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diff --git a/3442-h/3442-h.htm b/3442-h/3442-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..685cee6 --- /dev/null +++ b/3442-h/3442-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,19651 @@ +<!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" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 8, by Richard F. Burton</title> + +<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.poem {text-indent: 0%; +margin-left: 10%; +font-size: 90%; +margin-top: 1em; +margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; +margin-left: 10%; +margin-right: 10%; +margin-top: 1em; +margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.center {text-align: center; +text-indent: 0em; +margin-top: 1em; +margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.right {text-align: right; +margin-right: 10%; +margin-top: 1em; +margin-bottom: 1em; } + +div.fig { display:block; +margin:0 auto; +text-align:center; } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 8, by Richard F. Burton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 8 + +Author: Richard F. Burton + +Release Date: July 31, 2001 [EBook #3442] +Last updated: May 27, 2019 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS *** + + + + +This etext was scanned by J.C. Byers and proofread by Doris Ringbloom + + + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1>THE BOOK OF THE<br/> THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT</h1> + +<h4>A Plain and Literal Translation<br/> +of the Arabian Nights Entertainments<br/></h4> + +<h2>Translated and Annotated by<br/> Richard F. Burton </h2> + +<h3>VOLUME EIGHT</h3> + +<h5>Privately Printed By The Burton Club</h5> + +<p> + A Message to<br/> + + Frederick Hankey,<br/> + + formerly of No. 2, Rue Laffitte, Paris.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +My Dear Fred, +</p> + +<p> +If there be such a thing as "continuation," you will see these lines in the far +Spirit-land and you will find that your old friend has not forgotten you and +Annie. +</p> + +<p> +Richard F. Burton. +</p> + +<h3>Contents of the Eighth Volume</h3> + +<table summary="" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: auto"> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">King Mohammed Bin Sabaik and the Merchant Hasan (continued)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">a. Story of Prince Sayf Al-Muluk and the Princess Badi'a Al-Jamal (continued)</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">155. Hassan of Bassorah</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">156. Khalifah The Fisherman Of Baghdad</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">The same from the Breslau Edition</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap06">157. Masrur and Zayn Al-Mawasif</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap07">158. Ali Nur Al-Din and Miriam the Girdle-Girl</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3> +The Book Of The<br/> +THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT<br/> +</h3> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p class="center"> +<a name="chap01"></a>When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old Queen +heard the handmaid's words she was wroth with sore wrath because of her and +cried, "How shall there be accord between man and Jinn?" But Sayf al-Muluk +replied, "Indeed, I will conform to thy will and be thy page and die in thy +love and will keep with thee covenant and regard non but thee: so right soon +shalt thou see my truth and lack of falsehood and the excellence of my manly +dealing with thee, Inshallah!" The old woman pondered for a full hour with brow +earthwards bent; after which she raised her head and said to him, "O thou +beautiful youth, wilt thou indeed keep compact and covenant?" He replied, "Yes, +by Him who raised the heavens and dispread the earth upon the waters, I will +indeed keep faith and troth!" Thereupon quoth she, "I will win for thee thy +wish, Inshallah! but for the present go thou into the garden and take thy +pleasure therein and eat of its fruits, that have neither like in the world nor +equal, whilst I send for my son Shahyal and confabulate with him of the matter. +Nothing but good shall come of it, so Allah please, for he will not gainsay me +nor disobey my commandment and I will marry thee with his daughter Badi'a +al-Jamal. So be of good heart for she shall assuredly be thy wife, O Sayf +al-Muluk." The Prince thanked her for those words and kissing her hands and +feet, went forth from her into the garden; whilst she turned to Marjanah and +said to her, "Go seek my son Shahyal wherever he is and bring him to me." So +Marjanah went out in quest of King Shahyal and found him and set him before his +mother. On such wise fared it with them; but as regards Sayf al-Muluk, whilst +he walked in the garden, lo and behold! five Jinn of the people of the Blue +King espied him and said to one another, "Whence cometh yonder wight and who +brought him hither? Haply 'tis he who slew the son and heir of our lord and +master the Blue King;" presently adding, 'But we will go about with him and +question him and find out all from him." So they walked gently and softly up to +him, as he sat in a corner of the garden, and sitting down by him, said to him, +"O beauteous youth, thou didst right well in slaying the son of the Blue King +and delivering from him Daulat Khatun; for he was a treacherous hound and had +tricked her, and had not Allah appointed thee to her, she had never won free; +no, never! But how diddest thou slay him?" Sayf al-Muluk looked at them and +deeming them of the gardenfolk, answered, "I slew him by means of this ring +which is on my finger." Therewith they were assured that it was he who had +slain him; so they seized him, two of them holding his hands, whilst other two +held his feet and the fifth his mouth, lest he should cry out and King +Shahyal's people should hear him and rescue him from their hands. Then they +lifted him up and flying away with him ceased not their flight till they came +to their King and set him down before him, saying, "O King of the Age, we bring +thee the murderer of thy son." "Where is he?" asked the King and they answered, +"This is he." So the Blue King said to Sayf al-Muluk, "How slewest thou my son, +the core of my heart and the light of my sight, without aught of right, for all +he had done thee no ill deed?" Quoth the Prince, "Yea, verily! I slew him +because of his violence and frowardness, in that he used to seize Kings' +daughters and sever them from their families and carry them to the Ruined Well +and the High-builded Castle of Japhet son of Noah and entreat them lewdly by +debauching them. I slew him by means of this ring on my finger, and Allah +hurried his soul to the fire and the abiding-place dire." Therewithal the King +was assured that this was indeed he who slew his son; so presently he called +his Wazirs and said to them, "This is the murtherer of my son sans shadow of +doubt: so how do you counsel me to deal with him? Shall I slay him with the +foulest slaughter or torture him with the terriblest torments or how?" Quoth +the Chief Minister, "Cut off his limbs, one a day." Another, "Beat him with a +grievous beating every day till he die." A third, "Cut him across the middle." +A fourth, "Chop off all his fingers and burn him with fire." A fifth, "Crucify +him;" and so on, each speaking according to his rede. Now there was with the +Blue King an old Emir, versed in the vicissitudes and experienced in the +exchanges of the times, and he said, "O King of the Age, verily I would say to +thee somewhat, and thine is the rede whether thou wilt hearken or not to my +say." Now he was the King's privy Councillor and the Chief Officer of his +empire, and the Sovran was wont to give ear to his word and conduct himself by +his counsel and gainsay him not in aught. So he rose and kissing ground before +his liege lord, said to him, "O King of the Age, if I advise thee in this +matter, wilt thou follow my advice and grant me indemnity?" Quoth the King, +"Set forth thine opinion, and thou shalt have immunity." Then quoth he, "O King +of the Age, an thou slay this one nor accept my advice nor hearken to my word, +in very sooth I say that his death were now inexpedient, for that he his thy +prisoner and in thy power, and under thy protection; so whenas thou wilt, thou +mayst lay hand on him and do with him what thou desirest. Have patience, then, +O King of the Age, for he hath entered the garden of Iram and is become the +betrothed of Badi'a al-Jamal, daughter of King Shahyal, and one of them. Thy +people seized him there and brought him hither and he did not hide his case +from them or from thee. So an thou slay him, assuredly King Shahyal will seek +blood-revenge and lead his host against thee for his daughter's sake, and thou +canst not cope with him nor make head against his power." So the King hearkened +to his counsel and commanded to imprison the captive. Thus fared it with Sayf +al-Muluk; but as regards the old Queen, grandmother of Badi'a al-Jamal, when +her son Shahyal came to her she despatched Marjanah in search of Sayf al-Muluk; +but she found him not and returning to her mistress, said, "I found him not in +the garden." So the ancient dame sent for the gardeners and questioned them of +the Prince. Quoth they, "We saw him sitting under a tree when behold, five of +the Blue King's folk alighted by him and spoke with him, after which they took +him up and having gagged him flew away with him." When the old Queen heard the +damsel's words it was no light matter to her and she was wroth with exceeding +wrath: so she rose to her feet and said to her son, King Shahyal, "Art a King +and shall the Blue King's people come to our garden and carry off our guests +unhindered, and thou alive?" And she proceeded to provoke him, saying, "It +behoveth not that any transgress against us during thy lifetime."[FN#1] +Answered he, "O mother of me, this man slew the Blue King's son, who was a +Jinni and Allah threw him into his hand. He is a Jinni and I am a Jinni: how +then shall I go to him and make war on him for the sake of a mortal?" But she +rejoined, "Go to him and demand our guest of him, and if he be still alive and +the Blue King deliver him to thee, take him and return; but an he have slain +him, take the King and all his children and Harim and household depending on +him; then bring them to me alive that I may cut their throats with my own hand +and lay in ruins his reign. Except thou go to him and do my bidding, I will not +acquit thee of my milk and my rearing of thee shall be counted unlawful."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the grandmother of Badi'a +al-Jamal said to Shahyal, "Fare thee to the Blue King and look after Sayf +al-Muluk: if he be still in life come with him hither; but an he have slain him +take that King and all his children and Harim and the whole of his dependents +an protégés and bring them here alive that I may cut their throats with my own +hand and ruin his realm. Except thou go to him and do my bidding, I will not +acquit thee of my milk and my rearing of thee shall be accounted unlawful." +Thereupon Shahyal rose and assembling his troops, set out, in deference to his +mother, desiring to content her and her friends, and in accordance with whatso +had been fore-ordained from eternity without beginning; nor did they leave +journeying till they came to the land of the Blue King, who met them with his +army and gave them battle. The Blue King's host was put to the rout and the +conquerors having taken him and all his sons, great and small, and Grandees and +officers bound and brought them before King Shahyal, who said to the captive, +"O Azrak,[FN#2] where is the mortal Sayf al-Muluk who whilome was my guest?" +Answered the Blue King, "O Shahyal, thou art a Jinni and I am a Jinni and is't +on account of a mortal who slew my son that thou hast done this deed; yea, the +murtherer of my son, the core of my liver and solace of my soul. How couldest +thou work such work and spill the blood of so many thousand Jinn?" He replied, +"Leave this talk! Knowest thou not that a single mortal is better, in Allah's +sight, than a thousand Jinn?[FN#3] If he be alive, bring him to me, and I will +set thee free and all whom I have taken of thy sons and people; but an thou +have slain him, I will slaughter thee and thy sons." Quoth the Malik al-Azrak, +"O King, is this man of more account with thee than my son?"; and quoth +Shahyal, "Verily, thy son was an evildoer who kidnapped Kings' daughters and +shut them up in the Ruined Well and the High-builded Castle of Japhet son of +Noah and entreated them lewdly." Then said the Blue King, "He is with me; but +make thou peace between us." So he delivered the Prince to Shahyal, who made +peace between him and the Blue King, and Al-Azrak gave him a bond of absolution +for the death of his son. Then Shahyal conferred robes of honour on them and +entertained the Blue King and his troops hospitably for three days, after which +he took Sayf al-Muluk and carried him back to the old Queen, his own mother, +who rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy, and Shahyal marvelled at the beauty +of the Prince and his loveliness and his perfection. Then the Prince related to +him his story from beginning to end, especially what did befal him with Badi'a +al-Jamal and Shahyal said, "O my mother, since 'tis thy pleasure that this +should be, I hear and I obey all that to command it pleaseth thee; wherefore do +thou take him and bear him to Sarandib and there celebrate his wedding and +marry him to her in all state, for he is a goodly youth and hath endured +horrors for her sake." So she and her maidens set out with Sayf al-Muluk for +Sarandib and, entering the Garden belonging to the Queen of Hind, foregathered +with Daulat Khatun and Badi'a al-Jamal. Then the lovers met, and the old Queen +acquainted the two Princesses with all that had passed between Sayf al-Muluk +and the Blue King and how the Prince had been nearhand to a captive's death; +but in repetition is no fruition. Then King Taj al-Muluk father of Daulat +Khatun assembled the lords of his land and drew up the contract of marriage +between Sayf al-Muluk and Badi'a al-Jamal; and he conferred costly robes of +honour and gave banquets to the lieges. Then Sayf al-Muluk rose and, kissing +ground before the King, said to him, "O King, pardon! I would fain ask of thee +somewhat but I fear lest thou refuse it to my disappointment." Taj al-Muluk +replied, "By Allah, though thou soughtest my soul of me, I would not refuse it +to thee, after all the kindness thou hast done me!" Quoth Sayf al-Muluk, "I +wish thee to marry the Princess Daulat Khatun to my brother Sa'id, and we will +both be thy pages." "I hear and obey," answered Taj al-Muluk, and assembling +his Grandees a second time, let draw up the contract of marriage between his +daughter and Sa'id; after which they scattered gold and silver and the King +bade decorate the city. So they held high festival and Sayf al-Muluk went in +unto Badi'a al-Jamal and Sa'id went in unto Daulat Khatun on the same night. +Moreover Sayf al-Muluk abode forty days with Badi'a al-Jamal, at the end of +which she said to him, "O King's son, say me, is there left in thy heart any +regret for aught?" And he replied, "Allah forfend! I have accomplished my quest +and there abideth no regret in my heart at all: but I would fain meet my father +and my mother in the land of Egypt and see if they continue in welfare or not." +So she commanded a company of her slaves to convey them to Egypt, and they +carried them to Cairo, where Sayf al-Muluk and Sa'id foregathered with their +parents and abode with them a week; after which they took leave of them and +returned to Sarandib-city; and from this time forwards, whenever they longed +for their folk, they used to go to them and return. Then Sayf al-Muluk and +Badi'a al-Jamal abode in all solace of life and its joyance as did Sa'id and +Daulat Khatun, till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and Severer of +societies; and they all died good Moslems. So glory be to the Living One who +dieth not, who createth all creatures and decreeth to them death and who is the +First, without beginning, and the Last, without end! This is all that hath come +down to us of the story of Sayf al-Muluk and Badi'a al-Jamal. And Allah alone +wotteth the truth.[FN#4] But not less excellent than this tale is the History +of +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap03"></a>HASAN OF BASSORAH.[FN#5]</h3> + +<p> +There was once of days of yore and in ages and times long gone before, a +merchant, who dwelt in the land of Bassorah and who owned two sons and wealth +galore. But in due time Allah, the All-hearing the All-knowing, decreed that +he should be admitted to the mercy of the Most High; so he died, and his two +sons laid him out and buried him, after which they divided his gardens and +estates equally between them and of his portion each one opened a shop.[FN#6] +Presently the elder son, Hasan hight, a youth of passing beauty and loveliness, +symmetry and perfect grace, betook himself to the company of lewd folk, women +and low boys, frolicking with them in gardens and feasting them with meat and +wine for months together and occupying himself not with his business like as +his father had done, for that he exulted in the abundance of his good. After +some time he had wasted all his ready money, so he sold all his father's lands +and houses and played the wastrel until there remained in his hand nothing, +neither little nor muchel, nor was one of his comrades left who knew him. He +abode thus anhungred, he and his widowed mother, three days, and on the fourth +day, as he walked along, unknowing whither to wend, there met him a man of his +father's friends, who questioned him of his case. He told him what had befallen +him and the other said, "O my son, I have a brother who is a goldsmith; an thou +wilt, thou shalt be with him and learn his craft and become skilled therein." +Hasan consented and accompanied him to his brother, to whom he commended him, +saying, "In very sooth this is my son; do thou teach him for my sake." So +Hasan abode with the goldsmith and busied himself with the craft; and Allah +opened to him the door of gain and in due course he set up shop for himself. +One day, as he sat in his booth in the bazar, there came up to him an 'Ajamí, a +foreigner, a Persian, with a great white beard and a white turband[FN#7] on his +head, having the semblance of a merchant who, after saluting him, looked at his +handiwork and examined it knowingly. It pleased him and he shook his head, +saying, "By Allah, thou art a cunning goldsmith! What may be thy name?" +"Hasan," replied the other, shortly.[FN#8] The Persian continued to look at +his wares, whilst Hasan read in an old book[FN#9] he hent in hand and the folk +were taken up with his beauty and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace, +till the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, when the shop became clear of people and +the Persian accosted the young man, saying, "O my son, thou art a comely youth! + What book is that? Thou hast no sire and I have no son, and I know an art, +than which there is no goodlier in the world."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Persian accosted the +young man saying, "O my son, thou art a comely youth! Thou hast no sire and I +have no son, and I know an art than which there is no goodlier in the world. +Many have sought of me instruction therein, but I consented not to instruct any +of them in it; yet hath my soul consented that I teach it to thee, for thy love +hath gotten hold upon my heart and I will make thee my son and set up between +thee and poverty a barrier, so shalt thou be quit of this handicraft and toil +no more with hammer and anvil,[FN#10] charcoal and fire." Hasan asked, "O my +lord and when wilt thou teach me this?"; and the Persian answered, "To-morrow, +Inshallah, I will come to thee betimes and make thee in thy presence fine gold +of this copper." Whereupon Hasan rejoiced and sat talking with the Persian +till nightfall, when he took leave of him and going in to his mother, saluted +her with the salam and ate with her; but he was dazed, without memory or +reason, for that the stranger's words had gotten hold upon his heart. So she +questioned him and he told her what had passed between himself and the Persian, +which when she heard, her heart fluttered and she strained him to her bosom, +saying, "O my son, beware of hearkening to the talk of the folk, and especially +of the Persians, and obey them not in aught; for they are sharpers and +tricksters, who profess the art of alchemy[FN#11] and swindle people and take +their money and devour it in vain." Replied Hasan, "O my mother, we are +paupers and have nothing he may covet, that he should put a cheat on us. +Indeed, this Persian is a right worthy Shaykh and the signs of virtue are +manifest on him; Allah hath inclined his heart to me and he hath adopted me to +son." She was silent in her chagrin, and he passed the night without sleep, +his heart being full of what the Persian had said to him; nor did slumber visit +him for the excess of his joy therein. But when morning morrowed, he rose and +taking the keys, opened the shop, whereupon behold, the Persian accosted him. +Hasan stood up to him and would have kissed his hands; but he forbade him from +this and suffered it not, saying, "O Hasan, set on the crucible and apply the +bellows."[FN#12] So he did as the stranger bade him and lighted the charcoal. +Then said the Persian, "O my son, hast thou any copper?" and he replied, "I +have a broken platter." So he bade him work the shears[FN#13] and cut it into +bittocks and cast it into the crucible and blow up the fire with the bellows, +till the copper became liquid, when he put hand to turband and took therefrom a +folded paper and opening it, sprinkled thereout into the pot about half a +drachm of somewhat like yellow Kohl or eyepowder.[FN#14] Then he bade Hasan +blow upon it with the bellows, and he did so, till the contents of the crucible +became a lump of gold.[FN#15] When the youth saw this, he was stupefied and at +his wits' end for the joy he felt and taking the ingot from the crucible +handled it and tried it with the file and found it pure gold of the finest +quality: whereupon his reason fled and he was dazed with excess of delight and +bent over the Persian's hand to kiss it. But he forbade him, saying, "Art thou +married?" and when the youth replied "No!" he said, "Carry this ingot to the +market and sell it and take the price in haste and speak not." So Hasan went +down into the market and gave the bar to the broker, who took it and rubbed it +upon the touchstone and found it pure gold. So they opened the biddings at ten +thousand dirhams and the merchants bid against one another for it up to fifteen +thousand dirhams,[FN#16] at which price he sold it and taking the money, went +home and told his mother all that had passed, saying, "O my mother, I have +learnt this art and mystery." But she laughed at him, saying, "There is no +Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Eightieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan the +goldsmith told his mother what he had done with the Ajami and cried, "I have +learnt this art and mystery," she laughed at him, saying, "There is no Majesty +and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"; and she was +silent for vexation. Then of his ignorance, he took a metal mortar and +returning to the shop, laid it before the Persian, who was still sitting there +and asked him, "O my son, what wilt thou do with this mortar?" Hasan answered, +"Let us put it in the fire, and make of it lumps of gold." The Persian laughed +and rejoined, "O my son, art thou Jinn-mad that thou wouldst go down into the +market with two ingots of gold in one day? Knowest thou not that the folk +would suspect us and our lives would be lost? Now, O my son, an I teach thee +this craft, thou must practise it but once in each twelvemonth; for that will +suffice thee from year to year." Cried Hasan, "True, O my lord," and sitting +down in his open shop, set on the crucible and cast more charcoal on the fire. +Quoth the Persian, "What wilt thou, O my son?"; and quoth Hasan, "Teach me this +craft." "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the +Glorious, the Great!" exclaimed the Persian, laughing; "Verily, O my son, thou +art little of wit and in nowise fitted for this noble craft. Did ever any +during all his life learn this art on the beaten way or in the bazars? If we +busy ourselves with it here, the folk will say of us, These practise alchemy; +and the magistrates will hear of us, and we shall lose our lives.[FN#17] +Wherefore, O my son, an thou desire to learn this mystery forthright, come thou +with me to my house." So Hasan barred his shop and went with that Ajamí; but +by the way he remembered his mother's words and thinking in himself a thousand +thoughts he stood still, with bowed head. The Persian turned and seeing him +thus standing laughed and said to him, "Art thou mad? What! I in my heart +purpose thee good and thou misdoubtest I will harm thee!" presently adding, +"But, if thou fear to go with me to my house, I will go with thee to thine and +teach thee there." Hasan replied, "'Tis well, O uncle," and the Persian +rejoined, "Go thou before me." So Hasan led the way to his own house, and +entering, told his mother of the Persian's coming, for he had left him standing +at the door. She ordered the house for them and when she had made an end of +furnishing and adorning it, her son bade her go to one of the neighbours' +lodgings. So she left her home to them and wended her way, whereupon Hasan +brought in the Persian, who entered after asking leave. Then he took in hand a +dish and going to the market, returned with food, which he set before the +Persian, saying, "Eat, O my lord, that between us there may be bread and salt +and may Almighty Allah do vengeance upon the traitor to bread and salt!" The +Persian replied with a smile, "True, O my son! Who knoweth the virtue and +worth of bread and salt?"[FN#18] Then he came forward and ate with Hasan, till +they were satisfied; after which the Ajami said, "O my son Hasan, bring us +somewhat of sweetmeats." So Hasan went to the market, rejoicing in his words, +and returned with ten saucers[FN#19] of sweetmeats, of which they both ate and +the Persian said, "May Allah abundantly requite thee, O my son! It is the like +of thee with whom folk company and to whom they discover their secrets and +teach what may profit him!"[FN#20] Then said he, "O Hasan bring the gear." +But hardly did Hasan hear these words than he went forth like a colt let out to +grass in spring-tide, and hastening to the shop, fetched the apparatus and set +it before the Persian, who pulled out a piece of paper and said, "O Hasan, by +the bond of bread and salt, wert thou not dearer to me than my son, I would not +let thee into the mysteries of this art, for I have none of the Elixir[FN#21] +left save what is in this paper; but by and by I will compound the simples +whereof it is composed and will make it before thee. Know, O my son Hasan, +that to every ten pounds of copper thou must set half a drachm of that which is +in this paper, and the whole ten will presently become unalloyed virgin gold;" +presently adding, "O my son, O Hasan, there are in this paper three +ounces,[FN#22] Egyptian measure, and when it is spent, I will make thee other +and more." Hasan took the packet and finding therein a yellow powder, finer +than the first, said to the Persian, "O my lord, what is the name of this +substance and where is it found and how is it made?" But he laughed, longing +to get hold of the youth, and replied, "Of what dost thou question? Indeed thou +art a froward boy! Do thy work and hold thy peace." So Hasan arose and +fetching a brass platter from the house, shore it in shreds and threw it into +the melting-pot; then he scattered on it a little of the powder from the paper +and it became a lump of pure gold. When he saw this, he joyed with exceeding +joy and was filled with amazement and could think of nothing save the gold; +but, whilst he was occupied with taking up the lumps of metal from the +melting-pot, the Persian pulled out of his turband in haste a packet of Cretan +Bhang, which if an elephant smelt, he would sleep from night to night, and +cutting off a little thereof, put it in a piece of the sweetmeat. Then said +he, "O Hasan, thou art become my very son and dearer to me than soul and +wealth, and I have a daughter whose like never have eyes beheld for beauty and +loveliness, symmetry and perfect grace. Now I see that thou befittest none but +her and she none but thee; wherefore, if it be Allah's will, I will marry thee +to her." Replied Hasan, "I am thy servant and whatso good thou dost with me +will be a deposit with the Almighty!" and the Persian rejoined, "O my son, have +fair patience and fair shall betide thee." Therewith he gave him the piece of +sweetmeat and he took it and kissing his hand, put it in his mouth, knowing not +what was hidden for him in the after time for only the Lord of Futurity knoweth +the Future. But hardly had he swallowed it, when he fell down, head foregoing +heels, and was lost to the world; whereupon the Persian, seeing him in such +calamitous case, rejoiced exceedingly and cried, "Thou hast fallen into my +snares, O gallows-carrion, O dog of the Arabs! This many a year have I sought +thee and now I have found thee, O Hasan!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan the +goldsmith ate the bit of sweetmeat given to him by the Ajami and fell fainting +to the ground, the Persian rejoiced exceedingly and cried, "This many a year +have I sought thee and now I have found thee!" Then he girt himself and +pinioned Hasan's arms and binding his feet to his hands laid him in a chest, +which he emptied to that end and locked it upon him. Moreover, he cleared +another chest and laying therein all Hasan's valuables, together with the piece +of the first gold-lump and the second ingot which he had made locked it with a +padlock. Then he ran to the market and fetching a porter, took up the two +chests and made off with them to a place within sight of the city, where he set +them down on the sea-shore, hard by a vessel at anchor there. Now this craft +had been freighted and fitted out by the Persian and her master was awaiting +him; so, when the crew saw him, they came to him and bore the two chests on +board. Then the Persian called out to the Rais or Captain, saying, "Up and let +us be off, for I have done my desire and won my wish." So the skipper sang out +to the sailors, saying, "Weigh anchor and set sail!" And the ship put out to +sea with a fair wind. So far concerning the Persian; but as regards Hasan's +mother, she awaited him till supper-time but heard neither sound nor news of +him; so she went to the house and finding it thrown open, entered and saw none +therein and missed the two chests and their valuables; wherefore she knew that +her son was lost and that doom had overtaken him; and she buffeted her face and +rent her raiment crying out and wailing and saying, "Alas, my son, ah! Alas, +the fruit of my vitals, ah!" And she recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"My patience fails me and grows anxiety; * And with your absence<br/> + + growth of grief I see.<br/> + +By Allah, Patience went what time ye went! * Loss of all Hope how<br/> + + suffer patiently?<br/> + +When lost my loved one how can' joy I sleep? * Who shall enjoy<br/> + + such life of low degree?<br/> + +Thou 'rt gone and, desolating house and home, * Hast fouled the<br/> + + fount erst flowed from foulness free:<br/> + +Thou wast my fame, my grace 'mid folk, my stay; * Mine aid wast<br/> + + thou in all adversity!<br/> + +Perish the day, when from mine eyes they bore * My friend, till<br/> + + sight I thy return to me!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And she ceased not to weep and wail till the dawn, when the neighbours came in +to her and asked her of her son, and she told them what had befallen him with +the Persian, assured that she should never, never see him again. Then she went +round about the house, weeping, and wending she espied two lines written upon +the wall; so she sent for a scholar, who read them to her; and they were these, +</p> + +<p> +"Leyla's phantom came by night, when drowsiness had overcome me,<br/> + + towards morning while my companions were sleeping in the<br/> + + desert,<br/> + +But when we awoke to behold the nightly phantom, I saw the air<br/> + + vacant and the place of visitation was distant."[FN#23]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Hasan's mother heard these lines, she shrieked and said, "Yes, O my son! +Indeed, the house is desolate and the visitation-place is distant!" Then the +neighbours took leave of her and after they had prayed that she might be +vouchsafed patience and speedy reunion with her son, went away; but she ceased +not to weep all watches of the night and tides of the day and she built +amiddlemost the house a tomb whereon she let write Hasan's name and the date of +his loss, and thenceforward she quitted it not, but made a habit of incessantly +biding thereby night and day. Such was her case; but touching her son Hasan and +the Ajami, this Persian was a Magian, who hated Moslems with exceeding hatred +and destroyed all who fell into his power. He was a lewd and filthy villain, a +hankerer after alchemy, an astrologer and a hunter of hidden hoards, such an +one as he of whom quoth the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"A dog, dog-fathered, by dog-grandsire bred; * No good in dog<br/> + + from dog race issued:<br/> + +E'en for a gnat no resting-place gives he * Who is composed of<br/> + + seed by all men shed."[FN#24]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +The name of this accursed was Bahrám the Guebre, and he was wont, every year, +to take a Moslem and cut his throat for his own purposes. So, when he had +carried out his plot against Hasan the goldsmith, they sailed on from dawn till +dark, when the ship made fast to the shore for the night, and at sunrise, when +they set sail again, Bahram bade his black slaves and white servants bring him +the chest wherein were Hasan. They did so, and he opened it and taking out the +young man, made him sniff up vinegar and blew a powder into his nostrils. +Hasan sneezed and vomited the Bhang; then, opening his eyes, he looked about +him right and left and found himself amiddleward the sea on aboard a ship in +full sail, and saw the Persian sitting by him; wherefore he knew that the +accursed Magian had put a cheat on him and that he had fallen into the very +peril against which his mother had warned him. So he spake the saying which +shall never shame the sayer, to wit, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might +save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Verity, we are Allah's and unto Him we +are returning! O my God, be Thou gracious to me in Thine appointment and give +me patience to endure this Thine affliction, O Lord of the three Worlds!" Then +he turned to the Persian and bespoke him softly, saying, "O my father, what +fashion is this and where is the covenant of bread and salt and the oath thou +swarest to me?"[FN#25] But Bahram stared at him and replied, "O dog, knoweth +the like of me bond of bread and salt? I have slain of youths like thee a +thousand, save one, and thou shalt make up the thousand." And he cried out at +him and Hasan was silent, knowing that the Fate-shaft had shot him.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan beheld +himself fallen into the hands of the damned Persian he bespoke him softly but +gained naught thereby for the Ajami cried out at him in wrath, so he was +silent, knowing that the Fate-shaft had shot him. Then the accursed bade loose +his pinion-bonds and they gave him a little water to drink, whilst the Magian +laughed and said, "By the virtue of the Fire and the Light and the Shade and +the Heat, methought not thou wouldst fall into my nets! But the Fire empowered +me over thee and helped me to lay hold upon thee, that I might win my wish and +return and make thee a sacrifice, to her[FN#26] so she may accept of me." Quoth +Hasan, "Thou hast foully betrayed bread and salt"; whereupon the Magus raised +his hand and dealt him such a buffet that he fell and, biting the deck with his +fore-teeth, swooned away, whilst the tears trickled down his cheeks. Then the +Guebre bade his servants light him a fire and Hasan said, "What wilt thou do +with it?" Replied the Magian, "This is the Fire, lady of light and sparkles +bright! This it is I worship, and if thou wilt worship her even as I, verily I +will give thee half my monies and marry thee to my maiden daughter." Thereupon +Hasan cried angrily at him, "Woe to thee! Thou art a miscreant Magian who to +Fire dost pray in lieu of the King of Omnipotent sway, Creator of Night and +Day; and this is naught but a calamity among creeds!" At this the Magian was +wroth and said to him, "Wilt thou not then conform with me, O dog of the Arabs, +and enter my faith?" But Hasan consented not to this: so the accursed Guebre +arose and prostrating himself to the fire, bade his pages throw him flat on his +face. They did so, and he beat him with a hide whip of plaited thongs[FN#27] +till his flanks were laid open, whilst he cried aloud for aid but none aided +him, and besought protection, but none protected him. Then he raised his eyes +to the All-powerful King and sought of Him succour in the name of the Chosen +Prophet. And indeed patience failed him; his tears ran down his cheeks, like +rain, and he repeated these couplets twain, +</p> + +<p> +"In patience, O my God, Thy doom forecast * I'll bear, an thereby<br/> + + come Thy grace at last:<br/> + +They've dealt us wrong, transgressed and ordered ill; * Haply Thy<br/> + + Grace shall pardon what is past."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then the Magian bade his negro-slaves raise him to a sitting posture and bring +him somewhat of meat and drink. So they sat food before him; but he consented +not to eat or drink; and Bahram ceased not to torment him day and night during +the whole voyage, whilst Hasan took patience and humbled himself in +supplication before Almighty Allah to whom belong Honour and Glory; whereby the +Guebre's heart was hardened against him. They ceased not to sail the sea three +months, during which time Hasan was continually tortured till Allah Almighty +sent forth upon them a foul wind and the sea grew black and rose against the +ship, by reason of the fierce gale; whereupon quoth the captain and +crew,[FN#28] "By Allah, this is all on account of yonder youth, who hath been +these three months in torture with this Magian. Indeed, this is not allowed of +God the Most High." Then they rose against the Magian and slew his servants +and all who were with him; which when he saw, he made sure of death and feared +for himself. So he loosed Hasan from his bonds and pulling off the ragged +clothes the youth had on, clad him in others; and made excuses to him and +promised to teach him the craft and restore him to his native land, saying, "O +my son, return me not evil for that I have done with thee." Quoth Hasan, "How +can I ever rely upon thee again?"; and quoth Bahram, "O my son, but for sin, +there were no pardon. Indeed, I did all these doings with thee, but to try thy +patience, and thou knowest that the case is altogether in the hands of Allah." +So the crew and captain rejoiced in Hasan's release, and he called down +blessings on them and praised the Almighty and thanked Him. With this the wind +was stilled and the sky cleared and with a fair breeze they continued their +voyage. Then said Hasan to Bahram, "O Master,[FN#29] whither wendest thou?" +Replied the Magian, "O my son, I am bound for the Mountain of Clouds, where is +the Elixir which we use in alchemy." And the Guebre swore to him by the Fire +and the Light that he had no longer any cause to fear him. So Hasan's heart +was set at ease and rejoicing at the Persian's words, he continued to eat and +drink and sleep with the Magian, who clad him in his own raiment. They ceased +not sailing on other three months, when the ship came to anchor off a long +shoreline of many- coloured pebbles, white and yellow and sky-blue and black +and every other hue, and the Magian sprang up and said, "O Hasan, come, let us +go ashore for we have reached the place of our wish and will." So Hasan rose +and landed with Bahram, after the Persian had commended his goods to the +captain's care. They walked on inland, till they were far enough from the ship +to be out of sight, when Bahram sat down and taking from his pocket a +kettle-drum[FN#30] of copper and a silken strap, worked in gold with characts, +beat the drum with the strap, until there arose a cloud of dust from the +further side of the waste. Hasan marvelled at the Magian's doings and was +afraid of him: he repented of having come ashore with him and his colour +changed. But Bahram looked at him and said, "What aileth thee, O my son? By the +truth of the Fire and the Light, thou hast naught to fear from me; and, were it +not that my wish may never be won save by thy means, I had not brought thee +ashore. So rejoice in all good; for yonder cloud of dust is the dust of +somewhat we will mount and which will aid us to cut across this wold and make +easy to us the hardships thereof."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Persian said to +Hasan, "In very sooth yonder dust-cloud is the cloud of something we will mount +and which will aid us to cut across this wold and will make easy to us the +hardships thereof." Presently the dust lifted off three she-dromedaries, one of +which Bahram mounted and Hasan another. Then they loaded their victual on the +third and fared on seven days, till they came to a wide champaign and, +descending into its midst, they saw a dome vaulted upon four pilasters of red +gold; so they alighted and entering thereunder, ate and drank and took their +rest. Anon Hasan chanced to glance aside and seeing from afar a something +lofty said to the Magian, "What is that, O nuncle?" Bahram replied, "'Tis a +palace," and quoth Hasan, "Wilt thou not go thither, that we may enter and +there repose ourselves and solace ourselves with inspecting it?" But the +Persian was wroth and said, "Name not to me yonder palace; for therein dwelleth +a foe, with whom there befel me somewhat whereof this is no time to tell thee." + Then he beat the kettle-drum and up came the dromedaries, and they mounted and +fared on other seven days. On the eighth day, the Magian said, "O Hasan, what +seest thou?" Hasan replied, "I see clouds and mists twixt east and west." +Quoth Bahram, "That is neither clouds nor mists, but a vast mountain and a +lofty whereon the clouds split,[FN#31] and there are no clouds above it, for +its exceeding height and surpassing elevation. Yon mount is my goal and +thereon is the need we seek. 'Tis for that I brought thee hither, for my wish +may not be won save at thy hands." Hasan hearing this gave his life up for +lost and said to the Magian, "By the right of that thou worshippest and by the +faith wherein thou believest, I conjure thee to tell me what is the object +wherefor thou hast brought me!" Bahram replied, "The art of alchemy may not be +accomplished save by means of a herb which groweth in the place where the +clouds pass and whereon they split. Such a site is yonder mountain upon whose +head the herb groweth and I purpose to send thee up thither to fetch it; and +when we have it, I will show thee the secret of this craft which thou desirest +to learn." Hasan answered, in his fear, "'Tis well, O my master;" and indeed +he despaired of life and wept for his parting from his parent and people and +patrial stead, repenting him of having gainsaid his mother and reciting these +two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Consider but thy Lord, His work shall bring * Comfort to thee,<br/> + + with quick relief and near:<br/> + +Despair not when thou sufferest sorest bane: * In bane how many<br/> + + blessed boons appear!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +They ceased not faring on till they came to the foothills of that mountain +where they halted; and Hasan saw thereon a palace and asked Bahram, "What be +yonder palace?"; whereto he answered, "'Tis the abode of the Jann and Ghuls and +Satans." Then the Magian alighted and making Hasan also dismount from his +dromedary kissed his head and said to him, "Bear me no ill will anent that I +did with thee, for I will keep guard over thee in thine ascent to the palace; +and I conjure thee not to trick and cheat me of aught thou shalt bring +therefrom; and I and thou will share equally therein." And Hasan replied, "To +hear is to obey." Then Bahram opened a bag and taking out a handmill and a +sufficiency of wheat, ground the grain and kneaded three round cakes of the +flour; after which he lighted a fire and baked the bannocks. Then he took out +the copper kettle-drum and beat it with the broidered strap, whereupon up came +the dromedaries. He chose out one and said, "Hearken, O my son, O Hasan, to +what I am about to enjoin on thee;" and Hasan replied, "'Tis well." Bahram +continued, "Lie down on this skin and I will sew thee up therein and lay thee +on the ground; whereupon the Rakham birds[FN#32] will come to thee and carry +thee up to the mountain-top. Take this knife with thee; and, when thou feelest +that the birds have done flying and have set thee down, slit open therewith the +skin and come forth. The vultures will then take fright at thee and fly away; +whereupon do thou look down from the mountain head and speak to me, and I will +tell thee what to do." So he sewed him up in the skin, placing therein three +cakes and a leathern bottle full of water, and withdrew to a distance. +Presently a vulture pounced upon him and taking him up, flew away with him to +the mountain-top and there set him down. As soon as Hasan felt himself on the +ground, he slit the skin and coming forth, called out to the Magian, who +hearing his speech rejoiced and danced for excess of joy, saying to him, "Look +behind thee and tell me what thou seest." Hasan looked and seeing many rotten +bones and much wood, told Bahram, who said to him, "This be what we need and +seek. Make six bundles of the wood and throw them down to me, for this is +wherewithal we do alchemy." So he threw him the six bundles and when he had +gotten them into his power he said to Hasan, "O gallows bird, I have won my +wish of thee; and now, if thou wilt, thou mayst abide on this mountain, or cast +thyself down to the earth and perish. So saying, he left him[FN#33] and went +away, and Hasan exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great! This hound hath played the traitor with me." +And he sat bemoaning himself and reciting these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"When God upon a man possessed of reasoning, Hearing and sight<br/> + + His will in aught to pass would bring,<br/> + +He stops his ears and blinds his eyes and draws his wit, From<br/> + + him, as one draws out the hairs to paste that cling;<br/> + +Till, His decrees fulfilled, He gives him back His wit, That<br/> + + therewithal he may receive admonishing.<br/> + +So say thou not of aught that haps, 'How happened it?' For Fate<br/> + + and fortune fixed do order everything.[FN#34]"<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 Eighty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Magian sent +Hasan to the mountain-top and made him throw down all he required he presently +reviled him and left him and wended his ways and the youth exclaimed, "There is +no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! This +damned hound hath played the traitor." Then he rose to his feet and looked +right and left, after which he walked on along the mountain top, in mind making +certain of death. He fared on thus till he came to the counterslope of the +mountain, along which he saw a dark-blue sea, dashing with billows clashing and +yeasting waves each as it were a lofty mount. So he sat down and repeated what +he might of the Koran and besought Allah the Most High to ease him of his +troubles, or by death or by deliverance from such strait. Then he recited for +himself the funeral-prayer[FN#35] and cast himself down into the main; but, the +waves bore him up by Allah's grace, so that he reached the water unhurt, and +the angel in whose charge is the sea watched over him, so that the billows bore +him safe to land, by the decree of the Most High. Thereupon he rejoiced and +praised Almighty Allah and thanked Him; after which he walked on in quest of +something to eat, for stress of hunger, and came presently to the place where +he had halted with the Magian, Bahram. Then he fared on awhile, till behold, +he caught sight of a great palace, rising high in air, and knew it for that of +which he had questioned the Persian and he had replied, "Therein dwelleth a +foe, of mine." Hasan said to himself, "By Allah, needs must I enter yonder +palace; perchance relief awaiteth me there." So coming to it and finding the +gate open, he entered the vestibule, where he saw seated on a bench two girls +like twin moons with a chess-cloth before them and they were at play. One of +them raised her head to him and cried out for joy saying, "By Allah, here is a +son of Adam, and methinks 'tis he whom Bahram the Magian brought hither this +year!" So Hasan hearing her words cast himself at their feet and wept with sore +weeping and said, "Yes, O my ladies, by Allah, I am indeed that unhappy." Then +said the younger damsel to her elder sister, "Bear witness against me,[FN#36] O +my sister, that this is my brother by covenant of Allah and that I will die for +his death and live for his life and joy for his joy and mourn for his +mourning." So saying, she rose and embraced him and kissed him and presently +taking him by the hand and her sister with her, led him into the palace, where +she did off his ragged clothes and brought him a suit of King's raiment +wherewith she arrayed him. Moreover, she made ready all manner viands[FN#37] +and set them before him, and sat and ate with him, she and her sister. Then +said they to him, "Tell us thy tale with yonder dog, the wicked, the wizard, +from the time of thy falling into his hands to that of thy freeing thee from +him; and after we will tell thee all that hath passed between us and him, so +thou mayst be on thy guard against him an thou see him again." Hearing these +words and finding himself thus kindly received, Hasan took heart of grace and +reason returned to him and he related to them all that had befallen him with +the Magian from first to last. Then they asked, "Didst thou ask him of this +palace?"; and he answered, "Yes, but he said, 'Name it not to me; for it +belongeth to Ghuls and Satans.'" At this, the two damsels waxed wroth with +exceeding wrath and said, "Did that miscreant style us Ghuls and Satans?" And +Hasan answered, "Yes." Cried the younger sister, "By Allah, I will assuredly do +him die with the foulest death and make him to lack the wind of the world!" +Quoth Hasan, "And how wilt thou get at him, to kill him, for he is a crafty +magician?"; and quoth she, "He is in a garden by name Al-Mushayyad,[FN#38] and +there is no help but that I slay him before long." Then said her sister, +"Sooth spake Hasan in everything he hath recounted to us of this cur; but now +tell him our tale, that all of it may abide in his memory." So the younger +said to him, "Know, O my brother, that we are the daughters of a King of the +mightiest Kings of the Jann, having Marids for troops and guards and servants, +and Almighty Allah blessed him with seven daughters by one wife; but of his +folly such jealousy and stiff-neckedness and pride beyond compare gat hold upon +him that he would not give us in marriage to any one and, summoning his Wazirs +and Emirs, he said to them, 'Can ye tell me of any place untrodden by the tread +of men and Jinn and abounding in trees and fruits and rills?' And quoth they, +'What wilt thou therewith, O King of the Age?' And quoth he, 'I desire there to +lodge my seven daughters.' Answered they, 'O King, the place for them is the +Castle of the Mountain of Clouds, built by an Ifrit of the rebellious Jinn, who +revolted from the covenant of our lord Solomon, on whom be the Peace! Since his +destruction, none hath dwelt there, nor man nor Jinni, for 'tis cut off[FN#39] +and none may win to it. And the Castle is girt about with trees and fruits and +rills, and the water running around it is sweeter than honey and colder than +snow: none who is afflicted with leprosy or elephantiasis[FN#40] or what not +else drinketh thereof but he is healed forthright. Hearing this our father sent +us hither, with an escort of his troops and guards and provided us with all +that we need here. When he is minded to ride to us he beateth a kettle-drum, +whereupon all his hosts present themselves before him and he chooseth whom he +shall ride and dismisseth the rest; but, when he desireth that we shall visit +him, he commandeth his followers, the enchanters, to fetch us and carry us to +the presence; so he may solace himself with our society and we accomplish our +desire of him; after which they again carry us back hither. Our five other +sisters are gone a-hunting in our desert, wherein are wild beasts past compt or +calculation and, it being our turn to do this we two abode at home, to make +ready for them food. Indeed, we had besought Allah (extolled and exalted be +He!) to vouchsafe us a son of Adam to cheer us with his company and praised be +He who hath brought thee to us! So be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool +and clear, for no harm shall befal thee." Hasan rejoiced and said, +"Alhamdolillah, laud to the Lord who guideth us into the path of deliverance +and inclineth hearts to us!" Then his sister[FN#41] rose and taking him by the +hand, led him into a private chamber, where she brought out to him linen and +furniture that no mortal can avail unto. Presently, the other damsels returned +from hunting and birding and their sisters acquainted them with Hasan's case; +whereupon they rejoiced in him and going into him in his chamber, saluted him +with the salam and gave him joy of his safety. Then he abode with them in all +the solace of life and its joyance, riding out with them to the chase and +taking his pleasure with them whilst they entreated him courteously and cheered +him with converse, till his sadness ceased from him and he recovered health and +strength and his body waxed stout and fat, by dint of fair treatment and +pleasant time among the seven moons in that fair palace with its gardens and +flowers; for indeed he led the delightsomest of lives with the damsels who +delighted in him and he yet more in them. And they used to give him drink of +the honey-dew of their lips[FN#42] these beauties with the high bosoms, adorned +with grace and loveliness, the perfection of brilliancy and in shape very +symmetry. Moreover the youngest Princess told her sisters how Bahram the +Magian had made them of the Ghuls and Demons and Satans,[FN#43] and they sware +that they would surely slay him. Next year the accursed Guebre again made his +appearance, having with him a handsome young Moslem, as he were the moon, bound +hand and foot and tormented with grievous tortures, and alighted with him below +the palace-walls. Now Hasan was sitting under the trees by the side of the +stream; and when he espied Bahram, his heart fluttered,[FN#44] his hue changed +and he smote hand upon hand.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan the +goldsmith saw the Magian, his heart fluttered, his hue changed and he smote +hand upon hand. Then he said to the Princesses, "O my sisters, help me to the +slaughter of this accursed, for here he is come back and in your grasp, and he +leadeth with him captive a young Moslem of the sons of the notables, whom he is +torturing with all manner grievous torments. Lief would I kill him and console +my heart of him; and, by delivering the young Moslem from his mischief and +restoring him to his country and kith and kin and friends, fain would I lay up +merit for the world to come, by taking my wreak of him.[FN#45] This will be an +almsdeed from you and ye will reap the reward thereof from Almighty Allah." +"We hear and we obey Allah and thee, O our brother, O Hasan," replied they and +binding chin-veils, armed themselves and slung on their swords: after which +they brought Hasan a steed of the best and equipped him in panoply and weaponed +him with goodly weapons. Then they all sallied out and found the Magian who +had slaughtered and skinned a camel, ill-using the young Moslem, and saying to +him, "Sit thee in this hide." So Hasan came behind him, without his knowledge, +and cried out at him till he was dazed and amazed. Then he came up to him, +saying, "Hold thy hand, O accursed! O enemy of Allah and foe of the Moslems! O +dog! O traitor! O thou that flame dost obey! O thou that walkest in the wicked +ones' ways, worshipping the fire and the light and swearing by the shade and +the heat!" Herewith the Magian turned and seeing Hasan, thought to wheedle him +and said to him, "O my son, how diddest thou escape and who brought thee down +to earth?" Hasan replied, "He delivered me, who hath appointed the taking of +thy life to be at my hand, and I will torture thee even as thou torturedst me +the whole way long. O miscreant, O atheist,[FN#46] thou hast fallen into the +twist and the way thou hast missed; and neither mother shall avail thee nor +brother, nor friend nor solemn covenant shall assist thee; for thou saidst, O +accursed, Whoso betrayeth bread and salt, may Allah do vengeance upon him! And +thou hast broken the bond of bread and salt; wherefore the Almighty hath thrown +thee into my grasp, and far is thy chance of escape from me." Rejoined Bahram, +"By Allah, O my son, O Hasan, thou art dearer to me than my sprite and the +light of mine eyes!" But Hasan stepped up to him and hastily smote him between +the shoulders, that the sword issued gleaming from his throat-tendons and Allah +hurried his soul to the fire, and abiding-place dire. Then Hasan took the +Magian's bag and opened it, then having taken out the kettle-drum he struck it +with the strap, whereupon up came the dromedaries like lightning. So he +unbound the youth from his bonds and setting him on one of the camels, loaded +him another with victual and water,[FN#47] saying, "Wend whither thou wilt." +So he departed, after Almighty Allah had thus delivered him from his strait at +the hands of Hasan. When the damsels saw their brother slay the Magian they +joyed in him with exceeding joy and gat round him, marvelling at his valour and +prowess,[FN#48] and thanked him for his deed and gave him joy of his safety, +saying, "O Hasan thou hast done a deed, whereby thou hast healed the burning of +him that thirsteth for vengeance and pleased the King of Omnipotence!" Then +they returned to the palace, and he abode with them, eating and drinking and +laughing and making merry; and indeed his sojourn with them was joyous to him +and he forgot his mother;[FN#49] but while he led with them this goodly life +one day, behold, there arose from the further side of the desert a great cloud +of dust that darkened the welkin and made towards them. When the Princesses +saw this, they said to him, "Rise, O Hasan, run to thy chamber and conceal +thyself; or an thou wilt, go down into the garden and hide thyself among the +trees and vines; but fear not, for no harm shall befal thee." So he arose and +entering his chamber, locked the door upon himself, and lay lurking in the +palace. Presently the dust opened out and showed beneath it a great conquering +host, as it were a surging sea, coming from the King, the father of the +damsels. Now when the troops reached the castle, the Princesses received them +with all honour and hospitably entertained them three days; after which they +questioned them of their case and tidings and they replied saying, "We come +from the King in quest of you." They asked, "And what would the King with +us?"; and the officers answered, "One of the Kings maketh a marriage festival, +and your father would have you be present thereat and take your pleasure +therewith." The damsels enquired, "And how long shall we be absent from our +place?"; and they rejoined, "The time to come and go, and to sojourn may be two +months." So the Princesses arose and going in to the palace sought Hasan, +acquainted him with the case and said to him, "Verily this place is thy place +and our house is thy house; so be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and +clear and feel nor grief nor fear, for none can come at thee here; but keep a +good heart and a glad mind, till we return to thee. The keys of our chambers +we leave with thee; but, O our brother, we beseech thee, by the bond of +brotherhood, in very deed not to open such a door, for thou hast no need +thereto." Then they farewelled him and fared forth with the troops, leaving +Hasan alone in the palace. It was not long before his breast grew straitened +and his patience shortened: solitude and sadness were heavy on him and he +sorrowed for his severance from them with passing chagrin. The palace for all +its vastness, waxed small to him and finding himself sad and solitary, he +bethought him of the damsels and their pleasant converse and recited these +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The wide plain is narrowed before these eyes * And the landscape<br/> + + troubles this heart of mine.<br/> + +Since my friends went forth, by the loss of them * Joy fled and<br/> + + these eyelids rail floods of brine:<br/> + +Sleep shunned these eyeballs for parting woe * And my mind is<br/> + + worn with sore pain and pine:<br/> + +Would I wot an Time shall rejoin our lots * And the joys of love<br/> + + with night-talk combine."<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 Eighty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after the departure of +the damsels, Hasan sat in the palace sad and solitary and his breast was +straitened by severance. He used to ride forth a-hunting by himself in the +wold and bring back the game and slaughter it and eat thereof alone: but +melancholy and disquiet redoubled on him, by reason of his loneliness. So he +arose and went round about the palace and explored its every part; he opened +the Princesses' apartments and found therein riches and treasures fit to ravish +the beholder's reason; but he delighted not in aught thereof, by reason of +their absence. His heart was fired by thinking of the door they had charged +him not to approach or open on any account and he said in himself, "My sister +had never enjoined me not to open this door, except there were behind it +somewhat whereof she would have none to know; but, by Allah, I will arise and +open it and see what is within, though within it were sudden death!" Then he +took the key and, opening the door,[FN#50] saw therein no treasure but he +espied a vaulted and winding staircase of Yamani onyx at the upper end of the +chamber. So he mounted the stair, which brought him out upon the terrace- roof +of the palace, whence he looked down upon the gardens and vergiers, full of +trees and fruits and beasts and birds warbling praises of Allah, the One, the +All-powerful; and said in himself "This is that they forbade to me." He gazed +upon these pleasaunces and saw beyond a surging sea, dashing with clashing +billows, and he ceased not to explore the palace right and left, till he ended +at a pavilion builded with alternate courses, two bricks of gold and one of +silver and jacinth and emerald and supported by four columns. And in the +centre he saw a sitting- room paved and lined with a mosaic of all manner +precious stones such as rubies and emeralds and balasses and other jewels of +sorts; and in its midst stood a basin[FN#51] brimful of water, over which was a +trellis-work of sandalwood and aloes-wood reticulated with rods of red gold and +wands of emerald and set with various kinds of jewels and fine pearls, each +sized as a pigeon's egg. The trellis was covered with a climbing vine, bearing +grapes like rubies, and beside the basin stood a throne of lign-aloes latticed +with red gold, inlaid with great pearls and comprising vari-coloured gems of +every sort and precious minerals, each kind fronting each and symmetrically +disposed. About it the birds warbled with sweet tongues and various voices +celebrating the praises of Allah the Most High: brief, it was a palace such as +nor Cćsar nor Chosroës ever owned; but Hasan saw therein none of the creatures +of Allah, whereat he marvelled and said in himself, "I wonder to which of the +Kings this place pertaineth, or is it Many-Columned Iram whereof they tell, for +who among mortals can avail to the like of this?" And indeed he was amazed at +the spectacle and sat down in the pavilion and cast glances around him +marvelling at the beauty of its ordinance and at the lustre of the pearls and +jewels and the curious works which therein were, no less than at the gardens +and orchards aforesaid and at the birds that hymned the praises of Allah, the +One, the Almighty; and he abode pondering the traces of him whom the Most High +had enabled to rear that structure, for indeed He is muchel of might.[FN#52] +And presently, behold, he espied ten birds[FN#53] flying towards the pavilion +from the heart of the desert and knew that they were making the palace and +bound for the basin, to drink of its waters: so he hid himself, for fear they +should see him and take flight. They lighted on a great tree and a goodly and +circled round about it; and he saw amongst them a bird of marvel-beauty, the +goodliest of them all, and the nine stood around it and did it service; and +Hasan marvelled to see it peck them with its bill and lord it over them while +they fled from it. He stood gazing at them from afar as they entered the +pavilion and perched on the couch; after which each bird rent open its +neck-skin with its claws and issued out of it; and lo! it was but a garment of +feathers, and there came forth therefrom ten virgins, maids whose beauty shamed +the brilliancy of the moon. They all doffed their clothes and plunging into +the basin, washed and fell to playing and sporting one with other; whilst the +chief bird of them lifted up the rest and ducked them down and they fled from +her and dared not put forth their hands to her. When Hasan beheld her thus he +took leave of his right reason and his sense was enslaved, so he knew that the +Princesses had not forbidden him to open the door save because of this; for he +fell passionately in love with her, for what he saw of her beauty and +loveliness, symmetry and perfect grace, as she played and sported and splashed +the others with the water. He stood looking upon them whilst they saw him not, +with eye gazing and heart burning and soul[FN#54] to evil prompting; and he +sighed to be with them and wept for longing, because of the beauty and +loveliness of the chief damsel. His mind was amazed at her charms and his +heart taken in the net of her love; lowe was loosed in his heart for her sake +and there waxed on him a flame, whose sparks might not be quenched, and desire, +whose signs might not be hidden. Presently, they came up out of that basin, +whilst Hasan marvelled at their beauty and loveliness and the tokens of inner +gifts in the elegance of their movements. Then he cast a glance at the chief +damsel who stood mother- naked and there was manifest to him what was between +her thighs a goodly rounded dome on pillars borne, like a bowl of silver or +crystal, which recalled to him the saying of the poet,[FN#55] +</p> + +<p> +"When I took up her shift and discovered the terrace-roof of her<br/> + + kaze, I found it as strait as my humour or eke my worldly<br/> + + ways:<br/> + +So I thrust it, incontinent, in, halfway, and she heaved a sigh.<br/> + + 'For what dost thou sigh?' quoth I. 'For the rest of it<br/> + + sure,' she says."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then coming out of the water they all put on their dresses and ornaments, and +the chief maiden donned a green dress,[FN#56] wherein she surpassed for +loveliness all the fair ones of the world and the lustre of her face outshone +the resplendent full moons: she excelled the branches with the grace of her +bending gait and confounded the wit with apprehension of disdain; and indeed +she was as saith the poet,[FN#57] +</p> + +<p> +"A maiden 'twas, the dresser's art had decked with cunning<br/> + + sleight;<br/> + +The sun thou 'd'st say had robbed her cheek and shone with<br/> + + borrowed light.<br/> + +She came to us apparelled fair in under vest of green,<br/> + +Like as the ripe pomegranate hides beneath its leafy screen;<br/> + +And when we asked her what might be the name of what she wore,<br/> + +She answered in a quaint reply that double meaning bore:<br/> + +The desert's heart we penetrate in such apparel dressed,<br/> + +And Pierce-heart therefore is the name by which we call the<br/> + + vest."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan saw the +damsels issue forth the basin, the chief maiden robbed his reason with her +beauty and loveliness compelling him to recite the couplets forequoted. And +after dressing they sat talking and laughing, whilst he stood gazing on them, +drowned in the sea of his love, burning in the flames of passion and wandering +in the Wady of his melancholy thought. And he said to himself, "By Allah, my +sister forbade me not to open the door, but for cause of these maidens and for +fear lest I should fall in love with one of them! How, O Hasan shalt thou woo +and win them? How bring down a bird flying in the vasty firmament? By Allah +thou hast cast thyself into a bottomless sea and snared thyself in a net whence +there is no escape! I shall die desolate and none shall wot of my death." And +he continued to gaze on the charms of the chief damsel, who was the lovliest +creature Allah had made in her day, and indeed she outdid in beauty all human +beings. She had a mouth magical as Solomon's seal and hair blacker than the +night of estrangement to the love-despairing man; her brow was bright as the +crescent moon of the Feast of Ramazán[FN#58] and her eyes were like eyes +wherewith gazelles scan; she had a polished nose straight as a cane and cheeks +like blood-red anemones of Nu'uman, lips like coralline and teeth like strung +pearls in carcanets of gold virgin to man, and a neck like an ingot of silver, +above a shape like a wand of Bán: her middle was full of folds, a dimpled plain +such as enforceth the distracted lover to magnify Allah and extol His might and +main, and her navel[FN#59] an ounce of musk, sweetest of savour could contain: +she had thighs great and plump, like marble columns twain or bolsters stuffed +with down from ostrich ta'en, and between them a somewhat, as it were a hummock +great of span or a hare with ears back lain while terrace-roof and pilasters +completed the plan; and indeed she surpassed the bough of the myrobalan with +her beauty and symmetry, and the Indian rattan, for she was even as saith of +them the poet whom love did unman,[FN#60] +</p> + +<p> +"Her lip-dews rival honey-sweets, that sweet virginity; *<br/> + + Keener than Hindi scymitar the glance she casts at thee:<br/> + +She shames the bending bough of Bán with graceful movement slow *<br/> + + And as she smiles her teeth appear with leven's brilliancy:<br/> + +When I compared with rose a-bloom the tintage of her cheeks, *<br/> + + She laughed in scorn and cried, 'Whoso compares with rosery<br/> + +My hue and breasts, granados terms, is there no shame in him? *<br/> + + How should pomegranates bear on bough such fruit in form or<br/> + + blee?<br/> + +Now by my beauty and mine eyes and heart and eke by Heaven *<br/> + + Of favours mine and by the Hell of my unclemency,<br/> + +They say 'She is a garden-rose in very pride of bloom'; *<br/> + + And yet no rose can ape my cheek nor branch my symmetry!<br/> + +If any garden own a thing which unto me is like, *<br/> + + What then is that he comes to crave of me and only me?"'<br/> +</p> + +<p> +They ceased not to laugh and play, whilst Hasan stood still a-watching them, +forgetting meat and drink, till near the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, when the +beauty, the chief damsel, said to her mates, "O Kings' daughters, it waxeth +late and our land is afar and we are weary of this stead. Come, therefore, let +us depart to our own place." So they all arose and donned their feather vests, +and becoming birds as they were before, flew away all together, with the chief +lady in their midst. Then, Hasan, despairing of their return, would have +arisen and gone down into the palace but could not move or even stand; +wherefore the tears ran down his cheeks and passion was sore on him and he +recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"May God deny me boon of troth if I * After your absence sweets<br/> + + of slumber know:<br/> + +Yea; since that sev'rance never close mine eyes, * Nor rest<br/> + + repose me since departed you!<br/> + +'Twould seem as though you saw me in your sleep; * Would Heaven<br/> + + the dreams of sleep were real-true!<br/> + +Indeed I dote on sleep though needed not, * For sleep may bring<br/> + + me that dear form to view."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Hasan walked on, little by little, heeding not the way he went, till he +reached the foot of the stairs, whence he dragged himself to his own chamber; +then he entered and shutting the door, lay sick eating not nor drinking and +drowned in the sea of his solitude. He spent the night thus, weeping and +bemoaning himself, till the morning, and when it morrowed he repeated these +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The birds took flight at eve and winged their way; * And sinless<br/> + + he who died of Love's death-blow.<br/> + +I'll keep my love-tale secret while I can * But, an desire<br/> + + prevail, its needs must show:<br/> + +Night brought me nightly vision, bright as dawn; * While nights<br/> + + of my desire lack morning-glow.<br/> + +I mourn for them[FN#61] while they heart-freest sleep * And winds<br/> + + of love on me their plaything blow:<br/> + +Free I bestow my tears, my wealth, my heart * My wit, my sprite:Â<br/> + + most gain who most bestow!<br/> + +The worst of woes and banes is enmity * Beautiful maidens deal us<br/> + + to our woe.<br/> + +Favour they say's forbidden to the fair * And shedding lovers'<br/> + + blood their laws allow;<br/> + +That naught can love-sicks do but lavish soul, * And stake in<br/> + + love-play life on single throw:[FN#62]<br/> + +I cry in longing ardour for my love: * Lover can only weep and<br/> + + wail Love-lowe."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When the sun rose he opened the door, went forth of the chamber and mounted to +the stead where he was before: then he sat down facing the pavilion and awaited +the return of the birds till nightfall; but they returned not; wherefore he +wept till he fell to the ground in a fainting-fit. When he came to after his +swoon, he dragged himself down the stairs to his chamber; and indeed, the +darkness was come and straitened upon him was the whole world and he ceased not +to weep and wail himself through the livelong night, till the day broke and the +sun rained over hill and dale its rays serene. He ate not nor drank nor slept, +nor was there any rest for him; but by day he was distracted and by night +distressed, with sleeplessness delirious and drunken with melancholy thought +and excess of love-longing. And he repeated the verses of the love-distraught +poet, +</p> + +<p> +"O thou who shamest sun in morning sheen * The branch<br/> + + confounding, yet with nescience blest;<br/> + +Would Heaven I wot an Time shall bring return * And quench the<br/> + + fires which flame unmanifest,—<br/> + +Bring us together in a close embrace, * Thy cheek upon my cheek,<br/> + + thy breast abreast!<br/> + +Who saith, In Love dwells sweetness? when in Love * Are bitterer<br/> + + days than Aloës[FN#63] bitterest."<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 Eighty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan the +goldsmith felt love redouble upon him, he recited those lines; and, as he abode +thus in the stress of his love-distraction, alone and finding none to cheer him +with company, behold, there arose a dust-cloud from the desert, wherefore he +ran down and hid himself knowing that the Princesses who owned the castle had +returned. Before long, the troops halted and dismounted round the palace and +the seven damsels alighted and entering, put off their arms and armour of war. +As for the youngest, she stayed not to doff her weapons and gear, but went +straight to Hasan's chamber, where finding him not, she sought for him, till +she lighted on him in one of the sleeping closets hidden, feeble and thin, with +shrunken body and wasted bones and indeed his colour was changed and his eyes +sunken in his face for lack of food and drink and for much weeping, by reason +of his love and longing for the young lady. When she saw him in this plight, +she was confounded and lost her wits; but presently she questioned him of his +case and what had befallen him, saying, "Tell me what aileth thee, O my +brother, that I may contrive to do away thine affliction, and I will be thy +ransom!"[FN#64] Whereupon he wept with sore weeping and by way of reply he +began reciting, +</p> + +<p> +"Lover, when parted from the thing he loves, * Has naught save<br/> + + weary woe and bane to bear.<br/> + +Inside is sickness, outside living lowe, * His first is fancy and<br/> + + his last despair."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When his sister heard this, she marvelled at his eloquence and loquent speech +and his readiness at answering her in verse and said to him, "O my brother, +when didst thou fall into this thy case and what hath betided thee, that I find +thee speaking in song and shedding tears that throng? Allah upon thee, O my +brother, and by the honest love which is between us, tell me what aileth thee +and discover to me thy secret, nor conceal from me aught of that which hath +befallen thee in our absence; for my breast is straitened and my life is +troubled because of thee." He sighed and railed tears like rain, after which he +said, "I fear, O my sister, if I tell thee, that thou wilt not aid me to win my +wish but wilt leave me to die wretchedly in mine anguish." She replied, "No, by +Allah, O my brother, I will not abandon thee, though it cost me my life!" So +he told her all that had befallen him, and that the cause of his distress and +affliction was the passion he had conceived for the young lady whom he had seen +when he opened the forbidden door; and how he had not tasted meat nor drink for +ten days past. Then he wept with sore weeping and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Restore my heart as 'twas within my breast, * Let mine eyes<br/> + + sleep again, then fly fro' me.<br/> + +Deem ye the nights have had the might to change * Love's vow?<br/> + + Who changeth may he never be!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +His sister wept for his weeping and was moved to ruth for his case and pitied +his strangerhood; so she said to him, "O my brother, be of good cheer and keep +thine eyes cool and clear, for I will venture being and risk existence to +content thee and devise thee a device wherewith, though it cost me my dear life +and all I hold dear, thou mayst get possession of her and accomplish thy +desire, if such be the will of Allah Almighty. But I charge thee, O my brother, +keep the matter secret from my sisterhood and discover not thy case to any one +of them, lest my life be lost with thy life. An they question thee of opening +the forbidden door, reply to them, 'I opened it not; no, never; but I was +troubled at heart for your absence and by my loneliness here and yearning for +you.'"[FN#65] And he answered, "Yes: this is the right rede." So he kissed her +head and his heart was comforted and his bosom broadened. He had been nigh +upon death for excess of affright, for he had gone in fear of her by reason of +his having opened the door; but now his life and soul returned to him. Then he +sought of her somewhat of food and after serving it she left him, and went in +to her sisters, weeping and mourning for him. They questioned her of her case +and she told them how she was heavy at heart for her brother, because he was +sick and for ten days no food had found way into his stomach. So they asked +the cause of his sickness and she answered, "The reason was our severance from +him and our leaving him desolate; for these days we have been absent from him +were longer to him than a thousand years and scant blame to him, seeing he is a +stranger, and solitary and we left him alone, with none to company with him or +hearten his heart; more by token that he is but a youth and may be he called to +mind his family and his mother, who is a woman in years, and bethought him that +she weepeth for him all whiles of the day and watches of the night, ever +mourning his loss; and we used to solace him with our society and divert him +from thinking of her." When her sisters heard these words they wept in the +stress of their distress for him and said, "Wa'lláhi—'fore Allah, he is not to +blame!" Then they went out to the army and dismissed it, after which they went +into Hasan and saluted him with the salam. When they saw his charms changed +with yellow colour and shrunken body, they wept for very pity and sat by his +side and comforted him and cheered him with converse, relating to him all they +had seen by the way of wonders and rarities and what had befallen the +bridegroom with the bride. They abode with him thus a whole month, tendering +him and caressing him with words sweeter than syrup; but every day sickness was +added to his sickness, which when they saw, they bewept him with sore weeping, +and the youngest wept even more than the rest. At the end of this time, the +Princesses having made up their minds to ride forth a-hunting and a-birding +invited their sister to accompany them, but she said, "By Allah, O my sisters, +I cannot go forth with you whilst my brother is in this plight, nor indeed till +he be restored to health and there cease from him that which is with him of +affliction. Rather will I sit with him and comfort him." They thanked her for +her kindness and said to her, "Allah will requite thee all thou dost with this +stranger." Then they left her with him in the palace and rode forth taking with +them twenty days' victual;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Princesses mounted +and rode forth a-hunting and a-birding, after leaving in the palace their +youngest sister sitting by Hasan's side; and as soon as the damsel knew that +they had covered a long distance from home, she went in to him and said, "O my +brother, come, show me the place where thou sawest the maidens." He rejoiced in +her words, making sure of winning his wish, and replied, "Bismillah! On my +head!" Then he essayed to rise and show her the place, but could not walk; so +she took him up in her arms, holding him to her bosom between her breasts; and, +opening the staircase-door, carried him to the top of the palace, and he showed +her the pavilion where he had seen the girls and the basin of water, wherein +they had bathed. Then she said to him, "Set forth to me, O my brother, their +case and how they came." So he described to her whatso he had seen of them and +especially the girl of whom he was enamoured; but hearing these words she knew +her and her cheeks paled and her case changed. Quoth he, "O my sister, what +aileth thee to wax wan and be troubled?"; and quoth she, "O my brother, know +thou that this young lady is the daughter of a Sovran of the Jann, of one of +the most puissant of their Kings, and her father had dominion over men and Jinn +and wizards and Cohens and tribal chiefs and guards and countries and cities +and islands galore and hath immense wealth in store. Our father is a Viceroy +and one of his vassals and none can avail against him, for the multitude of his +many and the extent of his empire and the muchness of his monies. He hath +assigned to his offspring, the daughters thou sawest, a tract of country, a +whole year's journey in length and breadth, a region girt about with a great +river and a deep; and thereto none may attain, nor man nor Jann. He hath an +army of women, smiters with swords and lungers with lances, five-and-twenty +thousand in number, each of whom, whenas she mounteth steed and donneth +battle-gear, eveneth a thousand knights of the bravest. Moreover, he hath +seven daughters, who in valour and prowess equal and even excel their +sisters,[FN#66] and he hath made the eldest of them, the damsel whom thou +sawest,[FN#67] queen over the country aforesaid and who is the wisest of her +sisters and in valour and horsemanship and craft and skill and magic excels all +the folk of her dominions. The girls who companied with her are the ladies of +her court and guards and grandees of her empire, and the plumed skins wherewith +they fly are the handiwork of enchanters of the Jann. Now an thou wouldst get +possession of this queen and wed this jewel seld-seen and enjoy her beauty and +loveliness and grace, do thou pay heed to my words and keep them in thy memory. + They resort to this place on the first day of every month; and thou must take +seat here and watch for them; and when thou seest them coming hide thee near +the pavilion sitting where thou mayst see them, without being seen of them, and +beware, again beware lest thou show thyself, or we shall all lose our lives. +When they doff their dress note which is the feather-suit of her whom thou +lovest and take it, and it only, for this it is that carrieth her to her +country, and when thou hast mastered it, thou hast mastered her. And beware +lest she wile thee, saying, 'O thou who hast robbed my raiment, restore it to +me, because here am I in thine hands and at thy mercy!' For, an thou give it +her, she will kill thee and break down over us palace and pavilion and slay our +sire: know, then, thy case and how thou shalt act. When her companions see +that her feather-suit is stolen, they will take flight and leave her to thee, +and beware lest thou show thyself to them, but wait till they have flown away +and she despaireth of them: whereupon do thou go in to her and hale her by the +hair of her head[FN#68] and drag her to thee; which being done, she will be at +thy mercy. And I rede thee discover not to her that thou hast taken the +feather-suit, but keep it with care; for, so long as thou hast it in hold, she +is thy prisoner and in thy power, seeing that she cannot fly to her country +save with it. And lastly carry her down to thy chamber where she will be +thine." When Hasan heard her words his heart became at ease, his trouble ceased +and affliction left him; so he rose to his feet and kissing his sister's head, +went down from the terrace with her into the palace, where they slept that +night. He medicined himself till morning morrowed; and when the sun rose, he +sprang up and opened the staircase-door and ascending to the flat roof sat +there till supper-tide when his sister brought him up somewhat of meat and +drink and a change of clothes and he slept. And thus they continued doing, day +by day until the end of the month. When he saw the new moon, he rejoiced and +began to watch for the birds, and while he was thus, behold, up they came, like +lightning. As soon as he espied them, he hid himself where he could watch +them, unwatched by them, and they lighted down one and all of them, and putting +off their clothes, descended into the basin. All this took place near the stead +where Hasan lay concealed, and as soon as he caught sight of the girl he loved, +he arose and crept under cover, little by little, towards the dresses, and +Allah veiled him so that none marked his approach for they were laughing and +playing with one another, till he laid hand on the dress. Now when they had +made an end of their diversion, they came forth of the basin and each of them +slipped on her feather-suit. But the damsel he loved sought for her plumage +that she might put it on, but found it not; whereupon she shrieked and beat her +cheeks and rent her raiment. Her sisterhood[FN#69] came to her and asked what +ailed her, and she told them that her feather-suit was missing; wherefore they +wept and shrieked and buffeted their faces: and they were confounded, wotting +not the cause of this, and knew not what to do. Presently the night overtook +them and they feared to abide with her lest that which had befallen her should +befal them also; so they farewelled her and flying away left her alone upon the +terrace-roof of the palace, by the pavilion basin.—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninetieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan had carried +off the girl's plumery, she sought it but found it not and her sisterhood flew +away leaving her alone. When they were out of sight, Hasan gave ear to her and +heard her say, "O who hast taken my dress and stripped me, I beseech thee to +restore it to me and cover my shame, so may Allah never make thee taste of my +tribulation!" But when Hasan heard her speak thus, with speech sweeter than +syrup, his love for her redoubled, passion got the mastery of his reason and he +had not patience to endure from her. So springing up from his hiding-place, he +rushed upon her and laying hold of her by the hair dragged her to him and +carried her down to the basement of the palace and set her in his own chamber, +where he threw over her a silken cloak[FN#70] and left her weeping and biting +her hands. Then he shut the door upon her and going to his sister, informed +her how he had made prize of his lover and carried her to his sleeping-closet, +"And there," quoth he, "she is now sitting, weeping and biting her hands." +When his sister heard this, she rose forthright and betook herself to the +chamber, where she found the captive weeping and mourning. So she kissed +ground before her and saluted her with the salam and the young lady said to +her, "O King's daughter, do folk like you do such foul deed with the daughters +of Kings? Thou knowest that my father is a mighty Sovran and that all the +liege lords of the Jinn stand in awe of him and fear his majesty: for that +there are with him magicians and sages and Cohens and Satans and Marids, such +as none may cope withal, and under his hand are folk whose number none knoweth +save Allah. How then doth it become you, O daughters of Kings, to harbour +mortal men with you and disclose to them our case and yours? Else how should +this man, a stranger, come at us?" Hasan's sister made reply, "O King's +daughter, in very sooth this human is perfect in nobleness and purposeth thee +no villainy; but he loveth thee, and women were not made save for men. Did he +not love thee, he had not fallen sick for thy sake and well-nigh given up the +ghost for desire of thee." And she told her the whole tale how Hasan had seen +her bathing in the basin with her attendants, and fallen in love with her, and +none had pleased him but she, for the rest were all her handmaids, and none had +availed to put forth a hand to her. When the Princess heard this, she despaired +of deliverance and presently Hasan's sister went forth and brought her a costly +dress, wherein she robed her. Then she set before her somewhat of meat and +drink and ate with her and heartened her heart and soothed her sorrows. And +she ceased not to speak her fair with soft and pleasant words, saying, "Have +pity on him who saw thee once and became as one slain by thy love;" and +continued to console her and caress her, quoting fair says and pleasant +instances. But she wept till daybreak, when her trouble subsided and she left +shedding tears, knowing that she had fallen into the net and that there was no +deliverance for her. Then said she to Hasan's sister, "O King's daughter, with +this my strangerhood and severance from my country and sisterhood which Allah +wrote upon my brow, patience becometh me to support what my Lord hath +foreordained." Therewith the youngest Princess assigned her a chamber in the +palace, than which there was none goodlier and ceased not to sit with her and +console her and solace her heart, till she was satisfied with her lot and her +bosom was broadened and she laughed and there ceased from her what trouble and +oppression possessed her, by reason of her separation from her people and +country and sisterhood and parents. Thereupon Hasan's sister repaired to him, +and said, "Arise, go in to her in her chamber and kiss her hands and +feet."[FN#71] So he went in to her and did this and bussed her between the +eyes, saying, "O Princess of fair ones and life of sprites and beholder's +delight, be easy of heart, for I took thee only that I might be thy bondsman +till the Day of Doom, and this my sister will be thy servant; for I, O my lady, +desire naught but to take thee to wife, after the law of Allah and the practice +of His Apostle, and whenas thou wilt, I will journey with thee to my country +and carry thee to Baghdad-city and abide with thee there: moreover, I will buy +thee handmaidens and negro chattels; and I have a mother, of the best of women, +who will do thee service. There is no goodlier land than our land; everything +therein is better than elsewhere and its folk are a pleasant people and bright +of face." Now as he bespake her thus and strave to comfort her, what while she +answered him not a syllable, lo! there came a knocking at the palace-gate. So +Hasan went out to see who was at the door and found there the six Princesses, +who had returned from hunting and birding, whereat he rejoiced and went to meet +them and welcomed them. They wished him safety and health and he wished them +the like; after which they dismounted and going each to her chamber doffed +their soiled clothes and donned fine linen. Then they came forth and demanded +the game, for they had taken a store of gazelles and wild cows, hares and +lions, hyaenas, and others; so their suite brought out some thereof for +butchering, keeping the rest by them in the palace, and Hasan girt himself and +fell to slaughtering for them in due form,[FN#72] whilst they sported and made +merry, joying with great joy to see him standing amongst them hale and hearty +once more. When they had made an end of slaughtering, they sat down and +addressed themselves to get ready somewhat for breaking their fast, and Hasan, +coming up to the eldest Princess, kissed her head and on like wise did he with +the rest, one after other. Whereupon said they to him, "Indeed, thou humblest +thyself to us passing measure, O our brother, and we marvel at the excess of +the affection thou showest us. But Allah forfend that thou shouldst do this +thing, which it behoveth us rather to do with thee, seeing thou art a man and +therefor worthier than we, who are of the Jinn."[FN#73] Thereupon his eyes +brimmed with tears and he wept sore; so they said to him, "What causeth thee to +weep? Indeed, thou troublest our pleasant lives with thy weeping this day. +'Twould seem thou longest after thy mother and native land. An things be so, +we will equip thee and carry thee to thy home and thy friends." He replied, +"By Allah, I desire not to part from you!" Then they asked, "Which of us hath +vexed thee, that thou art thus troubled?" But he was ashamed to say, "Naught +troubleth me save love of a damsel," lest they should deny and disavow him: so +he was silent and would tell them nothing of his case. Then his sister came +forward and said to them, "He hath caught a bird from the air and would have +you help him to tame her." Whereupon they all turned to him and cried, "We are +at thy service every one of us and whatsoever thou seekest that will we do: but +tell us thy tale and conceal from us naught of thy case." So he said to his +sister, "Do thou tell them, for I am ashamed before them nor can I face them +with these words."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan said to his sister, +"Do thou tell them my tale, for before them I stand abashed nor can I face them +with these words." So she said to them, "O my sisters, when we went away and +left alone this unhappy one, the palace was straitened upon him and he feared +lest some one should come in to him, for ye know that the sons of Adam are +light of wits. So, he opened the door of the staircase leading to the roof, of +his loneliness and trouble, and sat there, looking upon the Wady and watching +the gate, in his fear lest any should come thither. One day, as he sat thus, +suddenly he saw ten birds approach him, making for the palace, and they lighted +down on the brink of the basin which is in the pavilion-terrace. He watched +these birds and saw, amongst them, one goodlier than the rest, which pecked the +others and flouted them, whilst none of them dared put out a claw to it. +Presently, they set their nails to their neck-collars and, rending their +feather-suits, came forth therefrom and became damsels, each and every, like +the moon on fullest night. Then they doffed their dress and plunging into the +water, fell to playing with one another, whilst the chief damsel ducked the +others, who dared not lay a finger on her and she was fairest of favour and +most famous of form and most feateous of finery. They ceased not to be in this +case till near the hour of mid-afternoon prayer, when they came forth of the +basin and, donning their feather-shifts, flew away home. Thereupon he waxed +distracted, with a heart afire for love of the chief damsel and repenting him +that he had not stolen her plumery. Wherefore he fell sick and abode on the +palace-roof expecting her return and abstaining from meat and drink and sleep, +and he ceased not to be so till the new moon showed, when behold, they again +made their appearance according to custom and doffing their dresses went down +into the basin. So he stole the chief damsel's feather-suit, knowing that she +could not fly save therewith, hiding himself carefully lest they sight him and +slay him. Then he waited till the rest had flown away, when he arose and +seizing the damsel, carried her down from the terrace into the castle." Her +sisters asked, "Where is she?"; and she answered, "She is with him in such a +chamber." Quoth they, "Describe her to us, O our sister:" so quoth she, "She is +fairer than the moon on the night of fullness and her face is sheenier than the +sun; the dew of her lips is sweeter than honey and her shape is straighter and +slenderer than the cane; one with eyes black as night and brow flower-white; a +bosom jewel-bright, breasts like pomegranates twain and cheeks like apples +twain, a waist with dimples overlain, a navel like a casket of ivory full of +musk in grain, and legs like columns of alabastrine vein. She ravisheth all +hearts with Nature-kohl'd eyne, and a waist slender-fine and hips of heaviest +design and speech that heals all pain and pine: she is goodly of shape and +sweet of smile, as she were the moon in fullest sheen and shine." When the +Princesses heard these praises, they turned to Hasan and said to him, "Show her +to us." So he arose with them, all love-distraught, and carrying them to the +chamber wherein was the captive damsel, opened the door and entered, preceding +the seven Princesses. Now when they saw her and noted her loveliness, they +kissed the ground between her hands, marvelling at the fairness of her favour +and the significance which showed her inner gifts, and said to her, "By Allah, +O daughter of the Sovran Supreme, this is indeed a mighty matter: and haddest +thou heard tell of this mortal among women thou haddest marvelled at him all +thy days. Indeed, he loveth thee with passionate love; yet, O King's daughter, +he seeketh not lewdness, but desireth thee only in the way of lawful wedlock. +Had we known that maids can do without men, we had impeached him from his +intent, albeit he sent thee no messenger, but came to thee in person; and he +telleth us he hath burnt the feather dress; else had we taken it from him." +Then one of them agreed with the Princess and becoming her deputy in the matter +of the wedding contract, performed the marriage ceremony between them, whilst +Hasan clapped palms with her, laying his hand in hers, and she wedded him to +the damsel by consent; after which they celebrated her bridal feast, as +beseemeth Kings' daughters, and brought Hasan in to her. So he rose and rent +the veil and oped the gate and pierced the forge[FN#74] and brake the seal, +whereupon affection for her waxed in him and he redoubled in love and longing +for her. Then, since he had gotten that which he sought, he gave himself joy +and improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Thy shape's temptation, eyes as Houri's fain * And sheddeth<br/> + + Beauty's sheen[FN#75] that radiance rare:<br/> + +My glance portrayed thy glorious portraiture: * Rubies one-half<br/> + + and gems the third part were:<br/> + +Musk made a fifth: a sixth was ambergris * The sixth a pearl but<br/> + + pearl without compare.<br/> + +Eve never bare a daughter evening thee * Nor breathes thy like in<br/> + + Khuld's[FN#76] celestial air.<br/> + +An thou would torture me 'tis wont of Love * And if thou pardon<br/> + + 'tis thy choice I swear:<br/> + +Then, O world bright'ner and O end of wish! * Loss of thy charms<br/> + + who could in patience bear?"<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 Ninety-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan went in +unto the King's daughter and did away her maidenhead, he enjoyed her with +exceeding joy and affection for her waxed in him and he redoubled in +love-longing for her; so he recited the lines aforesaid. Now the Princesses +were standing at the door and when they heard his verses, they said to her, "O +King's daughter, hearest thou the words of this mortal? How canst thou blame +us, seeing that he maketh poetry for love of thee and indeed he hath so done a +thousand times."[FN#77] When she heard this she rejoiced and was glad and felt +happy and Hasan abode with her forty[FN#78] days in all solace and delight, +joyance and happiest plight, whilst the damsels renewed festivities for him +every day and overwhelmed him with bounty and presents and rarities; and the +King's daughter became reconciled to her sojourn amongst them and forgot her +kith and kin. At the end of the forty days, Hasan saw in a dream, one night, +his mother mourning for him and indeed her bones were wasted and her body had +waxed shrunken and her complexion had yellowed and her favour had changed the +while he was in excellent case. When she saw him in this state, she said to +him, "O my son, O Hasan, how is it that thou livest thy worldly life at thine +ease and forgettest me? Look at my plight since thy loss! I do not forget +thee, nor will my tongue cease to name thy name till I die; and I have made +thee a tomb in my house, that I may never forget thee. Would Heaven I +knew[FN#79] if I shall live, O my son, to see thee by my side and if we shall +ever again foregather as we were." Thereupon Hasan awoke from sleep, weeping +and wailing, the tears railed down his cheeks like rain and he became mournful +and melancholy; his tears dried not nor did sleep visit him, but he had no +rest, and no patience was left to him. When he arose, the Princesses came in +to him and gave him good-morrow and made merry with him as was their wont; but +he paid no heed to them; so they asked his wife concerning his case and she +said, "I ken not." Quoth they, "Question him of his condition." So she went +up to him and said, "What aileth thee, O my lord?" Whereupon he moaned and +groaned and told her what he had seen in his dream and repeated these two +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Indeed afflicted sore are we and all distraught, * Seeking for<br/> + + union; yet we find no way:<br/> + +And Love's calamities upon us grow * And Love though light with<br/> + + heaviest weight doth weigh."