iv. 215) has “Chawáshiyah” = ‘Chiaush, the Turkish +word, written with the Pers. “ch,” a letter which in Arabic is supplanted by +“sh,” everywhere except in Morocco. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#382] Arab. “Záwiyah” lit. a corner, a cell. Lane (M. E., chapt. xxiv.) +renders it “a small kiosque,” and translates the famous Zawiyat al-Umyán (Blind +Men’s Angle) near the south-eastern corner of the Azhar or great Collegiate +Mosque of Cairo, “Chapel of the Blind” (chapt. ix.). In popular parlance it +suggests a hermitage. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#383] Arab. “Takht,” a Pers. word used as more emphatic than the Arab. +Sarír. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#384] This girding the sovereign is found in the hieroglyphs as a +peculiarity of the ancient Kings of Egypt, says Von Hammer referring readers to +Denon. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#385] Arab. “Mohr,” which was not amongst the gifts of Solomon in Night +dcclx. The Bresl. Edit. (p. 220) adds “and the bow,” which is also de trop. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#386] Arab. “Batánah,” the ordinary lining opp. to Tazríb, or quilting with +a layer of cotton between two folds of cloth. The idea in the text is that the +unhappy wearer would have to carry his cross (the girl) on his back. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#387] This line has occurred in Night dccxliv. supra p. 280. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#388] Arab. “Mu’attik al-Rikáb” <i>i.e.</i> who frees those in bondage from the +yoke. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#389] In the Mac. Edit. and in Trébutien (ii. 143) the King is here called +Schimakh son of Scharoukh, but elsewhere, Schohiali = Shahyál, in the Bresl. +Edit. Shahál. What the author means by “Son of ‘Ád the Greater,” I cannot +divine. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#390] Lit. “For he is the man who can avail thereto,” with the meaning given +in the text. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#391] Arab. “Jazírat,” insula or peninsula, vol. i. 2. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#392] Probably Canton with which the Arabs were familiar. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#393] <i>i.e.</i> “Who disappointeth not those who put their trust in Him.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#394] Arab. “Al-Manjaníkát” plur. of manjanik, from Gr. Μάγγανον, Lat. +Manganum (Engl. Mangonel from the dim. Mangonella). Ducange Glossarium, s.v. +The Greek is applied originally to defensive weapons, then to the artillery of +the day, Ballista, catapults, etc. The kindred Arab. form “Manjanín” is +applied chiefly to the Noria or Persian waterwheel. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#395] Faghfúr is the common Moslem title for the Emperors of China; in the +Kamus the first syllable is Zammated (Fugh); in Al-Mas’udi (chapt. xiv.) we +find Baghfúr and in Al-Idrisi Baghbúgh, or Baghbún. In Al-Asma’i Bagh = god or +idol (Pehlewi and Persian); hence according to some Baghdád (?) and Bághistán a +pagoda (?). Sprenger (Al-Mas’údi, p. 327) remarks that Baghfúr is a literal +translation of Tien-tse and quotes Visdelou, “pour mieux faire comprendre de +quel ciel ils veulent parler, ils poussent la généalogie (of the Emperor) plus +loin. Ils lui donnent le ciel pour père, la terre pour mère, le soleil pour +frère aîné et la lune pour sœur aînée.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#396] Arab. “Kayf hálak” = how de doo? the salutation of a<br /> + +Fellah.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#397] <i>i.e.</i> subject to the Maharajah of Hind. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#398] This is not a mistake: I have seen heavy hail in<br /> + +Africa, N. Lat. 4 degrees; within sight of the Equator.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#399] Arab. “Harrákat,” here used in the sense of smaller craft, and +presently for a cock-boat. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#400] See vol. i. 138: here by way of variety I quote Mr.<br /> + +Payne.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#401] This explains the Arab idea of the “Old Man of the Sea” in Sindbad the +Seaman (vol. vi. 50). He was not a monkey nor an unknown monster; but an evil +Jinni of the most powerful class, yet subject to defeat and death. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#402] These Plinian monsters abound in Persian literature.<br /> + +For a specimen see Richardson Dissert. p. xlviii.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#403] Arab. “Anyáb,” plur. of “Náb” = canine tooth (eye-tooth of man), tusks +of horse and camel, etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#404] Arab, “Kásid,” the Anglo-Indian Cossid. The post is called Baríd from +the Persian “burídah” (cut) because the mules used for the purpose were +dock-tailed. Barid applies equally to the post-mule, the rider and the distance +from one station (Sikkah) to another which varied from two to six parasangs. +The letter-carrier was termed Al-Faránik from the Pers. Parwánah, a servant. In +the Diwán al-Baríd (Post-office) every letter was entered in a Madraj or list +called in Arabic Al-Askidár from the Persian “Az Kih dárí” = from whom hast +thou it? +</p> + +<p> +[FN#405] “Ten years” in the Bresl. Edit. iv. 244. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#406] In the Bresl. Edit. (iv. 245) we find “Kalak,” a raft, like those used +upon the Euphrates, and better than the “Fulk,” or ship, of the Mac. Edit. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#407] Arab. “Timsah” from Coptic (Old Egypt) Emsuh or Msuh.<br /> + +The animal cannot live in salt-water, a fact which proves that<br /> + +the Crocodile Lakes on the Suez Canal were in old days fed by<br /> + +Nile-water; and this was necessarily a Canal.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#408] So in the Bresl. Edit. (iv. 245). In the Mac. text “one man,” which +better suits the second crocodile, for the animal can hardly be expected to +take two at a time. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#409] He had ample reason to be frightened. The large Cynocephalus is +exceedingly dangerous. When travelling on the Gold Coast with my late friend +Colonel De Ruvignes, we suddenly came in the grey of the morning upon a herd of +these beasts. We dismounted, hobbled our nags and sat down, sword and revolver +in hand. Luckily it was feeding time for the vicious brutes, which scowled at +us but did not attack us. During my four years’ service on the West African +Coast I heard enough to satisfy me that these powerful beasts often kill men +and rape women; but I could not convince myself that they ever kept the women +as concubines. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#410] As we should say in English “it is a far cry to Loch<br /> + +Awe”: the Hindu by-word is, “Dihlí (Delhi) is a long way off.”<br /> + +See vol. i. 37.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#411] Arab. “Fútah”, a napkin, a waistcloth, the Indian<br /> + +Zones alluded to by the old Greek travellers.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#412] Arab. “Yají (it comes) miat khwánjah”—quite Fellah talk. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#413] As Trébutien shows (ii. 155) these apes were a remnant of some ancient +tribe possibly those of Ád who had gone to Meccah to pray for rain and thus +escaped the general destruction. See vol. i. 65. Perhaps they were the Jews of +Aylah who in David’s day were transformed into monkeys for fishing on the +Sabbath (Saturday) Koran ii. 61. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#414] I can see no reason why Lane purposely changes this to “the extremity +of their country.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#415] Koran xxii. 44, Mr. Payne remarks:—This absurd addition is probably +due to some copyist, who thought to show his knowledge of the Koran, but did +not understand the meaning of the verse from which the quotation is taken and +which runs thus, “How many cities have We destroyed, whilst yet they +transgressed, and they are laid low on their own foundations and wells +abandoned and high-builded palaces!” Mr. Lane observes that the words are +either misunderstood or purposely misapplied by the author of the tale. +Purposeful perversions of Holy Writ are very popular amongst Moslems and form +part of their rhetoric; but such is not the case here. According to Von Hammer +(Trébutien ii. 154), “Eastern geographers place the Bir al-Mu’utallal (Ruined +Well) and the Kasr al-Mashíd (High-builded Castle) in the province of +Hadramaut, and we wait for a new Niebuhr to inform us what are the monuments or +the ruins so called.” His text translates puits arides et palais de plâtre (not +likely!). Lane remarks that Mashíd mostly means “plastered,” but here = +Mushayyad, lofty, explained in the Jalálayn Commentary as = rafí’a, +high-raised. The two places are also mentioned by Al-Mas’údi; and they occur in +Al-Kazwíni (see Night dccclviii.): both of these authors making the Koran +directly allude to them. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#416] Arab. (from Pers.) “Aywán” which here corresponds with the Egyptian +“líwán” a tall saloon with estrades. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#417] This naïve style of “renowning it” is customary in the East, +contrasting with the servile address of the subject—“thy slave” etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#418] Daulat (not Dawlah) the Anglo-Indian Dowlat; prop. meaning the shifts +of affairs, hence, fortune, empire, kingdom. Khátún = “lady,” I have noted, +follows the name after Turkish fashion. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#419] The old name of Suez-town from the Greek Clysma (the shutting), which +named the Gulf of Suez “Sea of Kulzum.” The ruins in the shape of a huge mound, +upon which Sá’id Pasha built a Kiosk-palace, lie to the north of the modern +town and have been noticed by me. (Pilgrimage, Midian, etc.) The Rev. Prof. +Sayce examined the mound and from the Roman remains found in it determined it +to be a fort guarding the old mouth of the Old Egyptian Sweet-water Canal which +then debouched near the town. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#420] <i>i.e.</i> Tuesday. See vol. iii. 249. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#421] Because being a Jinniyah the foster-sister could have come to her and +saved her from old maidenhood. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#422] Arab. “Hájah” properly a needful thing. This consisted according to +the Bresl. Edit. of certain perfumes, by burning which she could summon the +Queen of the Jinn. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#423] Probably used in its sense of a “black crow.” The Bresl. Edit. (iv. +261) has “Khátim” (seal-ring) which is but one of its almost innumerable +misprints. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#424] Here it is called “Tábik” and afterwards “Tábút.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#425] <i>i.e.</i> raising from the lower hinge-pins. See vol. ii. 214. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#426] Arab. “Abrísam” or “Ibrísam” (from Persian Abrísham or Ibrísham) = +raw silk or floss, <i>i.e.</i> untwisted silk. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#427] This knightly practice, evidently borrowed from the<br /> + +East, appears in many romances of chivalry <i>e.g.</i> When Sir<br /> + +Tristram is found by King Mark asleep beside Ysonde (Isentt)<br /> + +with drawn sword between them, the former cried:—<br /> +</p> + +<p> + Gif they weren in sinne<br /> + + Nought so they no lay.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +And we are told:— +</p> + +<p> + Sir Amys and the lady bright<br /> + + To bed gan they go;<br /> + + And when they weren in bed laid,<br /> + + Sir Amys his sword out-brayed<br /> + + And held it between them two.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +This occurs in the old French romance of Amys and Amyloun which is taken into +the tale of the Ravens in the Seven Wise Masters where Ludovic personates his +friend Alexander in marrying the King of Egypt’s daughter and sleeps every +night with a bare blade between him and the bride. See also Aladdin and his +lamp. An Englishman remarked, “The drawn sword would be little hindrance to a +man and maid coming together.” The drawn sword represented only the Prince’s +honour. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#428] Arab. “Ya Sáki’ al-Wajh,” which Lane translates by “lying” or “liar.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#429] Kamín (in Bresl. Edit. “bayn” = between) Al-Bahrayn = Ambuscade or +lurking-place of the two seas. The name of the city in Lane is “‘Emareeych” +imaginary but derived from Emarch (‘imárah) = being populous. Trébutien (ii. +161) takes from Bresl. Edit. “Amar” and translates the port-name, “le lieu de +refuge des deux mers.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#430] <i>i.e.</i> “High of (among) the Kings.” Lane proposes to read ‘Ali al-Mulk = +high in dominion. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#431] Pronounce Mu’inuddeen = Aider of the Faith. The Bresl. Edit. (iv. 266) +also read “Mu’in al-Riyásah” = Mu’in of the Captaincies. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#432] Arab. “Shúm” = a tough wood used for the staves with which donkeys are +driven. Sir Gardner Wilkinson informed Lane that it is the ash. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#433] In Persian we find the fuller metaphorical form, “kissing the ground +of obedience.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#434] For the Shaykh of the Sea(-board) in Sindbad the<br /> + +Seaman see vol. vi. 50.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#435] That this riding is a facetious exaggeration of the<br /> + +African practice I find was guessed by Mr. Keightley.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#436] Arab. “Kummasra”: the root seems to be “Kamsara” = being slender or +compact. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#437] Lane translates, “by reason of the exhilaration produced by +intoxication.” But the Arabic here has no assonance. The passage also alludes +to the drunken habits of those blameless Ethiopians, the races of Central +Africa where, after midday a chief is rarely if ever found sober. We hear much +about drink in England but Englishmen are mere babes compared with these +stalwart Negroes. In Unyamwezi I found all the standing bedsteads of +pole-sleepers and bark-slabs disposed at an angle of about 20 degrees for the +purpose of draining off the huge pottle-fulls of Pombe (Osirian beer) drained +by the occupants; and, comminxit lectum potus might be said of the whole male +population. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#438] This is not exaggerated. When at Hebron I saw the biblical spectacle +of two men carrying a huge bunch slung to a pole, not so much for the weight as +to keep the grapes from injury. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#439] The Mac. and Bul. Edits. add, “and with him a host of<br /> + +others after his kind”; but these words are omitted by the<br /> + +Bresl. Edit. and apparently from the sequel there was only one<br /> + +Ghul-giant.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#440] Probably alluding to the most barbarous Persian practice of plucking +or tearing out the eyes from their sockets. See Sir John Malcolm’s description +of the capture of Kirmán and Morier (in Zohrab, the hostage) for the wholesale +blinding of the Asterabadian by the Eunuch-King Agha Mohammed Shah. I may note +that the mediæval Italian practice called <i>bacinare</i>, or scorching with red-hot +basins, came from Persia. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#441] Arab. “Laban” as opposed to “Halíb”: in Night dcclxxiv. (<i>infra</i> p. +365) the former is used for sweet milk, and other passages could be cited. I +have noted that all galaktophagi, or milk-drinking races, prefer the +artificially soured to the sweet, choosing the fermentation to take place +outside rather than inside their stomachs. Amongst the Somal I never saw man, +woman or child drink a drop of fresh milk; and they offered considerable +opposition to our heating it for coffee. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#442] Arab. “Tákah” not “an aperture” as Lane has it, but an arched hollow +in the wall. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#443] In Trébutien (ii. 168) the cannibal is called “Goul Eli-Fenioun” and +Von Hammer remarks, “There is no need of such likeness of name to prove that al +this episode is a manifest imitation of the adventures of Ulysses in +Polyphemus’s cave; * * * and this induces the belief that the Arabs have been +acquainted with the poems of Homer.” Living intimately with the Greeks they +could not have ignored the Iliad and the Odyssey: indeed we know by tradition +that they had translations, now apparently lost. I cannot however, accept +Lane’s conjecture that “the story of Ulysses and Polyphemus may have been of +Eastern origin.” Possibly the myth came from Egypt, for I have shown that the +opening of the Iliad bears a suspicious likeness to the proem of Pentaur’s +Epic. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#444] Arab. “Shakhtúr”. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#445] In the Bresl. Edit. the ship is not wrecked but lands Sa’id in safety. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#446] So in the Shah-nameh the Símurgh-bird gives one of her feathers to +her protégé Zál which he will throw into the fire when she is wanted. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#447] Bresl. Edit. “Al-Zardakhánát” Arab. plur. of Zarad-Khánah, a bastard +word = armoury, from Arab. Zarad (hauberk) and Pers. Khánah = house etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#448] Some retrenchment was here found necessary to avoid “damnable +iteration.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#449] <i>i.e.</i> Badi’a al-Jamal. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#450] Mohammed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#451] Koran xxxv. “The Creator” (Fátir) or the Angels, so called from the +first verse. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#452] In the Bresl. Edit. (p. 263) Sayf al-Muluk drops asleep under a tree +to the lulling sound of a Sákiyah or water-wheel, and is seen by Badi’a +al-Jamal, who falls in love with him and drops tears upon his cheeks, etc. The +scene, containing much recitation, is long and well told. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#453] Arab. “Lukmah” = a <i>bouchée</i> of bread, meat, fruit or pastry, and +especially applied to the rice balled with the hand and delicately inserted +into a friend’s mouth. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#454] Arab. “Saláhiyah,” also written Saráhiyah: it means an ewer-shaped +glass-bottle. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#455] Arab. “Sarmújah,” of which Von Hammer remarks that the dictionaries +ignore it; Dozy gives the forms Sarmúj, Sarmúz, and Sarmúzah and explains them +by “espèce de guêtre, de sandale ou de mule, qu’on chausse par-dessus la +botte.” +</p> + +<p> +[FN#456] In token of profound submission. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#457] Arab. “Misr” in Ibn Khaldún is a land whose people are settled and +civilised hence “Namsur” = we settle; and “Amsár” = settled provinces. +Al-Misrayn was the title of Basrah and Kufah the two military cantonments +founded by Caliph Omar on the frontier of conquering Arabia and conquered +Persia. Hence “Tamsír” = founding such posts, which were planted in +Mesopotamia, Syria and Egypt. In these camps were stationed the veterans who +had fought under Mohammed; but the spoils of the East soon changed them to +splendid cities where luxury and learning flourished side by side. Sprenger +(Al-Mas’údi pp. 19, 177) compares them ecclesiastically with the primitive +Christian Churches such as Jerusalem, Alexandria and Antioch. But the Moslems +were animated with an ardent love of liberty and Kufah under Al-Hajjaj the +masterful, lost 100,000 of her turbulent sons without the thirst for +independence being quenched. This can hardly be said of the Early Christians +who, with the exception of a few staunch-hearted martyrs, appear in history as +pauvres diables and poules mouillées, ever oppressed by their own most ignorant +and harmful fancy that the world was about to end. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#458] <i>i.e.</i> Waiting to be sold and wasting away in single cursedness. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#459] Arab. “Yá dádati”: dádat is an old servant-woman or slave, often +applied to a nurse, like its congener the Pers. Dádá, the latter often +pronounced Daddeh, as Daddeh Bazm-árá in the Kuisum-nameh (Atkinson’s “Customs +of the Women of Persia,” London, 8vo, 1832). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#460] Marjánah has been already explained. D’Herbelot derives from it the +Romance name <i>Morgante la Déconvenue</i>, here confounding Morgana with Urganda; and +Keltic scholars make Morgain = Mor Gwynn—the white maid (p. 10, Keightley’s +Fairy Mythology, London, Whittaker, 1833). +</p> +</div> + + + +<div style='display:block;margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT ***</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0;'>This file should be named 3441-h.htm or 3441-h.zip</div> +<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0;'>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/4/3441/</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +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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