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +His wife repeated to the Princesses what he said and they, hearing the verses, +had pity on him and said to him, "In Allah's name, do as thou wilt, for we may +not hinder thee from visiting thy mother; nay, we will help thee to thy wish by +what means we may. But it behoveth that thou desert us not, but visit us, +though it be only once a year." And he answered, "To hear is to obey: be your +behest on my head and eyes!" Then they arose forthright and making him ready +victual for the voyage, equipped the bride for him with raiment and ornaments +and everything of price, such as defy description, and they bestowed on him +gifts and presents which pens of ready writers lack power to set forth. Then +they beat the magical kettle-drum and up came the dromedaries from all sides. +They chose of them such as could carry all the gear they had prepared; amongst +the rest five-and-twenty chests of gold and fifty of silver; and, mounting +Hasan and his bride on others, rode with them three days, wherein they +accomplished a march of three months. Then they bade them farewell and +addressed themselves to return; whereupon his sister, the youngest damsel, +threw herself on Hasan's neck and wept till she fainted. When she came to +herself, she repeated these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Ne'er dawn the severance-day on any wise * That robs of sleep<br/> + + these heavy-lidded eyes.<br/> + +From us and thee it hath fair union torn * It wastes our force<br/> + + and makes our forms its prize."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Her verses finished she farewelled him, straitly charging him, whenas he should +have come to his native land and have foregathered with his mother and set his +heart at ease, to fail not of visiting her once in every six months and saying, +"If aught grieve thee or thou fear aught of vexation, beat the Magian's +kettle-drum, whereupon the dromedaries shall come to thee; and do thou mount +and return to us and persist not in staying away." He swore thus to do and +conjured them to go home. So they returned to the palace, mourning for their +separation from him, especially the youngest, with whom no rest would stay nor +would Patience her call obey, but she wept night and day. Thus it was with +them; but as regards Hasan and his wife, they fared on by day and night over +plain and desert site and valley and stony heights through noon-tide glare and +dawn's soft light; and Allah decreed them safety, so that they reached +Bassorah-city without hindrance and made their camels kneel at the door of his +house. Hasan then dismissed the dromedaries and, going up to the door to open +it, heard his mother weeping and in a faint strain, from a heart worn with +parting-pain and on fire with consuming bane, reciting these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"How shall he taste of sleep who lacks repose * Who wakes a-night<br/> + + when all in slumber wone?<br/> + +He ownčd wealth and family and fame * Yet fared from house and<br/> + + home an exile lone:<br/> + +Live coal beneath his[FN#80] ribs he bears for bane, * And mighty<br/> + + longing, mightier ne'er was known:<br/> + +Passion hath seized him, Passion mastered him; * Yet is he<br/> + + constant while he maketh moan:<br/> + +His case for Love proclaimeth aye that he, * (As prove his tears)<br/> + + is wretched, woebegone."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Hasan heard his mother weeping and wailing he wept also and knocked at the +door a loud knock. Quoth she, "Who is at the door?"; and quoth he, "Open!" +Whereupon she opened the door and knowing him at first sight fell down in a +fainting fit; but he ceased not to tend her till she came to herself, when he +embraced her and she embraced him and kissed him, whilst his wife looked on +mother and son. Then he carried his goods and gear into the house, whilst his +mother, for that her heart was comforted and Allah had reunited her with her +son versified with these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Fortune had ruth upon my plight * Pitied my long long bane and<br/> + + blight;<br/> + +Gave me what I would liefest sight; * And set me free from all<br/> + + afright.<br/> + +So pardon I the sin that sin * nčd she in days evanisht quite;<br/> + +E'en to the sin she sinned when she * Bleached my hair-parting<br/> + + silvern white."<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 Ninety-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan with his mother +then sat talking and she asked him, "How faredst thou, O my son, with the +Persian?" whereto he answered, "O my mother, he was no Persian, but a Magian, +who worshipped the fire, not the All-powerful Sire." Then he told her how he +dealt with him, in that he had journeyed with him to the Mountain of Clouds and +sewed him up in the camel's skin, and how the vultures had taken him up and set +him down on the summit and what he had seen there of dead folk, whom the Magian +had deluded and left to die on the crest after they had done his desire. And he +told her how he had cast himself from the mountain-top into the sea and Allah +the Most High had preserved him and brought him to the palace of the seven +Princesses and how the youngest of them had taken him to brother and he had +sojourned with them till the Almighty brought the Magian to the place where he +was and he slew him. Moreover, he told her of his passion for the King's +daughter and how he had made prize of her and of his seeing her[FN#81] in sleep +and all else that had befallen him up to the time when Allah vouchsafed them +reunion. She wondered at his story and praised the Lord who had restored him +to her in health and safety. Then she arose and examined the baggage and loads +and questioned him of them. So he told her what was in them, whereat she joyed +with exceeding joy. Then she went up to the King's daughter, to talk with her +and bear her company; but, when her eyes fell on her, her wits were confounded +at her brilliancy and she rejoiced and marvelled at her beauty and loveliness +and symmetry and perfect grace: and she sat down beside her, cheering her and +comforting her heart while she never ceased to repeat "Alhamdolillah, O my son, +for thy return to me safe and sound!" Next morning early she went down into the +market and bought mighty fine furniture and ten suits of the richest raiment in +the city, and clad the young wife and adorned her with everything seemly. Then +said she to Hasan, "O my son, we cannot tarry in this town with all this +wealth; for thou knowest that we are poor folk and the people will suspect us +of practising alchemy. So come, let us depart to Baghdad, the House[FN#82] of +Peace, where we may dwell in the Caliph's Sanctuary, and thou shalt sit in a +shop to buy and sell, in the fear of Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!) +and He shall open to thee the door of blessings with this wealth." Hasan +approved her counsel and going forth straightway, sold the house and summoned +the dromedaries, which he loaded with all his goods and gear, together with his +mother and wife. Then he went down to the Tigris, where he hired him a craft +to carry them to Baghdad and embarked therein all his possessions and his +mother and wife. They sailed up the river with a fair wind for ten days till +they drew in sight of Baghdad, at which they all rejoiced, and the ship landed +them in the city, where without stay or delay Hasan hired a storehouse in one +of the caravanserais and transported his goods thither. He lodged that night +in the Khan and on the morrow, he changed his clothes and going down into the +city, enquired for a broker. The folk directed him to one, and when the broker +saw him, he asked him what he lacked. Quoth he, "I want a house, a handsome +one and a spacious." So the broker showed him the houses at his disposal and he +chose one that belonged to one of the Wazirs and buying it of him for an +hundred thousand golden dinars, gave him the price. Then he returned to his +caravanserai and removed all his goods and monies to the house; after which he +went down to the market and bought all the mansion needed of vessels and +carpets and other household stuff, besides servants and eunuchs, including a +little black boy for the house. He abode with his wife in all solace and +delight of life three years, during which time he was vouchsafed by her two +sons, one of whom he named Násir and the other Mansúr: but, at the end of this +time he bethought him of his sisters, the Princesses, and called to mind all +their goodness to him and how they had helped him to his desire. So he longed +after them and going out to the marketstreets of the city, bought trinkets and +costly stuffs and fruit-confections, such as they had never seen or known. His +mother asked him the reason of his buying these rarities and he answered, "I +purpose to visit my sisters, who showed me every kind of kindness and all the +wealth that I at present enjoy is due to their goodness and munificence: +wherefore I will journey to them and return soon, Inshallah!" Quoth she, "O my +son, be not long absent from me;" and quoth he, "Know, O my mother, how thou +shalt do with my wife. Here is her feather-dress in a chest, buried under +ground in such a place; do thou watch over it, lest haply she hap on it and +take it, for she would fly away, she and her children, and I should never hear +of them again and should die of grieving for them; wherefore take heed, O my +mother, while I warn thee that thou name this not to her. Thou must know that +she is the daughter of a King of the Jinn, than whom there is not a greater +among the Sovrans of the Jann nor a richer in troops and treasure, and she is +mistress of her people and dearest to her father of all he hath. Moreover, she +is passing high-spirited, so do thou serve her thyself and suffer her not to go +forth the door neither look out of window nor over the wall, for I fear the air +for her when it bloweth,[FN#83] and if aught befel her of the calamities of +this world, I should slay myself for her sake." She replied, "O my son, I take +refuge with Allah[FN#84] from gainsaying thee! Am I mad that thou shouldst lay +this charge on me and I disobey thee therein? Depart, O my son, with heart at +ease, and please Allah, soon thou shalt return in safety and see her and she +shall tell thee how I have dealt with her: but tarry not, O my son, beyond the +time of travel."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan had +determined to visit the Princesses, he gave his mother the orders we have +mentioned.[FN#85] Now, as Fate would have it, his wife heard what he said to +his mother and neither of them knew it. Then Hasan went without the city and +beat the kettle-drum, whereupon up came the dromedaries and he loaded twenty of +them with rarities of Al-Irak; after which he returned to his mother and +repeated his charge to her and took leave of her and his wife and children, one +of whom was a yearling babe and the other two years old. Then he mounted and +fared on, without stopping night or day, over hills and valleys and plains and +wastes for a term of ten days till, on the eleventh, he reached the palace and +went in to his sisters, with the gifts he had brought them. The Princesses +rejoiced at his sight and gave him joy of his safety, whilst his sister +decorated the palace within and without. Then they took the presents and, +lodging him in a chamber as before, asked him of his mother and his wife, and +he told them that she had borne him two sons. And the youngest Princess, +seeing him well and in good case, joyed with exceeding joy and repeated this +couplet, +</p> + +<p> +"I ever ask for news of you from whatso breezes pass * And never any but +yourselves can pass across my mind." +</p> + +<p> +Then he abode with them in all honour and hospitality, for three months, +spending his time in feasting and merrymaking, joy and delight, hunting and +sporting. So fared it with him; but as regards his wife, she abode with his +mother two days after her husband's departure, and on the third day, she said +to her, "Glory be to God! Have I lived with him three years and shall I never +go to the bath?" Then she wept and Hasan's mother had pity on her condition and +said to her, "O my daughter, here we are strangers and thy husband is abroad. +Were he at home, he would serve thee himself, but, as for me, I know no one. +However, O my daughter, I will heat thee water and wash thy head in the +Hammam-bath which is in the house." Answered the King's daughter, "O my lady, +hadst thou spoken thus to one of the slave-girls, she had demanded to be sold +in the Sultan's open market and had not abode with thee.[FN#86] Men are +excusable, because they are jealous and their reason telleth them that, if a +woman go forth the house, haply she will do frowardness. But women, O my lady, +are not all equal and alike and thou knowest that, if woman have a mind to +aught, whether it be the Hammam or what not else, none hath power over her to +guard her or keep her chaste or debar her from her desire; for she will do +whatso she willeth and naught restraineth her but her reason and her +religion."[FN#87] Then she wept and cursed fate and bemoaned herself and her +strangerhood, till Hasan's mother was moved to ruth for her case and knew that +all she said was but truth and that there was nothing for it but to let her +have her way. So she committed the affair to Allah (extolled and exalted be +He!) and making ready all that they needed for the bath, took her and went with +her to the Hammam. She carried her two little sons with her, and when they +entered, they put off their clothes and all the women fell to gazing on the +Princess and glorifying God (to whom belong Might and Majesty!) for that He had +created so fair a form. The women of the city, even those who were passing by, +flocked to gaze upon her, and the report of her was noised abroad in Baghdad +till the bath was crowded that there was no passing through it. Now it chanced +there was present on that day and on that rare occasion with the rest of the +women in the Hammam, one of the slave-girls of the Commander of the Faithful, +Harun al-Rashid, by name Tohfah[FN#88] the Lutanist, and she, finding the +Hammam over crowded and no passing for the throng of women and girls, asked +what was to do; and they told her of the young lady. So she walked up to her +and, considering her closely, was amazed at her grace and loveliness and +glorified God (magnified be His majesty!) for the fair forms He hath created. +The sight hindered her from her bath, so that she went not farther in nor +washed, but sat staring at the Princess, till she had made an end of bathing +and coming forth of the caldarium donned her raiment, whereupon beauty was +added to her beauty. She sat down on the divan,[FN#89] whilst the women gazed +upon her; then she looked at them and veiling herself, went out. Tohfah went +out with her and followed her, till she saw where she dwelt, when she left her +and returned to the Caliph's palace; and ceased not wending till she went in to +the Lady Zubaydah and kissed ground between her hands; whereupon quoth her +mistress, "O Tohfah, why hast thou tarried in the Hammam?" She replied, "O my +lady, I have seen a marvel, never saw I its like amongst men or women, and this +it was that distracted me and dazed my wit and amazed me, so that I forgot even +to wash my head." Asked Zubaydah, "And what was that?" ; and Tohfah answered, +"O my lady, I saw a damsel in the bath, having with her two little boys like +moons, eye never espied her like, nor before her nor after her, neither is +there the fellow of her form in the whole world nor her peer amongst Ajams or +Turks or Arabs. By the munificence, O my lady, an thou toldest the Commander +of the Faithful of her, he would slay her husband and take her from him, for +her like is not to be found among women. I asked of her mate and they told me +that he is a merchant Hasan of Bassorah hight. Moreover, I followed her from +the bath to her own house and found it to be that of the Wazir, with the two +gates, one opening on the river and the other on the land.[FN#90] Indeed, O my +lady, I fear lest the Prince of True Believers hear of her and break the law +and slay her husband and take love-liesse with her."—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Tohfah, after +seeing the King's daughter, described her beauty to the Lady Zubaydah ending +with, "Indeed, O my mistress, I fear lest the Prince of True Believers hear of +her and break the law and slay her mate and take her to wife," Zubaydah cried, +"Woe to thee, O Tohfah, say me, doth this damsel display such passing beauty +and loveliness that the Commander of the Faithful should, on her account, +barter his soul's good for his worldly lust and break the Holy Law! By Allah, +needs must I look on her, and if she be not as thou sayest, I will bid strike +off thy head! O strumpet, there are in the Caliph's Serraglio three hundred and +three score slave girls, after the number of the days of the year, yet is there +none amongst them so excellent as thou describest!" Tohfah replied, "No, by +Allah, O my lady!: nor is there her like in all Baghdad; no, nor amongst the +Arabs or the Daylamites nor hath Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!) +created the like of her!" Thereupon Zuhaydah called for Masrur, the eunuch, who +came and kissed the ground before her, and she said to him, "O Masrur, go to +the Wazir's house, that with the two gates, one giving on the water and the +other on the land, and bring me the damsel who dwelleth there, also her two +children and the old woman who is with her, and haste thou and tarry not." Said +Masrur, "I hear and I obey," and repairing to Hasan's house, knocked at the +door. Quoth the old woman, "Who is at the door?" and quoth he, "Masrur, the +eunuch of the Commander of the Faithful." So she opened the door and he +entered and saluted her with the salam; whereupon she returned his salute and +asked his need; and he replied, "The Lady Zubaydah, daughter of Al-Kasim[FN#91] +and queen-spouse of the Commander of the Faithful Harun al-Rashid sixth[FN#92] +of the sons of Al-Abbas, paternal uncle of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and +keep!) summoneth thee to her, thee and thy son's wife and her children; for the +women have told her anent her and her beauty." Rejoined the old woman, "O my +lord Masrur, we are foreigner folk and the girl's husband (my son) who is +abroad and far from home hath strictly charged me not to go forth nor let her +go forth in his absence, neither show her to any of the creatures of Allah +Almighty; and I fear me, if aught befal her and he come back, he will slay +himself; wherefore of thy favour I beseech thee, O Masrur, require us not of +that whereof we are unable." Masrur retorted, "O my lady, if I knew aught to be +feared for you in this, I would not require you to go; the Lady Zubaydah +desireth but to see her and then she may return. So disobey not or thou wilt +repent; and like as I take you, I will bring you both back in safety, +Inshallah!" Hasan's mother could not gainsay him; so she went in and making the +damsel ready, brought her and her children forth and they all followed Masrur +to the palace of the Caliphate where he carried them in and seated them on the +floor before the Lady Zubaydah. They kissed ground before her and called down +blessings upon her; and Zubaydah said to the young lady (who was veiled), "Wilt +thou not uncover thy face, that I may look on it?" So she kissed the ground +between her hands and discovered a face which put to shame the full moon in the +height of heaven. Zubaydah fixed her eyes on her and let their glances wander +over her, whilst the palace was illumined by the light of her countenance; +whereupon the Queen and the whole company were amazed at her beauty and all who +looked on her became Jinn-mad and unable to bespeak one another. As for +Zubaydah, she rose and making the damsel stand up, strained her to her bosom +and seated her by herself on the couch. Moreover, she bade decorate the palace +in her honour and calling for a suit of the richest raiment and a necklace of +the rarest ornaments put them upon her. Then said she to her, "O liege lady of +fair ones, verily thou astoundest me and fillest mine eyes.[FN#93] What arts +knowest thou?" She replied, "O my lady, I have a dress of feathers, and could I +but put it on before thee, thou wouldst see one of the fairest of fashions and +marvel thereat, and all who saw it would talk of its goodliness, generation +after generation." Zubaydah asked, "And where is this dress of thine?"; and +the damsel answered, "'Tis with my husband's mother. Do thou seek it for me of +her." So Zubaydah said to the old woman, "O my lady the pilgrimess, O my +mother, go forth and fetch us her feather-dress, that we may solace ourselves +by looking on what she will do, and after take it back again." Replied the old +woman, "O my lady, this damsel is a liar. Hast thou ever seen any of womankind +with a dress of feathers? Indeed, this belongeth only to birds." But the damsel +said to the Lady Zubaydah, "As thou livest, O my lady, she hath a feather-dress +of mine and it is in a chest, which is buried in such a store-closet in the +house." So Zubaydah took off her neck a rivičre of jewels, worth all the +treasures of Chosroe and Cćsar, and gave it to the old woman, saying, "O my +mother, I conjure thee by my life, take this necklace and go and fetch us this +dress, that we may divert ourselves with the sight thereof, and after take it +again!" But she sware to her that she had never seen any such dress and wist +not what the damsel meant by her speech. Then the Lady Zubaydah cried out at +her and taking the key from her, called Masrur and said to him as soon as her +came, "Take this key and go to the house; then open it and enter a store-closet +there whose door is such and such and amiddlemost of it thou wilt find a chest +buried. Take it out and break it open and bring me the feather-dress which is +therein and set it before me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Lady Zubaydah, having +taken the key from Hasan's mother, handed it to Masrur, saying, "Take this key +and open such a closet; then bring forth of it the chest; break it open; bring +me the feather-dress which is therein and set it before me." "Hearkening and +obedience," replied he and taking the key went forth, whereupon the old woman +arose and followed him, weeping-eyed and repenting her of having given ear to +the damsel and gone with her to the bath, for her desire to go thither was but +a device. So she went with him to the house and opened the door of the closet, +and he entered and brought out the chest. Then he took therefrom the +feather-dress and wrapping it in a napkin, carried it to the Lady Zubaydah, who +took it and turned it about, marvelling at the beauty of its make; after which +she gave it to the damsel, saying, "Is this thy dress of feathers?" She +replied, "Yes, O my lady," and at once putting forth her hand, took it +joyfully. Then she examined it and rejoiced to find it whole as it was, not a +feather gone. So she rose and came down from beside the Lady Zubaydah and +taking her sons in her bosom, wrapped herself in the feather-dress and became a +bird, by the ordinance of Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!), whereat +Zubaydah marvelled as did all who were present. Then she walked with a swaying +and graceful gait and danced and sported and flapped her wings, whilst all eyes +were fixed on her and all marvelled at what she did. Then said she with fluent +tongue, "Is this goodly, O my ladies?"; and they replied, "Yes, O Princess of +the fair! All thou dost is goodly." Said she, "And this, O my mistresses, that +I am about to do is better yet." Then she spread her wings and flying up with +her children to the dome of the palace, perched on the saloon-roof whilst they +all looked at her, wide-eyed and said, "By Allah, this is indeed a rare and +peregrine fashion! Never saw we its like." Then, as she was about to take +flight for her own land, she bethought her of Hasan and said, "Hark ye, my +mistresses!" and she improvised these couplets,[FN#94] +</p> + +<p> +"O who hast quitted these abodes and faredst lief and light * To<br/> + + other objects of thy love with fain and fastest flight!<br/> + +Deem'st thou that 'bided I with you in solace and in joy * Or<br/> + + that my days amid you all were clear of bane and blight?<br/> + +When I was captive ta'en of Love and snarčd in his snare, * He<br/> + + made of Love my prison and he fared fro' me forthright:<br/> + +So when my fear was hidden, he made sure that ne'er should I *<br/> + + Pray to the One, th' Omnipotent to render me my right:<br/> + +He charged his mother keep the secret with all the care she<br/> + + could, * In closet shut and treated me with enemy's<br/> + + despight:<br/> + +But I o'erheard their words and held them fast in memory * And<br/> + + hoped for fortune fair and weal and blessings infinite:<br/> + +My faring to the Hammam-bath then proved to me the means * Of<br/> + + making minds of folk to be confounded at my sight:<br/> + +Wondered the Bride of Al-Rashid to see my brilliancy * When she<br/> + + beheld me right and left with all of beauty dight:<br/> + +Then quoth I, 'O our Caliph's wife, I once was wont to own * A<br/> + + dress of feathers rich and rare that did the eyes delight:<br/> + +An it were now on me thou shouldst indeed see wondrous things *<br/> + + That would efface all sorrows and disperse all sores of<br/> + + sprite:'<br/> + +Then deigned our Caliph's Bride to cry, 'Where is that dress of<br/> + + thine?' * And I replied, 'In house of him kept darkling as<br/> + + the night.'<br/> + +So down upon it pounced Masrúr and brought it unto her, * And<br/> + + when 'twas there each feather cast a ray of beaming light:<br/> + +Therewith I took it from his hand and opened it straightway * And<br/> + + saw its plumčd bosom and its buttons pleased my sight:<br/> + +And so I clad myself therein and took with me my babes; * And<br/> + + spread my wings and flew away with all my main and might;<br/> + +Saying, 'O husband's mother mine tell him when cometh he * An<br/> + + ever wouldest meet her thou from house and home must flee."'<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When she had made an end of her verses, the Lady Zubaydah said to her, "Wilt +thou not come down to us, that we may take our fill of thy beauty, O fairest of +the fair? Glory be to Him who hath given thee eloquence and brilliance!" But +she said, "Far be from me that the Past return should see!" Then said she to +the mother of the hapless, wretched Hasan, "By Allah, O my lady, O mother of my +husband, it irketh me to part from thee; but, whenas thy son cometh to thee and +upon him the nights of severance longsome shall be and he craveth reunion and +meeting to see and whenas breezes of love and longing shake him dolefully, let +him come in the islands of Wák[FN#95] to me." Then she took flight with her +children and sought her own country, whilst the old woman wept and beat her +face and moaned and groaned till she swooned away. When she came to herself, +she said to the Lady Zubaydah, "O my lady, what is this thou hast done?" And +Zubaydah said to her, "O my lady the pilgrimess, I knew not that this would +happen and hadst thou told me of the case and acquainted me with her condition, +I had not gainsaid thee. Nor did I know until now that she was of the Flying +Jinn; else had I not suffered her to don the dress nor permitted her to take +her children: but now, O my lady, words profit nothing; so do thou acquit me of +offence against thee." And the old woman could do no otherwise than shortly +answer, "Thou art acquitted!" Then she went forth the palace of the Caliphate +and returned to her own house, where she buffeted her face till she swooned +away, When she came to herself, she pined for her daughter-in-law and her +grandchildren and for the sight of her son and versified with these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Your faring on the parting-day drew many a tear fro' me, * Who<br/> + + must your flying from the home long mourn in misery:<br/> + +And cried I for the parting pang in anguish likest fire * And<br/> + + tear-floods chafed mine eyelids sore that ne'er of tears<br/> + + were free;<br/> + +'Yes, this is Severance, Ah, shall we e'er joy return of you? *<br/> + + For your departure hath deprived my power of privacy!'<br/> + +Ah, would they had returned to me in covenant of faith * An they<br/> + + return perhaps restore of past these eyne may see."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then arising she dug in the house three graves and betook herself to them with +weeping all whiles of the day and watches of the night; and when her son's +absence was longsome upon her and grief and yearning and unquiet waxed upon +her, she recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Deep in mine eye-balls ever dwells the phantom-form of thee * My<br/> + + heart when throbbing or at rest holds fast thy memory:<br/> + +And love of thee doth never cease to course within my breast, *<br/> + + As course the juices in the fruits which deck the branchy<br/> + + tree:<br/> + +And every day I see thee not my bosom straightened is * And even<br/> + + censurers excuse the woes in me they see:<br/> + +O thou whose love hath gotten hold the foremost in the heart * Of<br/> + + me whose fondness is excelled by mine insanity:<br/> + +Fear the Compassionate in my case and some compassion show! *<br/> + + Love of thee makes me taste of death in bitterest pungency."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan's mother +bewept through the watches of the night and the whiles of the day her +separation from her son and his wife and children. On this wise it fared with +her; but as regards Hasan, when he came to the Princesses, they conjured him to +tarry with them three months, after which long sojourn they gave him five loads +of gold and the like of silver and one load of victual and accompanied him on +his homeward way till he conjured them to return, whereupon they farewelled him +with an embrace; but the youngest came up to him, to bid him adieu and clasping +his neck wept till she fainted. Then she recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"When shall the severance-fire be quenched by union, love, with<br/> + + you? * When shall I win my wish of you and days that were<br/> + + renew?<br/> + +The parting-day affrighted me and wrought me dire dismay * And<br/> + + doubleth woe, O master mine, by the sad word 'Adieu.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Anon came forward the second Princess and embraced him and recited these two +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Farewelling thee indeed is like to bidding life farewell * And<br/> + + like the loss of Zephyr[FN#96] 'tis to lose thee far our<br/> + + sight:<br/> + +Thine absence is a flaming fire which burneth up my heart * And<br/> + + in thy presence I enjoy the Gardens of Delight."[FN#97]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Presently came forward the third and embraced him and recited these two +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"We left not taking leave of thee (when bound to other goal) *<br/> + + From aught of ill intention or from weariness and dole:<br/> + +Thou art my soul, my very soul, the only soul of me: * And how<br/> + + shall I farewell myself and say, 'Adieu my Soul?'"[FN#98]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +After her came forward the fourth and embraced him and recited these two +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Nought garred me weep save where and when of severance spake he,<br/> + + * Persisting in his cruel will with sore persistency:<br/> + +Look at this pearl-like ornament I've hung upon mine ear: * 'Tis<br/> + + of the tears of me compact, this choicest jewelry!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +In her turn came forward the fifth and embraced him and recited these two +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Ah, fare thee not; for I've no force thy faring to endure, * Nor<br/> + + e'en to say the word farewell before my friend is sped:<br/> + +Nor any patience to support the days of severance, * Nor any<br/> + + tears on ruined house and wasted home to shed."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Next came the sixth and embraced him and recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"I cried, as the camels went off with them, * And Love pained my<br/> + + vitals with sorest pain:<br/> + +Had I a King who would lend me rule * I'd seize every ship that<br/> + + dares sail the Main."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Lastly came forward the seventh and embraced him and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"When thou seest parting, be patient still, * Nor let foreign<br/> + + parts deal thy soul affright:<br/> + +But abide, expecting a swift return, * For all hearts hold<br/> + + parting in sore despight."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And eke these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Indeed I'm heartbroken to see thee start, * Nor can I farewell<br/> + + thee ere thou depart;<br/> + +Allah wotteth I left not to say adieu * Save for fear that saying<br/> + + would melt your heart."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Hasan also wept for parting from them, till he swooned, and repeated these +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Indeed, ran my tears on the severance-day * Like pearls I<br/> + + threaded in necklace-way:<br/> + +The cameleer drove his camels with song * But I lost heart,<br/> + + patience and strength and stay:<br/> + +I bade them farewell and retired in grief * From tryst-place and<br/> + + camp where my dearlings lay:<br/> + +I turned me unknowing the way nor joyed * My soul, but in hopes<br/> + + to return some day.<br/> + +Oh listen, my friend, to the words of love * God forbid thy heart<br/> + + forget all I say!<br/> + +O my soul when thou partest wi' them, part too * With all joys of<br/> + + life nor for living pray!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he farewelled them and fared on diligently night and day, till he came to +Baghdad, the House of Peace and Sanctuary of the Abbaside Caliphs, unknowing +what had passed during his wayfare. At once entering his house he went in to +his mother to salute her, but found her worn of body and wasted of bones, for +excess of mourning and watching, weeping and wailing, till she was grown thin +as a tooth-pick and could not answer him a word. So he dismissed the +dromedaries then asked her of his wife and children and she wept till she +fainted, and he seeing her in this state searched the house for them, but found +no trace of them. Then he went to the store-closet and finding it open and the +chest broken and the feather-dress missing, knew forthright that his wife had +possessed herself thereof and flown away with her children. Then he returned +to his mother and, finding her recovered from her fit, questioned her of his +spouse and babes, whereupon she wept and said, "O my son, may Allah amply +requite thee their loss! These are their three tombs."[FN#99] When Hasan heard +these words of his mother, he shrieked a loud shriek and fell down in a +fainting-fit in which he lay from the first of the day till noon-tide; +whereupon anguish was added to his mother's anguish and she despared of his +life. However, after a-while, he came to himself and wept and buffeted his +face and rent his raiment and went about the house clean distraught, reciting +these two couplets,[FN#100] +</p> + +<p> +"Folk have made moan of passion before me, of past years, * And<br/> + + live and dead for absence have suffered pains and fears;<br/> + +But that within my bosom I harbour, with mine eyes * I've never<br/> + + seen the like of nor heard with mine ears."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then finishing his verses he bared his brand and coming up to his mother, said +to her, "Except thou tell me the truth of the case, I will strike off thy head +and kill myself." She replied, "O my son, do not such deed: put up thy sword +and sit down, till I tell thee what hath passed." So he sheathed his scymitar +and sat by her side, whilst she recounted to him all that had happened in his +absence from first to last, adding, "O my son, but that I saw her weep in her +longing for the bath and feared that she would go and complain to thee on thy +return, and thou wouldst be wroth with me, I had never carried her thither; and +were it not that the Lady Zubaydah was wroth with me and took the key from me +by force, I had never brought out the feather-dress, though I died for it. But +thou knowest, O my son, that no hand may measure length with that of the +Caliphate. When they brought her the dress, she took it and turned it over, +fancying that somewhat might be lost thereof, but she found it uninjured; +wherefore she rejoiced and making her children fast to her waist, donned the +feather-vest, after the Lady Zubaydah had pulled off to her all that was upon +herself and clad her therein, in honour of her and because of her beauty. No +sooner had she donned the dress than she shook and becoming a bird, promenaded +about the palace, whilst all who were present gazed at her and marvelled at her +beauty and loveliness. Then she flew up to the palace roof and perching +thereon, looked at me and said: 'Whenas thy son cometh to thee and the nights +of separation upon him longsome shall be and he craveth reunion and meeting to +see and whenas the breezes of love and longing shake him dolefully let him +leave his native land and journey to the Islands of Wak and seek me.' This, +then, is her story and what befel in thine absence."—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that as soon as Hasan's +mother had made an end of her story, he gave a great cry and fell down in a +fainting fit which continued till the end of day, when he revived and fell to +buffeting his face and writhing on the floor like a scotched snake. His mother +sat weeping by his head until midnight, when he came to himself and wept sore +and recited these couplets',[FN#101] +</p> + +<p> +"Pause ye and see his sorry state since when ye fain withdrew; *<br/> + + Haply, when wrought your cruelty, you'll have the grace to<br/> + + rue:<br/> + +For an ye look on him, you'll doubt of him by sickness-stress *<br/> + + As though, by Allah, he were one before ye never knew.<br/> + +He dies for nothing save for love of you, and he would be *<br/> + + Numbered amid the dead did not he moan and groan for you.<br/> + +And deem not pangs of severance sit all lightly on his soul; *<br/> + + 'Tis heavy load on lover-wight; 'twere lighter an ye slew."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then having ended his verse he rose and went round about the house, weeping and +wailing, groaning and bemoaning himself, five days, during which he tasted nor +meat nor drink. His mother came to him and conjured him, till he broke his +fast, and besought him to leave weeping; but he hearkened not to her and +continued to shed tears and lament, whilst she strove to comfort him and he +heeded her not. Then he recited these couplets,[FN#102] +</p> + +<p> +"Beareth for love a burden sore this soul of me, * Could break a<br/> + + mortal's back however strong that be;<br/> + +I am distraught to see my case and languor grows * Making my day<br/> + + and night indifferent in degree:<br/> + +I own to having dreaded Death before this day: * This day I hold<br/> + + my death mine only remedy."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And Hasan ceased not to do thus till daybreak, when his eyes closed and he saw +in a dream his wife grief-full and repentant for that which she had done. So +he started up from sleep crying out and reciting these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Their image bides with me, ne'er quits me, ne'er shall fly; *<br/> + + But holds within my heart most honourable stead;<br/> + +But for reunion-hope, I'd see me die forthright, * And but for<br/> + + phantom-form of thee my sleep had fled."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And as morning morrowed he redoubled his lamentations. He abode weeping-eyed +and heavy-hearted, wakeful by night and eating little, for a whole month, at +the end of which he bethought him to repair to his sisters and take counsel +with them in the matter of his wife, so haply they might help him to regain +her. Accordingly he summoned the dromedaries and loading fifty of them with +rarities of Al-Irak, committed the house to his mother's care and deposited all +his goods in safe keeping, except some few he left at home. Then he mounted +one of the beasts and set out on his journey single handed, intent upon +obtaining aidance from the Princesses, and he stayed not till he reached the +Palace of the Mountain of Clouds, when he went in to the damsels and gave them +the presents in which they rejoiced. Then they wished him joy of his safety and +said to him, "O our brother, what can ail thee to come again so soon, seeing +thou wast with us but two months since?" Whereupon he wept and improvised +these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"My soul for loss of lover sped I sight; * Nor life enjoying<br/> + + neither life's delight:<br/> + +My case is one whose cure is all unknown; * Can any cure the sick<br/> + + but doctor wight?<br/> + +O who hast reft my sleep-joys, leaving me * To ask the breeze<br/> + + that blew from that fair site,—<br/> + +Blew from my lover's land (the land that owns * Those charms so<br/> + + sore a grief in soul excite),<br/> + +'O breeze, that visitest her land, perhaps * Breathing her scent,<br/> + + thou mayst revive my sprite!'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And when he ended his verse he gave a great cry and fell down in a +fainting-fit. The Princesses sat round him, weeping over him, till he +recovered and repeated these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Haply and happily may Fortune bend her rein * Bringing my love,<br/> + + for Time's a freke of jealous strain;[FN#103]<br/> + +Fortune may prosper me, supply mine every want, * And bring a<br/> + + blessing where before were ban and bane."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he wept till he fainted again, and presently coming to himself recited the +two following couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"My wish, mine illness, mine unease! by Allah, own * Art thou<br/> + + content? then I in love contented wone!<br/> + +Dost thou forsake me thus sans crime or sin * Meet me in ruth, I<br/> + + pray, and be our parting gone."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he wept till he swooned away once more and when he revived he repeated +these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Sleep fled me, by my side wake ever shows * And hoard of<br/> + + tear-drops from these eyne aye flows;<br/> + +For love they weep with beads cornelian-like * And growth of<br/> + + distance greater dolence grows:<br/> + +Lit up my longing, O my love, in me * Flames burning 'neath my<br/> + + ribs with fiery throes!<br/> + +Remembering thee a tear I never shed * But in it thunder roars<br/> + + and leven glows."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he wept till he fainted away a fourth time, and presently recovering, +recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Ah! for lowe of love and longing suffer ye as suffer we? * Say,<br/> + + as pine we and as yearn we for you are pining ye?<br/> + +Allah do the death of Love, what a bitter draught is his! * Would<br/> + + I wot of Love what plans and what projects nurseth he!<br/> + +Your faces radiant-fair though afar from me they shine, * Are<br/> + + mirrored in our eyes whatsoever the distance be;<br/> + +My heart must ever dwell on the memories of your tribe; * And the<br/> + + turtle-dove reneweth all as oft as moaneth she:<br/> + +Ho thou dove, who passest night-tide in calling on thy fere, *<br/> + + Thou doublest my repine, bringing grief for company;<br/> + +And leavest thou mine eyelids with weeping unfulfilled * For the<br/> + + dearlings who departed, whom we never more may see:<br/> + +I melt for the thought of you at every time and hour, * And I<br/> + + long for you when Night showeth cheek of blackest blee."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Now when his sister heard these words and saw his condition and how he lay +fainting on the floor, she screamed and beat her face and the other Princesses +hearing her scream came out and learning his misfortune and the transport of +love and longing and the passion and distraction that possessed him they +questioned him of his case. He wept and told them what had befallen in his +absence and how his wife had taken flight with her children, wherefore they +grieved for him and asked him what she said at leave-taking. Answered he, "O my +sisters, she said to my mother, 'Tell thy son, whenas he cometh to thee and the +nights of severance upon him longsome shall be and he craveth reunion and +meeting to see, and whenas the winds of love and longing shake him dolefully, +let him fare in the Islands of Wak to me." When they heard his words they +signed one to other with their eyes and shook their heads, and each looked at +her sister, whilst Hasan looked at them all. Then they bowed their heads +groundwards and bethought themselves awhile; after which they raised their +heads and said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the +Glorious, the Great!"; presently adding, "Put forth thy hand to heaven and when +thou reach thither, then shalt thou win to thy wife.—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Princesses +said to Hasan, "Put forth thy hand to Heaven and when thou reach thither, then +shalt thou win to wife and children," thereat the tears ran down his cheeks +like rain and wet his clothes, and he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Pink cheeks and eyes enpupil'd black have dealt me sore<br/> + + despight; * And whenas wake overpowered sleep my patience<br/> + + fled in fright:<br/> + +The fair and sleek-limbed maidens hard of heart withal laid waste<br/> + + * My very bones till not a breath is left for man to sight:<br/> + +Houris, who fare with gait of grace as roes o'er sandy-mound: *<br/> + + Did Allah's saints behold their charms they'd doat thereon<br/> + + forthright;<br/> + +Faring as fares the garden breeze that bloweth in the dawn. * For<br/> + + love of them a sore unrest and troubles rack my sprite:<br/> + +I hung my hopes upon a maid, a loveling fair of them, * For whom<br/> + + my heart still burns with lowe in Lazá-hell they light;—<br/> + +A dearling soft of sides and haught and graceful in her gait, *<br/> + + Her grace is white as morning, but her hair is black as<br/> + + night:<br/> + +She stirreth me! But ah, how many heroes have her cheeks *<br/> + + Upstirred for love, and eke her eyes that mingle black and<br/> + + white."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he wept, whilst the Princesses wept for his weeping, and they were moved +to compassion and jealousy for him. So they fell to comforting him and +exhorting him to patience and offering up prayers for his reunion with his +wife; whilst his sister said to him, "O my brother, be of good cheer and keep +thine eyes cool and clear and be patient; so shalt thou win thy will; for whoso +hath patience and waiteth, that he seeketh attaineth. Patience holdeth the +keys of relief and indeed the poet saith, +</p> + +<p> +'Let destiny with slackened rein its course appointed fare! And<br/> + + lie thou down to sleep by night, with heart devoid of care;<br/> + +For 'twixt the closing of an eye and th' opening thereof, God<br/> + + hath it in His power to change a case from foul to<br/> + + fair."[FN#104]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +So hearten thy heart and brace up thy resolve, for the son of ten years dieth +not in the ninth.[FN#105] Weeping and grief and mourning gender sickness and +disease; wherefore do thou abide with us till thou be rested, and I will devise +some device for thy winning to thy wife and children, Inshallah—so it please +Allah the Most High!" And he wept sore and recited these verses, +</p> + +<p> +"An I be healed of disease in frame, * I'm unhealed of illness in<br/> + + heart and sprite:<br/> + +There is no healing disease of love, * Save lover and loved one<br/> + + to re-unite."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he sat down beside her and she proceeded to talk with him and comfort him +and question him of the cause and the manner of his wife's departure. So he +told her and she said, "By Allah, O my brother, I was minded to bid thee burn +the feather-dress, but Satan made me forget it." She ceased not to converse +with him and caress him and company with him other ten days, whilst sleep +visited him not and he delighted not in food; and when the case was longsome +upon him and unrest waxed in him, he versified with these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"A beloved familiar o'erreigns my heart * And Allah's ruling<br/> + + reigns evermore:<br/> + +She hath all the Arabs' united charms * This gazelle who feeds on<br/> + + my bosom's core.<br/> + +Though my skill and patience for love of her fail, * I weep<br/> + + whilst I wot that 'tis vain to deplore.<br/> + +The dearling hath twice seven years, as though * She were moon of<br/> + + five nights and of five plus four."[FN#106]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When the youngest Princess saw him thus distracted for love and longing-for +passion and the fever-heat of desire, she went in to her sisterhood +weeping-eyed and woeful-hearted, and shedding copious tears threw herself upon +them, kissed their feet and besought them to devise some device for bringing +Hasan to the Islands of Wak and effecting his reunion with his wife and wees. +She ceased not to conjure them to further her brother in the accomplishment of +his desire and to weep before them, till she made them weep and they said to +her, "Hearten thy heart: we will do our best endeavour to bring about his +reunion with his family, Inshallah!" And he abode with them a whole year, +during which his eyes never could retain their tears. Now the sisterhood had +an uncle, brother-german to their sire and his name was Abd al-Kaddús, or Slave +of the Most Holy; and he loved the eldest with exceeding love and was wont to +visit her once a year and do all she desired. They had told him of Hasan's +adventure with the Magian and how he had been able to slay him; whereat he +rejoiced and gave the eldest Princess a pouch[FN#107] which contained certain +perfumes, saying, "O daughter of my brother, an thou be in concern for aught, +or if aught irk thee, or thou stand in any need, cast of these perfumes upon +fire naming my name and I will be with thee forthright and will do thy desire." +This speech was spoken on the first of Moharram[FN#108]; and the eldest +Princess said to one of the sisterhood, "Lo, the year is wholly past and my +uncle is not come. Rise, bring me the fire-sticks and the box of perfumes." So +the damsel arose rejoicing and, fetching what she sought, laid it before her +sister, who opened the box and taking thence a little of the perfume, cast it +into the fire, naming her unde's name; nor was it burnt out ere appeared a +dust-cloud at the farther end of the Wady; and presently lifting, it discovered +a Shaykh riding on an elephant, which moved at a swift and easy pace, and +trumpeted under the rider. As soon as he came within sight of the Princesses, +he began making signs to them with his hands and feet; nor was it long ere he +reached the castle and, alighting from the elephant, came in to them, whereupon +they embraced him and kissed his hands and saluted him with the salam. Then he +sat down, whilst the girls talked with him and questioned him of his absence. +Quoth he, "I was sitting but now with my wife, your aunt, when I smelt the +perfumes and hastened to you on this elephant. What wouldst thou, O daughter +of my brother?" Quoth she, "O uncle, indeed we longed for thee, as the year is +past and 'tis not thy wont to be absent from us more than a twelvemonth." +Answered he, "I was busy, but I purposed to come to you to-morrow." Wherefore +they thanked him and blessed him and sat talking with him.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundredth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the girls sat down +to chat with their uncle the eldest said to him, "O my uncle, we told thee the +tale of Hasan of Bassorah, whom Bahram the Magian brought and how he slew the +wizard and how, after enduring all manner of hardships and horrors, he made +prize of the Supreme King's daughter and took her to wife and journeyed with +her to his native land?" Replied he, "Yes, and what befel him after that?" +Quoth the Princess, "She played him false after he was blest with two sons by +her; for she took them in his absence and fled with them to her own country, +saying to his mother: 'Whenas thy son returneth to thee and asketh for me and +upon him the nights of severance longsome shall be and he craveth reunion and +meeting to see and whenas the breezes of love and longing shake him dolefully, +let him come in the Islands of Wak to me.'" When Abd al-Kaddus heard this, he +shook his head and bit his forefinger; then, bowing his brow groundwards he +began to make marks on the earth with his finger-tips;[FN#109] after which he +again shook his head and looked right and left and shook his head a third time, +whilst Hasan watched him from a place where he was hidden from him. Then said +the Princesses to their uncle, "Return us some answer, for our hearts are rent +in sunder." But he shook his head at them, saying, "O my daughters, verily hath +this man wearied himself in vain and cast himself into grievous predicament and +sore peril; for he may not gain access to the Islands of Wak." With this the +Princesses called Hasan, who came forth and, advancing to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, +kissed his hand and saluted him. The old man rejoiced in him and seated him by +his side; whereupon quoth the damsels, "O uncle, acquaint our brother Hasan +with that thou hast told us." So he said to Hasan, "O my son, put away from +thee this peine forte et dure; for thou canst never gain access to the Islands +of Wak, though the Flying Jinn and the Wandering Stars were with thee; for that +betwixt thee and these islands are seven Wadys and seven seas and seven mighty +mountains. How then canst thou come at this stead and who shall bring thee +thither? Wherefore, Allah upon thee, O my son, do thou reckon thy spouse and +sons as dead and turn back forthright and weary not thy sprite! Indeed, I give +thee good counsel, an thou wilt but accept it." Hearing these words from the +Shaykh, Hasan wept till he fainted, and the Princesses sat round him, weeping +for his weeping, whilst the youngest sister rent her raiment and buffeted her +face, till she swooned away. When Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus saw them in this +transport of grief and trouble and mourning, he was moved to ruth for them and +cried, "Be ye silent!" Then said he to Hasan, "O my son, hearten thy heart and +rejoice in the winning of thy wish, an it be the will of Allah the Most High;" +presently adding, "Rise, O my son, take courage and follow me." So Hasan arose +forthright and after he had taken leave of the Princesses followed him, +rejoicing in the fulfilment of his wish. Then the Shaykh called the elephant +and mounting, took Hasan up behind him and fared on three days with their +nights, like the blinding leven, till he came to a vast blue mountain, whose +stones were all of azure hue and amiddlemost of which was a cavern, with a door +of Chinese iron. Here he took Hasan's hand and let him down and alighting +dismissed the elephant. Then he went up to the door and knocked, whereupon it +opened and there came out to him a black slave, hairless, as he were an Ifrit, +with brand in right hand and targe of steel in left. When he saw Abd +al-Kaddus, he threw sword and buckler from his grip and coming up to the Shaykh +kissed his hand. Thereupon the old man took Hasan by the hand and entered with +him, whilst the slave shut the door behind them; when Hasan found himself in a +vast cavern and a spacious, through which ran an arched corridor and they +ceased not faring on therein a mile or so, till it abutted upon a great open +space and thence they made for an angle of the mountain wherein were two huge +doors cast of solid brass. The old man opened one of them and said to Hasan, +"Sit at the door, whilst I go within and come back to thee in haste, and beware +lest thou open it and enter." Then he fared inside and, shutting the door after +him, was absent during a full sidereal hour, after which he returned, leading a +black stallion, thin of flank and short of nose, which was ready bridled and +saddled, with velvet housings; and when it ran it flew, and when it flew, the +very dust in vain would pursue; and brought it to Hasan, saying, "Mount!" So he +mounted and Abd al-Kaddus opened the second door, beyond which appeared a vast +desert. Then the twain passed through the door into that desert and the old +man said to him, "O my son, take this scroll and wend thou whither this steed +will carry thee. When thou seest him stop at the door of a cavern like this, +alight and throw the reins over the saddle-bow and let him go. He will enter +the cavern, which do thou not enter with him, but tarry at the door five days, +without being weary of waiting. On the sixth day there will come forth to thee +a black Shaykh, clad all in sable, with a long white beard, flowing down to his +navel. As soon as thou seest him, kiss his hands and seize his skirt and lay it +on thy head and weep before him, till he take pity on thee and he will ask thee +what thou wouldst have. When he saith to thee, 'What is thy want?' give him +this scroll which he will take without speaking and go in and leave thee. Wait +at the door other five days, without wearying, and on the sixth day expect him; +and if he come out to thee himself, know that thy wish will be won, but, if one +of his pages come forth to thee, know that he who cometh forth to thee, +purposeth to kill thee; and—the Peace![FN#110] For know, O my son, that whoso +self imperilleth doeth himself to death;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and First Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that after handing the +scroll to Hasan, Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus told him what would befal him and said, +"Whoso self imperilleth doeth himself to death; but also who ventureth naught +advantageth naught. However an thou fear for thy life, cast it not into danger +of destruction; but, an thou fear not, up and do thy will, for I have expounded +to thee the whole case. Yet shouldest thou be minded to return to thy friends +the elephant is still here and he will carry thee to my nieces, who will +restore thee to thy country and return thee to thy home, and Allah will +vouchsafe thee a better than this girl, of whom thou art enamoured." Hasan +answered the Shaykh, saying, "And how shall life be sweet to me, except I win +my wish? By Allah, I will never turn back, till I regain my beloved or my +death overtake me!" And he wept and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"For loss of lover mine and stress of love I dree, * I stood<br/> + + bewailing self in deep despondency.<br/> + +Longing for him, the Spring-camp's dust I kissed and kissed, *<br/> + + But this bred more of grief and galling reverie.<br/> + +God guard the gone, who in our hearts must e'er abide * With<br/> + + nearing woes and joys which still the farther flee.<br/> + +They say me, 'Patience!' But they bore it all away: * On<br/> + + parting-day, and left me naught save tormentry.<br/> + +And naught affrighted me except the word he said, * 'Forget me<br/> + + not when gone nor drive from memory.'<br/> + +To whom shall turn I? hope in whom when you are lost? * Who were<br/> + + my only hopes and joys and woes of me?<br/> + +But ah, the pang of home-return when parting thus! * How joyed at<br/> + + seeing me return mine enemy.<br/> + +Then well-away! this 'twas I guarded me against! * And ah, thou<br/> + + lowe of Love double thine ardency![FN#111]<br/> + +An fled for aye my friends I'll not survive the flight; * Yet an<br/> + + they deign return, Oh joy! Oh ecstacy!<br/> + +Never, by Allah tears and weeping I'll contain * For loss of you,<br/> + + but tears on tears and tears will rain."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Abd al-Kaddus heard his verse he knew that he would not turn back from his +desire nor would words have effect on him, and was certified that naught would +serve him but he must imperil himself, though it lose him his life. So he said +to him, "Know, O my son, that the Islands of Wak are seven islands, wherein is +a mighty host, all virgin girls, and the Inner Isles are peopled by Satans and +Marids and warlocks and various tribesmen of the Jinn; and whoso entereth their +land never returneth thence; at least none hath done so to this day. So, Allah +upon thee, return presently to thy people, for know that she whom thou seekest +is the King's daughter of all these islands: and how canst thou attain to her? +Hearken to me, O my son, and haply Allah will vouchsafe thee in her stead a +better than she." "O my lord," answered Hasan, though for the love of her I +were cut in pieces yet should I but redouble in love and transport! There is +no help but that I enter the Wak Islands and come to the sight of my wife and +children; and Inshallah, I will not return save with her and with them." Said +the Shaykh, "Then nothing will serve thee but thou must make the journey?" +Hasan replied "Nothing! and I only ask of thee thy prayers for help and +aidance; so haply Allah will reunite me with my wife and children right soon." +Then he wept for stress of longing and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"You are my wish, of creatures brightest-light * I deem you lief<br/> + + as hearing, fain as sight:<br/> + +You hold my heart which hath become your home * And since you<br/> + + left me, lords, right sore's my plight:<br/> + +Then think not I have yielded up your love, * Your love which set<br/> + + this wretch in fierce affright:<br/> + +You went and went my joy whenas you went; * And waned and wax'ed<br/> + + wan the brightest light:<br/> + +You left me lone to watch the stars in woe: * Railing tears<br/> + + likest rain-drops infinite.<br/> + +Thou'rt longsome to the wight, who pining lies * On wake,<br/> + + moon-gazing through the night,<br/> + +O Night! Wind! an thou pass the tribe where they abide * Give<br/> + + them my greeting, life is fain of flight.<br/> + +And tell them somewhat of the pangs I bear: * The loved one<br/> + + kenneth not my case aright."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he wept with sore weeping till he fainted away; and when he came to +himself, Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus said to him, "O my son, thou hast a mother; make +her not taste the torment of thy loss." Hasan replied, "By Allah, O my lord, I +will never return except with my wife, or my death shall overtake me." And he +wept and wailed and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"By Love's right! naught of farness thy slave can estrange * Nor<br/> + + am I one to fail in my fealty:<br/> + +I suffer such pains did I tell my case * To folk, they'd cry,<br/> + + 'Madness! clean witless is he!'<br/> + +Then ecstasy, love-longing, transport and lowe! * Whose case is<br/> + + such case how shall ever he be?"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +With this the old man knew that he would not turn from his purpose, though it +cost him his life; so he handed him the scroll and prayed for him and charged +him how he should do, saying "I have in this letter given a strict charge +concerning thee to Abú al-Ruwaysh,[FN#112] son of Bilkís, daughter of Mu'in, +for he is my Shaykh and my teacher, and all, men and Jinn, humble themselves to +him and stand in awe of him. And now go with the blessing of God." Hasan +forthright set out giving the horse the rein, and it flew off with him +swiftlier than lightning, and stayed not in its course ten days, when he saw +before him a vast loom black as night, walling the world from East to West. As +he neared it, the stallion neighed under him, whereupon there flocked to it +horses in number as the drops of rain, none could tell their tale or against +them prevail, and fell to rubbing themselves against it. Hasan was affrighted +at them and fared forwards surrounded by the horses, without drawing rein till +he came to the cavern which Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus had described to him. The +steed stood still at the door and Hasan alighted and bridged the bridle over +the saddle-bow[FN#113]; whereupon the steed entered the cavern, whilst the +rider abode without, as the old man had charged him, pondering the issue of his +case in perplexity and distraction and unknowing what would befal him.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan, dismounting +from the steed, stood at the cavern-mouth pondering the issue of his case and +unknowing what might befal him. He abode standing on the same spot five days +with their nights, sleepless, mournful, tearful-eyed; distracted, perplexed, +pondering his severance from home and family, comrades and friends, with +weeping eye-lids and heavy heart. Then he bethought him of his mother and of +what might yet happen to him and of his separation from his wife and children +and of all that he had suffered, and he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"With you is my heart-cure a heart that goes; * And from<br/> + + hill-foot of eyelids the tear-rill flows:<br/> + +And parting and sorrow and exile and dole * And farness from<br/> + + country and throe that o'erthrows:<br/> + +Naught am I save a lover distracted by love, * Far parted from<br/> + + loved one and wilted by woes.<br/> + +And 'tis Love that hath brought me such sorrow, say where * Is<br/> + + the noble of soul who such sorrow unknows?"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Hardly had Hasan made an end of his verses, when out came the Shaykh Abu +al-Ruwaysh, a blackamoor and clad in black raiment, and at first sight he knew +him by the description that Abd al-Kaddus had given him. He threw himself at +his feet and rubbed his cheeks on them and seizing his skirt, laid it on his +head and wept before him. Quoth the old man, "What wantest thou, O my son?" +Whereupon he put out his hand to him with the letter, and Abu al-Ruwaysh took +it and re-entered the cavern, without making him any answer. So Hasan sat down +at the cave-mouth in his place other five days as he had been bidden, whilst +concern grew upon him and terror redoubled on him and restlessness gat hold of +him, and he fell to weeping and bemoaning himself for the anguish of +estrangement and much watching. And he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Glory to Him who guides the skies! * The lover sore in sorrow<br/> + + lies.<br/> + +Who hath not tasted of Love's food * Knows not what mean its<br/> + + miseries.<br/> + +Did I attempt to stem my tears * Rivers of blood would fount and<br/> + + rise.<br/> + +How many an intimate is hard * Of heart, and pains in sorest<br/> + + wise!<br/> + +An she with me her word would keep, * Of tears and sighs I'd fain<br/> + + devise,<br/> + +But I'm forgone, rejected quite * Ruin on me hath cast her eyes.<br/> + +At my fell pangs fell wildlings weep * And not a bird for me but<br/> + + cries."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Hasan ceased not to weep till dawn of the sixth day, when Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh +came forth to him, clad in white raiment, and with his hand signed[FN#114] to +him to enter. So he went in, rejoicing and assured of the winning of his wish, +and the old man took him by the hand and leading him into the cavern, fared on +with him half a day's journey, till they reached an arched doorway with a door +of steel. The Shaykh opened the door and they two entered a vestibule vaulted +with onyx stones and arabesqued with gold, and they stayed not walking till +they came to a great hall and a wide, paved and walled with marble. In its +midst was a flower-garden containing all manner trees and flowers and fruits, +with birds warbling on the boughs and singing the praises of Allah the Almighty +Sovran; and there were four daďses, each facing other, and in each daďs a +jetting fountain, at whose corners stood lions of red gold, spouting gerbes +from their mouths into the basin. On each daďs stood a chair, whereon sat an +elder, with exceeding store of books before him[FN#115] and censers of gold, +containing fire and perfumes, and before each elder were students, who read the +books to him. Now when the twain entered, the elders rose to them and did them +honour; whereupon Abu al-Ruwaysh signed to them to dismiss their scholars and +they did so. Then the four arose and seating themselves before that Shaykh, +asked him of the case of Hasan to whom he said, "Tell the company thy tale and +all that hath betided thee from the beginning of thine adventure to the end." +So Hasan wept with sore weeping and related to them his story with Bahram; +whereupon all the Shaykhs cried out and said, "Is this indeed he whom the +Magian caused to climb the Mountain of Clouds by means of the vultures, sewn up +in the camel-hide?" And Hasan said, "Yes." So they turned to the Shaykh, Abu +al-Ruwaysh and said to him, "O our Shaykh, of a truth Bahram contrived his +mounting to the mountaintop; but how came he down and what marvels saw he +there?" And Abu al-Ruwaysh said, "O Hasan, tell them how thou camest down and +acquaint them with what thou sawest of marvels." So he told them all that had +befallen him, first and last; how he had gotten the Magian into his power and +slain him, how he had delivered the youth from him and sent him back to his own +country, and how he had captured the King's daughter of the Jinn and married +her; yet had she played him false and taken the two boys she had borne him and +flown away; brief, he related to them all the hardships and horrors he had +undergone; whereat they marvelled, each and every, and said to Abu al-Ruwaysh, +"O elder of elders, verily by Allah, this youth is to be pitied! But belike +thou wilt aid him to recover his wife and wees."—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan told his +tale to the elders, they said to Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh, "This youth is to be +pitied and haply thou wilt aid him to recover his wife and wees." He replied, +"O my brothers, in very sooth this is a grave matter and a perilous; and never +saw I any loathe his life save this youth. You know that the Islands of Wak +are hard of access and that none may come to them but at risk of life; and ye +know also the strength of their people and their guards. Moreover I have sworn +an oath not to tread their soil nor transgress against them in aught; so how +shall this man come at the daughter of the Great King, and who hath power to +bring him to her or help him in this matter?" Replied the other, "O Shaykh of +Shaykhs, verily this man is consumed with desire and he hath endangered himself +to bring thee a scroll from thy brother Abd al-Kaddus; wherefore it behoveth +thee to help him." And Hasan arose and kissed Abu al-Ruwaysh's feet and raising +the hem of his garment laid it on his head, weeping and crying, "I beseech +thee, by Allah, to reunite me with my wife and children, though it cost me my +life and my soul!" The four elders all wept for his weeping and said to Abu +al-Ruwaysh, "Deal generously with this unhappy and show him kindness for the +sake of thy brother Abd al-Kaddus and profit by this occasion to earn reward +from Allah for helping him." Quoth he, "This wilful youth weeteth not what he +undertaketh; but Inshallah! we will help him after the measure of our means, +nor leave aught feasible undone." When Hasan heard the Shaykh's word he +rejoiced and kissed the hands of the five elders, one after other, imploring +their aidance. Thereupon Abd al-Ruwaysh took inkcase and a sheet of paper and +wrote a letter, which he sealed and gave to Hasan, together with a pouch of +perfumed leather,[FN#116] containing incense and fire-sticks[FN#117] and other +needs, and said to him, "Take strictest care of this pouch, and whenas thou +fallest into any strait, burn a little of the incense therein and name my name, +whereupon I will be with thee forthright and save thee from thy stress." +Moreover, he bade one of those present fetch him an Ifrit of the Flying Jinn; +and he did so incontinently; whereupon quoth Abu al-Ruwaysh to the fire-drake, +"What is thy name!" Replied the Ifrit, "Thy thrall is hight Dahnash bin +Faktash." And the Shaykh said "Draw near to me!" So Dahnash drew near to him +and he put his mouth to his ear and said somewhat to him, whereat the Ifrit +shook his head and answered, "I accept, O elder of elders!" Then said Abu +al-Ruwaysh to Hasan, "Arise, O my son, mount the shoulders of this Ifrit, +Dahnash the Flyer; but, when he heaveth thee heaven-wards and thou hearest the +angels glorifying God a-welkin with 'Subhána 'lláh,' have a care lest thou do +the like; else wilt thou perish and he too." Hasan replied, "I will not say a +word; no, never;" and the old man continued, "O Hasan, after faring with thee +all this day, to-morrow at peep of dawn he will set thee down in a land cleanly +white, like unto camphor, whereupon do thou walk on ten days by thyself, till +thou come to the gate of a city. Then enter and enquire for the King of the +city; and when thou comest to his presence, salute him with the salam and kiss +his hand: then give him this scroll and consider well whatso he shall counsel +thee." Hasan replied, "Hearing and obeying," and rose up and mounted the +Ifrit's shoulders, whilst the elders rose and offered up prayers for him and +commended him to the care of Dahnash the Firedrake. And when he had perched on +the Flyer's back the Ifrit soared with him to the very confines of the sky, +till he heard the angels glorifying God in Heaven, and flew on with him a day +and a night till at dawn of the next day he set him down in a land white as +camphor, and went his way, leaving him there. When Hasan found himself in the +land aforesaid with none by his side he fared on night and day for ten days, +till he came to the gate of the city in question and entering, enquired for the +King. They directed him to him and told him that his name was King +Hassún,[FN#118] Lord of the Land of Camphor, and that he had troops and +soldiers enough to fill the earth in its length and breadth. So he sought +audience of him and, being admitted to his presence, found him a mighty King +and kissed ground between his hands. Quoth the King, "What is thy want?" +Whereupon Hasan kissed the letter and gave it to him. The King read it and +shook his head awhile, then said to one of his officers, "Take this youth and +lodge him in the house of hospitality." So he took him and stablished him in +the guest-house, where he tarried three days, eating and drinking and seeing +none but the eunuch who waited on him and who entertained him with discourse +and cheered him with his company, questioning him of his case and how he came +to that city; whereupon he told him his whole story, and the perilous condition +wherein he was. On the fourth day, that eunuch carried him before the King, who +said to him, "O Hasan, thou comest to me, seeking to enter the Islands of Wak, +as the Shaykh of Shaykhs adviseth me. O my son, I would send thee thither this +very day, but that by the way are many perils and thirsty wolds full of +terrors; yet do thou have patience and naught save fair shall befal thee, for +needs must I devise to bring thee to thy desire, Inshallah! Know, O my son, +that here is a mighty host,[FN#119] equipped with arms and steeds and warlike +gear, who long to enter the Wak Islands and lack power thereto. But, O my son, +for the sake of the Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh, son of Bilkis,[FN#120] the daughter +of Mu'in, I may not send thee back to him unfulfilled of thine affair. +Presently there will come to us ships from the Islands of Wak and the first +that shall arrive I will send thee on board of her and give thee in charge to +the sailors, so they may take care of thee and carry thee to the Islands. If +any question thee of thy case and condition, answer him saying, 'I am kinsman +to King Hassun, Lord of the Land of Camphor;' and when the ship shall make fast +to the shore of the Islands of Wak and the master shall bid thee land, do thou +land. Now as soon as thou comest ashore, thou wilt see a multitude of wooden +settles all about the beach, of which do thou choose thee one and crouch under +it and stir not. And when dark night sets in, thou wilt see an army of women +appear and flock about the goods landed from the ship, and one of them will sit +down on the settle, under which thou hast hidden thyself, whereupon do thou put +forth thy hand to her and take hold of her and implore her protection. And know +thou, O my son, that an she accord thee protection, thou wilt win thy wish and +regain thy wife and children; but, if she refuse to protect thee, make thy +mourning for thyself and give up all hope of life, and make sure of death for +indeed thou art a dead man. Understand, O my son, that thou adventurest thy +life and this is all I can do for thee, and—the peace!"—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Hassun spake these +words to Hasan and charged him as we have related, ending with, "This is all I +can do for thee and know that except the Lord of Heaven had aided thee, thou +hadst not come hither!" The youth wept till he swooned away, and when he +recovered, he recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"A term decreed my lot I 'spy; * And, when its days shall end, I<br/> + + die.<br/> + +Though lions fought with me in lair * If Time be mine I'd beat<br/> + + them, I!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then having ended his verse he kissed the ground before the Sovran and said to +him, "O mighty King, how many days remain till the coming of the ships?" +Replied the other, "In a month's time they will come and will tarry here, +selling their cargueson, other two months, after which they will return to +their own country; so hope not to set out save after three whole months." Then +the King bade him return to the house of hospitality and bade supply him with +all that he needed of meat and drink and raiment fit for Kings. Hasan abode in +the guest-house a month, at the end of which the vessels arrived and the King +and the merchants went forth to them, taking Hasan with them. Amongst them he +saw a ship with much people therein, like the shingles for number; none knew +their tale save He who created them. She was anchored in mid-harbour and had +cocks which transported her lading to the shore. So Hasan abode till the crew +had landed all the goods and sold and bought and to the time of departure there +wanted but three days; whereupon the King sent for him and equipped him with +all he required and gave him great gifts: after which he summoned the captain +of the great ship and said to him, "Take this youth with thee in the vessel, so +none may know of him save thou, and carry him to the Islands of Wak and leave +him there; and bring him not back." And the Rais said, "To hear is to obey: +with love and gladness!" Then quoth the King to Hasan, "Look thou tell none of +those who are with thee in the ship thine errand nor discover to them aught of +thy case; else thou art a lost man;" and quoth he, "Hearing and obedience!" +With this he farewelled the King, after he had wished him long life and victory +over his enviers and his enemies; wherefore the King thanked him and wished him +safety and the winning of his wish. Then he committed him to the captain, who +laid him in a chest which he embarked in a dinghy, and bore him aboard, whilst +the folk were busy in breaking bulk and no man doubted but the chest contained +somewhat of merchandise. After this, the vessels set sail and fared on without +ceasing ten days, and on the eleventh day they made the land. So the Rais set +Hasan ashore and, as he walked up the beach, he saw wooden settles[FN#121] +without number, none knew their count save Allah, even as the King had told +him. He went on, till he came to one that had no fellow and hid under it till +nightfall, when there came up a mighty many of women, as they were locusts +over-swarming the land and they marched afoot and armed cap-ŕ-pie in hauberks +and strait-knit coats of mail hending drawn swords in their hands, who, seeing +the merchandise landed from the ships, busied themselves therewith. Presently +they sat down to rest themselves, and one of them seated herself on the settle +under which Hasan had crouched: whereupon he took hold of the hem of her +garment and laid it on his head and throwing himself before her, fell to +kissing her hands and feet and weeping and crying, "Thy protection! thy +good-will!" Quoth she, "Ho, thou! Arise and stand up, ere any see thee and +slay thee." So he came forth and springing up kissed her hands and wept and +said to her, "O my mistress, I am under thy protection!"; adding, "Have ruth on +one who is parted from his people and wife and children, one who hath haste to +rejoin them and one who adventureth life and soul for their sake! Take pity on +me and be assured that therefor Paradise will be thy reward; or, an thou wilt +not receive me, I beseech thee, by Allah the Great, the Concealer, to conceal +my case!" The merchants stared to see him talking with her; and she, hearing +his words and beholding his humility, was moved to ruth for him; her heart +inclined to him and she knew that he had not ventured himself and come to that +place, save for a grave matter. So she said to him, "O my son, be of good +cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear, hearten thy heart and take courage +and return to thy hiding-place till the coming night, and Allah shall do as He +will." Then she took leave of him and Hasan crept under the wooden settle as +before, whilst the troops lighted flambeaux of wax mixed with aloes-wood and +Nadd-perfume and crude ambergris[FN#122] and passed the night in sport and +delight till the morning. At daybreak, the boats returned to the shore and the +merchants busied themselves with buying and selling and the transport of the +goods and gear till nightfall, whilst Hasan lay hidden beneath the settle, +weeping-eyed and woeful-hearted, knowing not what was decreed to him in the +secret preordainment of Allah. As he was thus, behold, the merchant-woman with +whom he had taken refuge came up to him and giving him a habergeon and a +helmet, a spear, a sword and a gilded girdle, bade him don them and seat +himself on the settle after which she left him, for fear of the troops. So he +arose and donned the mail-coat and helmet and clasped the girdle about his +middle; then he slung the sword over his shoulder till it hung under his +armpit, and taking the spear in his hand, sat down on that settle, whilst his +tongue neglected not to name Allah Almighty and call on Him for protection.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan received +the weapons which the merchant-woman had given to him, saying, "Sit thee upon +the settle and let none wot thy case," he armed himself and took his seat, +whilst his tongue neglected not to name Allah Almighty and to call upon Him for +protection. And behold, there appeared cressets and lanthorns and flambeaux +and up came the army of women. So he arose and mingling with them, became as +one of them. A little before daybreak, they set out, and Hasan with them, and +fared on till they came to their camp, where they dispersed each to her tent, +and Hasan followed one of them and lo! it was hers for whose protection he had +prayed. When she entered, she threw down her arms and doffed her hauberk and +veil. So Hasan did the like and looking at his companion, saw her to be a +grizzled old woman blue-eyed and big-nosed, a calamity of calamities, the +foulest of all created things, with face pock-marked and eyebrows bald, +gap-toothed and chap-fallen, with hair hoary, nose running and mouth +slavering;[FN#123] even as saith the like of her the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"In her cheek-corners nine calamities * Wone, and when shown,<br/> + + each one Jehannam is:<br/> + +Hideous the face and favour foulest foul * As cheek of hog; yea,<br/> + + 'tis a cesspool phiz."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And indeed she was like a pied snake or a scald she-wolf. Now when the old +woman looked at Hasan, she marvelled and said, "How came this one to these +lands and in which of the ships was he and how arrived he hither in safety?" +And she fell to questioning him of his case and admiring at his arrival, +whereupon he fell at her feet and rubbed his face on them and wept till he +fainted; and, when he recovered himself, he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"When will Time grant we meet, when shall we be * Again united<br/> + + after severance stark?<br/> + +And I shall win my choicest wish and view? * Blame end and Love<br/> + + abide without remark?<br/> + +Were Nile to flow as freely as my tears, * 'Twould leave no<br/> + + region but with water-mark:<br/> + +'Twould overthrow Hijaz and Egypt-land * 'Twould deluge Syria and<br/> + + 'twould drown Irák.<br/> + +This, O my love, is caused by thy disdain, * Be kind and promise<br/> + + meeting fair and fain!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he took the crone's skirt and laid it on his head and fell to weeping and +craving her protection. When she saw his ardency and transport and anguish and +distress, her heart softened to him and she promised him her safeguard, saying, +"Have no fear whatsoever." Then she questioned him of his case and he told her +the manner of his coming thither and all that had befallen him from beginning +to end, whereat she marvelled and said, "This that hath betide thee, methinks, +never betided any save thyself and except thou hadst been vouchsafed the +especial protection of Allah, thou hadst not been saved: but now, O my son, +take comfort and be of good courage; thou hast nothing more to fear, for indeed +thou hast won thy wish and attained thy desire, if it please the Most High!" +Thereat Hasan rejoiced with joy exceeding and she sent to summon the captains +of the army to her presence, and it was the last day of the month. So they +presented themselves and the old woman said to them, "Go out and proclaim to +all the troops that they come forth to-morrow at daybreak and let none tarry +behind, for whoso tarryeth shall be slain." They replied, "We hear and we +obey," and going forth, made proclamation to all the host anent a review next +morning, even as she bade them, after which they returned and told her of this; +whereby Hasan knew that she was the Commander-in-chief of the army and the +Viceregent in authority over them; and her name was Shawahí the Fascinator, +entituled Umm al-Dawáhi, or Mother of Calamities.[FN#124] She ceased not to bid +and forbid and Hasan doffed not off his arms from his body that day. Now when +the morning broke, all the troops fared forth from their places, but the old +woman came not out with them, and as soon as they were sped and the stead was +clear of them, she said to Hasan, "Draw near unto me, O my son[FN#125]." So he +drew near unto her and stood between her hands. Quoth she, "Why and wherefore +hast thou adventured thyself so boldly as to enter this land, and how came thy +soul to consent to its own undoing? Tell me the truth and the whole truth and +fear aught of ill come of it, for thou hast my plighted word and I am moved to +compassion for thy case and pity thee and have taken thee under my protection. +So, if thou tell me the truth, I will help thee to win thy wish, though it +involve the undoing of souls and the destruction of bodies; and since thou hast +come to seek me, no hurt shall betide thee from me, nor will I suffer any to +have at thee with harm of all who be in the Islands of Wak." So he told her his +tale from first to last, acquainting her with the matter of his wife and of the +birds; how he had captured her as his prize from amongst the ten and married +her and abode with her, till she had borne him two sons, and how she had taken +her children and flown away with them, whenas she knew the way to the +feather-dress. Brief, he concealed from her no whit of his case, from the +beginning to that day. But when Shawahi heard his relation, she shook her head +and said to him, "Glory be to God who hath brought thee hither in safety and +made thee hap upon me! For, hadst thou happened on any but myself, thou hadst +lost thy life without winning thy wish; but the truth of thine intent and thy +fond affection and the excess of thy love-longing for thy wife and yearning for +thy children, these it was that have brought thee to the attainment of thine +aim. Didst thou not love her and love her to distraction, thou hadst not thus +imperilled thyself, and Alhamdolillah—Praised be Allah—for thy safety! +Wherefore it behoveth us to do thy desire and conduce to thy quest, so thou +mayst presently attain that thou seekest, if it be the will of Almighty Allah. +But know, O my son, that thy wife is not here, but in the seventh of the +Islands of Wak and between us and it is seven months' journey, night and day. +From here we go to an island called the Land of Birds, wherein, for the loud +crying of the birds and the flapping of their wings, one cannot hear other +speak."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman said to +Hasan, "Indeed thy wife is in the Seventh Island,[FN#126] the greatest amongst +the Islands of Wak and betwixt us and it is a seven-months' journey. From here +we fare for the Land of Birds, whereon for the force of their flying and the +flapping of their wings, we cannot hear one other speak. Over that country we +journey night and day, eleven days, after which we come forth of it to another +called the Land of Ferals where, for stress of roaring of lions and howling of +wolves and laughing of hyćnas and the crying of other beasts of prey we shall +hear naught, and therein we travel twenty days' journey. Then we issue +therefrom and come to a third country, called the Land of the Jánn, where, for +stress of the crying of the Jinn and the flaming of fires and the flight of +sparks and smoke from their mouths and the noise of their groaning and their +arrogance in blocking up the road before us, our ears will be deafened and our +eyes blinded, so that we shall neither hear nor see, nor dare any look behind +him, or he perisheth: but there horseman boweth head on saddle-bow and raiseth +it not for three days. After this, we abut upon a mighty mountain and a +running river contiguous with the Isles of Wak, which are seven in number and +the extent whereof is a whole year's journey for a well-girt horseman. And +thou must know, O my son, that these troops are all virgin girls, and that the +ruler over us is a woman of the Archipelago of Wak. On the bank of the river +aforesaid is another mountain, called Mount Wak, and it is thus named by reason +of a tree which beareth fruits like heads of the Sons of Adam.[FN#127] When the +sun riseth on them, the heads cry out all, saying in their cries:— 'Wak! Wak! +Glory be to the Creating King, Al-Khallák!' And when we hear their crying, we +know that the sun is risen. In like manner, at sundown, the heads set up the +same cry, 'Wak! Wak! Glory to Al-Khallak!' and so we know that the sun hath +set. No man may abide with us or reach to us or tread our earth; and betwixt +us and the abiding-place of the Queen who ruleth over us is a month's journey +from this shore, all the lieges whereof are under her hand, as are also the +tribes of the Jinn, Marids and Satans, while of the warlocks none kenneth the +number save He who created them. Wherefore, an thou be afraid, I will send +with thee one who will convey thee to the coast and there bring one who will +embark thee on board a ship that bear thee to thine own land. But an thou be +content to tarry with us, I will not forbid thee and thou shalt be with me in +mine eye,[FN#128] till thou win thy wish, Inshallah!" Quoth he, "O my lady, I +will never quit thee till I foregather with my wife or lose my life!"; and +quoth she, "This is a light matter; be of good heart, for soon shalt thou come +to thy desire, Allah willing; and there is no help but that I let the Queen +know of thee, that she may help thee to attain thine aim." Hasan blessed her +and kissed her head and hands, thanking her for her good deed and exceeding +kindness and firm will. Then he set out with her, pondering the issue of his +case and the horrors of his strangerhood; wherefore he fell a-weeping and +a-wailing and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"A Zephyr bloweth from the lover's site; * And thou canst view me<br/> + + in the saddest plight:<br/> + +The Night of Union is as brilliant morn; * And black the<br/> + + Severance-day as blackest night:<br/> + +Farewelling friend is sorrow sorest sore * Parting from lover's<br/> + + merest undelight.<br/> + +I will not blame her harshness save to her, * And 'mid mankind<br/> + + nor friend nor fere I sight:<br/> + +How can I be consoled for loss of you? * Base censor's blame<br/> + + shall not console my sprite!<br/> + +O thou in charms unique, unique's my love; * O peerless thou, my<br/> + + heart hath peerless might!<br/> + +Who maketh semblance that he loveth you * And dreadeth blame is<br/> + + most blame-worthy wight."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then the old woman bade beat the kettle-drums for departure and the army set +out. Hasan fared with her, drowned in the sea of solicitude and reciting +verses like those above, whilst she strave to comfort him and exhorted him to +patience; but he awoke not from his tristesse and heeded not her exhortations. +They journeyed thus till they came to the boundaries of the Land of +Birds[FN#129] and when they entered it, it seemed to Hasan as if the world were +turned topsy-turvy for the exceeding clamour. His head ached and his mind was +dazed, his eyes were blinded and his ears deafened, and he feared with +exceeding fear and made certain of death, saying to himself, "If this be the +Land of Birds, how will be the Land of Beasts?" But, when the crone hight +Shawahi saw him in this plight, she laughed at him, saying, "O my son, if this +be thy case in the first island, how will it fare with thee, when thou comest +to the others?" So he prayed to Allah and humbled himself before the Lord, +beseeching Him to assist him against that wherewith He had afflicted him and +bring him to his wishes; and they ceased not going till they passed out of the +Land of Birds and, traversing the Land of Beasts, came to the Land of the Jann +which when Hasan saw, he was sore affrighted and repented him of having entered +it with them. But he sought aid of Allah the Most High and fared on with them, +till they were quit of the Land of the Jann and came to the river and set down +their loads at the foot of a vast mountain and a lofty, and pitched their tents +by the stream-bank. Then they rested and ate and drank and slept in security, +for they were come to their own country. On the morrow the old woman set Hasan +a couch of alabaster, inlaid with pearls and jewels and nuggets of red gold, by +the river-side, and he sat down thereon, having first bound his face with a +chin-kerchief, that discovered naught of him but his eyes. Then she bade +proclaim among the troops that they should all assemble before her tent and put +off their clothes and go down into the stream and wash; and this she did that +she might parade before him all the girls, so haply his wife should be amongst +them and he know her. So the whole army mustered before her and putting off +their clothes, went down into the stream, and Hasan seated on his couch watched +them washing their white skins and frolicking and making merry, whilst they +took no heed of his inspecting them, deeming him to be of the daughters of the +Kings. When he beheld them stripped of their clothes, his chord stiffened for +that looking at them mother-naked he saw what was between their thighs, and +that of all kinds, soft and rounded, plump and cushioned; large-lipped, +perfect, redundant and ample,[FN#130] and their faces were as moons and their +hair as night upon day, for that they were of the daughters of the Kings. When +they were clean, they came up out of the water, stark naked, as the moon on the +night of fullness and the old woman questioned Hasan of them, company by +company, if his wife were among them; but, as often as she asked him of a +troop, he made answer, "She is not among these, O my lady."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman +questioned Hasan of the girls, company after company, if haply his wife were +among them; but as often as she asked him of a troop, he made answer, "She is +not among these, O my lady!" Last of all, there came up a damsel, attended by +ten slave-girls and thirty waiting-women, all of them high-bosomed maidens. +They put off their clothes and went down into the river, where the damsel fell +to riding the high horse over her women, throwing them down and ducking them. +On this wise she continued for a full hour, after which all came up out of the +water and sat down; and they brought her napkins[FN#131] of gold-purfled silk, +with which she dried herself. Then they brought her clothes and jewels and +ornaments of the handiwork of the Jinn, and she donned them and rose and walked +with graceful pace among the troops, she and her maidens. When Hasan saw her, +his heart was ready to fly from his breast and he said, "Verily this girl is +the likest of all folk to the bird I saw in the basin atop of the palace of my +sisters the Princesses, and she lorded it over her lieges even as doth this +one." The old woman asked, "O Hasan, is this thy wife?"; and he answered, "No, +by thy life, O my lady; this is not my wife, nor ever in my life have I set +eyes on her; neither among all the girls I have seen in these islands is there +the like of my wife nor her match for symmetry and grace and beauty and +loveliness!" Then said Shawaki, "Describe her to me and acquaint me with all +her attributes, that I may have her in my mind; for I know every girl in the +Islands of Wak, being commander of the army of maids and governor over them; +wherefore, an thou describe her to me, I shall know her and will contrive for +thee to take her." Quoth he, "My wife hath the fairest face and a form all +grace; smooth is she of cheeks and high of breasts with eyes of liquid light, +calves and thighs plump to sight, teeth snowy white, with dulcet speech dight; +in speech soft and bland as she were a willow-wand; her gifts are a moral and +lips are red as coral; her eyes wear natural Kohl-dye and her lower +labia[FN#132] in softness lie. On her right cheek is a mole and on her waist, +under her navel, is a sign; her face shines as the rondure of the moon in +sheen, her waist is slight, her hips a heavy weight, and the water of her mouth +the sick doth heal, as it were Kausar or Salsabil."[FN#133] Said the old woman, +"Give me an increased account of her, Allah increase thee of passion for her!" +Quoth he, "My wife hath a face the fairest fair and oval cheeks the rarest +rare; neck long and spare and eyes that Kohl wear; her side face shows the +Anemones of Nu'uman, her mouth is like a seal of cornelian and flashing teeth +that lure and stand one in stead of cup and ewer. She is cast in the mould of +pleasantness and between her thighs is the throne of the Caliphate, there is no +such sanctuary among the Holy Places; as saith in its praise the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"The name of what drave me distraught * Hath letters renowned<br/> + + among men:<br/> + +A four into five multiplied * And a multiplied six into<br/> + + ten.[FN#134]"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Hasan wept and chanted the following Mawwál,[FN#135] +</p> + +<p> +"O heart, an lover false thee, shun the parting bane * Nor to<br/> + + forgetfulness thy thoughts constrain:<br/> + +Be patient; thou shalt bury all thy foes; * Allah ne'er falseth<br/> + + man of patience fain."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And this also, +</p> + +<p> +"An wouldst be life,long safe, vaunt not delight; * Never<br/> + + despair, nor wone o'erjoyed in sprite!<br/> + +Forbear, rejoice not, mourn not o'er thy plight * And in ill day<br/> + + 'Have not we oped?'—recite."[FN#136]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon the old woman bowed her head groundwards awhile, then, raising it, +said, "Laud be to the Lord, the Mighty of Award! Indeed I am afflicted with +thee, O Hasan! Would Heaven I had never known thee! This woman, whom thou +describest to me as thy wife, I know by description and I know her to be none +other than the eldest daughter of the Supreme King, she who ruleth over all the +Islands of Wak. So open both eyes and consider thy case; and if thou be +asleep, awake; for, if this woman be indeed thy wife, it is impossible for thee +ever to obtain her, and though thou come to her, yet couldst thou not avail to +her possession, since between thee and her the distance is as that between +earth and Heaven. Wherefore, O my son, return presently and cast not thyself +into destruction nor cast me with thee; for meseemeth thou hast no lot in her; +so return whence thou camest lest our lives be lost." And she feared for +herself and for him. When Hasan heard her words, he wept till he fainted and +she left not sprinkling water on his face, till he came to himself, when he +continued to weep, so that he drenched his dress with tears, for the much cark +and care and chagrin which betided him by reason of her words. And indeed he +despaired of life and said to the old woman, "O my lady, and how shall I go +back, after having come hither? Verily, I thought not thou wouldst forsake me +nor fail of the winning of my wish, especially as thou art the +Commander-in-chief of the army of the girls." Answered Shawahl, "O my son, I +doubted not but thy wife was a maid of the maids, and had I known she was the +King's daughter, I had not suffered thee to come hither nor had I shown the +troops to thee, for all the love I bear thee. But now, O my son, thou hast +seen all the girls naked; so tell me which of them pleaseth thee and I will +give her to thee, in lieu of thy wife, and do thou put it that thy wife and +children are dead and take her and return to thine own country in safety, ere +thou fall into the King's hand and I have no means of delivering thee. So, +Allah upon thee, O my son, hearken unto me. Choose thyself one of these +damsels, in the stead of yonder woman, and return presently to thy country in +safety and cause me not quaff the cup of thine anguish! For, by Allah, thou +hast cast thyself into affliction sore and peril galore, wherefrom none may +avail to deliver thee evermore!" But Hasan hung down his head and wept with +long weeping and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"'Blame not!' said I to all who blamčd me; * 'Mine eye-lids<br/> + + naught but tears were made to dree:'<br/> + +The tears that brim these orbs have overflowed * My checks, for<br/> + + lovers and love's cruelty.<br/> + +Leave me to love though waste this form of me! * For I of Love<br/> + + adore the insanity:<br/> + +And, Oh my dearling, passion grows on me * For you—and you, why<br/> + + grudge me clemency?<br/> + +You wronged me after swearing troth and plight, * Falsed my<br/> + + companionship and turned to flee:<br/> + +And cup of humbling for your rigours sore * Ye made me drain what<br/> + + day departed ye:<br/> + +Then melt, O heart, with longing for their sight * And, O mine<br/> + + eyes, with crowns of tears be dight."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old woman said +to Hasan, "By Allah, O my son, hearken to my words! Choose thee one of these +girls in lieu of thy wife and presently return to thy country in safety," he +hung down his head and recited the couplets quoted above. Then he wept till he +swooned away and Shawahl sprinkled water on his face till he revived, when she +addressed him, "O my lord, I have no shift left; because if I carry thee to the +city thy life is lost and mine also: for, when the Queen cometh to know of +this, she will blame me for admitting thee into her lands and islands, whereto +none of Adam's sons hath access, and will slay me for bringing thee with me and +for suffering mortal to look upon the virgins seen by thee in the sea, whom +ne'er touched male, neither approached mate." And Hasan sware that he had never +looked on them with evil of eye. She resumed, "O my son, hearken to me and +return to thy country and I will give thee wealth and treasures and things of +price, such as shall suffice thee for all the women in the world. Moreover, I +will give thee a girl of the best of them, so lend an ear to my words and +return presently and imperil not thyself; indeed I counsel thee with good +counsel." But he wept and rubbed both cheeks against her feet, saying, "O my +lady and mistress and coolth of mine eyes, how can I turn back now that I have +made my way hither, without the sight of those I desire, and now that I have +come near the beloved's site, hoping for meeting forthright, so haply there may +be a portion in reunion to my plight?" And he improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"O Kings of beauty, grace to prisoner ta'en * Of eyelids fit to<br/> + + rule the Chosroës' reign:<br/> + +Ye pass the wafts of musk in perfumed breath; * Your cheeks the<br/> + + charms of blooming rose disdain.<br/> + +The softest Zephyr breathes where pitch ye camp * And thence<br/> + + far-scattered sweetness fills the plain:<br/> + +Censor of me, leave blame and stint advice! * Thou bringest<br/> + + wearying words and wisdom vain:<br/> + +Why heat my passion with this flame and up- * braid me when<br/> + + naught thou knowest of its bane?<br/> + +Captured me eyes with passion maladifs, * And overthrew me with<br/> + + Love's might and main:<br/> + +I scatter tears the while I scatter verse; * You are my theme for<br/> + + rhyme and prosy strain.<br/> + +Melted my vitals glow of rosy cheeks * And in the Lazá-lowe my<br/> + + heart is lain:<br/> + +Tell me, an I leave to discourse of you, * What speech my breast<br/> + + shall broaden?<br/> + +Tell me deign! Life-long I loved the lovelings fair, but ah, * To<br/> + + grant my wish eke Allah must be fain!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Hearing his verses the old woman was moved to ruth for him and Allah planted +the seed of affection for him in her heart; so coming up to him she consoled +him, saying, "Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear and put away +trouble from thy thought, for, by Allah, I will venture my life with thee, till +thou attain thine aim or death undo me!" With this, Hasan's heart was comforted +and his bosom broadened and he sat talking with the old woman till the end of +the day, when all the girls dispersed, some entering their town-mansions and +others nighting in the tents. Then the old woman carried him into the city and +lodged him in a place apart, lest any should come to know of him and tell the +Queen of him and she should slay him and slay her who had brought him thither. +Moreover, she served him herself and strave to put him in fear of the awful +majesty of the Supreme King, his wife's father; whilst he wept before her and +said, "O my lady, I choose death for myself and loathe this worldly life, if I +foregather not with my wife and children: I have set my existence on the +venture and will either attain my aim or die." So the old woman fell to +pondering the means of bringing him and his wife together and casting about how +to do in the case of this unhappy one, who had thrown himself into destruction +and would not be diverted from his purpose by fear or aught else; for, indeed +he recked not of his life and the sayer of bywords saith, "Lover in nowise +hearkeneth he to the speech of the man who is fancy-free." Now the name of the +Queen of the island wherein they were was Núr al-Hudŕ,[FN#137] eldest daughter +of the Supreme King, and she had six virgin sisters, abiding with their father, +whose capital and court were in the chief city of that region and who had made +her ruler over all the lands and islands of Wak. So when the ancient dame saw +Hasan on fire with yearning after his wife and children, she rose up and +repaired to the palace and going in to Queen Nur al-Huda kissed ground before +her; for she had a claim on her favour because she had reared the King's +daughters one and all and had authority over each and every of them and was +high in honour and consideration with them and with the King. Nur al-Huda rose +to her as she entered and embracing her, seated her by her side and asked her +of her journey. She answered, "By Allah, O my lady 'twas a blessed journey +and I have brought thee a gift which I will presently present to thee," adding, +"O my daughter, O Queen of the age and the time, I have a favour to crave of +thee and I fain would discover it to thee, that thou mayst help me to +accomplish it, and but for my confidence that thou wilt not gainsay me therein, +I would not expose it to thee." Asked the Queen, "And what is thy need? Expound +it to me, and I will accomplish it to thee, for I and my kingdom and troops are +all at thy commandment and disposition." Therewithal the old woman quivered as +quivereth the reed on a day when the storm-wind is abroad and saying in +herself, "O[FN#138] Protector, protect me from the Queen's mischief!"[FN#139] +fell down before her and acquainted her with Hasan's case, saying, "O my lady, +a man, who had hidden himself under my wooden settle on the seashore, sought my +protection; so I took him under my safeguard and carried him with me among the +army of girls armed and accoutred so that none might know him, and brought him +into the city; and indeed I have striven to affright him with thy fierceness, +giving him to know of thy power and prowess; but, as often as I threatened him, +he weepeth and reciteth verses and sayeth, 'Needs must I have my wife and +children or die, and I will not return to my country without them.' And indeed +he hath adventured himself and come to the Islands of Wak, and never in all my +days saw I mortal heartier of heart than he or doughtier of derring-do, save +that love hath mastered him to the utmost of mastery."—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old woman +related to Queen Nur al-Huda the adventure of Hasan, ending with, "Never I saw +any one heartier of heart than he save that love hath mastered him to the +utmost of mastery," the Queen, after lending an attentive ear and comprehending +the case, waxed wroth at her with exceeding wrath and bowed her head awhile +groundwards; then, raising it, she looked at Shawahi and said to her, "O +ill-omened beldam, art thou come to such a pass of lewdness that thou carriest +males, men, with thee into the Islands of Wak and bringest them into me, +unfearing of my mischief? Who hath foregone thee with this fashion, that thou +shouldst do thus? By the head of the King, but for thy claim on me for +fosterage and service, I would forthwith do both him and thee to die the +foulest of deaths, that travellers might take warning by thee, O accursed, lest +any other do the like of this outrageous deed thou hast done, which none durst +hitherto! But go and bring him hither forthright, that I may see him; or I +will strike off thy head, O accursed." So the old woman went out from her, +confounded, unknowing whither she went and saying, "All this calamity hath +Allah driven upon me from this Queen because of Hasan!" and going in to him, +said, "Rise, speak with the Queen, O wight whose last hour is at hand!" So he +rose and went with her, whilst his tongue ceased not to call upon Almighty +Allah and say, "O my God, be gracious to me in Thy decrees and deliver me from +this Thine affliction!"[FN#140] And Shawahi went with him charging him by the +way how he should speak with the Queen. When he stood before Nur al-Huda, he +found that she had donned the chinveil[FN#141]; so he kissed ground before her +and saluted her with the salam, improvising these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"God make thy glory last in joy of life; * Allah confirm the<br/> + + boons he deigned bestow:<br/> + +Thy grace and grandeur may our Lord increase * And aye Th'<br/> + + Almighty aid thee o'er thy foe!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When he ended his verse Nur al-Huda bade the old woman ask him questions before +her, that she might hear his answers: so she said to him, "The Queen returneth +thy salam-greeting and saith to thee, 'What is thy name and that of thy +country, and what are the names of thy wife and children, on whose account thou +art come hither?"' Quoth he, and indeed he had made firm his heart and destiny +aided him, "O Queen of the age and tide and peerless jewel of the epoch and the +time, my name is Hasan the fullfilled of sorrow, and my native city is +Bassorah. I know not the name of my wife[FN#142] but my children's names are +Násir and Mansúr." When the Queen heard his reply and his provenance, she +bespoke him herself and said, "And whence took she her children?" He replied, +"O Queen, she took them from the city of Baghdad and the palace of the +Caliphate." Quoth Nur al-Huda, "And did she say naught to thee at the time she +flew away?;" and quoth he, "Yes; she said to my mother, 'Whenas thy son cometh +to thee and the nights of severance upon him longsome shall be and he craveth +meeting and reunion to see, and whenas the breezes of love and longing shake +him dolefully let him come in the Islands of Wak to me.'" Whereupon Queen Nur +al-Huda shook her head and said to him, "Had she not desired thee she had not +said to thy mother this say, and had she not yearned for reunion with thee, +never had she bidden thee to her stead nor acquainted thee with her +abiding-place." Rejoined Hasan, "O mistress of Kings and asylum of prince and +pauper, whatso happened I have told thee and have concealed naught thereof, and +I take refuge from evil with Allah and with thee; wherefore oppress me not, but +have compassion on me and earn recompense and requital for me in the world to +come, and aid me to regain my wife and children. Grant me my urgent need and +cool mine eyes with my children and help me to the sight of them." Then he wept +and wailed and lamenting his lot recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Yea, I will laud thee while the ring-dove moans, * Though fail<br/> + + my wish of due and lawful scope:<br/> + +Ne'er was I whirled in bliss and joys gone by * Wherein I found<br/> + + thee not both root and rope."[FN#143]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +The Queen shook her head and bowed it in thought a long time; then, raising it, +she said to Hasan (and indeed she was wroth), "I have ruth on thee and am +resolved to show thee in review all the girls in the city and in the provinces +of my island; and in case thou know thy wife, I will deliver her to thee; but, +an thou know her not and know not her place, I will put thee to death and +crucify thee over the old woman's door." Replied Hasan, "I accept this from +thee, O Queen of the Age, and am content to submit to this thy condition. +There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the +Great!" And he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"You've roused my desire and remain at rest,— * Waked my wounded<br/> + + lids while you slept with zest.<br/> + +And ye made me a vow ye would not hang back * But your guile when<br/> + + you chained me waxt manifest.<br/> + +I loved you in childhood unknowing Love; * Then slay me not who<br/> + + am sore opprest.<br/> + +Fear ye not from Allah when slaying a friend * Who gazeth on<br/> + + stars when folk sleep their best?<br/> + +By Allah, my kinsmen, indite on my tomb * 'This man was the slave<br/> + + of Love's harshest hest!'<br/> + +Haps a noble youth, like me Love's own thrall, * When he sees my<br/> + + grave on my name shall call."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Queen Nur al-Huda commanded that not a girl should abide in the city but +should come up to the palace and pass in review before Hasan and moreover she +bade Shawahi go down in person and bring them up herself. Accordingly all the +maidens in the city presented themselves before the Queen, who caused them to +go in to Hasan, hundred after hundred, till there was no girl left in the +place, but she had shown her to him; yet he saw not his wife amongst them. +Then said she to him, "Seest thou her amongst these?"; and he replied, "By thy +life, O Queen, she is not amongst them." With this she was sore enraged against +him and said to the old woman, "Go in and bring out all who are in the palace +and show them to him." So she displayed to him every one of the palace-girls, +but he saw not his wife among them and said to the Queen, "By the life of thy +head, O Queen, she is not among these." Whereat the Queen was wroth and cried +out at those around her, saying, "Take him and hale him along, face to earth, +and cut off his head, least any adventure himself after him and intrude upon us +in our country and spy out our estate by thus treading the soil of our +islands." So they threw him down on his face and dragged him along; then, +covering his eyes with his skirt, stood at his head with bared brands awaiting +royal permission. Thereupon Shawahi came forward and kissing the ground before +the Queen, took the hem of her garment and laid it on her head, saying, "O +Queen, by my claim for fosterage, be not hasty with him, more by token of thy +knowledge that this poor wretch is a stranger, who hath adventured himself and +suffered what none ever suffered before him, and Allah (to whom belong Might +and Majesty,) preserved him from death, for that his life was ordained to be +long. He heard of thine equity and entered thy city and guarded site;[FN#144] +wherefore, if thou put him to death, the report will dispread abroad of thee, +by means of the travellers, that thou hatest strangers and slayest them. He is +in any case at thy mercy and the slain of thy sword, if his wife be not found +in thy dominions; and whensoever thou desireth his presence, I can bring him +back to thee. Moreover, in very sooth I took him under my protection only of +my trust in thy magnanimity through my claim on thee for fosterage, so that I +engaged to him that thou wouldst bring him to his desire, for my knowledge of +thy justice and quality of mercy. But for this, I had not brought him into thy +kingdom; for I said to myself: 'The Queen will take pleasure in looking upon +him, and hearing him speak his verses and his sweet discourse and eloquent +which is like unto pearls strung on string.' Moreover, he hath entered our land +and eaten of our meat; wherefore he hath a claim upon us."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Tenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Queen Nur +al-Huda bade her pages seize Hasan and smite his neck, the old woman, Shawahi, +began to reason with her and say, "Verily he hath entered our land and eaten of +our meat, wherefore he hath a claim upon us, the more especially since I +promised him to bring him in company with thee; and thou knowest that, parting +is a grievous ill and severance hath power to kill, especially separation from +children. Now he hath seen all our women, save only thyself; so do thou show +him thy face?" The Queen smiled and said, "How can he be my husband and have +had children by me, that I should show him my face?" Then she made them bring +Hasan before her and when he stood in the presence, she unveiled her face, +which when he saw, he cried out with a great cry and fell down fainting. The +old woman ceased not to tend him, till he came to himself and as soon as he +revived he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"O breeze that blowest from the land Irak * And from their<br/> + + corners whoso cry 'Wak! Wak!'<br/> + +Bear news of me to friends and say for me * I've tasted<br/> + + passion-food of bitter smack.<br/> + +O dearlings of my love, show grace and ruth * My heart is melted<br/> + + for this severance-rack."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When he ended his verse he rose and looking on the Queen's face, cried out with +a great cry, for stress whereof the palace was like to fall upon all therein. +Then he swooned away again and the old woman ceased not to tend him till he +revived, when she asked him what ailed him and he answered, "In very sooth this +Queen is either my wife or else the likest of all folk to my wife."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Eleventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old woman +asked Hasan what ailed him, he answered, "In very sooth this Queen is either my +wife or else the likest of all folk to my wife." Quoth Nur al-Huda to the old +woman, "Woe to thee, O nurse! This stranger is either Jinn-mad or out of his +mind, for he stareth me in the face with wide eyes and saith I am his wife." +Quoth the old woman, "O Queen, indeed he is excusable; so blame him not, for +the saying saith, 'For the lovesick is no remedy and alike are the madman and +he.'" And Hasan wept with sore weeping and recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"I sight their track and pine for longing love; * And o'er their<br/> + + homesteads weep I and I yearn:<br/> + +And I pray Heaven who willčd we should part, * Will deign to<br/> + + grant us boon of safe return."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then said Hasan to the Queen once more, "By Allah, thou art not my wife, but +thou art the likest of all folk to her!" Hereupon Nur al-Huda laughed till she +fell backwards and rolled round on her side.[FN#145] Then she said to him, "O +my friend, take thy time and observe me attentively: answer me at thy leisure +what I shall ask thee and put away from thee insanity and perplexity and +inadvertency for relief is at hand." Answered Hasan, "O mistress of Kings and +asylum of all princes and paupers, when I looked upon thee, I was distracted, +seeing thee to be either my wife or the likest of all folk to her; but now ask +me whatso thou wilt." Quoth she, "What is it in thy wife that resembleth me?"; +and quoth he, "O my lady, all that is in thee of beauty and loveliness, +elegance and amorous grace, such as the symmetry of thy shape and the sweetness +of thy speech and the blushing of thy cheeks and the jutting of thy breasts and +so forth, all resembleth her and thou art her very self in thy faculty of +parlance and the fairness of thy favour and the brilliancy of thy +brow."[FN#146] When the Queen heard this, she smiled and gloried in her beauty +and loveliness and her cheeks reddened and her eyes wantoned; then she turned +to Shawahi Umm Dawahi and said to her, "O my mother, carry him back to the +place where he tarried with thee and tend him thyself, till I examine into his +affair; for, an he be indeed a man of manliness and mindful of friendship and +love and affection, it behoveth we help him to win his wish, more by token that +he hath sojourned in our country and eaten of our victual, not to speak of the +hardships of travel he hath suffered and the travail and horrors he hath +undergone. But, when thou hast brought him to thy house, commend him to the +care of thy dependents and return to me in all haste; and Allah Almighty +willing![FN#147] all shall be well." Thereupon Shawahi carried him back to her +lodging and charged her handmaids and servants and suite wait upon him and +bring him all he needed nor fail in what was his due. Then she returned to +Queen Nur al-Huda, who bade her don her arms and set out, taking with her a +thousand doughty horsemen. So she obeyed and donned her war-gear and having +collected the thousand riders reported them ready to the Queen, who bade her +march upon the city of the Supreme King, her father, there to alight at the +abode of her youngest sister, Manár al-Saná[FN#148] and say to her, "Clothe thy +two sons in the coats of mail which their aunt hath made them and send them to +her; for she longeth for them." Moreover the Queen charged her keep Hasan's +affair secret and say to Manar al-Sana, after securing her children, "Thy +sister inviteth thee to visit her." "Then," she continued, "bring the children +to me in haste and let her follow at her leisure. Do thou come by a road other +than her road and journey night and day and beware of discovering this matter +to any. And I swear by all manner oaths that, if my sister prove to be his +wife and it appear that her children are his, I will not hinder him from taking +her and them and departing with them to his own country."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Twelfth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Oueen said, "I +swear by Allah and by all manner of oaths that if she prove to be his wife, I +will not hinder him from taking her but will aid him thereto and eke to +departing with them to his mother-land." And the old woman put faith in her +words, knowing not what she purposed in her mind, for the wicked Jezebel had +resolved that if she were not his wife she would slay him; but if the children +resembled him, she would believe him. The Queen resumed, "O my mother, an my +thought tell me true, my sister Manar al-Sana is his wife, but Allah alone is +All-knowing! seeing that these traits of surpassing beauty and excelling grace, +of which he spoke, are found in none except my sisters and especially in the +youngest." The old woman kissed her hand and returning to Hasan, told him what +the Queen had said, whereat he was like to fly for joy and coming up to her, +kissed her head. Quoth she, "O my son, kiss not my head, but kiss me on the +mouth and be this kiss by way of sweetmeat for thy salvation.[FN#149] Be of +good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear and grudge not to kiss my mouth, +for I and only I was the means of thy foregathering with her. So take comfort, +and hearten thy heart and broaden thy breast and gladden thy glance and console +thy soul for, Allah willing, thy desire shall be accomplished at my hand." So +saying, she bade him farewell and departed, whilst he recited these two +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Witnesses unto love of thee I've four; * And wants each case two<br/> + + witnesses; no more!<br/> + +A heart aye fluttering, limbs that ever quake, * A wasted frame<br/> + + and tongue that speech forswore."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And also these two, +</p> + +<p> +"Two things there be, an blood-tears thereover * Wept eyes till<br/> + + not one trace thou couldst discover,<br/> + +Eyes ne'er could pay the tithe to them is due * The prime of<br/> + + youth and severance from lover."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then the old woman armed herself and, taking with her a thousand weaponed +horsemen, set out and journeyed till she came to the island and the city where +dwelt the Lady Manar al-Sana and between which and that of her sister Queen Nur +al-Huda was three days' journey. When Shawahi reached the city, she went in to +the Princess and saluting her, gave her her sister's salam and acquainted her +with the Queen's longing for her and her children and that she reproached her +for not visiting her. Quoth Manar al-Sana, "Verily, I am beholden to my sister +and have failed of my duty to her in not visiting her, but I will do so +forthright." Then she bade pitch her tents without the city and took with her +for her sister a suitable present of rare things. Presently, the King her +father looked out of a window of his palace, and seeing the tents pitched by +the road, asked of them, and they answered him, "The Princess Manar al-Sana +hath pitched her tents by the way-side, being minded to visit her sister Queen +Nur al-Huda." When the King heard this, he equipped troops to escort her to +her sister and brought out to her from his treasuries meat and drink and monies +and jewels and rarities which beggar description. Now the King had seven +daughters, all sisters-german by one mother and father except the youngest: the +eldest was called Núr al-Hudŕ, the second Najm al-Sabáh, the third Shams +al-Zuhŕ, the fourth Shajarat al-Durr, the fifth Kút al-Kulúb, the sixth Sharaf +al-Banát and the youngest Manar al-Sana, Hasan's wife, who was their sister by +the father's side only.[FN#150] Anon the old woman again presented herself and +kissed ground before the Princess, who said to her, "Hast thou any need, O my +mother?" Quoth Shawahi, "Thy sister, Queen Nur al-Huda, biddeth thee clothe +thy sons in the two habergeons which she fashioned for them and send them to +her by me, and I will take them and forego thee with them and be the harbinger +of glad tidings and the announcer of thy coming to her." When the Princess +heard these words, her colour changed and she bowed her head a long while, +after which she shook it and looking up, said to the old woman, "O my mother, +my vitals tremble and my heart fluttereth when thou namest my children; for, +from the time of their birth none hath looked on their faces either Jinn or +man, male or female, and I am jealous for them of the zephyr when it breatheth +in the night." Exclaimed the old woman, "What words are these, O my lady? Dost +thou fear for them from thy sister?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirteenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the old woman said to the +Princess Manar al-Sana, "What words be these, O my lady? Dost thou fear for +them from thy sister? Allah safeguard thy reason! Thou mayst not cross the +Queen's majesty in this matter, for she would be wroth with thee. However, O +my lady, the children are young, and thou art excusable in fearing for them, +for those that love well are wont to deem ill: but, O my daughter, thou knowest +my tenderness and mine affection for thee and thy children, for indeed I reared +thee before them. I will take them in my charge and make my cheek their pillow +and open my heart and set them within, nor is it needful to charge me with care +of them in the like of this case; so be of cheerful heart and tearless eye and +send them to her, for, at the most, I shall but precede thee with them a day or +at most two days." And she ceased not to urge her, till she gave way, fearing +her sister's fury and unknowing what lurked for her in the dark future, and +consented to send them with the old woman. So she called them and bathed them +and equipped them and changed their apparel. Then she clad them in the two +little coats of mail and delivered them to Shawahi, who took them and sped on +with them like a bird, by another road than that by which their mother should +travel, even as the Queen had charged her; nor did she cease to fare on with +all diligence, being fearful for them, till she came in sight of Nur al-Huda's +city, when she crossed the river and entering the town, carried them in to +their aunt. The Queen rejoiced at their sight and embraced them, and pressed +them to her breast; after which she seated them, one upon the right thigh and +the other upon the left; and turning round said to the old woman, "Fetch me +Hasan forthright, for I have granted him my safeguard and have spared him from +my sabre and he hath sought asylum in my house and taken up his abode in my +courts, after having endured hardships and horrors and passed through all +manner mortal risks, each terribler than other; yet hitherto is he not safe +from drinking the cup of death and from cutting off his breath." —And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fourteenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Queen Nur +al-Huda bade the old woman bring Hasan she said, "Verily he hath endured +hardships and horrors and passed through all manner mortal risks each terribler +than other; yet hitherto he is not safe from death and from the cutting off of +his breath." Replied Shawahi, "An I bring him to thee, wilt thou reunite him +with these his children? Or, if they prove not his, wilt thou pardon him and +restore him to his own country?" Hearing these her words the Queen waxed +exceeding wroth and cried to her, "Fie upon thee, O ill-omened old woman! How +long wilt thou false us in the matter of this strange man who hath dared to +intrude himself upon us and hath lifted our veil and pried into our conditions? +Say me: thinkest thou that he shall come to our land and look upon our faces +and betray our honour, and after return in safety to his own country and expose +our affairs to his people, wherefore our report will be bruited abroad among +all the Kings of the quarters of the earth and the merchants will journey +bearing tidings of us in all directions, saying, 'A mortal entered the Isles of +Wak and traversed the Land of the Jinn and the lands of the Wild Beasts and the +Islands of Birds and set foot in the country of the Warlocks and the Enchanters +and returned in safety?' This shall never be; no, never; and I swear by Him who +made the Heavens and builded them; yea, by Him who dispread the earth and +smoothed it, and who created all creatures and counted them, that, an they be +not his children, I will assuredly slay him and strike his neck with mine own +hand!" Then she cried out at the old woman, who fell down for fear; and set +upon her the Chamberlain and twenty Mamelukes, saying, "Go with this crone and +fetch me in haste the youth who is in her house." So they dragged Shawahi +along, yellow with fright and with side-muscles quivering, till they came to +her house, where she went in to Hasan, who rose to her and kissed her hands and +saluted her. She returned not his salam, but said to him, "Come; speak the +Queen. Did I not say to thee: 'Return presently to thine own country and I +will give thee that to which no mortal may avail?' And did I forbid thee from +all this? But thou wouldst not obey me nor listen to my words; nay, thou +rejectedst my counsel and chosest to bring destruction on me and on thyself. +Up, then, and take that which thou hast chosen; for death is near hand. Arise: +speak with yonder vile harlot[FN#151] and tyrant that she is!" So Hasan arose, +broken-spirited, heavy-hearted, and full of fear, and crying, "O Preserver, +preserve Thou me! O my God, be gracious to me in that which Thou hast decreed +to me of Thine affliction and protect me, O Thou the most Merciful of the +Mercifuls!" Then, despairing of his life, he followed the twenty Mamelukes, the +Chamberlain and the crone to the Queen's presence, where he found his two sons +Nasir and Mansur sitting in her lap, whilst she played and made merry with +them. As soon as his eyes fell on them, he knew them and crying a great cry +fell down a-fainting for excess of joy at the sight of his children.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifteenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan's eyes fell +upon his two sons, he knew them both and crying a great cry fell down +a-fainting. They also knew him[FN#152] and natural affection moved them so +that they freed themselves from the Queen's lap and fell upon Hasan, and Allah +(to whom belong Might and Majesty,) made them speak and say to him, "O our +father!" Whereupon the old woman and all who were present wept for pity and +tenderness over them and said, "Praised be Allah, who hath reunited you with +your Sire!" Presently, Hasan came to himself and embracing his children, wept +till again he swooned away, and when he revived, he recited these verses, +</p> + +<p> +"By rights of you, this heart of mine could ne'er aby * Severance<br/> + + from you albeit Union death imply!<br/> + +Your phantom saith to me, 'A-morrow we shall meet!' * Shall I<br/> + + despite the foe the morrow-day espy?<br/> + +By rights of you I swear, my lords, that since the day * Of<br/> + + severance ne'er the sweets of lips enjoyčd I!<br/> + +An Allah bade me perish for the love of you, * Mid greatest<br/> + + martyrs for your love I lief will die.<br/> + +Oft a gazelle doth make my heart her browsing stead * The while<br/> + + her form of flesh like sleep eludes mine eye:<br/> + +If in the lists of Law my bloodshed she deny, * Prove it two<br/> + + witnesses those cheeks of ruddy dye."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Nur al-Huda was assured that the little ones were indeed Hasan's children +and that her sister, the Princess Manar al-Sana, was his wife, of whom he was +come in quest, she was wroth against her with wrath beyond measure.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixteenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur al-Huda was +certified that the little ones were Hasan's children and that her sister Manar +al-Sana was his wife of whom he had come in quest, she raged with exceeding +rage, too great to be assuaged and screamed in Hasan's face and reviled him and +kicked him in the breast, so that he fell on his back in a swoon. Then she +cried out at him, saying, "Arise! fly for thy life. But that I swore that no +evil should betide thee from me, should thy tale prove true, I would slay thee +with mine own hand forthright!" And she cried out at the old woman, who fell on +her face for fear, and said to her, "By Allah, but that I am loath to break the +oath that I swore, I would put both thee and him to death after the foulest +fashion!"; presently adding, "Arise, go out from before me in safety and return +to thine own country, for I swear by my fortune, if ever mine eye espy thee or +if any bring thee in to me after this, I will smite off thy head and that of +whoso bringeth thee!" Then she cried out to her officers, saying, "Put him out +from before me!" So they thrust him out, and when he came to himself, he +recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"You're far, yet to my heart you're nearest near; * Absent yet<br/> + + present in my sprite you appear:<br/> + +By Allah, ne'er to other I've inclined * But tyranny of Time in<br/> + + patience bear!<br/> + +Nights pass while still I love you and they end, * And burns my<br/> + + breast with flames of fell Sa'ir;[FN#153]<br/> + +I was a youth who parting for an hour * Bore not, then what of<br/> + + months that make a year?<br/> + +Jealous am I of breeze-breath fanning thee; * Yea jealous-mad of<br/> + + fair soft-sided fere!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he once more fell down in a swoon, and when he came to himself, he found +himself without the palace whither they had dragged him on his face; so he +rose, stumbling over his skirts and hardly crediting his escape from Nur +al-Huda. Now this was grievous to Shawahi; but she dared not remonstrate with +the Queen by reason of the violence of her wrath. And forthright Hasan went +forth, distracted and knowing not whence to come or whither to go; the world, +for all its wideness, was straitened upon him and he found none to speak a kind +word with him and comfort him, nor any to whom he might resort for counsel or +to apply for refuge; wherefore he made sure of death for that he could not +journey to his own country and knew none to travel with him, neither wist he +the way thither nor might he pass through the Wady of the Jann and the Land of +Beasts and the Islands of Birds. So giving himself up for lost he bewept +himself, till he fainted, and when he revived, he bethought him of his children +and his wife and of that might befal her with her sister, repenting him of +having come to those countries and of having hearkened to none, and recited +these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Suffer mine eye-babes weep lost of love and tears express: *<br/> + + Rare is my solace and increases my distress:<br/> + +The cup of Severance-chances to the dregs I've drained; * Who is<br/> + + the man to bear love-loss with manliness?<br/> + +Ye spread the Carpet of Disgrace[FN#154] betwixt us twain; * Ah,<br/> + + when shalt be uprolled, O Carpet of Disgrace?<br/> + +I watched the while you slept; and if you deemed that I * Forgot<br/> + + your love I but forget forgetfulness:<br/> + +Woe's me! indeed my heart is pining for the love * Of you, the<br/> + + only leaches who can cure my case:<br/> + +See ye not what befel me from your fell disdain? * Debased am I<br/> + + before the low and high no less.<br/> + +I hid my love of you but longing laid it bare, * And burns my<br/> + + heart wi' fire of passion's sorest stress:<br/> + +Ah! deign have pity on my piteous case, for I * Have kept our<br/> + + troth in secresy and patent place!<br/> + +Would Heaven I wot shall Time e'er deign us twain rejoin! * You<br/> + + are my heart's desire, my sprite's sole happiness:<br/> + +My vitals bear the Severance-wound: would Heaven that you * With<br/> + + tidings from your camp would deign my soul to bless!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he went on, till he came without the city, where he found the river, and +walked along its bank, knowing not whither he went. Such was Hasan's case; but +as regards his wife Manar al-Sana, as she was about to carry out her purpose +and to set out, on the second day after the departure of the old woman with her +children, behold, there came in to her one of the chamberlains of the King her +sire, and kissed ground between his hands,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventeenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Manar al-Sana was +about to set out upon the journey, behold, a chamberlain of the King, her sire, +came in to her and kissing the ground before her, said, "O Princess, the +Supreme King, thy father saluteth thee and biddeth thee to him." So she rose +and accompanied the chamberlain to learn what was required by her father, who +seated her by his side on the couch, and said to her, "O my daughter, know that +I have this night had a dream which maketh me fear for thee and that long +sorrow will betide thee from this thy journey." Quoth she, "How so, O my +father, and what didst thou see in thy dream?" and quoth he, "I dreamt that I +entered a hidden hoard, wherein was great store of monies, of jewels, of +jacinths and of other riches; but 'twas as if naught pleased me of all this +treasure and jewelry save seven bezels, which were the finest things there. I +chose out one of the seven jewels, for it was the smallest, finest and most +lustrous of them and its water pleased me; so I took it in my hand-palm and +fared forth of the treasury. When I came without the door, I opened my hand, +rejoicing, and turned over the jewel, when, behold, there swooped down on me +out of the welkin a strange bird from a far land (for it was not of the birds +of our country) and, snatching it from my hand, returned with it whence it +came.[FN#155] Whereupon sorrow and concern and sore vexation overcame me and my +exceeding chagrin so troubled me that I awoke, mourning and lamenting for the +loss of the jewel. At once on awaking I summoned the interpreters and +expounders of dreams and declared to them my dream,[FN#156] and they said to +me: 'Thou hast seven daughters, the youngest of whom thou wilt lose, and she +will be taken from thee perforce, without thy will.' Now thou, O my girl, art +the youngest and dearest of my daughters and the most affectionate of them to +me, and look'ye thou art about to journey to thy sister, and I know not what +may befal thee from her; so go thou not; but return to thy palace." But when +the Princess heard her father's words, her heart fluttered and she feared for +her children and bent earthwards her head awhile: then she raised it and said +to her sire, "O King, Queen Nur al-Huda hath made ready for me an entertainment +and awaiteth my coming to her, hour by hour. These four years she hath not +seen me and if I delay to visit her, she will be wroth with me. The utmost of +my stay with her shall be a month and then I will return to thee. Besides, who +is the mortal who can travel our land and make his way to the Islands of Wak? +Who can gain access to the White Country and the Black Mountain and come to the +Land of Camphor and the Castle of Crystal, and how shall he traverse the Island +of Birds and the Wady of Wild Beasts and the Valley of the Jann and enter our +Islands? If any stranger came hither, he would be drowned in the seas of +destruction: so be of good cheer and eyes without a tear anent my journey; for +none may avail to tread our earth." And she ceased not to persuade him, till he +deigned give her leave to depart.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighteenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Princess ceased not +to persuade him till he deigned give her leave to depart, and bade a thousand +horse escort her to the river and abide there, till she entered her sister's +city and palace and returned to them, when they should take her and carry her +back to him. Moreover, he charged her tarry with her sister but two days and +return to him in haste; and she answered, "Hearing and obedience." Then rising +up she went forth and he with her and farewelled her. Now his words had sunken +deep into her heart and she feared for her children; but it availeth not to +fortify herself by any device against the onset of Destiny. So she set out and +fared on diligently three days, till she came to the river and pitched her +tents on its bank. Then she crossed the stream, with some of her counsellors, +pages and suite and, going up to the city and the palace, went in to Queen Nur +al-Huda, with whom she found her children who ran to her weeping and crying +out, "O our father!" At this, the tears railed from her eyes and she wept; +then she strained them to her bosom, saying, "What! Have you seen your sire at +this time? Would the hour had never been, in which I left him! If I knew him +to be in the house of the world, I would carry you to him." Then she bemoaned +herself and her husband and her children weeping and reciting these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"My friends, despight this distance and this cruelty, * I pine<br/> + + for you, incline to you where'er you be.<br/> + +My glance for ever turns toward your hearth and home * And mourns<br/> + + my heart the bygone days you woned with me,<br/> + +How many a night foregathered we withouten fear * One loving,<br/> + + other faithful ever fain and free!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When her sister saw her fold her children to her bosom, saying, "'Tis I who +have done thus with myself and my children and have ruined my own house!" she +saluted her not, but said to her, "O whore, whence haddest thou these children? + Say, hast thou married unbeknown to thy sire or hast thou committed +fornication?[FN#157] An thou have played the piece, it behoveth thou be +exemplarily punished; and if thou have married sans our knowledge, why didst +thou abandon thy husband and separate thy sons from thy sire and bring them +hither?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Nineteenth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that quoth Nur al-Huda, +the Queen, to her sister Manar al-Sana, the Princess, "An thou have married +sans our knowledge, why didst thou abandon thy husband and separate thy sons +from their sire and bring them to our land? Thou hast hidden thy children from +us. Thinkest thou we know not of this? Allah Almighty, He who is cognisant of +the concealed, hath made known to us thy case and revealed thy condition and +bared thy nakedness." Then she bade her guards seize her and pinion her elbows +and shackle her with shackles of iron. So they did as she commanded and she +beat her with a grievous beating, so that her skin was torn, and hanged her up +by the hair; after which she cast her in prison and wrote the King her father a +writ acquainting him with her case and saying, "There hath appeared in our land +a man, a mortal, by name Hasan, and our sister Manar al-Sana avoucheth that she +is lawfully married to him and bare him two sons, whom she hath hidden from us +and thee; nor did she discover aught of herself till there came to us this man +and informed us that he wedded her and she tarried with him a long while; after +which she took her children and departed, without his knowledge, bidding as she +went his mother tell her son, whenas longing began to rack to come to her in +the Islands of Wak. So we laid hands on the man and sent the old woman Shawahi +to fetch her and her offspring, enjoining her to bring us the children in +advance of her. And she did so, whilst Manar al-Sana equipped herself and set +out to visit me. When the boys were brought to me and ere the mother came, I +sent for Hasan the mortal who claimeth her to wife, and he on entering and at +first sight knew them and they knew him; whereby was I certified that the +children were indeed his children and that she was his wife and I learned that +the man's story was true and he was not to blame, but that the reproach and the +infamy rested with my sister. Now I feared the rending of our honour-veil +before the folk of our Isles; so when this wanton, this traitress, came in to +me, I was incensed against her and cast her into prison and bastinado'd her +grievously and hanged her up by the hair. Behold, I have acquainted thee with +her case and it is thine to command, and whatso thou orderest us that we will +do. Thou knowest that in this affair is dishonour and disgrace to our name and +to thine, and haply the islanders will hear of it, and we shall become amongst +them a byword; wherefore it befitteth thou return us an answer with all speed." + Then she delivered the letter to a courier and he carried it to the King, who, +when he read it, was wroth with exceeding wrath with his daughter Manar al-Sana +and wrote to Nur al-Huda, saying, "I commit her case to thee and give thee +command over her life; so, if the matter be as thou sayest, kill her without +consulting me." When the Queen had received and read her father's letter, she +sent for Manar al-Sana and they set before her the prisoner drowned in her +blood and pinioned with her hair, shackled with heavy iron shackles and clad in +hair-cloth; and they made her stand in the presence abject and abashed. When +she saw herself in this condition of passing humiliation and exceeding +abjection, she called to mind her former high estate and wept with sore weeping +and recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"O Lord my foes are fain to slay me in despight * Nor deem I<br/> + + anywise to find escape by flight:<br/> + +I have recourse to Thee t' annul what they have done; * Thou art<br/> + + th' asylum, Lord, of fearful suppliant wight."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then wept she grievously, till she fell down in a swoon, and presently coming +to herself, repeated these two couplets,[FN#158] +</p> + +<p> +"Troubles familiar with my heart are grown and I with them, *<br/> + + Erst shunning; for the generous are sociable still.<br/> + +Not one mere kind alone of woe doth lieger with me lie; * Praised<br/> + + be God! There are with me thousands of kinds of ill."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And also these, +</p> + +<p> +"Oft times Mischance shall straiten noble breast * With grief,<br/> + + whence issue is for Him to shape:<br/> + +But when the meshes straitest, tightest, seem * They loose,<br/> + + though deemed I ne'er to find escape."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Twentieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Queen Nur al-Huda +ordered into the presence her sister Princess Manar al-Sana, they set her +between her hands and she, pinioned as she was recited the verses aforesaid. +Then the Queen[FN#159] sent for a ladder of wood and made the eunuchs lay her +on her back, with her arms spread out and bind her with cords thereto; after +which she bared her head and wound her hair about the ladder-rungs and indeed +all pity for her was rooted out from her heart. When Manar al-Sana saw herself +in this state of abjection and humiliation, she cried out and wept; but none +succoured her. Then said she to the Queen, "O my sister, how is thy heart +hardened against me? Hast thou no mercy on me nor pity on these little +children?" But her words only hardened her sister's heart and she insulted her, +saying, "O Wanton! O harlot! Allah have no ruth on whoso sueth for thee! How +should I have compassion on thee, O traitress?" Replied Manar al-Sana who lay +stretched on the ladder, "I appeal from thee to the Lord of the Heavens, +concerning that wherewith thou revilest me and whereof I am innocent! By Allah, +I have done no whoredom, but am lawfully married to him, and my Lord knoweth an +I speak sooth or not! Indeed, my heart is wroth with thee, by reason of thine +excessive hardheartedness against me! How canst thou cast at me the charge of +harlotry, without knowledge? But my Lord will deliver me from thee and if that +whoredom whereof thou accusest me be true, may He presently punish me for it!" +Quoth Nur al-Huda after a few moments of reflection "How durst thou bespeak me +thus?" and rose and beat her till she fainted away;[FN#160] whereupon they +sprinkled water on her face till she revived; and in truth her charms were +wasted for excess of beating and the straitness of her bonds and the sore +insults she had suffered. Then she recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"If aught I've sinned in sinful way, * Or done ill deed and gone<br/> + + astray,<br/> + +The past repent I and I come * To you and for your pardon pray!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Nur al-Huda heard these lines, her wrath redoubled and she said to her, +"Wilt speak before me in verse, O whore, and seek to excuse thyself for the +mortal sins thou hast sinned? 'Twas my desire that thou shouldst return to thy +husband, that I might witness thy wickedness and matchless brazenfacedness; for +thou gloriest in thy lewdness and wantonness and mortal heinousness." Then she +called for a palm-stick and, whenas they brought the Jaríd, she arose and +baring arms to elbows, beat her sister from head to foot; after which she +called for a whip of plaited thongs, wherewith if one smote an elephant, he +would start off at full speed, and came down therewith on her back and her +stomach and every part of her body, till she fainted. When the old woman +Shawahi saw this, she fled forth from the Queen's presence, weeping and cursing +her; but Nur al-Huda cried out to her eunuchs, saying, "Fetch her to me!" So +they ran after her and seizing her, brought her back to the Queen, who bade +throw her on the ground and making them lay hold of her, rose and took the +whip, with which she beat her, till she swooned away, when she said to her +waiting-women, "Drag this ill-omened beldam forth on her face and put her out." +And they did as she bade them. So far concerning them; but as regards Hasan, +he walked on beside the river, in the direction of the desert, distracted, +troubled, and despairing of life; and indeed he was dazed and knew not night +from day for stress of affliction. He ceased not faring on thus, till he came +to a tree whereto he saw a scroll hanging: so he took it and found written +thereon these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"When in thy mother's womb thou wast, * I cast thy case the<br/> + + bestest best;<br/> + +And turned her heart to thee, so she * Fosterčd thee on fondest<br/> + + breast.<br/> + +We will suffice thee in whate'er * Shall cause thee trouble or<br/> + + unrest;<br/> + +We'll aid thee in thine enterprise * So rise and bow to our<br/> + + behest."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When he had ended reading this scroll, he made sure of deliverance from trouble +and of winning reunion with those he loved. Then he walked forward a few steps +and found himself alone in a wild and perilous wold wherein there was none to +company with him; upon which his heart sank within him for horror and +loneliness and his side-muscles trembled, for that fearsome place, and he +recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"O Zephyr of Morn, an thou pass where the dear ones dwell, * Bear<br/> + + greeting of lover who ever in love-longing wones!<br/> + +And tell them I'm pledged to yearning and pawned to pine * And<br/> + + the might of my passion all passion of lovers unthrones.<br/> + +Their sympathies haply shall breathe in a Breeze like thee * And<br/> + + quicken forthright this framework of rotting bones."[FN#161]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan read the +scroll he was certified of deliverance from his trouble and made sure of +winning reunion with those he loved. Then he walked forward a couple of steps +and stopped finding himself alone in a wild and perilous wold wherein was none +to company with him, so he wept sore and recited the verses before mentioned. +Then he walked on a few steps farther beside the river, till he came upon two +little boys of the sons of the sorcerers, before whom lay a rod of copper +graven with talismans, and beside it a skull-cap[FN#162] of leather, made of +three gores and wroughten in steel with names and characts. The cap and rod +were upon the ground and the boys were disputing and beating each other, till +the blood ran down between them; whilst each cried, "None shall take the wand +but I." So Hasan interposed and parted them, saying, "What is the cause of +your contention?" and they replied, "O uncle, be thou judge of our case, for +Allah the Most High hath surely sent thee to do justice between us." Quoth +Hasan, "Tell me your case, and I will judge between you;" and quoth one of +them, "We twain are brothers-german and our sire was a mighty magician, who +dwelt in a cave on yonder mountain. He died and left us this cap and rod; and +my brother saith, 'None shall have the rod but I,' whilst I say the like; so be +thou judge between us and deliver us each from other." Hasan asked, "What is +the difference between the rod and the cap and what is their value? The rod +appears to be worth six coppers[FN#163] and the cap three;" whereto they +answered, "Thou knowest not their properties." "And what are their properties?" +"Each of them hath a wonderful secret virtue, wherefore the rod is worth the +revenue of all the Islands of Wak and their provinces and dependencies, and the +cap the like!" "By Allah, O my sons, discover to me their secret virtues." So +they said, "O uncle, they are extraordinary; for our father wrought an hundred +and thirty and five years at their contrivance, till he brought them to +perfection and ingrafted them with secret attributes which might serve him +extraordinary services and engraved them after the likeness of the revolving +sphere, and by their aid he dissolved all spells; and when he had made an end +of their fashion, Death, which all needs must suffer, overtook him. Now the +hidden virtue of the cap is, that whoso setteth it on his head is concealed +from all folks' eyes, nor can any see him, whilst it remaineth on his head; and +that of the rod is that whoso owneth it hath authority over seven tribes of the +Jinn, who all serve the order and ordinance of the rod; and whenever he who +possesseth it smiteth therewith on the ground, their Kings come to do him +homage, and all the Jinn are at his service." Now when Hasan heard these words, +he bowed his head groundwards awhile, then said in himself, "By Allah, I shall +conquer every foe by means of this rod and cap, Inshallah! and I am worthier of +them both than these two boys. So I will go about forthright to get them from +the twain by craft, that I may use them to free myself and my wife and children +from yonder tyrannical Queen, and then we will depart from this dismal stead, +whence there is no deliverance for mortal man nor flight. Doubtless, Allah +caused me not to fall in with these two lads, but that I might get the rod and +cap from them." Then he raised his head and said to the two boys, "If ye would +have me decide the case, I will make trial of you and see what each of you +deserveth. He who overcometh his brother shall have the rod and he who faileth +shall have the cap." They replied, "O uncle, we depute thee to make trial of us +and do thou decide between us as thou deems fit." Hasan asked, "Will ye +hearken to me and have regard to my words?"; and they answered, "Yes." Then +said he, "I will take a stone and throw it and he who outrunneth his brother +thereto and picketh it up shall take the rod, and the other who is outraced +shall take the cap." And they said, "We accept and consent to this thy +proposal." Then Hasan took a stone and threw it with his might, so that it +disappeared from sight. The two boys ran under and after it and when they were +at a distance, he donned the cap and hending the rod in hand, removed from his +place that he might prove the truth of that which the boys had said, with +regard to their scant properties. The younger outran the elder and coming +first to the stone, took it and returned with it to the place where they had +left Hasan, but found no signs of him. So he called to his brother, saying, +"Where is the man who was to be umpire between us?" Quoth the other, "I espy +him not neither wot I whether he hath flown up to heaven above or sunk into +earth beneath." Then they sought for him, but saw him not, though all the while +he was standing in his stead hard by them. So they abused each other, saying, +"Rod and Cap are both gone; they are neither mine nor thine: and indeed our +father warned us of this very thing; but we forgot whatso he said." Then they +retraced their steps and Hasan also entered the city, wearing the cap and +bearing the rod; and none saw him. Now when he was thus certified of the truth +of their speech, he rejoiced with exceeding joy and making the palace, went up +into the lodging of Shawahi, who saw him not, because of the cap. Then he +walked up to a shelf[FN#164] over her head upon which were vessels of glass and +chinaware, and shook it with his hand, so that what was thereon fell to the +ground. The old woman cried out and beat her face; then she rose and restored +the fallen things to their places,[FN#165] saying in herself, "By Allah, +methinks Queen Nur al-Huda hath sent a Satan to torment me, and he hath tricked +me this trick! I beg Allah Almighty deliver me from her and preserve me from +her wrath, for, O Lord, if she deal thus abominably with her half-sister, +beating and hanging her, dear as she is to her sire, how will she do with a +stranger like myself, against whom she is incensed?"—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the ancient Lady of +Calamities cried, "When Queen Nur al-Huda doeth such misdeed to her sister, +what will she do to a stranger like myself, against whom she is incensed?" Then +said she, "I conjure thee, O devil, by the Most Compassionate, the +Bountiful-great, the High of Estate, of Dominion Elate who man and Jinn did +create, and by the writing upon the seal of Solomon David-son (on both be the +Peace!) speak to me and answer me;" Quoth Hasan, "I am no devil; I am Hasan, +the afflicted, the distraught." Then he raised the cap from his head and +appeared to the old woman, who knew him and taking him apart, said to him, +"What is come to thy reason, that thou returnest hither? Go hide thee; for, if +this wicked woman have tormented thy wife with such torments, and she her +sister, what will she do, an she light on thee?" Then she told him all that had +befallen his spouse and that wherein she was of travail and torment and +tribulation, and straitly described all the pains she endured adding, "And +indeed the Queen repenteth her of having let thee go and hath sent one after +thee, promising him an hundred-weight of gold and my rank in her service; and +she hath sworn that, if he bring thee back, she will do thee and thy wife and +children dead." And she shed tears and discovered to Hasan what the Queen had +done with herself, whereat he wept and said, "O my lady, how shall I do to +escape from this land and deliver myself and my wife and children from this +tyrannical Queen and how devise to return with them in safety to my own +country?" Replied the old woman, "Woe to thee! Save thyself." Quoth he, "There +is no help but I deliver her and my children from the Queen perforce and in her +despite;" and quoth Shawahi, "How canst thou forcibly rescue them from her? Go +and hide thyself, O my son, till Allah Almighty empower thee." Then Hasan +showed her the rod and the cap, whereat she rejoiced with joy exceeding and +cried, "Glory be to Him who quickeneth the bones, though they be rotten! By +Allah, O my son, thou and thy wife were but of lost folk; now, however, thou +art saved, thou and thy wife and children! For I know the rod and I know its +maker, who was my Shaykh in the science of Gramarye. He was a mighty magician +and spent an hundred and thirty and five years working at this rod and cap, +till he brought them to perfection, when Death the Inevitable overtook him. +And I have heard him say to his two boys, 'O my sons, these two things are not +of your lot, for there will come a stranger from a far country, who will take +them from you by force, and ye shall not know how he taketh them.' Said they, +'O our father, tell us how he will avail to take them.' But he answered, 'I +wot not.' And O my son," added she, "how availedst thou to take them?" So he +told her how he had taken them from the two boys, whereat she rejoiced and +said, "O my son, since thou hast gotten the whereby to free thy wife and +children, give ear to what I shall say to thee. For me there is no woning with +this wicked woman, after the foul fashion in which she durst use me; so I am +minded to depart from her to the caves of the Magicians and there abide with +them until I die. But do thou, O my son, don the cap and hend the rod in hand +and enter the place where thy wife and children are. Unbind her bonds and +smite the earth with the rod saying, 'Be ye present, O servants of these +names!' whereupon the servants of the rod will appear; and if there present +himself one of the Chiefs of the Tribes, command him whatso thou shalt wish and +will." So he farewelled her and went forth, donning the cap and hending the +rod, and entered the place where his wife was. He found her well-nigh lifeless, +bound to the ladder by her hair, tearful-eyed and woeful-hearted, in the +sorriest of plights, knowing no way to deliver herself. Her children were +playing under the ladder, whilst she looked at them and wept for them and +herself, because of the barbarities and sore treatings and bitter penalties +which had befallen her; and he heard her repeat these couplets[FN#166], +</p> + +<p> +"There remaineth not aught save a fluttering breath and an eye<br/> + + whose owner is confounded.<br/> + +And a desirous lover whose bowels are burned with fire<br/> + + notwithstanding which she is silent.<br/> + +The exulting foe pitieth her at the sight of her. Alas for her<br/> + + whom the exulting foe pitieth!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Hasan saw her in this state of torment and misery and ignominy and infamy, +he wept till he fainted; and when he recovered he saw his children playing and +their mother aswoon for excess of pain; so he took the cap from his head and +the children saw him and cried out, "O our father!" Then he covered his head +again and the Princess came to herself, hearing their cry, but saw only her +children weeping and shrieking, "O our father!" When she heard them name their +sire and weep, her heart was broken and her vitals rent asunder and she said to +them, "What maketh you in mind of your father at this time?" And she wept sore +and cried out, from a bursten liver and an aching bosom, "Where are ye and +where is your father?" Then she recalled the days of her union with Hasan and +what had befallen her since her desertion of him and wept with sore weeping +till her cheeks were seared and furrowed and her face was drowned in a briny +flood. Her tears ran down and wetted the ground and she had not a hand loose +to wipe them from her cheeks, whilst the flies fed their fill on her skin, and +she found no helper but weeping and no solace but improvising verses. Then she +repeated these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"I call to mind the parting-day that rent our loves in twain,<br/> + + When, as I turned away, the tears in very streams did rain.<br/> + +The cameleer urged on his beasts with them, what while I found<br/> + + Nor strength nor fortitude, nor did my heart with me remain.<br/> + +Yea, back I turned, unknowing of the road nor might shake off The<br/> + + trance of grief and longing love that numbed my heart and<br/> + + brain;<br/> + +And worst of all betided me, on my return, was one Who came to<br/> + + me, in lowly guise, to glory in my pain.<br/> + +Since the belovčd's gone, O soul, forswear the sweet of life Nor<br/> + + covet its continuance, for, wanting him, 'twere vain.<br/> + +List, O my friend, unto the tale of love, and God forbid That I<br/> + + should speak and that thy heart to hearken should not deign!<br/> + +As 'twere El Asmaď himself, of passion I discourse Fancies rare<br/> + + and marvellous, linked in an endless chain."[FN#167]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, When Hasan went in to his wife he saw his children and heard her +repeating the verses afore mentioned.[FN#168] Then she turned right and left, +seeking the cause of her children's crying out, "O our father!" but saw no one +and marvelled that her sons should name their sire at that time and call upon +him. But when Hasan heard her verses, he wept till he swooned away and the +tears railed down his cheeks like rain. Then he drew near the children and +raised the cap from his head unseen of his wife, whereupon they saw him and +they knew him and cried out, saying, "O our father!" Their mother fell +a-weeping again, when she heard them name their sire's name and said, "There is +no avoiding the doom which Almighty Allah hath decreed!" adding, "O Strange! +What garreth them think of their father at this time and call upon him, albeit +it is not of their wont?" Then she wept and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The land of lamping moon is bare and drear; * O eyne of me pour<br/> + + forth the brimming tear!<br/> + +They marched: how shall I now be patient? * That I nor heart nor<br/> + + patience own I swear!<br/> + +O ye, who marched yet bide in heart of me, * Will you, O lords of<br/> + + me, return to that we were?<br/> + +What harm if they return and I enjoy * Meeting, and they had ruth<br/> + + on tears of care?<br/> + +Upon the parting-day they dimmed these eyne, * For sad surprise,<br/> + + and lit the flames that flare.<br/> + +Sore longed I for their stay, but Fortune stayed * Longings and<br/> + + turned my hope to mere despair.<br/> + +Return to us (O love!) by Allah, deign! * Enow of tears have<br/> + + flowed for absence-bane."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Hasan could no longer contain himself, but took the cap from his head; +whereupon his wife saw him and recognising him screamed a scream which startled +all in the palace, and said to him, "How camest thou hither? From the sky hast +thou dropped or through the earth hast thou come up?" And her eyes brimmed with +tears and Hasan also wept. Quoth she, "O man, this be no time for tears or +blame. Fate hath had its course and the sight was blinded and the Pen hath run +with what was ordained of Allah when Time was begun: so, Allah upon thee, +whencesoever thou comest, go hide, lest any espy thee and tell my sister and +she do thee and me die!" Answered he, "O my lady and lady of all Queens, I have +adventured myself and come hither, and either I will die or I will deliver thee +from this strait and travel with thee and my children to my country, despite +the nose of this thy wickedest sister." But as she heard his words she smiled +and for awhile fell to shaking her head and said, "Far, O my life, far is it +from the power of any except Allah Almighty to deliver me from this my strait! +Save thyself by flight and wend thy ways and cast not thyself into destruction; +for she hath conquering hosts none may withstand. Given that thou tookest me +and wentest forth, how canst thou make thy country and escape from these +islands and the perils of these awesome places? Verily, thou hast seen on thy +way hither, the wonders, the marvels, the dangers and the terrors of the road, +such as none may escape, not even one of the rebel Jinns. Depart, therefore, +forthright and add not cark to my cark and care to my care, neither do thou +pretend to rescue me from this my plight; for who shall carry me to thy country +through all these vales and thirsty wolds and fatal steads?" Rejoined Hasan, +"By thy life, O light of mine eyes, I will not depart this place nor fare but +with thee!" Quoth she, "O man! How canst thou avail unto this thing and what +manner of man art thou? Thou knowest not what thou sayest! None can escape +from these realms, even had he command over Jinns, Ifrits, magicians, chiefs of +tribes and Marids. Save thyself and leave me; perchance Allah will bring about +good after ill." Answered Hasan, "O lady of fair ones, I came not save to +deliver thee with this rod and with this cap." And he told her what had +befallen him with the two boys; but, whilst he was speaking, behold, up came +the Queen and heard their speech. Now when he was ware of her, he donned the +cap and was hidden from sight, and she entered and said to the Princess, "O +wanton, who is he with whom thou wast talking?" Answered Manar al-Sanar, "Who +is with me that should talk with me, except these children?" Then the Quee took +the whip and beat her, whilst Hasan stood by and looked on, nor did she leave +beating her till she fainted; whereupon she bade transport her to another +place. So they loosed her and carried her to another chamber whilst Hasan +followed unseen. There they cast her down, senseless, and stood gazing upon +her, till she revived and recited these couplets,[FN#169] +</p> + +<p> +"I have sorrowed on account of our disunion with a sorrow that<br/> + + made the tears to overflow from my eyelids;<br/> + +And I vowed that if Fortune reunite us, I would never again<br/> + + mention our separation;<br/> + +And I would say to the envious, Die ye with regret; By Allah I<br/> + + have now attained my desire!<br/> + +Joy hath overwhelmed me to such a degree that by its excess it<br/> + + hath made me weep.<br/> + +O eye, how hath weeping become thy habit? Thou weepest in joy as<br/> + + well, as in sorrows."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When she ceased her verse the slave-girls went out from her and Hasan took off +the cap; whereupon his wife said to him, "See, O man, all this befel me not +save by reason of my having rebelled against thee and transgressed thy +commandment and gone forth without thy leave.[FN#170] So, Allah upon thee blame +me not for my sins and know that women never wot a man's worth till they have +lost him. Indeed, I have offended and done evil; but I crave pardon of Allah +Almighty for whatso I did, and if He reunite us, I will never again gainsay +thee in aught, no, never!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan's wife besought +pardon of him saying, "Blame me not for my sin; and indeed I crave mercy of +Allah Almighty." Quoth Hasan (and indeed his heart ached for her), "'Twas not +thou that wast in fault; nay, the fault was mine and mine only, for I fared +forth and left thee with one who knew not thy rank, neither thy worth nor thy +degree. But know, O beloved of my heart and fruit of my vitals and light of +mine eyes, that Allah (blessed be He!) hath ordained to me power of releasing +thee; so, say me, wouldst thou have me carry thee to thy father's home, there +to accomplish what Allah decreeth unto thee, or wilt thou forthright depart +with me to mine own country, now that relief is come to thee?" Quoth she, "Who +can deliver me save the Lord of the Heavens? Go to thy mother-land and put away +from thee false hope; for thou knowest not the perils of these parts which, an +thou obey me not, soon shalt thou sight." And she improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"On me and with me bides thy volunty; * Why then such anger such<br/> + + despite to me?<br/> + +Whate'er befel us Heaven forbid that love * Fade for long time or<br/> + + e'er forgotten be!<br/> + +Ceased not the spy to haunt our sides, till seen * Our love<br/> + + estranged and then estranged was he:<br/> + +In truth I trusted to fair thoughts of thine * Though spake the<br/> + + wicked spy maliciously.<br/> + +We'll keep the secret 'twixt us twain and hold * Although the<br/> + + brand of blame unsheathed we see.<br/> + +The livelong day in longing love I spend * Hoping acceptance-<br/> + + message from my friend."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then wept she and her children, and the handmaidens heard them: so they came in +to them and found them weeping, but saw not Hasan with them; wherefore they +wept for ruth of them and damned Queen Nur al-Huda. Then Hasan took patience +till night came on and her guards had gone to their sleeping-places, when he +arose and girded his waist; then went up to her and, loosing her kissed her on +the head and between the eyes and pressed her to his bosom, saying, "How long +have we wearied for our mother-land and for reunion there! Is this our meeting +in sleep, or on wake?" Then he took up the elder boy and she took up the +younger and they went forth the palace; and Allah veiled them with the veil of +His protection, so that they came safe to the outer gate which closed the +entrance to the Queen's Serraglio. But finding it locked from without, Hasan +said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, +the Great! Verily we are Allah's and unto Him shall we return!" With this they +despaired of escape and Hasan beat hand upon hand, saying, "O Dispeller of +dolours! Indeed, I had bethought me of every thing and considered its +conclusion but this; and now, when it is daybreak, they will take us, and what +device have we in this case?" And he recited the following two +couplets,[FN#171] +</p> + +<p> +"Thou madest fair thy thought of Fate, whenas the days were fair,<br/> + + And fearedst not the unknown ills that they to thee might<br/> + + bring.<br/> + +The nights were fair and calm to thee; thou wast deceived by<br/> + + them, For in the peace of night is born full many a<br/> + + troublous thing."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Hasan wept and his wife wept for his weeping and for the abasement she had +suffered and the cruelties of Time and Fortune, +</p> + +<p> +"Baulks me my Fate as tho' she were my foe; * Each day she<br/> + + showeth me new cark and care:<br/> + +Fate, when I aim at good, brings clear reverse, * And lets foul<br/> + + morrow wait on day that's fair."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And also these, +</p> + +<p> +"Irks me my Fate and clean unknows that I * Of my high worth her<br/> + + shifts and shafts despise.<br/> + +She nights parading what ill-will she works: * I night parading<br/> + + Patience to her eyes."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then his wife said to him, "By Allah, there is no relief for us but to kill +ourselves and be at rest from this great and weary travail; else we shall +suffer grievous torment on the morrow." At this moment, behold, they heard a +voice from without the door say, "By Allah, O my lady Manar al-Sana, I will not +open to thee and thy husband Hasan, except ye obey me in whatso I shall say to +you!" When they heard these words they were silent for excess of fright and +would have returned whence they came; when lo! the voice spake again saying, +"What aileth you both to be silent and answer me not?" Therewith they knew the +speaker for the old woman Shawahi, Lady of Calamities, and said to her, +"Whatsoever thou biddest us, that will we do; but first open the door to us; +this being no time for talk." Replied she, "By Allah, I will not open to you +until ye both swear to me that you will take me with you and not leave me with +yonder whore: so, whatever befalleth you shall befal me and if ye escape, I +shall escape, and if ye perish, I shall perish: for yonder abominable woman, +tribade[FN#172] that she is! entreateth me with indignity and still tormenteth +me on your account; and thou, O my daughter, knowest my worth." Now recognising +her they trusted in her and sware to her an oath such as contented her, +whereupon she opened the door to them and they fared forth and found her riding +on a Greek jar of red earthenware with a rope of palm-fibres about its +neck,[FN#173] which rolled under her and ran faster than a Najdi colt, and she +came up to them, and said, "Follow me and fear naught, for I know forty modes +of magic by the least of which I could make this city a dashing sea, swollen +with clashing billows, and ensorcel each damsel therein to a fish, and all +before dawn. But I was not able to work aught of my mischief, for fear of the +King her father and of regard to her sisters, for that they are formidable, by +reason of their many guards and tribesmen and servants. However, soon will I +show you wonders of my skill in witchcraft; and now let us on, relying upon the +blessing of Allah and His good aid." Now Hasan and his wife rejoiced in this, +making sure of escape, —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan and his +wife, accompanied by the ancient dame Shawahi, fared forth from the palace, +they made sure of deliverance and they walked on till they came without the +city, when he fortified his heart and, smiting the earth with the rod, cried, +"Ho, ye servants of these names, appear to me and acquaint me with your +conditions!" Thereupon the earth clave asunder and out came ten[FN#174] Ifrits, +with their feet in the bowels of the earth and their heads in the clouds. They +kissed the earth three times before Hasan and said as with one voice, "Adsumus! + Here are we at thy service, O our lord and ruler over us! What dost thou bid +us do? For we hear and obey thy commandment. An thou wilt, we will dry thee up +seas and remove mountains from their places." So Hasan rejoiced in their words +and at their speedy answer to his evocation; then taking courage and bracing up +his resolution, he said to them, "Who are ye and what be your names and your +races, and to what tribes and clans and companies appertain ye?" They kissed +the earth once more and answered as with one voice, saying, "We are seven +Kings, each ruling over seven tribes of the Jinn of all conditions, and Satans +and Marids, flyers and divers, dwellers in mountains and wastes and wolds and +haunters of the seas: so bid us do whatso thou wilt; for we are thy servants +and thy slaves, and whoso possesseth this rod hath dominion over all our necks +and we owe him obedience." Now when Hasan heard this, he rejoiced with joy +exceeding, as did his wife and the old woman, and presently he said to the +Kings of the Jinn, "I desire of you that ye show me your tribes and hosts and +guards." "O our lord," answered they, "if we show thee our tribes, we fear for +thee and these who are with thee, for their name is legion and they are various +in form and fashion, figure and favour. Some of us are heads sans bodies and +others bodies sans heads, and others again are in the likeness of wild beasts +and ravening lions. However, if this be thy will, there is no help but we first +show thee those of us who are like unto wild beasts. But, O our lord, what +wouldst thou of us at this present?" Quoth Hasan, "I would have you carry me +forthwith to the city of Baghdad, me and my wife and this honest woman." But, +hearing his words they hung down their heads and were silent, whereupon Hasan +asked them, "Why do ye not reply?" And they answered as with one voice, "O our +lord and ruler over us, we are of the covenant of Solomon son of David (on the +twain be Peace!) and he sware us in that we would bear none of the sons of Adam +on our backs; since which time we have borne no mortal on back or shoulder: but +we will straightway harness thee horses of the Jinn, that shall carry thee and +thy company to thy country." Hasan enquired, "How far are we from Baghdad?" and +they, "Seven years' journey for a diligent horseman." Hasan marvelled at this +and said to them, "Then how came I hither in less than a year?"; and they said, +"Allah softened to thee the hearts of His pious servants else hadst thou never +come to this country nor hadst thou set eyes on these regions; no, never! For +the Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, who mounted thee on the elephant and the magical +horse, traversed with thee, in ten days, three years' journey for a well-girt +rider, and the Ifrit Dahnash, to whom the Shaykh committed thee, carried thee a +three years' march in a day and a night; all which was of the blessing of Allah +Almighty, for that the Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh is of the seed of Ásaf bin +Barkhiyá[FN#175] and knoweth the Most Great name of Allah.[FN#176] Moreover, +from Baghdad to the palace of the damsels is a year's journey, and this maketh +up the seven years." When Hasan heard this, he marvelled with exceeding marvel +and cried, "Glory be to God, Facilitator of the hard, Fortifier of the weak +heart, Approximator of the far and Humbler of every froward tyrant, Who hath +eased us of every accident and carried me to these countries and subjected to +me these creatures and reunited me with my wife and children! I know not +whether I am asleep or awake or if I be sober or drunken!" Then he turned to +the Jinn and asked, "When ye have mounted me upon your steeds, in how many days +will they bring us to Baghdad?"; and they answered, "They will carry you +thither under the year, but not till after ye have endured terrible perils and +hardships and horrors and ye have traversed thirsty Wadys and frightful wastes +and horrible steads without number; and we cannot promise thee safety, O our +lord, from the people of these islands,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Jann said to Hasan, +"We cannot promise thee safety, O our lord, from this Islandry, nor from the +mischief of the Supreme King and his enchanters and warlocks. It may be they +will overcome us and take you from us and we fall into affliction with them, +and all to whom the tidings shall come after this will say to us: 'Ye are +wrong-doers! How could ye go against the Supreme King and carry a mortal out +of his dominions, and eke the King's daughter with him?' adding, 'Wert thou +alone with us the thing were light; but He who conveyed thee hither is capable +to carry thee back to thy country and reunite thee with thine own people +forthright and in readiest plight. So take heart and put thy trust in Allah +and fear not; for we are at thy service, to convey thee to thy country." Hasan +thanked them therefor and said, "Allah requite you with good! but now make +haste with the horses;" they replied, "We hear and we obey," and struck the +ground with their feet, whereupon it opened and they disappeared within it and +were absent awhile, after which they suddenly reappeared with three horses, +saddled and bridled, and on each saddle-bow a pair of saddle-bags, with a +leathern bottle of water in one pocket and the other full of provaunt. So +Hasan mounted one steed and took a child before him, whilst his wife mounted a +second and took the other child before her. Then the old woman alighted from +the jar and bestrode the third horse and they rode on, without ceasing, all +night. At break of day, they turned aside from the road and made for the +mountain, whilst their tongues ceased not to name Allah. Then they fared on +under the highland all that day, till Hasan caught sight of a black object afar +as it were a tall column of smoke a-twisting skywards; so he recited somewhat +of the Koran and Holy Writ, and sought refuge with Allah from Satan the Stoned. + The black thing grew plainer as they drew near, and when hard by it, they saw +that it was an Ifrit, with a head like a huge dome and tusks like grapnels and +jaws like a lane and nostrils like ewers and ears like leathern targes and +mouth like a cave and teeth like pillars of stone and hands like winnowing +forks and legs like masts: his head was in the cloud and his feet in the bowels +of the earth had plowed. Whenas Hasan gazed upon him he bowed himself and +kissed the ground before him, saying, "O Hasan, have no fear of me; for I am +the chief of the dwellers in this land, which is the first of the Isles of Wak, +and I am a Moslem and an adorer of the One God. I have heard of you and your +coming and when I knew of your case, I desired to depart from the land of the +magicians to another land, void of inhabitants and far from men and Jinn, that +I might dwell there alone and worship Allah till my fated end came upon me. So +I wish to accompany you and be your guide, till ye fare forth of the Wak +Islands; and I will not appear save at night; and do ye hearten your hearts on +my account; for I am a Moslem, even as ye are Moslems." When Hasan heard the +Ifrit's words, he rejoiced with exceeding joy and made sure of deliverance; and +he said to him, "Allah requite thee weal! Go with us relying upon the blessing +of Allah!" So the Ifrit forewent them and they followed, talking and making +merry, for their hearts were pleased and their breasts were eased and Hasan +fell to telling his wife all that had befallen him and all the hardships he had +undergone, whilst she excused herself to him and told him, in turn, all she had +seen and suffered. They ceased not faring all that night.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they ceased not faring +all that night and the horses bore them like the blinding leven, and when the +day rose all put their hands to the saddle-bags and took forth provaunt which +they ate and water which they drank. Then they sped diligently on their way, +preceded by the Ifrit, who turned aside with them from the beaten track into +another road, till then untrodden, along the sea-shore, and they ceased not +faring on, without stopping, across Wadys and wolds a whole month, till on the +thirty-first day there arose before them a dust-cloud, that walled the world +and darkened the day; and when Hasan saw this, he was confused and turned pale; +and more so when a frightful crying and clamour struck their ears. Thereupon +the old woman said to him, "O my son, this is the army of the Wak Islands, that +hath overtaken us; and presently they will lay violent hands on us." Hasan +asked, "What shall I do, O my mother?"; and she answered, "Strike the earth +with the rod." He did so whereupon the Seven Kings presented themselves and +saluted him with the salam, kissing ground before him and saying, "Fear not +neither grieve." Hasan rejoiced at these words and answered them, saying, "Well +said, O Princes of the Jinn and the Ifrits! This is your time!" Quoth they, +"Get ye up to the mountain-top, thou and thy wife and children and she who is +with thee and leave us to deal with them, for we know that you all are in the +right and they in the wrong and Allah will aid us against them." So Hasan and +his wife and children and the old woman dismounted and dismissing the horses, +ascended the flank of the mountain.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan with his wife, +his children and the ancient dame ascended the mountain-flank after they had +dismissed the coursers. Presently, up came Queen Nur al-Huda, with the troops +right and left, and the captains went round about among the host and ranged +them rank by rank in battle array. Then the hosts charged down upon each other +and clashed together the twain with a mighty strain, the brave pressed on amain +and the coward to fly was fain and the Jinn cast flames of fire from their +mouths, whilst the smoke of them rose up to the confines of the sky and the two +armies appeared and disappeared. The champions fought and heads flew from +trunks and the blood ran in rills; nor did brand leave to play and blood to +flow and battle fire to flow, till the murk o' night came, when the two hosts +drew apart and, alighting from their steeds rested upon the field by the fires +they had kindled. Therewith the Seven Kings went up to Hasan and kissed the +earth before him. He pressed forwards to meet them and thanked them and prayed +Allah to give them the victory and asked them how they had fared with the +Queen's troops. Quoth they, "They will not withstand us more than three days, +for we had the better of them to-day, taking some two thousand of them +prisoners and slaying of them much folk whose compt may not be told. So be of +good cheer and broad of breast." Then they farewelled him and went down to look +after the safety of their troops; and they ceased not to keep up the fires till +the morning rose with its sheen and shone, when the fighting-men mounted their +horses of noble strain and smote one another with thin-edged skean and with +brawn of bill they thrust amain nor did they cease that day battle to darraign. +Moreover, they passed the night on horseback clashing together like dashing +seas; raged among them the fires of war and they stinted not from battle and +jar, till the armies of Wak were defeated and their power broken and their +courage quelled; their feet slipped and whither they fled soever defeat was +before them; wherefore they turned tail and of flight began to avail: but the +most part of them were slain and their Queen and her chief officers and the +grandees of her realm were captive ta'en. When the morning morrowed, the Seven +Kings presented themselves before Hasan and set for him a throne of alabaster +inlaid with pearls and jewels, and he sat down thereon. They also set thereby +a throne of ivory, plated with glittering gold, for the Princess Manar al-Sana +and another for the ancient dame Shawahi Zat al-Dawahi. Then they brought +before them the prisoners and among the rest, Queen Nur al-Huda with elbows +pinioned and feet fettered, whom when Shawahi saw, she said to her, "Thy +recompense, O harlot, O tyrant, shall be that two bitches be starved and two +mares stinted of water, till they be athirst: then shalt thou be bound to the +mares' tails and these driven to the river, with the bitches following thee +that they may rend thy skin; and after, thy flesh shall be cut off and given +them to eat. How couldst thou do with thy sister such deed, O strumpet, seeing +that she was lawfully married, after the ordinance of Allah and of His Apostle? + For there is no monkery in Al-Islam and marriage is one of the institutions of +the Apostles (on whom be the Peace!)[FN#177] nor were women created but for +men." Then Hasan commanded to put all the captives to the sword and the old +woman cried out, saying, "Slay them all and spare none[FN#178]!" But, when +Princess Manar al-Sana saw her sister in this plight, a bondswoman and in +fetters, she wept over her and said, "O my sister, who is this hath conquered +us and made us captives in our own country?" Quoth Nur al-Huda, "Verily, this +is a mighty matter. Indeed this man Hasan hath gotten the mastery over us and +Allah hath given him dominion over us and over all our realm and he hath +overcome us, us and the Kings of the Jinn." And quoth her sister, "Indeed, +Allah aided him not against you nor did he overcome you nor capture you save by +means of this cap and rod." So Nur al-Huda was certified and assured that he +had conquered her by means thereof and humbled herself to her sister, till she +was moved to ruth for her and said to her husband, "What wilt thou do with my +sister? Behold, she is in thy hands and she hath done thee no misdeed that thou +shouldest punish her." Replied Hasan, "Her torturing of thee was misdeed enow." +But she answered, saying, "She hath excuse for all she did with me. As for +thee, thou hast set my father's heart on fire for the loss of me, and what will +be his case, if he lose my sister also?" And he said to her, "'Tis thine to +decide; do whatso thou wilt." So she bade loose her sister and the rest of the +captives, and they did her bidding. Then she went up to Queen Nur al-Huda and +embraced her, and they wept together a long while; after which quoth the Queen, +"O my sister, bear me not malice for that I did with thee;" and quoth Manar +al-Sana, "O my sister, this was foreordained to me by Fate." Then they sat on +the couch talking and Manar al-Sana made peace between the old woman and her +sister, after the goodliest fashion, and their hearts were set at ease. +Thereupon Hasan dismissed the servants of the rod thanking them for the succour +which they had afforded him against his foes, and Manar al-Sana related to her +sister all that had befallen her with Hasan her husband and every thing he had +suffered for her sake, saying, "O my sister, since he hath done these deeds and +is possessed of this might and Allah Almighty hath gifted him with such +exceeding prowess, that he hath entered our country and beaten thine army and +taken thee prisoner and defied our father, the Supreme King, who hath dominion +over all the Princes of the Jinn, it behoveth us to fail not of what is due to +him." Replied Nur al-Huda, "By Allah, O my sister, thou sayest sooth in whatso +thou tellest me of the marvels which this man hath seen and suffered; and none +may fail of respect to him. But was all this on thine account, O my +sister?"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Princess Manar +al-Sana repeated to her sister these praises of Hasan, the other replied, "By +Allah, this man can claim all respect more by token of his generosity. But was +all this on thine account?" "Yes," answered Manar al-Sana, and they passed the +night in converse till the morning morrowed and the sun rose and they were +minded to depart. So they farewelled one another and Manar al-Sana gave +God-speed to the ancient dame after the reconciling her with Queen Nur al-Huda. + Thereupon Hasan smote the earth with the rod and its servants the Jinn +appeared and saluted him, saying, "Praised be Allah, who hath set thy soul at +rest! Command us what thou wilt, and we will do it for thee in less than the +twinking of an eye." He thanked them for their saying and said to them "Allah +requite you with good! Saddle me two steeds of the best." So they brought him +forthwith two saddled coursers, one of which he mounted, taking his elder son +before him, and his wife rode the other, taking the younger son in front of +her. Then the Queen and the old woman also backed horse and departed, Hasan +and his wife following the right and Nur al-Huda and Shawahi the left hand +road. The spouses fared on with their children, without stopping, for a whole +month, till they drew in sight of a city, which they found compassed about with +trees and streams and making the trees dismounted beneath them thinking to rest +there. As they sat talking, behold, they saw many horsemen coming towards +them, whereupon Hasan rose and going to meet them, saw that it was King Hassun, +lord of the Land of Camphor and Castle of Crystal, with his attendants. So +Hasan went up to the King and kissed his hands and saluted him; and when Hassun +saw him, he dismounted and seating himself with Hasan upon carpets under the +trees returned his salam and gave him joy of his safety and rejoiced in him +with exceeding joy, saying to him, "O Hasan, tell me all that hath befallen +thee, first and last." So he told him all of that, whereupon the King +marvelled and said to him, "O my son, none ever reached the Islands of Wak and +returned thence but thou, and indeed thy case is wondrous; but +Alhamdolillah—praised be God—for safety!" Then he mounted and bade Hasan ride +with his wife and children into the city, where he lodged them in the +guest-house of his palace; and they abode with him three days, eating and +drinking in mirth and merriment, after which Hasan sought Hassun's leave to +depart to his own country and the King granted it. Accordingly they took horse +and the King rode with them ten days, after which he farewelled them and turned +back, whilst Hasan and his wife and children fared on a whole month, at the end +of which time they came to a great cavern, whose floor was of brass. Quoth +Hasan to his wife, "Kennest thou yonder cave?"; and quoth she, "No." Said he, +"Therein dwelleth a Shaykh, Abu al-Ruwaysh hight, to whom I am greatly +beholden, for that he was the means of my becoming acquainted with King +Hassun." Then he went on to tell her all that had passed between him and Abu +al-Ruwaysh, and as he was thus engaged, behold, the Shaykh himself issued from +the cavern-mouth. When Hasan saw him, he dismounted from his steed and kissed +his hands, and the old man saluted him and gave him joy of his safety and +rejoiced in him. Then he carried him into the antre and sat down with him, +whilst Hasan related to him what had befallen him in the Islands of Wak; +whereat the Elder marvelled with exceeding marvel and said, "O Hasan, how didst +thou deliver thy wife and children?" So he told them the tale of the cap and +the rod, hearing which he wondered and said, "O Hasan, O my son, but for this +rod and the cap, thou hadst never delivered thy wife and children." And he +replied, "Even so, O my lord." As they were talking, there came a knocking at +the door and Abu al-Ruwaysh went out and found Abd al-Kaddus mounted on his +elephant. So he saluted him and brought him into the cavern, where he embraced +Hasan and congratulated him on his safety, rejoicing greatly in his return. +Then said Abu al-Ruwaysh to Hasan, "Tell the Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus all that hath +befallen thee, O Hasan." He repeated to him every thing that had passed, first +and last, till he came to the tale of the rod and cap,—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirtieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Hasan began relating +to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus and Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh (who sat chattting in the +cave) all that had passed, first and last, till he came to the tale of the rod +and cap; whereupon quoth Abd al-Kaddus, "O my son, thou hast delivered thy wife +and thy children and hast no further need of the two. Now we were the means of +thy winning to the Islands of Wak, and I have done thee kindness for the sake +of my nieces, the daughters of my brother; wherefore I beg thee, of thy bounty +and favour, to give me the rod and the Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh the cap." When +Hasan heard this, he hung down his head, being ashamed to reply, "I will not +give them to you," and said in his mind, "Indeed these two Shaykhs have done me +great kindness and were the means of my winning to the Islands of Wak, and but +for them I had never made the place, nor delivered my children, nor had I +gotten me this rod and cap." So he raised his head and answered, "Yes, I will +give them to you: but, O my lords, I fear lest the Supreme King, my wife's +father, come upon me with his commando and combat with me in my own country, +and I be unable to repel them, for want of the rod and the cap." Replied Abd +al-Kaddus, "Fear not, O my son; we will continually succour thee and keep watch +and ward for thee in this place; and whosoever shall come against thee from thy +wife's father or any other, him we will fend off from thee; wherefore be thou +of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool of tear, and hearten thy heart and +broaden thy breast and feel naught whatsoever of fear, for no harm shall come +to thee." When Hasan heard this he was abashed and gave the cap to Abu +al-Ruwaysh, saying to Abd al-Kaddus, "Accompany me to my own country and I will +give thee the rod." At this the two elders rejoiced with exceeding joy and made +him ready riches and treasures which beggar all description. He abode with them +three days, at the end of which he set out again and the Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus +made ready to depart with him. So he and his wife mounted their beasts and Abd +al-Kaddus whistled when, behold, a mighty big elephant trotted up with fore +hand and feet on amble from the heart of the desert and he took it and mounted +it. Then they farewelled Abu al-Ruwaysh who disappeared within his cavern; and +they fared on across country traversing the land in its length and breadth +wherever Abd al-Kaddus guided them by a short cut and an easy way, till they +drew near the land of the Princesses; whereupon Hasan rejoiced at finding +himself once more near his mother, and praised Allah for his safe return and +reunion with his wife and children after so many hardships and perils; and +thanked Him for His favours and bounties, reciting these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Haply shall Allah deign us twain unite * And lockt in strict<br/> + + embrace we'll hail the light:<br/> + +And wonders that befel me I'll recount, * And all I suffered from<br/> + + the Severance-blight:<br/> + +And fain I'll cure mine eyes by viewing you * For ever yearned my<br/> + + heart to see your sight:<br/> + +I hid a tale for you my heart within * Which when we meet o' morn<br/> + + I'll fain recite:<br/> + +I'll blame you for the deeds by you were done * But while blame<br/> + + endeth love shall stay in site."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Hardly had he made an end of these verses, when he looked and behold, there +rose to view the Green Dome[FN#179] and the jetting Fount and the Emerald +Palace, and the Mountain of Clouds showed to them from afar; whereupon quoth +Abd al-Kaddus, "Rejoice, O Hasan, in good tidings: to-night shalt thou be the +guest of my nieces!" At this he joyed with exceeding joy and as also did his +wife, and they alighted at the domed pavilion, where they took their +rest[FN#180] and ate and drank; after which they mounted horse again and rode +on till they came upon the palace. As they drew near, the Princesses who were +daughters of the King, brother to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, came forth to meet them +and saluted them and their uncle who said to them, "O daughters of my brother, +behold, I have accomplished the need of this your brother Hasan and have helped +him to regain his wife and children." So they embraced him and gave him joy of +his return in safety and health and of his reunion with his wife and children, +and it was a day of festival[FN#181] with them. Then came forward Hasan's +sister, the youngest Princess, and embraced him, weeping with sore weeping, +whilst he also wept for his long desolation: after which she complained to him +of that which she had suffered for the pangs of separation and weariness of +spirit in his absence and recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"After thy faring never chanced I 'spy * A shape, but did thy form<br/> + + therein descry:<br/> + +Nor closed mine eyes in sleep but thee I saw, * E'en as though<br/> + + dwelling 'twixt the lid and eye."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When she had made an end of her verses, she rejoiced with joy exceeding and +Hasan said to her, "O my sister, I thank none in this matter save thyself over +all thy sisters, and may Allah Almighty vouchsafe thee aidance and +countenance!" Then he related to her all that had past in his journey, from +first to last, and all that he had undergone, telling her what had betided him +with his wife's sister and how he had delivered his wife and wees and he also +described to her all that he had seen of marvels and grievous perils, even to +how Queen Nur al-Huda would have slain him and his spouse and children and none +saved them from her but the Lord the Most High. Moreover, he related to her +the adventure of the cap and the rod and how Abd al-Kaddus and Abu al-Ruwaysh +had asked for them and he had not agreed to give them to the twain save for her +sake; wherefore she thanked him and blessed him wishing him long life; and he +cried, "By Allah, I shall never forget all the kindness thou hast done me from +incept to conclusion."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Hasan foregathered +with the Princesses, he related to his sister all that he had endured and said +to her, "Never will I forget what thou hast done for me from incept to +conclusion." Then she turned to his wife Manar al-Sana and embraced her and +pressed her children to her breast, saying to her, "O daughter of the Supreme +King, was there no pity in thy bosom, that thou partedst him and his children +and settedst his heart on fire for them? Say me, didst thou desire by this +deed that he should die?" The Princess laughed and answered, "Thus was it +ordained of Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) and whoso beguileth folk, him +shall Allah begule."[FN#182] Then they set on somewhat of meat and drink, and +they all ate and drank and made merry. They abode thus ten days in feast and +festival, mirth and merry-making, at the end of which time Hasan prepared to +continue his journey. So his sister rose and made him ready riches and +rarities, such as defy description. Then she strained him to her bosom, +because of leave-taking, and threw her arms round his neck whilst he recited on +her account these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The solace of lovers is naught but far, * And parting is naught<br/> + + save grief singular:<br/> + +And ill-will and absence are naught but woe, * And the victims of<br/> + + Love naught but martyrs are;<br/> + +And how tedious is night to the loving wight * From his true love<br/> + + parted 'neath evening star!<br/> + +His tears course over his cheeks and so * He cries, 'O tears be<br/> + + there more to flow?'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +With this Hasan gave the rod to Shaykh Abd al-Kaddus, who joyed therein with +exceeding joy and thanking him and securing it mounted and returned to his own +place. Then Hasan took horse with his wife and children and departed from the +Palace of the Princesses, who went forth[FN#183] with him, to farewell him. +Then they turned back and Hasan fared on, over wild and wold, two months and +ten days, till he came to the city of Baghdad, the House of Peace, and +repairing to his home by the private postern which gave upon the open country, +knocked at the door. Now his mother, for long absence, had forsworn sleep and +given herself to mourning and weeping and wailing, till she fell sick and ate +no meat, neither took delight in slumber but shed tears night and day. She +ceased not to call upon her son's name albeit she despaired of his returning to +her; and as he stood at the door, he heard her weeping and reciting these +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"By Allah, heal, O my lords, the unwhole * Of wasted frame and<br/> + + heart worn with dole:<br/> + +An you grant her a meeting 'tis but your grace * Shall whelm in<br/> + + the boons of the friend her soul:<br/> + +I despair not of Union the Lord can grant * And to weal of<br/> + + meeting our woes control!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When she had ended her verses, she heard her son's voice at the door, calling +out, "O mother, mother ah! fortune hath been kind and hath vouchsafed our +reunion!" Hearing his cry she knew his voice and went to the door, between +belief and misbelief; but, when she opened it she saw him standing there and +with him his wife and children; so she shrieked aloud, for excess of joy, and +fell to the earth in a fainting-fit. Hasan ceased not soothing her, till she +recovered and embraced him; then she wept with joy, and presently she called +his slaves and servants and bade them carry all his baggage into the +house.[FN#184] So they brought in every one of the loads, and his wife and +children entered also, whereupon Hasan's mother went up to the Princess and +kissed her head and bussed her feet, saying, "O daughter of the Supreme King, +if I have failed of thy due, behold, I crave pardon of Almighty Allah." Then +she turned to Hasan and said to him, "O my son, what was the cause of this long +strangerhood?" He related to her all his adventures from beginning to end; and +when she heard tell of all that had befallen him, she cried a great cry and +fell down a-fainting at the very mention of his mishaps. He solaced her, till +she came to herself and said, "By Allah, O my son, thou hast done unwisely in +parting with the rod and the cap for, hadst thou kept them with the care due to +them, thou wert master of the whole earth, in its breadth and length; but +praised be Allah, for thy safety, O my son, and that of thy wife and children!" +They passed the night in all pleasance and happiness, and on the morrow Hasan +changed his clothes and donning a suit of the richest apparel, went down into +the bazar and bought black slaves and slave-girls and the richest stuffs and +ornaments and furniture such as carpets and costly vessels and all manner other +precious things, whose like is not found with Kings. Moreover, he purchased +houses and gardens and estates and so forth and abode with his wife and his +children and his mother, eating and drinking and pleasuring: nor did they cease +from all joy of life and its solace till there came to them the Destroyer of +delights and the Severer of societies. And Glory be to Him who hath dominion +over the Seen and the Unseen,[FN#185] who is the Living, the Eternal, Who dieth +not at all! And men also recount the adventures of +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap04"></a>Khalifah the Fisherman of Baghdad</h3> + +<p> +There was once in tides of yore and in ages and times long gone before in the +city of Baghdad a fisherman, Khalífah hight, a pauper wight, who had never once +been married in all his days. [FN#186] It chanced one morning, that he took +his net and went with it to the river, as was his wont, with the view of +fishing before the others came. When he reached the bank, he girt himself and +tucked up his skirts; then stepping into the water, he spread his net and cast +it a first cast and a second but it brought up naught. He ceased not to throw +it, till he had made ten casts, and still naught came up therein; wherefore his +breast was straitened and his mind perplexed concerning his case and he said, +"I crave pardon of God the Great, there is no god but He, the Living, the +Eternal, and unto Him I repent. There is no Majesty and there is no Might save +in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Whatso He willeth is and whatso He nilleth +is not! Upon Allah (to whom belong Honour and Glory!) dependeth daily bread! +Whenas He giveth to His servant, none denieth him; and whenas He denieth a +servant, none giveth to him." And of the excess of his distress, he recited +these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"An Fate afflict thee, with grief manifest, * Prepare thy<br/> + + patience and make broad thy breast;<br/> + +For of His grace the Lord of all the worlds * Shall send to wait<br/> + + upon unrest sweet Rest."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he sat awhile pondering his case, and with his head bowed down recited +also these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Patience, with sweet and with bitter Fate! * And weet that His<br/> + + will He shall consummate:<br/> + +Night oft upon woe as on abscess acts * And brings it up to the<br/> + + bursting state:<br/> + +And Chance and Change shall pass o'er the youth * And fleet from<br/> + + his thoughts and no more shall bait."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he said in his mind, "I will make this one more cast, trusting in Allah, +so haply He may not disappoint my hope;" and he rose and casting into the river +the net as far as his arm availed, gathered the cords in his hands and waited a +full hour, after which he pulled at it and, finding it heavy,—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Khalifah the +Fisherman had cast his net sundry times into the stream, yet had it brought up +naught, he pondered his case and improvised the verses afore quoted. Then he +said in his mind, "I will make this one more cast, trusting in Allah who haply +will not disappoint my hope." So he rose and threw the net and waited a full +hour, after which time he pulled at it and, finding it heavy, handled it gently +and drew it in, little by little, till he got it ashore, when lo and behold! he +saw in it a one-eyed, lame-legged ape. Seeing this quoth Khalifah, "There is +no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! verily, we are Allah's and to +Him we are returning! What meaneth this heart- breaking, miserable ill-luck +and hapless fortune? What is come to me this blessed day? But all this is of +the destinies of Almighty Allah!" Then he took the ape and tied him with a +cord to a tree which grew on the river-bank, and grasping a whip he had with +him, raised his arm in the air, thinking to bring down the scourge upon the +quarry, when Allah made the ape speak with a fluent tongue, saying, "O +Khalifah, hold thy hand and beat me not, but leave me bounden to this tree and +go down to the river and cast thy net, confiding in Allah; for He will give +thee thy daily bread." Hearing this Khalifah went down to the river and +casting his net, let the cords run out. Then he pulled it in and found it +heavier than before; so he ceased not to tug at it, till he brought it to land, +when, behold, there was another ape in it, with front teeth wide apart, +[FN#187] Kohl-darkened eyes and hands stained with Henna-dyes; and he was +laughing and wore a tattered waistcloth about his middle. Quoth Khalifah, +"Praised be Allah who hath changed the fish of the river into apes!" [FN#188] +then, going up to the first ape, who was still tied to the tree, he said to +him, "See, O unlucky, how fulsome was the counsel thou gavest me! None but +thou made me light on this second ape: and for that thou gavest me good-morrow +with thy one eye and thy lameness, [FN#189] I am become distressed and weary, +without dirham or dinar." So saying, he hent in hand a stick [FN#190] and +flourishing it thrice in the air, was about to come down with it upon the lame +ape, when the creature cried out for mercy and said to him, "I conjure thee, by +Allah, spare me for the sake of this my fellow and seek of him thy need; for he +will guide thee to thy desire!" So he held his hand from him and throwing down +the stick, went up to and stood by the second ape, who said to him, "O +Khalifah, this my speech [FN#191] will profit thee naught, except thou hearken +to what I say to thee; but, an thou do my bidding and cross me not, I will be +the cause of thine enrichment." Asked Khalifah, "And what hast thou to say to +me that I may obey there therein?" The Ape answered, "Leave me bound on the +bank and hie thee down to the river; then cast thy net a third time, and after +I will tell thee what to do." So he took his net and going down to the river, +cast it once more and waited awhile. Then he drew it in and finding it heavy, +laboured at it and ceased not his travail till he got it ashore, when he found +in it yet another ape; but this one was red, with a blue waistcloth about his +middle; his hands and feet were stained with Henna and his eyes blackened with +Kohl. When Khalifah saw this, he exclaimed, "Glory to God the Great! Extolled +be the perfection of the Lord of Dominion! Verily, this is a blessed day from +first to last: its ascendant was fortunate in the countenance of the first ape, +and the scroll [FN#192] is known by its superscription! Verily, to-day is a +day of apes: there is not a single fish left in the river, and we are come out +to-day but to catch monkeys!" Then he turned to the third ape and said, "And +what thing art thou also, O unlucky?" Quoth the ape, "Dost thou not know me, O +Khalifah!"; and quoth he, "Not I!" The ape cried, "I am the ape of Abu +al-Sa'ádát [FN#193] the Jew, the shroff." Asked Khalifah, "And what dost thou +for him?"; and the ape answered, "I give him good-morrow at the first of the +day, and he gaineth five ducats; and again at the end of the day, I give him +good-even and he gaineth other five ducats." Whereupon Khalifah turned to the +first ape and said to him, "See, O unlucky, what fine apes other folks have! +As for thee, thou givest me good-morrow with thy one eye and thy lameness and +thy ill-omened phiz and I become poor and bankrupt and hungry!" So saying, he +took the cattle-stick and flourishing it thrice in the air, was about to come +down with it on the first ape, when Abu al-Sa'adat's ape said to him, "Let him +be, O Khalifah, hold thy hand and come hither to me, that I may tell thee what +to do." So Khalifah threw down the stick and walking up to him cried, "And what +hast thou to say to me, O monarch of all monkeys?" Replied the ape, "Leave me +and the other two apes here, and take thy net and cast it into the river; and +whatever cometh up, bring it to me, and I will tell thee what shall gladden +thee."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-third Night +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the ape of Abu +al-Sa'adat said to Khalifah, "Take thy net and cast it into the river; and +whatever cometh up, bring it to me, and I will tell thee what shall gladden +thee." He replied, "I hear and obey," and took the net and gathered it on his +shoulder, reciting these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"When straitened is my breast I will of my Creator pray, * Who<br/> + + may and can the heaviest weight lighten in easiest way;<br/> + +For ere man's glance can turn or close his eye by God His grace *<br/> + + Waxeth the broken whole and yieldeth jail its prison-prey.<br/> + +Therefore with Allah one and all of thy concerns commit * Whose<br/> + + grace and favour men of wit shall nevermore gainsay."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And also these twain, +</p> + +<p> +"Thou art the cause that castest men in ban and bane; * Sorrow<br/> + + e'en so and sorrow's cause Thou canst assain:<br/> + +Make me not covet aught that lies beyond my reach; * How many a<br/> + + greedy wight his wish hath failed to gain!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Now when Khalifah had made an end of his verse, he went down to the river and +casting his net, waited awhile; after which he drew it up and found therein a +fine young fish, [FN#194] with a big head, a tail like a ladle and eyes like +two gold pieces. When Khalifah saw this fish, he rejoiced, for he had never in +his life caught its like, so he took it, marvelling, and carried it to the ape +of Abu al-Sa'adat the Jew, as 'twere he had gotten possession of the universal +world. Quoth the ape, "O Khalifah, what wilt thou do with this and with thine +ape?"; and quoth the Fisherman, "I will tell thee, O monarch of monkeys all I +am about to do. Know then that first, I will cast about to make away with +yonder accursed, my ape, and take thee in his stead and give thee every day to +eat of whatso thou wilt." Rejoined the ape, "Since thou hast made choice of +me, I will tell thee how thou shalt do wherein, if it please Allah Almighty, +shall be the mending of thy fortune. Lend thy mind, then, to what I say to +thee and 'tis this!: Take another cord and tie me also to a tree, where leave +me and go to the midst of The Dyke [FN#195] and cast thy net into the Tigris. +[FN#196] Then after waiting awhile, draw it up and thou shalt find therein a +fish, than which thou never sawest a finer in thy whole life. Bring it to me +and I will tell thee how thou shalt do after this." So Khalifah rose +forthright and casting his net into the Tigris, drew up a great cat-fish +[FN#197] the bigness of a lamb; never had he set eyes on its like, for it was +larger than the first fish. He carried it to the ape, who said to him, "Gather +thee some green grass and set half of it in a basket; lay the fish therein and +cover it with the other moiety. Then, leaving us here tied, shoulder the +basket and betake thee to Baghdad. If any bespeak thee or question thee by the +way, answer him not, but fare on till thou comest to the market-street of the +money-changers, at the upper end whereof thou wilt find the shop of Master +[FN#198] Abu al- Sa'adat the Jew, Shaykh of the shroffs, and wilt see him +sitting on a mattress, with a cushion behind him and two coffers, one for gold +and one for silver, before him, while around him stand his Mamelukes and +negro-slaves and servant-lads. Go up to him and set the basket before him, +saying,: 'O Abu al-Sa'adat, verily I went out to-day to fish and cast my net in +thy name and Allah Almighty sent me this fish.' He will ask, 'Hast thou shown +it to any but me?;' and do thou answer, "No, by Allah!' then will he take it +of thee and give thee a dinar. Give it him back and he will give thee two +dinars; but do thou return them also and so do with everything he may offer +thee; and take naught from him, though he give thee the fish's weight in gold. +Then will he say to thee, 'Tell me what thou wouldst have;' and do thou reply, +"By Allah, I will not sell the fish save for two words!' He will ask, 'What +are they?' and do thou answer, 'Stand up and say, 'Bear witness, O ye who are +present in the market, that I give Khalifah the fisherman my ape in exchange +for his ape, and that I barter for his lot my lot and luck for his luck.' This +is the price of the fish, and I have no need of gold.' If he do this, I will +every day give thee good-morrow and good-even, and every day thou shalt gain +ten dinars of good gold; whilst this one-eyed, lame-legged ape shall daily give +the Jew good-morrow, and Allah shall afflict him every day with an avanie +[FN#199] which he must needs pay, nor will he cease to be thus afflicted till +he is reduced to beggary and hath naught. Hearken then to my words; so shalt +thou prosper and be guided aright." Quoth Khalifah, "I accept thy counsel, O +monarch of all the monkeys! But, as for this unlucky, may Allah never bless +him! I know not what to do with him." Quoth the ape, "Let him go [FN#200] +into the water, and let me go also." "I hear and obey," answered Khalifah and +unbound the three apes, and they went down into the river. Then he took up the +cat-fish [FN#201] which he washed then laid it in the basket upon some green +grass, and covered it with other; and lastly shouldering his load, set out +chanting the following Mawwál, [FN#202] +</p> + +<p> +"Thy case commit to a Heavenly Lord and thou shalt safety see; *<br/> + + Act kindly through thy worldly life and live repentance-<br/> + + free.<br/> + +Mate not with folk suspected, lest eke thou shouldst suspected be<br/> + + * And from reviling keep thy tongue lest men revile at<br/> + + thee!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Khalifah the +fisherman, after ending his song, set out with the basket upon his shoulder and +ceased not faring till he entered the city of Baghdad. And as he threaded the +streets the folk knew him and cried out to him, saying, "What hast thou there, +O Khalifah?" But he paid no heed to them and passed on till he came to the +market- street of the money-changers and fared between the shops, as the ape +had charged him, till he found the Jew seated at the upper end, with his +servants in attendance upon him, as he were a King of the Kings of Khorason. +He knew him at first sight; so he went up to him and stood before him, +whereupon Abu al-Sa'adat raised his eyes and recognising him, said, "Welcome, O +Khalifah! What wantest thou and what is thy need? If any have missaid thee or +spited thee, tell me and I will go with thee to the Chief of Police, who shall +do thee justice on him." Replied Khalifah, "Nay, as thy head liveth, O chief +of the Jews, none hath missaid me. But I went forth this morning to the river +and, casting my net into the Tigris on thy luck, brought up this fish." +Therewith he opened the basket and threw the fish before the Jew who admired it +and said, "By the Pentateuch and the Ten Commandments, [FN#203] I dreamt last +night that the Virgin came to me and said, 'Know, O Abu al-Sa'adat, that I have +sent thee a pretty present!' and doubtless 'tis this fish." Then he turned to +Khalifah and said to him, "By thy faith, hath any seen it but I?" Khalifah +replied, "No, by Allah, and by Abu Bakr the Veridical, [FN#204] none hath seen +it save thou, O chief of the Jews!" Whereupon the Jew turned to one of his +lads and said to him, "Come, carry this fish to my house and bid Sa'ádah +[FN#205] dress it and fry and broil it, against I make an end of my business +and hie me home." And Khalifah said, "Go, O my lad; let the master's wife fry +some of it and broil the rest." Answered the boy, "I hear and I obey, O my +lord" and, taking the fish, went away with it to the house. Then the Jew put +out his hand and gave Khalifah the fisherman a dinar, saying, "Take this for +thyself, O Khalifah, and spend it on thy family." When Khalifah saw the dinar +on his palm, he took it, saying, "Laud to the Lord of Dominion!" as if he had +never seen aught of gold in his life; and went somewhat away, but, before he +had gone far, he was minded of the ape's charge and turning back threw down the +ducat, saying, "Take thy gold and give folk back their fish! Dost thou make a +laughing stock of folk?" The Jew hearing this thought he was jesting and +offered him two dinars upon the other, but Khalifah said, "Give me the fish and +no nonsense. How knewest thou I would sell it at this price?" Whereupon the +Jew gave him two more dinars and said, "Take these five ducats for thy fish and +leave greed." So Khalifah hent the five dinars in hand and went away, +rejoicing, and gazing and marvelling at the gold and saying, "Glory be to God! +There is not with the Caliph of Baghdad what is with me this day!" Then he +ceased not faring on till he came to the end of the market-street, when he +remembered the words of the ape and his charge, and returning to the Jew, threw +him back the gold. Quoth he, "What aileth thee, O Khalifah? Dost thou want +silver in exchange for gold?" Khalifah replied, "I want nor dirhams nor +dinars. I only want thee to give me back folk's fish." With this the Jew +waxed wroth and shouted out at him, saying, "O fisherman, thou bringest me a +fish not worth a sequin and I give thee five for it; yet art thou not content! +Art thou Jinn-mad? Tell me for how much thou wilt sell it." Answered +Khalifah, "I will not sell it for silver nor for gold, only for two sayings +[FN#206] thou shalt say me." When the Jew heard speak of the "Two Sayings," +his eyes sank into his head, he breathed hard and ground his teeth for rage and +said to him, "O nail-paring of the Moslems, wilt thou have me throw off my +faith for the sake of thy fish, and wilt thou debauch me from my religion and +stultify my belief and my conviction which I inherited of old from my +forbears?" Then he cried out to the servants who were in waiting and said, +"Out on you! Bash me this unlucky rogue's neck and bastinado him soundly!" So +they came down upon him with blows and ceased not beating him till he fell +beneath the shop, and the Jew said to them, "Leave him and let him rise." +Whereupon Khalifah jumped up, as if naught ailed him, and the Jew said to him, +"Tell me what price thou asketh for this fish and I will give it thee: for thou +hast gotten but scant good of us this day." Answered the Fisherman, "Have no +fear for me, O master, because of the beating; for I can eat ten donkeys' +rations of stick." The Jew laughed at his words and said, "Allah upon thee, +tell me what thou wilt have and by the right of my Faith, I will give it thee!" + The Fisherman replied, "Naught from thee will remunerate me for this fish save +the two words whereof I spake." And the Jew said, "Meseemeth thou wouldst have +me become a Moslem?" [FN#207] Khalifah rejoined, "By Allah, O Jew, an thou +islamise 'twill nor advantage the Moslems nor damage the Jews; and in like +manner, an thou hold to thy misbelief 'twill nor damage the Moslems nor +advantage the Jews. But what I desire of thee is that thou rise to thy feet +and say, 'Bear witness against me, O people of the market, that I barter my ape +for the ape of Khalifah the Fisherman and my lot in the world for his lot and +my luck for his luck.'" Quoth the Jew, "If this be all thou desirest 'twill +sit lightly upon me." —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Jew said to +Khalifah the Fisherman, "If this be all thou desirest, 'twill sit lightly upon +me." So he rose without stay or delay and standing on his feet, repeated the +required words; after which he turned to the Fisherman and asked him, "Hast +thou aught else to ask of me?" "No," answered he, and the Jew said, "Go in +peace!" Hearing this Khalifah sprung to his feet forthright; took up his +basket and net and returned straight to the Tigris, where he threw his net and +pulled it in. He found it heavy and brought it not ashore but with travail, +when he found it full of fish of all kinds. Presently, up came a woman with a +dish, who gave him a dinar, and he gave her fish for it; and after her an +eunuch, who also bought a dinar's worth of fish, and so forth till he had sold +ten dinars' worth. And he continued to sell ten dinars' worth of fish daily +for ten days, till he had gotten an hundred dinars. Now Khalifah the Fisherman +had quarters in the Passage of the Merchants, [FN#208] and, as he lay one night +in his lodging much bemused with Hashish, he said to himself, "O Khalifah, the +folk all know thee for a poor fisherman, and now thou hast gotten an hundred +golden dinars. Needs must the Commander of the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, hear +of this from some one, and haply he will be wanting money and will send for +thee and say to thee, 'I need a sum of money and it hath reached me that thou +hast an hundred dinars: so do thou lend them to me those same.' I shall +answer, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I am a poor man, and whoso told thee that +I had an hundred dinars lied against me; for I have naught of this.' Thereupon +he will commit me to the Chief of Police, saying, "Strip him of his clothes and +torment him with the bastinado till he confess and give up the hundred dinars +in his possession. Wherefore, meseemeth to provide against this predicament, +the best thing I can do, is to rise forthright and bash myself with the whip, +so to use myself to beating." And his Hashish [FN#209] said to him, "Rise, +doff thy dress." So he stood up and putting off his clothes, took a whip he +had by him and set handy a leathern pillow; then he fell to lashing himself, +laying every other blow upon the pillow and roaring out the while, "Alas! Alas! +By Allah, 'tis a false saying, O my lord, and they have lied against me; for I +am a poor fisherman and have naught of the goods of the world!" The noise of +the whip falling on the pillow and on his person resounded in the still of +night and the folk heard it, and amongst others the merchants, and they said, +"Whatever can ail the poor fellow, that he crieth and we hear the noise of +blows falling on him? 'Twould seem robbers have broken in upon him and are +tormenting him." Presently they all came forth of their lodgings, at the noise +of the blows and the crying, and repaired to Khalifah's room, but they found +the door locked and said one to other, "Belike the robbers have come in upon +him from the back of the adjoining saloon. It behoveth us to climb over by the +roofs." So they clomb over the roofs and coming down through the sky- light, +[FN#210] saw him naked and flogging himself and asked him, "What aileth thee, O +Khalifah?" He answered, "Know, O folk, that I have gained some dinars and fear +lest my case be carried up to the Prince of True Believers, Harun al-Rashid, +and he send for me and demand of me those same gold pieces; whereupon I should +deny, and I fear that, if I deny, he will torture me, so I am torturing myself, +by way of accustoming me to what may come." The merchants laughed at him and +said, "Leave this fooling, may Allah not bless thee and the dinars thou hast +gotten! Verily thou hast disturbed us this night and hast troubled our +hearts." So Khalifah left flogging himself and slept till the morning, when he +rose and would have gone about his business, but bethought him of his hundred +dinars and said in his mind, "An I leave them at home, thieves will steal them, +and if I put them in a belt [FN#211] about my waist, peradventure some one will +see me and lay in wait for me till he come upon me in some lonely place and +slay me and take the money: but I have a device that should serve me well, +right well." So he jumped up forthright and made him a pocket in the collar of +his gaberdine and tying the hundred dinars up in a purse, laid them in the +collar-pocket. Then he took his net and basket and staff and went down to the +Tigris, — And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-sixth Night +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Khalifah the Fisherman, +having set his hundred dinars in the collar-pocket took basket, staff and net +and went down to the Tigris, where he made a cast but brought up naught. So he +removed from that place to another and threw again, but once more the net came +up empty; and he went on removing from place to place till he had gone half a +day's journey from the city, ever casting the net which kept bringing up +naught. So he said to himself, "By Allah, I will throw my net a-stream but his +once more, whether ill come of it or weal!" [FN#212] Then he hurled the net +with all his force, of the excess of his wrath and the purse with the hundred +dinars flew out of his collar-pocket and, lighting in mid-stream, was carried +away by the strong current; whereupon he threw down the net and plunged into +the water after the purse. He dived for it nigh a hundred times, till his +strength was exhausted and he came up for sheer fatigue without chancing on it. + When he despaired of finding the purse, he returned to the shore, where he saw +nothing but staff, net and basket and sought for his clothes, but could light +on no trace of them: so he said in himself, "O vilest of those wherefor was +made the byword, 'The pilgrimage is not perfected save by copulation with the +camel!" [FN#213] Then he wrapped the net about him and taking staff in one +hand and basket in other, went trotting about like a camel in rut, running +right and left and backwards and forwards, dishevelled and dusty, as he were a +rebel Marid let loose from Solomon's prison. [FN#214] So far for what concerns +the Fisherman Khalifah; but as regards the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, he had a +friend, a jeweller called Ibn al-Kirnás, [FN#215] and all the traders, brokers +and middle-men knew him for the Caliph's merchant; wherefore there was naught +sold in Baghdad, by way of rarities and things of price or Mamelukes or +handmaidens, but was first shown to him. As he sat one day in his shop, +behold, there came up to him the Shaykh of the brokers, with a slave-girl, +whose like seers never saw, for she was of passing beauty and loveliness, +symmetry and perfect grace, and among her gifts was that she knew all arts and +sciences and could make verses and play upon all manner musical instruments. +So Ibn al-Kirnas bought her for five thousand golden dinars and clothed her +with other thousand; after which he carried her to the Prince of True +Believers, with whom she lay the night and who made trial of her in every kind +of knowledge and accomplishment and found her versed in all sorts of arts and +sciences, having no equal in her time. Her name was Kút al-Kulúb [FN#216] and +she was even as saith the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"I fix my glance on her, whene'er she wends; * And non-acceptance<br/> + + of my glance breeds pain:<br/> + +She favours graceful-necked gazelle at gaze; * And 'Graceful as<br/> + + gazelle' to say we're fain."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And where is this [FN#217] beside the saying of another? +</p> + +<p> +"Give me brunettes; the Syrian spears, so limber and so straight,<br/> + + Tell of the slender dusky maids, so lithe and proud of gait.<br/> + +Languid of eyelids, with a down like silk upon her cheek, Within<br/> + + her wasting lover's heart she queens it still in state."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +On the morrow the Caliph sent for Ibn al-Kirnas the Jeweller, and bade him +receive ten thousand dinars as to her price. And his heart was taken up with +the slave-girl Kut al-Kulub and he forsook the Lady Zubaydah bint al-Kasim, for +all she was the daughter of his father's brother [FN#218] and he abandoned all +his favorite concubines and abode a whole month without stirring from Kut +al-Kulub's side save to go to the Friday prayers and return to her in all +haste. This was grievous to the Lords of the Realm and they complained thereof +to the Wazir Ja'afar the Barmecide, who bore with the Commander of the Faithful +and waited till the next Friday, when he entered the cathedral-mosque and, +foregathering with the Caliph, related to him all that occurred to him of +extra-ordinary stories anent seld-seen love and lovers with intent to draw out +what was in his mind. Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, O Ja'afar, this is not of +my choice; but my heart is caught in the snare of love and wot I not what is to +be done!" The Wazir Ja'afar replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, thou knowest +how this girl Kut al-Kulub is become at thy disposal and of the number of thy +servants, and that which hand possesseth soul coveteth not. Moreover, I will +tell thee another thing which is that the highest boast of Kings and Princes is +in hunting and the pursuit of sport and victory; and if thou apply thyself to +this, perchance it will divert thee from her, and it may be thou wilt forget +her." Rejoined the Caliph, "Thou sayest well, O Ja'afar; come let us go +a-hunting forthright, without stay or delay." So soon as Friday prayers were +prayed, they left the mosque and at once mounting their she-mules rode forth to +the chase. —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph +Harun al-Rashid and the Wazir Ja'afar would go forth a-hunting and a-chasing, +they mounted two she-mules and fared on into the open country, occupied with +talk, and their attendants outwent them. Presently the heat became overhot and +Al-Rashid said to his Wazir, "O Ja'afar, I am sore athirst." Then he looked +around and espying a figure in the distance on a high mound, asked Ja'afar, +"Seest thou what I see?" Answered the Wazir, "Yes, O Commander of the +Faithful; I see a dim figure on a high mound; belike he is the keeper of a +garden or of a cucumber- plot, and in whatso wise water will not be lacking in +his neighborhood;" presently adding, "I will go to him and fetch thee some." +But Al-Rashid said, "My mule is swifter than thy mule; so do thou abide here, +on account of the troops, whilst I go myself to him and get of this person +[FN#219] drink and return." So saying, he urged his she-mule, which started +off like racing wind or railing-water and, in the twinkling of an eye, made the +mound, where he found the figure he had seen to be none other than Khalifah the +Fisherman, naked and wrapped in the net; and indeed he was horrible to behold, +as to and fro he rolled with eyes for very redness like cresset-gleam and dusty +hair in dishevelled trim, as he were an Ifrit or a lion grim. Al-Rashid +saluted him and he returned his salutation; but he was wroth and fires might +have been lit at his breath. Quoth the Caliph, "O man, hast thou any water?"; +and quoth Khalifah, "Ho thou, art thou blind, or Jinn-mad? Get thee to the +river Tigris, for 'tis behind this mound." So Al-Rashid went around the mound +and going down to the river, drank and watered his mule: then without a +moment's delay he returned to Khalifah and said to him, "What aileth thee, O +man, to stand here, and what is thy calling?" The Fisherman cried, "This is a +stranger and sillier question than that about the water! Seest thou not the +gear of my craft on my shoulder?" Said the Caliph, "Belike thou art a +fisherman?"; and he replied, "Yes." Asked Al-Rashid, "Where is thy gaberdine, +[FN#220] and where are thy waistcloth and girdle and where be the rest of thy +raiment?" Now these were the very things which had been taken from Khalifah, +like for like; so, when he heard the Caliph name them, he got into his head +that it was he who had stolen his clothes from the river-bank and coming down +from the top of the mound, swiftlier than the blinding leven, laid hold of the +mule's bridle, saying, "Harkye, man, bring me back my things and leave jesting +and joking." Al-Rashid replied, "By Allah, I have not seen thy clothes nor +know aught of them!" Now the Caliph had large cheeks and a small mouth; +[FN#221] so Khalifah said to him, "Belike, thou art by trade a singer or a +piper on pipes? But bring me back my clothes fairly and without more ado, or I +will bash thee with this my staff till thou bepiss thyself and befoul they +clothes." When Al-Rashid saw the staff in the Fisherman's hand and that he had +the vantage of him, he said to himself, "By Allah, I cannot brook from this mad +beggar half a blow of that staff!" Now he had on a satin gown; so he pulled it +off and gave it to Khalifah, saying, "O man, take this in place of thy +clothes." The Fisherman took it and turned it about and said, "My clothes are +worth ten of this painted 'Abá-cloak;" and rejoined the Caliph, "Put it on till +I bring thee thy gear." So Khalifah donned the gown, but finding it too long +for him, took a knife he had with him, tied to the handle of his basket, +[FN#222] and cut off nigh a third of the skirt, so that it fell only beneath +his knees. Then he turned to Al-Rashid and said to him, "Allah upon thee, O +piper, tell me what wage thou gettest every month from thy master, for thy +craft of piping." Replied the Caliph, "My wage is ten dinars a month," and +Khalifah continued, "By Allah, my poor fellow, thou makest me sorry for thee! +Why, I make thy ten dinars every day! Hast thou a mind to take service with me +and I will teach thee the art of fishing and share my gain with thee? So shalt +thou make five dinars a day and be my slavey and I will protect thee against +thy master with this staff." Quoth Al-Rashid, "I will well"; and quoth +Khalifah, "Then get off thy she-ass and tie her up, so she may serve us to +carry the fish hereafter, and come hither, that I may teach thee to fish +forthright." So Al-Rashid alighted and hobbling his mule, tucked his skirts +into his girdle, and Khalifah said to him, "O piper, lay hold of the net thus +and put it over thy forearm thus and cast it into the Tigris thus." +Accordingly, the Caliph took heart of grace and, doing as the fisherman showed +him, threw the net and pulled at it, but could not draw it up. So Khalifah +came to his aid and tugged at it with him; but the two together could not hale +it up: whereupon said the fisherman, "O piper of ill- omen, for the first time +I took thy gown in place of my clothes; but this second time I will have thine +ass and will beat thee to boot, till thou bepiss and beskite thyself! An I +find my net torn." Quoth Al-Rashid, "Let the twain of us pull at once." So +they both pulled together and succeeded with difficulty in hauling that net +ashore, when they found it full of fish of all kinds and colours;—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Khalifah the +Fisherman and the Caliph hauled that net ashore, they found it full of fish of +all kinds; and Khalifah said to Al- Rashid, "By Allah, O piper, thou art foul +of favor but, an thou apply thyself to fishing, thou wilt make a mighty fine +fisherman. But now 'twere best thou bestraddle thine ass and make for the +market and fetch me a pair of frails, [FN#223] and I will look after the fish +till thou return, when I and thou will load it on thine ass's back. I have +scales and weights and all we want, so we can take them with us and thou wilt +have nothing to do but to hold the scales and pouch the price; for here we have +fish worth twenty dinars. So be fast with the frails and loiter not." Answered +the Caliph, "I hear and obey" and mounting, left him with his fish, and spurred +his mule, in high good humour, and ceased not laughing over his adventures with +the Fisherman, till he came up to Ja'afar, who said to him, "O Commander of the +Faithful, belike, when thou wentest down to drink, thou foundest a pleasant +flower-garden and enteredst and tookest thy pleasure therein alone?" At this +Al-Rashid fell a laughing again and all the Barmecides rose and kissed the +ground before him, saying, "O Commander of the Faithful, Allah make joy to +endure for thee and do away annoy from thee! What was the cause of thy +delaying when thou faredst to drink and what hath befallen thee?" Quoth the +Caliph, "Verily, a right wondrous tale and a joyous adventure and a wondrous +hath befallen me." And he repeated to them what had passed between himself and +the Fisherman and his words, "Thou stolest my clothes!" and how he had given +him his gown and how he had cut off a part of it, finding it too long for him. +Said Ja'afar, "By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I had it in mind to beg +the gown of thee; but now I will go straight to the Fisherman and buy it of +him." The Caliph replied, "By Allah, he hath cut off a third part of the skirt +and spoilt it! But, O Ja'afar, I am tired with fishing in the river, for I +have caught great store of fish which I left on the bank with my master +Khalifah, and he is watching them and waiting for me to return to him with a +couple of frails and a matchet. [FN#224] Then we are to go, I and he, to the +market and sell the fish and share the price." Ja'afar rejoined, "O Commander +of the Faithful, I will bring you a purchaser for your fish." And Al-Rashid +retorted, "O Ja'afar, by the virtue of my holy forefathers, whoso bringeth me +one of the fish that are before Khalifah, who taught me angling, I will give +him for it a gold dinar." So the crier proclaimed among the troops that they +should go forth and buy fish for the Caliph, and they all arose and made for +the river-side. Now, while Khalifah was expecting the Caliph's return with the +two frails, behold, the Mamelukes swooped down upon him like vultures and took +the fish and wrapped them in gold-embroidered kerchiefs, beating one another in +their eagerness to get at the Fisherman. Whereupon quoth Khalifah, "Doubtless +these are of the fish of Paradise!" [FN#225] and hending two fish in right hand +and left, plunged into the water up to his neck and fell a-saying, "O Allah, by +the virtue of these fish, let Thy servant the piper, my partner, come to me at +this very moment." And suddenly up to him came a black slave which was the +chief of the Caliph's negro eunuchs. He had tarried behind the rest, by reason +of his horse having stopped to make water by the way, and finding that naught +remained of the fish, little or much, looked right and left, till he espied +Khalifah standing in the stream, with a fish in either hand, and said to him, +"Come hither, O Fisherman!" But Khalifah replied, "Begone and none of your +impudence!" [FN#226] So the eunuch went up to him and said, "Give me the fish +and I will pay thee their price." Replied the Fisherman, "Art thou little of +wit? I will not sell them." Therewith the eunuch drew his mace upon him, and +Khalifah cried out, saying, "Strike not, O loon! Better largesse than the +mace." [FN#227] So saying, he threw the two fishes to the eunuch, who took +them and laid them in his kerchief. Then he put hand in pouch, but found not a +single dirham and said to Khalifah, "O Fisherman, verily thou art out of luck +for, by Allah, I have not a silver about me! But come to- morrow to the Palace +of the Caliphate and ask for the eunuch Sandal; whereupon the castratos will +direct thee to me and by coming thither thou shalt get what falleth to thy lot +and therewith wend thy ways." Quoth Khalifah, "Indeed, this is a blessed day +and its blessedness was manifest from the first of it!"[FN#228] Then he +shouldered his net and returned to Baghdad; and as he passed through the +streets, the folk saw the Caliph's gown on him and stared at him till he came +to the gate of his quarter, by which was the shop of the Caliph's tailor. When +the man saw him wearing a dress of the apparel of the Caliph, worth a thousand +dinars, he said to him, "O Khalifah, whence hadst thou that gown?" Replied the +Fisherman, "What aileth thee to be impudent? I had it of one whom I taught to +fish and who is become my apprentice. I forgave him the cutting off of his hand +[FN#229] for that he stole my clothes and gave me this cape in their place." +So the tailor knew that the Caliph had come upon him as he was fishing and +jested with him and given him the gown;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resume, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph came upon +Khalifah the Fisherman and gave him his own gown in jest wherewith the man +fared home. Such was his case; but as regards Harun al-Rashid, he had gone out +a-hunting and a-fishing only to divert his thoughts from the damsel, Kut +al-Kulub. But when Zubaydah heard of her and of the Caliph's devotion to her, +the Lady was fired with the jealousy which the more especially fireth women, so +that she refused meat and drink and rejected the delights of sleep and awaited +the Caliph's going forth on a journey or what not, that she might set a snare +for the damsel. So when she learnt that he was gone hunting and fishing, she +bade her women furnish the Palace fairly and decorate it splendidly and serve +up viands and confections; and amongst the rest she made a China dish of the +daintiest sweetmeats that can be made wherein she had put Bhang. Then she +ordered one of her eunuchs go to the damsel Kut al-Kulub and bid her to the +banquet, saying, "The Lady Zubaydah bint Al-Kasim, the wife of the Commander of +the Faithful, hath drunken medicine to-day and, having heard tell of the +sweetness of thy singing, longeth to divert herself somewhat of thine art." +Kut al-Kulub replied, "Hearing and obedience are due to Allah and the Lady +Zubaydah," and rose without stay or delay, unknowing what was hidden for her in +the Secret Purpose. Then she took with her what instruments she needed and, +accompanying the eunuch, ceased not fairing till she stood in the presence of +the Princess. When she entered she kissed ground before her again and again, +then rising to her feet, said, "Peace be on the Lady of the exalted seat and +the presence whereto none may avail, daughter of the house Abbásí and scion of +the Prophet's family! May Allah fulfil thee of peace and prosperity in the +days and the years!" [FN#230] Then she stood with the rest of the women and +eunuchs, and presently the Lady Zubaydah raised her eyes and considered her +beauty and loveliness. She saw a damsel with cheeks smooth as rose and breasts +like granado, a face moon-bright, a brow flower-white and great eyes black as +night; her eyelids were langour-dight and her face beamed with light, as if the +sun from her forehead arose and the murks of the night from the locks of her +brow; and the fragrance of musk from her breath strayed and flowers bloomed in +her lovely face inlaid; the moon beamed from her forehead and in her slender +shape the branches swayed. She was like the full moon shining in the nightly +shade; her eyes wantoned, her eyebrows were like a bow arched and her lips of +coral moulded. Her beauty amazed all who espied her and her glances amated all +who eyed her. Glory be to Him who formed her and fashioned her and perfected +her! Brief, she was even as saith the poet of one who favoured her, +</p> + +<p> +"When she's incensed thou seest folk like slain, * And when she's<br/> + + pleased, their souls are quick again:<br/> + +Her eyne are armed with glances magical * Wherewith she kills and<br/> + + quickens as she's fain.<br/> + +The Worlds she leadeth captive with her eyes * As tho' the Worlds<br/> + + were all her slavish train."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Quoth the Lady Zubaydah, "Well come, and welcome and fair cheer to thee, O Kut +al-Kulub! Sit and divert us with thine art and the goodliness of thine +accomplishments." Quoth the damsel, "I hear and I obey"; and, putting out her +hand, took the tambourine, whereof one of its praisers speaketh in the +following verses, +</p> + +<p> +"Ho thou o' the tabret, my heart takes flight * And love-smit<br/> + + cries while thy fingers smite!<br/> + +Thou takest naught but a wounded heart, * The while for<br/> + + acceptance longs the wight:<br/> + +So say thou word or heavy or light; * Play whate'er thou please<br/> + + it will charm the sprite.<br/> + +Sois bonne, unveil thy cheek, ma belle * Rise, deftly dance and<br/> + + all hearts delight."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then she smote the tambourine briskly and so sang thereto, that she stopped the +birds in the sky and the place danced with them blithely; after which she laid +down the tambourine and took the pipe [FN#231] whereof it is said, +</p> + +<p> +"She hath eyes whose babes wi' their fingers sign * To sweet tunes without a +discordant line." +</p> + +<p> +And as the poet also said in this couplet, +</p> + +<p> +"And, when she announceth the will to sing, * For Union-joy 'tis<br/> + + a time divine!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then she laid down the pipe, after she had charmed therewith all who were +present, and took up the lute, whereof saith the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"How many a blooming bough in glee-girl's hand is fain * as<br/> + + lute to 'witch great souls by charm of cunning strain!<br/> + +She sweeps tormenting lute strings by her artful touch * Wi'<br/> + + finger-tips that surely chain with endless chain."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then she tightened its pegs and tuned its strings and laying it in her lap, +bended over it as mother bendeth over child; and it seemed as it were of her +and her lute that the poet spoke in these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Sweetly discourses she on Persian string * And Unintelligence<br/> + + makes understand.<br/> + +And teaches she that Love's a murtherer, * Who oft the reasoning<br/> + + Moslem hath unmann'd.<br/> + +A maid, by Allah, in whose palm a thing * Of painted wood like<br/> + + mouth can speech command.<br/> + +With lute she stauncheth flow of Love; and so * Stops flow of<br/> + + blood the cunning leach's hand."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then she preluded in fourteen different modes and sang to the lute an entire +piece, so as to confound the gazers and delight her hearers. After which she +recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The coming unto thee is blest: * Therein new joys for aye<br/> + + attend:<br/> + +Its blisses are continuous * Its blessings never end."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fortieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the maiden, Kut al-Kulub, +after singing these songs and sweeping the strings in presence of the Lady +Zubaydah, rose and exhibited tricks of sleight of hand and legerdemain and all +manner pleasing arts, till the Princess came near to fall in love with her and +said to herself, "Verily, my cousin Al-Rashid is not to blame for loving her!" +Then the damsel kissed ground before Zubaydah and sat down, whereupon they set +food before her. Presently they brought her the drugged dish of sweetmeats and +she ate thereof; and hardly had it settled in her stomach when her head fell +backward and she sank on the ground sleeping. With this, the Lady said to her +women, "Carry her up to one of the chambers, till I summon her"; and they +replied, "We hear and we obey." Then said she to one of her eunuchs, "Fashion +me a chest and bring it hitherto to me!", and shortly afterwards she bade make +the semblance of a tomb and spread the report that Kut al-Kulub had choked and +died, threatening her familiars that she would smite the neck of whoever should +say, "She is alive." Now, behold, the Caliph suddenly returned from the chase, +and the first enquiry he made was for the damsel. So there came to him one of +his eunuchs, whom the Lady Zubaydah had charged to declare she was dead, if the +Caliph should ask for her and, kissing ground before him, said, "May thy head +live, O my lord! Be certified that Kut al- Kulub choked in eating and is +dead." Whereupon cried Al-Rashid, "God never gladden thee with good news, O +thou bad slave!" and entered the Palace, where he heard of her death from every +one and asked, "Where is her tomb?" So they brought him to the sepulchre and +showed him the pretended tomb, saying, "This is her burial-place." When he saw +it, he cried out and wept and embraced it, quoting these two couplets, [FN#232] +</p> + +<p> +"By Allah, O tomb, have her beauties ceased and disappeared from<br/> + + sight * And is the countenance changed and wan, that shone<br/> + + so wonder-bright?<br/> + +O tomb, O tomb, thou art neither heaven nor garden, verily: * How<br/> + + comes it then that swaying branch and moon in thee unite?<br/> +</p> + +<p> +The Caliph, weeping sore for her, abode by the tomb a full hour, after which he +arose and went away, in the utmost distress and the deepest melancholy. So the +Lady Zubaydah saw that her plot had succeeded and forthright sent for the +eunuch and said, "Hither with the chest!" He set it before her, when she bade +bring the damsel and locking her up therein, said to the Eunuch, "Take all +pains to sell this chest and make it a condition with the purchaser that he buy +it locked; then give alms with its price." [FN#233] So he took it and went +forth, to do her bidding. Thus fared it with these; but as for Khalifah the +Fisherman, when morning morrowed and shone with its light and sheen, he said to +himself, "I cannot do aught better to-day than visit the Eunuch who bought the +fish of me, for he appointed me to come to him in the Palace of the Caliphate." + So he went forth of his lodging, intending for the palace, and when he came +thither, he found Mamelukes, negro-slaves and eunuchs standing and sitting; and +looking at them, behold, seated amongst them was the Eunuch who had taken the +fish of him, with the white slaves waiting on him. Presently, one of the +Mameluke-lads called out to him; whereupon the Eunuch turned to see who he was +an lo! it was the Fisherman. Now when Khalifah was ware that he saw him and +recognized him, he said to him, "I have not failed thee, O my little Tulip! +[FN#234] On this wise are men of their word." Hearing his address, Sandal the +Eunuch [FN#235] laughed and replied, "By Allah, thou art right, O Fisherman," +and put his hand to his pouch, to give him somewhat; but at that moment there +arose a great clamour. So he raised his head to see what was to do and finding +that it was the Wazir Ja'afar the Barmecide coming forth from the Caliph's +presence, he rose to him and forewent him, and they walked about, conversing +for a longsome time. Khalifah the Fisherman waited awhile; then, growing weary +of standing and finding that the Eunuch took no heed of him, he set himself in +his way and beckoned to him from afar, saying, "O my lord Tulip, give me my due +and let me go!" The Eunuch heard him, but was ashamed to answer him because of +the minister's presence; so he went on talking with Ja'afar and took no notice +whatever of the Fisherman. Whereupon quoth Khalifah, "O Slow o' Pay! [FN#236] +May Allah put to shame all churls and all who take folks's goods and are +niggardly with them! I put myself under thy protection, O my lord Bran-belly, +[FN#237] to give me my due and let me go!" The Eunuch heard him, but was +ashamed to answer him before Ja'afar; and the Minister saw the Fisherman +beckoning and talking to him, though he knew not what he was saying; so he said +to Sandal, misliking his behaviour, "O Eunuch, what would yonder beggar with +thee?" Sandal replied, "Dost thou not know him, O my lord the Wazir?"; and +Ja'afar answered, "By Allah, I know him not! How should I know a man I have +never seen but at this moment?" Rejoined the Eunuch, "O my lord, this is the +Fisherman whose fish we seized on the banks of the Tigris. I came too late to +get any and was ashamed to return to the Prince of True Believers, +empty-handed, when all the Mamelukes had some. Presently I espied the Fisherman +standing in mid-stream, calling on Allah, with four fishes in his hands, and +said to him, 'Give me what thou hast there and take their worth.' He handed me +the fish and I put my hand into my pocket, purposing to gift him with somewhat, +but found naught therein and said, 'Come to me in the Palace, and I will give +thee wherewithal to aid thee in thy poverty. So he came to me to-day and I was +putting hand to pouch, that I might give him somewhat, when thou camest forth +and I rose to wait on thee and was diverted with thee from him, till he grew +tired of waiting; and this is the whole story, how he cometh to be standing +here." —And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sandal the +Eunuch related to Ja'afar the Barmecide the tale of Khalifah the Fisherman, +ending with, "This is the whole story and how he cometh to be standing here!" +the Wazir, hearing this account, smiled and said, "O Eunuch, how is it that +this Fisherman cometh in his hour of need and thou satisfiest him not? Dost +thou not know him, O Chief of the Eunuchs?" "No," answered Sandal and Ja'afar +said, "This is the Master of the Commander of the Faithful, and his partner and +our lord the Caliph has arisen this morning, strait of breast, heavy of heart +and troubled of thought, nor is there aught will broaden his breast save this +fisherman. So let him not go, till I crave the Caliph's pleasure concerning +him and bring him before him; perchance Allah will relieve him of his +oppression and console him for the loss of Kut al-Kulub, by means of the +Fisherman's presence, and he will give him wherewithal to better himself; and +thou wilt be the cause of this." Replied Sandal, "O my lord, do as thou wilt +and may Allah Almighty long continue thee a pillar of the dynasty of the +Commander of the Faithful, whose shadow Allah perpetuate [FN#238] and prosper +it, root and branch!" Then the Wazir Ja'afar rose up and went in to the +Caliph, and Sandal ordered the Mamelukes not to leave the Fisherman; whereupon +Khalifah cried, "How goodly is thy bounty, O Tulip! The seeker is become the +sought. I come to seek my due, and they imprison me for debts in arrears!" +[FN#239] When Ja'afar came in to the presence of the Caliph, he found him +sitting with his head bowed earthwards, breast straitened and mind melancholy, +humming the verses of the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"My blamers instant bid that I for her become consoled; * But I,<br/> + + what can I do, whose heart declines to be controlled?<br/> + +And how can I in patience bear the loss of lovely maid, * When<br/> + + fails me patience for a love that holds with firmest hold!<br/> + +Ne'er I'll forget her nor the bowl that 'twixt us both went round<br/> + + * And wine of glances maddened me with drunkenness<br/> + + ensoul'd."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Whenas Ja'afar stood in the presence, he said, "Peace be upon thee, O Commander +of the Faithful, Defender of the honour of the Faith and descendant of the +uncle of the Prince of the Apostles, Allah assain him and save him and his +family one and all!" The Caliph raised his head and answered, "And on thee be +peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings!" Quoth Ja'afar; "With leave of +the Prince of True Believers, his servant would speak without restraint." +Asked the Caliph, "And when was restraint put upon thee in speech and thou the +Prince of Wazirs? Say what thou wilt." Answered Ja'afar, "When I went out, O +my lord, from before thee, intending for my house, I saw standing at the door +thy master and teacher and partner, Khalifah the Fisherman, who was aggrieved +at thee and complained of thee saying, 'Glory be to God! I taught him to fish +and he went away to fetch me a pair of frails, but never came back: and this is +not the way of a good partner or of a good apprentice.' So, if thou hast a +mind to partnership, well and good; and if not, tell him, that he may take to +partner another." Now when the Caliph heard these words he smiled and his +straitness of breast was done away with and he said, "My life on thee, is this +the truth thou sayest, that the Fisherman standeth at the door?" and Ja'afar +replied, "By thy life, O Commander of the Faithful, he standeth at the door." +Quoth the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, by Allah, I will assuredly do my best to give him +his due! If Allah at my hands send him misery, he shall have it; and if +prosperity he shall have it." Then he took a piece of paper and cutting it in +pieces, said to the Wazir, "O Ja'afar, write down with thine own hand twenty +sums of money, from one dinar to a thousand, and the names of all kinds of +offices and dignities from the least appointment to the Caliphate; also twenty +kinds of punishment from the lightest beating to death." [FN#240] "I hear and +obey, O Commander of the Faithful," answered Ja'afar, and did as he was bidden. + Then said the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, I swear by my holy forefathers and by my +kinship to Hamzah [FN#241] and Akil, [FN#242] that I mean to summon the +fisherman and bid him take one of these papers, whose contents none knowesth +save thou and I; and whatsoever is written in the paper which he shall choose, +I will give it to him; though it be the Caliphate I will divest myself thereof +and invest him therewith and grudge it not to him; and, on the other hand, if +there be written therein hanging or mutilation or death, I will execute it upon +him. Now go and fetch him to me." When Ja'afar heard this, he said to +himself, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the +Glorious, the Great! It may be somewhat will fall to this poor wretch's lot +that will bring about his destruction, and I shall be the cause. But the +Caliph hath sworn; so nothing remains now but to bring him in, and naught will +happen save whatso Allah willeth." Accordingly he went out to Khalifah the +Fisherman and laid hold of his hand to carry him in to the Caliph, whereupon +his reason fled and he said in himself, "What a stupid I was to come after +yonder ill-omened slave, Tulip, whereby he hath brought me in company with +Bran- belly!" Ja'afar fared on with him, with Mamelukes before and behind, +whilst he said, "Doth not arrest suffice, but these must go behind and before +me, to hinder my making off?" till they had traversed seven vestibules, when +the Wazir said to him, "Mark my words, O Fisherman! Thou standest before the +Commander of the Faithful and Defender of the Faith!" Then he raised the great +curtain and Khalifah's eyes fell on the Caliph, who was seated on his couch, +with the Lords of the realm standing in attendance upon him. As soon as he +knew him, he went up to him and said, "Well come, and welcome to thee, O piper! +'Twas not right of thee to make thyself a Fisherman and go away, leaving me +sitting to guard the fish, and never to return! For, before I was aware, there +came up Mamelukes on beasts of all manner colours, and snatched away the fish +from me, I standing alone, and this was all of thy fault; for, hadst thou +returned with the frails forthright, we had sold an hundred dinars' worth of +fish. And now I come to seek my due, and they have arrested me. But thou, who +hath imprisoned thee also in this place?" The Caliph smiled and raising a +corner of the curtain, put forth his head and said to the Fisherman, "Come +hither and take thee one of these papers." Quoth Khalifah the Fisherman, +"Yesterday thou wast a fisherman, and to-day thou hast become an astrologer; +but the more trades a man hath, the poorer he waxeth." Thereupon Ja'afar said, +"Take the paper at once, and do as the Commander of the Faithful biddeth thee +without prating." So he came forward and put forth his hand saying, "Far be it +from me that this piper should ever again be my knave and fish with me!" Then +taking the paper he handed it to the Caliph, saying, "O piper, what hath come +out for me therein? Hide naught thereof."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Khalifah the +Fisherman took up one of the papers and handed it to the Caliph he said, "O +piper, what have come out to me therein? Hide naught thereof." So Al-Rashid +received it and passed it on to Ja'afar and said to him, "Read what is +therein." He looked at it and said, "There is no Majesty there is no Might +save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" Said the Caliph, "Good news, [FN#243] +O Ja'afar? What seest thou therein?" Answered the Wazir, "O Commander of the +Faithful, there came up from the paper, 'Let the Fisherman receive an hundred +blows with a stick.'" So the Caliph commanded to beat the Fisherman and they +gave him an hundred sticks: after which he rose, saying, "Allah damn this, O +Bran-belly! Are jail and sticks part of the game?" Then said Ja'afar, "O +Commander of the Faithful, this poor devil is come to the river, and how shall +he go away thirsting? We hope that among the alms-deeds of the Commander of +the Faithful, he may have leave to take another paper, so haply somewhat may +come out wherewithal he may succor his poverty." Said the Caliph, "By Allah, O +Ja'afar, if he take another paper and death be written therein, I will +assuredly kill him, and thou wilt be the cause." Answered Ja'afar, "If he die +he will be at rest." But Khalifah the Fisherman said to him, "Allah ne'er +gladden thee with good news! Have I made Baghdad strait upon you, that ye seek +to slay me?" Quoth Ja'afar, "Take thee a paper and crave the blessing of Allah +Almighty!" So he put out his hand and taking a paper, gave it to Ja'afar, who +read it and was silent. The Caliph asked, "Why art thou silent, O son of +Yahya?"; and he answered, "O Commander of the Faithful, there hath come out on +this paper, 'Naught shall be given to the Fisherman.'" Then said the Caliph, +"His daily bread will not come from us: bid him fare forth from before our +face." Quoth Ja'afar, "By the claims of thy pious forefathers, let him take a +third paper, it may be it will bring him alimony;" and quoth the Caliph, "Let +him take one and no more." So he put out his hand and took a third paper, and +behold, therein was written, "Let the Fisherman be given one dinar." Ja'afar +cried to him, "I sought good fortune for thee, but Allah willed not to thee +aught save this dinar." And Khalifah answered, "Verily, a dinar for every +hundred sticks were rare good luck, may Allah not send thy body health!" The +Caliph laughed at him and Ja'afar took him by the hand and led him out. When he +reached the door, Sandal the eunuch saw him and said to him, "Hither, O +Fisherman! Give us portion of that which the Commander of the Faithful hath +bestowed on thee, whilst jesting with thee." Replied Khalifah, "By Allah, O +Tulip, thou art right! Wilt thou share with me, O nigger? Indeed, I have +eaten stick to the tune of an hundred blows and have earned one dinar, and thou +art but too welcome to it." So saying, he threw him the dinar and went out, +with the tears flowing down the plain of his cheeks. When the Eunuch saw him +in this plight, he knew that he had spoken sooth and called to the lads to +fetch him back: so they brought him back and Sandal, putting his hand to his +pouch, pulled out a red purse, whence he emptied an hundred golden dinars into +the Fisherman's hand, saying, "Take this gold in payment of thy fish and wend +thy ways." So Khalifah, in high good humor, took the hundred ducats and the +Caliph's one dinar and went his way, and forgot the beating. Now, as Allah +willed it for the furthering of that which He had decreed, he passed by the +mart of the hand-maidens and seeing there a mighty ring where many folks were +foregathering, said to himself, "What is this crowd?" So he brake through the +merchants and others, who said, "Make wide the way for Skipper Rapscallion, +[FN#244] and let him pass." Then he looked and behold, he saw a chest, with an +eunuch seated thereon and an old man standing by it, and the Shaykh was crying, +"O merchants, O men of money, who will hasten and hazard his coin for this +chest of unknown contents from the Palace of the Lady Zubaydah bint al-Kasim, +wife of the Commander of the Faithful? How much shall I say for you, Allah +bless you all!" Quoth one of the merchants, "By Allah, this is a risk! But I +will say one word and no blame to me. Be it mine for twenty dinars." Quoth +another, "Fifty," and they went on bidding, one against other, till the price +reached an hundred ducats. Then said the crier, "Will any of you bid more, O +merchants?" And Khalifah the Fisherman said, "Be it mine for an hundred dinars +and one dinar." The merchants, hearing these words, thought he was jesting and +laughed at him, saying, "O eunuch sell it to Khalifah for an hundred dinars and +one dinar!" Quoth the eunuch, "By Allah, I will sell it to none but him! Take +it, O Fisherman, the Lord bless thee in it, and here with thy gold." So +Khalifah pulled out the ducats and gave them to the eunuch, who, the bargain +being duly made, delivered to him the chest and bestowed the price in alms on +the spot; after which he returned to the Palace and acquainted the Lady +Zubaydah with what he had done, whereat she rejoiced. Meanwhile the Fisherman +hove the chest on shoulder, but could not carry it on this wise for the excess +of its weight; so he lifted it on to his head and thus bore it to the quarter +where he lived. Here he set it down and being weary, sat awhile, bemusing what +had befallen him and saying in himself, "Would Heaven I knew what is in this +chest!" Then he opened the door of his lodging and haled the chest until he +got it into his closet; after which he strove to open it, but failed. Quoth +he, "What folly possessed me to buy this chest? There is no help for it but to +break it open and see what is herein." So he applied himself to the lock, but +could not open it, and said to himself, "I will leave it till to-morrow." Then +he would have stretched him out to sleep, but could find no room; for the chest +filled the whole closet. So he got upon it and lay him down; but, when he had +lain awhile, behold, he felt something stir under him whereat sleep forsook him +and his reason fled.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Khalifah the +Fisherman lay down upon the chest and thus tarried awhile, behold, something +stirred beneath him; whereat he was affrighted and his reason fled. So he +arose and cried, "Meseems there be Jinns in the chest. Praise to Allah who +suffered me not to open it! For, had I done so, they had risen against me in +the dark and slain me, and from them would have befallen me naught of good." +Then he lay down again when, lo! the chest moved a second time, more than +before; whereupon he sprang to his feet and said, "There it goes again: but +this is terrible!" And he hastened to look for the lamp, but could not find it +and had not the wherewithal to buy another. So he went forth and cried out, +"Ho, people of the quarter!" Now the most part of the folk were asleep; but +they awoke at his crying and asked, "What aileth thee, O Khalifah?" He +answered, "Bring me a lamp, for the Jinn are upon me." They laughed at him and +gave him a lamp, wherewith he returned to his closet. Then he smote the lock +of the chest with a stone and broke it and opening it, saw a damsel like a +Houri lying asleep within. Now she had been drugged with Bhang, but at that +moment she threw up the stuff and awoke; then she opened her eyes and feeling +herself confined and cramped, moved. At this sight quoth Khalifah, "By Allah, O +my lady, whence art thou?"; and quoth she, "Bring me Jessamine, and Narcissus." +[FN#245] and Khalifah answered, "There is naught here but Henna- flowers." +[FN#246] thereupon she came to herself and considering Khalifah, said to him, +"What art thou?" presently adding, "And where am I?" He said, "Thou art in my +lodging." Asked she, "Am I not in the Palace of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid?" +And quoth he, "What manner of thing is Al-Rashid? [FN#247] O madwoman, Thou +art naught but my slave-girl: I bought thee this very day for an hundred dinars +and one dinar, and brought thee home, and thou wast asleep in this here chest." + When she had heard these words she said to him, "What is thy name?" Said he, +"My name is Khalifah. How comes my star to have grown propitious, when I know +my ascendant to have been otherwise?" She laughed and cried, "Spare me this +talk! Hast thou anything to eat?" Replied he, "No, by Allah, nor yet to +drink! I have not eaten these two days and am now in want of a morsel." She +asked, "Hast thou no money?"; and he said, "Allah keep this chest which hath +beggared me: I gave all I had for it and am become bankrupt." The damsel +laughed at him and said, "Up with thee and seek of thy neighbours somewhat for +me to eat, for I am hungry." So he went forth and cried out, "Ho, people of +the quarter!" Now the folk were asleep; but they awoke and asked, "What aileth +thee, O Khalifah?" Answered he, "O my neighbours, I am hungry and have nothing +to eat." So one came down to him with a bannock and another with broken meats +and a third with a bittock of cheese and a fourth with a cucumber; and so on +till he lap was full and he returned to his closet and laid the whole between +her hands, saying, "Eat." But she laughed at him, saying, "How can I eat of +this, when I have not a mug of water whereof to drink? I fear to choke with a +mouthful and die." Quoth he, "I will fill thee this pitcher."[FN#248] So he +took the pitcher and going forth, stood in the midst of the street and cried +out, saying, "Ho, people of the quarter!" Quoth they, "What calamity is upon +thee to-night, [FN#249] O Khalifah!" And he said, "Ye gave me food and I ate; +but now I am a-thirst; so give me to drink." Thereupon one came down to him +with a mug and another with an ewer and a third with a gugglet; and he filled +his pitcher and, bearing it back, said to the damsel, "O my lady, thou lackest +nothing now." Answered she, "True, I want nothing more at this present." +Quoth he, "Speak to me and say me thy story." And quoth she, "Fie upon thee! +An thou knowest me not, I will tell thee who I am. I am Kut al-Kulub, the +Caliph's handmaiden, and the Lady Zubaydah was jealous of me; so she drugged me +with Bhang and set me in this chest," presently adding, "Alhamdolillah—praised +be God—for that the matter hath come to easy issue and no worse! But this +befel me not save for thy good luck, for thou wilt certainly get of the Caliph +Al-Rashid money galore, that will be the means of thine enrichment." Quoth +Khalifah, "Is not Al-Rashid he in whose Palace I was imprisoned?" "Yes," +answered she; and he said, "By Allah, never saw I more niggardly wight than he, +that piper little of good and wit! He gave me an hundred blows with a stick +yesterday and but one dinar, for all I taught him to fish and made him my +partner; but he played me false." Replied she, "Leave this unseemly talk, and +open thine eyes and look thou bear thyself respectfully, whenas thou seest him +after this, and thou shalt win thy wish." When he heard her words, it was if +he had been asleep and awoke; and Allah removed the veil from his judgment, +because of his good luck, [FN#250] and he answered, "On my head and eyes!" +Then said he to her, "Sleep, in the name of Allah." [FN#251] So she lay down +and fell asleep (and he afar from her) till the morning, when she sought of him +inkcase [FN#252] and paper and, when they were brought wrote to Ibn al- Kirnas, +the Caliph's friend, acquainting him with her case and how at the end of all +that had befallen her she was with Khalifah the Fisherman, who had bought her. +Then she gave him the scroll, saying, "Take this and hie thee to the +jewel-market and ask for the shop of Ibn al-Kirnas the Jeweller and give him +this paper and speak not." "I hear and I obey," answered Khalifah and going +with the scroll to the market, enquired for the shop of Ibn al- Kirnas. They +directed him to thither and on entering it he saluted the merchant, who +returned his salam with contempt and said to him, "What dost thou want?" +Thereupon he gave him the letter and he took it, but read it not, thinking the +Fisherman a beggar, who sought an alms of him, and said to one of his lads, +"Give him half a dirham." Quoth Khalifah, "I want no alms; read the paper." +So Ibn al-Kirnas took the letter and read it; and no sooner knew its import +than he kissed it and laying it on his head—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ibn al-Kirnas +read the letter and knew its import, he kissed it and laid it on his head; then +he arose and said to Khalifah, "O my brother, where is thy house?" Asked +Khalifah, "What wantest thou with my house? Wilt thou go thither and steal my +slave-girl?" Then Ibn al-Kirnas answered, "No so: on the contrary, I will buy +thee somewhat whereof you may eat, thou and she." So he said, "My house is in +such a quarter;" and the merchant rejoined, "Thou hast done well. May Allah +not give thee health, O unlucky one!" [FN#253] Then he called out to two of +his slaves and said to them, "Carry this man to the shop of Mohsin the Shroff +and say to him, 'O Mohsin, give this man a thousand dinars of gold;' then bring +him back to me in haste." So they carried him to the money-changer, who paid +him the money, and returned with him to their master, whom they found mounted +on a dapple she-mule worth a thousand dinars, with Mamelukes and pages about +him, and by his side another mule like his own, saddled and bridled. Quoth the +jeweller to Khalifah, "Bismillah, mount this mule." Replied he, "I won't; for +by Allah, I fear she throw me;" and quoth Ibn al- Kirnas, "By God, needs must +thou mount." So he came up and mounting her, face to crupper, caught hold of +her tail and cried out; whereupon she threw him on the ground and they laughed +at him; but he rose and said, "Did I not tell thee I would not mount this great +jenny-ass?" Thereupon Ibn al-Kirnas left him in the market and repairing to +the Caliph, told him of the damsel; after which he returned and removed her to +his own house. Meanwhile, Khalifah went home to look after the handmaid and +found the people of the quarter foregathering and saying, "Verily, Khalifah is +to-day in a terrible pickle! [FN#254] Would we knew whence he can have gotten +this damsel?" Quoth one of them, "He is a mad pimp; haply he found her lying +on the road drunken, and carried her to his own house, and his absence showeth +that he knoweth his offence." As they were talking, behold, up came Khalifah, +and they said to him, "What a plight is thine, O unhappy! Knowest thou not what +is come to thee?" He replied, "No, by Allah!" and they said, "But just now +there came Mamelukes and took away thy slave-girl whom thou stolest, and sought +for thee, but found thee not." Asked Khalifah, "And how came they to take my +slave-girl?"; and quoth one, "Had he falled in their way, they had slain him." +But he, so far from heeding them, returned running to the shop of Ibn +al-Kirnas, whom he met riding, and said to him, "By Allah, 'twas not right of +thee to wheedle me and meanwhile send thy Mamelukes to take my slave-girl!" +Replied the jeweller, "O idiot, come with me and hold thy tongue." So he took +him and carried him into a house handsomely builded, where he found the damsel +seated on a couch of gold, with ten slave-girls like moons round her. Sighting +her Ibn al-Kirnas kissed ground before her and she said, "What hast thou done +with my new master, who bought me with all he owned?" He replied, "O my lady, +I gave him a thousand golden dinars;" and related to her Khalifah's history +from first to last, whereat she laughed and said, "Blame him not; for he is but +a common wight. These other thousand dinars are a gift from me to him and +Almighty Allah willing, he shall win of the Caliph what shall enrich him." As +they were talking, there came an eunuch from the Commander of the Faithful, in +quest of Kut al- Kulub, for, when he knew that she was in the house of Ibn al- +Kirnas, he could not endure the severance, but bade bring her forthwith. So +she repaired to the Palace, taking Khalifah with her, and going into the +presence, kissed ground before the Caliph, who rose to her, saluting and +welcoming her, and asked her how she had fared with him who had bought her. +She replied, "He is a man, Khalifah the Fisherman hight, and there he standeth +at the door. He telleth me that he hath an account to settle with the +Commander of the Faithful, by reason of a partnership between him and the +Caliph in fishing." Asked Al-Rashid, "Is he at the door?" and she answered, +"Yes." So the Caliph sent for him and he kissed ground before him and wished +him endurance of glory and prosperity. The Caliph marvelled at him and laughed +at him and said to him, "O Fisherman, wast thou in very deed my partner +[FN#255] yesterday?" Khalifah took his meaning and heartening his heart and +summoning spirit replied, "By Him who bestowed upon thee the succession to thy +cousin, [FN#256] I know her not in anywise and have had no commerce with her +save by way of sight and speech!" Then he repeated to him all that had +befallen him, since he last saw him, [FN#257] whereat the Caliph laughed and +his breast broadened and he said to Khalifah, "Ask of us what thou wilt, O thou +who bringest to owners their own!" But he was silent; so the Caliph ordered +him fifty thousand dinars of gold and a costly dress of honour such as great +Sovrans don, and a she-mule, and gave him black slaves of the Súdán to serve +him, so that he became as he were one of the Kings of that time. The Caliph +was rejoiced at the recovery of his favourite and knew that all this was the +doing of his cousin-wife, the Lady Zubaydah,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph rejoiced at +the recovery of Kut al-Kulub and knew that all this was the doing of the Lady +Zubaydah, his cousin-wife; wherefore he was sore enraged against her and held +aloof from her a great while, visiting her not neither inclining to pardon her. + When she was certified of this, she was sore concerned for his wrath and her +face, that was wont to be rosy, waxed pale and wan till, when her patience was +exhausted, she sent a letter to her cousin, the Commander of the Faithful +making her excuses to him and confessing her offences, and ending with these +verses +</p> + +<p> +"I long once more the love that was between us to regain, * That<br/> + + I may quench the fire of grief and bate the force of bane.<br/> + +O lords of me, have ruth upon the stress my passion deals *<br/> + + Enough to me is what you doled of sorrow and of pain.<br/> + +'Tis life to me an deign you keep the troth you deigned to plight<br/> + + * 'Tis death to me an troth you break and fondest vows<br/> + + profane:<br/> + +Given I've sinned a sorry sin, ye grant me ruth, for naught * By<br/> + + Allah, sweeter is than friend who is of pardon fain."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When the Lady Zubaydah's letter reached the Caliph, and reading it he saw that +she confessed her offence and sent her excuses to him therefor, he said to +himself, "Verily, all sins doth Allah forgive; aye, Gracious, Merciful is He!" +[FN#258] And he returned her an answer, expressing satisfaction and pardon and +forgiveness for what was past, whereat she rejoiced greatly. As for Khalifah, +the Fisherman, the Caliph assigned him a monthly solde of fifty dinars and took +him into especial favour, which would lead to rank and dignity, honour and +worship. Then he kissed ground before the Commander of the Faithful and went +forth with stately gait. When he came to the door, the Eunuch Sandal, who had +given him the hundred dinars, saw him and knowing him, said to him, "O +Fisherman, whence all this?" So he told him all that had befallen him, first +and last, whereat Sandal rejoiced, because he had been the cause of his +enrichment, and said to him, "Wilt thou not give me largesse of this wealth +which is now become thine?" So Khalifah put hand to pouch and taking out a +purse containing a thousand dinars, gave it to the Eunuch, who said, "Keep thy +coins and Allah bless thee therein!" and marvelled at his manliness and at the +liberality of his soul, for all his late poverty. [FN#259] Then leaving the +eunuch, Khalifah mounted his she-mule and rode, with the slaves' hands on her +crupper, till he came to his lodging at the Khan, whilst the folk stared at him +in surprise for that which had betided him of advancement. When he alighted +from his beast they accosted him and enquired the cause of his change from +poverty to prosperity, and he told them all that had happened to him from +incept to conclusion. Then he bought a fine mansion and laid out thereon much +money, till it was perfect in all points. And he took up his abode therein and +was wont to recite thereon these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Behold a house that's like the Dwelling of Delight; [FN#260] *<br/> + + Its aspect heals the sick and banishes despite.<br/> + +Its sojourn for the great and wise appointed it, * And Fortune<br/> + + fair therein abideth day and night."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then, as soon as he was settled in his house, he sought him in marriage the +daughter of one of the chief men of the city, a handsome girl, and went in unto +her and led a life of solace and satisfaction, joyaunce and enjoyment; and he +rose to passing affluence and exceeding prosperity. So, when he found himself +in this fortunate condition, he offered up thanks to Allah (extolled and +excelled be He!) for what He had bestowed on him of wealth exceeding and of +favours ever succeeding, praising his Lord with the praise of the grateful and +chanting the words of the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"To Thee be praise, O Thou who showest unremitting grace; * O<br/> + + Thou whose universal bounties high and low embrace!<br/> + +To Thee be praise from me! Then deign accept my praise for I *<br/> + + Accept Thy boons and gifts with grateful soul in every case.<br/> + +Thou hast with favours overwhelmed me, benefits and largesse *<br/> + + And gracious doles my memory ne'er ceaseth to retrace.<br/> + +All men from mighty main, Thy grace and goodness, drain and<br/> + + drink; * And in their need Thou, only Thou, to them art<br/> + + refuge-place!<br/> + +So for the sake of him who came to teach mankind in ruth *<br/> + + Prophet, pure, truthful-worded scion of the noblest race;<br/> + +Ever be Allah's blessing and His peace on him and all * His aids<br/> + + [FN#261] and kin while pilgrims fare his noble tomb to face!<br/> + +And on his helpmeets [FN#262] one and all, Companions great and<br/> + + good, * Through time Eternal while the bird shall sing in<br/> + + shady wood!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And thereafter Khalifah continued to pay frequent visits to the Caliph Harun +al-Rashid, with whom he found acceptance and who ceased not to overwhelm him +with boons and bounty: and he abode in the enjoyment of the utmost honour and +happiness and joy and gladness and in riches more than sufficing and in rank +ever rising; brief, a sweet life and a savoury, pure as pleasurable, till there +came to him the Destroyer of delights and the Sunderer of societies; and +extolled be the perfection of Him to whom belong glory and permanence and He is +the Living, the Eternal, who shall never die! +</p> + +<p> +NOTE. I have followed the example of Mr. Payne and have translated in its +entirety the Tale of Khalifah the Fisherman from the Breslau Edit. (Vol. iv. +pp. 315-365, Night cccxxi- cccxxxii.) in preference to the unsatisfactory +process of amalgamating it with that of the Mac. Edit. given above. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap05"></a>Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad.</h3> + +<p> +There was once, in days of yore and in ages and times long gone before, in the +city of Baghdad, a fisherman, by name Khalíf, a man of muckle talk and little +luck. One day, as he sat in his cell,[FN#263] he bethought himself and said, +"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the +Great! Would Heaven I knew what is my offence in the sight of my Lord and what +caused the blackness of my fortune and my littleness of luck among the +fishermen, albeit (and I say it who should not) in the city of Baghdad there is +never a fisherman like myself." Now he lodged in a ruined place called a Khan, +to wit, an inn,[FN#264] without a door, and when he went forth to fish, he +would shoulder the net, without basket or fish-slicers,[FN#265] and when the +folk would stare at him and say to him, "O Khalif, why not take with thee a +basket, to hold the fish thou catchest?"; he would reply, "Even as I carry it +forth empty, so would it come back, for I never manage to catch aught." One +night he arose, in the darkness before dawn, and taking his net on his +shoulder, raised his eyes to heaven and said, "Allah mine, O Thou who +subjectedst the sea to Moses son of Imrán, give me this day my daily bread, for +Thou art the best of bread-givers!" Then he went down to the Tigris and +spreading his net, cast it into the river and waited till it had settled down, +when he haled it in and drew it ashore, but behold, it held naught save a dead +dog. So he cast away the carcase, saying, "O morning of ill doom! What a +handsel is this dead hound, after I had rejoiced in its weight[FN#266]!" Then +he mended the rents in the net, saying, "Needs must there after this carrion be +fish in plenty, attracted by the smell," and made a second cast. After awhile, +he drew up and found in the net the hough[FN#267] of a camel, that had caught +in the meshes and rent them right and left. When Khalif saw his net in this +state, he wept and said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great! I wonder what is my offence and the cause of +the blackness of my fortune and the littleness of my luck, of all folk, so that +I catch neither cat-fish nor sprat,[FN#268] that I may broil on the embers and +eat, for all I dare say there is not in the city of Baghdad a fisherman like +me." Then with a Bismillah he cast his net a third time, and presently drawing +it ashore found therein an ape scurvy and one-eyed, mangy, and limping hending +an ivory rod in forehand. When Khalif saw this, he said, "This is indeed a +blessed opening! What art thou, O ape?" "Dost thou not know me?" "No, by Allah, +I have no knowledge of thee!" "I am thine ape!" "What use is there in thee, O +my ape?" "Every day I give thee good-morrow, so Allah may not open to thee the +door of daily bread." "Thou failest not of this, O one-eye[FN#269] of ill-omen! +May Allah never bless thee! Needs must I pluck out thy sound eye and cut off +thy whole leg, so thou mayst become a blind cripple and I be quit of thee. But +what is the use of that rod thou hendest in hand?" "O Khalif, I scare the fish +therewith, so they may not enter thy net." "Is it so?: then this very day will +I punish thee with a grievous punishment and devise thee all manner torments +and strip thy flesh from thy bones and be at rest from thee, sorry bit of goods +that thou art!" So saying, Khalif the Fisherman unwound from his middle a +strand of rope and binding him to a tree by his side, said, "Lookee, O dog of +an ape! I mean to cast the net again and if aught come up therein, well and +good; but, if it come up empty, I will verily and assuredly make an end of +thee, with the cruellest tortures and be quit of thee, thou stinking lot." So +he cast the net and drawing it ashore, found in it another ape and said, "Glory +be to God the Great! I was wont to pull naught but fish out of this Tigris, but +now it yieldeth nothing but apes." Then he looked at the second ape and saw him +fair of form and round of face with pendants of gold in his ears and a blue +waistcloth about his middle, and he was like unto a lighted taper. So he asked +him, "What art thou, thou also, O ape?"; and he answered, saying, "O Khalif, I +am the ape of Abú al-Sa'ádát the Jew, the Caliph's Shroff. Every day, I give +him good-morrow, and he maketh a profit of ten gold pieces." Cried the +Fisherman, "By Allah, thou art a fine ape, not like this ill-omened monkey o' +mine!" So saying, he took a stick[FN#270] and came down upon the sides of the +ape, till he broke his ribs and he jumped up and down. And the other ape, the +handsome one, answered him, saying, "O Khalif, what will it profit thee to beat +him, though thou belabour him till he die?" Khalif replied, "How shall I do? +Shall I let him wend his ways that he may scare me the fish with his hang-dog +face and give me good-even and good-morrow every day, so Allah may not open to +me the door of daily bread? Nay, I will kill him and be quit of him and I will +take thee in his stead; so shalt thou give me good-morrow and I shall gain ten +golden dinars a day." Thereupon the comely ape made answer, "I will tell thee a +better way than that, and if thou hearken to me, thou shalt be at rest and I +will become thine ape in lieu of him." Asked the Fisherman, "And what dost thou +counsel me?"; and the ape answered, saying, "Cast thy net and thou shalt bring +up a noble fish, never saw any its like, and I will tell thee how thou shalt do +with it." Replied Khalif, "Lookee, thou too! An I throw my net and there come +up therein a third ape, be assured that I will cut the three of you into six +bits." And the second ape rejoined, "So be it, O Khalif. I agree to this thy +condition." Then Khalif spread the net and cast it and drew it up, when behold, +in it was a fine young barbel[FN#271] with a round head, as it were a +milking-pail, which when he saw, his wits fled for joy and he said, "Glory be +to God! What is this noble creature? Were yonder apes in the river, I had not +brought up this fish." Quoth the seemly ape, "O Khalif, an thou give ear to my +rede, 'twill bring thee good fortune"; and quoth the Fisherman, "May God damn +him who would gainsay thee henceforth!" Thereupon the ape said, "O Khalif, take +some grass and lay the fish thereon in the basket[FN#272] and cover it with +more grass and take also somewhat of basil[FN#273] from the greengrocer's and +set it in the fish's mouth. Cover it with a kerchief and push thee through the +bazar of Baghdad. Whoever bespeaketh thee of selling it, sell it not but fare +on, till thou come to the market street of the jewellers and money-changers. +Then count five shops on the right-hand side and the sixth shop is that of Abu +al-Sa'adat the Jew, the Caliph's Shroff. When thou standest before him, he will +say to thee, 'What seekest thou?'; and do thou make answer, 'I am a +fisherwight, I threw my net in thy name and took this noble barbel, which I +have brought thee as a present.' If he give thee aught of silver, take it not, +be it little or mickle, for it will spoil that which thou wouldst do, but say +to him, 'I want of thee naught save one word, that thou say to me, 'I sell thee +my ape for thine ape and my luck for thy luck.' An the Jew say this, give him +the fish and I shall become thine ape and this crippled, mangy and one-eyed ape +will be his ape." Khalif replied, "Well said, O ape," nor did he cease faring +Baghdad-wards and observing that which the ape had said to him, till he came to +the Jew's shop and saw the Shroff seated, with eunuchs and pages about him, +bidding and forbidding and giving and taking. So he set down his basket, +saying, "O Sultan of the Jews, I am a fisher-wight and went forth to-day to the +Tigris and casting my net in thy name, cried, 'This is for the luck of Abu +al-Sa'adat;' and there came up to me this Banni which I have brought thee by +way of present." Then he lifted the grass and discovered the fish to the Jew, +who marvelled at its make and said, "Extolled be the perfection of the Most +Excellent Creator!" Then he gave the fisherman a dinar, but he refused it and +he gave him two. This also he refused and the Jew stayed not adding to his +offer, till he made it ten dinars; but he still refused and Abu al-Sa'adat said +to him, "By Allah, thou art a greedy one. Tell me what thou wouldst have, O +Moslem!" Quoth Khalif, "I would have of thee but a single word. [FN#274]" When +the Jew heard this, he changed colour and said, "Wouldst thou oust me from my +faith? Wend thy ways;" and Khalif said to him, "By Allah, O Jew, naught +mattereth an thou become a Moslem or a Nazarene!" Asked the Jew, "Then what +wouldst thou have me say?"; and the fisherman answered, "Say, I sell thee my +ape for thy ape and my luck for thy luck." The Jew laughed, deeming him little +of wit, and said by way of jest, "I sell thee my ape for thy ape and my luck +for thy luck. Bear witness against him, O merchants! By Allah, O unhappy, thou +art debarred from further claim on me!" So Khalif turned back, blaming himself +and saying, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the +Glorious, the Great! Alas that I did not take the gold!" and fared on blaming +himself in the matter of the money till he came to the Tigris, but found not +the two apes, whereupon he wept and slapped his face and strewed dust on his +head, saying, "But that the second ape wheedled me and put a cheat on me, the +one-eyed ape had not escaped." And he gave not over wailing and weeping, till +heat and hunger grew sore on him: so he took the net, saying, "Come, let us +make a cast, trusting in Allah's blessing; belike I may catch a cat-fish or a +barbel which I may boil and eat." So he threw the net and waiting till it had +settled, drew it ashore and found it full of fish, whereat he was consoled and +rejoiced and busied himself with unmeshing the fish and casting them on the +earth. Presently, up came a woman seeking fish and crying out, "Fish is not to +be found in the town." She caught sight of Khalif, and said to him, "Wilt thou +sell this fish, O Master?" Answered Khalif, "I am going to turn it into +clothes, 'tis all for sale, even to my beard.[FN#275] Take what thou wilt." So +she gave him a dinar and he filled her basket. Then she went away and behold, +up came another servant, seeking a dinar's worth of fish; nor did the folk +cease till it was the hour of mid-afternoon prayer and Khalif had sold ten +golden dinars' worth of fish. Then, being faint and famisht, he folded and +shouldered his net and, repairing to the market, bought himself a woollen gown, +a calotte with a plaited border and a honey-coloured turband for a dinar +receiving two dirhams by way of change, wherewith he purchased fried cheese and +a fat sheep's tail and honey and setting them in the oilman's platter, ate till +he was full and his ribs felt cold[FN#276] from the mighty stuffing. Then he +marched off to his lodgings in the magazine, clad in the gown and the +honey-coloured turband and with the nine golden dinars in his mouth, rejoicing +in what he had never in his life seen. He entered and lay down, but could not +sleep for anxious thoughts and abode playing with the money half the night. +Then said he in himself, "Haply the Caliph may hear that I have gold and say to +Ja'afar, 'Go to Khalif the Fisherman and borrow us some money of him.' If I +give it him, it will be no light matter to me, and if I give it not, he will +torment me; but torture is easier to me than the giving up of the cash.[FN#277] +However, I will arise and make trial of myself if I have a skin proof against +stick or not." So he put off his clothes and taking a sailor's plaited whip, of +an hundred and sixty strands, ceased not beating himself, till his sides and +body were all bloody, crying out at every stroke he dealt himself and saying "O +Moslems! I am a poor man! O Moslems, I am a poor man! O Moslems, whence should +I have gold, whence should I have coin?" till the neighbours, who dwelt with +him in that place, hearing him crying and saying, "Go to men of wealth and take +of them," thought that thieves were torturing him, to get money from him, and +that he was praying for aidance. Accordingly they flocked to him each armed +with some weapon and finding the door of his lodging locked and hearing him +roaring out for help, deemed that the thieves had come down upon him from the +terrace-roof; so they fell upon the door and burst it open. Then they entered +and found him mother-naked and bareheaded with body dripping blood, and +altogether in a sad pickle; so they asked him, "What is this case in which we +find thee? Hast thou lost thy wits and hath Jinn-madness betided thee this +night?" And he answered them, "Nay; but I have gold with me and I feared lest +the Caliph send to borrow of me and it were no light matter to give him aught; +yet, an I gave not to him 'tis only too sure that he would put me to the +torture; wherefore I arose to see if my skin were stick-proof or not." When +they heard these words they said to him, "May Allah not assain thy body, +unlucky madman that thou art! Of a surety thou art fallen mad to-night! Lie +down to sleep, may Allah never bless thee! How many thousand dinars hast thou, +that the Caliph should come and borrow of thee?" He replied, "By Allah, I have +naught but nine dinars." And they all said, "By Allah, he is not otherwise than +passing rich!" Then they left him wondering at his want of wit, and Khalif took +his cash and wrapped it in a rag, saying to himself, "Where shall I hide all +this gold? An I bury it, they will take it, and if I put it out on deposit, +they will deny that I did so, and if I carry it on my head,[FN#278] they will +snatch it, and if I tie it to my sleeve, they will cut it away." Presently, he +espied a little breast-pocket in the gown and said, "By Allah, this is fine! +'Tis under my throat and hard by my mouth: if any put out his hand to hend it, +I can come down on it with my mouth and hide it in my throttle." So he set the +rag containing the gold in the pocket and lay down, but slept not that night +for suspicion and trouble and anxious thought. On the morrow, he fared forth of +his lodging on fishing intent and, betaking himself to the river, went down +into the water, up to his knees. Then he threw the net and shook it with might +and main; whereupon the purse fell down into the stream. So he tore off gown +and turband and plunged in after it, saying, "There is no Majesty and there is +no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" Nor did he give over diving +and searching the stream-bed, till the day was half spent, but found not the +purse. Now one saw him from afar diving and plunging and his gown and turband +lying in the sun at a distance from him, with no one by them; so he watched +him, till he dived again when he dashed at the clothes and made off with them. +Presently, Khalif came ashore and, missing his gown and turband, was chagrined +for their loss with passing cark and care and ascended a mound, to look for +some passer-by, of whom he might enquire concerning them, but found none. Now +the Caliph Harun al-Rashid had gone a-hunting and chasing that day; and, +returning at the time of the noon heat, was oppressed thereby and thirsted; so +he looked for water from afar and seeing a naked man standing on the mound said +to Ja'afar, "Seest thou what I see?" Replied the Wazir, "Yes, O Commander of +the Faithful; I see a man standing on a hillock." Al-Rashid asked, "What is +he?"; and Ja'afar answered, "Haply he is the guardian of a cucumber-plot." +Quoth the Caliph, "Perhaps he is a pious man[FN#279]; I would fain go to him, +alone, and desire of him his prayers; and abide ye where you are." So he went +up to Khalif and saluting him with the salam said to him, "What art thou, O +man?" Replied the fisherman, "Dost thou not know me? I am Khalif the +Fisherman;" and the Caliph rejoined, "What? The Fisherman with the woollen gown +and the honey-coloured turband[FN#280]?" When Khalif heard him name the clothes +he had lost, he said in himself, "This is he who took my duds: belike he did +but jest with me." So he came down from the knoll and said, "Can I not take a +noontide nap[FN#281] but thou must trick me this trick? I saw thee take my gear +and knew that thou wast joking with me." At this, laughter got the better of +the Caliph and he said; "What clothes hast thou lost? I know nothing of that +whereof thou speakest, O Khalif." Cried the Fisherman, "By God the Great, +except thou bring me back the gear, I will smash thy ribs with this staff!" +(For he always carried a quarterstaff.) Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, I have not +seen the things whereof thou speakest!"; and quoth Khalif "I will go with thee +and take note of thy dwelling-place and complain of thee to the Chief of +Police, so thou mayst not trick me this trick again. By Allah, none took my +gown and turband but thou, and except thou give them back to me at once, I will +throw thee off the back of that she-ass thou ridest and come down on thy pate +with this quarterstaff, till thou canst not stir!" Thereupon he tugged at the +bridle of the mule so that she reared up on her hind legs and the Caliph said +to himself, "What calamity is this I have fallen into with this madman?" Then +he pulled off a gown he had on, worth an hundred dinars, and said to Khalif, +"Take this gown in lieu of thine own." He took it and donning it saw it was too +long; so he cut it short at the knees and turbanded his head with the cut-off +piece; then said to the Caliph, "What art thou and what is thy craft? But why +ask? Thou art none other than a trumpeter." Al-Rashid asked, "What showed thee +that I was a trumpeter by trade?"; and Khalif answered, "Thy big nostrils and +little mouth." Cried the Caliph, "Well guessed! Yes, I am of that craft." Then +said Khalif, "An thou wilt hearken to me, I will teach thee the art of fishing: +'twill be better for thee than trumpeting and thou wilt eat lawfully[FN#282]." +Replied the Caliph, "Teach it me so that I may see whether I am capable of +learning it." And Khalif said, "Come with me, O trumpeter." So the Caliph +followed him down to the river and took the net from him, whilst he taught him +how to throw it. Then he cast it and drew it up, when, behold, it was heavy, +and the fisherman said, "O trumpeter, an the net be caught on one of the rocks, +drag it not too hard, or 'twill break and by Allah, I will take thy she-ass in +payment thereof!" The Caliph laughed at his words and drew up the net, little +by little, till he brought it ashore and found it full of fish; which when +Khalif saw, his reason fled for joy and presently he cried, "By Allah, O +trumpeter, thy luck is good in fishing! Never in my life will I part with thee! +But now I mean to send thee to the fish-bazar, where do thou enquire for the +shop of Humayd the fisherman and say to him, 'My master Khalif saluteth thee +and biddeth thee send him a pair of frails and a knife, so he may bring thee +more fish than yesterday.' Run and return to me forthright!" The Caliph replied +(and indeed he was laughing), "On my head, O master!" and, mounting his mule, +rode back to Ja'afar, who said to him, "Tell me what hath betided thee." So the +Caliph told him all that had passed between Khalif the Fisherman and himself, +from first to last, adding, "I left him awaiting my return to him with the +baskets and I am resolved that he shall teach me how to scale fish and clean +them." Quoth Ja'afar, "And I will go with thee to sweep up the scales and clean +out the shop." And the affair abode thus, till presently the Caliph cried, "O +Ja'afar, I desire of thee that thou despatch the young Mamelukes, saying to +them, 'Whoso bringeth me a fish from before yonder fisherman, I will give him a +dinar;' for I love to eat of my own fishing." Accordingly Ja'afar repeated to +the young white slaves what the Caliph had said and directed them where to find +the man. They came down upon Khalif and snatched the fish from him; and when he +saw them and noted their goodliness, he doubted not but that they were of the +black-eyed Houris of Paradise: so he caught up a couple of fish and ran into +the river, saying, "O Allah mine, by the secret virtue of these fish, forgive +me!" Suddenly, up came the chief eunuch, questing fish, but he found none; so +seeing Khalif ducking and rising in the water, with the two fish in his hands, +called out to him, saying, "O Khalif, what hast thou there?" Replied the +fisherman, "Two fish," and the eunuch said, "Give them to me and take an +hundred dinars for them." Now when Khalif heard speak of an hundred dinars, he +came up out of the water and cried, "Hand over the hundred dinars." Said the +eunuch, "Follow me to the house of Al-Rashid and receive thy gold, O Khalif;" +and, taking the fish, made off to the Palace of the Caliphate. Meanwhile Khalif +betook himself to Baghdad, clad as he was in the Caliph's gown, which reached +only to above his knees,[FN#283] turbanded with the piece he had cut off +therefrom and girt about his middle with a rope, and he pushed through the +centre of the city. The folk fell a-laughing and marvelling at him and saying, +"Whence hadst thou that robe of honour?" But he went on, asking, "Where is the +house of Al-Rashád[FN#284]?;" and they answered, "Say, 'The house of +Al-Rashíd';" and he rejoined, "'Tis all the same," and fared on, till he came +to the Palace of the Caliphate. Now he was seen by the tailor, who had made the +gown and who was standing at the door, and when he noticed it upon the +Fisherman, he said to him, "For how many years hast thou had admission to the +palace?" Khalif replied, "Ever since I was a little one;" and the tailor asked, +"Whence hadest thou that gown thou hast spoilt on this wise?" Khalif answered, +"I had it of my apprentice the trumpeter." Then he went up to the door, where +he found the Chief Eunuch sitting with the two fishes by his side: and seeing +him sable-black of hue, said to him, "Wilt thou not bring the hundred dinars, O +uncle Tulip?" Quoth he, "On my head, O Khalif," when, behold, out came Ja'afar +from the presence of the Caliph and seeing the fisherman talking with the +Eunuch and saying to him, "This is the reward of goodness, O nuncle Tulip," +went in to Al-Rashid and said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, thy master +the Fisherman is with the Chief Eunuch, dunning him for an hundred dinars." +Cried the Caliph, "Bring him to me, O Ja'afar;" and the Minister answered, +"Hearing and obeying." So he went out to the Fisherman and said to him, "O +Khalif, thine apprentice the trumpeter biddeth thee to him;" then he walked on, +followed by the other till they reached the presence-chamber, where he saw the +Caliph seated, with a canopy over his head. When he entered, Al-Rashid wrote +three scrolls and set them before him, and the Fisherman said to him, "So thou +hast given up trumpeting and turned astrologer!" Quoth the Caliph to him, "Take +thee a scroll." Now in the first he had written, "Let him be given a gold +piece," in the second, "An hundred dinars," and in the third, "Let him be given +an hundred blows with a whip." So Khalif put out his hand and by the decree of +the Predestinator, it lighted on the scroll wherein was written, "Let him +receive an hundred lashes," and Kings, whenas they ordain aught, go not back +therefrom. So they threw him prone on the ground and beat him an hundred blows, +whilst he wept and roared for succour, but none succoured him, and said, "By +Allah, this is a good joke O trumpeter! I teach thee fishing and thou turnest +astrologer and drawest me an unlucky lot. Fie upon thee,[FN#285] in thee is +naught of good!" When the Caliph heard his speech, he fell fainting in a fit of +laughter and said, "O Khalif, no harm shall betide thee: fear not. Give him an +hundred gold pieces." So they gave him an hundred dinars, and he went out, and +ceased not faring forth till he came to the trunk-market, where he found the +folk assembled in a ring about a broker, who was crying out and saying, "At an +hundred dinars, less one dinar! A locked chest!" So he pressed on and pushed +through the crowd and said to the broker, "Mine for an hundred dinars!" The +broker closed with him and took his money, whereupon there was left him nor +little nor much. The porters disputed awhile about who should carry the chest +and presently all said, "By Allah, none shall carry this chest but +Zurayk!"[FN#286] And the folk said, "Blue-eyes hath the best right to it." So +Zurayk shouldered the chest, after the goodliest fashion, and walked a-rear of +Khalif. As they went along, the Fisherman said in himself, "I have nothing left +to give the porter; how shall I rid myself of him? Now I will traverse the main +streets with him and lead him about, till he be weary and set it down and leave +it, when I will take it up and carry it to my lodging." Accordingly, he went +round about the city with the porter from noontide to sundown, till the man +began to grumble and said, "O my lord, where is thy house?" Quoth Khalif, +"Yesterday I knew it, but to-day I have forgotten it." And the porter said, +"Give me my hire and take thy chest." But Khalif said, "Go on at thy leisure, +till I bethink me where my house is," presently adding, "O Zurayk, I have no +money with me. 'Tis all in my house and I have forgotten where it is." As they +were talking, there passed by them one who knew the Fisherman and said to him, +"O Khalif, what bringeth thee hither?" Quoth the porter, "O uncle, where is +Khalif's house?" and quoth he, "'Tis in the ruined Khan in the Rawásín +Quarter."[FN#287] Then said Zurayk to Khalif, "Go to; would Heaven thou hadst +never lived nor been!" And the Fisherman trudged on, followed by the porter, +till they came to the place when the Hammal said, "O thou whose daily bread +Allah cut off in this world, have we not passed this place a score of times? +Hadst thou said to me, 'Tis in such a stead, thou hadst spared me this great +toil; but now give me my wage and let me wend my way." Khalif replied "Thou +shalt have silver, if not gold. Stay here, till I bring thee the same." So he +entered his lodging and taking a mallet he had there, studded with forty nails +(wherewith an he smote a camel, he had made an end of it), rushed upon the +porter and raised his forearm to strike him therewith; but Zurayk cried out at +him, saying, "Hold thy hand! I have no claim on thee," and fled. Now having got +rid of the Hammal, Khalif carried the chest into the Khan, whereupon the +neighbours came down and flocked about him, saying, "O Khalif, whence hadst +thou this robe and this chest?" Quoth he, "From my apprentice Al-Rashid who +gave them to me," and they said, "The pimp is mad! Al-Rashid will assuredly +hear of his talk and hang him over the door of his lodging and hang all in the +Khan on account of the droll. This is a fine farce!" Then they helped him to +carry the chest into his lodging and it filled the whole closet.[FN#288] Thus +far concerning Khalif; but as for the history of the chest, it was as follows: +The Caliph had a Turkish slave-girl, by name Kut al-Kulúb, whom he loved with +love exceeding and the Lady Zubaydah came to know of this from himself and was +passing jealous of her and secretly plotted mischief against her. So, whilst +the Commander of the Faithful was absent a-sporting and a-hunting, she sent for +Kut al-Kulub and, inviting her to a banquet, set before her meat and wine, and +she ate and drank. Now the wine was drugged with Bhang; so she slept and +Zubaydah sent for her Chief Eunuch and putting her in a great chest, locked it +and gave it to him, saying, "Take this chest and cast it into the river." +Thereupon he took it up before him on a he-mule and set out with it for the +sea, but found it unfit to carry; so, as he passed by the trunk-market, he saw +the Shaykh of the brokers and salesmen and said to him, "Wilt thou sell me this +chest, O uncle?" The broker replied, "Yes, we will do this much." "But," said +the Eunuch, "look thou sell it not except locked;" and the other, "'Tis well; +we will do that also."[FN#289] So he set down the chest, and they cried it for +sale, saying, "Who will buy this chest for an hundred dinars?"; and behold, up +came Khalif the Fisherman and bought the chest after turning it over right and +left; and there passed between him and the porter that which hath been before +set out. Now as regards Khalif the Fisherman; he lay down on the chest to +sleep, and presently Kut al-Kulub awoke from her Bhang and finding herself in +the chest, cried out and said, "Alas!" Whereupon Khalif sprang off the +chest-lid and cried out and said, "Ho, Moslems! Come to my help! There are +Ifrits in the chest." So the neighbours awoke from sleep and said to him, "What +mattereth thee, O madman?" Quoth he, "The chest is full of Ifrits;" and quoth +they, "Go to sleep; thou hast troubled our rest this night may Allah not bless +thee! Go in and sleep, without madness." He ejaculated, "I cannot sleep;" but +they abused him and he went in and lay down once more. And behold, Kut al-Kulub +spoke and said, "Where am I?" Upon which Khalif fled forth the closet and said, +"O neighbours of the hostelry, come to my aid!" Quoth they, "What hath befallen +thee? Thou troublest the neighbours' rest." "O folk, there be Ifrits in the +chest, moving and speaking." "Thou liest: what do they say?" "They say, 'Where +am I?'" "Would Heaven thou wert in Hell! Thou disturbest the neighbours and +hinderest them of sleep. Go to sleep, would thou hadst never lived nor been!" +So Khalif went in fearful because he had no place wherein to sleep save upon +the chest-lid when lo! as he stood, with ears listening for speech, Kut +al-Kulub spake again and said, "I'm hungry." So in sore affright he fled forth +and cried out, "Ho neighbours! ho dwellers in the Khan, come aid me!" Said +they, "What is thy calamity now?"[FN#290] And he answered, "The Ifrits in the +chest say, 'We are hungry.'" Quoth the neighbours one to other, "'Twould seem +Khalif is hungry; let us feed him and give him the supper-orts; else he will +not let us sleep to-night." So they brought him bread and meat and broken +victuals and radishes and gave him a basket full of all kinds of things, +saying, "Eat till thou be full and go to sleep and talk not, else will we break +thy ribs and beat thee to death this very night." So he took the basket with +the provaunt and entered his lodging. Now it was a moonlight night and the moon +shone in full sheen upon the chest and lit up the closet with its light, seeing +this he sat down on his purchase and fell to eating of the food with both +hands. Presently Kut al-Kulub spake again and said, "Open to me and have mercy +upon me, O Moslems!" So Khalif arose and taking a stone he had by him, broke +the chest open and behold, therein lay a young lady as she were the sun's +shining light with brow flower-white, face moonbright, cheeks of rose-hue +exquisite and speech sweeter than sugar-bite, and in dress worth a thousand +dinars and more bedight. Seeing this his wits flew from his head for joy and he +said, "By Allah, thou art of the fair!" She asked him, "What art thou, O +fellow?" and he answered, "O my lady, I am Khalif the Fisherman." Quoth she, +"Who brought me hither?"; and quoth he, "I bought thee, and thou art my +slave-girl." Thereupon said she, "I see on thee a robe of the raiment of the +Caliph." So he told her all that had betided him, from first to last, and how +he had bought the chest; wherefore she knew that the Lady Zubaydah had played +her false; and she ceased not talking with him till the morning, when she said +to him, "O Khalif, seek me from some one inkcase and reed-pen and paper and +bring them to me." So he found with one of the neighbours what she sought and +brought it to her, whereupon she wrote a letter and folded it and gave it to +him, saying, "O Khalif, take this paper and carry it to the jewel-market, where +do thou enquire for the shop of Abu al-Hasan the jeweller and give it to him." +Answered the Fisherman, "O my lady, this name is difficult to me; I cannot +remember it." And she rejoined, "Then ask for the shop of Ibn +al-'Ukáb."[FN#291] Quoth he, "O my lady, what is an 'Ukab?"; and quoth she, +"'Tis a bird which folk carry on fist with eyes hooded." And he exclaimed, "O +my lady, I know it." Then he went forth from her and fared on, repeating the +name, lest it fade from his memory; but, by the time he reached the +jewel-market, he had forgotten it. So he accosted one of the merchants and said +to him, "Is there any here named after a bird?" Replied the merchant, "Yes, +thou meanest Ibn al-Ukab." Khalif cried, "That's the man I want," and making +his way to him, gave him the letter, which when he read and knew the purport +thereof, he fell to kissing it and laying it on his head; for it is said that +Abu al-Hasan was the agent of the Lady Kut al-Kulub and her intendant over all +her property in lands and houses. Now she had written to him, saying, "From Her +Highness the Lady Kut al-Kulub to Sir Abu al-Hasan the jeweller. The instant +this letter reacheth thee, set apart for us a saloon completely equipped with +furniture and vessels and negro-slaves and slave-girls and what not else is +needful for our residence and seemly, and take the bearer of the missive and +carry him to the bath. Then clothe him in costly apparel and do with him thus +and thus." So he said "Hearing and obeying," and locking up his shop, took the +Fisherman and bore him to the bath, where he committed him to one of the +bathmen, that he might serve him, according to custom. Then he went forth to +carry out the Lady Kut al-Kulub's orders. As for Khalif, he concluded, of his +lack of wit and stupidity, that the bath was a prison and said to the bathman, +"What crime have I committed that ye should lay me in limbo?" They laughed at +him and made him sit on the side of the tank, whilst the bathman took hold of +his legs, that he might shampoo them. Khalif thought he meant to wrestle with +him and said to himself, "This is a wrestling-place[FN#292] and I knew naught +of it." Then he arose and seizing the bathman's legs, lifted him up and threw +him on the ground and broke his ribs. The man cried out for help, whereupon the +other bathmen came in a crowd and fell upon Khalif and overcoming him by dint +of numbers, delivered their comrade from his clutches and tunded him till he +came to himself. Then they knew that the Fisherman was a simpleton and served +him till Abu al-Hasan came back with a dress of rich stuff and clad him +therein; after which he brought him a handsome she-mule, ready saddled, and +taking him by the hand, carried him forth of the bath and said to him, "Mount." +Quoth he, "How shall I mount? I fear lest she throw me and break my ribs into +my belly." Nor would he back the mule, save after much travail and trouble, and +they stinted not faring on, till they came to the place which Abu al-Hasan had +set apart for the Lady Kut al-Kulub. Thereupon Khalif entered and found her +sitting, with slaves and eunuchs about her and the porter at the door, staff in +hand, who when he saw the Fisherman sprang up and kissing his hand, went before +him, till he brought him within the saloon. Here the Fisherman saw what amazed +his wit, and his eye was dazzled by that which he beheld of riches past count +and slaves and servants, who kissed his hand and said, "May the bath be a +blessing to thee!"[FN#293] When he entered the saloon and drew near unto Kut +al-Kulub, she sprang up to him and taking him by the hand, seated him on a +high-mattrassed divan. Then she brought him a vase of sherbet of sugar, mingled +with rosewater and willow-water, and he took it and drank it off and left not a +single drop. Moreover, he ran his finger round the inside of the vessel[FN#294] +and would have licked it, but she forbade him, saying, "That is foul." Quoth +he, "Silence; this is naught but good honey;" and she laughed at him and set +before him a tray of meats, whereof he ate his sufficiency. Then they brought +an ewer and basin of gold, and he washed his right hand and abode in the +gladdest of life and the most honourable. Now hear what befel the Commander of +the Faithful. When he came back from his journey and found not Kut al-Kulub, he +questioned the Lady Zubaydah of her and she said, "She is verily dead, may thy +head live, O Prince of True Believers!" But she had bidden dig a grave +amiddlemost the Palace and had built over it a mock tomb, for her knowledge of +the love the Caliph bore to Kut al-Kulub: so she said to him, "O Commander of +the Faithful, I made her a tomb amiddlemost the Palace and buried her there." +Then she donned black,[FN#295] a mere sham and pure pretence; and feigned +mourning a great while. Now Kut al-Kulub knew that the Caliph was come back +from his hunting excursion; so she turned to Khalif and said to him, "Arise; +hie thee to the bath and come back." So he rose and went to the Hammam-bath, +and when he returned, she clad him in a dress worth a thousand dinars and +taught him manners and respectful bearing to superiors. Then said she to him, +"Go hence to the Caliph and say to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, 'tis my +desire that this night thou deign be my guest.'" So Khalif arose and mounting +his she-mule, rode, with pages and black slaves before him, till he came to the +Palace of the Caliphate. Quoth the wise, "Dress up a stick and 'twill look +chique."[FN#296] And indeed his comeliness was manifest and his goodliness and +the folk marvelled at this. Presently, the Chief Eunuch saw him, the same who +had given him the hundred dinars that had been the cause of his good fortune; +so he went in to the Caliph and said to him, "O Commander of the Faithful, +Khalif the Fisherman is become a King, and on him is a robe of honour worth a +thousand dinars." The Prince of True Believers bade admit him; so he entered +and said, "Peace be with thee, O Commander of the Faithful and Vice-regent of +the Lord of the three Worlds and Defender of the folk of the Faith! Allah +Almighty prolong thy days and honour thy dominion and exalt thy degree to the +highmost height!" The Caliph looked at him and marvelled at him and how fortune +had come to him at unawares; then he said to him, "O Khalif, whence hadst thou +that robe which is upon thee?" He replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, it +cometh from my house." Quoth the Caliph, "Hast thou then a house?"; and quoth +Khalif, "Yea, verily! and thou, O Commander of the Faithful, art my guest this +day." Al-Rashid said, "I alone, O Khalif, or I and those who are with me?"; and +he replied, "Thou and whom thou wilt." So Ja'afar turned to him and said, "We +will be thy guests this night;" whereupon he kissed ground again and +withdrawing, mounted his mule and rode off, attended by his servants and suite +of Mamelukes leaving the Caliph marvelling at this and saying to Ja'afar, +"Sawest thou Khalif, with his mule and dress, his white slaves and his dignity? +But yesterday I knew him for a buffoon and a jester." And they marvelled at +this much. Then they mounted and rode, till they drew near Khalif's house, when +the Fisherman alighted and, taking a bundle from one of his attendants, opened +it and pulled out therefrom a piece of tabby silk[FN#297] and spread it under +the hoofs of the Caliph's she-mule; then he brought out a piece of +velvet-Kimcob[FN#298] and a third of fine satin and did with them likewise; and +thus he spread well nigh twenty pieces of rich stuffs, till Al-Rashid and his +suite had reached the house; when he came forward and said, "Bismillah,[FN#299] +O Commander of the Faithful!" Quoth Al-Rashid to Ja'afar, "I wonder to whom +this house may belong," and quoth he, "It belongeth to a man hight Ibn al-Ukab, +Syndic of the jewellers." So the Caliph dismounted and entering, with his +courtiers, saw a high-builded saloon, spacious and boon, with couches on daďs +and carpets and divans strown in place. So he went up to the couch that was set +for himself on four legs of ivory, plated with glittering gold and covered with +seven carpets. This pleased him and behold, up came Khalif, with eunuchs and +little white slaves, bearing all manner sherbets, compounded with sugar and +lemon and perfumed with rose and willow-water and the purest musk. The +Fisherman advanced and drank and gave the Caliph to drink, and the cup-bearers +came forward and served the rest of the company with the sherbets. Then Khalif +brought a table spread with meats of various colours and geese and fowls and +other birds, saying, "In the name of Allah!" So they ate their fill; after +which he bade remove the tables and kissing the ground three times before the +Caliph craved his royal leave to bring wine and music.[FN#300] He granted him +permission for this and turning to Ja'afar, said to him, "As my head liveth, +the house and that which is therein is Khalif's; for that he is ruler over it +and I am in admiration at him, whence there came to him this passing prosperity +and exceeding felicity! However, this is no great matter to Him who saith to a +thing, 'Be!' and it becometh; what I most wonder at is his understanding, how +it hath increased, and whence he hath gotten this loftiness and this +lordliness; but, when Allah willeth weal unto a man, He amendeth his +intelligence before bringing him to worldly affluence." As they were talking, +behold, up came Khalif, followed by cup-bearer lads like moons, belted with +zones of gold, who spread a cloth of siglaton[FN#301] and set thereon flagons +of chinaware and tall flasks of glass and cups of crystal and bottles and +hanaps[FN#302] of all colours; and those flagons they filled with pure clear +and old wine, whose scent was as the fragrance of virgin musk and it was even +as saith the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"Ply me and also my mate be plied * With pure wine prest in the<br/> + + olden tide.[FN#303]<br/> + +Daughter of nobles[FN#304] they lead her forth[FN#305] * In<br/> + + raiment of goblets beautified.<br/> + +They belt her round with the brightest gems, * And pearls and<br/> + + unions, the Ocean's pride;<br/> + +So I by these signs and signets know * Wherefore the Wine is<br/> + + entitled 'Bride.'[FN#306]"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And round about these vessels were confections and flowers, such as may not be +surpassed. When Al-Rashid saw this from Khalif, he inclined to him and smiled +upon him and invested him with an office; so Khalif wished him continuance of +honour and endurance of days and said, "Will the Commander of the Faithful +deign give me leave to bring him a singer, a lute-player her like was never +heard among mortals ever?" Quoth the Caliph, "Thou art permitted!" So he kissed +ground before him and going to a secret closet, called Kut al-Kulub, who came +after she had disguised and falsed and veiled herself, tripping in her robes +and trinkets; and she kissed ground before the Commander of the Faithful. Then +she sat down and tuning the lute, touched its strings and played upon it, till +all present were like to faint for excess of delight; after which she +improvised these verses, +</p> + +<p> +"Would Heaven I wot, will ever Time bring our beloveds back<br/> + + again? * And, ah! will Union and its bliss to bless two<br/> + + lovers deign?<br/> + +Will Time assure to us united days and joinčd joy, * While from<br/> + + the storms and stowres of life in safety we remain?<br/> + +Then O Who bade this pleasure be, our parting past and gone, *<br/> + + And made one house our meeting-stead throughout the Nights<br/> + + contain;<br/> + +By him, draw near me, love, and closest cling to side of me *<br/> + + Else were my wearied wasted life, a vanity, a bane."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When the Caliph heard this, he could not master himself, but rent his raiment +and fell down a-swoon; whereupon all who were present hastened to doff their +dress and throw it over him, whilst Kut al-Kulub signed to Khalif and said to +him, "Hie to yonder chest and bring us what is therein;" for she had made ready +therein a suit of the Caliph's wear against the like of such hour as this. So +Khalif brought it to her and she threw it over the Commander of the Faithful, +who came to himself and knowing her for Kut al- Kulub, said, "Is this the Day +of Resurrection and hath Allah quickened those who are in the tombs; or am I +asleep and is this an imbroglio of dreams?" Quoth Kut al-Kulub, "We are on +wake, not on sleep, and I am alive, nor have I drained the cup of death." Then +she told him all that had befallen her, and indeed, since he lost her, life had +not been light to him nor had sleep been sweet, and he abode now wondering, +then weeping and anon afire for longing. When she had made an end of her story, +the Caliph rose and took her by the hand, intending for her palace, after he +had kissed her inner lips, and had strained her to his bosom; whereupon Khalif +rose and said, "By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful! Thou hast already +wronged me once, and now thou wrongest me again." Quoth Al-Rashid, "Indeed thou +speakest sooth, O Khalif," and bade the Wazir Ja'afar give him what should +satisfy him. So he straightway gifted him with all for which he wished and +assigned him a village, the yearly revenues whereof were twenty thousand +dinars. Moreover Kut al-Kulub generously presented him the house and all that +was therein of furniture and hangings and white slaves and slave-girls and +eunuchs great and small. So Khalif became possessed of this passing affluence +and exceeding wealth and took him a wife, and prosperity taught him gravity and +dignity, and good fortune overwhelmed him. The Caliph enrolled him among his +equerries and he abode in all solace of life and its delights till he deceased +and was admitted to the mercy of Allah. Furthermore they relate a tale +anent[FN#307] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap06"></a>MASRUR AND ZAYN AL-MAWASIF.[FN#308]</h3> + +<p> +There was once in days of yore and in ages and times long gone before a man and +a merchant Masrúr hight, who was of the comeliest of the folk of his tide, a +wight of wealth galore and in easiest case; but he loved to take his pleasure +in vergiers and flower-gardens and to divert himself with the love of the fair. +Now it fortuned one night, as he lay asleep, he dreamt that he was in a garth +of the loveliest, wherein were four birds, and amongst them a dove, white as +polished silver. That dove pleased him and for her grew up in his heart an +exceeding love. Presently, he beheld a great bird swoop down on him and snatch +the dove from his hand, and this was grievous to him. After which he awoke and +not finding the bird strave with his yearnings till morning, when he said in +himself, "There is no help but that I go to-day to some one who will expound to +me this vision."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the merchant +awoke, he strave with his yearnings till morning when he said to himself, +"There is no help but that I go this day to some one who will expound to me +this vision." So he went forth and walked right and left, till he was far from +his dwelling-place, but found none to interpret the dream to him. Then he would +have returned, but on his way behold, the fancy took him to turn aside to the +house of a certain trader, a man of the wealthiest, and when he drew near to +it, suddenly he heard from within a plaintive voice from a sorrowful heart +reciting these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The breeze o' Morn blows uswards from her trace * Fragrant, and<br/> + + heals the love-sick lover's case.<br/> + +I stand like captive on the mounds and ask * While tears make<br/> + + answer for the ruined place:<br/> + +Quoth I, 'By Allah, Breeze o' Morning, say * Shall Time and<br/> + + Fortune aye this stead regrace?<br/> + +Shall I enjoy a fawn whose form bewitched * And langourous<br/> + + eyelids wasted frame and face?'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Masrur heard this, he looked in through the doorway and saw a garden of +the goodliest of gardens, and at its farther end a curtain of red brocade, +purfled with pearls and gems, behind which sat four damsels, and amongst them a +young lady over four feet and under five in height, as she were the rondure of +the lune and the full moon shining boon: she had eyes Kohl'd with nature's dye +and joined eyebrows, a mouth as it were Solomon's seal and lips and teeth +bright with pearls and coral's light; and indeed she ravished all wits with her +beauty and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace. When Masrur espied her, +he entered the porch and went on entering till he came to the curtain: +whereupon she raised her head and glanced at him. So he saluted her and she +returned his salam with sweetest speech; and, when he considered her more +straitly, his reason was dazed and his heart amazed. Then he looked at the +garden and saw that it was full of jessamine and gilly flowers and violets and +roses and orange blossoms and all manner sweet-scented blooms and herbs. Every +tree was girt about with fruits and there coursed down water from four daďses, +which faced one another and occupied the four corners of the garden. He looked +at the first Líwán and found written around it with vermilion these two +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Ho thou the House! Grief never home in thee; * Nor Time work<br/> + + treason on thine owner's head:<br/> + +All good betide the House which every guest * Harbours, when sore<br/> + + distrest for way and stead!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he looked at the second daďs and found written thereon in red gold these +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Robe thee, O House, in richest raiment Time, * Long as the<br/> + + birdies on the branchlets chime!<br/> + +And sweetest perfumes breathe within thy walls * And lover meet<br/> + + beloved in bliss sublime.<br/> + +And dwell thy dwellers all in joy and pride * Long as the<br/> + + wandering stars Heaven-hill shall climb."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he looked at the third, whereon he found written in ultramarine these two +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Ever thy pomp and pride, O House! display * While starkeneth<br/> + + Night and shineth sheeny Day!<br/> + +Boon Fortune bless all entering thy walls, * And whomso dwell in<br/> + + thee, for ever and aye!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he looked at the fourth and saw painted in yellow characters this couplet, +</p> + +<p> +"This garden and this lake in truth * Are fair sitting-steads, by<br/> + + the Lord of Ruth!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Moreover, in that garden were birds of all breeds, ring-dove and cushat and +nightingale and culver, each singing his several song, and amongst them the +lady, swaying gracefully to and fro in her beauty and grace and symmetry and +loveliness and ravishing all who saw her. Presently quoth she to Masrur, "Hola +man! what bringeth thee into a house other than thy house and wherefore comest +thou in unto women other than thy women, without leave of their owner?" Quoth +he, "O my lady, I saw this garden, and the goodliness of its greenery pleased +me and the fragrance of its flowers and the carolling of its birds; so I +entered, thinking to gaze on it awhile and wend my way." Said she, "With love +and gladness!"; and Masrur was amazed at the sweetness of her speech and the +coquetry of her glances and the straightness of her shape, and transported by +her beauty and seemlihead and the pleasantness of the garden and the birds. So +in the disorder of his spirits he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"As a crescent-moon in the garth her form * 'Mid Basil and<br/> + + jasmine and Rose I scan;<br/> + +And Violet faced by the Myrtle-spray * And Nu'umán's bloom and<br/> + + Myrobalan:<br/> + +By her perfume the Zephyrs perfumčd breathe * And with scented<br/> + + sighings the branches fan.<br/> + +O Garden, thou perfect of beauty art * All charms comprising in<br/> + + perfect plan;<br/> + +And melodious birdies sing madrigals * And the Full Moon[FN#309]<br/> + + shineth in branchshade wan;<br/> + +Its ring-dove, its culver, its mocking-bird * And its Philomel<br/> + + sing my soul t' unman;<br/> + +And the longing of love all my wits confuseth * For her charms,<br/> + + as the man whom his wine bemuseth."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Now when Zayn al-Mawásif heard his verse, she glanced at him with eyes which +bequeathed a thousand sighs and utterly ravished his wisdom and wits and +replied to him in these lines, +</p> + +<p> +"Hope not of our favours to make thy prey * And of what thou<br/> + + wishest thy greed allay:<br/> + +And cease thy longing; thou canst not win * The love of the Fair<br/> + + thou'rt fain t' essay,<br/> + +My glances to lovers are baleful and naught * I reek of thy<br/> + + speech: I have said my say!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +"Ho, thou! Begone about thy business, for we are none of the woman-tribe who +are neither thine nor another's.[FN#310]" And he answered, "O my lady, I said +nothing ill." Quoth she, "Thou soughtest to divert thyself[FN#311] and thou +hast had thy diversion; so wend thy ways." Quoth he, "O my lady, belike thou +wilt give me a draught of water, for I am athirst." Whereupon she cried, "How +canst thou drink of a Jew's water, and thou a Nazarene?" But he replied, "O my +lady, your water is not forbidden to us nor ours unlawful to you, for we are +all as one creation." So she said to her slave-girl, "Give him to drink;" and +she did as she was bidden. Then she called for the table of food, and there +came four damsels, high-bosomed maids, bearing four trays of meats and four +gilt flagons full of strong old-wine, as it were the tears of a slave of love +for clearness, and a table around whose edge were graven these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"For eaters a table they brought and set * In the banquet-hall<br/> + + and 'twas dight with gold:<br/> + +Like th' Eternal Garden that gathers all * Man wants of meat and<br/> + + wines manifold."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And when the high-breasted maids had set all this before him, quoth she, "Thou +soughtest to drink of our drink; so up and at our meat and drink!" He could +hardly credit what his ears had heard and sat down at the table forthright; +whereupon she bade her nurse[FN#312] give him a cup, that he might drink. Now +her slave-girls were called, one Hubúb, another Khutúb and the third +Sukúb,[FN#313] and she who gave him the cup was Hubub. So he took the cup and +looking at the outside there saw written these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Drain not the bowl but with lovely wight * Who loves thee and<br/> + + wine makes brighter bright.<br/> + +And 'ware her Scorpions[FN#314] that o'er thee creep * And guard<br/> + + thy tongue lest thou vex her sprite."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then the cup went round and when he emptied it he looked inside and saw +written, +</p> + +<p> +"And 'ware her Scorpions when pressing them, * And hide her<br/> + + secrets from foes' despight."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Whereupon Masrur laughed her-wards and she asked him, "What causeth thee to +laugh?" "For the fulness of my joy," quoth he. Presently, the breeze blew on +her and the scarf[FN#315] fell from her head and discovered a fillet[FN#316] of +glittering gold, set with pearls and gems and jacinths; and on her breast was a +necklace of all manner ring-jewels and precious stones, to the centre of which +hung a sparrow of red gold, with feet of red coral and bill of white silver and +body full of Nadd-powder and pure ambergris and odoriferous musk. And upon its +back was engraved, +</p> + +<p> +"The Nadd is my wine-scented powder, my bread; * And the bosom's<br/> + + my bed and the breasts my stead:<br/> + +And my neck-nape complains of the weight of love, * Of my pain,<br/> + + of my pine, of my drearihead."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Masrur looked at the breast of her shift and behold, thereon lay wroughten +in red gold this verse, +</p> + +<p> +"The fragrance of musk from the breasts of the fair * Zephyr<br/> + + borrows, to sweeten the morning air."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Masrur marvelled at this with exceeding wonder and was dazed by her charms and +amazement gat hold upon him. Then said Zayn al-Mawásif to him, "Begone from us +and go about thy business, lest the neighbours hear of us and even us with the +lewd." He replied, "By Allah, O my lady, suffer my sight to enjoy the view of +thy beauty and loveliness." With this she was wroth with him and leaving him, +walked in the garden, and he looked at her shift-sleeve and saw upon it +embroidered these lines, +</p> + +<p> +"The weaver-wight wrote with gold-ore bright * And her wrists on<br/> + + brocade rained a brighter light:<br/> + +Her palms are adorned with a silvern sheen; * And favour her<br/> + + fingers the ivory's white:<br/> + +For their tips are rounded like priceless pearl; * And her charms<br/> + + would enlighten the nightiest night."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And, as she paced the garth, Masrur gazed at her slippers and saw written upon +them these pleasant lines, +</p> + +<p> +"The slippers that carry these fair young feet * Cause her form<br/> + + to bend in its gracious bloom:<br/> + +When she paces and waves in the breeze she owns, * She shines<br/> + + fullest moon in the murkiest gloom."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +She was followed by her women leaving Hubub with Masrur by the curtain, upon +whose edge were embroidered these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Behind the veil a damsel sits with gracious beauty dight, *<br/> + + Praise to the Lord who decked her with these inner gifts of<br/> + + sprite!<br/> + +Guards her the garden and the bird fain bears her company; *<br/> + + Gladden her wine-draughts and the bowl but makes her<br/> + + brighter-bright.<br/> + +Apple and Cassia-blossom show their envy of her cheeks; * And<br/> + + borrows Pearl resplendency from her resplendent light;<br/> + +As though the sperm that gendered her were drop of<br/> + + marguerite[FN#317] * Happy who kisses her and spends in her<br/> + + embrace the night."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +So Masrur entered into a long discourse with Hubub and presently said to her, +"O Hubub, hath thy mistress a husband or not?" She replied, "My lady hath a +husband; but he is actually abroad on a journey with merchandise of his." Now +whenas he heard that her husband was abroad on a journey, his heart lusted +after her and he said, "O Hubub, glorified be He who created this damsel and +fashioned her! How sweet is her beauty and her loveliness and her symmetry and +perfect grace! Verily, into my heart is fallen sore travail for her. O Hubub, +so do that I come to enjoy her, and thou shalt have of me what thou wilt of +wealth and what not else." Replied Hubub, "O Nazarene, if she heard thee speak +thus, she would slay thee, or else she would kill herself, for she is the +daughter of a Zealot[FN#318] of the Jews nor is there her like amongst them: +she hath no need of money and she keepeth herself ever cloistered, discovering +not her case to any." Quoth Masrur, "O Hubub, an thou wilt but bring me to +enjoy her, I will be to thee slave and foot page and will serve thee all my +life and give thee whatsoever thou seekest of me." But quoth she, "O Masrur, in +very sooth this woman hath no lust for money nor yet for men, because my lady +Zayn al-Mawasif is of the cloistered, going not forth her house-door in fear +lest folk see her; and but that she bore with thee by reason of thy +strangerhood, she had not permitted thee to pass her threshold; no, not though +thou wert her brother." He replied, "O Hubub, be thou our go-between and thou +shalt have of me an hundred gold dinars and a dress worth as much more, for +that the love of her hath gotten hold of my heart." Hearing this she said, "O +man, let me go about with her in talk and I will return thee and answer and +acquaint thee with what she saith. Indeed, she loveth those who berhyme her and +she affecteth those who set forth her charms and beauty and loveliness in +verse, and we may not prevail over her save by wiles and soft speech and +beguilement." Thereupon Hubub rose and going up to her mistress, accosted her +with privy talk of this and that and presently said to her, "O my lady, look at +yonder young man, the Nazarene; how sweet is his speech and how shapely his +shape!" When Zayn al-Mawasif heard this, she turned to her and said, "An thou +like his comeliness love him thyself. Art thou not ashamed to address the like +of me with these words? Go, bid him begone about his business; or I will make +it the worse for him." So Hubub returned to Masrur, but acquainted him not with +that which her mistress had said. Then the lady bade her hie to the door and +look if she saw any of the folk, lest foul befal them. So she went and +returning, said, "O my lady, without are folk in plenty and we cannot let him +go forth this night." Quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "I am in dole because of a dream I +have seen and am fearful therefrom." And Masrur said, "What sawest thou? Allah +never trouble thy heart!" She replied, "I was asleep in the middle of the +night, when suddenly an eagle swooped down upon me from the highest of the +clouds and would have carried me off from behind the curtain, wherefore I was +affrighted at him. Then I awoke from sleep and bade my women bring me meat and +drink, so haply, when I had drunken, the dolour of the dream would cease from +me." Hearing this, Masrur smiled and told her his dream from first to last and +how he had caught the dove, whereat she marvelled with exceeding marvel. Then +he went on to talk with her at great length and said, "I am now certified of +the truth of my dream, for thou art the dove and I the eagle, and there is no +hope but that this must be, for, the moment I set eyes on thee, thou tookest +possession of my vitals and settest my heart a-fire for love of thee!" +Thereupon Zayn al-Mawasif became wroth with exceeding wrath and said to him, "I +take refuge with Allah from this! Allah upon thee, begone about thy business +ere the neighbours espy thee and there betide us sore reproach," adding, +"Harkye, man! Let not thy soul covet that it shall not obtain. Thou weariest +thyself in vain; for I am a merchant's wife and a merchant's daughter and thou +art a druggist; and when sawest thou a druggist and a merchant's daughter +conjoined by such sentiment?" He replied, "O my lady, never lacked love-liesse +between folk[FN#319]; so cut thou not off from me hope of this and whatsoever +thou seekest of me of money and raiment and ornaments and what not else, I will +give thee." Then he abode with her in discourse and mutual blaming whilst she +still redoubled in anger, till it was black night, when he said to her, "O my +lady, take this gold piece and fetch me a little wine, for I am athirst and +heavy hearted." So she said to the slave-girl Hubub, "Fetch him wine and take +naught from him, for we have no need of his dinar." So she went whilst Masrur +held his peace and bespake not the lady, who suddenly improvised these lines, +</p> + +<p> +"Leave this thy design and depart, O man! * Nor tread paths where<br/> + + lewdness and crime trepan!<br/> + +Love is a net shall enmesh thy sprite, * Make thee rise a-morning<br/> + + sad, weary and wan:<br/> + +For our spy thou shalt eke be the cause of talk; * And for thee<br/> + + shall blame me my tribe and clan:<br/> + +Yet scant I marvel thou lovest a Fair:— * Gazelles hunting lions<br/> + + we aye shall scan!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And he answered her with these, +</p> + +<p> +"Joy of boughs, bright branch of Myrobalan! * Have ruth on the<br/> + + heart all thy charms unman:<br/> + +Death-cup to the dregs thou garrest me drain * And don weed of<br/> + + Love with its bane and ban:<br/> + +How can soothe I a heart which for stress of pine * Burns with<br/> + + living coals which my longings fan?"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Hearing these lines she exclaimed, "Away from me! Quoth the saw 'Whoso looseth +his sight wearieth his sprite.' By Allah, I am tired of discourse with thee and +chiding, and indeed thy soul coveteth that shall never become thine; nay, +though thou gave me my weight in gold, thou shouldst not get thy wicked will of +me; for, I know naught of the things of the world, save pleasant life, by the +boon of Allah Almighty!" He answered, "O my lady Zayn al-Mawasif, ask of me +what thou wilt of the goods of the world." Quoth she, "What shall I ask of +thee? For sure thou wilt fare forth and prate of me in the highway and I shall +become a laughing-stock among the folk and they will make a byword of me in +verse, me who am the daughter of the chief of the merchants and whose father is +known of the notables of the tribe. I have no need of money or raiment and such +love will not be hidden from the people and I shall be brought to shame, I and +my kith and kin." With this Masrur was confounded and could make her no answer; +but presently she said, "Indeed, the master-thief, if he steal, stealeth not +but what is worth his neck, and every woman who doth lewdness with other than +her husband is styled a thief; so, if it must be thus and no help[FN#320], thou +shalt give me whatsoever my heart desireth of money and raiment and ornaments +and what not." Quoth he, "An thou sought of me the world and all its regions +contain from its East to its West, 'twere but a little thing, compared with thy +favour;" and quoth she, "I will have of thee three suits, each worth a thousand +Egyptian dinars, and adorned with gold and fairly purfled with pearls and +jewels and jacinths, the best of their kind. Furthermore I require that thou +swear to me thou wilt keep my secret nor discover it to any and that thou wilt +company with none but me; and I in turn will swear to thee a true oath that I +will never false thee in love." So he sware to her the oath she required and +she sware to him, and they agreed upon this; after which she said to her nurse +Hubub, "To-morrow go thou with Masrur to his lodging and seek somewhat of musk +and ambergris and Nadd and rose-water and see what he hath. If he be a man of +condition, we will take him into favour; but an he be otherwise we will leave +him." Then said she to him, "O Masrur, I desire somewhat of musk and ambergris +and aloes-wood and Nadd; so do thou send it me by Hubub;" and he answered, +"With love and gladness; my shop is at thy disposal!" Then the wine went round +between them and their séance was sweet: but Masrur's heart was troubled for +the passion and pining which possessed him; and when Zayn al-Mawasif saw him in +this plight, she said to her slave-girl Sukub, "Arouse Masrur from his stupor; +mayhap he will recover." Answered Sukub, "Hearkening and obedience," and sang +these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Bring gold and gear an a lover thou, * And hymn thy love so<br/> + + success shalt row;<br/> + +Joy the smiling fawn with the black-edged eyne * And the bending<br/> + + lines of the Cassia-bough:<br/> + +On her look, and a marvel therein shalt sight, * And pour out thy<br/> + + life ere thy life-term show:<br/> + +Love's affect be this, an thou weet the same; * But, an gold<br/> + + deceive thee, leave gold and go!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Hereupon Masrur understood her and said, "I hear and apprehend. Never was grief +but after came relief, and after affliction dealing He will order the healing." +Then Zayn al-Mawasif recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"From Love-stupor awake, O Masrur, 'twere best; * For this day I<br/> + + dread my love rend thy breast;<br/> + +And to-morrow I fear me folks' marvel-tale * Shall make us a<br/> + + byword from East to West:<br/> + +Leave love of my like or thou'lt gain thee blame; * Why turn thee<br/> + + us-wards? Such love's unblest!<br/> + +For one strange of lineage whose kin repel * Thou shalt wake<br/> + + ill-famed, of friends dispossest:<br/> + +I'm a Zealot's child and affright the folk: * Would my life were<br/> + + ended and I at rest!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Masrur answered her improvisation and began to say these lines, +</p> + +<p> +"To grief leave a heart that to love ne'er ceased; * Nor blame,<br/> + + for your blame ever love increased:<br/> + +You misrule my vitals in tyrant-guise; * Morn and Eve I wend not<br/> + + or West or East;<br/> + +Love's law forbids me to do me die; * They say Love's victim is<br/> + + ne'er released:<br/> + +Well-away! Could I find in Love's Court a judge * I'd 'plain and<br/> + + win to my rights at least."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +They ceased not from mutual chiding till morning morrowed, when Zayn al-Mawasif +said, "O Masrur 'tis time for thee to depart, lest one of the folk see thee and +foul befal us twain." So he arose and accompanied by nurse Hubub fared on, till +they came to his lodging, where he talked with her and said to her, "All thou +seekest of me is ready for thee, so but thou wilt bring me to enjoy her." Hubub +replied, "Hearten thy heart;" whereupon he rose and gave her an hundred dinars, +saying "O Hubub, I have by me a dress worth an hundred gold pieces." Answered +she, "O Masrur, make haste with the trinkets and other things promised her, ere +she change her mind, for we may not take her, save with wile and guile, and she +loveth the saying of verse." Quoth he, "Hearing and obeying," and bringing her +the musk and ambergris and lign-aloes and rose-water, returned with her to Zayn +al-Mawasif and saluted her. She returned his salam with the sweetest speech, +and he was dazed by her beauty and improvised these lines, +</p> + +<p> +"O thou sheeniest Sun who in night dost shine! * O who stole my<br/> + + soul with those large black eyne!<br/> + +O slim-shaped fair with the graceful neck! * O who shamest Rose<br/> + + wi' those cheeks o' thine!<br/> + +Blind not our sight wi' thy fell disdain, * Disdain, that shall<br/> + + load us with pain and pine;<br/> + +Passion homes in our inmost, nor will be quenched * The fire of<br/> + + yearning in vitals li'en:<br/> + +Your love has housčd in heart of me * And of issue but you see I<br/> + + ne'er a sign:<br/> + +Then haply you'll pity this hapless wight * Thy sad lover and<br/> + + then—O the Morn divine!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Zayn al-Mawasif heard his verses, she cast at him a glance of eyes, that +bequeathed him a thousand regrets and sighs and his wits and soul were ravished +in such wise, and answered him with these couplets[FN#321], +</p> + +<p> +"Think not from her, of whom thou art enamoured aye * To win<br/> + + delight; so put desire from thee away.<br/> + +Leave that thou hop'st, for 'gainst her rigours whom thou lov'st<br/> + + * Among the fair, in vain is all thou canst essay.<br/> + +My looks to lovers bring discomfiture and woe: Indeed, * I make<br/> + + no count of that which thou dost say."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Masrur heard this, he hardened his heart and took patience concealing his +case and saying in himself, "There is nothing for it against calamity save +long-suffering;" and after this fashion they abode till nightfall when Zayn +al-Mawasif called for food and they set before her a tray wherein were all +manner of dishes, quails and pigeons and mutton and so forth, whereof they ate +their sufficiency. Then she bade take away the tables and they did so and +fetched the lavatory gear; and they washed their hands, after which she ordered +her women to bring the candlesticks, and they set on candelabra and candles +therein of camphorated wax. Thereupon quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "By Allah, my +breast is straitened this night and I am afevered;" and quoth Masrur, "Allah +broaden thy breast and banish thy bane!" Then she said, "O Masrur, I am used to +play at chess: say me, knowest aught of the game?" He replied, "Yes; I am +skilled therein;" whereupon she commanded her handmaid Hubub fetch her the +chessboard. So she went away and presently returning with the board, set it +before her, and behold, it was of ivory-marquetried ebony with squares marked +in glittering gold, and its pieces of pearl and ruby.—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif bade +the chessboard be brought, they set it between her hands; and Masrur was amazed +at this, when she turned to him and said, "Wilt have red or white?" He replied, +"O Princess of the fair and adornment of morning air, do thou take the red for +they formous are and fitter for the like of thee to bear and leave the white to +my care." Answered she, "So be it;" and, taking the red pieces, ranged them +opposite the white, then put out her hand to a piece purposing the first pass +into the battle-plain. Masrur considered her fingers, which were white as +paste, and was confounded at their beauty and shapely shape; whereupon she +turned to him and said, "O Masrur, be not bedazed, but take patience and calm +thyself." He rejoined, "O thou whose beauty shameth the moon, how shall a lover +look on thee and have patience-boon?" And while this was doing she cried, +"Checkmate[FN#322]!" and beat him; wherefore she knew that he was Jinn-mad for +love of her and said to him, "O Masrur, I will not play with thee save for a +set stake." He replied, "I hear and obey," and she rejoined, "Swear to me and I +will swear to thee that neither of us will cheat[FN#323] the adversary." So +both sware this and she said, "O Masrur, an I beat thee, I will have ten dinars +of thee, but an thou beat me, I will give thee a mere nothing." He expected to +win, so he said, "O my lady, be not false to thine oath, for I see thou art an +overmatch for me at this game!" "Agreed," said she and they ranged their men +and fell again to playing and pushing on their pawns and catching them up with +the queens and aligning and matching them with the castles and solacing them +with the onslaught of the knights. Now the "Adornment of Qualities" wore on +head a kerchief of blue brocade so she loosed it off and tucking up her sleeve, +showed a wrist like a shaft of light and passed her palm over the red pieces, +saying to him, "Look to thyself." But he was dazzled at her beauty, and the +sight of her graces bereft him of reason, so that he became dazed and amazed +and put out his hand to the white men, but it alit upon the red. Said she, "O +Masrur, where be thy wits? The red are mine and the white thine;" and he +replied, "Whoso looketh at thee perforce loseth all his senses." Then, seeing +how it was with him, she took the white from him and gave him the red, and they +played and she beat him. He ceased not to play with her and she to beat him, +whilst he paid her each time ten dinars, till, knowing him to be distraught for +love of her, she said, "O Masrur, thou wilt never win to thy wish, except thou +beat me, for such was our understanding; and henceforth, I will not play with +thee save for a stake of an hundred dinars a game." "With love and gladness," +answered he and she went on playing and ever beating him and he paid her an +hundred dinars each time; and on this wise they abode till the morning, without +his having won a single game, when he suddenly sprang to his feet. Quoth she, +"What wilt thou do, O Masrur?"; and quoth he, "I mean to go to my lodging and +fetch somewhat of money: it may be I shall come to my desire." "Do whatso +seemeth good to thee," said she; so he went home and taking all the money he +had, returned to her improvising these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"In dream I saw a bird o'er speed (meseem'd), * Love's garden<br/> + + decked with blooms that smiled and gleamed:<br/> + +But I shall ken, when won my wish and will * Of thee, the<br/> + + truthful sense of what I dreamed."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Now when Masrur returned to her with all his monies they fell a-playing again; +but she still beat him and he could not beat her once; and in such case they +abode three days, till she had gotten of him the whole of his coin; whereupon +said she, "O Masrur, what wilt thou do now?"; and he replied, "I will stake +thee a druggist's shop." "What is its worth?" asked she; and he answered, "Five +hundred dinars." So they played five bouts and she won the shop of him. Then he +betted his slave-girls, lands, houses, gardens, and she won the whole of them, +till she had gotten of him all he had; whereupon she turned to him and said, +"Hast thou aught left to lay down?" Cried he, "By Him who made me fall into the +snare of thy love, I have neither money to touch nor aught else left, little or +much!" She rejoined, "O Masrur, the end of whatso began in content shall not +drive man to repent; wherefore, an thou regret aught, take back thy good and +begone from us about thy business and I will hold thee quit towards me." Masrur +rejoined, "By Him who decreed these things to us, though thou sought to take my +life 'twere a wee thing to stake for thine approof, because I love none but +thee!" Then said she, "O Masrur, fare forthright and fetch the Kazi and the +witnesses and make over to me by deed all thy lands and possessions." +"Willingly," replied he and, going forth without stay or delay, brought the +Kazi and the witnesses and set them before her. When the judge saw her, his +wits fled and his mind was amazed and his reason was dazed for the beauty of +her fingers, and he said to her, "O my lady, I will not write out the writ of +conveyance, save upon condition that thou buy the lands and mansions and +slave-girls and that they all pass under thy control and into thy possession." +She rejoined, "We're agreed upon that. Write me a deed, whereby all Masrur's +houses and lands and slave-girls and whatso his right hand possesseth shall +pass to Zayn al-Mawasif and become her property at such a price." So the Kazi +wrote out the writ and the witnesses set hands thereto; whereupon she took +it.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif +took from the Kazi the deed which made over her lover's property to her, she +said to him, "O Masrur, now gang thy gait." But her slave-girl Hubub turned to +him and said, "Recite us some verses." So he improvised upon that game of chess +these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Of Time and what befel me I complain, * Mourning my loss by<br/> + + chess and eyes of bane.<br/> + +For love of gentlest, softest-sided fair * Whose like is not of<br/> + + maids or mortal strain:<br/> + +The shafts of glances from those eyne who shot * And led her<br/> + + conquering host to battle-plain<br/> + +Red men and white men and the clashing Knights * And, crying<br/> + + 'Look to thee!' came forth amain:<br/> + +And, when down charging, finger-tips she showed * That gloomed<br/> + + like blackest night for sable stain,<br/> + +The Whites I could not rescue, could not save * While ecstasy<br/> + + made tear-floods rail and rain:<br/> + +The Pawns and Castles with their Queens fell low * And fled the<br/> + + Whites nor could the brunt sustain:<br/> + +Yea, with her shaft of glance at me she shot * And soon that<br/> + + shaft had pierced my heart and brain:<br/> + +She gave me choice between her hosts, and I * The Whites like<br/> + + moonlight first to choose was fain,<br/> + +Saying, 'This argent folk best fitteth me * I love them, but the<br/> + + Red by thee be ta'en!'<br/> + +She playčd me for free accepted stake * Yet amorous mercy I could<br/> + + ne'er obtain:<br/> + +O fire of heart, O pine and woe of me, * Wooing a fair like moon<br/> + + mid starry train:<br/> + +Burns not my heart O no! nor aught regrets * Of good or land, but<br/> + + ah! her eyes' disdain!<br/> + +Amazed I'm grown and dazed for drearihead * And blame I Time who<br/> + + brought such pine and pain.<br/> + +Quoth she, 'Why art thou so bedazed!' quoth I * 'Wine-drunken<br/> + + wight shall more of wine assain?'<br/> + +That mortal stole my sense by silk-soft shape, * Which doth for<br/> + + heart-core hardest rock contain.<br/> + +I nervčd self and cried, 'This day she's mine' * By bet, nor fear<br/> + + I prove she unhumŕne:<br/> + +My heart ne'er ceased to seek possession, till * Beggared I found<br/> + + me for conditions twain:<br/> + +Will youth you loveth shun the Love-dealt blow, * Tho' were he<br/> + + whelmed in Love's high-surging main?<br/> + +So woke the slave sans e'en a coin to turn, * Thralled to repine<br/> + + for what he ne'er shall gain!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Zayn al-Mawasif hearing these words marvelled at the eloquence of his tongue +and said to him, "O Masrur, leave this madness and return to thy right reason +and wend thy ways; for thou hast wasted all thy moveables and immoveables at +the chess-game, yet hast not won thy wish, nor hast thou any resource or device +whereby thou mayst attain to it." But he turned to her and said, "O my lady, +ask of me whatso thou wilt and thou shalt have it; for I will bring it to thee +and lay it at thy feet." Answered she, "O Masrur, thou hast no money left." "O +goal of all hopes, if I have no money, the folk will help me." "Shall the giver +turn asker?" "I have friends and kinsfolk, and whatsoever I seek of them, they +will give me." "O Masrur, I will have of thee four pods of musk and four vases +of civet[FN#324] and four pounds of ambergris and four thousand dinars and four +hundred pieces of royal brocade, purfled with gold. An thou bring me these +things, O Masrur, I will grant thee my favours." "This is a light matter to me, +O thou that puttest the moons to shame," replied he and went forth to fetch her +what she sought. She sent her maid Hubub after him, to see what worth he had +with the folk of whom he had spoken to her; but, as he walked along the +highways he turned and seeing her afar off, waited till she came up to him and +said to her, "Whither away, O Hubub?" So she said to him, "My mistress sent me +to follow for this and that," and he replied, "By Allah, O Hubub, I have +nothing to hand!" She asked, "Then why didst thou promise her?"; and he +answered, "How many a promise made is unkept of its maker! Fine words in +love-matters needs must be." When she heard this from him, she said, "O Masrur, +be of good cheer and eyes clear for, by Allah, most assuredly I will be the +means of thy coming to enjoy her!" Then she left him nor ceased walking till +she stood before her mistress weeping with sore weeping, and said, "O my lady, +indeed he is a man of great consideration, and good repute among the folk." +Quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "There is no device against the destiny of Almighty +Allah! Verily, this man found not in me a pitiful heart, for that I despoiled +him of his substance and he got of me neither affection nor complaisance in +granting him amorous joy; but, if I incline to his inclination, I fear lest the +thing be bruited abroad." Quoth Hubub, "O my lady, verily, grievous upon us is +his present plight and the loss of his good and thou hast with thee none save +thyself and thy slave-girl Sukub; so which of us two would dare prate of thee, +and we thy handmaids?" With this, she bowed her head for a while ground-wards +and the damsels said to her, "O my lady, it is our rede that thou send after +him and show him grace and suffer him not ask of the sordid; for how bitter is +such begging!" So she accepted their counsel and calling for inkcase and paper, +wrote him these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Joy is nigh, O Masrúr, so rejoice in true rede; * Whenas night<br/> + + shall fall thou shalt do kind-deed:<br/> + +Crave not of the sordid a loan, fair youth, * Wine stole my wits<br/> + + but they now take heed:<br/> + +All thy good I reft shall return to thee, * O Masrúr, and I'll<br/> + + add to them amorous meed;<br/> + +For indeed th' art patient, and sweet of soul * When wronged by<br/> + + thy lover's tyrannic greed.<br/> + +So haste to enjoy us and luck to thee! * Lest my folk come<br/> + + between us speed, love, all speed!<br/> + +Hurry uswards thou, nor delay, and while * My mate is far, on<br/> + + Love's fruit come feed."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then she folded the paper and gave it to Hubub the handmaid, who carried it to +Masrur and found him weeping and reciting in a transport of passion and +love-longing these lines, +</p> + +<p> +"A breeze of love on my soul did blow * That consumed my liver<br/> + + for stress of lowe;<br/> + +When my sweetheart went all my longings grew; * And with tears in<br/> + + torrent mine eyelids flow:<br/> + +Such my doubt and fears, did I tell their tale * To deaf rocks<br/> + + and pebbles they'd melt for woe.<br/> + +Would Heaven I wot shall I sight delight, * And shall win my wish<br/> + + and my friend shall know!<br/> + +Shall be folded up nights that doomed us part * And I be healed<br/> + + of what harms my heart?"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that while Masrur, +transported by passion and love-longing, was repeating his couplets in +sing-song tone Hubub knocked at his door; so he rose and opened to her, and she +entered and gave him the letter. He read it and said to her, "O Hubub, what is +behind thee of thy lady's news[FN#325]?" She answered, "O my lord, verily, in +this letter is that dispenseth me from reply, for thou art of those who readily +descry!" Thereat he rejoiced with joy exceeding and repeated these two +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Came the writ whose contents a new joy revealed, * Which in<br/> + + vitals mine I would keep ensealed:<br/> + +And my longings grew when I kissed that writ, * As were pearl of<br/> + + passion therein concealed."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he wrote a letter answering hers and gave it to Hubub, who took it and +returned with it to her mistress and forthright fell to extolling his charms to +her and expiating on his good gifts and generosity; for she was become a helper +to him, to bring about his union with her lady. Quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "O +Hubub, indeed he tarrieth to come to us;" and quoth Hubub, "He will certainly +come soon." Hardly had she made an end of speaking when behold, he knocked at +the door, and she opened to him and brought him in to her mistress, who saluted +him with the salam[FN#326] and welcomed him and seated him by her side. Then +she said to Hubub, "Bring me a suit of brocade;" so she brought a robe +broidered with gold and Zayn al-Mawasif threw it over him, whilst she herself +donned one of the richest dresses and crowned her head with a net of pearls of +the freshest water. About this she bound a fillet of brocade, purfled with +pearls, jacinths and other jewels, from beneath which she let down two +tresses[FN#327] each looped with a pendant of ruby, charactered with glittering +gold, and she loosed her hair, as it were the sombrest night; and lastly she +incensed herself with aloes-wood and scented herself with musk and ambergris, +and Hubub said to her, "Allah save thee from the evil eye!" Then she began to +walk, swaying from side to side with gracefullest gait, whilst Hubub who +excelled in verse-making, recited in her honour these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Shamed is the bough of Bán by pace of her; * And harmed are<br/> + + lovers by the gaze of her.<br/> + +A moon she rose from murks, the hair of her, * A sun from locks<br/> + + the brow encase of her:<br/> + +Blest he she nights with by the grace of her, * Who dies in her<br/> + + with oath by days of her!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +So Zayn al-Mawasif thanked her and went up to Masrur, as she were full moon +displayed. But when he saw her, he rose to his feet and exclaimed, "An my +thought deceive me not, she is no human, but one of the brides of Heaven!" Then +she called for food and they brought a table, about whose marge were written +these couplets,[FN#328] +</p> + +<p> +"Dip thou with spoons in saucers four and gladden heart and eye *<br/> + + With many a various kind of stew and fricassee and fry.<br/> + +Thereon fat quails (ne'er shall I cease to love and tender them)<br/> + + * And rails and fowls and dainty birds of all the kinds that<br/> + + fly.<br/> + +Glory to God for the Kabobs, for redness all aglow, * And<br/> + + potherbs, steeped in vinegar, in porringers thereby!<br/> + +Fair fall the rice with sweet milk dressed, wherein the hands did<br/> + + plunge * And eke the forearms of the fair were buried,<br/> + + bracelet-high!<br/> + +How my heart yearneth with regret over two plates of fish * That<br/> + + by two manchet-cakes of bread of Tewarij[FN#329] did lie!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then they ate and drank and made mirth and merriment, after which the servants +removed the table of food and set on the wine service; so cup and tasse[FN#330] +passed round between them and they were gladdened in soul. Then Masrur filled +the cup and saying, "O whose thrall am I and who is my mistress!"[FN#331] +chanted these improvised couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Mine eyes I admire that can feed their fill * On charms of a<br/> + + girl rising worlds to light:<br/> + +In her time she hath none to compare for gifts * Of spirit and<br/> + + body a mere delight.<br/> + +Her shape breeds envy in Cassia-tree * When fares she forth in<br/> + + her symmetry dight:<br/> + +With luminous brow shaming moon of dark * And crown-like crescent<br/> + + the brightest bright.<br/> + +When treads she earth's surface her fragrance scents * The Zephyr<br/> + + that breathes over plain and height."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When he ended his extempore song she said, "O Masrur, whoso religiously keepeth +his faith and hath eaten our bread and salt, it behoveth us to give him his +due; so put away from thee all thought of what hath been and I will restore +thee thy lands and houses and all we have taken from thee." He replied, "O my +lady, I acquit thee of that whereof thou speakest, though thou hadst been false +to the oath and covenant between us; for I will go and become a Moslem." Zayn +al-Mawasif protested that she would follow suit[FN#332] when Hubub cried to +her, "O my lady, thou art young of years and knowest many things, and I claim +the intercession of Almighty Allah with thee for, except thou do my bidding and +heal my heart, I will not lie the night with thee in the house." And she +replied, "O Hubub, it shall be as thou wilt. Rise and make us ready another +sitting-room." So she sprang to her feet and gat ready a room and adorned and +perfumed it after fairest fashion even as her lady loved and preferred; after +which she again set on food and wine, and the cup went round between them and +their hearts were glad.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fiftieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif +bade her maid Hubub make ready a private sitting-room she arose and did her +bidding, after which she again set food and wine before them and cup and tasse +went round gladdening their hearts. Presently quoth Zayn al-Mawasif, "O Masrur, +come is the time of Union and favour; so, as thou studiest my love to savour +recite us some verses surpassing of flavour. " Upon this he recited the +following ode[FN#333], +</p> + +<p> +"I am taken: my heart bums with living flame<br/> + +For Union shorn whenas Severance came,<br/> + +In the love of a damsel who forced my soul<br/> + +And with delicate cheeklet my reason stole.<br/> + +She hath eyebrows united and eyes black-white<br/> + +And her teeth are leven that smiles in light:<br/> + +The tale of her years is but ten plus four;<br/> + +Tears like Dragon's blood[FN#334] for her love I pour.<br/> + +First I saw that face 'mid parterre and rill,<br/> + +Outshining full Lune on horizon-hill;<br/> + +And stood like a captive for awe, and cried,<br/> + +'Allah's Peace, O who in demesne[FN#335] doth hide!'<br/> + +She returned my salam, gaily answering<br/> + +With the sweetest speech likest pearls a-string.<br/> + +But when heard my words, she right soon had known<br/> + +My want and her heart waxed hard as stone,<br/> + +And quoth she, 'Be not this a word silly-bold?'<br/> + +But quoth I, 'Refrain thee nor flyte and scold!<br/> + +An to-day thou consent such affair were light;<br/> + +They like is the loved, mine the lover-wight!'<br/> + +When she knew my mind she but smiled in mirth<br/> + +And cried, 'Now, by the Maker of Heaven and Earth!<br/> + +I'm a Jewess of Jewry's driest e'er seen<br/> + +And thou art naught save a Nazarene.<br/> + +Why seek my favours? Thine's other caste;<br/> + +An this deed thou do thou'lt repent the past.<br/> + +Say, does Love allow with two Faiths to play?<br/> + +Men shall blame thee like me, at each break of day!<br/> + +Wilt thou laugh at beliefs and deride their rite,<br/> + +And in thine and mine prove thee sinful sprite?<br/> + +An thou lovedest me thou hadst turnčd Jew,<br/> + +Losing worlds for love and my favours due;<br/> + +And by the Evangel strong oath hadst sworn<br/> + +To keep our secret intact from scorn!'<br/> + +So I took the Torah and sware strong oath<br/> + +I would hold to the covenant made by both.<br/> + +Then by law, religion and creed I sware,<br/> + +And bound her by oaths that most binding were;<br/> + +And asked her, 'Thy name, O my dear delight?'<br/> + +And she, 'Zayn al-Mawásif at home I'm hight!'<br/> + +'O Zayn al-Mawasif!' (cried I) 'Hear my call:<br/> + +Thy love hath made me thy veriest thrall!'<br/> + +Then I peeped 'neath her chin-veil and 'spied such charms<br/> + +That the longing of love filled my heart with qualms.<br/> + +'Neath the curtain I ceased not to humble me,<br/> + +And complain of my heart-felt misery;<br/> + +But when she saw me by Love beguiled<br/> + +She raised her face-veil and sweetly smiled:<br/> + +And when breeze of Union our faces kiss'd<br/> + +With musk-pod she scented fair neck and wrist;<br/> + +And the house with her essences seemed to drip,<br/> + +And I kissed pure wine from each smiling lip:<br/> + +Then like branch of Bán 'neath her robe she swayed<br/> + +And joys erst unlawful[FN#336] she lawful made:<br/> + +And joined, conjoined through our night we lay<br/> + +With clip, kiss of inner lip, langue fourrée.<br/> + +The world hath no grace but the one loved fere<br/> + +In thine arms to clasp with possession sheer!<br/> + +With the morn she rose and she bade Good-bye<br/> + +While her brow shone brighter than moon a-sky;<br/> + +Reciting at parting (while tear-drops hung<br/> + +On her cheeks, these scattered and other strung),[FN#337]<br/> + +'Allah's pact in mind all my life I'll bear<br/> + +And the lovely nights and strong oath I sware.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Zayn al-Mawasif was delighted and said to him, "O Masrur, how goodly are thy +inner gifts! May he live not who would harm thy heart!" Then she entered her +boudoir and called him: so he went in to her and taking her in his arms, +embraced her and hugged her and kissed her and got of her that which he had +deemed impossible and rejoiced in winning the sweet of amorous will. Then said +she, "O Masrur, thy good is unlawful to me and is lawfully thine again now that +we are become lovers." So she returned to him all she had taken of him and +asked him, "O Masrur, hast thou a flower-garden whither we may wend and take +our pleasure?"; whereto he answered, "Yes, O my lady, I have a garden that hath +not its like." Then he returned to his lodgings and bade his slave-girls make +ready a splendid banquet in a handsome room; after which he summoned Zayn +al-Mawasif who came surrounded by her damsels, and they ate and drank and made +mirth and merriment, whilst the cup passed round between them and their spirits +rose high. Then lover withdrew with beloved and Zayn al-Mawasif said to Masrur, +"I have bethought me of some dainty verses, which I would fain sing to the +lute." He replied, "Do sing them"; so she took the lute and tuning it, sang to +a pleasant air these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Joy from stroke of string doth to me incline, * And sweet is<br/> + + a-morning our early wine;<br/> + +Whenas Love unveileth the amourist's heart, * And by rending the<br/> + + veil he displays his sign,<br/> + +With a draught so pure, so dear, so bright, * As in hand of<br/> + + Moons[FN#338] the Sun's sheeny shine<br/> + +O' nights it cometh with joy to 'rase * The hoar of sorrow by<br/> + + boon divine."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then ending her verse, she said to him, "O Masrur, recite us somewhat of thy +poetry and favour us with the fruit of thy thought." So he recited these two +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"We joy in full Moon who the wine bears round, * And in concert<br/> + + of lutes that from gardens sound;<br/> + +Where the dove moans at dawn and where bends the bough * To Morn,<br/> + + and all pathways of pleasure are found."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When he had finished his recitation she said to him, "Make us some verses on +that which hath passed between us an thou be occupied with love of me."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif +said to Masrur, "An thou be occupied with love of me, make us some verses on +that hath passed between us," "With love and gladness," he replied and +improvised the following Kasídah[FN#339], +</p> + +<p> +"Stand thou and hear what fell to me * For love of you gazelle to<br/> + + dree!<br/> + +Shot me a white doe with her shaft * O' glances wounding<br/> + + woundily.<br/> + +Love was my ruin, for was I * Straitened by longing ecstasy:<br/> + +I loved and woo'd a young coquette * Girded by strong artillery,<br/> + +Whom in a garth I first beheld * A form whose sight was symmetry.<br/> + +I greeted her and when she deigned * Greeting return, 'Salám,'<br/> + + quoth she<br/> + +'What be thy name?' said I, she said, * 'My name declares my<br/> + + quality![FN#340]'<br/> + +'Zayn al-Mawásif I am hight.' * Cried I, 'Oh deign I mercy see,'<br/> + +'Such is the longing in my heart * No lover claimeth rivalry!'<br/> + +Quoth she, 'With me an thou 'rt in love * And to enjoy me<br/> + + pleadest plea,<br/> + +I want of thee oh! muchel wealth; * Beyond all compt my wants o'<br/> + + thee!<br/> + +I want o' thee full many a robe * Of sendal, silk and damaskry;<br/> + +A quarter quintal eke of musk: * These of one night shall pay the<br/> + + fee.<br/> + +Pearls, unions and carnelian[FN#341]-stones * The bestest best of<br/> + + jewelry!'<br/> + +Of fairest patience showed I show * In contrariety albe:<br/> + +At last she favoured me one night * When rose the moon a crescent<br/> + + wee;<br/> + +An stranger blame me for her sake * I say, 'O blamers listen ye!<br/> + +She showeth locks of goodly length * And black as blackest night<br/> + + its blee;<br/> + +While on her cheeks the roses glow * Like Lazá-flame incendiary:<br/> + +In every eyelash is a sword * And every glance hath archery:<br/> + +Her liplets twain old wine contain, * And dews of fount-like<br/> + + purity:<br/> + +Her teeth resemble strings o' pearls, * Arrayed in line and fresh<br/> + + from sea:<br/> + +Her neck is like the neck of doe, * Pretty and carven perfectly:<br/> + +Her bosom is a marble slab * Whence rise two breasts like towers<br/> + + on lea:<br/> + +And on her stomach shows a crease * Perfumed with rich perfumery;<br/> + +Beneath which same there lurks a Thing * Limit of mine<br/> + + expectancy.<br/> + +A something rounded, cushioned-high * And plump, my lords, to<br/> + + high degree:<br/> + +To me 'tis likest royal throne * Whither my longings wander free;<br/> + +There 'twixt two pillars man shall find * Benches of high-built<br/> + + tracery.<br/> + +It hath specific qualities * Drive sanest men t' insanity;<br/> + +Full mouth it hath like mouth of neck * Or well begirt by stony<br/> + + key;<br/> + +Firm lips with camelry's compare * And shows it eye of cramoisie.<br/> + +An draw thou nigh with doughty will * To do thy doing lustily,<br/> + +Thou'll find it fain to face thy bout * And strong and fierce in<br/> + + valiancy.<br/> + +It bendeth backwards every brave * Shorn of his battle-bravery.<br/> + +At times imberbe, but full of spunk * To battle with the<br/> + + Paynimry.<br/> + +'T will show thee liveliness galore * And perfect in its<br/> + + raillery:<br/> + +Zayn al-Mawasif it is like * Complete in charms and courtesy.<br/> + +To her dear arms one night I came * And won meed given lawfully:<br/> + +I passed with her that self-same night * (Best of my nights!) in<br/> + + gladdest glee;<br/> + +And when the morning rose, she rose * And crescent like her<br/> + + visnomy:<br/> + +Then swayed her supple form as sway * The lances lopt from limber<br/> + + tree;<br/> + +And when farewelling me she cried, * 'When shall such nights<br/> + + return to me?'<br/> + +Then I replied, 'O eyen-light, * When He vouchsafeth His<br/> + + decree!'"[FN#342]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Zayn al-Mawasif was delighted with this Ode and the utmost gladness gat hold of +her. Then said she, "O Masrur day-dawn draweth nigh and there is naught for it +save to fly for fear of scandal and spy!" He replied, "I hear and obey," and +rising led her to her lodging, after which he returned to his quarters[FN#343] +and passed the rest of the night pondering on her charms. When the morning +morrowed with its sheen and shone, he made ready a splendid present and carried +it to her and sat by her side. And thus they abode awhile, in all solace of +life and its delight, till one day there came to Zayn al-Mawasif a letter from +her husband reporting to her his speedy return. Thereupon she said in herself, +"May Allah not keep him nor quicken him! If he come hither, our life will be +troubled: would Heaven I might despair of him!" Presently entered Masrur and +sat with her at chat, as was his wont, whereupon she said to him, "O Masrur, I +have received a missive from my mate, announcing his speedy return from his +wayfaring. What is to be done, since neither of us without other can live?" He +replied, "I know not; but thou art better able to judge, being acquainted with +the ways of thy man, more by token that thou art one of the sharpest-witted of +women and past mistress of devices such as devise that whereof fail the wise." +Quoth she, "He is a hard man and jealous of his household: but, when he shall +come home and thou hearest of his coming, do thou repair to him and salute him +and sit down by his side, saying, 'O my brother, I am a druggist.' Then buy of +him somewhat of drugs and spices of sorts and call upon him frequently and +prolong thy talks with him and gainsay him not in whatsoever he shall bid thee; +so haply that I would contrive may betide, as it were by chance." "I hear and I +obey," quoth Masrur and fared forth from her, with heart a-fire for love. When +her husband came home, she rejoiced in meeting him and after saluting him bade +him welcome; but he looked in her face and seeing it pale and sallow (for she +had washed it with saffron, using one of women's arts), asked her of her case. +She answered that she had been sick, she and her women, from the time of his +wayfaring, adding, "Verily, our hearts have been engrossed with thoughts of +thee because of the length of thine absence." And she went on to complain to +him of the misery of separation and to pour forth copious tears, saying, "Hadst +thou but a companion with thee, my heart had not borne all this cark and care +for thee. So, Allah upon thee, O my lord, travel not again without a comrade +and cut me not off from news of thee, that my heart and mind may be at rest +concerning thee!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif said +to her mate, "Travel not without comrade and cut me not off from news of thee, +that my heart and mind may be at rest concerning thee," he replied, "With love +and gladness! By Allah thy bede is good indeed and right is thy rede! By thy +life, it shall be as thou dost heed." Then he unpacked some of his +stock-in-trade and carrying the goods to his shop, opened it and sat down to +sell in the Soko.[FN#344] No sooner had he taken his place than lo and behold! +up came Masrur and saluting him, sat down by his side and began talking and +talked with him awhile. Then he pulled out a purse and taking forth gold, +handed it to Zayn al-Mawasif's man and said, "Give me the worth of these dinars +in drugs and spices of sorts, that I may sell them in my shop." The Jew +replied, "I hear and I obey," and gave him what he sought. And Masrur continued +to pay him frequent visits till, one day, the merchant said to him, "I have a +mind to take me a man to partner in trade." Quoth Masrur, "And I also, desire +to take a partner; for my father was a merchant in the land of Al-Yaman and +left me great store of money and I fear lest it fare from me." Quoth the Jew, +turning towards him, "Wilt thou be my partner, and I will be thy partner and a +true friend and comrade to thee at home and abroad; and I will teach thee +selling and buying, giving and taking?" And Masrur rejoined, "With all my +heart." So the merchant carried him to his place and seated him in the +vestibule, whilst he went in to his wife and said to her, "I have provided me +with a partner and have bidden him hither as a guest; so do thou get us ready +good guest-cheer." Whenas she heard this, she rejoiced divining that it was +Masrur, and made ready a magnificent banquet,[FN#345] of her delight in the +success of her device. Then, when the guest drew nigh, her husband said to her, +"Come out with me to him and bid him welcome and say, 'Thou gladdenest +us[FN#346]!'" But Zayn al-Mawasif made a show of anger, crying, "Wilt thou have +me display myself before a strange man? I take refuge with Allah! Though thou +cut me to bits, I will not appear before him!" Rejoined he, "Why shouldst thou +be abashed at him, seeing that he is a Nazarene and we are Jews and, to boot, +we are become chums, he and I?" Quoth she, "I am not minded to present myself +before a strange man, on whom I have never once set eyes and whom I know not +any wise." Her husband thought she spoke sooth and ceased not to importune her, +till she rose and veiling herself, took the food and went out to Masrur and +welcomed him; whereupon he bowed his head groundwards, as he were ashamed, and +the Jew, seeing such dejection said in himself, "Doubtless, this man is a +devotee." They ate their fill and the table being removed, wine was set on. As +for Zayn al-Mawasif, she sat over against Masrur and gazed on him and he gazed +on her till ended day, when he went home, with a heart to fire a prey. But the +Jew abode pondering the grace and the comeliness of him; and, as soon as it was +night, his wife according to custom served him with supper and they seated +themselves before it. Now he had a mockingbird which was wont, whenever he sat +down to meat, to come and eat with him and hover over his head; but in his +absence the fowl was grown familiar with Masrur and used to flutter about him +as he sat at meals. Now when Masrur disappeared and the master returned, it +knew him not and would not draw near him, and this made him thoughtful +concerning his case and the fowl's withdrawing from him. As for Zayn +al-Mawasif, she could not sleep with her heart thinking of Masrur, and thus it +was with her a second and even a third night, till the Jew became aware of her +condition and, watching her while she sat distraught, began to suspect somewhat +wrong. On the fourth night, he awoke in the middle thereof and heard his wife +babbling in her sleep and naming Masrur, what while she lay on her husband's +bosom, wherefore he misdoubted her; but he dissembled his suspicions and when +morning morrowed he repaired to his shop and sat therein. Presently, up came +Masrur and saluted him. He returned his salam and said to him, "Welcome, O my +brother!" adding anon, "I have wished for thee;" and he sat talking with him +for an hour or so, after which he said to him, "Rise, O my brother, and hie +with me to my house, that we may enter into the pact of brotherhood."[FN#347] +Replied Masrur, "With joy and goodly gree," and they repaired to the Jew's +house, where the master went in and told his wife of Masrur's visit, for the +purpose of conditioning their partnership, and said, "Make us ready a goodly +entertainment, and needs must thou be present and witness our brotherhood." But +she replied, "Allah upon thee, cause me not show myself to this strange man, +for I have no mind to company with him." So he held his peace and forbore to +press her and bade the waiting-women bring food and drink. Then he called the +mocking-bird but it knew not its lord and settled upon Masrur's lap; and the +Jew said to him, "O my master, what is thy name?" He answered, "My name is +Masrur;" whereupon the Jew remembered that this was the name which his wife had +repeated all night long in her sleep. Presently, he raised his head and saw her +making signs[FN#348] with her forefingers to Masrur and motioning to him with +her eyes, wherefore he knew that he had been completely cozened and cuckolded +and said, "O my lord, excuse me awhile, till I fetch my kinsmen, so they may be +present at our swearing brotherhood." Quoth Masrur, "Do what seemeth good to +thee;" whereupon the Jew went forth the house and returning privily by a back +way.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn al-Mawasif's +husband said to Masrur, "Excuse me awhile, till I fetch my cousins to witness +the brother-bond between me and thee." Then he went forth and, privily +returning behind the sitting-room, there took his station hard by a window +which gave upon the saloon and whence he could watch them without their seeing +him. Suddenly quoth Zayn al-Mawasif to her maid Sukub, "Whither is thy master +gone?"; and quoth she, "He is gone without the house." Cried the mistress, +"Lock the door and bar it with iron and open thou not till he knock, after thou +hast told me." Answered Sukub, "So shall it be done." Then, while her husband +watched them, she rose and filling a cup with wine, flavoured with powdered +musk and rose-water, went close to Masrur, who sprang up to meet her, saying, +"By Allah, the water of thy mouth is sweeter than this wine!" "Here it is for +thee," said she and filling her mouth with wine, gave him to drink thereof, +whilst he gave her the like to drink; after which she sprinkled him with +rose-water from front to foot, till the perfume scented the whole place. All +this while, the Jew was looking on and marvelling at the stress of love that +was between them, and his heart was filled with fury for what he saw and he was +not only wroth, but jealous with exceeding jealousy. Then he went out again and +coming to the door found it locked and knocked a loud knock of the excess of +his rage; whereupon quoth Sukub, "O my lady, here is my master;" and quoth Zayn +al-Mawasif, "Open to him; would that Allah had not brought him back in safety!" +So Sukub went and opened the door to the Jew, who said to her, "What ailed thee +to lock the door?" Quoth she, "It hath never ceased to be locked thus during +thine absence; nor hath it been opened night nor day;" and cried he, "Thou hast +done well; this pleaseth me." Then he went in to Masrur, laughing and +dissembling his chagrin, and said to him, "O Masrur, let us put off the +conclusion of our pact of brotherhood this day and defer it to another." +Replied Masrur, "As thou wilt," and hied him home, leaving the Jew pondering +his case and knowing not what to do; for his heart was sore troubled and he +said in himself, "Even the mocking-bird disowneth me and the slave-girls shut +the door in my face and favour another." And of his exceeding chagrin, he fell +to reciting these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Masrur joys life made fair by all delight of days, * Fulfilled<br/> + + of boons, while mine the sorest grief displays.<br/> + +The Days have falsed me in the breast of her I love * And in my<br/> + + heart are fires which all-consuming blaze:<br/> + +Yea, Time was clear for thee, but now 'tis past and gone * While<br/> + + yet her lovely charms thy wit and senses daze:<br/> + +Espied these eyes of mine her gifts of loveliness: * Oh, hard my<br/> + + case and sore my woe on spirit weighs!<br/> + +I saw the maiden of the tribe deal rich old wine * Of lips like<br/> + + Salsabíl to friend my love betrays:<br/> + +E'en so, O mocking-bird, thou dost betray my breast * And to a<br/> + + rival teachest Love and lover-ways:<br/> + +Strange things indeed and wondrous saw these eyne of me * Which<br/> + + were they sleep-drowned still from Sleep's abyss would raise:<br/> + +I see my best belovčd hath forsworn my love * And eke like my<br/> + + mocking-bird fro' me a-startled strays.<br/> + +By truth of Allah, Lord of Worlds who, whatso wills * His Fate,<br/> + + for creatures works and none His hest gainsays,<br/> + +Forsure I'll deal to that ungodly wight his due * Who but to sate<br/> + + his wicked will her heart withdrew!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Zayn al-Mawasif heard this, her side-muscles trembled and quoth she to her +handmaid, "Heardest thou those lines?"; whereupon quoth the girl, "I never +heard him in my born days recite the like of these verses; but let him say what +he will." Then having assured himself of the truth of his suspicions, the Jew +began to sell all his property, saying to himself, "Unless I part them by +removing her from her mother land the twain will not turn back from this that +they are engaged in, no, never!" So, when he had converted all his possessions +into coin, he forged a letter and read it to Zayn al-Mawasif, declaring that it +had come from his kinsmen, who invited him to visit them, him and his wife. She +asked, "How long shall we tarry with them?" and he answered, "Twelve days." +Accordingly she consented to this and said, "Shall I take any of my maids with +me?"; whereto he replied, "Take Hubub and Sukub and leave Khutub here." Then he +made ready a handsome camel-litter[FN#349] for his spouse and her women and +prepared to set out with them; whilst she sent to her leman, telling him what +had betided her and saying, "O Masrur, an the trysting-time[FN#350] that is +between us pass and I come not back, know that he hath cheated and cozened us +and planned a plot to separate us each from other, so forget thou not the +plighted faith betwixt us, for I fear that he hath found out our love and I +dread his craft and perfidy." Then, whilst her man was busy about his march she +fell a-weeping and lamenting and no peace was left her, night or day. Her +husband saw this, but took no note thereof; and when she saw there was scant +help for it, she gathered together her clothes and gear and deposited them with +her sister, telling her what had befallen her. Then she farewelled her and +going out from her, drowned in tears, returned to her own house, where she +found her husband had brought the camels and was busy loading them, having set +apart the handsomest dromedary for her riding, and when she saw this and knew +that needs must she be separated from Masrur, she waxt clean distraught. +Presently it chanced that the Jew went out on some business of his; so she +fared forth to the first or outer door and wrote thereon these couplets,—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif +saw her spouse summon the camels and knew that the march needs must be, she +waxt clean distraught. Presently it chanced that the Jew went out on some +business so she fared forth to the first door and wrote thereon these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Bear our salams, O Dove, from this our stead * From lover to<br/> + + beloved far severčd!<br/> + +Bid him fro' me ne'er cease to yearn and mourn * O'er happy days<br/> + + and hours for ever fled:<br/> + +Eke I in grief shall ever mourn and yearn, * Dwelling on days of<br/> + + love and lustihead;<br/> + +Long was our joyance, seeming aye to last, * When night and<br/> + + morning to reunion led;<br/> + +Till croaked the Raven[FN#351] of the Wold one day * His cursed<br/> + + croak and did our union dead.<br/> + +We sped and left the homestead dark and void * Its gates<br/> + + unpeopled and its dwellers sped."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then she went to the second door and wrote thereon these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"O who passest this doorway, by Allah, see * The charms of my<br/> + + fere in the glooms and make plea<br/> + +For me, saying, 'I think of the Past and weep * Yet boot me no<br/> + + tears flowing full and free.'<br/> + +Say, 'An fail thee patience for what befel * Scatter earth and<br/> + + dust on the head of thee!<br/> + +And o'er travel lands East and West, and deem * God sufficeth thy<br/> + + case, so bear patiently!'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then she went to the third door and wept sore and thereon wrote these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Fare softly, Masrúr! an her sanctuary * Thou seek, and read what<br/> + + a-door writ she.<br/> + +Ne'er forget Love-plight, if true man; how oft * Hast savoured<br/> + + Nights' bitter and sweetest gree!<br/> + +O Masrúr! forget not her neighbourhood * For wi' thee must her<br/> + + gladness and joyance flee!<br/> + +But beweep those dearest united days * When thou camest veilčd in<br/> + + secresy;<br/> + +Wend for sake of us over farthest wone; * Span the wold for us,<br/> + + for us dive in sea;<br/> + +Allah bless the past days! Ah, how glad they were * When in<br/> + + Gardens of Fancy the flowers pluckt we!<br/> + +The nights of Union from us are fled * And parting-glooms dim<br/> + + their radiancy;<br/> + +Ah! had this lasted as hopčd we, but * He left only our breasts<br/> + + and the rosery.<br/> + +Will revolving days on Re-union dawn? * Then our vow to the Lord<br/> + + shall accomplisht be.<br/> + +Learn thou our lots are in hand of Him * Who on lines of<br/> + + skull[FN#352] writes our destiny!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then she wept with sore weeping and returned to the house, wailing and +remembering what had passed and saying, "Glory be to God who hath decreed to us +this!" And her affliction redoubled for severance from her beloved and her +departure from her mother-land, and she recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Allah's peace on thee, House of Vacancy! * Ceased in thee all<br/> + + our joys, all our jubilee.<br/> + +O thou Dove of the homestead, ne'er cease to bemoan * Whose moons<br/> + + and full moons[FN#353] sorest severance dree:<br/> + +Masrúr, fare softly and mourn our loss; * Loving thee our eyes<br/> + + lose their brilliancy:<br/> + +Would thy sight had seen, on our marching day, * Tears shed by a<br/> + + heart in Hell's flagrancy!<br/> + +Forget not the plight in the garth-shade pledged * When we sat<br/> + + enveiléd in privacy:"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then she presented herself before her husband, who lifted her into the litter +he had let make for her; and, when she found herself on the camel's back, she +recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The Lord, empty House! to thee peace decree * Long we bore<br/> + + therein growth of misery:<br/> + +Would my life-thread were shorn in that safe abode * And o' night<br/> + + I had died in mine ecstasy!<br/> + +Home-sickness I mourn, and my strangerhood * Irks my soul, nor<br/> + + the riddle of future I ree.<br/> + +Would I wot shall I ever that house resee * And find it, as erst,<br/> + + home of joy and glee!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Said her husband, "O Zayn al-Mawasif grieve not for thy departure from thy +dwelling; for thou shalt return to it ere long Inshallah!" And he went on to +comfort her heart and soothe her sorrow. Then all set out and fared on till +they came without the town and struck into the high road, whereupon she knew +that separation was certain and this was very grievous to her. And while such +things happened Masrur sat in his quarters, pondering his case and that of his +mistress, and his heart forewarned him of severance. So he rose without stay +and delay and repairing to her house, found the outer door padlocked and read +the couplets she had written thereon; upon which he fell down in a fainting +fit. When he came to himself, he opened the first door and entering, read what +was written upon the second and likewise upon the third doors; wherefore +passion and love-longing and distraction grew on him. So he went forth and +hastened in her track, till he came up with the light caravan[FN#354] and found +her at the rear, whilst her husband rode in the van, because of his +merchandise. When he saw her, he clung to the litter, weeping and wailing for +the anguish of parting, and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Would I wot for what crime shot and pierced are we * Thro' the<br/> + + days with Estrangement's archery!<br/> + +O my heart's desire, to thy door I came * One day, when high waxt<br/> + + mine expectancy:<br/> + +But I found the home waste as the wold and void * And I 'plained<br/> + + my pine and groaned wretchedly:<br/> + +And I asked the walls of my friends who fared * With my heart in<br/> + + pawn and in pendency;<br/> + +And they said, 'All marched from the camp and left *An ambushed<br/> + + sorrow on hill and lea;'<br/> + +And a writ on the walls did they write, as write * Folk who keep<br/> + + their faith while the Worlds are three."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Now when Zayn al-Mawasif heard these lines, she knew that it was Masrur.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif +heard these lines she knew that it was Masrur and wept, she and her handmaids, +and said to him, "O Masrur, I conjure thee by Allah, turn back, lest my husband +see us twain together!" At her words he swooned away; and when he revived, they +took leave each of other and he recited the following couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The Caravan-chief calleth loud o' night * Ere the Breeze bear<br/> + + his cry in the morning-light:<br/> + +They girded their loads and prepared to fare, * And hurried while<br/> + + murmured the leader-wight.<br/> + +They scent the scene on its every side, * As their march through<br/> + + the valley they expedite.<br/> + +After winning my heart by their love they went * O' morn when<br/> + + their track could deceive my sight.<br/> + +O my neighbour fair, I reckt ne'er to part, * Or the ground<br/> + + bedewed with my tears to sight!<br/> + +Woe betide my heart, now hath Severance hand * To heart and<br/> + + vitals dealt bane and blight."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he clung to the litter, weeping and wailing, whilst she besought him to +turn back ere morn for fear of scorn. So he came up to her Haudaj and +farewelling her a second time, fell down in a swoon. He lay an hour or so +without life, and when he revived he found the caravan had fared forth of +sight. So he turned in the direction of their wayfare and scenting the breeze +which blew from their quarter, chanted these improvised lines, +</p> + +<p> +"No breeze of Union to the lover blows * But moan he maketh burnt<br/> + + with fiery woes:<br/> + +The Zephyr fans him at the dawn o' day; * But when he wakes the<br/> + + horizon lonely shows:<br/> + +On bed of sickness strewn in pain he lies, * And weeps he bloody<br/> + + tears in burning throes,<br/> + +For the fair neighbour with my heart they bore * 'Mid travellers<br/> + + urging beasts with cries and blows.<br/> + +By Allah from their stead no Zephyr blew * But sniffed I as the<br/> + + wight on eyeballs goes;[FN#355]<br/> + +And snuff the sweetest South as musk it breathes * And on the<br/> + + longing lover scent bestows."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Masrur returned, mad with love-longing, to her house, and finding it lone +from end to end[FN#356] and forlorn of friend, wept till he wet his clothes; +after which he swooned away and his soul was like to leave his body. When he +revived, he recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"O Spring-camp have ruth on mine overthrowing * My abjection, my<br/> + + leanness, my tears aye flowing,<br/> + +Waft the scented powder[FN#357] of breezes they breathe * In hope<br/> + + it cure heart of a grief e'er growing."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he returned to his own lodging confounded and tearful-eyed, and abode +there for the space of ten days. Such was his case; but as regards the Jew, he +journeyed on with Zayn al-Mawasif half a score days, at the end of which he +halted at a certain city and she, being by that time assured that her husband +had played her false, wrote to Masrur a letter and gave it to Hubub, saying, +"Send this to Masrur, so he may know how foully and fully we have been tricked +and how the Jew hath cheated us." So Hubub took it and despatched it to Masrur, +and when it reached, its news was grievous to him and he wept till he watered +the ground. Then he wrote a reply and sent it to his mistress, subscribing it +with these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Where is the way to Consolation's door * How shall console him<br/> + + flames burn evermore?<br/> + +How pleasant were the days of yore all gone: * Would we had<br/> + + somewhat of those days of yore!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When the missive reached Zayn al-Mawasif, she read it and again gave it to her +handmaid Hubub, saying to her, "Keep it secret!" However, the husband came to +know of their correspondence and removed with her and her two women to another +city, at a distance of twenty days' march. Thus it befel Zayn al-Mawasif; but +as regards Masrur, sleep was not sweet to him nor was peace peaceful to him or +patience left to him, and he ceased not to be thus till, one night, his eyes +closed for weariness and he dreamt that he saw Zayn al-Mawasif come to him in +the garden and embrace him; but presently he awoke and found her not: whereupon +his reason fled and his wits wandered and his eyes ran over with tears; +love-longing to the utterest gat hold of his heart and he recited these +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Peace be to her, who visits me in sleeping phantasy * Stirring<br/> + + desire and growing love to uttermost degree:<br/> + +Verily from that dream I rose with passion maddenčd * For sight<br/> + + of fairest phantom come in piece to visit me:<br/> + +Say me, can dreams declare the truth anent the maid I love, * And<br/> + + quench the fires of thirst and heal my love-sick malady?<br/> + +Anon to me she is liberal and she strains me to her breast; *<br/> + + Anon she soothes mine anxious heart with sweetest<br/> + + pleasantry:<br/> + +From off her dark-red damask lips the dew I wont to sip * The<br/> + + fine old wine that seemed to reek of musk's perfumery.<br/> + +I wondered at the wondrous things between us done in dreams, *<br/> + + And won my wish and all my will of things I hoped to see;<br/> + +And from that dreamery I rose, yet ne'er could hope to find *<br/> + + Trace of my phantom save my pain and fiery misery:<br/> + +And when I looked on her a-morn, 'twas as a lover mad * And every<br/> + + eve was drunken yet no wine brought jollity.<br/> + +O breathings of the northern breeze, by Allah fro' me bear *<br/> + + Them-wards the greetings of my love and best salams that be:<br/> + +Say them, 'The wight with whom ye made that plight of fealty *<br/> + + Time with his changes made him drain Death's cup and slain<br/> + + is he!'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he went out and ceased not to weep till he came to her house and looking +on it, saw it empty and void. Presently, it seemed to him he beheld her form +before him, whereupon fires flamed in him and his griefs redoubled and he fell +down aswoon;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Masrur saw the +vision of Zayn al-Mawasif and felt her embrace, he joyed with passing joy. As +soon as he awoke he sought her house, but finding it empty and void he fell +down a-swoon; and when he came to himself, he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Fro' them inhale I scent of Ottar and of Bán; * So fare with<br/> + + heart which ecstasies of love unman:<br/> + +I'd heal thy longings (love-sick lover!) by return * To site of<br/> + + beauty void sans friend or mate to scan:<br/> + +But still it sickeneth me with parting's ban and bane * Minding<br/> + + mine olden plight with friend and partisan."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When he had made an end of these verses, he heard a raven croak beside the +house and wept, saying, "Glory be to God! The raven croaketh not save over a +ruined homestead." Then he moaned and groaned and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"What ails the Raven that he croaks my lover's house hard by, *<br/> + + And in my vitals lights a fire that flameth fierce and high?<br/> + +For times now past and gone I spent in joyance of their love *<br/> + + With love my heart hath gone to waste and I sore pain aby:<br/> + +I die of longing love and lowe still in my liver raging * And<br/> + + wrote to her but none there is who with the writ may hie:<br/> + +Ah well-away for wasted frame! Hath farčd forth my friend * And<br/> + + if she will o' nights return Oh would that thing wot I!<br/> + +Then, Ho thou Breeze of East, and thou by morn e'er visit her; *<br/> + + Greet her from me and stand where doth her tribe encampčd<br/> + + lie!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Now Zayn al-Mawasif had a sister, by name Nasím—the Zephyr—who stood espying +him from a high place; and when she saw him in this plight, she wept and sighed +and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"How oft bewailing the place shall be this coming and going, *<br/> + + While the House bemoaneth its builder with tear-flood ever<br/> + + a-flowing?<br/> + +Here was bestest joy ere fared my friend with the caravan hieing<br/> + + * And its dwellers and brightest-suns[FN#358] ne'er ceased<br/> + + in its walls a-glowing:<br/> + +Where be those fullest moons that here were always arising? *<br/> + + Bedimmed them the Shafts of Days their charms of spirit<br/> + + unknowing:<br/> + +Leave then what is past of the Fair thou wast ever with love<br/> + + espying * And look; for haply the days may restore them<br/> + + without foreshowing:<br/> + +For hadst thou not been, its dwellers had never departed flying *<br/> + + Nor haddest thou seen the Crow with ill-omened croak<br/> + + a-crying."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Masrur wept sore hearing these verses and apprehending their significance. Now +Nasim knew that which was between him and her sister of love and longing, +ecstasy and passion; so she said to him, "Allah upon thee, O Masrur, away from +this house, lest any see thee and deem thou comest on my account! Indeed thou +hast caused my sister quit it and now thou wouldst drive me also away. Thou +knowest that, but for thee, the house would not now be void of its dwellers: so +be consoled for her loss and leave her: what is past is past." When he heard +this, he wept bitterly and said to her, "O Nasim, if I could, I should fly for +longing after her; so how can I be comforted for her?" Quoth she, "Thou hast no +device save patience;" and quoth he, "I beseech thee, for Allah's sake, write +me a writ to her, as from thyself, and get me an answer from her, to comfort my +heart and quench the fire in my vitals." She replied, "With love and gladness," +and took inkcase and paper, whilst Masrur began to set out to her the violence +of his longing and what tortures he suffered for the anguish of severance, +saying, "This letter is from the lover despairing and sorrowful * the bereaved, +the woeful * with whom no peace can stay * nor by night nor by day * but he +weepeth copious tears alway. * Indeed, tears his eyelids have ulcerated and his +sorrows have kindled in his liver a fire unsated. His lamentation is lengthened +and restlessness is strengthened and he is as he were a bird unmated * While +for sudden death he awaiteth * Alas, my desolation for the loss of thee * and +alas, my yearning affliction for the companionship of thee! * Indeed, +emaciation hath wasted my frame * and my tears a torrent became * mountains and +plains are straitened upon me for grame * and of the excess of my distress, I +go saying, +</p> + +<p> +"Still cleaves to this homestead mine ecstasy, * And redoubled<br/> + + pine for its dwellers I dree;<br/> + +And I send to your quarters the tale of my love * And the cup of<br/> + + your love gave the Cup-boy to me.<br/> + +And for faring of you and your farness from home * My wounded<br/> + + lids are from tears ne'er free:<br/> + +O thou leader of litters, turn back with my love * For my heart<br/> + + redoubleth its ardency:<br/> + +Greet my love and say him that naught except * Those brown-red<br/> + + lips deals me remedy:<br/> + +They bore him away and our union rent * And my vitals with<br/> + + Severance-shaft shot he:<br/> + +My love, my lowe and my longing to him * Convey, for of parting<br/> + + no cure I see:<br/> + +I swear an oath by your love that I * Will keep pact and covenant<br/> + + faithfully,<br/> + +To none I'll incline or forget your love * How shall love-sick<br/> + + lover forgetful be?<br/> + +So with you be the peace and my greeting fair * In letters that<br/> + + perfume of musk-pod bear."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Her sister Nasim admired his eloquence of tongue and the goodliness of his +speech and the elegance of the verses he sang, and was moved to ruth for him. +So she sealed the letter with virgin musk and incensed it with Nadd-scent and +ambergris, after which she committed it to a certain of the merchants saying, +"Deliver it not to any save to Zayn al-Mawasif or to her handmaid Hubub." Now +when the letter reached her sister, she knew it for Masrur's dictation and +recognised himself in the grace of its expression. So she kissed it and laid it +on her eyes, whilst the tears streamed from her lids and she gave not over +weeping, till she fainted. As soon as she came to herself, she called for +pencase and paper and wrote him the following answer; complaining the while of +her desire and love-longing and ecstasy and what was hers to endure of pining +for her lover and yearning to him and the passion she had conceived for +him.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn al-Mawasif wrote +the following reply to Masrur's missive: "This letter to my lord and master I +indite * the king of my heart and my secret sprite * Indeed, wakefulness +agitateth me * and melancholy increaseth on me * and I have no patience to +endure the absence of thee * O thou who excellest sun and moon in brilliancy * +Desire of repose despoileth me * and passion destroyeth me * and how should it +be otherwise with me, seeing that I am of the number of the dying? *O glory of +the world and Ornament of life, she whose vital spirits are cut off shall her +cup be sweet to quaff? * For that she is neither with the quick nor with the +dead." And she improvised these couplets and said, +</p> + +<p> +"Thy writ, O Masrúr, stirred my sprite to pine * For by Allah,<br/> + + all patience and solace I tyne:<br/> + +When I read thy scripture, my vitals yearned * And watered the<br/> + + herbs of the wold these eyne.<br/> + +On Night's wings I'd fly an a bird * And sans thee I weet not the<br/> + + sweets of wine:<br/> + +Life's unlawful to me since thou faredst far * To bear parting-<br/> + + lowe is no force of mine."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then she sprinkled the letter with powder of musk and ambergris and, having +sealed it with her signet, committed it to a merchant, saying, "Deliver it to +none save to my sister." When it reached Nasim she sent it to Masrur, who +kissed it and laid it on his eyes and wept till he fell into a trance. Such was +their case; but as regards the Jew, he presently heard of their correspondence +and began again to travel from place to place with Zayn al-Mawasif and her +damsels, till she said to him, "Glory to God! How long wilt thou fare with us +and bear us afar from our homes?" Quoth he, "I will fare on with you a year's +journey, so no more letters may reach you from Masrur. I see how you take all +my monies and give them to him; so all that I miss I shall recover from you: +and I shall see if Masrur will profit you or have power to deliver you from my +hand." Then he repaired to a blacksmith, after stripping her and her damsels of +their silken apparel and clothing them in raiment of hair-cloth, and bade him +make three pairs of iron shackles. When they were ready, he brought the smith +in to his wife, having said to him, "Put the shackles on the legs of these +three slave-girls." The first that came forward was Zayn al-Mawasif, and when +the blacksmith saw her, his sense forsook him and he bit his finger tips and +his wit fled forth his head and his transport grew sore upon him. So he said to +the Jew, "What is the crime of these damsels?" Replied the other, "They are my +slave-girls, and have stolen my good and fled from me." Cried the smith, "Allah +disappoint thy jealous whims! By the Almighty, were this girl before the Kazi +of Kazis,[FN#359] he would not even reprove her, though she committed a +thousand crimes a day. Indeed, she showeth not thief's favour and she cannot +brook the laying of irons on her legs." And he asked him as a boon not to +fetter her, interceding with him to forbear the shackles. When she saw the +blacksmith taking her part in this wise she said to her husband, "I conjure +thee, by Allah, bring me not forth before yonder strange man!" Said he, "Why +then camest thou forth before Masrur?"; and she made him no reply. Then he +accepted the smith's intercession, so far as to allow him to put a light pair +of irons on her legs, for that she had a delicate body, which might not brook +harsh usage, whilst he laid her handmaids in heavy bilboes, and they ceased +not, all three, to wear hair-cloth night and day till their bodies became +wasted and their colour changed. As for the blacksmith, exceeding love had +fallen on his heart for Zayn al-Mawasif; so he returned home in great concern +and he fell to reciting extempore these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Wither thy right, O smith, which made her bear * Those iron<br/> + + chains her hands and feet to wear!<br/> + +Thou hast ensoiled a lady soft and bright, * Marvel of marvels,<br/> + + fairest of the fair:<br/> + +Hadst thou been just, those anklets ne'er had been * Of iron: nay<br/> + + of purest gold they were:<br/> + +By Allah! did the Kázis' Kázi sight * Her charms, he'd seat her<br/> + + in the highest chair."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Now it chanced that the Kazi of Kazis passed by the smith's house and heard him +improvise these lines; so he sent for him and as soon as he saw him said to +him, "O blacksmith, who is she on whom thou callest so instantly and eloquently +and with whose love thy heart is full filled?" The smith sprang to his feet and +kissing the Judge's hand, answered, "Allah prolong the days of our lord the +Kazi and ample his life!" Then he described to him Zayn al-Mawasif's beauty and +loveliness, brilliancy and perfection, and symmetry and grace and how she was +lovely faced and had a slender waist and heavily based; and acquainted him with +the sorry plight wherein she was for abasement and durance vile and lack of +victual. When the Kazi heard this, he said, "O blacksmith, send her to us and +show her that we may do her justice, for thou art become accountable for the +damsel and unless thou guide her to us, Allah will punish thee at the Day of +Doom." "I hear and obey," replied the smith and betook himself without stay and +delay to Zayn al-Mawasif's lodging, but found the door barred and heard a voice +of plaintive tone that came from heart forlorn and lone; and it was Zayn +al-Mawasif reciting these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"I and my love in union were unite; * And filled my friend to me<br/> + + cups clearly bright<br/> + +Between us reigned high mirth and jollity, * Nor Eve nor Morn<br/> + + brought 'noyance or affright<br/> + +Indeed we spent most joyous time, with cup * And lute and<br/> + + dulcimer to add delight,<br/> + +Till Time estranged our fair companionship; * My lover went and<br/> + + blessing turned to blight.<br/> + +Ah would the Severance-raven's croak were stilled * And<br/> + + Union-dawn of Love show blessčd light!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When the blacksmith heard this, he wept like the weeping of the clouds. Then he +knocked at the door and the women said, "Who is at the door?" Answered he, +"'Tis I, the blacksmith," and told them what the Kazi had said and how he would +have them appear before him and make their complaint to him, that he might do +them justice on their adversary.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say, +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the blacksmith +told Zayn al-Mawasif what the Kazi had said, and how he summoned them that he +might apply the Lex Talionis to their adversary, she rejoined, "How can we go +to him, seeing the door is locked on us and our feet shackled and the Jew hath +the keys?" The smith replied, "I will make the keys for the padlocks and +therewith open door and shackles." Asked she, "But who will show us the Kazi's +house?"; and he answered, "I will describe it to you." She enquired, "But how +can we appear before him, clad as we are in haircloth reeking with sulphur?" +And the smith rejoined, "The Kazi will not reproach this to you, considering +your case." So saying, he went forthright and made keys for the padlocks, +wherewith he opened the door and the shackles, and loosing the irons from their +legs, carried them forth and guided them to the Kazi's mansion. Then Hubub did +off the hair-cloth garments from her lady's body and carried her to the Hammam, +where she bathed her and attired her in silken raiment, and her colour returned +to her. Now it happened, by exceeding good fortune, that her husband was abroad +at a bride-feast in the house of one of the merchants; so Zayn al-Mawasif, the +Adornment of Qualities, adorned herself with the fairest ornaments and repaired +to the Kazi, who at once on espying her rose to receive her. She saluted him +with softest speech and winsomest words, shooting him through the vitals the +while with the shafts of her glances, and said, "May Allah prolong the life of +our lord the Kazi and strengthen him to judge between man and man!" Then she +acquainted him with the affair of the blacksmith and how he had done nobly by +them, whenas the Jew had inflicted on her and her women heart-confounding +torments; and how his victims deathwards he drave, nor was there any found to +save. "O damsel," quoth the Kazi, "what is thy name?" "My name is Zayn al +Mawasif,—Adomment of Qualities—and this my handmaid's name is Hubub." "Thy name +accordeth with the named and its sound conformeth with its sense." Whereupon +she smiled and veiled her face, and he said to her, "O Zayn al-Mawasif, hast +thou a husband or not?" "I have no husband"; "And what is thy Faith?" "That of +Al-Islam, and the religion of the Best of Men." "Swear to me by Holy Law +replete with signs and instances that thou ownest the creed of the Best of +Mankind." So she swore to him and pronounced the profession of the Faith. Then +asked the Kazi, "How cometh it that thou wastest thy youth with this Jew?" And +she answered, "Know, O Kazi (may Allah prolong thy days in contentment and +bring thee to thy will and thine acts with benefits seal!), that my father left +me, after his death, fifteen thousand dinars, which he placed in the hands of +this Jew, that he might trade therewith and share his gains with me, the head +of the property[FN#360] being secured by legal acknowledgment. When my father +died, the Jew coveted me and sought me in marriage of my mother, who said, 'How +shall I drive her from her Faith and cause to become a Jewess? By Allah, I will +denounce thee to the rulers!' He was affrighted at her words and taking the +money, fled to the town of Adan.[FN#361] When we heard where he was, we came to +Adan in search of him, and when we foregathered with him there, he told us that +he was trading in stuffs with the monies and buying goods upon goods. So we +believed him and he ceased not to cozen us till he cast us into jail and +fettered us and tortured us with exceeding sore torments; and we are strangers +in the land and have no helper save Almighty Allah and our lord the Kazi." When +the judge heard this tale he asked Hubub the nurse, "Is this indeed thy lady +and are ye strangers and is she unmarried?", and she answered, "Yes." Quoth he, +"Marry her to me and on me be incumbent manumission of my slaves and fasting +and pilgrimage and almsgiving of all my good an I do you not justice on this +dog and punish him for that he hath done!" And quoth she, "I hear and obey." +Then said the Kazi, "Go, hearten thy heart and that of thy lady; and to-morrow, +Inshallah, I will send for this Miscreant and do you justice on him and ye +shall see prodigies of his punishment." So Hubub called down blessings upon him +and went forth from him with her mistress, leaving him with passion and +love-longing fraught and with distress and desire distraught. Then they +enquired for the house of the second Kazi and presenting themselves before him, +told him the same tale. On like wise did the twain, mistress and maid with the +third and the fourth, till Zayn al-Mawasif had made her complaint to all the +four Kazis, each of whom fell in love with her and besought her to wed him, to +which she consented with a "Yes"; nor wist any one of the four that which had +happened to the others. All this passed without the knowledge of the Jew, who +spent the night in the house of the bridefeast. And when morning morrowed, +Hubub arose and gat ready her lady's richest raiment; then she clad her +therewith and presented herself with her before the four Kazis in the court of +justice. As soon as she entered, she veiled her face and saluted the judges, +who returned her salam and each and every of them recognised her. One was +writing, and the reed-pen dropped from his hand, another was talking, and his +tongue became tied, and a third was reckoning and blundered in his reckoning; +and they said to her, "O admirable of attributes and singular among beauties! +be not thy heart other than hearty, for we will assuredly do thee justice and +bring thee to thy desire." So she called down blessings on them and farewelled +them and went her ways.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Kazis said to +Zayn al-Mawasif, "O admirable of attributes and singular among beauties! Be not +thy heart other than hearty for our doing thy desire and thy winning to thy +will." So she called down blessings on them and farewelled them and went her +ways, the while her husband abode with his friends at the marriage-banquet and +knew naught of her doings. Then she proceeded to beseech the notaries and +scribes and the notables and the Chiefs of Police to succour her against that +unbelieving miscreant and deliver her from the torment she suffered from him. +Then she wept with sore weeping and improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Rain showers of torrent tears, O Eyne and see * An they will<br/> + + quench the fires that flame in me:<br/> + +After my robes of gold-embroidered silk * I wake to wear the<br/> + + frieze of monkery:<br/> + +And all my raiment reeks of sulphur-fumes * When erst my shift<br/> + + shed musky fragrancy:<br/> + +And hadst thou, O Masrúr, my case descried, * Ne'er hadst thou<br/> + + borne my shame and ignomy.<br/> + +And eke Hubúb in iron chains is laid * By Miscreant who unknows<br/> + + God's Unity.<br/> + +The creed of Jewry I renounce and home, * The Moslem's Faith<br/> + + accepting faithfully<br/> + +Eastwards[FN#362] I prostrate self in fairest guise * Holding the<br/> + + only True Belief that be:<br/> + +Masrúr! forget not love between us twain * And keep our vows and<br/> + + troth with goodly gree:<br/> + +I've changed my faith for sake of thee, and I * For stress of<br/> + + love will cleave to secrecy:<br/> + +So haste to us, an us in heart thou bear, * As noble spirit, nor<br/> + + as laggard fare."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +After this she wrote a letter to Masrur, describing to him all that the Jew had +done with her from first to last and enclosed the verses aforesaid. Then she +folded the scroll and gave it to her maid Hubub, saying, "Keep this in thy +pocket, till we send it to Masrur." Upon these doings lo and behold! in came +the Jew and seeing them joyous, said to them, "How cometh it that I find you +merry? Say me, hath a letter reached you from your bosom friend Masrur?" +Replied Zayn al-Mawasif, "We have no helper against thee save Allah, extolled +and exalted be He! He will deliver us from thy tyranny, and except thou restore +us to our birth-place and homestead, we will complain of thee tomorrow to the +Governor of this town and to the Kazi." Quoth he, "Who struck off the shackles +from your legs? But needs must I let make for each of you fetters ten pounds in +weight and go round about the city with you." Replied Hubub, "All that thou +purposest against us thou shall fall into thyself, so it please Allah the Most +High, by token that thou hast exiled us from our homes, and to-morrow we shall +stand, we and thou, before the Governor of the city." They nighted on this wise +and next morning the Jew rose up in haste and went out to order new shackles, +whereupon Zayn al-Mawasif arose and repaired with her women to the court-house, +where she found the four Kazis and saluted them. They all returned her +salutation and the Kazi of Kazis said to those about him, "Verily this damsel +is lovely as the Venus-star[FN#363] and all who see her love her and bow before +her beauty and loveliness." Then he despatched four sergeants, who were +Sharífs,[FN#364] saying, "Bring ye the criminal after abjectest fashion." So, +when the Jew returned with the shackles and found none in the house, he was +confounded; but, as he abode in perplexity, suddenly up came the officers and +laying hold of him beat him with a sore beating and dragged him face downwards +before the Kazi. When the judge saw him, he cried out in his face and said to +him, "Woe to thee, O foe of God, is it come to such a pass with thee that thou +doest the deed thou hast done and bringest these women far from their country +and stealest their monies and wouldst make them Jews? How durst thou seek to +make miscreants of Moslems?" Answered the Jew, "O my lord this woman is my +wife." Now when the Kazis heard this, they all cried out, saying, "Throw this +hound on the ground and come down on his face with your sandals and beat him +with sore blows, for his offence is unpardonable." So they pulled off his +silken gear and clad him in his wife's raiment of hair-cloth, after which they +threw him down and plucked out his beard and belaboured him about the face with +sandals. Then they sat him on an ass, face to crupper, arsi-versy, and making +him take its tail in his hand, paraded him round about the city, ringing the +bell before him in every street; after which they brought him back to the +judges in sorriest plight; and the four Kazis with one voice condemned him to +have his feet and hands cut off and lastly to be crucified. When the accursed +heard this sentence his sense forsook him and he was confounded and said, "O my +lords the Kazis, what would ye of me?" They replied, "Say thou, 'This damsel is +not my wife and the monies are her monies, and I have transgressed against her +and brought her far from her country.'" So he confessed to this and the Kazis +recorded his confession in legal form and taking the money from him, gave it to +Zayn al-Mawasif, together with the document. Then she went away and all who saw +her were confounded at her beauty and loveliness, whilst each of the Kazis +looked for her committing herself to him. But, when she came to her lodging, +she made ready all matters she needed and waited till night. Then she took what +was light of load and weighty of worth, and setting out with her maids under +cover of the murks three days with their nights fared on without stopping. Thus +it was with her; but as regards the Kazis they ordered the Jew to prison.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixtieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Kazis ordered the Jew +to prison and on the morrow they looked for Zayn al-Mawasif coming to them, +they and their assessors; but she presented herself not to any of them. Then +said the Chief Kazi, "I wish to-day to make an excursion without the town on +business there." So he mounted his she-mule and taking his page with him, went +winding about the streets of the town, searching its length and width for Zayn +al-Mawasif, but never finding her. On this errand he came upon the other three +Kazis, going about on the same, each deeming himself the only one to whom she +had given tryst. He asked them whither they were riding and why they were going +about the streets; when they told him their business, whereby he saw that their +plight was as his plight and their quest as his quest. So they all four rode +throughout the city, seeking her, but could hit on no trace of her and returned +to their houses, sick for love, and lay down on the bed of langour. Presently +the Chief Kazi bethought himself of the blacksmith; so he sent for him and said +to him, "O blacksmith, knowest thou aught of the damsel whom thou didst direct +to me? By Allah, an thou discover her not to me, I will whack thee with whips." +Now when the smith heard this, he recited these couplets[FN#365], +</p> + +<p> +"She who my all of love by love of her hath won * Owns every<br/> + + Beauty and for others leaves she none:<br/> + +She gazes, a gazelle; she breathes, fresh ambergris * She waves,<br/> + + a lake; she sways, a bough; she shines, a Sun."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then said the blacksmith, "By Allah, O my lord, since she fared forth from thy +worshipful presence,[FN#366] I have not set eyes on her; no, not once. Indeed +she took possession of my heart and wits and all my talk and thoughts are of +her. I went to her lodging but found her not, nor found I any who could give me +news of her, and it is as if she had dived into the depths of the sea or had +ascended to the sky." Now when the Kazi heard this, he groaned a groan, that +his soul was like to depart therefor, and he said, "By Allah, well it were had +we never seen her!" Then the smith went away, whilst the Kazi fell down on his +bed and became sick of langour for her sake, and on like wise fared it with the +other three Kazis and assessors. The mediciners paid them frequent calls, but +found in them no ailment requiring a leach: so the city-notables went in to the +Chief Kazi and saluting him, questioned him of his case; whereupon he sighed +and showed them that was in his heart, reciting these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Stint ye this blame; enough I suffer from Love's malady * Nor<br/> + + chide the Kazi frail who fain must deal to folk decree!<br/> + +Who doth accuse my love let him for me find some excuse: * Nor<br/> + + blame; for lovers blameless are in lover-slavery!<br/> + +I was a Kázi whom my Fate deigned aid with choicest aid * By writ<br/> + + and reed and raisčd me to wealth and high degree;<br/> + +Till I was shot by sharpest shaft that knows nor leach nor cure *<br/> + + By Damsel's glance who came to spill my blood and murther<br/> + + me.<br/> + +To me came she, a Moslemah and of her wrongs she 'plained * With<br/> + + lips that oped on Orient-pearls ranged fair and orderly:<br/> + +I looked beneath her veil and saw a wending moon at full * Rising<br/> + + below the wings of Night engloomed with blackest blee:<br/> + +A brightest favour and a mouth bedight with wondrous smiles; *<br/> + + Beauty had brought the loveliest garb and robed her<br/> + + cap-ŕ-pie.<br/> + +By Allah, ne'er beheld my eyes a face so ferly fair * Amid<br/> + + mankind whoever are, Arab or Ajamí.<br/> + +My Fair! What promise didst thou make what time to me thou<br/> + + said'st * 'Whenas I promise I perform, O Kazi, faithfully.'<br/> + +Such is my stead and such my case calamitous and dire * And ask<br/> + + me not, ye men of spunk, what dreadful teen I dree."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When he ended his verse he wept with sore weeping and sobbed one sob and his +spirit departed his body, which seeing they washed him and shrouded him and +prayed over him and buried him graving on his tomb these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Perfect were lover's qualities in him was brought a-morn, *<br/> + + Slain by his love and his beloved, to this untimely grave:<br/> + +Kázi was he amid the folk, and aye 'twas his delight * To foster<br/> + + all the folk and keep a-sheath the Justice-glaive:<br/> + +Love caused his doom and ne'er we saw among mankind before * The<br/> + + lord and master louting low before his thrallčd slave."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then they committed him to the mercy of Allah and went away to the second Kazi, +in company with the physician, but found in him nor injury nor ailment needing +a leach. Accordingly they questioned him of his case and what preoccupied him; +so he told them what ailed him, whereupon they blamed him and chid him for his +predicament and he answered them with these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Blighted by her yet am I not to blame; * Struck by the dart at<br/> + + me her fair hand threw.<br/> + +Unto me came a woman called Hubúb * Chiding the world from year<br/> + + to year anew:<br/> + +And brought a damsel showing face that shamed * Full moon that<br/> + + sails through Night-tide's blackest hue,<br/> + +She showed her beauties and she 'plained her plain * Which tears<br/> + + in torrents from her eyelids drew:<br/> + +I to her words gave ear and gazed on her * Whenas with smiling<br/> + + lips she made me rue.<br/> + +Then with my heart she fared where'er she fared * And left me<br/> + + pledged to sorrows soul subdue.<br/> + +Such is my tale! So pity ye my case * And this my page with<br/> + + Kazi's gear indue."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he sobbed one sob and his soul fled his flesh; whereupon they gat ready +his funeral and buried him commending him to the mercy of Allah; after which +they repaired to the third Kazi and the fourth, and there befel them the like +of what befel their brethren.[FN#367] Furthermore, they found the Assessors +also sick for love of her, and indeed all who saw her died of her love or, an +they died not, lived on tortured with the lowe of passion.— And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the city folk found +all the Kazis and the Assessors sick for love of her, and all who saw her died +lovesick or, an they died not, lived on tortured with the lowe of passion for +stress of pining to no purpose—Allah have mercy on them one and all! Meanwhile +Zayn al- Mawasif and her women drave on with all diligence till they were far +distant from the city and it so fortuned that they came to a convent by the +way, wherein dwelt a Prior called Danis and forty monks.[FN#368] When the Prior +saw her beauty, he went out to her and invited her to alight, saying, "Rest +with us ten days and after wend your ways." So she and her damsels alighted and +entered the convent; and when Danis saw her beauty and loveliness, she +debauched his belief and he was seduced by her: wherefore he fell to sending +the monks, one after other with love-messages; but each who saw her fell in +love with her and sought her favours for himself, whilst she excused and denied +herself to them. But Danis ceased not his importunities till he had dispatched +all the forty, each one of whom fell love-sick at first sight and plied her +with blandishments never even naming Danis; whilst she refused and rebuffed +them with harsh replies. At last when Danis's patience was at an end and his +passion was sore on him, he said in himself, "Verily, the sooth-sayer saith, +'Naught scratcheth my skin but my own nail and naught like my own feet for mine +errand may avail.'" So up he rose and made ready rich meats, and it was the +ninth day of her sojourn in the convent where she had purposed only to rest. +Then he carried them in to her and set them before her, saying, "Bismillah, +favour us by tasting the best of the food at our command." So she put forth her +hand, saying, "For the name of Allah the Compassionating, the Compassionate!" +and ate, she and her handmaidens. When she had made an end of eating, he said +to her, "O my lady, I wish to recite to thee some verses." Quoth she, "Say on," +and he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Thou hast won my heart by cheek and eye of thee, * I'll praise<br/> + + for love in prose and poesy.<br/> + +Wilt fly a lover, love-sick, love-distraught * Who strives in<br/> + + dreams some cure of love to see?<br/> + +Leave me not fallen, passion-fooled, since I * For pine have left<br/> + + uncared the Monast'ry:<br/> + +O Fairest, 'tis thy right to shed my blood, * So rue my case and<br/> + + hear the cry of me!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Zayn al-Mawasif heard his verses, she answered him with these two +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"O who suest Union, ne'er hope such delight * Nor solicit my<br/> + + favours, O hapless wight!<br/> + +Cease to hanker for what thou canst never have: * Next door are<br/> + + the greedy to sore despight."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Hearing this he returned to his place, pondering in himself and knowing not how +he should do in her affair, and passed the night in the sorriest plight. But, +as soon as the darkness was darkest Zayn al-Mawasif arose and said to her +handmaids, "Come, let us away, for we cannot avail against forty men, monks, +each of whom requireth me for himself." Quoth they, "Right willingly!" So they +mounted their beasts and issued forth the convent gate,— Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zayn al-Mawasif and +her handmaids issued forth the convent gate and, under favour of the night, +rode on till they overtook a caravan, with which they mingled and found it came +from the city of 'Adan wherein the lady had dwelt. Presently, Zayn al-Mawasif +heard the people of the caravan discoursing of her own case and telling how the +Kazis and Assessors were dead of love for her and how the townsfolk had +appointed in their stead others who released her husband from prison. Whereupon +she turned to her maids and asked them, "Heard ye that?"; and Hubub answered, +"If the monks were ravished with love of thee, whose belief it is that shunning +women is worship, how should it be with the Kazis, who hold that there is no +monkery in Al-Islam? But let us make our way to our own country, whilst our +affair is yet hidden." So they drave on with all diligence. Such was their +case; but as regards the monks, on the morrow, as soon as it was day they +repaired to Zayn al-Mawasif's lodging, to salute her, but found the place +empty, and their hearts sickened within them. So the first monk rent his +raiment and improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Ho ye, my friends, draw near, for I forthright * From you<br/> + + depart, since parting is my lot:<br/> + +My vitals suffer pangs o' fiery love; * Flames of desire in heart<br/> + + burn high and hot,<br/> + +For sake of fairest girl who sought our land * Whose charms th'<br/> + + horizon's full moon evens not.<br/> + +She fared and left me victimed by her love * And slain by shaft<br/> + + those lids death-dealing shot."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then another monk recited the following couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"O ye who with my vitals fled, have ruth * On this unhappy: haste<br/> + + ye homeward-bound:<br/> + +They fared, and fared fair Peace on farthest track * Yet lingers<br/> + + in mine ear that sweetest sound:<br/> + +Fared far, and far their fane; would Heaven I saw Their shade in<br/> + + vision float my couch around:<br/> + +And when they went wi' them they bore my heart * And in my<br/> + + tear-floods all of me left drowned."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +A third monk followed with these extempore lines, +</p> + +<p> +"Throne you on highmost stead, heart, ears and sight * Your<br/> + + wone's my heart; mine all's your dwelling-site:<br/> + +Sweeter than honey is your name a-lip, * Running, as 'neath my<br/> + + ribs runs vital sprite:<br/> + +For Love hath made me as a tooth-pick[FN#369] lean * And drowned<br/> + + in tears of sorrow and despight:<br/> + +Let me but see you in my sleep, belike * Shall clear my cheeks of<br/> + + tears that lovely sight."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then a fourth recited the following couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Dumb is my tongue and scant my speech for thee * And Love the<br/> + + direst torture gars me dree:<br/> + +O thou full Moon, whose place is highest Heaven, * For thee but<br/> + + double pine and pain in me."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And a fifth these,[FN#370] +</p> + +<p> +"I love a moon of comely shapely form * Whose slender waist hath<br/> + + title to complain:<br/> + +Whose lip-dews rival must and long-kept wine; * Whose heavy<br/> + + haunches haunt the minds of men:<br/> + +My heart each morning burns with pain and pine * And the<br/> + + night-talkers note I'm passion-slain;<br/> + +While down my cheeks carnelian-like the tears * Of rosy red<br/> + + shower down like railing rain."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And a sixth the following, +</p> + +<p> +"O thou who shunnest him thy love misled! * O Branch of Bán, O<br/> + + star of highmost stead!<br/> + +To thee of pine and passion I complain, * O thou who fired me<br/> + + with cheeks rosy-red.<br/> + +Did e'er such lover lose his soul for thee, * Or from prostration<br/> + + and from prayers fled?"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And a seventh these, +</p> + +<p> +"He seized my heart and freed my tears to flow * Brought strength<br/> + + to Love and bade my Patience go.<br/> + +His charms are sweet as bitter his disdain; * And shafts of love<br/> + + his suitors overthrow.<br/> + +Stint blame, O blamer, and for past repent * None will believe<br/> + + thee who dost Love unknow!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And on like wise all the rest of the monks shed tears and repeated verses. As +for Danis, the Prior, weeping and wailing redoubled on him, for that he found +no way to her enjoyment, and he chanted the following couplets[FN#371], +</p> + +<p> +"My patience failed me when my lover went * And fled that day<br/> + + mine aim and best intent.<br/> + +O Guide o' litters lead their camels fair, * Haply some day<br/> + + they'll deign with me to tent!<br/> + +On parting-day Sleep parted from my lids * And grew my grieving<br/> + + and my joy was shent.<br/> + +I moan to Allah what for Love I dree'd * My wasted body and my<br/> + + forces spent."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then, despairing of her, they took counsel together and with one mind agreed to +fashion her image and set it up with them, and applied themselves to this till +there came to them the Destroyer of delights and Severer of societies. +Meanwhile, Zayn al-Mawasif fared on, without ceasing, to find her lover Masrur, +till she reached her own house. She opened the doors, and entered; then she +sent to her sister Nasim, who rejoiced with exceeding joy at the news of her +return and brought her the furniture and precious stuffs left in her charge. So +she furnished the house and dressed it, hanging the curtains over the doors and +burning aloes-wood and musk and ambergris and other essences till the whole +place reeked with the most delightful perfumes: after which the Adornment of +Qualities donned her finest dress and decorations and sat talking with her +maids, whom she had left behind when journeying, and related to them all that +had befallen her first and last. Then she turned to Hubub and giving her +dirhams, bade her fetch them something to eat. So she brought meat and drink +and when they had made an end of eating and drinking,[FN#372] Zayn al-Mawasif +bade Hubub go and see where Masrur was and how it fared with him. Now he knew +not of her return; but abode with concern overcast and sorrow might not be +overpast;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zayn al-Mawasif +entered her house she was met by her sister Nasim who brought her the furniture +and stuffs wherewith she furnished the place; and then she donned her finest +dress. But Masrur knew naught of her return and abode with concern overcast and +sorrow might not be overpast; no peace prevailed with him nor was patience +possible to him. Whenas pine and passion, desire and distraction waxed on him, +he would solace himself by reciting verse and go to the house and set him its +walls to buss. It chanced that he went out that day to the place where he had +parted from his mistress and repeated this rare song, +</p> + +<p> +"My wrongs hide I, withal they show to sight; * And now mine eyes<br/> + + from sleep to wake are dight.<br/> + +I cry when melancholy tries my sprite * Last not, O world nor<br/> + + work more despight;<br/> + + Lo hangs my soul 'twixt hardship and affright.<br/> + +Were the Sultan hight Love but fair to me, * Slumber mine eyes'<br/> + + companion were to me,<br/> + +My Lords, some little mercy spare to me, * Chief of my tribe: be<br/> + + debonnair to me,<br/> + + Whom Love cast down, erst rich now pauper-wight!<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Censors may blame thee but I look beyond * Mine ears I stop and<br/> + + leave their lies unconned<br/> + +And keep my pact wi' those I love so fond: * They say, 'Thou<br/> + + lov'st a runaway!' I respond,<br/> + + 'Whist! whenas Fate descends she blinds the sight!'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he returned to his lodging and sat there weeping, till sleep overcame him, +when he saw in a dream as if Zayn al-Mawasif were come to the house, and awoke +in tears. So he set off to go thither, improvising these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Shall I be consoled when Love hath mastered the secret of me *<br/> + + And my heart is aglow with more than the charcoal's ardency?<br/> + +I love her whose absence I plain before Allah for parting-stower<br/> + + * And the shifts of the days and doom which allotted me<br/> + + Destiny:<br/> + +When shall our meeting be, O wish O' my heart and will? * O<br/> + + favour of fullest Moon, when shall we Re-union see?"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +As he made an end of his recitation, he found himself walking adown in Zayn +al-Mawasif's street and smelt the sweet savour of the pastiles wherewithal she +had incensed the house; wherefore his vitals fluttered and his heart was like +to leave his breast and desire flamed up in him and distraction redoubled upon +him; when lo, and behold! Hubub, on her way to do her lady's errand suddenly +appeared at the head of the street and he rejoiced with joy exceeding. When she +saw him, she went up to him and saluting him, gave him the glad news of her +mistress's return, saying, "She hath sent me to bid thee to her." Whereat he +was glad indeed, with gladness naught could exceed; and she took him and +returned with him to the house. When Zayn al-Mawasif saw him, she came down to +him from the couch and kissed him and he kissed her and she embraced him and he +embraced her; nor did they leave kissing and embracing till both swooned away +for stress of affection and separation. They lay a long while senseless, and +when they revived, Zayn al-Mawasif bade Hubub fetch her a gugglet of sherbet of +sugar and another of sherbet of lemons. So she brought what she desired and +they sat eating and drinking nor ceased before nightfall, when they fell to +recalling all that had befallen them from commencement to conclusion. Then she +acquainted him with her return to Al-Islam, whereat he rejoiced and he also +became a Moslem. On like wise did her women, and they all repented to Allah +Almighty of their infidelity. On the morrow she made send for the Kazi and the +witnesses and told them that she was a widow and had completed the +purification-period and was minded to marry Masrur. So they drew up the +wedding-contract between them and they abode in all delight of life. Meanwhile, +the Jew, when the people of Adan released him from prison, set out homewards +and fared on nor ceased faring till he came within three days' journey of the +city. Now as soon as Zayn al-Mawasif heard of his coming she called for her +handmaid Hubub and said to her, "Go to the Jews' burial-place and there dig a +grave and plant on it sweet basil and jessamine and sprinkle water thereabout. +If the Jew come and ask thee of me, answer, 'My mistress died twenty days ago +of chagrin on thine account.' If he say, show me her tomb, take him to the +grave and after weeping over it and making moan and lament before him, contrive +to cast him therein and bury him alive."[FN#373] And Hubub answered, "I hear +and I obey." Then they laid up the furniture in the store closets, and Zayn +al-Mawasif removed to Masrur's lodging, where he and she abode eating and +drinking, till the three days were past; at the end of which the Jew arrived +and knocked at the door of his house. Quoth Hubub, "Who's at the door?"; and +quoth he, "Thy master." So she opened to him and he saw the tears railing down +her cheeks and said, "What aileth thee to weep and where is thy mistress?" She +replied, "My mistress is dead of chagrin on thine account." When he heard this, +he was perplexed and wept with sore weeping and presently said, "O Hubub, where +is her tomb?" So she carried him to the Jews' burial-ground and showed him the +grave she had dug; whereupon he shed bitter tears and recited this pair of +couplets,[FN#374] +</p> + +<p> +"Two things there are, for which if eyes wept tear on tear * Of<br/> + + blood, till they were like indeed to disappear,<br/> + +They never could fulfil the Tithe of all their due: * And these<br/> + + are prime of youth and loss of loveling dear."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he wept again with bitter tears and recited these also, +</p> + +<p> +"Alack and Alas! Patience taketh flight: * And from parting of<br/> + + friend to sore death I'm dight:<br/> + +O how woeful this farness from dear one, and oh * How my heart is<br/> + + rent by mine own unright!<br/> + +Would Heaven my secret I erst had kept * Nor had told the pangs<br/> + + and my liver-blight:<br/> + +I lived in all solace and joyance of life * Till she left and<br/> + + left me in piteous plight:<br/> + +O Zayn al-Mawasif, I would there were * No parting departing my<br/> + + frame and sprite:<br/> + +I repent me for troth-breach and blame my guilt * Of unruth to<br/> + + her whereon hopes I built."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When he had made an end of this verse, he wept and groaned and lamented till he +fell down a-swoon, whereupon Hubub made haste to drag him to the grave and +throw him in, whilst he was insensible yet quick withal. Then she stopped up +the grave on him and returning to her mistress acquainted her with what had +passed, whereat she rejoiced with exceeding joy and recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The world sware that for ever 'twould gar me grieve: *Tis false,<br/> + + O world, so thine oath retrieve[FN#375]!<br/> + +The blamer is dead and my love's in my arms: * Rise to herald of<br/> + + joys and tuck high thy sleeve[FN#376]!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then she and Masrur abode each with other in eating and drinking and sport and +pleasure and good cheer, till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and +Sunderer of societies and Slayer of sons and daughters. And I have also heard +tell the following tale of +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap07"></a>ALI NUR AL-DIN AND MIRIAM THE GIRDLE-GIRL[FN#377]</h3> + +<p> +There was once in days of yore and in ages and times long gone before in the +parts of Cairo, a merchant named Táj al-Dín who was of the most considerable of +the merchants and of the chiefs of the freeborn. But he was given to travelling +everywhere and loved to fare over wild and wold, waterless lowland and stony +waste, and to journey to the isles of the seas, in quest of dirhams and dinars: +wherefore he had in his time encountered dangers and suffered duresse of the +way such as would grizzle little children and turn their black hair grey. He +was possessed of black slaves and Mamelukes, Eunuchs and concubines, and was +the wealthiest of the merchants of his time and the goodliest of them in +speech, owning horses and mules and Bactrian camels and dromedaries; sacks +great and small of size; goods and merchandise and stuffs such as muslins of +Hums, silks and brocades of Ba'allak, cotton of Mery, stuffs of India, gauzes +of Baghdad, burnouses of Moorland and Turkish white slaves and Abyssinian +castratos and Grecian girls and Egyptian boys; and the coverings of his bales +were silk with gold purfled fair, for he was wealthy beyond compare. +Furthermore he was rare of comeliness, accomplished in goodliness, and gracious +in his kindliness, even as one of his describers doth thus express, +</p> + +<p> +"A merchant I spied whose lovers * Were fighting in furious<br/> + + guise:<br/> + +Quoth he, 'Why this turmoil of people?' * Quoth I, 'Trader, for<br/> + + those fine eyes!'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And saith another in his praise and saith well enough to accomplish the wish of +him, +</p> + +<p> +"Came a merchant to pay us a visit * Whose glance did my heart<br/> + + surprise:<br/> + +Quoth he, 'What surprised thee so?' * Quoth I, 'Trader, 'twas<br/> + + those fine eyes.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Now that merchant had a son called Ali Nur al-Din, as he were the full moon +whenas it meeteth the sight on its fourteenth night, a marvel of beauty and +loveliness, a model of form and symmetrical grace, who was sitting one day as +was his wont, in his father's shop, selling and buying, giving and taking when +the sons of the merchants girt him around and he was amongst them as moon among +stars, with brow flower-white and cheeks of rosy light in down the tenderest +dight, and body like alabaster-bright even as saith of him the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"'Describe me!' a fair one said. * Said I, 'Thou art Beauty's<br/> + + queen.'<br/> + +And, speaking briefest speech, * 'All charms in thee are seen.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And as saith of him one of his describers, +</p> + +<p> +"His mole upon plain of cheek is like * Ambergrís-crumb on marble<br/> + + plate,<br/> + +And his glances likest the sword proclaim * To all Love's rebels<br/> + + 'The Lord is Great!'"[FN#378]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +The young merchants invited him saying, "O my lord Nur al-Din, we wish thee to +go this day a-pleasuring with us in such a garden." And he answered, "Wait till +I consult my parent, for I cannot go without his consent." As they were +talking, behold, up came Taj al-Din, and his son looked at him and said, "O +father mine, the sons of the merchants have invited me to wend a-pleasuring +with them in such a garden. Dost thou grant me leave to go?" His father +replied, "Yes, O my son, fare with them;" and gave him somewhat of money. So +the young men mounted their mules and asses and Nur al-Din mounted a she-mule +and rode with them to a garden, wherein was all that soul desireth and that eye +charmeth. It was high of walls which from broad base were seen to rise; and it +had a gateway vault-wise with a portico like a saloon and a door azure as the +skies, as it were one of the gates of Paradise: the name of the door-keeper was +Rizwán,[FN#379] and over the gate were trained an hundred trellises which +grapes overran; and these were of various dyes, the red like coralline, the +black like the snouts of Súdán[FN#380]-men and the white like egg of the +pigeon-hen. And in it peach and pomegranate were shown and pear, apricot and +pomegranate were grown and fruits with and without stone hanging in clusters or +alone,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the sons of the +merchants entered the vergier, they found therein all that soul desireth or eye +charmeth, grapes of many hues grown, hanging in bunches or alone, even as saith +of them the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"Grapes tasting with the taste of wine * Whose coats like<br/> + + blackest Raven's shine:<br/> + +Their sheen, amid the leafage shows, * Like women's fingers<br/> + + henna'd fine."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And as saith another on the same theme, +</p> + +<p> +"Grape-bunches likest as they sway * A-stalk, my body frail and<br/> + + snell:<br/> + +Honey and water thus in jar, * When sourness past, make<br/> + + Hydromel."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then they entered the arbour of the garden and saw there Rizwan the gate-keeper +sitting, as he were Rizwan the Paradise-guardian, and on the door were written +these lines, +</p> + +<p> +"Garth Heaven-watered wherein clusters waved * On boughs which<br/> + + full of sap to bend were fain:<br/> + +And, when the branches danced on Zephyr's palm, * The Pleiads<br/> + + shower'd as gifts[FN#381] fresh pearls for rain."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And within the arbour were written these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Come with us, friend, and enter thou * This garth that cleanses<br/> + + rust of grief:<br/> + +Over their skirts the Zephyrs trip[FN#382] * And flowers in sleeve<br/> + + to laugh are lief."[FN#383]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +So they entered and found all manner fruits in view and birds of every kind and +hue, such as ringdove, nightingale and curlew; and the turtle and the cushat +sang their love lays on the sprays. Therein were rills that ran with limpid +wave and flowers suave; and bloom for whose perfume we crave and it was even as +saith of it the poet in these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The Zephyr breatheth o'er its branches, like * Fair girls that<br/> + + trip as in fair skirts they pace:<br/> + +Its rills resemble swords in hands of knights * Drawn from the<br/> + + scabbard and containing-case."[FN#384]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And again as singeth the songster, +</p> + +<p> +"The streamlet swings by branchy wood and aye * Joys in its<br/> + + breast those beauties to display;<br/> + +And Zephyr noting this, for jealousy * Hastens and bends the<br/> + + branches other way."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +On the trees of the garden were all manner fruits, each in two sorts, and +amongst them the pomegranate, as it were a ball of silver-dross,[FN#385] +whereof saith the poet and saith right well, +</p> + +<p> +"Granados of finest skin, like the breasts * Of maid<br/> + + firm-standing in sight of male;<br/> + +When I strip the skin, they at once display * The rubies<br/> + + compelling all sense to quail."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And even as quoth another bard, +</p> + +<p> +"Close prest appear to him who views th' inside * Red rubies in<br/> + + brocaded skirts bedight:<br/> + +Granado I compare with marble dome * Or virgin's breasts<br/> + + delighting every sight:<br/> + +Therein is cure for every ill as e'en * Left an Hadís the Prophet<br/> + + pure of sprite;<br/> + +And Allah (glorify His name) eke deigned * A noble say in Holy<br/> + + Book indite.[FN#386]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +The apples were the sugared and the musky and the Dámáni, amazing the beholder, +whereof saith Hassan the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"Apple which joins hues twain, and brings to mind * The cheek of<br/> + + lover and beloved combined:<br/> + +Two wondrous opposites on branch they show * This dark[FN#387]<br/> + + and that with hue incarnadined<br/> + +The twain embraced when spied the spy and turned * This red, that<br/> + + yellow for the shame designed."[FN#388]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +There also were apricots of various kinds, almond and camphor and<br/> + +Jíláni and 'Antábi,[FN#389] wereof saith the poet,<br/> +</p> + +<p> +"And Almond-apricot suggesting swain * Whose lover's visit all<br/> + + his wits hath ta'en.<br/> + +Enough of love-sick lovers' plight it shows * Of face deep yellow<br/> + + and heart torn in twain."[FN#390]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And saith another and saith well, +</p> + +<p> +"Look at that Apricot whose bloom contains * Gardens with<br/> + + brightness gladding all men's eyne:<br/> + +Like stars the blossoms sparkle when the boughs * Are clad in<br/> + + foliage dight with sheen and shine."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +There likewise were plums and cherries and grapes, that the sick of all +diseases assain and do away giddiness and yellow choler from the brain; and +figs the branches between, varicoloured red and green, amazing sight and sense, +even as saith the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"'Tis as the Figs with clear white skins outthrown * By foliaged<br/> + + trees, athwart whose green they peep,<br/> + +Were sons of Roum that guard the palace-roof * When shades close<br/> + + in and night-long ward they keep."[FN#391]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And saith another and saith well, +</p> + +<p> +"Welcome[FN#392] the Fig! To us it comes * Ordered in handsome<br/> + + plates they bring:<br/> + +Likest a Sufrah[FN#393]-cloth we draw * To shape of bag without a<br/> + + ring."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And how well saith a third, +</p> + +<p> +"Give me the Fig sweet-flavoured, beauty-clad, * Whose inner<br/> + + beauties rival outer sheen:<br/> + +And when it fruits thou tastest it to find * Chamomile's scent<br/> + + and Sugar's saccharine:<br/> + +And eke it favoureth on platters poured * Puff-balls of silken<br/> + + thread and sendal green."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And how excellent is the saying of one of them, +</p> + +<p> +"Quoth they (and I had trained my taste thereto * Nor cared for<br/> + + other fruits whereby they swore),<br/> + +'Why lovest so the Fig?' whereto quoth I * 'Some men love Fig and<br/> + + others Sycamore.[FN#394]'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And are yet goodlier those of another, +</p> + +<p> +"Pleaseth me more the fig than every fruit * When ripe and<br/> + + hanging from the sheeny bough;<br/> + +Like Devotee who, when the clouds pour rain, * Sheds tears and<br/> + + Allah's power doth avow."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And in that garth were also pears of various kinds Sinaďtic,[FN#395] Aleppine +and Grecian growing in clusters and alone, parcel green and parcel golden.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the merchants' +sons went down into the garth they saw therein all the fruits we mentioned and +found pears Sinaďtic, Aleppine and Grecian of every hue, which here clustering +there single grew, parcel green and parcel yellow to the gazer a marvel-view, +as saith of them the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"With thee that Pear agree, whose hue a-morn * Is hue of hapless<br/> + + lover yellow pale;<br/> + +Like virgin cloistered strait in strong Harím * Whose face like<br/> + + racing steed outstrips the veil."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And Sultani[FN#396] peaches of shades varied, yellow and red, whereof saith the +poet, +</p> + +<p> +"Like Peach in vergier growing * And sheen of Andam[FN#397]<br/> + + showing:<br/> + +Whose balls of yellow gold * Are dyed with blood-gouts flowing."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +There were also green almonds of passing sweetness, resembling the +cabbage[FN#398] of the palm-tree, with their kernels within three tunics +lurking of the Munificent King's handiworking, even as is said of them, +</p> + +<p> +"Three coats yon freshest form endue * God's work of varied shape<br/> + + and hue:<br/> + +Hardness surrounds it night and day; * Prisoning without a sin to<br/> + + rue."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And as well saith another, +</p> + +<p> +"Seest not that Almond plucked by hand * Of man from bough where<br/> + + wont to dwell:<br/> + +Peeling it shows the heart within * As union-pearl in oyster-<br/> + + shell."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And as saith a third better than he, +</p> + +<p> +"How good is Almond green I view! * The smallest fills the hand<br/> + + of you:<br/> + +Its nap is as the down upon * The cheeks where yet no beardlet<br/> + + grew:<br/> + +Its kernels in the shell are seen, * Or bachelors or married two,<br/> + +As pearls they were of lucent white * Casčd and lapped in<br/> + + Jasper's hue."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And as saith yet another and saith well, +</p> + +<p> +"Mine eyes ne'er looked on aught the Almond like * For charms,<br/> + + when blossoms[FN#399] in the Prime show bright:<br/> + +Its head to hoariness of age inclines * The while its cheek by<br/> + + youth's fresh down is dight."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And jujube-plums of various colours, grown in clusters and alone whereof saith +one, describing them, +</p> + +<p> +"Look at the Lote-tree, note on boughs arrayed * Like goodly<br/> + + apricots on reed-strown floor,[FN#400]<br/> + +Their morning-hue to viewer's eye is like * Cascavels[FN#401]<br/> + + cast of purest golden ore."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And as saith another and saith right well, +</p> + +<p> +"The Jujube-tree each Day * Robeth in bright array.<br/> + +As though each pome thereon * Would self to sight display.<br/> + +Like falcon-bell of gold * Swinging from every spray."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And in that garth grew blood oranges, as they were the<br/> + +Khaulanján,[FN#402] whereof quoth the enamoured poet,[FN#403]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +"Red fruits that fill the hand, and shine with sheen * Of fire,<br/> + + albe the scarf-skin's white as snow.<br/> + +'Tis marvel snow on fire doth never melt * And, stranger still,<br/> + + ne'er burns this living lowe!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And quoth another and quoth well, +</p> + +<p> +"And trees of Orange fruiting ferly fair * To those who straitest<br/> + + have their charms surveyed;<br/> + +Like cheeks of women who their forms have decked * For holiday in<br/> + + robes of gold brocade."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And yet another as well, +</p> + +<p> +"Like are the Orange-hills[FN#404] when Zephyr breathes * Swaying<br/> + + the boughs and spray with airy grace,<br/> + +Her cheeks that glow with lovely light when met * At greeting-<br/> + + tide by cheeks of other face."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And a fourth as fairly, +</p> + +<p> +"And fairest Fawn, we said to him 'Portray * This garth and<br/> + + oranges thine eyes survey:'<br/> + +And he, 'Your garden favoureth my face * Who gathereth orange<br/> + + gathereth fire alway.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +In that garden too grew citrons, in colour as virgin gold, hanging down from on +high and dangling among the branches, as they were ingots of growing +gold;[FN#405] and saith thereof the 'namoured poet, +</p> + +<p> +"Hast seen a Citron-copse so weighed adown * Thou fearest bending<br/> + + roll their fruit on mould;<br/> + +And seemed, when Zephyr passed athwart the tree * Its branches<br/> + + hung with bells of purest gold?"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And shaddocks,[FN#406] that among their boughs hung laden as though each were +the breast of a gazelle-like maiden, contenting the most longing wight, as +saith of them the poet and saith aright, +</p> + +<p> +"And Shaddock mid the garden-paths, on bough * Freshest like<br/> + + fairest damsel met my sight;<br/> + +And to the blowing of the breeze it bent * Like golden ball to<br/> + + bat of chrysolite."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And the lime sweet of scent, which resembleth a hen's egg, but its yellowness +ornamenteth its ripe fruit, and its fragrance hearteneth him who plucketh it, +as saith the poet who singeth it, +</p> + +<p> +"Seest not the Lemon, when it taketh form, * Catch rays of light<br/> + + and all to gaze constrain;<br/> + +Like egg of pullet which the huckster's hand * Adorneth dyeing<br/> + + with the saffron-stain?"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Moreover in this garden were all manner of other fruits and sweet-scented herbs +and plants and fragrant flowers, such as jessamine and henna and +water-lilies[FN#407] and spikenard[FN#408] and roses of every kind and +plantain[FN#409] and myrtle and so forth; and indeed it was without compare, +seeming as it were a piece of Paradise to whoso beheld it. If a sick man +entered it, he came forth from it like a raging lion, and tongue availeth not +to its description, by reason of that which was therein of wonders and rarities +which are not found but in Heaven: and how should it be otherwise when its +doorkeeper's name was Rizwan? Though widely different were the stations of +those twain! Now when the sons of the merchants had walked about gazing at the +garden after taking their pleasure therein, they say down in one of its +pavilions and seated Nur al-Din in their midst.—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resume, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the sons of the +merchants sat down in the pavilion they seated Nur al-Din in their midst on a +rug of gold-purfled leather of Al-Táif,[FN#410] leaning on a pillow[FN#411] of +minever, stuffed with ostrich down. And they gave him a fan of ostrich +feathers, whereon were written these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"A fan whose breath is fraught with fragrant scent; * Minding of<br/> + + happy days and times forspent,<br/> + +Wafting at every time its perfumed air * O'er face of noble youth<br/> + + on honour bent."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then they laid by their turbands and outer clothes and sat talking and chatting +and inducing one another to discourse, while they all kept their eyes fixed on +Nur al-Din and gazed on his beauteous form. After the sitting had lasted an +hour or so, up came a slave with a tray on his head, wherein were platters of +china and crystal containing viands of all sorts (for one of the youths had so +charged his people before coming to the garden); and the meats were of whatever +walketh earth or wingeth air or swimmeth waters, such as Katá-grouse and fat +quails and pigeon-poults and mutton and chickens and the delicatest fish. So, +the tray being sat before them, they fell to and ate their fill; and when they +had made an end of eating, they rose from meat and washed their hands with pure +water and musk-scented soap, and dried them with napery embroidered in silk and +bugles; but to Nur al-Din they brought a napkin laced with red gold whereon he +wiped his hands. Then coffee[FN#412] was served up and each drank what he +would, after which they sat talking, till presently the garden-keeper who was +young went away and returning with a basket full of roses, said to them, "What +say ye, O my masters, to flowers?" Quoth one of them, "There is no harm in +them,[FN#413] especially roses, which are not to be resisted." Answered the +gardener, "'Tis well, but it is of our wont not to give roses but in exchange +for pleasant converse; so whoever would take aught thereof, let him recite some +verses suitable to the situation." Now they were ten sons of merchants of whom +one said, "Agreed: give me thereof and I will recite thee somewhat of verse apt +to the case." Accordingly the gardener gave him a bunch of roses[FN#414] which +he took and at once improvised these three couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The Rose in highest stead I rate * For that her charms ne'er<br/> + + satiate;<br/> + +All fragrant flow'rs be troops to her * Their general of high<br/> + + estate:<br/> + +Where she is not they boast and vaunt; * But, when she comes,<br/> + + they stint their prate."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then the gardener gave a bunch to another and he recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Take, O my lord, to thee the Rose * Recalling scent by mush be<br/> + + shed.<br/> + +Like virginette by lover eyed * Who with her sleeves[FN#415]<br/> + + enveileth head."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he gave a bunch to a third who recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Choice Rose that gladdens heart to see her sight; * Of Nadd<br/> + + recalling fragrance exquisite.<br/> + +The branchlets clip her in her leaves for joy, * Like kiss of<br/> + + lips that never spake in spite."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he gave a bunch to a fourth and he recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Seest not that rosery where Rose a-flowering displays * Mounted<br/> + + upon her steed of stalk those marvels manifold?<br/> + +As though the bud were ruby-stone and girded all around * With<br/> + + chrysolite and held within a little hoard of gold."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he gave a posy to a fifth and he recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Wands of green chrysolite bare issue, which * Were fruits like<br/> + + ingots of the growing gold.[FN#416]<br/> + +And drops, a dropping from its leaves, were like * The tears my<br/> + + languorous eyelids railed and rolled."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he gave a sixth a bunch and he recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"O Rose, thou rare of charms that dost contain * All gifts and<br/> + + Allah's secrets singular,<br/> + +Thou'rt like the loved one's cheek where lover fond * And fain of<br/> + + Union sticks the gold dinar."[FN#417]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he gave a bunch to a seventh and he recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"To Rose quoth I, 'What gars thy thorns to be put forth * For all<br/> + + who touch thee cruellest injury?'<br/> + +Quoth she, 'These flowery troops are troops of me * Who be their<br/> + + lord with spines for armoury.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And he gave an eighth a bunch and he recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Allah save the Rose which yellows a-morn * Florid, vivid and<br/> + + likest the nugget-ore;<br/> + +And bless the fair sprays that displayed such flowers * And mimic<br/> + + suns gold-begilded bore."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he gave a bunch to a ninth and he recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The bushes of golden-hued Rose excite * In the love-sick lover<br/> + + joys manifold:<br/> + +'Tis a marvel shrub watered every day * With silvern lymph and it<br/> + + fruiteth gold."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he gave a bunch of roses to the tenth and last and he recited these two +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Seest not how the hosts of the Rose display * Red hues and<br/> + + yellow in rosy field?<br/> + +I compare the Rose and her arming thorn * To emerald lance<br/> + + piercing golden shield."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And whilst each one hent bunch in hand, the gardener brought the wine-service +and setting it before them, on a tray of porcelain arabesqued with red gold, +recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Dawn heralds day-light: so wine pass round, * Old wine, fooling<br/> + + sage till his wits he tyne:<br/> + +Wot I not for its purest clarity * An 'tis wine in cup or 'tis<br/> + + cup in wine."[FN#418]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then the gardener filled and drank and the cup went round, till it came to Nur +al-Din's turn, whereupon the man filled and handed it to him; but he said, +"This thing I wot it not nor have I ever drunken thereof, for therein is great +offence and the Lord of All-might hath forbidden it in His Book." Answered the +gardener, "O my Lord Nur al-Din, an thou forbear to drink only by reason of the +sin, verily Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) is bountiful, of sufferance +great, forgiving and compassionate and pardoneth the mortalest sins: His mercy +embraceth all things, Allah's ruth be upon the poet who saith, +</p> + +<p> +'Be as thou wilt, for Allah is bountiful * And when thou sinnest<br/> + + feel thou naught alarm:<br/> + +But 'ware of twofold sins nor ever dare * To give God partner or<br/> + + mankind to harm.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then quoth one of the sons of the merchants, "My life on thee, O my lord Nur +al-Din, drink of this cup!" And another conjured him by the oath of divorce and +yet another stood up persistently before him, till he was ashamed and taking +the cup from the gardener, drank a draught, but spat it out again, crying, +"'Tis bitter." Said the young gardener, "O my lord Nur al-Din, knowest thou not +that sweets taken by way of medicine are bitter? Were this not bitter, 'twould +lack of the manifold virtues it possesseth; amongst which are that it digesteth +food and disperseth cark and care and dispelleth flatulence and clarifieth the +blood and cleareth the complexion and quickeneth the body and hearteneth the +hen-hearted and fortifieth the sexual power in man; but to name all its virtues +would be tedious. Quoth one of the poets, +</p> + +<p> +'We'll drink and Allah pardon sinners all * And cure of ills by<br/> + + sucking cups I'll find:<br/> + +Nor aught the sin deceives me; yet said He * 'In it there be<br/> + + advantage[FN#419] to mankind.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then he sprang up without stay or delay and opened one of the cupboards in the +pavilion and taking out a loaf of refined sugar, broke off a great slice which +he put into Nur al-Din's cup, saying, "O my lord, an thou fear to drink wine, +because of its bitterness, drink now, for 'tis sweet." So he took the cup and +emptied it: whereupon one of his comrades filled him another, saying, "O my +lord Nur al-Din, I am thy slave," and another did the like, saying, "I am one +of thy servants," and a third said, "For my sake!" and a fourth, "Allah upon +thee, O my lord Nur al-Din, heal my heart!" And so they ceased not plying him +with wine, each and every of the ten sons of merchants till they had made him +drink a total of ten cups. Now Nur al-Din's body was virgin of wine-bibbing, or +never in all his life had he drunken vine-juice till that hour, wherefore its +fumes wrought in his brain and drunkenness was stark upon him and he stood up +(and indeed his tongue was thick and his speech stammering) and said, "O +company, by Allah, ye are fair and your speech is goodly and your place +pleasant; but there needeth hearing of sweet music; for drink without melody +lacks the chief of its essentiality, even as saith the poet, +</p> + +<p> +'Pass round the cup to the old and the young man, too, And take<br/> + + the bowl from the hand of the shining moon,[FN#420]<br/> + +But without music, I charge you, forbear to drink; I see even<br/> + + horses drink to a whistled tune.'"[FN#421]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Therewith up sprang the gardener lad and mounting one of the young men's mules, +was absent awhile, after which he returned with a Cairene girl, as she were a +sheep's tail, fat and delicate, or an ingot of pure silvern ore or a dinar on a +porcelain plate or a gazelle in the wold forlore. She had a face that put to +shame the shining sun and eyes Babylonian[FN#422] and brows like bows bended +and cheeks rose-painted and teeth pearly-hued and lips sugared and glances +languishing and breast ivory white and body slender and slight, full of folds +and with dimples dight and hips like pillows stuffed and thighs like columns of +Syrian stone, and between them what was something like a sachet of spices in +wrapper swathed. Quoth the poet of her in these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Had she shown her shape to idolaters' sight, * They would gaze<br/> + + on her face and their gods detest:<br/> + +And if in the East to a monk she'd show'd, * He'd quit Eastern<br/> + + posture and bow to West.[FN#423]<br/> + +An she crached in the sea and the briniest sea * Her lips would<br/> + + give it the sweetest zest."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And quoth another in these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Brighter than Moon at full with kohl'd eyes she came * Like Doe,<br/> + + on chasing whelps of Lioness intent:<br/> + +Her night of murky locks lets fall a tent on her * A tent of<br/> + + hair[FN#424] that lacks no pegs to hold the tent;<br/> + +And roses lighting up her roseate cheeks are fed * By hearts and<br/> + + livers flowing fire for languishment:<br/> + +An 'spied her all the Age's Fair to her they'd rise *<br/> + + Humbly,[FN#425] and cry 'The meed belongs to precedent!'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And how well saith a third bard,[FN#426] +</p> + +<p> +"Three things for ever hinder her to visit us, for fear Of the<br/> + + intriguing spy and eke the rancorous envier;<br/> + +Her forehead's lustre and the sound of all her ornaments And the<br/> + + sweet scent her creases hold of ambergris and myrrh.<br/> + +Grant with the border of her sleeve she hide her brow and doff<br/> + + Her ornaments, how shall she do her scent away from her?"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +She was like the moon when at fullest on its fourteenth night, and was clad in +a garment of blue, with a veil of green, over brow flower-white that all wits +amazed and those of understanding amated.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the gardener brought a +girl whom we have described possessed of the utmost beauty and loveliness and +fine stature and symmetrical grace as it were she the poet signified when he +said,[FN#427] +</p> + +<p> +"She came apparelled in a vest of blue,<br/> + +That mocked the skies and shamed their azure hue;<br/> + +I thought thus clad she burst upon my sight,<br/> + +Like summer moonshine on a wintry night."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And how goodly is the saying of another and how excellent, +</p> + +<p> +"She came thick veiled, and cried I, 'O display * That face like<br/> + + full moon bright with pure-white ray.'<br/> + +Quoth she, 'I fear disgrace,' quoth I, 'Cut short * This talk, no<br/> + + shift of days thy thoughts affray.'<br/> + +Whereat she raised her veil from fairest face * And crystal spray<br/> + + on gems began to stray:<br/> + +And I forsooth was fain to kiss her cheek, * Lest she complain of<br/> + + me on Judgment-Day.<br/> + +And at such tide before the Lord on High * We first of lovers<br/> + + were redress to pray:<br/> + +So 'Lord, prolong this reckoning and review' * (Prayed I) 'that<br/> + + longer I may sight my may.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then said the young gardener to her, "Know thou, O lady of the fair, brighter +than any constellation which illumineth air we sought, in bringing thee hither +naught but that thou shouldst entertain with converse this comely youth, my +lord Nur al-Din, for he hath come to this place only this day." And the girl +replied, "Would thou hadst told me, that I might have brought what I have with +me!" Rejoined the gardener, "O my lady, I will go and fetch it to thee." "As +thou wilt," said she: and he, "Give me a token." So she gave him a kerchief and +he fared forth in haste and returned after awhile, bearing a green satin bag +with slings of gold. The girl took the bag from him and opening it shook it, +whereupon there fell thereout two-and-thirty pieces of wood, which she fitted +one into other, male into female and female into male[FN#428] till they became +a polished lute of Indian workmanship. Then she uncovered her wrists and laying +the lute in her lap, bent over it with the bending of mother over babe, and +swept the strings with her finger-tips; whereupon it moaned and resounded and +after its olden home yearned; and it remembered the waters that gave it drink +and the earth whence it sprang and wherein it grew and it minded the carpenters +who cut it and the polishers who polished it and the merchants who made it +their merchandise and the ships that shipped it; and it cried and called aloud +and moaned and groaned; and it was as if she asked it of all these things and +it answered her with the tongue of the case, reciting these couplets,[FN#429] +</p> + +<p> +"A tree whilere was I the Bulbul's home * To whom for love I<br/> + + bowed my grass-green head:<br/> + +They moaned on me, and I their moaning learnt * And in that moan<br/> + + my secret all men read:<br/> + +The woodman felled me falling sans offence, * And slender lute of<br/> + + me (as view ye) made:<br/> + +But, when the fingers smite my strings, they tell * How man<br/> + + despite my patience did me dead;<br/> + +Hence boon-companions when they hear my moan * Distracted wax as<br/> + + though by wine misled:<br/> + +And the Lord softens every heart to me, * And I am hurried to the<br/> + + highmost stead:<br/> + +All who in charms excel fain clasp my waist; * Gazelles of<br/> + + languid eyne and Houri maid:<br/> + +Allah ne'er part fond lover from his joy * Nor live the loved one<br/> + + who unkindly fled."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then the girl was silent awhile, but presently taking the lute in lap, again +bent over it, as mother bendeth over child, and preluded in many different +modes; then, returning to the first, she sang these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Would they [FN#430] the lover seek without ado, * He to his<br/> + + heavy grief had bid adieu:<br/> + +With him had vied the Nightingale[FN#431] on bough * As one far<br/> + + parted from his lover's view:<br/> + +Rouse thee! awake! The Moon lights Union-night * As tho' such<br/> + + Union woke the Morn anew.<br/> + +This day the blamers take of us no heed * And lute-strings bid us<br/> + + all our joys ensue.<br/> + +Seest not how four-fold things conjoin in one * Rose, myrtle,<br/> + + scents and blooms of golden hue.[FN#432]<br/> + +Yea, here this day the four chief joys unite * Drink and dinars,<br/> + + beloved and lover true:<br/> + +So win thy worldly joy, for joys go past * And naught but storied<br/> + + tales and legends last."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Nur al-Din heard the girl sing these lines he looked on her with eyes of +love and could scarce contain himself for the violence of his inclination to +her; and on like wise was it with her, because she glanced at the company who +were present of the sons of the merchants and she saw that Nur al-Din was +amongst the rest as moon among stars; for that he was sweet of speech and +replete with amorous grace, perfect in stature and symmetry, brightness and +loveliness, pure of all defect, than the breeze of morn softer, than Tasnim +blander, as saith of him the poet,[FN#433] +</p> + +<p> +"By his cheeks' unfading damask and his smiling teeth I swear, By<br/> + + the arrows that he feathers with the witchery of his air,<br/> + +By his sides so soft and tender and his glances bright and keen,<br/> + + By the whiteness of his forehead and the blackness of his<br/> + + hair,<br/> + +By his arched imperious eyebrows, chasing slumber from my lids<br/> + + With their yeas and noes that hold me 'twixt rejoicing and<br/> + + despair,<br/> + +By the Scorpions that he launches from his ringlet-clustered<br/> + + brows, Seeking still to slay his lovers with his rigours<br/> + + unaware,<br/> + +By the myrtle of his whiskers and the roses of his cheek, By his<br/> + + lips' incarnate rubies and his teeth's fine pearls and rare,<br/> + +By the straight and tender sapling of his shape, which for its<br/> + + fruit Doth the twin pomegranates, shining in his snowy<br/> + + bosom, wear,<br/> + +By his heavy hips that tremble, both in motion and repose, And<br/> + + the slender waist above them, all too slight their weight to<br/> + + bear,<br/> + +By the silk of his apparel and his quick and sprightly wit, By<br/> + + all attributes of beauty that are fallen to his share;<br/> + +Lo, the musk exhales its fragrance from his breath, and eke the<br/> + + breeze From his scent the perfume borrows, that it scatters<br/> + + everywhere.<br/> + +Yea, the sun in all his splendour cannot with his brightness vie<br/> + + And the crescent moon's a fragment that he from his nails<br/> + + doth pare."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din was +delighted with the girl's verses and he swayed from side to side for +drunkenness and fell a-praising her and saying, +</p> + +<p> +"A lutanist to us inclined * And stole our wits bemused with<br/> + + wine:<br/> + +And said to us her lute, 'The Lord * Bade us discourse by voice<br/> + + divine.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When she heard him thus improvise the girl gazed at him with loving eyes and +redoubled in passion and desire for him increased upon her, and indeed she +marvelled at his beauty and loveliness, symmetry and grace, so that she could +not contain herself, but took the lute in lap again and sang these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"He blames me for casting on him my sight * And parts fro' me<br/> + + bearing my life and sprite:<br/> + +He repels me but kens what my heart endures * As though Allah<br/> + + himself had inspired the wight:<br/> + +I portrayed his portrait in palm of hand * And cried to mine<br/> + + eyes, 'Weep your doleful plight.'<br/> + +For neither shall eyes of me spy his like * Nor my heart have<br/> + + patience to bear its blight:<br/> + +Wherefore, will I tear thee from breast, O Heart * As one who<br/> + + regards him with jealous spite.<br/> + +And when say I, 'O heart be consoled for pine,' * 'Tis that heart<br/> + + to none other shall e'er incline:"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Nur al-Din wondered at the charms of her verse and the elegance of her +expression and the sweetness of her voice and the eloquence of her speech and +his wit fled for stress of love and longing, and ecstasy and distraction, so +that he could not refrain from her a single moment, but bent to her and +strained her to his bosom: and she in like manner bowed her form over his and +abandoned herself to his embrace and bussed him between the eyes. Then he +kissed her on the mouth and played with her at kisses, after the manner of the +billing of doves; and she met him with like warmth and did with him as she was +done by till the others were distracted and rose to their feet; whereupon Nur +al-Din was ashamed and held his hand from her. Then she took her lute and, +preluding thereon in manifold modes, lastly returned to the first and sang +these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"A Moon, when he bends him those eyes lay bare * A brand that<br/> + + gars gazing gazelle despair:<br/> + +A King, rarest charms are the host of him * And his lance-like<br/> + + shape men with cane compare:<br/> + +Were his softness of sides to his heart transferred * His friend<br/> + + had not suffered such cark and care:<br/> + +Ah for hardest heart and for softest sides! * Why not that to<br/> + + these alter, make here go there?<br/> + +O thou who accusest my love excuse: * Take eternal and leave me<br/> + + the transient share."[FN#434]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Nur al-Din heard the sweetness of her voice and the rareness of her verse, +he inclined to her for delight and could not contain himself for excess of +wonderment; so he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Methought she was the forenoon sun until she donned the veil *<br/> + + But lit she fire in vitals mine still flaring fierce and<br/> + + high,<br/> + +How had it hurt her an she deigned return my poor salám * With<br/> + + fingertips or e'en vouchsafed one little wink of eye?<br/> + +The cavalier who spied her face was wholly stupefied * By charms<br/> + + that glorify the place and every charm outvie.<br/> + +'Be this the Fair who makes thee pine and long for love liesse? *<br/> + + Indeed thou art excused!' 'This is my fairest she;'(quoth I)<br/> + +Who shot me with the shaft of looks nor deigns to rue my woes *<br/> + + Of strangerhood and broken heart and love I must aby:<br/> + +I rose a-morn with vanquished heart, to longing love a prey * And<br/> + + weep I through the live long day and all the night I cry."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +The girl marvelled at his eloquence and elegance and taking her lute, smote +thereon with the goodliest of performance, repeating all the melodies, and sang +these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"By the life o' thy face, O thou life o' my sprite! * I'll ne'er<br/> + + leave thy love for despair or delight:<br/> + +When art cruel thy vision stands hard by my side * And the<br/> + + thought of thee haunts me when far from sight:<br/> + +O who saddenest my glance albe weeting that I * No love but thy<br/> + + love will for ever requite?<br/> + +Thy cheeks are of Rose and thy lips-dews are wine; * Say, wilt<br/> + + grudge them to us in this charming site?"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Hereat Nur al-Din was gladdened with extreme gladness and wondered with the +utmost wonder, so he answered her verse with these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The sun yellowed not in the murk gloom li'en * But lay pearl<br/> + + enveiled 'neath horizon-chine;<br/> + +Nor showed its crest to the eyes of Morn * But took refuge from<br/> + + parting with Morning-shine.[FN#435]<br/> + +Take my tear-drops that trickle as chain on chain * And they'll<br/> + + tell my case with the clearest sign.<br/> + +An my tears be likened to Nile-flood, like * Malak's[FN#436]<br/> + + flooded flat be this love o'mine.<br/> + +Quoth she, 'Bring thy riches!' Quoth I, 'Come, take!' * 'And thy<br/> + + sleep?' 'Yes, take it from lids of eyne!'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When the girl heard Nur al-Din's words and noted the beauty of his eloquence +her senses fled and her wit was dazed and love of him gat hold upon her whole +heart. So she pressed him to her bosom and fell to kissing him like the billing +of doves, whilst he returned her caresses with successive kisses; but +preeminence appertaineth to precedence.[FN#437] When she had made an end of +kissing, she took the lute and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Alas, alack and well-away for blamer's calumny! * Whether or not<br/> + + I make my moan or plead or show no plea:<br/> + +O spurner of my love I ne'er of thee so hard would deem * That I<br/> + + of thee should be despised, of thee my property.<br/> + +I wont at lovers' love to rail and for their passion chide, * But<br/> + + now I fain debase myself to all who rail at thee:<br/> + +Yea, only yesterday I wont all amourists to blame * But now I<br/> + + pardon hearts that pine for passion's ecstasy;<br/> + +And of my stress of parting-stowre on me so heavy weighs * At<br/> + + morning prayer to Him I'll cry, 'In thy name, O Ali!'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And also these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"His lovers said, 'Unless he deign to give us all a drink * Of<br/> + + wine, of fine old wine his lips deal in their purity;<br/> + +We to the Lord of Threefold Worlds will pray to grant our prayer'<br/> + + * And all exclaim with single cry 'In thy name, O Ali!'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Nur al-Din, hearing these lines and their rhyme, marvelled at the fluency of +her tongue and thanked her, praising her grace and passing seductiveness; and +the damsel, delighted at his praise, arose without stay or delay and doffing +that was upon her of outer dress and trinkets till she was free of all +encumbrance sat down on his knees and kissed him between the eyes and on his +cheek-mole. Then she gave him all she had put off.—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the girl gave to Nur +al-Din all she had doffed, saying, "O beloved of my heart, in very sooth the +gift is after the measure of the giver." So he accepted this from her and gave +it back to her and kissed her on the mouth and cheeks and eyes. When this was +ended and done, for naught is durable save the Living, the Eternal, Provider of +the peacock and the owl,[FN#438] Nur al-Din rose from the séance and stood upon +his feet, because the darkness was now fallen and the stars shone out; +whereupon quoth the damsel to him, "Whither away, O my lord?"; and quoth he, +"To my father's home." Then the sons of the merchants conjured him to night +with them, but he refused and mounting his shemule, rode, without stopping, +till he reached his parent's house, where his mother met him and said to him, +"O my son, what hath kept thee away till this hour? By Allah, thou hast +troubled myself and thy sire by thine absence from us, and our hearts have been +occupied with thee." Then she came up to him, to kiss him on his mouth, and +smelling the fumes of the wine, said, "O my son, how is it that, after prayer +and worship thou hast become a wine-bibber and a rebel against Him to whom +belong creation and commandment?" But Nur al-Din threw himself down on the bed +and lay there. Presently in came his sire and said, "What aileth Nur al-Din to +lie thus?"; and his mother answered, "'Twould seem his head acheth for the air +of the garden." So Taj al-Din went up to his son, to ask him of his ailment, +and salute him, and smelt the reek of wine.[FN#439] Now the merchant loved not +wine-drinkers; so he said to Nur al-Din, "Woe to thee, O my son! Is folly come +to such a pass with thee, that thou drinkest wine?" When Nur al-Din heard his +sire say this, he raised his hand, being yet in his drunkenness, and dealt him +a buffet, when by decree of the Decreer the blow lit on his father's right eye +which rolled down on his cheek; whereupon he fell a-swoon and lay therein +awhile. They sprinkled rose-water on him till he recovered, when he would have +beaten his son; but the mother withheld him, and he swore, by the oath of +divorce from his wife that, as soon as morning morrowed, he would assuredly cut +off his son's right hand.[FN#440] When she heard her husband's words, her +breast was straitened and she feared for her son and ceased not to soothe and +appease his sire, till sleep overcame him. Then she waited till moon-rise, when +she went in to her son, whose drunkenness had now departed from him, and said +to him, "O Nur al-Din, what is this foul deed thou diddest with thy sire?" He +asked, "And what did I with him?"; and answered she, "Thou dealtest him a +buffet on the right eye and struckest it out so that it rolled down his cheek; +and he hath sworn by the divorce-oath that, as soon as morning shall morrow he +will without fail cut off thy right hand." Nur al-Din repented him of that he +had done, whenas repentance profited him naught, and his mother said to him, "O +my son, this penitence will not profit thee; nor will aught avail thee but that +thou arise forthwith and seek safety in flight: go forth the house privily and +take refuge with one of thy friends and there what Allah shall do await, for he +changeth case after case and state upon state." Then she opened a chest and +taking out a purse of an hundred dinars said, "O my son, take these dinars and +provide thy wants therewith, and when they are at an end, O my son, send and +let me know thereof, that I may send thee other than these, and at the same +time covey to me news of thyself privily: haply Allah will decree thee relief +and thou shalt return to thy home." And she farewelled him and wept passing +sore, nought could be more. Thereupon Nur al-Din took the purse of gold and was +about to go forth, when he espied a great purse containing a thousand dinars, +which his mother had forgotten by the side of the chest. So he took this also +and binding the two purses about his middle,[FN#441] set out before dawn +threading the streets in the direction of Búlák, where he arrived when day +broke and all creatures arose, attesting the unity of Allah the Opener and went +forth each of them upon his several business, to win that which Allah had unto +him allotted. Reaching Bulak he walked on along the riverbank till he sighted a +ship with her gangway out and her four anchors made fast to the land. The folk +were going up into her and coming down from her, and Nur al-Din, seeing some +sailors there standing, asked them whither they were bound, and they answered, +"To Rosetta-city." Quoth he, "Take me with you;" and quoth they, "Well come, +and welcome to thee, to thee, O goodly one!" So he betook himself forthright to +the market and buying what he needed of vivers and bedding and covering, +returned to the port and went on board the ship, which was ready to sail and +tarried with him but a little while before she weighed anchor and fared on, +without stopping, till she reached Rosetta,[FN#442] where Nur al-Din saw a +small boat going to Alexandria. So he embarked in it and traversing the sea-arm +of Rosetta fared on till he came to a bridge called Al-Jámí, where he landed +and entered Alexandria by the gate called the Gate of the Lote-tree. Allah +protected him, so that none of those who stood on guard at the gate saw him, +and he walked on till he entered the city.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur al-Din +entered Alexandria he found it a city goodly of pleasaunces, delightful to its +inhabitants and inviting to inhabit therein. Winter had fared from it with his +cold and Prime was come to it with his roses: its flowers were kindly ripe and +welled forth its rills. Indeed, it was a city goodly of ordinance and +disposition; its folk were of the best of men, and when the gates thereof were +shut, its folk were safe.[FN#443] And it was even as is said of it in these +couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Quoth I to a comrade one day, * A man of good speech and rare,<br/> + +'Describe Alexandria.' * Quoth he, 'Tis a march-town fair.'<br/> + +Quoth I, 'Is there living therein?' * And he, 'An the wind blow<br/> + + there.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Or as saith one of the poets, +</p> + +<p> +"Alexandria's a frontier;[FN#444] Whose dews of lips are sweet<br/> + + and clear;<br/> + +How fair the coming to it is, * So one therein no raven speer!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Nur al-Din walked about the city and ceased not walking till he came to the +merchants' bazar, whence he passed on to the mart of the money-changers and so +on in turn to the markets of the confectioners and fruiterers and druggists, +marvelling, as he went, at the city, for that the nature of its qualities +accorded with its name.[FN#445] As he walked in the druggists' bazar, behold, +an old man came down from his shop and saluting him, took him by the hand and +carried him to his home. And Nur al-Din saw a fair bystreet, swept and +sprinkled, whereon the zephyr blew and made pleasantness pervade it and the +leaves of the trees overshaded it. Therein stood three houses and at the upper +end a mansion, whose foundations were firm sunk in the water and its walls +towered to the confines of the sky. They had swept the space before it and they +had sprinkled it freshly; so it exhaled the fragrance of flowers, borne on the +zephyr which breathed upon the place; and the scent met there who approached it +on such wise as it were one of the gardens of Paradise. And, as they had +cleaned and cooled the by-street's head, so was the end of it with marble +spread. The Shaykh carried Nur al-Din into the house and setting somewhat of +food before him ate with his guest. When they had made an end of eating, the +druggist said to him, "When camest thou hither from Cairo?"; and Nur al-Din +replied, "This very night, O my father." Quoth the old man, "What is thy +name?"; and quoth he, "Ali Nur al-Din." Said the druggist, "O my son, O Nur +al-Din, be the triple divorce incumbent on me, an thou leave me so long as thou +abidest in this city; and I will set thee apart a place wherein thou mayst +dwell." Nur al-Din asked, "O my lord the Shaykh, let me know more of thee"; and +the other answered, "Know, O my son, that some years ago I went to Cairo with +merchandise, which I sold there and bought other, and I had occasion for a +thousand dinars. So thy sire Taj al-Din weighed them out[FN#446] for me, all +unknowing me, and would take no written word of me, but had patience with me +till I returned hither and sent him the amount by one of my servants, together +with a gift. I saw thee, whilst thou wast little; and, if it please Allah the +Most High, I will repay thee somewhat of the kindness thy father did me." When +Nur al-Din heard the old man's story, he showed joy and pulling out with a +smile the purse of a thousand dinars, gave it to his host the Shaykh and said +to him, "Take charge of this deposit for me, against I buy me somewhat of +merchandise whereon to trade." Then he abode some time in Alexandria city +taking his pleasure every day in its thoroughfares, eating and drinking ad +indulging himself with mirth and merriment till he had made an end of the +hundred dinars he had kept by way of spending-money; whereupon he repaired to +the old druggist, to take of him somewhat of the thousand dinars to spend, but +found him not in his shop and took a seat therein to await his return. He sat +there gazing right and left and amusing himself with watching the merchants and +passers-by, and as he was thus engaged behold, there came into the bazar a +Persian riding on a she-mule and carrying behind him a damsel; as she were +argent of alloy free or a fish Balti[FN#447] in mimic sea or a doe-gazelle on +desert lea. Her face outshone the sun in shine and she had witching eyne and +breasts of ivory white, teeth of marguerite, slender waist and sides dimpled +deep and calves like tails of fat sheep;[FN#448] and indeed she was perfect in +beauty and loveliness, elegant stature and symmetrical grace, even as saith +one, describing her,[FN#449] +</p> + +<p> +"'Twas as by will of her she was create * Nor short nor long, but<br/> + + Beauty's mould and mate:<br/> + +Rose blushes reddest when she sees those cheeks * And fruits the<br/> + + bough those marvel charms amate:<br/> + +Moon is her favour, Musk the scent of her * Branch is her shape:Â<br/> + + she passeth man's estate:<br/> + +'Tis e'en as were she cast in freshest pearl * And every limblet<br/> + + shows a moon innate."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Presently the Persian lighted down from his she-mule and making the damsel also +dismount loudly summoned the broker and said to him as soon as he came, "Take +this damsel and cry her for sale in the market." So he took her and leading her +to the middlemost of the bazar disappeared for a while and presently he +returned with a stool of ebony, inlaid with ivory, and setting it upon the +ground, seated her thereon. Then he raised her veil and discovered a face as it +were a Median targe[FN#450] or a cluster of pearls:[FN#451] and indeed she was +like the full moon, when it filleth on its fourteenth night, accomplished in +brilliant beauty. As saith the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"Vied the full moon for folly with her face, * But was<br/> + + eclipsed[FN#452] and split for rage full sore;<br/> + +And if the spiring Bán with her contend * Perish her hands who<br/> + + load of fuel bore!"[FN#453]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And how well saith another, +</p> + +<p> +"Say to the fair in the wroughten veil * How hast made that<br/> + + monk-like worshipper ail?<br/> + +Light of veil and light of face under it * Made the hosts of<br/> + + darkness to fly from bale;<br/> + +And, when came my glance to steal look at cheek. * With a<br/> + + meteor-shaft the Guard made me quail."[FN#454]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then said the broker to the merchants,[FN#455] "How much do ye bid for the +union-pearl of the diver and prize-quarry of the fowler?" Quoth one, "She is +mine for an hundred dinars." And another said, "Two hundred," and a third, +"Three hundred"; and they ceased not to bid, one against other, till they made +her price nine hundred and fifty dinars, and there the biddings stopped +awaiting acceptance and consent.[FN#456]—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the merchants bid one +against other till they made the price of the girl nine hundred and fifty +dinars. Then the broker went up to her Persian master and said to him, "The +biddings for this thy slave-girl have reached nine hundred and fifty dinars: so +say me, wilt thou sell her at that price and take the money?" Asked the +Persian, "Doth she consent to this? I desire to fall in with her wishes, for I +sickened on my journey hither and this handmaid tended me with all possible +tenderness, wherefore I sware not to sell her but to him whom she should like +and approve, and I have put her sale in her own hand. So do thou consult her +and if she say, 'I consent,' sell her to whom thou wilt: but an she say, 'No,' +sell her not." So the broker went up to her and asked her, "O Princess of fair +ones, know that thy master putteth thy sale in thine own hands, and thy price +hath reached nine hundred and fifty dinars; dost thou give me leave to sell +thee?" She answered, "Show me him who is minded to buy me before clinching the +bargain." So he brought her up to one of the merchants a man stricken with +years and decrepit; and she looked at him a long while, then turned to the +broker and said to him, "O broker, art thou Jinn-mad or afflicted in thy wit?" +Replied he, "Why dost thou ask me this, O Princess of fair ones?"; and said +she, "Is it permitted thee of Allah to sell the like of me to yonder decrepit +old man, who saith of his wife's case these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +'Quoth she to me,—and sore enraged for wounded pride was she, *<br/> + + For she in sooth had bidden me to that which might not be,—<br/> + +'An if thou swive me not forthright, as one should swive his<br/> + + wife, * Thou be made a cuckold straight, reproach it not to<br/> + + me.<br/> + +Meseems thy yard is made of wax, for very flaccidness; * For when<br/> + + I rub it with my hand, it softens instantly.'[FN#457]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And said he likewise of his yard, +</p> + +<p> +'I have a yard that sleeps in base and shameful way * When grants<br/> + + my lover boon for which I sue and pray:<br/> + +But when I wake o' mornings[FN#458] all alone in bed, * 'Tis fain<br/> + + o' foin and fence and fierce for futter-play.'<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And again quoth he thereof of his yard, +</p> + +<p> +'I have a froward yard of temper ill * Dishonoring him who shows<br/> + + it most regard:<br/> + +It stands when sleep I, when I stand it sleeps * Heaven pity not<br/> + + who pitieth that yard!'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When the old merchant heard this ill flouting from the damsel, he was wroth +with wrath exceeding beyond which was no proceeding and said to the broker, "O +most ill-omened of brokers, thou hast not brought into the market this +ill-conditioned wench but to gibe me and make mock of me before the merchants." +Then the broker took her aside and said to her, "O my lady, be not wanting in +self-respect. The Shaykh at whom thou didst mock is the Syndic of the bazar and +Inspector[FN#459] thereof and a committee-man of the council of the merchants." +But she laughed and improvised these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"It behoveth folk who rule in our time, * And 'tis one of the<br/> + + duties of magistrateship,<br/> + +To hand up the Wali above his door * And beat with a whip the<br/> + + Mohtasib!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Adding, "By Allah, O my lord, I will not be sold to yonder old man; so sell me +to other than him, for haply he will be abashed at me and vend me again and I +shall become a mere servant[FN#460] and it beseemeth not that I sully myself +with menial service; and indeed thou knowest that the matter of my sale is +committed to myself." He replied, "I hear and I obey," and carried her to a man +which was one of the chief merchants. And when standing hard by him the broker +asked, "How sayst thou, O my lady? Shall I sell thee to my lord Sharíf al-Dín +here for nine hundred and fifty gold pieces?" She looked at him and, seeing him +to be an old man with a dyed beard, said to the broker, "Art thou silly, that +thou wouldst sell me to this worn out Father Antic? Am I cotton refuse or +threadbare rags that thou marchest me about from greybeard to greybeard, each +like a wall ready to fall or an Ifrit smitten down of a fire-ball? As for the +first, the poet had him in mind when he said,[FN#461] +</p> + +<p> +'I sought of a fair maid to kiss her lips of coral red, But, 'No,<br/> + + by Him who fashioned things from nothingness!' she said.<br/> + +Unto the white of hoary hairs I never had a mind, And shall my<br/> + + mouth be stuffed, forsooth, with cotton, ere I'm dead?'<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And how goodly is the saying of the poet, +</p> + +<p> +'The wise have said that white of hair is light that shines and<br/> + + robes * The face of man with majesty and light that awes the<br/> + + sight;<br/> + +Yet until hoary seal shall stamp my parting-place of hair * I<br/> + + hope and pray that same may be black as the blackest night.<br/> + +Albe Time-whitened beard of man be like the book he bears[FN#462]<br/> + + * When to his Lord he must return, I'd rather 'twere not<br/> + + white,'<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And yet goodlier is the saying of another, +</p> + +<p> +'A guest hath stolen on my head and honour may he lack! * The<br/> + + sword a milder deed hath done that dared these locks to<br/> + + hack.<br/> + +Avaunt, O Whiteness,[FN#463] wherein naught of brightness<br/> + + gladdens sight * Thou 'rt blacker in the eyes of me than<br/> + + very blackest black!'<br/> +</p> + +<p> +As for the other, he is a model of wantonness and scurrilousness and a +blackener of the face of hoariness; his dye acteth the foulest of lies: and the +tongue of his case reciteth these lines,[FN#464] +</p> + +<p> +'Quoth she to me, 'I see thou dy'st thy hoariness;' and I, 'I do<br/> + + but hide it from thy sight, O thou mine ear and eye!'<br/> + +She laughed out mockingly and said, 'A wonder 'tis indeed! Thou<br/> + + so aboundest in deceit that even thy hair's a lie.'<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And how excellent is the saying of the poet, +</p> + +<p> +'O thou who dyest hoariness with black, * That youth wi' thee<br/> + + abide, at least in show;<br/> + +Look ye, my lot was dyčd black whilome * And (take my word!) none<br/> + + other hue 'twill grow.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When the old man with dyed beard heard such words from the slave-girl, he raged +with exceeding rage in fury's last stage and said to the broker, "O most +ill-omened of brokers, this day thou hast brought to our market naught save +this gibing baggage to flout at all who are therein, one after other, and fleer +at them with flyting verse and idle jest?" And he came down from his shop and +smote on the face the broker who took her an angered and carried her away +saying to her, "By Allah, never in my life saw I a more shameless wench than +thyself![FN#465] Thou hast cut off my daily bread and thine own this day and +all the merchants will bear me a grudge on thine account." Then they saw on the +way a merchant called Shihab al-Dín who bid ten dinars more for her, and the +broker asked her leave to sell her to him. Quoth she, "Trot him out that I may +see him and question him of a certain thing, which if he have in his house, I +will be sold to him; and if not, then not." So the broker left her standing +there and going up to Shihab al-Din, said to him, "O my lord, know that yonder +damsel tells me she hath a mind to ask thee somewhat, which an thou have, she +will be sold to thee. Now thou hast heard what she said to thy fellows, the +merchants,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the broker said to +the merchant, "Thou hast heard what this handmaid said to thy fellows, the +traders, and by Allah, I fear to bring her to thee, lest she do with thee like +as she did with thy neighbours and so I fall into disgrace with thee: but, an +thou bid me bring her to thee, I will bring her." Quoth the merchant, "Hither +with her to me." "Hearing and obeying," answered the broker and fetched for the +purchaser the damsel, who looked at him and said, "O my lord, Shihab al-Din, +hast thou in thy house round cushions stuffed with ermine strips?" Replied +Shihab al-Din, "Yes, O Princess of fair ones, I have at home half a score such +cushions; but I conjure thee by Allah, tell me, what will thou do with them?" +Quoth she, "I will bear with thee till thou be asleep, when I will lay them on +thy mouth and nose and press them down till thou die." Then she turned to the +broker and said to him, "O thou refuse of brokers, meseemeth thou art mad, in +that thou showest me this hour past, first to a pair of greybeards, in each of +whom are two faults, and then thou proferrest me to my lord Shihab al-Din +wherein be three defects; firstly, he is dwarfish, secondly, he hath a nose +which is big, and thirdly, he hath a beard which is long. Of him quoth one of +the poets, +</p> + +<p> +'We never heard of wight nor yet espied * Who amid men three<br/> + + gifts hath unified:<br/> + +To wit, a beard one cubit long, a snout * Span-long and figure<br/> + + tall a finger wide:'<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And quoth another poet, +</p> + +<p> +'From the plain of his face springs a minaret * Like a bezel of<br/> + + ring on his finger set:<br/> + +Did creation enter that vasty nose * No created thing would<br/> + + elsewhere be met.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Shihab al-Din heard this, he came down from his shop and seized the broker +by the collar, saying, "O scurviest of brokers, what aileth thee to bring us a +damsel to flout and make mock of us, one after other, with her verses and talk +that a curse is?" So the broker took her and carried her away from before him +and fared, saying, "By Allah, all my life long, since I have plied this +profession never set I eyes on the like of thee for unmannerliness nor aught +more curst to me than thy star, for thou hast cut off my livelihood this day +and I have gained no profit by thee save cuffs on the neck-nape and catching by +the collar!" Then he brought her to the shop of another merchant, owner of +negro slaves and white servants, and stationing her before him, said to her, +"Wilt thou be sold to this my lord 'Alá al-Dín?" She looked at him and seeing +him hump-backed, said, "This is a Gobbo," and quoth the poet of him, +</p> + +<p> +'Drawn in thy shoulders are and spine thrust out, * As seeking<br/> + + star which Satan gave the lout;[FN#466]<br/> + +Or as he tasted had first smack of scourge * And looked in marvel<br/> + + for a second bout.'<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And saith another on the same theme, +</p> + +<p> +'As one of you who mounted mule, * A sight for me to ridicule: Is 't not a +farce? Who feels surprise * An start and bolt with him the mule?' +</p> + +<p> +And another on a similar subject, +</p> + +<p> +'Oft hunchback addeth to his bunchy back * Faults which gar folk<br/> + + upon his front look black:<br/> + +Like branch distort and dried by length of days * With citrons<br/> + + hanging from it loose and slack.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +With this the broker hurried up to her and, carrying her to another merchant, +said to her, "Wilt thou be sold to this one?" She looked at him and said, "In +very sooth this man is blue-eyed;[FN#467] how wilt thou sell me to him?" Quoth +one of the poets, +</p> + +<p> +'His eyelids sore and bleared * Weakness of frame denote:<br/> + +Arise, ye folk and see * Within his eyes the mote!'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then the broker carried her to another and she looked at him and seeing that he +had a long beard, said to the broker, "Fie upon thee! This is a ram, whose tail +hath sprouted from his gullet. Wilt thou sell me to him, O unluckiest of +brokers? Hast thou not heard say: 'All long of beard are little of wits? +Indeed, after the measure of the length of the beard is the lack of sense; and +this is a well-known thing among men of understanding.' As saith one of the +poets, +</p> + +<p> +'Ne'er was a man with beard grown overlong, * Tho' be he therefor<br/> + + reverenced and fear'd,<br/> + +But who the shortness noted in his wits * Added to longness noted<br/> + + in his beard.'<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And quoth another,[FN#468] +</p> + +<p> +'I have a friend with a beard which God hath made to grow to a<br/> + + useless length,<br/> + +It is like unto one of the nights of winter long and dark and<br/> + + cold.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +With this the broker took her and turned away with her, and she asked, "Whither +goest thou with me?" He answered, "Back to thy master the Persian; it sufficeth +me what hath befallen me because of thee this day; for thou hast been the means +of spoiling both my trade and his by thine ill manners." Then she looked about +the market right and left, front and rear till, by the decree of the Decreer +her eyes fell on Ali Nur al-Din the Cairene. So she gazed at him and saw +him[FN#469] to be a comely youth of straight slim form and smooth of face, +fourteen years old, rare in beauty and loveliness and elegance and amorous +grace like the full moon on the fourteenth night with forehead flower-white, +and cheeks rosy red, neck like alabaster and teeth than jewels finer and dews +of lips sweeter than sugar, even as saith of him one of his describers, +</p> + +<p> +"Came to match him in beauty and loveliness rare * Full moons and<br/> + + gazelles but quoth I, 'Soft fare!<br/> + +Fare softly, gazelles, nor yourselves compare * With him and, O<br/> + + Moons, all your pains forbear!'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And how well saith another bard, +</p> + +<p> +"Slim-waisted loveling, from his hair and brow * Men wake a-morn<br/> + + in night and light renewed.<br/> + +Blame not the mole that dwelleth on his cheek * For Nu'uman's<br/> + + bloom aye shows spot negro-hued."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When the slave-girl beheld Nur al-Din he interposed between her and her wits; +she fell in love to him with a great and sudden fall and her heart was taken +with affection for him;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the slave-girl +beheld Nur al-Din, her heart was taken with affection for him; so she turned to +the broker and said to him, "Will not yonder young merchant who is sitting +among the traders in the gown of striped broadcloth bid somewhat more for me?" +The broker replied, "O lady of fair ones, yonder young man is a stranger from +Cairo, where his father is chief of the trader-guild and surpasseth all the +merchants and notables of the place. He is but lately come to this our city and +lodgeth with one of his father's friends; but he hath made no bid for thee nor +more nor less." When the girl heard the broker's words, she drew from her +finger a costly signet-ring of ruby and said to the man, "Carry me to yonder +youth, and if he buy me, this ring shall be thine, in requital of thy travail +with me this day." The broker rejoiced at this and brought her up to Nur +al-Din, and she considered him straitly and found him like the full moon, +perfect in loveliness and a model of fine stature and symmetric grace, even as +saith of him one of his describers. +</p> + +<p> +"Waters of beauty o'er his cheeks flow bright, * And rain his<br/> + + glances shafts that sorely smite:<br/> + +Choked are his lovers an he deal disdain's * Bitterest draught<br/> + + denaying love-delight.<br/> + +His forehead and his stature and my love * Are perfect perfected<br/> + + perfection-dight;<br/> + +His raiment folds enfold a lovely neck * As crescent moon in<br/> + + collar buttoned tight:<br/> + +His eyne and twinnčd moles and tears of me * Are night that<br/> + + nighteth to the nightliest night.<br/> + +His eyebrows and his features and my frame[FN#470] * Crescents on<br/> + + crescents are as crescents slight:<br/> + +His pupils pass the wine-cup to his friends * Which, albe sweet,<br/> + + tastes bitter to my sprite;<br/> + +And to my thirsty throat pure drink he dealt * From smiling lips<br/> + + what day we were unite:<br/> + +Then is my blood to him, my death to him * His right and rightful<br/> + + and most righteous right."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +The girl gazed at Nur al-Din and said, "O my lord, Allah upon thee, am I not +beautiful?"; and he replied, "O Princess of fair ones, is there in the world a +comelier than thou?" She rejoined, "Then why seest thou all the other merchants +bid high for me and art silent nor sayest a word neither addest one dinar to my +price? 'Twould seem I please thee not, O my lord!" Quoth he, "O my lady, were I +in my own land, I had bought thee with all that my hand possesseth of monies;" +and quoth she, "O my lord, I said not, 'Buy me against thy will,' yet, didst +thou but add somewhat to my price, it would hearten my heart, though thou buy +me not, so the merchants may say, 'Were not this girl handsome, yonder merchant +of Cairo had not bidden for her, for the Cairenes are connoisseurs in +slave-girls.'" These words abashed Nur al-Din and he blushed and said to the +broker, "How high are the biddings for her?" He replied, "Her price hath +reached nine hundred and sixty dinars,[FN#471] besides brokerage, as for the +Sultan's dues, they fall on the seller." Quoth Nur al-Din, "Let me have her for +a thousand dinars, brokerage and price." And the damsel hastening to the fore +and leaving the broker, said, "I sell myself to this handsome young man for a +thousand dinars." But Nur al-Din held his peace. Quoth one, "We sell to him;" +and another, "He deserveth her;" and a third, "Accursed, son of accursed, is he +who biddeth and doth not buy!"; and a fourth, "By Allah, they befit each +other!" Then, before Nur al-Din could think, the broker fetched Kazis and +witnesses, who wrote out a contract of sale and purchase; and the broker handed +the paper to Nur al-Din, saying, "Take thy slave-girl and Allah bless thee in +her for she beseemeth none but thee and none but thou beseemeth her." And he +recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Boon Fortune sought him in humblest way[FN#472] * And came to<br/> + + him draggle-tailed, all a-stir:<br/> + +And none is fittest for him but she * And none is fittest but he<br/> + + for her."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Hereat Nur al-Din was abashed before the merchants; so he arose without stay or +delay and weighed out the thousand dinars which he had left as a deposit with +his father's friend the druggist, and taking the girl, carried her to the house +wherein the Shaykh had lodged him. When she entered and saw nothing but ragged +patched carpets and worn out rugs, she said to him, "O my lord, have I no value +to thee and am I not worthy that thou shouldst bear me to thine own house and +home wherein are thy goods, that thou bringest me into thy servant's lodging? +Why dost thou not carry me to thy father's dwelling?" He replied, "By Allah, O +Princess of fair ones, this is my house wherein I dwell; but it belongeth to an +old man, a druggist of this city, who hath set it apart for me and lodged me +therein. I told thee that I was a stranger and that I am of the sons of Cairo +city." She rejoined, "O my lord, the least of houses sufficeth till thy return +to thy native place; but, Allah upon thee, O my lord, go now and fetch us +somewhat of roast meat and wine and dried fruit and dessert." Quoth Nur al-Din, +"By Allah, O Princess of fair ones, I had no money with me but the thousand +dinars I paid down to thy price nor possess I any other good. The few dirhams I +owned were spent by me yesterday." Quoth she, "Hast thou no friend in the town, +of whom thou mayst borrow fifty dirhams and bring them to me, that I may tell +thee what thou shalt do therewith?" And he said, "I have no intimate but the +druggist." Then he betook himself forthright to the druggist and said to him, +"Peace be with thee, O uncle!" He returned his salam and said to him, "O my +son, what hast thou bought for a thousand dinars this day?" Nur al-Din replied, +"I have bought a slave-girl;" and the oldster rejoined, "O my son, art thou mad +that thou givest a thousand dinars for one slave-girl? Would I knew what kind +of slave-girl she is?" Said Nur al-Din, "She is a damsel of the children of the +Franks;"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din said to the +ancient druggist, "The damsel is of the children of the Franks;" and the Shaykh +said, "O my son, the best of the girls of the Franks are to be had in this our +town for an hundred dinars, and by Allah, O my son, they have cheated thee in +the matter of this damsel! However, an thou have taken a fancy to her, lie with +her this night and do thy will of her and to-morrow morning go down with her to +the market and sell her, though thou lose by her two hundred dinars, and reckon +that thou hast lost them by shipwreck or hast been robbed of them on the road." +Nur al-Din replied, "Right is thy rede, O uncle, but thou knowest that I had +but the thousand dinars wherewith I purchased the damsel, and now I have not a +single dirham left to spend; so I desire of thy favour and bounty that thou +lend me fifty dirhams, to provide me withal, till to-morrow, when I will sell +her and repay thee out of her price." Said the old man, "Willingly, O my son," +and counted out to him the fifty dirhams. Then he said to him, "O my son, thou +art but young in years and the damsel is fair, so belike thy heart will be +taken with her and it will be grievous to thee to vend her. Now thou hast +nothing to live on and these fifty dirhams will readily be spent and thou wilt +come to me and I shall lend thee once and twice and thrice, and so on up to ten +times; but, an thou come to me after this, I will not return thy salam[FN#473] +and our friendship with thy father will end ill." Nur al-Din took the fifty +dirhams and returned with them to the damsel, who said to him, "O my lord, wend +thee at once to the market and fetch me twenty dirhams' worth of stained silk +of five colours and with the other thirty buy meat and bread and fruit and wine +and flowers." So he went to the market and purchasing for her all she sought, +brought it to her, whereupon she rose and tucking up her sleeves, cooked food +after the most skilful fashion, and set it before him. He ate and she ate with +him, till they had enough, after which she set on the wine, and she drank and +he drank, and she ceased not to ply him with drink and entertain him with +discourse, till he became drunken and fell asleep. Thereupon she arose without +stay or delay and taking out of her bundle a budget of Táifí leather,[FN#474] +opened it and drew forth a pair of knitting needles, wherewith she fell to work +and stinted not till she had made a beautiful zone, which she folded up in a +wrapper after cleaning it and ironing it, and laid it under her pillow. Then +she doffed her dress till she was mother-naked and lying down beside Nur al-Din +shampoo'd him till he awoke from his heavy sleep. He found by his side a maiden +like virgin silver, softer than silk and delicater than a tail of fatted sheep, +than standard more conspicuous and goodlier than the red camel,[FN#475] in +height five feet tall with breasts firm and full, brows like bended bows, eyes +like gazelles' eyes and cheeks like blood-red anemones, a slender waist with +dimples laced and a navel holding an ounce of the unguent benzoin, thighs like +bolsters stuffed with ostrich-down, and between them what the tongue fails to +set forth and at mention whereof the tears jet forth. Brief it was as it were +she to whom the poet alluded in these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"From her hair is Night, from her forehead Noon * From her<br/> + + side-face Rose; from her lip wine boon:<br/> + +From her Union Heaven, her Severance Hell: * Pearls from her<br/> + + teeth; from her front full Moon."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And how excellent is the saying of another bard,[FN#476] +</p> + +<p> +"A Moon she rises, Willow-wand she waves * Breathes ambergris and<br/> + + gazeth a gazelle.<br/> + +Meseems that sorrow wooes my heart and wins * And when she wends<br/> + + makes haste therein to dwell.<br/> + +Her face is fairer than the Stars of Wealth[FN#477] * And sheeny<br/> + + brows the crescent Moon excel."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And quoth a third also, +</p> + +<p> +"They shine fullest Moons, unveil Crescent-bright; *<br/> + + Sway tenderest Branches and turn wild kine;<br/> + +'Mid which is a Dark-eyed for love of whose charms *<br/> + + The Sailors[FN#478] would joy to be ground low-li'en."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +So Nur al-Din turned to her at once and clasping her to his bosom, sucked first +her upper lip and then her under lip and slid his tongue between the twain into +her mouth. Then he rose to her and found her a pearl unthridden and a filly +none but he had ridden. So he abated her maidenhead and had of her amorous +delight and there was knitted between them a love-bond which might never know +breach nor severance.[FN#479] He rained upon her cheeks kisses like the falling +of pebbles into water, and struck with stroke upon stroke, like the thrusting +of spears in battle brunt; for that Nur al-Din still yearned after clipping of +necks and sucking of lips and letting down of tress and pressing of waist and +biting of cheek and cavalcading on breast with Cairene buckings and Yamani +wrigglings and Abyssinian sobbings and Hindí pamoisons and Nubian +lasciviousness and Rífí leg-liftings[FN#480] and Damiettan moanings and +Sa'ídí[FN#481] hotness and Alexandrian languishment[FN#482] and this damsel +united in herself all these virtues, together with excess of beauty and +loveliness, and indeed she was even as saith of her the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"This is she I will never forget till I die * Nor draw near but<br/> + + to those who to her draw nigh.<br/> + +A being for semblance like Moon at full * Praise her Maker, her<br/> + + Modeller glorify!<br/> + +Tho' be sore my sin seeking love-liesse * On esperance-day ne'er<br/> + + repent can I;<br/> + +A couplet reciting which none can know * Save the youth who in<br/> + + couplets and rhymes shall cry,<br/> + +'None weeteth love but who bears its load * Nor passion, save<br/> + + pleasures and pains he aby.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +So Nur al-Din lay with the damsel through the night in solace and delight,—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din lay with that +damsel through the night in solace and delight, the twain garbed in the closely +buttoned garments of embrace, safe and secure against the misways of nights and +days, and they passed the dark hours after the goodliest fashion, fearing +naught, in their joys love-fraught, from excess of talk and prate. As saith of +them the right excellent poet,[FN#483] +</p> + +<p> +"Go, visit her thou lovest, and regard not<br/> + +The words detractors utter; envious churls<br/> + +Can never favour love. Oh! sure the merciful<br/> + +Ne'er make a thing more fair to look upon,<br/> + +Than two fond lovers in each other's arms,<br/> + +Speaking their passion in a mute embrace.<br/> + +When heart has turned to heart, the fools would part them<br/> + +Strike idly on cold steel. So when thou'st found<br/> + +One purely, wholly thine, accept her true heart,<br/> + +And live for her alone. Oh! thou that blamest<br/> + +The love-struck for their love, give o'er thy talk<br/> + +How canst thou minister to a mind diseased?"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When the morning morrowed in sheen and shone, Nur al-Din awoke from deep sleep +and found that she had brought water:[FN#484] so they made the Ghusl-ablution, +he and she, and he performed that which behoved him of prayer to his Lord, +after which she set before him meat and drink, and he ate and drank. Then the +damsel put her hand under her pillow and pulling out the girdle which she had +knitted during the night, gave it to Nur al-Din, who asked, "Whence cometh this +girdle?"[FN#485] Answered she, "O my lord, 'tis the silk thou boughtest +yesterday for twenty dirhams. Rise now and go to the Persian bazar and give it +to the broker, to cry for sale, and sell it not for less than twenty gold +pieces in ready money." Quoth Nur al-Din, "O Princess of fair ones how can a +thing, that cost twenty dirhams and will sell for as many dinars, be made in a +single night?"; and quoth she, "O my lord, thou knowest not the value of this +thing; but go to the market therewith and give it to the broker, and when he +shall cry it, its worth will be made manifest to thee." Herewith he carried the +zone to the market and gave it to the broker, bidding him cry it, whilst he +himself sat down on a masonry bench before a shop. The broker fared forth and +returning after a while said to him, "O my lord, rise take the price of thy +zone, for it hath fetched twenty dinars money down." When Nur al-Din heard +this, he marvelled with exceeding marvel and shook with delight. Then he rose, +between belief and misbelief, to take the money and when he had received it, he +went forthright and spent it all on silk of various colours and returning home, +gave his purchase to the damsel, saying, "Make this all into girdles and teach +me likewise how to make them, that I may work with thee; for never in the +length of my life saw I a fairer craft than this craft nor a more abounding in +gain and profit. By Allah, 'tis better than the trade of a merchant a thousand +times!" She laughed at his language and said, "O my lord, go to thy friend the +druggist and borrow other thirty dirhams of him, and to-morrow repay him from +the price of the girdle the thirty together with the fifty already loaned to +thee." So he rose and repaired to the druggist and said to him, "O Uncle, lend +me other thirty dirhams, and to-morrow, Almighty Allah willing, I will repay +thee the whole fourscore." The old man weighed him out thirty dirhams, +wherewith he went to the market and buying meat and bread, dried fruits, and +flowers as before, carried them home to the damsel whose name was +Miriam,[FN#486] the Girdle-girl. She rose forthright and making ready rich +meats, set them before her lord Nur al-Din; after which she brought the +wine-service and they drank and plied each other with drink. When the wine +began to play with their wits, his pleasant address and inner grace pleased +her, and she recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Said I to Slim-waist who the wine engraced * Brought in<br/> + + musk-scented bowl and a superfine,<br/> + +'Was it prest from thy cheek?' He replied 'Nay, nay! * When did<br/> + + man from Roses e'er press the Wine?'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And the damsel ceased not to carouse with her lord and ply him with cup and +bowl and require him to fill for her and give her to drink of that which +sweeteneth the spirits, and whenever he put forth hand to her, she drew back +from him, out of coquetry. The wine added to her beauty and loveliness, and Nur +al-Din recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Slim-waist craved wine from her companeer; * Cried (in meeting<br/> + + of friends when he feared for his fere,)<br/> + +'An thou pass not the wine thou shalt pass the night, * A-banisht<br/> + + my bed!' And he felt sore fear."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +They ceased not drinking till drunkenness overpowered Nur al-Din and he slept; +whereupon she rose forthright and fell to work upon a zone, as was her wont. +When she had wrought it to end, she wrapped it in paper and doffing her +clothes, lay down by his side and enjoyed dalliance and delight till morn +appeared.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Miriam the +Girdle-girl, having finished her zone and wrapped it in paper doffed her dress +and lay down by the side of her lord; and then happened to them what happened +of dalliance and delight; and he did his devoir like a man. On the morrow, she +gave him the girdle and said to him, "Carry this to the market and sell it for +twenty dinars, even as thou soldest its fellow yesterday." So he went to the +bazar and sold the girdle for twenty dinars, after which he repaired to the +druggist and paid him back the eighty dirhams, thanking him for the bounties +and calling down blessings upon him. He asked, "O my son, hast thou sold the +damsel?"; and Nur al-Din answered, "Wouldst thou have me sell the soul out of +my body?" and he told him all that had passed, from commencement to conclusion, +whereat the druggist joyed with joy galore, than which could be no more and +said to him, "By Allah, O my son, thou gladdenest me! Inshallah, mayst thou +ever be in prosperity! Indeed I wish thee well by reason of my affection for +thy father and the continuance of my friendship with him." Then Nur al-Din left +the Shaykh and straightway going to the market, bought meat and fruit and wine +and all that he needed according to his custom and returned therewith to +Miriam. They abode thus a whole year in eating and drinking and mirth and +merriment and love and good comradeship, and every night she made a zone and he +sold it on the morrow for twenty dinars, wherewith he bought their needs and +gave the rest to her, to keep against a time of necessity. After the +twelvemonth she said to him one day, "O my lord, whenas thou sellest the girdle +to-morrow, buy for me with its price silk of six colours, because I am minded +to make thee a kerchief to wear on thy shoulders, such as never son of +merchant, no, nor King's son, ever rejoiced in its like." So next day he fared +forth to the bazar and after selling the zone brought her the dyed silks she +sought and Miriam the Girdle-girl wrought at the kerchief a whole week, for, +every night, when she had made an end of the zone, she would work awhile at the +kerchief till it was finished. Then she gave it to Nur al-Din, who put it on +his shoulders and went out to walk in the market-place, whilst all the +merchants and folk and notables of the town crowded about him, to gaze on his +beauty and that of the kerchief which was of the most beautiful. Now it chanced +that one night, after this, he awoke from sleep and found Miriam weeping +passing sore and reciting these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Nears my parting fro' my love, nigher draws the Severance-day *<br/> + + Ah well-away for parting! and again ah well-away!<br/> + +And in tway is torn my heart and O pine I'm doomed to bear * For<br/> + + the nights that erst witnessed our pleasurable play!<br/> + +No help for it but Envier the twain of us espy * With evil eye<br/> + + and win to us his lamentable way.<br/> + +For naught to us is sorer than the jealousy of men * And the<br/> + + backbiter's eyne that with calumny affray."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +He said, "O my lady Miriam,[FN#487] what aileth thee to weep?"; and she +replied, "I weep for the anguish of parting for my heart presageth me thereof." +Quoth he, "O lady of fair ones, and who shall interpose between us, seeing that +I love thee above all creatures and tender thee the most?"; and quoth she, "And +I love thee twice as well as thou me; but fair opinion of fortune still garreth +folk fall into affliction, and right well saith the poet,[FN#488] +</p> + +<p> +'Think'st thou thyself all prosperous, in days which prosp'rous<br/> + + be,<br/> + +Nor fearest thou impending ill, which comes by Heaven's decree?<br/> + +We see the orbs of heav'n above, how numberless they are,<br/> + +But sun and moon alone eclips'd, and ne'er a lesser star!<br/> + +And many a tree on earth we see, some bare, some leafy green,<br/> + +Of them, not one is hurt with stone save that has fruitful been!<br/> + +See'st not th' refluent ocean, bear carrion on its tide,<br/> + +While pearls beneath its wavy flow, fixed in the deep, abide?'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Presently she added, "O my lord Nur al-Din, an thou desire to nonsuit +separation, be on thy guard against a swart-visaged oldster, blind of the right +eye and lame of the left leg; for he it is who will be the cause of our +severance. I saw him enter the city and I opine that he is come hither in quest +of me." Replied Nur al-Din, "O lady of fair ones, if my eyes light on him, I +will slay him and make an example of him." Rejoined she, "O my lord, slay him +not; but talk not nor trade with him, neither buy nor sell with him nor sit nor +walk with him nor speak one word to him, no, not even the answer prescribed by +law,[FN#489] and I pray Allah to preserve us from his craft and his mischief." +Next morning, Nur al-Din took the zone and carried it to the market, where he +sat down on a shop-bench and talked with the sons of the merchants, till the +drowsiness preceding slumber overcame him and he lay down on the bench and fell +asleep. Presently, behold, up came the Frank whom the damsel had described to +him, in company with seven others, and seeing Nur al-Din lying asleep on the +bench, with his head wrapped in the kerchief which Miriam had made for him and +the edge thereof in his grasp, sat down by him and hent the end of the kerchief +in hand and examined it, turning it over for some time. Nur al-Din sensed that +there was something and awoke; then, seeing the very man of whom Miriam had +warned him sitting by his side, cried out at him with a great cry which +startled him. Quoth the Frank, "What aileth thee to cry out thus at us? Have we +taken from thee aught?"; and quoth Nur al-Din, "By Allah, O accursed, haddest +thou taken aught from me, I would carry thee before the Chief of Police!" Then +said the Frank, "O Moslem, I conjure thee by thy faith and by that wherein thou +believest, inform me whence thou haddest this kerchief;" and Nur al-Din +replied, "Tis the handiwork of my lady mother,"—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Frank asked +Nur al-Din anent the maker of the kerchief, he answered, saying, "In very sooth +this kerchief is the handiwork of my mother, who made it for me with her own +hand." Quoth the Frank "Wilt thou sell it to me and take ready money for it?," +and quoth Nur al-Din, "By Allah, I will not sell it to thee or to any else, for +she made none other than it." "Sell it to me and I will give thee to its price +this very moment five hundred dinars, money down; and let her who made it make +thee another and a finer." "I will not sell it at all, for there is not the +like of it in this city." "O my lord, wilt thou sell it for six hundred ducats +of fine gold?" And the Frank went on to add to his offer hundred by hundred, +till he bid nine hundred dinars; but Nur al-Din said, "Allah will open to me +otherwise than by my vending it. I will never sell it, not for two thousand +dinars nor more than that; no, never." The Frank ceased not to tempt him with +money, till he bid him a thousand dinars, and the merchants present said, "We +sell thee the kerchief at that price:[FN#490] pay down the money." Quoth Nur +al-Din, "I will not sell it, I swear by Allah!"[FN#491] But one of the +merchants said to him, "Know thou, O my son, that the value of this kerchief is +an hundred dinars at most and that to an eager purchaser, and if this Frank pay +thee down a thousand for it, thy profit will be nine hundred dinars, and what +gain canst thou desire greater than this gain? Wherefore 'tis my rede that thou +sell him this kerchief at that price and bid her who wrought it make thee other +finer than it: so shalt thou profit nine hundred dinars by this accursed Frank, +the enemy of Allah and of The Faith." Nur al-Din was abashed at the merchants +and sold the kerchief to the Frank, who, in their presence, paid him down the +thousand dinars, with which he would have returned to his handmaid to +congratulate her on what had passed; but the stranger said, "Harkye, O company +of merchants, stop my lord Nur al-Din, for you and he are my guests this night. +I have a jar of old Greek wine and a fat lamb, fresh fruit, flowers and +confections; wherefore do ye all cheer me with your company to-night and not +one of you tarry behind." So the merchants said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, we +desire that thou be with us on the like of this night, so we may talk together, +we and thou, and we pray thee, of thy favour and bounty, to bear us company, so +we and thou, may be the guests of this Frank, for he is a liberal man." And +they conjured him by the oath of divorce[FN#492] and hindered him by main force +from going home. Then they rose forthright and shutting up their shops, took +Nur al-Din and fared with the Frank, who brought them to a goodly and spacious +saloon, wherein were two daďses. Here he made them sit and set before them a +scarlet tray-cloth of goodly workmanship and unique handiwork, wroughten in +gold with figures of breaker and broken, lover and beloved, asker and asked, +whereon he ranged precious vessels of porcelain and crystal, full of the +costliest confections, fruits and flowers, and brought them a flagon of old +Greek wine. Then he bade slaughter a fat lamb and kindling fire, proceeded to +roast of its flesh and feed the merchants therewith and give them draughts of +that wine, winking at them the while to ply Nur al-Din with drink. Accordingly +they ceased not plying him with wine till he became drunken and took leave of +his wits; so when the Frank saw that he was drowned in liquor, he said to him, +"O my lord Nur al-Din, thou gladdenest us with thy company to-night: welcome, +and again welcome to thee." Then he engaged him awhile in talk, till he could +draw near to him, when he said, with dissembling speech, "O my lord, Nur +al-Din, wilt thou sell me thy slave-girl, whom thou boughtest in presence of +these merchants a year ago for a thousand dinars? I will give thee at this +moment five thousand gold pieces for her and thou wilt thus make four thousand +ducats profit." Nur al-Din refused, but the Frank ceased not to ply him with +meat and drink and lure him with lucre, still adding to his offers, till he bid +him ten thousand dinars for her; whereupon Nur al-Din, in his drunkenness, said +before the merchants, "I sell her to thee for ten thousand dinars: hand over +the money." At this the Frank rejoiced with joy exceeding and took the +merchants to witness the sale. They passed the night in eating and drinking, +mirth and merriment, till the morning, when the Frank cried out to his pages, +saying, "Bring me the money." So they brought it to him and he counted out ten +thousand dinars to Nur al-Din, saying, "O my lord, take the price of thy +slave-girl, whom thou soldest to me last night, in the presence of these Moslem +merchants." Replied Nur al-Din, "O accursed, I sold thee nothing and thou liest +anent me, for I have no slave-girls." Quoth the Frank, "In very sooth thou +didst sell her to me and these merchants were witnesses to the bargain." +Thereupon all said, "Yes, indeed! thou soldest him thy slave-girl before us for +ten thousand dinars, O Nur al-Din and we will all bear witness against thee of +the sale. Come, take the money and deliver him the girl, and Allah will give +thee a better than she in her stead. Doth it irk thee, O Nur al-Din, that thou +boughtest the girl for a thousand dinars and hast enjoyed for a year and a half +her beauty and loveliness and taken thy fill of her converse and her favours? +Furthermore thou hast gained some ten thousand golden dinars by the sale of the +zones which she made thee every day and thou soldest for twenty sequins, and +after all this thou hast sold her again at a profit of nine thousand dinars +over and above her original price. And withal thou deniest the sale and +belittlest and makest difficulties about the profit! What gain is greater than +this gain and what profit wouldst thou have profitabler than this profit? An +thou love her thou hast had thy fill of her all this time: so take the money +and buy thee another handsomer than she; or we will marry thee to one of our +daughters, lovelier than she, at a dowry of less than half this price, and the +rest of the money will remain in thy hand as capital." And the merchants ceased +not to ply him with persuasion and special arguments till he took the ten +thousand dinars, the price of the damsel, and the Frank straightway fetched +Kazis and witnesses, who drew up the contract of sale by Nur al-Din of the +handmaid hight Miriam the Girdle-girl. Such was his case; but as regards the +damsel's, she sat awaiting her lord from morning till sundown and from sundown +till the noon of night; and when he returned not, she was troubled and wept +with sore weeping. The old druggist heard her sobbing and sent his wife, who +went in to her and finding her in tears, said to her, "O my lady, what aileth +thee to weep?" Said she, "O my mother, I have sat waiting the return of my +lord, Nur al-Din all day; but he cometh not, and I fear lest some one have +played a trick on him, to make him sell me, and he have fallen into the snare +and sold me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Miriam the Girdle-girl +said to the druggist's wife, "I am fearful lest some one have been playing a +trick on my lord to make him sell me, and he have fallen into the snare and +sold me." Said the other, "O my lady Miriam, were they to give thy lord this +hall full of gold as thy price, yet would he not sell thee, for what I know of +his love to thee. But, O my lady, belike there be a company come from his +parents at Cairo and he hath made them an entertainment in the lodging where +they alighted, being ashamed to bring them hither, for that the place is not +spacious enough for them or because their condition is less than that he should +bring them to his own house; or belike he preferred to conceal thine affair +from them, so passed the night with them; and Inshallah! to-morrow he will come +to thee safe and sound. So burden not thy soul with cark and care, O my lady, +for of a certainty this is the cause of his absence from thee last night and I +will abide with thee this coming night and comfort thee, until thy lord return +to thee." So the druggist's wife abode with her and cheered her with talk +throughout the dark hours and, when it was morning, Miriam saw her lord enter +the street followed by the Frank and amiddlemost a company of merchants, at +which sight her side-muscles quivered and her colour changed and she fell +a-shaking, as ship shaketh in mid-ocean for the violence of the gale. When the +druggist's wife saw this, she said to her, "O my lady Miriam what aileth thee +that I see thy case changed and thy face grown pale and show disfeatured?" +Replied she, "By Allah, O my lady, my heart forebodeth me of parting and +severance of union!" And she bemoaned herself with the saddest sighs, reciting +these couplets,[FN#493] +</p> + +<p> +"Incline not to parting, I pray; * For bitter its savour is aye.<br/> + +E'en the sun at his setting turns pale * To think he must part<br/> + + from the day;<br/> + +And so, at his rising, for joy * Of reunion, he's radient and<br/> + + gay."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Miriam wept passing sore wherethan naught could be more, making sure of +separation, and cried to the druggist's wife, "O my mother, said I not to thee +that my lord Nur al-Din had been tricked into selling me? I doubt not but he +hath sold me this night to yonder Frank, albeit I bade him beware of him; but +deliberation availeth not against destiny. So the truth of my words is made +manifest to thee." Whilst they were talking, behold, in came Nur al-Din, and +the damsel looked at him and saw that his colour was changed and that he +trembled and there appeared on his face signs of grief and repentance: so she +said to him, "O my lord Nur al-Din, meseemeth thou hast sold me." Whereupon he +wept with sore weeping and groaned and lamented and recited these +couplets,[FN#494] +</p> + +<p> +"When e'er the Lord 'gainst any man,<br/> + +Would fulminate some harsh decree,<br/> + +And he be wise, and skilled to hear,<br/> + +And used to see;<br/> + +He stops his ears, and blinds his heart,<br/> + +And from his brain ill judgment tears,<br/> + +And makes it bald as 'twere a scalp,<br/> + +Reft of its hairs;[FN#495]<br/> + +Until the time when the whole man<br/> + +Be pierced by this divine command;<br/> + +Then He restores him intellect<br/> + +To understand."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Nur al-Din began to excuse himself to his handmaid, saying, "By Allah, O +my lady Miriam, verily runneth the Reed with whatso Allah hath decreed. The +folk put a cheat on me to make me sell thee, and I fell into the snare and sold +thee. Indeed, I have sorely failed of my duty to thee; but haply He who decreed +our disunion will vouchsafe us reunion." Quoth she, "I warned thee against +this, for this it was I dreaded." Then she strained him to her bosom and kissed +him between the eyes, reciting these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Now, by your love! your love I'll ne'er forget, * Though lost my<br/> + + life for stress of pine and fret:<br/> + +I weep and wail through livelong day and night * As moans the<br/> + + dove on sandhill-tree beset.<br/> + +O fairest friends, your absence spoils my life; * Nor find I<br/> + + meeting-place as erst we met."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +At this juncture, behold, the Frank came in to them and went up to Miriam, to +kiss her hands; but she dealt him a buffet with her palm on the cheek, saying, +"Avaunt, O accursed! Thou hast followed after me without surcease, till thou +hast cozened my lord into selling me! But O accursed, all shall yet be well, +Inshallah!" The Frank laughed at her speech and wondered at her deed and +excused himself to her, saying, "O my lady Mirian, what is my offence? Thy lord +Nur al-Din here sold thee of his full consent and of his own free will. Had he +loved thee, by the right of the Messiah, he had not transgressed against thee! +And had he not fulfilled his desire of thee, he had not sold thee." Quoth one +of the poets, +</p> + +<p> +'Whom I irk let him fly fro' me fast and faster * If I name his<br/> + + name I am no directer.<br/> + +Nor the wide wide world is to me so narrow * That I act expecter<br/> + + to this rejecter.'"[FN#496]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Now this handmaid was the daughter of the King of France, the which is a wide +and spacious city,[FN#497] abounding in manufactures and rarities and trees and +flowers and other growths, and resembleth the city of Constantinople; and for +her going forth of her father's city there was a wondrous cause and thereby +hangeth a marvellous tale which we will set out in due order, to divert and +delight the hearer.[FN#498]—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the cause of Miriam the +Girdle-girl leaving her father and mother was a wondrous and thereby hangeth a +marvellous tale. She was reared with her father and mother in honour and +indulgence and learnt rhetoric and penmanship and arithmetic and cavalarice and +all manner crafts, such as broidery and sewing and weaving and girdle-making +and silk-cord making and damascening gold on silver and silver on gold, brief +all the arts both of men and women, till she became the union-pearl of her time +and the unique gem of her age and day. Moreover, Allah (to whom belong Might +and Majesty!) had endowed her with such beauty and loveliness and elegance and +perfection of grace that she excelled therein all the folk of her time, and the +Kings of the isles sought her in marriage of her sire, but he refused to give +her to wife to any of her suitors, for that he loved her with passing love and +could not bear to be parted from her a single hour. Moreover, he had no other +daughter than herself, albeit he had many sons, but she was dearer to him than +all of them. It fortuned one year that she fell sick of an exceeding sickness +and came nigh upon death, werefore she made a vow that, if she recovered from +her malady, she would make the pilgrimage to a certain monastery, situate in +such an island, which was high in repute among the Franks, who used to make +vows to it and look for a blessing therefrom. When Miriam recovered from her +sickness, she wished to accomplish her vow anent the monastery and her sire +despatched her to the convent in a little ship, with sundry daughters of the +city-notables to wait upon her and patrician Knights to protect them all. As +they drew near the island, there came out upon them a ship of the ships of the +Moslems, champions of The Faith, warring in Allah's way, who boarded the vessel +and making prize of all therein, knights and maidens, gifts and monies, sold +their booty in the city of Kayrawán.[FN#499] Miriam herself fell into the hands +of a Persian merchant, who was born impotent[FN#500] and for whom no woman had +ever discovered her nakedness; so he set her to serve him. Presently, he fell +ill and sickened well nigh unto death, and the sickness abode with him two +months, during which she tended him after the goodliest fashion, till Allah +made him whole of his malady, when he recalled her tenderness and +loving-kindness to him and the persistent zeal with which she had nurst him and +being minded to requite her the good offices she had done him, said to her, +"Ask a boon of me?" She said, "O my lord, I ask of thee that thou sell me not +but to the man of my choice." He answered, "So be it. I guarantee thee. By +Allah, O Miriam, I will not sell thee but to him of whom thou shalt approve, +and I put thy sale in thine own hand." And she rejoiced herein with joy +exceeding. Now the Persian had expounded to her Al-Islam and she became a +Moslemah and learnt of him the rules of worship. Furthermore during that period +the Perisan had taught her the tenets of The Faith and the observances +incumbent upon her: he had made her learn the Koran by heart and master +somewhat of the theological sciences and the traditions of the Prophet; after +which, he brought her to Alexandria-city and sold her to Nur al-Din, as we have +before set out. Meanwhile, when her father, the King of France, heard what had +befallen his daughter and her company, he saw Doomsday break and sent after her +ships full of knights and champions, horsemen and footmen; but they fell not in +any trace of her whom they sought in the Islands[FN#501] of the Moslems; so all +returned to him, crying out and saying, "Well-away!" and "Ruin!" and "Well +worth the day!" The King grieved for her with exceeding grief and sent after +her that one-eyed lameter, blind of the left,[FN#502] for that he was his chief +Wazir, a stubborn tyrant and a froward devil,[FN#503] full of craft and guile, +bidding him make search for her in all the lands of the Moslems and buy her, +though with a ship-load of gold. So the accursed sought her, in all the islands +of the Arabs and all the cities of the Moslems, but found no sign of her till +he came to Alexandria-city where he made quest for her and presently discovered +that she was with Nur al-Din Ali the Cairene, being directed to the trace of +her by the kerchief aforesaid, for that none could have wrought it in such +goodly guise but she. Then he bribed the merchants to help him in getting her +from Nur al-Din and beguiled her lord into selling her, as hath been already +related. When he had her in his possession, she ceased not to weep and wail: so +he said to her, "O my lady Miriam, put away from thee this mourning and +grieving and return with me to the city of thy sire, the seat of thy kingship +and the place of thy power and thy home, so thou mayst be among thy servants +and attendants and be quit of this abasement and this strangerhood. Enough hath +betided me of travail, of travel and of disbursing monies on thine account, for +thy father bade me buy thee back, though with a shipload of gold; and now I +have spent nigh a year and a half in seeking thee." And he fell to kissing her +hands and feet and humbling himself to her; but the more he kissed and +grovelled she only redoubled in wrath against him, and said to him, "O +accursed, may Almighty Allah not vouchsafe thee to win thy wish!" Presently his +pages brought her a she-mule with gold-embroidered housings and mounting her +thereon, raised over her head a silken canopy, with staves of gold and silver, +and the Franks walked round about her, till they brought her forth the city by +the sea-gate,[FN#504] where they took boat with her and rowing out to a great +ship in harbor embarked therein. Then the monocular Wazir cried out to the +sailors, saying, "Up with the mast!" So they set it up forthright and spreading +the newly bent sails and the colours manned the sweeps and put out to sea. +Meanwhile Miriam continued to gaze upon Alexandria, till it disappeared from +her eyes, when she fell a-weeping in her privacy with sore weeping.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Eightieth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Wazir of +the Frankish King put out to sea in the ship bearing Miriam the Girdle-girl, +she gazed Alexandria-wards till the city was hidden from her sight when she +wailed and wept copious tears and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"O dwelling of my friends say is there no return * Uswards? But<br/> + + what ken I of matters Allah made?<br/> + +Still fare the ships of Severance, sailing hastily * And in my<br/> + + wounded eyelids tear have ta'en their stead,<br/> + +For parting from a friend who was my wish and will * Healed every<br/> + + ill and every pain and pang allay'd.<br/> + +Be thou, O Allah, substitute of me for him * Such charge some day<br/> + + the care of Thee shall not evade."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then she could not refrain from weeping and wailing. So the patrician[FN#505] +knights came up to her and would have comforted her, but she heeded not their +consoling words, being distracted by the claims of passion and love-longing. +And she shed tears and moaned and complained and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"The tongue of Love within my vitals speaketh * Saying, 'This<br/> + + lover boon of Love aye seeketh!'<br/> + +And burn my liver hottest coals of passion * And parting on my<br/> + + heart sore suffering wreaketh.<br/> + +How shall I face this fiery love concealing * When fro' my<br/> + + wounded lids the tear aye leaketh?<br/> +</p> + +<p> +In this plight Miriam abode during all the voyage; no peace was left her at all +nor would patience come at her call. Such was her case in company with the +Wazir, the monocular, the lameter; but as regards Nur al-Din the Cairene, when +the ship had sailed with Miriam, the world was straitened upon him and he had +neither peace nor patience. He returned to the lodging where they twain had +dwelt, and its aspect was black and gloomy in his sight. Then he saw the métier +wherewith she had been wont to make the zones and her dress that had been upon +her beauteous body: so he pressed them to his breast, whilst the tears gushed +from his eyes and he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Say me, will Union after parting e'er return to be * After<br/> + + long-lasting torments, after hopeless misery?<br/> + +Alas! Alas! what wont to be shall never more return * But grant<br/> + + me still return of dearest her these eyne may see.<br/> + +I wonder me will Allah deign our parted lives unite * And will my<br/> + + dear one's plighted troth preserve with constancy!<br/> + +Naught am I save the prey of death since parting parted us; * And<br/> + + will my friends consent that I a weird so deadly dree?<br/> + +Alas my sorrow! Sorrowing the lover scant avails; * Indeed I melt<br/> + + away in grief and passion's ecstasy:<br/> + +Past is the time of my delight when were we two conjoined: *<br/> + + Would Heaven I wot if Destiny mine esperance will degree!<br/> + +Redouble then, O Heart, thy pains and, O mine eyes, o'erflow *<br/> + + With tears till not a tear remain within these eyne of me?<br/> + +Again alas for loved ones lost and loss of patience eke! * For<br/> + + helpers fail me and my griefs are grown beyond decree.<br/> + +The Lord of Threefold Worlds I pray He deign to me return * My<br/> + + lover and we meet as wont in joy and jubilee."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Nur al-Din wept with weeping galore than which naught could be more; and +peering into ever corner of the room, recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"I view their traces and with pain I pine * And by their sometime<br/> + + home I weep and yearn;<br/> + +And Him I pray who parting deigned decree * Some day He deign<br/> + + vouchsafe me their return!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Nur al-Din sprang to his feet and locking the door of the house, fared +forth running at speed, to the sea shore whence he fixed his eyes on the place +of the ship which had carried off his Miriam whilst sighs burst from his breast +and tears from his lids as he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Peace be with you, sans you naught compensateth me * The near,<br/> + + the far, two cases only here I see:<br/> + +I yearn for you at every hour and tide as yearns * For<br/> + + water-place wayfarer plodding wearily.<br/> + +With you abide my hearing, heart and eyen-sight * And (sweeter<br/> + + than the honeycomb) your memory.<br/> + +Then, O my Grief when fared afar your retinue * And bore that<br/> + + ship away my sole expectancy."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And Nur al-Din wept and wailed, bemoaned himself and complained, crying out and +saying, "O Miriam! O Miriam! Was it but a vision of thee I saw in sleep or in +the allusions of dreams?" And by reason of that which grew on him of regrets, +he recited these couplets,[FN#506] +</p> + +<p> +"Mazed with thy love no more I can feign patience,<br/> + +This heart of mine has held none dear but thee!<br/> + +And if mine eye hath gazed on other's beauty,<br/> + +Ne'er be it joyed again with sight of thee!<br/> + +I've sworn an oath I'll ne'er forget to love thee,<br/> + +And sad's this breast that pines to meet with thee!<br/> + +Thou'st made me drink a love-cup full of passion,<br/> + +Blest time! When I may give the draught to thee!<br/> + +Take with thee this my form where'er thou goest,<br/> + +And when thou 'rt dead let me be laid near thee!<br/> + +Call on me in my tomb, my bones shall answer<br/> + +And sigh responses to a call from thee!<br/> + +If it were asked, 'What wouldst thou Heaven should order?'<br/> + +'His will,' I answer, 'First, and then what pleases thee.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +As Nur al-Din was in this case, weeping and crying out, "O Miriam! O Miriam!" +behold, an old man landed from a vessel and coming up to him, saw him shedding +tears and heard him reciting these verses, +</p> + +<p> +"O Maryam of beauty[FN#507] return, for these eyne * Are as<br/> + + densest clouds railing drops in line:<br/> + +Ask amid mankind and my railers shall say * That mine eyelids are<br/> + + drowning these eyeballs of mine."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Said the old man, "O my son, meseems thou weepest for the damsel who sailed +yesterday with the Frank?" When Nur al-Din heard these words of the Shaykh he +fell down in a swoon and lay for a long while without life; then, coming to +himself, he wept with sore weeping and improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Shall we e'er be unite after severance-tide * And return in the<br/> + + perfectest cheer to bide?<br/> + +In my heart indeed is a lowe of love * And I'm pained by the<br/> + + spies who my pain deride:<br/> + +My days I pass in amaze distraught, * And her image a-nights I<br/> + + would see by side:<br/> + +By Allah, no hour brings me solace of love * And how can it when<br/> + + makebates vex me and chide?<br/> + +A soft-sided damsel of slenderest waist * Her arrows of eyne on<br/> + + my heart hath plied?<br/> + +Her form is like Bán[FN#508]-tree branch in garth * Shame her<br/> + + charms the sun who his face most hide:<br/> + +Did I not fear God (be He glorified!) * 'My Fair be glorified!'<br/> + + Had I cried."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +The old man looked at him and noting his beauty and grace and symmetry and the +fluency of his tongue and the seductiveness of his charms, had ruth on him and +his heart mourned for his case. Now that Shaykh was the captain of a ship, +bound to the damsel's city, and in this ship were a hundred Moslem merchants, +men of the Saving Faith; so he said to Nur al-Din, "Have patience and all will +yet be well; I will bring thee to her an it be the will of Allah, extolled and +exalted be He!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-first Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old skipper +said to Nur al-Din, "I will bring thee to her, Inshallah!" the youth asked, +"When shall we set out?" and the other said, "Come but three days more and we +will depart in peace and prosperity." Nur al-Din rejoiced at the captain's +words with joy exceeding and thanked him for his bounty and benevolence. Then +he recalled the days of love-liesse dear and union with his slave-girl without +peer, and he shed bitter tears and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"Say, will to me and you the Ruthful union show * My lords! Shall<br/> + + e'er I win the wish of me or no?<br/> + +A visit-boon by you will shifty Time vouchsafe? * And seize your<br/> + + image eye-lids which so hungry grow?<br/> + +With you were Union to be sold, I fain would buy; * But ah, I see<br/> + + such grace doth all my means outgo!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Nur al-Din went forthright to the market and bought what he needed of +viaticum and other necessaries for the voyage and returned to the Rais, who +said to him, "O my son, what is that thou hast with thee?" said he, "My +provisions and all whereof I have need for the voyage." Thereupon quoth the old +man, laughing, "O my son, art thou going a-pleasuring to Pompey's +Pillar?[FN#509] Verily, between thee and that thou seekest is two months' +journey and the wind be fair and the weather favourable." Then he took of him +somewhat of money and going to the bazar, bought him a sufficiency of all that +he needed for the voyage and filled him a large earthen jar[FN#510] with fresh +water. Nur al-Din abode in the ship three days until the merchants had made an +end of their precautions and preparations and embarked, when they set sail and +putting out to sea, fared on one-and-fifty days. After this, there came out +upon them corsairs,[FN#511] pirates who sacked the ship and taking Nur al-Din +and all therein prisoners, carried them to the city of France and paraded them +before the King, who bade cast them into jail, Nur al-Din amongst the number. +As they were being led to prison the galleon[FN#512] arrived with the Princess +Miriam and the one-eyed Wazir, and when it made the harbour, the lameter landed +and going up to the King gave him the glad news of his daughter's safe return: +whereupon they beat the kettledrums for good tidings and decorated the city +after the goodliest fashion. Then the King took horse, with all his guards and +lords and notables and rode down to the sea to meet her. The moment the ship +cast anchor she came ashore, and the King saluted her and embraced her and +mounting her on a bloodsteed, bore her to the palace, where her mother received +her with open arms, and asked her of her case and whether she was a maid as +before or whether she had become a woman carnally known by man.[FN#513] She +replied, "O my mother, how should a girl, who hath been sold from merchant to +merchant in the land of Moslems, a slave commanded, abide a virgin? The +merchant who bought me threatened me with the bastinado and violenced me and +took my maidenhead, after which he sold me to another and he again to a third." +When the Queen heard these her words, the light in her eyes became night and +she repeated her confession to the King who was chagrined thereat and his +affair was grievous to him. So he expounded her case to his Grandees and +Patricians[FN#514] who said to him, "O King, she hath been defiled by the +Moslems and naught will purify her save the striking off of an hundred +Mohammedan heads." Whereupon the King sent for the True Believers he had +imprisoned; and they decapitated them, one after another, beginning with the +captain, till none was left save Nur al-Din. They tare off a strip of his skirt +and binding his eyes therewith, led him to the rug of blood and were about to +smite his neck, when behold, an ancient dame came up to the King at that very +moment and said, "O my lord, thou didst vow to bestow upon each and every +church five Moslem captives, to help us in the service thereof, so Allah would +restore thee thy daughter the Princess Miriam; and now she is restored to thee, +so do thou fulfil thy vow." The King replied, "O my mother, by the virtue of +the Messiah and the Veritable Faith, there remaineth to me of the prisoners but +this one captive, whom they are about to put to death: so take him with thee to +help in the service of the church, till there come to me more prisoners of the +Moslems, when I will send thee other four. Hadst thou come earlier, before they +hewed off the heads of these, I had given thee as many as thou wouldest have." +The old woman thanked the King for his boon and wished him continuance of life, +glory and prosperity. Then without loss of time she went up to Nur al-Din, whom +she raised from the rug of blood; and, looking narrowly at him saw a comely +youth and a dainty, with a delicate skin and a face like the moon at her full; +whereupon she carried him to the church and said to him, "O my son, doff these +clothes which are upon thee, for they are fit only for the service of the +Sultan."[FN#515] So saying the ancient dame brought him a gown and hood of +black wool and a broad girdle,[FN#516] in which she clad and cowled him; and, +after binding on his belt, bade him do the service of the church. Accordingly, +he served the church seven days, at the end of which time behold, the old woman +came up to him and said, "O Moslem, don thy silken dress and take these ten +dirhams and go out forthright and divert thyself abroad this day, and tarry not +here a single moment, lest thou lose thy life." Quoth he, "What is to do, O my +mother?"; and quoth she, "Know, O my son, that the King's daughter, the +Princess Miriam the Girdle-girl, hath a mind to visit the church this day, to +seek a blessing by pilgrimage and to make oblation thereto, a douceur[FN#517] +of thank-offering for her deliverance from the land of the Moslems and in +fulfilment of the vows she vowed to the Messiah, so he would save her. With her +are four hundred damsels, not one of whom but is perfect in beauty and +loveliness and all of them are daughters of Wazirs and Emirs and Grandees: they +will be here during this very hour and if their eyes fall on thee in this +church, they will hew thee in pieces with swords." Thereupon Nur al-Din took +the ten dirhams from the ancient dame, and donning his own dress, went out to +the bazar and walked about the city and took his pleasure therein, till he knew +its highways and gates,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-second Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din, after +donning his own dress and taking the ten dirhams from the ancient dame, fared +forth to the market streets and wandered about a while till he knew every +quarter of the city, after which he returned to the church[FN#518] and saw the +Princess Miriam the Girdle-girl, daughter of the King of France come up to the +fane, attended by four hundred damsels, high-bosomed maids like moons, amongst +whom was the daughter of the one-eyed Wazir and those of the Emirs and Lords of +the realm; and she walked in their midst as she were moon among stars. When his +eyes fell upon her Nur al-Din could not contain himself, but cried out from the +core of his heart, "O Miriam! O Miriam!" When the damsels heard his outcry they +ran at him with swords shining bright like flashes of leven-light and would +have slain him forthright. But the Princess turned and looking on him, knew him +with fullest knowledge, and said to her maidens, "Leave this youth; doubtless +he is mad, for the signs of madness be manifest on his face." When Nur al-Din +heard this, he uncovered his head and rolled his eyes and made signs with his +hands and twisted his legs, foaming the while at the mouth. Quoth the Princess, +"Said I not that the poor youth was mad? Bring him to me and stand off from +him, that I may hear what he saith; for I know the speech of the Arabs and will +look into his case and see if his madness admit of cure or not." So they laid +hold of him and brought him to her; after which they withdrew to a distance and +she said to him, "Hast thou come hither on my account and ventured thy life for +my sake and feignest thyself mad?" He replied, "O my lady, hast thou not heard +the saying of the poet?,[FN#519] +</p> + +<p> +'Quoth they, 'Thou'rt surely raving mad for her thou lov'st;' and<br/> + + I, 'There is no pleasantness in life but for the mad,'<br/> + + reply.<br/> + +Compare my madness with herself for whom I rave; if she Accord<br/> + + therewith, then blame me not for that which I aby.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Miriam replied, "By Allah, O Nur al-Din, indeed thou hast sinned against +thyself, for I warned thee of this before it befell thee: yet wouldst thou not +hearken to me, but followedst thine own lust: albeit that whereof I gave thee +to know I learnt not by means of inspiration nor physiognomy[FN#520] nor +dreams, but by eye-witness and very sight; for I saw the one-eyed Wazir and +knew that he was not come to Alexandria but in quest of me." Said he, "O my +lady Miriam, we seek refuge with Allah from the error of the +intelligent!"[FN#521] Then his affliction redoubled on him and he recited this +saying,[FN#522] +</p> + +<p> +"Pass o'er my fault, for 'tis the wise man's wont<br/> + +Of other's sins to take no harsh account;<br/> + +And as all crimes have made my breast their site,<br/> + +So thine all shapes of mercy should unite.<br/> + +Who from above would mercy seek to know,<br/> + +Should first be merciful to those below."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Nur al-Din and Princess Miriam ceased not from lovers' chiding which to +trace would be tedious, relating each to other that which had befallen them and +reciting verses and making moan, one to other, of the violence of passion and +the pangs of pine and desire, whilst the tears ran down their cheeks like +rivers, till there was left them no strength to say a word and so they +continued till day deprated and night darkened. Now the Princess was clad in a +green dress, purfled with red gold and broidered with pearls and gems which +enhanced her beauty and loveliness and inner grace; and right well quoth the +poet of her,[FN#523] +</p> + +<p> +"Like the full moon she shineth in garments all of green, With<br/> + + loosened vest and collars and flowing hair beseen.<br/> + +'What is thy name?' I asked her, and she replied, 'I'm she Who<br/> + + roasts the hearts of lovers on coals of love and teen.<br/> + +I am the pure white silver, ay, and the gold wherewith The<br/> + + bondsmen from strait prison and dour releasčd been.'<br/> + +Quoth I, 'I'm all with rigours consumed;' but 'On a rock,' Said<br/> + + she, 'such as my heart is, thy plaints are wasted clean.'<br/> + +'Even if thy heart,' I answered, 'be rock in very deed, Yet hath<br/> + + God caused fair water well from the rock, I ween.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And when night darkened on them the Lady Miriam went up to her women and asked +them, "Have ye locked the door?"; and they answered, "Indeed we have locked +it." So she took them and went with them to a place called the Chapel of the +Lady Mary the Virgin, Mother of Light, because the Nazarenes hold that there +are her heart and soul. The girls betook themselves to prayer for blessings +from above and circuited all the church; and when they had made an end of their +visitation, the Princess turned to them and said, "I desire to pass the night +alone in the Virgin's chapel and seek a blessing thereof, for that yearning +after it hath betided me, by reason of my long absence in the land of the +Moslems; and as for you, when ye have made an end of your visitation, do ye +sleep whereso ye will." Replied they, "With love and goodly gree: be it as thou +wilt!"; and leaving her alone in the chapel, dispersed about the church and +slept. The Lady Miriam waited till they were out of sight and hearing, then +went in search of Nur al-Din, whom she found sitting in a corner on live coals, +awaiting her. He rose and kissed her hands and feet and she sat down and seated +him by her side. Then she pulled off all that was upon her of raiment and +ornaments and fine linen and taking Nur al-Din in her arms strained him to her +bosom. And they ceased not, she and he, from kissing and clipping and strumming +to the tune of "hocus-pocus,"[FN#524] saying the while, "How short are the +nights of Union and the nights of Disunion how long are they!" and reciting +these verses, +</p> + +<p> +"O Night of Union, Time's virginal prized, * White star of the<br/> + + Nights with auroral dyes,<br/> + +Thou garrest Dawn after Noon to rise * Say art thou Kohl in<br/> + + Morning's Eyes,<br/> + +Or wast thou Slumber to bleared eye lief?<br/> + +O Night of Parting, how long thy stay * Whose latest hours aye<br/> + + the first portray,<br/> + +This endless circle that noways may * Show breach till the coming<br/> + + of Judgment-day,<br/> + +Day when dies the lover of parting-grief."[FN#525]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +As they were in this mighty delight and joy engrossing they heard one of the +servants of the Saint[FN#526] smite the gong[FN#527] upon the roof, to call the +folk to the rites of their worship, and he was even as saith the poet, +</p> + +<p> +"I saw him strike the gong and asked of him straightway, * Who<br/> + + made the Fawn[FN#528] at striking going so knowing, eh?'<br/> + +And to my soul, 'What smiting irketh thee the more— * Striking<br/> + + the gong or striking note of going,[FN#529] say?'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-third Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din and Miriam the +Girdle-girl rose forthwith and donned her clothes and ornaments; but this was +grievous to Nur al-Din, and his gladness was troubled; the tears streamed from +his eyes and he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"I ceasčd not to kiss that cheek with budding roses dight * And<br/> + + eyes down cast and bit the same with most emphatic bite;<br/> + +Until we were in gloria[FN#530] and lay him down the spy * And<br/> + + sank his eyes within his brain declining further sight:<br/> + +And struck the gongs as they that had the charge of them were<br/> + + like * Muezzin crying duty-prayers in Allah's book indite.<br/> + +Then rose she up right hastily and donned the dress she'd doffed<br/> + + * Sore fearing lest a shooting-star[FN#531] upon our heads<br/> + + alight.<br/> + +And cried, 'O wish and will of me, O end of all my hopes! *<br/> + + Behold the morning comes to us in brightest whitest light.'<br/> + +I swear if but one day of rule were given to my life * And I were<br/> + + made an Emperor of majesty and might,<br/> + +Adown I'd break the buttresses of churches one and all * And by<br/> + + their slaughter rid the earth of every shaveling wight."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then the Lady Miriam pressed him to her bosom and kissed his cheek and asked +him, "O Nur al-Din, how long hast thou been in this town?" "Seven days." "Hast +thou walked about in it, and dost thou know its ways and issues and its +sea-gates and land gates?" "Yes!" "Knowest thou the way to the +offertory-chest[FN#532] of the church?" "Yes!" "Since thou knowest all this, as +soon as the first third[FN#533] of the coming night is over, go to the +offertory-chest and take thence what thou wishest and willest. Then open the +door that giveth upon the tunnel[FN#534] leading to the sea, and go down to the +harbour, where thou wilt find a little ship and ten men therein, and when the +Rais shall see thee, he will put out his hand to thee. Give him thy hand and he +will take thee up into the ship, and do thou wait there till I come to thee. +But 'ware and have a care lest sleep overtake thee this night, or thou wilt +repent whenas repentance shall avail thee naught." Then the Princess farewelled +him and going forth from Nur al-Din, aroused from sleep her women and the rest +of the damsels, with whom she betook herself to the church door and knocked; +whereupon the ancient dame opened to her and she went forth and found the +knights and varlets standing without. They brought her a dapple she-mule and +she mounted: whereupon they raised over her head a canopy[FN#535] with curtains +of silk, and the knights took hold of the mule's halter. Then the +guards[FN#536] encompassed her about, drawn brand in hand, and fared on with +her, followed by her, till they brought her to the palace of the King her +father. Meanwhile, Nur al-Din abode concealed behind the curtain, under cover +of which Miriam and he had passed the night, till it was broad day, when the +main door was opened and the church became full of people. Then he mingled with +the folk and accosted the old Prioress, the guardian[FN#537] of the shrine, who +said to him, "Where didst thou lie last night?" Said he, "In the town as thou +badest me." Quoth she, "O my son, thou hast done the right thing; for, hadst +thou nighted in the Church, she had slain thee on the foulest wise." And quoth +he, "Praised be Allah who hath delivered me from the evil of this night!" Then +he busied himself with the service of the church and ceased not busying till +day departed and night with darkness starkened when he arose and opened the +offertory-chest and took thence of jewels whatso was light of weight and +weighty of worth. Then he tarried till the first watch of the night was past, +when he made his way to the postern of the tunnel and opening it, went forth, +calling on Allah for protection, and ceased not faring on until, after finding +and opening the door, he came to the sea. Here he discovered the vessel moored +to the shore near the gate; and her skipper, a tall old man of comely aspect +with a long beard, standing in the waist, his ten men being ranged before him. +Nur al-Din gave him his hand, as Miriam had bidden him, and the captain took it +and pulling him on board of the ship cried out to his crew, saying, "Cast off +the moorings and put out to sea with us, ere day break." Said one of the ten, +"O my lord the Captain, how shall we put out now, when the King hath notified +us that to-morrow he will embark in this ship and go round about the sea, being +fearful for his daughter Miriam from the Moslem thieves?" But the Rais cried +out at them saying, "Woe to you, O accursed; Dare ye gainsay me and bandy words +with me?" So saying the old captain bared his blade and with it dealt the +sailor who had spoken a thrust in the throat, that the steel came out gleaming +from his nape; and quoth another of the sailors, "What hath our comrade done of +crime, that thou shouldst cut his throat?" Thereupon the captain clapped hand +to sword and smote off the speaker's head, nor did he leave smiting the rest of +the sailors till he had slain them all, one after other, and cast the ten +bodies ashore. Then he turned to Nur al-Din and cried out at him with a +terrible great cry, that made him tremble, saying, "Go down and pull up the +mooring-stake." Nur al-Din feared lest he should strike him also with the +sword; so he sprang up and leapt ashore and pulling up the stake jumped aboard +again, swiftlier than the dazzling leven. The captain ceased not to bid him do +this and do that and tack and wear hither and thither and look at the stars, +and Nur al-Din did all that he bade him, with heart a-quaking for affright; +whilst he himself spread the sails, and the ship fared with the twain into the +dashing sea, swollen with clashing billows.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old skipper +had made sail he drave the ship, aided by Nur al-Din, into the dashing sea +before a favouring gale. Meanwhile, Nur al-Din held on to the tackle immersed +in deep thought, and drowned in the sea of solicitude, knowing not what was +hidden for him in the future; and whenever he looked at the captain, his heart +quaked and he knew not whither the Rais went with him. He abode thus, +preoccupied with care and doubt, till it was high day, when he looked at the +skipper and saw him take hold of his long beard and pull at it, whereupon it +came off in his hand and Nur al-Din, examining it, saw that it was but a false +beard glued on. So he straitly considered that same Rais, and behold, it was +the Princess Miriam, his mistress and the dearling of his heart, who had +contrived to waylay the captain and slay him and skinned off his beard, which +she had stuck on to her own face. At this Nur al-Din was transported for joy, +and his breast broadened and he marvelled at her prowess and the stoutness of +her heart and said to her, "Welcome, O my hope and my desire and the end of +mine every wish!" Then love and gladness agitated him and he made sure of +winning to his hopes and his expectancy; wherefore he broke out into song and +chanted these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"To all who unknown my love for the May * From whom Fate disjoins<br/> + + me O say, I pray,<br/> + +'Ask my kith and kin of my love that aye * Ensweetens my verses<br/> + + to lovely lay:<br/> + + For the loss of the tribesmen my life o'er sway!'<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Their names when named heal all malady; * Cure and chase from<br/> + + heart every pain I dree:<br/> + +And my longings for love reach so high degree * That my Sprite is<br/> + + maddened each morn I see,<br/> + + And am grown of the crowd to be saw and say.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +No blame in them will I e'er espy: * No! nor aught of solace sans<br/> + + them descry:<br/> + +Your love hath shot me with pine, and I * Bear in heart a flame<br/> + + that shall never die,<br/> + + But fire my liver with fiery ray.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +All folk my sickness for marvel score * That in darkest night I<br/> + + wake evermore<br/> + +What ails them to torture this heart forlore * And deem right for<br/> + + loving my blood t' outpour:<br/> + + And yet—how justly unjust are they!<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Would I wot who 'twas could obtain of you * To wrong a youth<br/> + + who's so fain of you:<br/> + +By my life and by Him who made men of you * And the spy tell<br/> + + aught I complain of you<br/> + + He lies, by Allah, in foulest way!<br/> +</p> + +<p> +May the Lord my sickness never dispel, * Nor ever my heart of its<br/> + + pains be well,<br/> + +What day I regret that in love I fell * Or laud any land but<br/> + + wherein ye dwell:<br/> + + Wring my heart and ye will or make glad and gay!<br/> +</p> + +<p> +I have vitals shall ever be true to you * Though racked by the<br/> + + rigours not new to you<br/> + +Ere this wrong and this right I but sue to you: * Do what you<br/> + + will to thrall who to you<br/> + + Shall ne'er grudge his life at your feet to lay."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Nur al-Din ceased to sing, the Princess Miriam marvelled at his song and +thanked him therefor, saying, "Whoso's case is thus it behoveth him to walk the +ways of men and never do the deed of curs and cowards." Now she was stout of +heart and cunning in the sailing of ships over the salt sea, and she knew all +the winds and their shiftings and every course of the main. So Nur al-Din said, +"O my lady, hadst thou prolonged this case on me,[FN#538] I had surely died for +stress of affright and chagrin, more by token of the fire of passion and +love-longing and the cruel pangs of separation." She laughed at his speech and +rising without stay or delay brought out somewhat of food and liquor; and they +ate and drank and enjoyed themselves and made merry. Then she drew forth rubies +and other gems and precious stones and costly trinkets of gold and silver and +all manner things of price, light of weight and weighty of worth, which she had +taken from the palace of her sire and his treasuries, and displayed them to Nur +al-Din, who rejoiced therein with joy exceeding. All this while the wind blew +fair for them and merrily sailed the ship nor ceased sailing till they drew +near the city of Alexandria and sighted its landmarks, old and new, and +Pompey's Pillar. When they made the port, Nur al-Din landed forthright and +securing the ship to one of the Fulling-Stones,[FN#539] took somewhat of the +treasures that Miriam had brought with her, and said to her, "O my lady, tarry +in the ship, against I return and carry thee up into the city in such way as I +should wish and will." Quoth she, "It behoveth that this be done quickly, for +tardiness in affairs engendereth repentance." Quoth he, "There is no tardiness +in me;" and, leaving her in the ship, went up into the city to the house of the +druggist his father's old fried, to borrow of his wife for Miriam veil and +mantilla, and walking boots and petticoat-trousers after the usage of the women +of Alexandria, unknowing that there was appointed to betide him of the shifts +of Time, the Father of Wonders, that which was far beyond his reckoning. Thus +it befel Nur al-Din and Miriam the Girdle-girl; but as regards her sire the +King of France, when he arose in the morning, he missed his daughter and +questioned her women and her eunuchs of her. Answered they, "O our lord, she +went out last night, to go to Church and after that we have no tidings of her." +But, as the King talked with them, behold, there arose so great a clamour of +cries below the palace, that the place rang thereto, and he said, "What may be +the news?" The folk replied, "O King, we have found ten men slain on the +sea-shore, and the royal yacht is missing. Moreover we saw the postern of the +Church, which giveth upon the tunnel leading to the sea, wide open; and the +Moslem prisoner, who served in the Church, is missing." Quoth the King, "An my +ship be lost, without doubt or dispute."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She pursued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the King of +France missed his daughter they brought him tidings of her, saying, "Thy yacht +is lost"; and he replied, "An the craft be lost, without dispute or doubt my +daughter is in it." So he summoned without stay or delay the Captain of the +Port and cried out at him, saying, "By the virtue[FN#540] of the Messiah and +the Faith which is no liar, except thou and thy fighting men overtake my ship +forthright and bring it back to me, with those who are therein, I will do thee +die the foulest of deaths and make a terrible example of thee!" Thereupon the +captain went out from before him, trembling, and betook himself to the ancient +dame of the Church, to whom said he, 'Heardest thou aught from the captive, +that was with thee, anent his native land and what countryman he was?" And she +answered, "He used to say, I come from the town of Alexandria." When the +captain heard the old woman's words he returned forthright to the port and +cried out to the sailors, "Make ready and set sail." So they did his bidding +and straightway putting out to sea, fared night and day till they sighted the +city of Alexandria at the very time when Nur al-Din landed, leaving the +Princess in the ship. They soon espied the royal yacht and knew her; so they +moored their own vessel at a distance therefrom and putting off in a little +frigate they had with them, which drew but two cubits of water and in which +were an hundred fighting-men, amongst them the one-eyed Wazir (for that he was +a stubborn tyrant and a froward devil and a wily thief, none could avail +against his craft, as he were Abu Mohammed al-Battál[FN#541]), they ceased not +rowing till they reached the bark and boarding her, all at once, found none +therein save the Princess Miriam. So they took her and the ship, and returning +to their own vessel, after they had landed and waited a long while,[FN#542] set +sail forthright for the land of the Franks, having accomplished their errand, +without a fight or even drawing sword. The wind blew fair for them and they +sailed on, without ceasing and with all diligence, till they reached the city +of France and landing with the Princess Miriam carried her to her father, who +received her, seated on the throne of his Kingship. As soon as he saw her, he +said to her, "Woe to thee, O traitress! What ailed thee to leave the faith of +thy fathers and forefathers and the safeguard of the Messiah, on whom is our +reliance, and follow after the faith of the Vagrants,[FN#543] to wit, the faith +of Al-Islam, the which arose with the sword against the Cross and the Images?" +Replied Miriam, "I am not at fault, I went out by night to the church, to visit +the Lady Mary and seek a blessing of her, when there fell upon me unawares a +band of Moslem robbers, who gagged me and bound me fast and carrying me on +board the barque, set sail with me for their own country. However, I beguiled +them and talked with them of their religion, till they loosed my bonds; and ere +I knew it thy men overtook me and delivered me. And by the virtue of the +Messiah and the Faith which is no liar and the Cross and the Crucified thereon, +I rejoiced with joy exceeding in my release from them and my bosom broadened +and I was glad for my deliverance from the bondage of the Moslems!" Rejoined +the King, "Thou liest, O whore! O adultress! By the virtue of that which is +revealed of prohibition and permission in the manifest Evangel,[FN#544] I will +assuredly do thee die by the foulest of deaths and make thee the vilest of +examples! Did it not suffice thee to do as thou didst the first time and put +off thy lies upon us, but thou must return upon us with thy deceitful +inventions?" Thereupon the King bade kill her and crucify her over the palace +gate; but, at that moment the one-eyed Wazir, who had long been enamoured of +the Princess, came in to him and said, "Ho King! slay her not, but give her to +me to wife, and I will watch over her with the utmost warding, nor will I go in +unto her, till I have built her a palace of solid stone, exceeding high of +foundation, so no thieves may avail to climb up to its terrace-roof; and when I +have made an end of building it, I will sacrifice thirty Moslems before the +gate thereof, as an expiatory offering to the Messiah for myself and for her." +The King granted his request and bade the priests and monks and patriarchs +marry the Princess to him; so they did his bidding, whereupon he bade set about +building a strong and lofty palace, befitting her rank and the workmen fell to +work upon it. On this wise it betided the Princess Miriam and her sire and the +one-eyed Wazir; but as regards Nur al-Din, when he came back with the +petticoat-trousers and mantilla and walking boots and all the attire of +Alexandrian women which he had borrowed of the druggist's wife, he "found the +air void and the fane afar[FN#545]";—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nur al-Din, +"found the air void[FN#546] and the fane afar," his heart sank within him and +he wept floods of tears and recited these verses,[FN#547] +</p> + +<p> +"The phantom of Soada came by night to wake me towards morning<br/> + + while my companions were sleeping in the desert:<br/> + +But when we awoke to behold the nightly phantom, I saw the air<br/> + + vacant, and the place of visitation distant."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Then Nur al-Din walked on along the sea-shore and turned right and left, till +he saw folk gathered together on the beach and heard them say, "O Moslems, +there remaineth no honour to Alexandria-city, since the Franks enter it and +snatch away those who are therein and return to their own land, at their +leisure[FN#548] nor pursued of any of the Moslems or fighters for the Faith!" +Quoth Nur al-Din to them, "What is to do?"; and quoth they, "O my son, one of +the ships of the Franks, full of armed men, came down but now upon the port and +carried off a ship which was moored here, with her that was therein, and made +unmolested for their own land." Nur al-Din fell down a-swoon, on hearing these +words; and when he recovered they questioned him of his case and he told them +all that had befallen him first and last; whereupon they all took to reviling +him and railing at him, saying, "Why couldst thou not bring her up into the +town without mantilla and muffler?" And all and each of the folk gave him some +grievous word, berating him with sharp speech, and shooting at him some shaft +of reproach, albeit one said, "Let him be; that which hath befallen him +sufficeth him," till he again fell down in a fainting-fit. And behold, at this +moment, up came the old druggist, who, seeing the folk gathered together, drew +near to learn what was the matter and found Nur al-Din lying a-swoon in their +midst. So he sat down at his head and arousing him, said to him as soon as he +recovered, "O my son, what is this case in which I see thee?" Nur al-Din said, +"O uncle, I had brought back in a barque my lost slave-girl from her father's +city, suffering patiently all I suffered of perils and hardships; and when I +came with her to this port, I made the vessel fast to the shore and leaving her +therein, repaired to thy dwelling and took of thy consort what was needful for +her, that I might bring her up into the town; but the Franks came and capturing +barque and damsel made off unhindered, and returned to their own land." Now +when the Shaykh, the druggist, heard this, the light in his eyes became night +and he grieved with sore grieving for Nur al-Din and said to him, "O my son, +why didst thou not bring her out of the ship into the city without mantilla? +But speech availeth not at this season; so rise, O my son, and come up with me +to the city; haply Allah will vouchsafe thee a girl fairer than she, who shall +console thee for her. Alhamdolillah-praised be Allah-who hath not made thee +lose aught by her! Nay, thou hast gained by her. And bethink thee, O my son, +that Union and Disunion are in the hands of the Most High King." Replied Nur +al-Din, "By Allah, O uncle, I can never be consoled for her loss nor will I +ever leave seeking her, though on her account I drink the cup of death!" +Rejoined the druggist, "O my son, and what art thou minded to do?" Quoth Nur +al-Din, "I am minded to return to the land of the Franks[FN#549] and enter the +city of France and emperil myself there; come what may, loss of life or gain of +life." Quoth the druggist, "O my son, there is an old saw, 'Not always doth the +crock escape the shock'; and if they did thee no hurt the first time, belike +they will slay thee this time, more by token that they know thee now with full +knowledge." Quoth Nur al-Din, "O my uncle, let me set out and be slain for the +love of her straightway and not die of despair for her loss by slow torments." +Now as Fate determined there was then a ship in port ready to sail, for its +passengers had made an end of their affairs[FN#550] and the sailors had pulled +up the mooring-stakes, when Nur al-Din embarked in her. So they shook out their +canvas and relying on the Compassionate, put out to sea and sailed many days, +with fair wind and weather, till behold, they fell in with certain of the Frank +cruisers, which were scouring those waters and seizing upon all ships they saw, +in their fear for the King's daughter from the Moslem corsairs: and as often as +they made prize of a Moslem ship, they carried all her people to the King of +France, who put them to death in fulfilment of the vow he had vowed on account +of his daughter Miriam. So, seeing the ship wherein was Nur al-Din they boarded +her and taking him and the rest of the company prisoners, to the number of an +hundred Moslems, carried them to the King and set them between his hands. He +bade cut their throats. Accordingly they slaughtered them all forthwith, one +after another, till there was none left but Nur al-Din, whom the headsman had +left to the last, in pity of his tender age and slender shape. When the King +saw him, he knew him right well and said to him, "Art thou not Nur al-Din, who +was with us before?" Said he, "I was never with thee: and my name is not Nur +al-Din, but Ibrahim." Rejoined the King; "Thou liest, thou art Nur al-Din, he +whom I gave to the ancient dame the Prioress, to help her in the service of the +church." But Nur al-Din replied, "O my lord, my name is Ibrahim." Quoth the +King, "Wait a while," and bade his knights fetch the old woman forthright, +saying, "When she cometh and seeth thee, she will know an thou be Nur al-Din or +not." At this juncture, behold, in came the one-eyed Wazir who had married the +Princess and kissing the earth before the King said to him, "Know, O King, that +the palace is finished; and thou knowest how I vowed to the Messiah that, when +I had made an end of building it, I would cut thirty Moslems' throats before +its doors; wherefore I am come to take them of thee, that I may sacrifice them +and so fulfil my vow to the Messiah. They shall be at my charge, by way of +loan, and whenas there come prisoners to my hands, I will give thee other +thirty in lieu of them." Replied the King, 'By the virtue of the Messiah and +the Faith which is no liar, I have but this one captive left!" And he pointed +to Nur al-Din, saying, "Take him and slaughter him at this very moment and the +rest I will send thee when there come to my hands other prisoners of the +Moslems." Thereupon the one-eyed Wazir arose and took Nur al-Din and carried +him to his palace, thinking to slaughter him on the threshold of the gate; but +the painters said to him, "O my lord, we have two days' painting yet to do: so +bear with us and delay to cut the throat of this captive, till we have made an +end of our work; haply by that time the rest of the thirty will come, so thou +mayst despatch them all at one bout and accomplish thy vow in a single day." +Thereupon the Wazir bade imprison Nur al-Din.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Wazir bade +imprison Nur al-Din, they carried him to the stables and left him there in +chains, hungering and thirsting and making moan for himself; for indeed he saw +death face to face. Now it fortuned, by the ordinance of Destiny and +fore-ordained Fate, that the King had two stallions, own brothers,[FN#551] such +as the Chosroe Kings might sigh in vain to possess themselves of one of them; +they were called Sábik and Láhik[FN#552] and one of them was pure silvern white +while the other was black as the darksome night. And all the Kings of the isles +had said, "Whoso stealeth us one of these stallions, we will give him all he +seeketh of red gold and pearls and gems;" but none could avail to steal them. +Now one of them fell sick of a jaundice and there came a whiteness over his +eyes;[FN#553] whereupon the King gathered together all the farriers in the city +to treat him; but they all failed of his cure. Presently the Wazir came into +the King; and finding him troubled because of the horse, thought to do away his +concern and said to him, "O King, give me the stallion and I will cure him," +The King consented and caused carry the horse to the stable wherein Nur al-Din +lay chained; but, when he missed his brother, he cried out with an exceeding +great cry and neighed, so that he affrighted all the folk. The Wazir, seeing +that he did thus but because he was parted from his brother, went to tell the +King, who said, "If this, which is but a beast, cannot brook to be parted from +his brother, how should it be with those that have reason?" And he bade his +grooms take the other horse and put him with his brother in the Wazir's +stables, saying, "Tell the Minister that the two stallions be a gift from me to +him, for the sake of my daughter Miriam." Nur al-Din was lying in the stable, +chained and shackled, when they brought in the two stallions and he saw that +one of them had a film over his eyes. Now he had some knowledge of horses and +of the doctoring of their diseases; so he said to himself, "This by Allah is my +opportunity! I will go to the Wazir and lie to him, saying, 'I will heal thee +this horse': then will I do with him somewhat that shall destroy his eyes, and +he will slay me and I shall be at rest from this woe-full life." So he waited +till the Wazir entered the stable, to look upon the steed, and said to him, "O +my lord, what will be my due, an I heal this horse, and make his eyes whole +again?" Replied the Wazir, "As my head liveth, an thou cure him, I will spare +thy life and give thee leave to crave a boon of me!" And Nur al-Din said, "O my +lord, bid my hands be unbound!" So the Wazir bade unbind him and he rose and +taking virgin glass,[FN#554] brayed it and mixed it with unslaked lime and a +menstruum of onion-juice. Then he applied the whole to the horse's eyes and +bound them up, saying in himself, "Now will his eyes be put out and they will +slay me and I shall be at rest from this woe-full life." Then he passed the +night with a heart free from the uncertainty[FN#555] of cark and care, humbling +himself to Allah the Most High and saying, "O Lord, in Thy knowledge is that +which dispenseth with asking and craving!" Now when the morning morrowed and +the sun shone, the Wazir came to the stable and, loosing the bandage from the +horse's eyes considered them and found them finer than before, by the ordinance +of the King who openeth evermore. So he said to Nur al-Din, "O Moslem, never in +the world saw I the like of thee for the excellence of thy knowledge. By the +virtue of the Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, thou makest me with +wonder to admire, for all the farriers of our land have failed to heal this +horse!" Then he went up to Nur al-Din and, doing off his shackles with his own +hand, clad him in a costly dress and made him his master of the Horse; and he +appointed him stipends and allowances and lodged him in a story over the +stables. So Nur al-Din abode awhile, eating and drinking and making merry and +bidding and forbidding those who tended the horses; and whoso neglected or +failed to fodder those tied up in the stable wherein was his service, he would +throw down and beat with grievous beating and lay him by the legs in bilboes of +iron. Furthermore, he used every day to descend and visit the stallions and rub +them down with his own hand, by reason of that which he knew of their value in +the Wazir's eyes and his love for them; wherefore the Minister rejoiced in him +with joy exceeding and his breast broadened and he was right glad, unknowing +what was to be the issue of his case. Now in the new palace, which the one-eyed +Wazir had bought for Princess Miriam, was a lattice-window overlooking his old +house and the flat wherein Nur al-Din lodged. The Wazir had a daughter, a +virgin of extreme loveliness, as she were a fleeing gazelle or a bending +branchlet, and it chanced that she sat one day at the lattice aforesaid and +behold, she heard Nur al-Din, singing and solacing himself under his sorrows by +improvising these verses, +</p> + +<p> +"O my Censor who wakest a-morn to see * The joys of life and its<br/> + + jubilee!<br/> + +Had the fangs of Destiny bitten thee * In such bitter case thou<br/> + + hadst pled this plea,<br/> + + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/> + + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/> + +But from Fate's despight thou art safe this day;- * From her<br/> + + falsest fay and her crying 'Nay!'<br/> + +Yet blame him not whom his woes waylay * Who distraught shall say<br/> + + in his agony,<br/> + + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/> + + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/> + +Excuse such lovers in flight abhorr'd * Nor to Love's distreses<br/> + + thine aid afford:<br/> + +Lest thy self be bound by same binding cord * And drink of Love's<br/> + + bitterest injury.<br/> + + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/> + + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/> + +In His service I wont as the days went by * With freest heart<br/> + + through the nights to lie;<br/> + +Nor tasted wake, nor of Love aught reckt * Ere my heart to<br/> + + subjection summoned he:<br/> + + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/> + + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/> + +None weet of Love and his humbling wrong * Save those he sickened<br/> + + so sore, so long,<br/> + +Who have lost their wits 'mid the lover-throng * Draining<br/> + + bitterest cup by his hard decree:<br/> + + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/> + + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/> + +How oft in Night's gloom he cause wake to rue * Lovers' eyne, and<br/> + + from eyelids their sleep withdrew;<br/> + +Till tears to the railing of torrents grew, * Overflowing cheeks<br/> + + , unconfined and free:<br/> + + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/> + + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/> + +How many a man he has joyed to steep * In pain, and for pine hath<br/> + + he plundered sleep,—<br/> + +Made don garb of mourning the deepest deep * And even his<br/> + + dreaming forced to flee:<br/> + + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/> + + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/> + +How oft sufferance fails me! How bones are wasted * And down my<br/> + + cheeks torrent tear-drops hasted:<br/> + +And embittered She all the food I tasted * However sweet it was<br/> + + wont to be:<br/> + + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/> + + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/> + +Most hapless of men who like me must love, * And must watch when<br/> + + Night droops her wing from above,<br/> + +Who, swimming the main where affection drove * Must sign and sink<br/> + + in that gloomy sea:<br/> + + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/> + + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/> + +Who is he to whom Love e'er stinted spite * And who scaped his<br/> + + springes and easy sleight;<br/> + +Who free from Love lived in life's delight? * Where is he can<br/> + + boast of such liberty?<br/> + + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/> + + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'<br/> + +Deign Lord such suffering wight maintain * Then best Protector,<br/> + + protect him deign!<br/> + +Establish him and his life assain * And defend him from all<br/> + + calamity:<br/> + + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me:<br/> + + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And when Nur al-Din ended his say and ceased to sing his rhyming lay, the +Wazir's daughter said to herself, "By the virtue of the Messiah and the Faith +which is no liar, verily this Moslem is a handsome youth! But doubtless he is a +lover separated from his mistress. Would Heaven I wot an the beloved of this +fair one is fair like unto him and if she pine for him as he for her! An she be +seemly as he is, it behoveth him to pour forth tears and make moan of passion; +but, an she be other than fair, his days are wasted in vain regrets and he is +denied the taste of delights."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir's daughter +said to herself, "An his beloved be fair as he, it behoveth him to pour forth +tears; and, if other than fair, his heart is wasted in vain regrets!" Now +Miriam the Girdle-girl, the Minister's consort, had removed to the new palace +the day before and the Wazir's daughter knew that she was straitened of breast; +so she was minded to seek her and talk with her and tell her the tidings of the +young man and the rhymes and verses she had heard him recite; but, before she +could carry out her design the Princess sent for her to cheer her with her +converse. So she went to her and found her heavy at heart and her tears +hurrying down her cheeks; and whilst she was weeping with sore weeping she +recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"My life is gone but love-longings remain * And my breast is<br/> + + straitened with pine and pain:<br/> + +And my heart for parting to melt is fain * Yet hoping that union<br/> + + will come again,<br/> + + And join us in one who now are twain.<br/> + +Stint your blame to him who in heart's your thrall * With the<br/> + + wasted frame which his sorrows gall,<br/> + +Nor with aim of arrow his heart appal * For parted lover is<br/> + + saddest of all,<br/> + + And Love's cup of bitters is sweet to drain!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Quoth the Wazir's daughter to her, "What aileth thee, O Princess, to be thus +straitened in breast and sorrowful of thought?" Whereupon Miriam recalled the +greatness of the delights that were past and recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"I will bear in patience estrangement of friend * And on cheeks<br/> + + rail tears that like torrents wend:<br/> + +Haply Allah will solace my sorrow, for He * Neath the ribs of<br/> + + unease maketh ease at end."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Said the Wazir's daughter, "O Princess, let not thy breast be straitened, but +come with me straightway to the lattice; for there is with us in the +stable[FN#556] a comely young man, slender of shape and sweet of speech, and +meseemeth he is a parted lover." Miriam asked, "And by what sign knowest thou +that he is a parted lover?"; and she answered, "O Queen, I know it by his +improvising odes and verses all watches of the night and tides of the day." +Quoth the Princess in herself, "If what the Wazir's daughter says be true, +these are assuredly the traits of the baffled, the wretched Ali Nur al-Din. +Would I knew if indeed he be the youth of whom she speaketh?" At this thought, +love-longing and distraction of passion redoubled on her and she rose at once +and walking with the maiden to the lattice, looked down upon the stables, where +she saw her love and lord Nur al-Din and fixing her eyes steadfastly upon him, +knew him with the bestest knowledge of love, albeit he was sick, of the +greatness of his affection for her and of the fire of passion, and the anguish +of separation and yearning and distraction. Sore upon him was emaciation and he +was improvising and saying, +</p> + +<p> +"My heart is a thrall; my tears ne'er abate * And their rains the<br/> + + railing of clouds amate;<br/> + +'Twixt my weeping and watching and wanting love; * And whining<br/> + + and pining for dearest mate.<br/> + +Ah my burning heat, my desire, my lowe! * For the plagues that<br/> + + torture my heart are eight;<br/> + +And five upon five are in suite of them; * So stand and listen to<br/> + + all I state:<br/> + +Mem'ry, madding thoughts, moaning languishment, * Stress of<br/> + + longing love, plight disconsolate;<br/> + +In travail, affliction and strangerhood, * And annoy and joy when<br/> + + on her I wait.<br/> + +Fail me patience and stay for engrossing care * And sorrows my<br/> + + suffering soul regrate.<br/> + +On my heart the possession of passion grows * O who ask of what<br/> + + fire in my heart's create,<br/> + +Why my tears in vitals should kindle flame, * Burning heart with<br/> + + ardours insatiate,<br/> + +Know, I'm drowned in Deluge[FN#557] of tears and my soul * From<br/> + + Lazá-lowe fares to Háwiyah-goal."[FN#558]<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When the Princess Miriam beheld Nur al-Din and heard his loquence and verse and +speech, she made certain that it was indeed her lord Nur al-Din; but she +concealed her case from the Wazir's daughter and said to her, "By the virtue of +the Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, I thought not thou knewest of my +sadness!" Then she arose forthright and withdrawing from the window, returned +to her own place, whilst the Wazir's daughter went to her own occupations. The +Princess awaited patiently awhile, then returned to the window and sat there, +gazing upon her beloved Nur al-Din and delighting her eyes with his beauty and +inner and outer grace. And indeed, she saw that he was like unto moon at full +on fourteenth night; but he was ever sighing with tears never drying, for that +he recalled whatso he had been abying. So he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"I hope for Union with my love which I may ne'er obtain * At all,<br/> + + but bitterness of life is all the gain I gain:<br/> + +My tears are likest to the main for ebb and flow of tide; * But<br/> + + when I meet the blamer-wight to staunch my tears I'm fain.<br/> + +Woe to the wretch who garred us part by spelling of his<br/> + + spells;[FN#559] * Could I but hend his tongue in hand I'd<br/> + + cut his tongue in twain:<br/> + +Yet will I never blame the days for whatso deed they did *<br/> + + Mingling with merest, purest gall the cup they made me<br/> + + drain!<br/> + +To whom shall I address myself; and whom but you shall seek * A<br/> + + heart left hostage in your Court, by you a captive ta'en?<br/> + +Who shall avenge my wrongs on you,[FN#560] tyrant despotical *<br/> + + Whose tyranny but grows the more, the more I dare complain?<br/> + +I made him regnant of my soul that he the reign assain * But me<br/> + + he wasted wasting too the soul I gave to reign.<br/> + +Ho thou, the Fawn, whom I so lief erst gathered to my breast *<br/> + + Enow of severance tasted I to own its might and main,<br/> + +Thou'rt he whose favours joined in one all beauties known to man,<br/> + + * Yet I thereon have wasted all my Patience' fair domain.<br/> + +I entertained him in my heart whereto he brought unrest * But I<br/> + + am satisfied that I such guest could entertain.<br/> + +My tears for ever flow and flood, likest the surging sea * And<br/> + + would I wot the track to take that I thereto attain.<br/> + +Yet sore I fear that I shall die in depths of my chagrin * And<br/> + + must despair for evermore to win the wish I'd win."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Miriam heard the verses of Nur al-Din the loving-hearted, the parted; they +kindled in her vitals a fire of desire, and while her eyes ran over with tears, +she recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p> +"I longed for him I love; but, when we met, * I was amazed nor<br/> + + tongue nor eyes I found.<br/> + +I had got ready volumes of reproach; * But when we met, could<br/> + + syllable no sound."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +When Nur al-Din heard the voice of Princess Miriam, he knew it and wept bitter +tears, saying, "By Allah, this is the chanting of the Lady Miriam."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +End of Volume 8. +</p> + +<p> + Arabian Nights, Volume 8<br/> + + Footnotes<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#1] Ironicč; we are safe as long as we are defended by such a brave. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#2] Blue, azure. This is hardly the place for a protest, but I must not +neglect the opportunity of cautioning my readers against rendering Bahr +al-Azrak ("Blue River") by "Blue Nile." No Arab ever knew it by that name or +thereby equalled it with the White Nile. The term was a pure invention of +Abyssinian Bruce who was well aware of the unfact he was propagating, but his +inordinate vanity and self-esteem, contrasting so curiously with many noble +qualities, especially courage and self-reliance, tempted him to this and many +other a traveller's tale. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#3] This is orthodox Moslem doctrine and it does something for the dignity +of human nature which has been so unwisely depreciated and degraded by +Christianity. The contrast of Moslem dignity and Christian abasement in the +East is patent to every unblind traveller. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#4] Here ends vol. iii. of the Mac. Edit. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#5] This famous tale is a sister prose-poem to the "Arabian<br/> + +Odyssey" Sindbad the Seaman; only the Bassorite's travels are in<br/> + +Jinn-land and Japan. It has points of resemblance in<br/> + +"fundamental outline" with the Persian Romance of the Fairy Hasan<br/> + +Bánú and King Bahrám-i-Gúr. See also the Kathá (s.s.) and the two<br/> + +sons of the Asúra Máyá; the Tartar "Sidhi Kúr" (Tales of a<br/> + +Vampire or Enchanted Corpse) translated by Mr. W. J. Thoms (the<br/> + +Father of "Folk-lore" in 1846,) in "Lays and Legends of various<br/> + +Nations"; the Persian Bahár-i-Dánish (Prime of Lore). Miss<br/> + +Stokes' "Indian Fairy Tales"; Miss Frere's "Old Deccan Days" and<br/> + +Mrs. F. A. Steel's "Tale of the King and his Seven Sons," with<br/> + +notes by Lieutenant (now Captain) R. C. Temple (Folk-lore of the<br/> + +Panjab, Indian Antiquary of March, 1882).<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#6] In the Mac. Edit. (vol. iv. i.) the merchant has two sons who became +one a brazier ("dealer in copper-wares" says Lane iii. 385) and the other a +goldsmith. The Bresl. Edit. (v. 264) mentions only one son, Hasan, the hero +of the story which is entitled, "Tale of Hasan al-Basrí and the Isles of Wák +Wák." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#7] Arab. "Shásh Abyaz:" this distinctive sign of the True Believer was +adopted by the Persian to conceal his being a fire-worshipper, Magian or +"Guebre." The latter word was introduced from the French by Lord Byron and it +is certainly far superior to Moore's "Gheber." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#8] Persians being always a suspected folk. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#9] Arab. "Al-Búdikah" afterwards used (Night dcclxxix) in the sense of +crucible or melting-pot, in modern parlance a pipe-bowl; and also written +"Bútakah," an Arab distortion of the Persian "Bútah." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#10] Arab. "Sindán" or "Sindiyán" (Dozy). "Sandán," anvil;<br/> + +"Sindán," big, strong (Steingass).<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#11] Arab. "Kímiya," (see vol. i. 305) properly the substance which +transmutes metals, the "philosopher's stone" which, by the by, is not a stone; +and comes from {chymeía,chymós} = a fluid, a wet drug, as opposed to Iksír +(Al-) {Xerón, Xérion}, a dry drug. Those who care to see how it is still +studied will consult my History of Sindh (chapt. vii) and my experience which +pointed only to the use made of it in base coinage. Hence in mod. tongue +Kímiyáwi, an alchemist, means a coiner, a smasher. The reader must not suppose +that the transmutation of metals is a dead study: I calculate that there are +about one hundred workers in London alone. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#12] Arab. "Al-Kír," a bellows also = Kúr, a furnace. For the full +meaning of this sentence, see my "Book of the Sword," p. 119. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#13] Lit. "bade him lean upon it with the shears" (Al-Káz). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#14] There are many kinds of Kohls (Hindos. Surmá and<br/> + +Kajjal) used in medicine and magic. See Herklots, p. 227.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#15] Arab. "Sabíkah" = bar, lamina, from "Sabk" = melting, smelting: the +lump in the crucible would be hammered out into an ingot in order to conceal +the operation +</p> + +<p> +[FN#16] i.e. Ł375. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#17] Such report has cost many a life: the suspicion was and is still +deadly as heresy in a "new Christian" under the Inquisition. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#18] Here there is a double entendre: openly it means, "Few men recognise +as they should the bond of bread and salt:" the other sense would be (and that +accounts for the smile), "What the deuce do I care for the bond?" +</p> + +<p> +[FN#19] Arab. "Kabbát" in the Bresl. Edit. "Ka'abán ": Lane (iii. 519) reads +"Ka'áb plur. of Ka'ab a cup." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#20] A most palpable sneer. But Hasan is purposely represented as a +"softy" till aroused and energized by the magic of Love. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#21] Arab. "Al-iksír" (see Night dcclxxix, supra p. 9): the Greek word + which has returned from a trip to Arabia and reappeared in Europe as +"Elixir." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#22] "Awák" plur. of "Ukíyah," the well-known "oke," or "ocque," a weight +varying from 1 to 2 lbs. In Morocco it is pronounced "Wukíyah," and = the +Spanish ounce (p. 279 Rudimentos del Arabe Vulgar, etc., by Fr. José de +Lorchundi, Madrid, Rivadeneyra, 1872). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#23] These lines have occurred in vol. iv. 267, where references to other +places are given. I quote Lane by way of variety. In the text they are +supposed to have been written by the Persian, a hint that Hasan would never be +seen again. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#24] i.e. a superfetation of iniquity. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#25] Arab. "Kurbán," Heb. { }Corban = offering, oblation to be brought to +the priest's house or to the altar of the tribal God Yahveh, Jehovah (Levit. +ii, 2-3 etc.). Amongst the Maronites Kurban is the host (-wafer) and amongst +the Turks 'Id al-Kurban (sacrifice-feast) is the Greater Bayram, the time of +Pilgrimage. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#26] Nár = fire, being feminine, like the names of the other "elements." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#27] The Egyptian Kurbáj of hippopotamus-hide (Burkh. Nubia, pp. 62,282) or +elephant-hide (Turner ii. 365). Hence the Fr. Cravache (as Cravat is from +Croat). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#28] In Mac. Edit. "Bahriyah": in Bresl. Edit. "Nawátíyah."<br/> + +See vol. vi. 242, for {Naýtes}, navita, nauta.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#29] In Bresl. Edit. (iv. 285) "Yá Khwájah," for which see vol. vi. 46. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#30] Arab. "Tabl" (vulg. baz) = a kettle-drum about half a foot broad held +in the left hand and beaten with a stick or leathern thong. Lane refers to his +description (M.E. ii. chapt. v.) of the Dervish's drum of tinned copper with +parchment face, and renders Zakhmah or Zukhmah (strap, stirrup-leather) by +"plectrum," which gives a wrong idea. The Bresl. Edit. ignores the strap. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#31] The "Spartivento" of Italy, mostly a tall headland which divides the +clouds. The most remarkable feature of the kind is the Dalmatian Island, +Pelagosa. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#32] The "Rocs" (Al-Arkhákh) in the Bresl. Edit. (iv. 290).<br/> + +The Rakham = aquiline vulture.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#33] Lane here quotes a similar incident in the romance "Sayf Zú al-Yazan," +so called from the hero, whose son, Misr, is sewn up in a camel's hide by +Bahrám, a treacherous Magian, and is carried by the Rukhs to a mountain-top. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#34] These lines occurred in Night xxvi. vol. i. 275: I quote<br/> + +Mr. Payne for variety.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#35] Thus a Moslem can not only circumcise and marry himself but can also +bury canonically himself. The form of this prayer is given by Lane M. E. +chapt. xv. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#36] i.e. If I fail in my self-imposed duty, thou shalt charge me therewith +on the Judgment-day. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#37] Arab. "Al-Alwán," plur. of laun (colour). The latter in Egyptian +Arabic means a "dish of meat." See Burckhardt No. 279. I repeat that the great +traveller's "Arabic Proverbs" wants republishing for two reasons. First he had +not sufficient command of English to translate with the necessary laconism and +assonance: secondly in his day British Philistinism was too rampant to permit a +literal translation. Consequently the book falls short of what the Oriental +student requires; and I have prepared it for my friend Mr. Quaritch. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#38] i.e. Lofty, high-builded. See Night dcclxviii. vol. vii. p. 347. In +the Bresl. Edit. Al-Masíd (as in Al-Kazwíni): in the Mac. Edit. Al-Mashid +</p> + +<p> +[FN#39] Arab. "Munkati" here = cut off from the rest of the world. Applied to +a man, and a popular term of abuse in Al-Hijáz, it means one cut off from the +blessings of Allah and the benefits of mankind; a pauvre sire. (Pilgrimage ii. +22.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#40] Arab. "Baras au Juzám," the two common forms of leprosy. See vol. iv. +51. Popular superstition in Syria holds that coition during the menses breeds +the Juzám, Dáa al-Kabír (Great Evil) or Dáa al-Fíl (Elephantine Evil), i.e. +Elephantiasis and that the days between the beginning of the flow (Sabíl) to +that of coition shows the age when the progeny will be attacked; for instance +if it take place on the first day, the disease will appear in the tenth year, +on the fourth the fortieth and so on. The only diseases really dreaded by the +Badawin are leprosy and small-pox. Coition during the menses is forbidden by +all Eastern faiths under the severest penalties. Al-Mas'údi relates how a man +thus begotten became a determined enemy of Ali; and the ancient Jews attributed +the magical powers of Joshua Nazarenus to this accident of his birth, the +popular idea being that sorcerers are thus impurely engendered. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#41] By adoption - See vol. iii. 151. This sudden affection (not love) +suggests the "Come to my arms, my slight acquaintance!" of the Anti-Jacobin. +But it is true to Eastern nature; and nothing can be more charming than this +fast friendship between the Princess and Hasan. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#42] En tout bien et en tout honneur, be it understood. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#43] He had done nothing of the kind; but the feminine mind is prone to +exaggeration. Also Hasan had told them a fib, to prejudice them against the +Persian. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#44] These nervous movements have been reduced to a system in the Turk. +"Ihtilájnámeh" = Book of palpitations, prognosticating from the subsultus +tendinum and other involuntary movements of the body from head to foot; +according to Ja'afar the Just, Daniel the Prophet, Alexander the Great; the +Sages of Persia and the Wise Men of Greece. In England we attend chiefly to the +eye and ear. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#45] Revenge, amongst the Arabs, is a sacred duty; and, in their state of +civilization, society could not be kept together without it. So the slaughter +of a villain is held to be a sacrifice to Allah, who amongst Christians claims +for Himself the monopoly of vengeance. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#46] Arab. "Zindík." See vol. v. 230. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#47] Lane translates this "put for him the remaining food and water;" but +Al-Ákhar (Mac. Edit.) evidently refers to the Najíb (dromedary). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#48] We can hardly see the heroism of the deed, but it must be remembered +that Bahram was a wicked sorcerer, whom it was every good Moslem's bounden +duty to slay. Compare the treatment of witches in England two centuries ago. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#49] The mother in Arab tales is ma mčre, now becoming somewhat ridiculous +in France on account of the over use of that venerable personage. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#50] The forbidden closet occurs also in Sayf Zú al-Yazan, who enters it +and finds the bird-girls. Trébutien ii, 208 says, "Il est assez remarquable +qu'il existe en Allemagne une tradition ŕ peu prčs semblable, et qui a fourni +le sujet d'un des contes de Musaeus, entitulé, le voile enlevé." Here Hasan is +artfully left alone in a large palace without other companions but his thoughts +and the reader is left to divine the train of ideas which drove him to open the +door. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#51] Arab. "Buhayrah" (Bresl. Edit. "Bahrah"), the tank or cistern in the +Hosh (court-yard) of an Eastern house. Here, however, it is a rain-cistern on +the flat roof of the palace (See Night dcccviii). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#52] This description of the view is one of the most gorgeous in The +Nights. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#53] Here again are the "Swan-maidens" (See vol. v. 346) "one of the +primitive myths, the common heritage of the whole Aryan (Iranian) race." In +Persia Bahram-i-Gúr when carried off by the Dív Sapíd seizes the Peri's +dove-coat: in Santháli folk-lore Torica, the Goatherd, steals the garment +doffed by one of the daughters of the sun; and hence the twelve birds of +Russian Story. To the same cycle belong the Seal-tales of the Faroe Islands +(Thorpe's Northern Mythology) and the wise women or mermaids of Shetland +(Hibbert). Wayland the smith captures a wife by seizing a mermaid's raiment +and so did Sir Hagán by annexing the wardrobe of a Danubian water-nymph. +Lettsom, the translator, mixes up this swan-raiment with that of the Valkyries +or Choosers of the Slain. In real life stealing women's clothes is an old trick +and has often induced them, after having been seen naked, to offer their +persons spontaneously. Of this I knew two cases in India, where the theft is +justified by divine example. The blue god Krishna, a barbarous and grotesque +Hindu Apollo, robbed the raiment of the pretty Gopálís (cowherdesses) who were +bathing in the Arjun River and carried them to the top of a Kunduna tree; nor +would he restore them till he had reviewed the naked girls and taken one of +them to wife. See also Imr al-Kays (of the Mu'allakah) with "Onaiza" at the +port of Daratjuljul (Clouston's Arabian Poetry, p.4). A critic has complained +of my tracing the origin of the Swan-maiden legend to the physical resemblance +between the bird and a high-bred girl (vol. v. 346). I should have explained my +theory which is shortly, that we must seek a material basis for all so-called +supernaturalisms, and that anthropomorphism satisfactorily explains the +Swan-maiden, as it does the angel and the devil. There is much to say on the +subject; but this is not the place for long discussion. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#54] Arab. "Nafs Ammárah," corresponding with our canting term "The +Flesh." Nafs al-Nátíkah is the intellectual soul or function; Nafs +al-Ghazabíyah = the animal function and Nafs al Shahwáníyah = the vegetative +property. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#55] The lines occur in vol. ii. 331: I have quoted Mr.<br/> + +Payne. Here they are singularly out of place.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#56] Not the "green gown" of Anglo-India i.e. a white ball-dress with +blades of grass sticking to it in consequence of a "fall backwards." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#57] These lines occur in vol. i. 219: I have borrowed from<br/> + +Torrens (p. 219).<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#58] The appearance of which ends the fast and begins the<br/> + +Lesser Festival. See vol. i. 84.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#59] See note, vol. i. 84, for notices of the large navel; much appreciated +by Easterns. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#60] Arab. "Shá'ir Al-Walahán" = the love-distraught poet; Lane has "a +distracted poet." My learned friend Professor Aloys Sprenger has consulted, +upon the subject of Al-Walahán the well-known Professor of Arabic at Halle, Dr. +Thorbeck, who remarks that the word (here as further on) must be an adjective, +mad, love-distraught, not a "lakab" or poetical cognomen. He generally finds +it written Al-Shá'ir al-Walahán (the love-demented poet) not Al-Walahán +al-Shá'ir = Walahán the Poet. Note this burst of song after the sweet youth +falls in love: it explains the cause of verse-quotation in The Nights, poetry +being the natural language of love and battle. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#61] "Them" as usual for "her." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#62] Here Lane proposes a transposition, for "Wa-huwá (and he) fi'l-hubbi," +to read "Fi 'l-hubbi wa huwa (wa-hwa);" but the latter is given in the Mac. +Edit. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#63] For the pun in "Sabr"=aloe or patience. See vol. i. 138. In Herr +Landberg (i. 93) we find a misunderstanding of the couplet— +</p> + +<p> + "Aw'ákibu s-sabri (Kála ba'azuhum)<br/> + + Mahmúdah: Kultu, 'khshi an takhirriní.'"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +"The effects of patience" (or aloes) quoth one "are praiseworthy!" Quoth I, +"Much I fear lest it make me stool." Mahmúdah is not only un laxatif, but a +slang name for a confection of aloes. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#64] Arab. "Akúna fidá-ka." Fidá = ransom, self-sacrifice and<br/> + +Fidá'an = instead of. The phrase, which everywhere occurs in The<br/> + +Nights, means, "I would give my life to save thine "<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#65] Thus accounting for his sickness, improbably enough but in flattering +way. Like a good friend (feminine) she does not hesitate a moment in +prescribing a fib. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#66] i.e. the 25,000 Amazons who in the Bresl. Edit. (ii. 308) are all made +to be the King's Banát" = daughters or protégées. The Amazons of Dahome (see my +"Mission") who may now number 5,000 are all officially wives of the King and +are called by the lieges "our mothers." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#67] The tale-teller has made up his mind about the damsel; although in +this part of the story she is the chief and eldest sister and subsequently she +appears as the youngest daughter of the supreme Jinn King. The mystification +is artfully explained by the extraordinary likeness of the two sisters. (See +Night dcccxi.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#68] This is a reminiscence of the old-fashioned "marriage by capture," of +which many traces survive, even among the civilised who wholly ignore their +origin. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#69] Meaning her companions and suite. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#70] Arab. "'Abáah" vulg. "'Abáyah." See vol. ii. 133. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#71] Feet in the East lack that development of sebaceous glands which +afflicts Europeans. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#72] i.e. cutting the animals' throats after Moslem law. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#73] In Night dcclxxviii. supra p.5, we find the orthodox Moslem doctrine +that "a single mortal is better in Allah's sight than a thousand Jinns." For, +I repeat, Al-Islam systematically exalts human nature which Christianity takes +infinite trouble to degrade and debase. The results of its ignoble teaching +are only too evident in the East: the Christians of the so-called (and +miscalled) "Holy Land" are a disgrace to the faith and the idiomatic Persian +term for a Nazarene is "Tarsá" = funker, coward. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#74] Arab. "Sakaba Kúrahá;" the forge in which children are hammered out? +</p> + +<p> +[FN#75] Arab. "Má al-Maláhat" = water (brilliancy) of beauty. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#76] The fourth of the Seven Heavens, the "Garden of<br/> + +Eternity," made of yellow coral.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#77] How strange this must sound to the Young Woman of London in the +nineteenth century. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#78] "Forty days" is a quasi-religious period amongst Moslem for praying, +fasting and religious exercises: here it represents our "honey-moon." See vol. +v. p. 62. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#79] Yá layta, still popular. Herr Carlo Landberg (Proverbes et Dictons du +Peuple Arabe, vol. i. of Syria, Leyden, E. J. Brill, 1883) explains layta for +rayta (=raayta) by permutation of liquids and argues that the contraction is +ancient (p. 42). But the Herr is no Arabist: "Layta" means "would to Heaven," +or, simply "I wish," "I pray" (for something possible or impossible); whilst +"La'alla" (perhaps, it may be) prays only for the possible: and both are +simply particles governing the noun in the oblique or accusative case. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#80] "His" for "her," i.e. herself, making somewhat of confusion between +her state and that of her son. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#81] i.e. his mother; the words are not in the Mac. Edit. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#82] Baghdad is called House of Peace, amongst other reasons, from the +Dijlah (Tigris) River and Valley "of Peace." The word was variously written +Baghdád, Bághdád, (our old Bughdaud and Bagdat), Baghzáz, Baghzán, Baghdán, +Baghzám and Maghdád as Makkah and Bakkah (Koran iii. 90). Religious Moslems +held Bágh (idol) and Dád (gift) an ill-omened conjunction, and the Greeks +changed it to Eirenopolis. (See Ouseley's Oriental Collcctions, vol. i. pp. +18-20.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#83] This is a popular saying but hardly a "vulgar proverb."<br/> + +(Lane iii. 522.) It reminds rather of Shakespear's:<br/> +</p> + +<p> + "So loving to my mother,<br/> + + That he might not beteem the winds of heaven<br/> + + Visit her face too roughly."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#84] i.e. God forbid that I should oppose thee! +</p> + +<p> +[FN#85] Here the writer again forgets apparently, that Shahrazad is speaking: +she may, however, use the plural for the singular when speaking of herself. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#86] i.e. She would have pleaded ill-treatment and lawfully demanded to be +sold. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#87] The Hindus speak of "the only bond that woman knows—her heart." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#88] i.e. a rarity, a present (especially in Persian). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#89] Arab. "Al-bisát" wa'l-masnad lit. the carpet and the cushion. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#90] For "Báb al-bahr" and "Báb al-Barr" see vol. iii. 281. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#91] She was the daughter of Ja'afar bin Mansúr; but, as will be seen, The +Nights again and again called her father Al-Kásim. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#92] This is an error for the fifth which occurs in the popular saying, "Is +he the fifth of the sons of Al-Abbás!" i.e. Harun al-Rashid. Lane (note, in +loco) thus accounts for the frequent mention of the Caliph, the greatest of the +Abbasides in The Nights. But this is a causa non causa. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#93] i.e. I find thy beauty all-sufficient. So the proverb "The son of the +quarter (young neighbour) filleth not the eye," which prefers a stranger. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#94] They are mere doggerel, like most of the pičces de circonstance. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#95] Afterwards called Wák Wák, and in the Bresl. Edit. Wák al-Wák. See +Lane's notes upon these Islands. Arab Geographers evidently speak of two Wak +Waks. Ibn al-Fakih and Al-Mas'údi (Fr. Transl., vol. iii. 6-7) locate one of +them in East Africa beyond Zanzibar and Sofala. "Le territoire des Zendjes +(Zanzibar-Negroids) commence au canal (Al-Khalij) dérivé du haut Nil (the Juln +River?) et se prolonge jusqu'au pays de Sofalah et des Wak-Wak." It is simply +the peninsula of Guardafui (Jard Hafun) occupied by the Gallas, pagans and +Christians, before these were ousted by the Moslem Somal; and the former +perpetually ejaculated "Wak" (God) as Moslems cry upon Allah. This +identification explains a host of other myths such as the Amazons, who as Marco +Polo tells us held the "Female Island" Socotra (Yule ii. 396). The fruit which +resembled a woman's head (whence the puellć Wakwakienses hanging by the hair +from trees), and which when ripe called out "Wak Wak" and "Allah al-Khallák" +(the Creator) refers to the Calabash-tree (Adausonia digitata), that grotesque +growth, a vegetable elephant, whose gourds, something larger than a man's head, +hang by a slender filament. Similarly the "cocoa" got its name, in Port. = +Goblin, from the fancied face at one end. The other Wak Wak has been identified +in turns with the Seychelles, Madagascar, Malacca, Sunda or Java (this by +Langlčs), China and Japan. The learned Prof. de Goeje (Arabishe Berichten over +Japan, Amsterdam, Muller, 1880) informs us that in Canton the name of Japan is +Wo-Kwok, possibly a corruption of Koku-tan, the ebony-tree (Diospyros ebenum) +which Ibn Khor-dábah and others find together with gold in an island 4,500 +parasangs from Suez and East of China. And we must remember that Basrah was +the chief starting-place for the Celestial Empire during the rule of the Tang +dynasty (seventh and ninth centuries). Colonel J. W. Watson of Bombay suggests +New Guinea or the adjacent islands where the Bird of Paradise is said to cry +"Wak Wak!" Mr. W. F. Kirby in the Preface (p. ix.) to his neat little book "The +New Arabian Nights," says: "The Islands of Wak-Wak, seven years' journey from +Bagdad, in the story of Hasan, have receded to a distance of a hundred and +fifty years' journey in that of Majin (of Khorasan). There is no doubt(?) that +the Cora Islands, near New Guinea, are intended; for the wonderful fruits which +grow there are Birds of Paradise, which settle in flocks on the trees at sunset +and sunrise, uttering this very cry." Thus, like Ophir, Wak Wak has wandered +all over the world and has been found even in Peru by the Turkish work Tárikh +al-Hind al-Gharbi = History of the West Indies (Orient. Coll. iii 189). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#96] I accept the emendation of Lane's Shaykh, "Nasím "<br/> + +(Zephyr) for "Nadím " (cup-companion).<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#97] "Jannat al-Ná'im" = Garden of Delights is No. V Heaven, made of white +diamond. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#98] This appears to her very prettily put. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#99] This is the "House of Sadness" of our old chivalrous Romances. See +chapt. vi. of "Palmerin of England," by Francisco de Moraes (ob. 1572), +translated by old Anthony Munday (dateless, 1590?) and "corrected" (read +spoiled) by Robert Southey, London, Longmans, 1807. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#100] The lines have occurred in Night clix. (vol. iii. 183), I quote Mr. +Payne who, like Lane, prefers "in my bosom" to "beneath my ribs." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#101] In this tale the Bresl. Edit. more than once adds "And let us and you +send a blessing to the Lord of Lords" (or to "Mohammed," or to the "Prophet"); +and in vol. v. p. 52 has a long prayer. This is an act of contrition in the +tale-teller for romancing against the expressed warning of the Founder of +Al-Islam. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#102] From Bresl. Edit. (vi. 29): the four in the Mac. Edit. are too +irrelevant. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#103] Arab. "Ghayúr"—jealous, an admirable epithet which<br/> + +Lane dilutes to "changeable"—making a truism of a metaphor.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#104] These lines have occurred before. I quote Mr. Payne. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#105] i.e. One fated to live ten years. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#106] This poetical way of saying "fourteen" suggests Camoens<br/> + +(The Lusiads) Canto v. 2.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#107] Arab. "Surrah," lit. = a purse: a few lines lower down it is called +"'Ulbah" = a box which, of course, may have contained the bag. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#108] The month which begins the Moslem year. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#109] As an Arab often does when deep in thought. Lane appositely quotes +John viii. 6. "Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground." +Mr. Payne translates, "He fell a-drumming on the earth with his fingers," but +this does not complete the sense. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#110] i.e."And the peace of Allah be upon thee! that will end thy story." +The Arab formula, "Wa al-Salám" (pron. Wassalám) is used in a variety of +senses. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#111] Like Camoens, one of the model lovers, he calls upon<br/> + +Love to torment him still more—ad majorem Dei (amoris) gloriam.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#112] Pron. Aboor-Ruwaysh. "The Father of the little Feather": he is +afterwards called "Son of the daughter of the accursed Iblis"; yet, as Lane +says, "he appears to be a virtuous person." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#113] Arab. "Kantara al-lijám fi Karbús (bow) sarjih." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#114] I do not translate "beckoned" because the word would give a wrong +idea. Our beckoning with the finger moved towards the beckoner makes the +so-beckoned Eastern depart in all haste. To call him you must wave the hand +from you. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#115] The Arabs knew what large libraries were; and a learned man could not +travel without camel-loads of dictionaries. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#116] Arab. "Adim;" now called Bulghár, our Moroccan leather. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#117] Arab. "Zinád," which Lane renders by "instruments for striking +fire," and Mr. Payne, after the fashion of the translators of Al-Hariri, "flint +and steel." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#118] A congener of Hasan and Husayn, little used except in Syria where it +is a favourite name for Christians. The Muhít of Butrus Al-Bostáni (s.v.) +tells us that it also means a bird called Abú Hasan and supplies various +Egyptian synonyms. In Mod. Arab. Grammar the form Fa''úl is a diminutive as +Hammúd for Ahmad, 'Ammúr for 'Amrú. So the fem. form, Fa''úlah, e.g. Khaddúgah += little Khadijah and Naffúsah=little Nafisah; Ar'úrah = little clitoris - +whereas in Heb. it is an incrementative e.g. dabbúlah a large dablah (cake or +lump of dried figs, etc.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#119] In the Mac. Edit. "Soldiers of Al-Daylam" i.e. warlike as the +Daylamites or Medes. See vol. ii. 94. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#120] Bilkís, it will be remembered, is the Arab. name of the<br/> + +Queen of Sheba who visited Solomon. In Abyssinia she is termed<br/> + +Kebra zá negest or zá makadá, the latter (according to Ferdinand<br/> + +Werne's "African Wanderings," Longmans, 1852) being synonymous<br/> + +with Ityopia or Habash (Ethiopia or Abyssinia).<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#121] Arab. "Dakkah," which Lane translates by "settee." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#122] Arab. "Ambar al-Khám" the latter word (raw) being pure<br/> + +Persian.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#123] The author neglects to mention the ugliest part of old-womanhood in +the East, long empty breasts like tobacco-pouches. In youth the bosom is +beautifully high, arched and rounded, firm as stone to the touch, with the +nipples erect and pointing outwards. But after the girl-mother's first child +(in Europe le premier embellit) all changes. Nature and bodily power have been +overtasked; then comes the long suckling at the mother's expense: the extension +of the skin and the enlargement of its vessels are too sudden and rapid for the +diminished ability of contraction and the bad food aids in the continual +consumption of vitality. Hence, among Eastern women age and ugliness are +synonymous. It is only in the highest civilisation that we find the handsome +old woman. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#124] The name has occurred in the Knightly tale of King Omar and his sons, +Vol. ii. 269. She is here called Mother of Calamities,but in p. 123, Vol. iv. +of the Mac. Edit. she becomes "Lady (Zát) al-Dawáhi." It will be remembered +that the title means calamitous to the foe. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#125] By this address she assured him that she had no design upon his +chastity. In Moslem lands it is always advisable to accost a strange woman, no +matter how young, with, "Yá Ummí!" = O my mother. This is pledging one's word, +as it were, not to make love to her. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#126] Apparently the Wakites numbered their Islands as the Anglo-Americans +do their streets. For this they have been charged with "want of imagination"; +but the custom is strictly classical. See at Pompeii "Reg (io) I; Ins (ula) I, +Via Prima, Secunda," etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#127] These are the Puellć Wakwakienses of whom Ibn Al-Wardi relates after +an ocular witness, "Here too is a tree which bears fruits like women who have +fair faces and are hung by their hair. They come forth from integuments like +large leathern bags (calabash-gourds?) and when they sense air and sun they cry +'Wak! Wak!' (God! God!) till their hair is cut, and when it is cut they die; +and the islanders understand this cry wherefrom they augure ill." The Ajáib +al-Hind (chapt. xv.) places in Wak-land the Samandal, a bird which enters the +fire without being burnt evidently the Egyptian "Pi-Benni," which the Greeks +metamorphised to "Phnix." It also mentions a hare-like animal, now male then +female, and the Somal behind Cape Guardafui tell the same tale of their +Cynhyćnas. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#128] i.e. I will keep thee as though thou wert the apple of my eye. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#129] A mere exaggeration of the "Gull-fairs" noted by travellers in sundry +islands as Ascension and the rock off Brazilian Santos. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#130] Arab. "Kámil wa Basít wa Wáfir" = the names of three popular metres, +for which see the Terminal Essay. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#131] Arab. "Manáshif" = drying towels, Plur. of Minshafah, and the +popular term which Dr. Jonathan Swift corrupted to "Munnassaf." Lane (Nights, +Introduct. p. ix.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#132] Arab. "Shafaif" opposed to "Shafah" the mouth-lips. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#133] Fountains of Paradise. This description is a fair instance of how the +Saj'a (prose-rhyme) dislocates the order; an Arab begins with hair, forehead, +eyebrows and lashes and when he reaches the nose, he slips down to the toes for +the sake of the assonance. If the latter be neglected the whole list of charms +must be otherwise ordered; and the student will compare Mr. Payne's version of +this passage with mine. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#134] A fair specimen of the Arab logogriph derived from the Abjad Alphabet +which contains only the Hebrew and Syriac letters not the six Arabic. Thus 4 X +5=20 which represents the Kaf (K) and 6 X 10=60, or Sin (S). The whole word is +thus "Kus", the Greek {kysňs} or {kyssňs}, and the lowest word, in Persian as +in Arabic, for the female pudenda, extensively used in vulgar abuse. In my +youth we had at the University something of the kind, +</p> + +<p> + To five and five and fifty-five<br/> + + The first of letters add<br/> + + To make a thing to please a King<br/> + + And drive a wise man mad.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +Answer VVLVA. Very interesting to the anthropological student is this excursus +of Hasan, who after all manner of hardships and horrors and risking his life to +recover his wife and children, breaks out into song on the subject of her +privities. And it can hardly be tale-teller's gag as both verse and prose show +considerable art in composition. (See p. 348.) +</p> + +<p> +Supplementary Note To Hasan of Bassorah. +</p> + +<p> +Note(p.93)—There is something wondrous naďve in a lover who, when asked by his +mistress to sing a song in her honour, breaks out into versical praises of her +parts. But even the classical Arab authors did not disdain such themes. See +in Al-Harírí (Ass. of Mayyáfarikín) where Abú Zayd laments the impotency of old +age in form of a Rasy or funeral oration (Preston p. 484, and Chenery p. 221). +It completely deceived Sir William Jones, who inserted it into the chapter "De +Poesi Funebri," p. 527 (Poeseos Asiaticć Commentarii), gravely noting, "Hćc +Elegia non admodum dissimilis esse videtur pulcherrimi illius carminis de Sauli +et Jonathani obitu; at que adeň versus iste 'ubi provocant adversarios nunquam +rediit a pugnć contentione sine spiculo sanguine imbuto,' ex Hebrćo reddi +videtur, +</p> + +<p> + A sanguine occisorum, a fortium virorum adipe,<br/> + + Arcus Jonathani non rediit irritus."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +I need hardly say with Captain Lockett (226) that this "Sabb warrior," this +Arabian Achilles, is the celebrated Bonus Deus or Hellespontiacus of the +Ancients. The oration runs thus:— +</p> + +<p> + O folk I have a wondrous tale, so rare<br/> + + Much shall it profit hearers wise and ware!<br/> + + I saw in salad-years a potent Brave<br/> + + And sharp of edge and point his warrior glaive;<br/> + + Who entered joust and list with hardiment<br/> + + Fearless of risk, of victory confident,<br/> + + His vigorous onset straitest places oped<br/> + + And easy passage through all narrows groped:<br/> + + He ne'er encountered foe in single fight<br/> + + But came from tilt with spear in blood stained bright;<br/> + + Nor stormed a fortress howso strong and stark—<br/> + + With fencčd gates defended deep and dark—<br/> + + When shown his flag without th' auspicious cry<br/> + + "Aidance from Allah and fair victory nigh!"<br/> + + Thus wise full many a night his part he played<br/> + + In strength and youthtide's stately garb arrayed,<br/> + + Dealing to fair young girl delicious joy<br/> + + And no less welcome to the blooming boy.<br/> + + But Time ne'er ceased to stint his wondrous strength<br/> + + (Steadfast and upright as the gallow's length)<br/> + + Until the Nights o'erthrew him by their might<br/> + + And friends contemned him for a feckless wight;<br/> + + Nor was a wizard but who wasted skill<br/> + + Over his case, nor leach could heal his ill.<br/> + + Then he abandoned arms abandoned him<br/> + + Who gave and took salutes so fierce and grim;<br/> + + And now lies prostrate drooping haughty crest;<br/> + + For who lives longest him most ills molest.<br/> + + Then see him, here he lies on bier for bet;—<br/> + + Who will a shroud bestow on stranger dead?<br/> +</p> + +<p> +A fair measure of the difference between Eastern and Western manners is +afforded by such a theme being treated by their gravest writers and the verses +being read and heard by the gravest and most worshipful men, whilst amongst us +Preston and Chenery do not dare even to translate them. The latter, indeed, +had all that immodest modesty for which English professional society is notable +in this xixth century. He spoiled by needlessly excluding from a scientific +publication (Mem. R.A.S.) all of my Proverbia Communia Syriaca (see Unexplored +Sryia, i. 364) and every item which had a shade of double entendre. But +Nemesis frequently found him out: during his short and obscure rule in Printing +House Square, The Thunderer was distinguished by two of the foulest indecencies +that ever appeared in an English paper. +</p> + +<p> +The well-known Koranic verse, whereby Allah is introduced into an indecent tale +and "Holy Writ" is punned upon. I have noticed (iii. 206) that victory Fat'h +lit.=opening everything (as e.g. a maidenhead). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#135] Egyptian and Syrian vulgar term for Mawálíyah or Mawáliyah, a short +poem on subjects either classical or vulgar. It generally consists of five +lines all rhyming except the penultimate. The metre is a species of the Basít +which, however, admits of considerable poetical license; this being according +to Lane the usual "Weight," +</p> + +<p> +/ / / . +/ / / +</p> + +<p> +The scheme is distinctly anapćstic and Mr. Lyall (Translations of Ancient +Arabic Poetry) compares with a cognate metre, the Tawíl, certain lines in Abt +Vogler, e.g. +</p> + +<p> +"Ye know why the forms are fair, ye hear how the tale is told." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#136] i.e. repeat the chapter of the Koran termed The Opening, and +beginning with these words, "Have we not opened thy breast for thee and eased +thee of thy burden which galled thy back? *** Verily with the difficulty cometh +ease!"—Koran xciv. vol. 1, 5. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#137] Lane renders Nur al-Hudŕ (Light of Salvation) by Light of Day which +would be Nur al-Hadŕ. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#138] In the Bresl. Edit. "Yá Salám"=O safety!—a vulgar ejaculation. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#139] A favourite idiom meaning from the mischief which may (or will) come +from the Queen. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#140] He is not strong-minded but his feminine persistency of purpose, +likest to that of a sitting hen, is confirmed by the "Consolations of +religion." The character is delicately drawn. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#141] In token that she intended to act like a man. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#142] This is not rare even in real life: Moslem women often hide and +change their names for superstitious reasons, from the husband and his family. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#143] Arab. "Sabab" which also means cause. Vol. ii. 14.<br/> + +There is the same metaphorical use of "Habl"= cord and cause.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#144] Arab. "Himŕ," a word often occurring in Arab poetry, domain, a +pasture or watered land forcibly kept as far as a dog's bark would sound by +some masterful chief like "King Kulayb." (See vol. ii. 77.) This tenure was +forbidden by Mohammed except for Allah and the Apostle (i.e. himself). Lane +translates it "asylum." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#145] She was a maid and had long been of marriageable age. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#146] The young man had evidently "kissed the Blarney stone"; but the +flattery is the more telling as he speaks from the heart. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#147] "Inshallah " here being= D. V. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#148] i.e. The "Place of Light" (Pharos), or of Splendour. Here we find +that Hasan's wife is the youngest sister, but with an extraordinary resemblance +to the eldest, a very masterful young person. The anagnorisis is admirably +well managed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#149] i.e. the sweetmeats of the feast provided for the returning +traveller. The old woman (like others) cannot resist the temptation of a young +man's lips. Happily for him she goes so far and no farther. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#150] The first, fourth, fifth and last names have already occurred: the +others are in order, Star o' Morn, Sun of Undurn and Honour of Maidenhood. +They are not merely fanciful, but are still used in Egypt and Syria. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#151] Arab. "Fájirah" and elsewhere "Áhirah," =whore and strumpet used +often in loose talk as mere abuse without special meaning. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#152] This to Westerns would seem a most improbable detail, but Easterns +have their own ideas concerning "Al-Muhabbat al-ghariziyah" =natural affection, +blood speaking to blood, etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#153] One of the Hells (see vol. iv. 143). Here it may be advisable to +give the names of the Seven Heavens (which are evidently based upon Ptolemaic +astronomy) and which correspond with the Seven Hells after the fashion of +Arabian system-mania. (1) Dar al-Jalál (House of Glory) made of pearls; (2) Dár +al-Salám (of Rest), rubies and jacinths; (3) Jannat al-Maawá (Garden of +Mansions, not "of mirrors," as Herklots has it, p. 98), made of yellow copper; +(4) Jannat al-Khuld (of Eternity), yellow coral; (5) Jannat al-Na'ím (of +Delights), white diamond; (6) Jannat al-Firdaus (of Paradise), red gold; and +(7) Jannat al-'Adn (of Eden, or Al-Karár= of everlasting abode, which some make +No. 8), of red pearls or pure musk. The seven Hells are given in vol. v. 241; +they are intended for Moslems (Jahannam); Christians (Lazŕ); Jews (Hutamah); +Sabians (Sa'ir); Guebres (Sakar); Pagans or idolaters (Jahím); and Hypocrites +(Háwiyah). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#154] Arab. "'Atb," more literally= "blame," "reproach." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#155] Bresl. Edit. In the Mac. "it returned to the place whence I had +brought it"—an inferior reading. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#156] The dreams play an important part in the Romances of Chivalry, e.g. +the dream of King Perion in Amadis de Gaul, chapt. ii. (London; Longmans, +1803). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#157] Amongst Moslems bastardy is a sore offence and a love-child is +exceedingly rare. The girl is not only carefully guarded but she also guards +herself knowing that otherwise she will not find a husband. Hence seduction is +all but unknown. The wife is equally well guarded and lacks opportunities hence +adultery is found difficult except in books. Of the Ibn (or Walad) Harám +(bastard as opposed to the Ibn Halál) the proverb says, "This child is not +thine, so the madder he be the more is thy glee!" Yet strange to say public +prostitution has never been wholly abolished in Al-Islam. Al-Mas'údi tells us +that in Arabia were public prostitutes'(Bagháyá), even before the days of the +Apostle, who affected certain quarters as in our day the Tartúshah of +Alexandria and the Hosh Bardak of Cairo. Here says Herr Carlo Landberg (p. 57, +Syrian Proverbs) "Elles parlent une langue toute ŕ elle." So pretentious and +dogmatic a writer as the author of Proverbes et Dictons de la Province de +Syrie, ought surely to have known that the Hosh Bardak is the head-quarters of +the Cairene Gypsies. This author, who seems to write in order to learn, reminds +me of an acute Oxonian undergraduate of my day who, when advised to take a +"coach," became a "coach" himself. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#158] These lines occur in vol. vii. p. 340. I quote Mr.<br/> + +Payne.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#159] She shows all the semi-maniacal rancour of a good woman, or rather a +woman who has not broken the eleventh commandment, "Thou shalt not be found +out," against an erring sister who has been discovered. In the East also these +unco'gúid dames have had, and too often have, the power to carry into effect +the cruelty and diabolical malignity which in London and Paris must vent itself +in scan. mag. and anonymous letters. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#160] These faintings and trances are as common in the Romances of Chivalry +e.g. Amadis of Gaul, where they unlace the garments to give more liberty, pour +cold water on the face and bathe the temples and pulses with diluted vinegar +(for rose water) exactly as they do in The Nights. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#161] So Hafiz, "Bád-i-Sabá chu bugzarí" etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#162] Arab. "Takiyah." See vol. i. 224 and for the Tarn-Kappe vol. iv. p. +176. In the Sinthásana Dwatrinsati (vulgo. Singhásan Battísí), or Thirty-two +Tales of a Throne, we find a bag always full of gold, a bottomless purse; earth +which rubbed on the forehead overcomes all; a rod which during the first watch +of the night furnishes jewelled ornaments; in the second a beautiful girl; in +the third invisibility, and in the fourth a deadly foe or death; a +flower-garland which renders the possessor invisible and an unfading +lotus-flower which produces a diamond every day. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#163] Arab. "Judad," plur. of Jadíd, lit.= new coin, ergo applied to those +old and obsolete; 10 Judad were= one nusf or half dirham. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#164] Arab. "Raff," a shelf proper, running round the room about 7-7˝ feet +from the ground. During my day it was the fashion in Damascus to range in line +along the Raff splendid porcelain bowls brought by the Caravans in olden days +from China, whilst on the table were placed French and English specimens of +white and gold "china" worth perhaps a franc each. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#165] Lane supposes that the glass and china-ware had fallen upon the divan +running round the walls under the Raff and were not broken. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#166] These lines have occurred in Night dclxxxix. vol. vii. p. 119. I +quote Lane. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#167] The lines have occurred before. I quote Mr. Payne. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#168] This formula, I repeat, especially distinguishes the<br/> + +Tale of Hasan of Bassorah.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#169] These lines have occurred in vol. 1. 249. I quote Lane. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#170] She speaks to the "Gallery," who would enjoy a loud laugh against +Mistress Gadabout. The end of the sentence must speak to the heart of many a +widow. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#171] These lines occur in vol. i. 25: so I quote Mr. Payne. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#172] Arab. "Musáhikah;" the more usual term for a Tribade is "Sahíkah" +from "Sahk" in the sense of rubbing: both also are applied to onanists and +masturbators of the gender feminine. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#173] i.e. by way of halter. This jar is like the cask in Auerbach's +Keller; and has already been used by witches; Night dlxxxvii. vol. vi. 158. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#174] Here they are ten but afterwards they are reduced to seven: I see no +reason for changing the text with Lane and Payne. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#175] Wazir of Solomon. See vol. i. 42; and vol. iii. 97. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#176] Arab. "Ism al-A'azam," the Ineffable Name, a superstition evidently +derived from the Talmudic fancies of the Jews concerning their tribal god, Yah +or Yahvah. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#177] The tradition is that Mohámmed asked Akáf al-Wadá'ah "Hast a wife?"; +and when answered in the negative, "Then thou appertainest to the brotherhood +of Satans! An thou wilt be one of the Christian monks then company +therewithal; but an thou be of us, know that it is our custom to marry!" +</p> + +<p> +[FN#178] The old woman, in the East as in the West, being the most vindictive +of her kind. I have noted (Pilgrimage iii. 70) that a Badawi will sometimes +though in shame take the blood-wit; but that if it be offered to an old woman +she will dash it to the ground and clutch her knife and fiercely swear by Allah +that she will not eat her son's blood. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#179] Neither dome nor fount etc. are mentioned before, the normal +inadvertency. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#180] In Eastern travel the rest comes before the eating and drinking. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#181] Arab. "'Id" (pron.'Eed) which I have said (vol. i. 42, 317) is +applied to the two great annual festivals, the "Fęte of Sacrifice," and the +"Break-Fast." The word denotes restoration to favour and Moslems explain as +the day on which Adam (and Eve) who had been expelled from Paradise for +disobedience was re-established (U'ída) by the relenting of Allah. But the +name doubtless dates amongst Arabs from days long before they had heard of the +"Lord Nomenclator." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#182] Alluding to Hasan seizing her feather dress and so taking her to +wife. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#183] Arab. "Kharajú"=they (masc.) went forth, a vulgarism for "Kharajna" +(fem.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#184] Note the notable housewife who, at a moment when youth would forget +everything, looks to the main chance. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#185] Arab. "Al-Malakút" (not "Malkút" as in Freytag) a Sufi term for the +world of Spirits (De Lacy Christ, Ar. i. 451). Amongst Eastern Christians it is +vulgarly used in the fem. and means the Kingdom of Heaven, also the preaching +of the Gospel. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#186] This is so rare, even amongst the poorest classes in the East, that +it is mentioned with some emphasis. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#187] A beauty among the Egyptians, not the Arabs. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#188] True Fellah—"chaff." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#189] Alluding to the well-known superstition, which has often appeared in +The Nights, that the first object seen in the morning, such as a crow, a +cripple, or a cyclops determines the fortunes of the day. Notices in Eastern +literature are as old as the days of the Hitopadesa; and there is a something +instinctive in the idea to a race of early risers. At an hour when the senses +are most impressionable the aspect of unpleasant spectacles has double effect. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#190] Arab. "Masúkah," the stick used for driving cattle, bâton gourdin +(Dozy). Lane applies the word to a wooden plank used for levelling the ground. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#191] i.e. the words I am about to speak to thee. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#192] Arab. "Sahifah," which may mean "page" (Lane) or "book"<br/> + +(Payne).<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#193] Pronounce, "Abussa'ádát" = Father of Prosperities:<br/> + +Lane imagines that it came from the Jew's daughter being called<br/> + +"Sa'adat." But the latter is the Jew's wife (Night dcccxxxiii)<br/> + +and the word in the text is plural.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#194] Arab. "Furkh samak" lit. a fish-chick, an Egyptian vulgarism. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#195] Arab. "Al-Rasif"; usually a river-quay, levée, an embankment. Here +it refers to the great dyke which distributed the Tigris-water. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#196] Arab. "Dajlah," see vol. i, p 180. It is evidently the origin of +the biblical "Hid-dekel" "Hid" = fierceness, swiftness. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#197] Arab. "Bayáz" a kind of Silurus (S. Bajad, Forsk.) which Sonnini +calls Bayatto, Saksatt and Hébedé; also Bogar (Bakar, an ox). The skin is +lubricous, the flesh is soft and insipid and the fish often grows to the size +of a man. Captain Speke and I found huge specimens in the Tangany ika Lake. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#198] Arab. "Mu'allim," vulg. "M'allim," prop.= teacher, master esp. of a +trade, a craft. In Egypt and Syria it is a civil address to a Jew or a +Christian, as Hájj is to a Moslem. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#199] Arab. "Gharámah," an exaction, usually on the part of government +like a corvée etc. The Europeo-Egyptian term is Avania (Ital.) or Avanie +(French). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#200] Arab. "Sayyib-hu" an Egyptian vulgarism found also in Syria. Hence +Sáibah, a woman who lets herself go (a-whoring) etc. It is syn. with "Dashar," +which Dozy believes to be a softening of Jashar; and Jashsh became Dashsh. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#201] The Silurus is generally so called in English on account of its +feeler-acting mustachios. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#202] See Night dcccvii, vol. viii. p. 94. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#203] This extraordinary confusion of two distinct religious mythologies +cannot be the result of ignorance. Educated Moslems know at least as much as +Christians do, on these subjects, but the Rawi or story-teller speaks to the +"Gallery." In fact it becomes a mere 'chaff' and The Nights give some neat +specimens of our modern linguistic. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#204] See vol. ii. 197. "Al-Siddíkah" (fem.) is a title of<br/> + +Ayishah, who, however, does not appear to have deserved it.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#205] The Jew's wife. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#206] Here is a double entendre. The fisherman meant a word or two. The +Jew understood the Shibboleth of the Moslem Creed, popularly known as the "Two +Words,"—I testify that there is no Ilah (god) but Allah (the God) and I testify +that Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah. Pronouncing this formula would make +the Jew a Moslem. Some writers are surprised to see a Jew ordering a Moslem to +be flogged; but the former was rich and the latter was poor. Even during the +worst days of Jewish persecutions their money-bags were heavy enough to lighten +the greater part, if not the whole of their disabilities. And the Moslem +saying is, "The Jew is never your (Moslem or Christian) equal: he must be +either above you or below you." This is high, because unintentional praise of +the (self-) Chosen People. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#207] He understands the "two words" (Kalmatáni) the Moslem's double +profession of belief; and Khalifah's reply embodies the popular idea that the +number of Moslems (who will be saved) is preordained and that no art of man can +add to it or take from it. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#208] Arab. "Mamarr al-Tujjár" (passing-place of the traders) which Lane +renders "A chamber within the place through which the traders passed." At the +end of the tale (Night dccxlv.) we find him living in a Khan and the Bresl. +Edit. (see my terminal note) makes him dwell in a magazine (i.e. ground- floor +store-room) of a ruined Khan. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#209] The text is somewhat too concise and the meaning is that the fumes of +the Hashish he had eaten ("his mind under the influence of hasheesh," says +Lane) suggested to him, etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#210] Arab. "Mamrak" either a simple aperture in ceiling or roof for light +and air or a more complicated affair of lattice- work and plaster; it is often +octagonal and crowned with a little dome. Lane calls it "Memrak," after the +debased Cairene pronunciation, and shows its base in his sketch of a Ka'áh +(M.E., Introduction). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#211] Arab. "Kamar." This is a practice especially amongst pilgrims. In +Hindostan the girdle, usually a waist-shawl, is called Kammar-band our old +"Cummerbund." Easterns are too sensible not to protect the pit of the stomach, +that great ganglionic centre, against sun, rain and wind, and now our soldiers +in India wear flannel-belts on the march. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#212] Arab. "Fa-immá 'alayhá wa-immá bihá," i.e. whether (luck go) against +it or (luck go) with it. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#213] "O vilest of sinners!" alludes to the thief. "A general plunge into +worldly pursuits and pleasures announced the end of the pilgrimage-ceremonies. +All the devotees were now "whitewashed"—the book of their sins was a tabula +rasa: too many of them lost no time in making a new departure down South and in +opening a fresh account" (Pilgrimage iii. 365). I have noticed that my servant +at Jeddah would carry a bottle of Raki, uncovered by a napkin, through the main +streets. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#214] The copper cucurbites in which Solomon imprisoned the rebellious +Jinns, often alluded to in The Nights. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#215] i.e. Son of the Chase: it is prob. a corruption of the Persian +Kurnas, a pimp, a cuckold, and introduced by way of chaff, intelligible only to +a select few "fast" men. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#216] For the name see vol. ii.61, in the Tale of Ghánim bin<br/> + +'Ayyúb where the Caliph's concubine is also drugged by the Lady<br/> + +Zubaydah.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#217] We should say, "What is this?" etc. The lines have occurred before +so I quote Mr. Payne. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#218] Zubaydah, I have said, was the daughter of Ja'afar, son of the Caliph +al-Mansur, second Abbaside. The story-teller persistently calls her daughter +of Al-Kásim for some reason of his own; and this he will repeat in Night +dcccxxxix. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#219] Arab. "Shakhs," a word which has travelled as far as<br/> + +Hindostan.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#220] Arab. "Shamlah" described in dictionaries, as a cloak covering the +whole body. For Hizám (girdle) the Bresl. Edit. reads "Hirám" vulg. "Ehrám," +the waist-cloth, the Pilgrim's attire. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#221] He is described by Al-Siyúti (p. 309) as "very fair, tall handsome +and of captivating appearance." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#222] Arab. "Uzn al-Kuffah" lit. "Ear of the basket," which vulgar +Egyptians pronounce "Wizn," so "Wajh" (face) becomes "Wishsh" and so forth. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#223] Arab. "Bi-fardayn" = with two baskets, lit. "two singles," but the +context shows what is meant. English Frail and French Fraile are from Arab. +"Farsalah" a parcel (now esp. of coffee-beans) evidently derived from the low +Lat. "Parcella" (Du Cange, Paris, firmin Didot 1845). Compare "ream," vol. v. +109. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#224] Arab. "Sátúr," a kind of chopper which here would be used for the +purpose of splitting and cleaning and scaling the fish. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#225] And, consequently, that the prayer he is about to make will find +ready acceptance. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#226] Arab. "Ruh bilá Fuzúl" (lit. excess, exceeding) still a popular +phrase. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#227] i.e. better give the fish than have my head broken. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#228] Said ironicč, a favourite figure of speech with the<br/> + +Fellah: the day began badly and threatened to end unluckily.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#229] The penalty of Theft. See vol. i. 274. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#230] This is the model of a courtly compliment; and it would still be +admired wherever Arabs are not "frankified." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#231] Arab. "Shibábah;" Lane makes it a kind of reed- flageolet. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#232] These lines occur in vol. i. 76: I quote Mr. Payne. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#233] The instinctive way of juggling with Heaven like our sanding the +sugar and going to church. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#234] Arab. "Yá Shukayr," from Shakar, being red (clay, etc.): Shukár is +an anemone or a tulip and Shukayr is its dim. Form. Lane's Shaykh made it a +dim. of "Ashkar" = tawny, ruddy (of complexion), so the former writes, "O +Shukeyr." Mr. Payne prefers "O Rosy cheeks." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#235] For "Sandal," see vol. ii. {55}. Sandalí properly means an Eunuch +clean rasé, but here Sandal is a P.N. = Sandal-wood. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#236] Arab. "Yá mumátil," one who retards payment. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#237] Arab. "Kirsh al-Nukhál" = Guts of bran, a term little fitted for the +handsome and distinguished Persian. But Khalifah is a Fellah-grazioso of +normal assurance shrewd withal; he blunders like an Irishman of the last +generation and he uses the first epithet that comes to his tongue. See Night +dcccxliii. for the sudden change in Khalifah. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#238] So the Persian "May your shadow never be less" means, I have said, +the shadow which you throw over your servant. Shade, cold water and fresh +breezes are the joys of life in arid Arabia. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#239] When a Fellah demanded money due to him by the Government of Egypt, +he was a once imprisoned for arrears of taxes and thus prevented from being +troublesome. I am told that matters have improved under English rule, but I +"doubt the fact." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#240] This freak is of course not historical. The tale- teller introduces +it to enhance the grandeur and majesty of Harun al-Rashid, and the vulgar would +regard it as a right kingly diversion. Westerns only wonder that such things +could be. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#241] Uncle of the Prophet: for his death see Pilgrimage ii. 248. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#242] First cousin of the Prophet, son of Abú Tálib, a brother of Al-Abbas +from whom the Abbasides claimed descent. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#243] i.e. I hope thou hast or Allah grant thou have good tidings to tell +me. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#244] Arab. "Nákhúzah Zulayt." The former, from the Persian Nákhodá or +ship-captain which is also used in a playful sense "a godless wight," one +owning no (ná) God (Khudá). Zulayt = a low fellow, blackguard. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#245] Yásamín and Narjis, names of slave-girls or eunuchs. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#246] Arab. Tamar-hanná, the cheapest of dyes used ever by the poorest +classes. Its smell, I have said, is that of newly mown hay, and is prized like +that of the tea-rose. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#247] The formula (meaning, "What has he to do here?") is by no means +complimentary. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#248] Arab. "Jarrah" (pron. "Garrah") a "jar." See Lane (M.E. chapt. v.) +who was deservedly reproached by Baron von Hammer for his superficial notices. +The "Jarrah" is of pottery, whereas the "Dist" is a large copper chauldron and +the Khalkinah one of lesser size. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#249] i.e. What a bother thou art, etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#250] This sudden transformation, which to us seems exaggerated and +unnatural, appears in many Eastern stories and in the biographies of their +distinguished men, especially students. A youth cannot master his lessons; he +sees a spider climbing a slippery wall and after repeated falls succeeding. +Allah opens the eyes of his mind, his studies become easy to him, and he ends +with being an Allámah (doctissimus). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#251] Arab. "Bismillah, Námí!" here it is not a blessing, but a simple +invitation, "Now please go to sleep." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#252] The modern inkcase of the Universal East is a lineal descendant of +the wooden palette with writing reeds. See an illustration of that of "Amásis, +the good god and lord of the two lands" (circ. B.C. 1350) in British Museum (p. +41, "The Dwellers on the Nile," by E. A. Wallis Bridge, London, 56, Paternoster +Row, 1885). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#253] This is not ironical, as Lane and Payne suppose, but a specimen of +inverted speech—Thou art in luck this time! +</p> + +<p> +[FN#254] Arab. "Marhúb" = terrible: Lane reads "Mar'úb" = terrified. But +the former may also mean, threatened with something terrible. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#255] i.e. in Kut al-Kulúb. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#256] Lit. to the son of thy paternal uncle, i.e. Mohammed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#257] In the text he tells the whole story beginning with the eunuch and +the hundred dinars, the chest, etc.: but — "of no avail is a twice-told tale." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#258] Koran xxxix. 54. I have quoted Mr. Rodwell who affects the Arabic +formula, omitting the normal copulatives. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#259] Easterns find it far easier to "get the chill of poverty out of their +bones" than Westerns. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#260] Arab. "Dar al-Na'ím." Name of one of the seven stages of the Moslem +heaven. This style of inscription dates from the days of the hieroglyphs. A +papyrus describing the happy town of Raamses ends with these lines.— +</p> + +<p> + Daily is there a supply of food:<br/> + + Within it gladness doth ever brood<br/> + + * * * *<br/> + + Prolonged, increased; abides there Joy, etc., etc.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#261] Arab. "Ansár" = auxiliaries, the men of Al-Medinah<br/> + +(Pilgrimage ii. 130, etc.).<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#262] Arab. "Asháb" = the companions of the Prophet who may number 500 +(Pilgrimage ii. 81, etc.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#263] Arab. "Hásilah" prob. a corner of a "Godown" in some<br/> + +Khan or Caravanserai.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#264] Arab. "Funduk" from the Gr. {pandocheîon}, whence the<br/> + +Italian Fondaco e.g. at Venice the Fondaco de' Turchi.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#265] Arab. "Astár" plur. of Satr: in the Mac. Edit. Sátúr, both (says +Dozy) meaning "Couperet" (a hatchet). Habicht translates it "a measure for +small fish," which seems to be a shot and a bad shot as the text talks only of +means of carrying fish. Nor can we accept Dozy's emendation Astál (plur. of +Satl) pails, situlć. In Petermann's Reisen (i. 89) Satr=assiette. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#266] Which made him expect a heavy haul. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#267] Arab. "Urkúb" = tendon Achilles in man hough or pastern in beast, +etc. It is held to be an incrementative form of 'Akab (heel); as Kur'úb of Ka'b +(heel) and Khurtúm of Khatm (snout). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#268] Arab. "Karmút" and "Zakzúk." The former (pronounced Garmút) is one of +the many Siluri (S. Carmoth Niloticus) very common and resembling the Shál. It +is smooth and scaleless with fleshy lips and soft meat and as it haunts muddy +bottoms it was forbidden to the Ancient Egyptians. The Zakzúk is the young of +the Shál (Synodontis Schal: Seetzen); its plural form Zakázik (pronounced +Zigázig) gave a name to the flourishing town which has succeeded to old +Bubastis and of which I have treated in "Midian" and "Midian Revisited." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#269] "Yá A'awar"=O one-eye! i.e.. the virile member. So the vulgar insult +"Ya ibn al-aur" (as the vulgar pronounce it) "O son of a yard!" When Al-Mas'údi +writes (Fr. Trans. vii. 106), "Udkhul usbu'ak fí aynih," it must not be +rendered "Il faut lui faire violence": thrust thy finger into his eye ('Ayn) +means "put thy penis up his fundament!" ('Ayn being=Dubur). The French remarks, +"On en trouverait l'équivalent dans les bas-fonds de notre langue." So in +English "pig's eye," "blind eye," etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#270] Arab. "Nabbút"=a quarterstaff: see vol. i. 234. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#271] Arab. "Banní," vulg. Benni and in Lane (Lex. Bunni) the Cyprinus +Bynni (Forsk.), a fish somewhat larger than a barbel with lustrous silvery +scales and delicate flesh, which Sonnini believes may be the "Lepidotes" +(smooth-scaled) mentioned by Athenćus. I may note that the Bresl. Edit. (iv. +332) also affects the Egyptian vulgarism "Farkh-Banni" of the Mac. Edit. (Night +dcccxxxii.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#272] The story-teller forgets that Khalif had neither basket nor knife. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#273] Arab. "Rayhán" which may here mean any scented herb. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#274] In the text "Fard Kalmah," a vulgarism. The Mac. Edit.<br/> + +(Night dcccxxxv.) more aptly says, "Two words" (Kalmatáni, vulg.<br/> + +Kalmatayn) the Twofold Testimonies to the Unity of Allah and the<br/> + +Mission of His Messenger.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#275] The lowest Cairene chaff which has no respect for itself or others. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#276] Arab. "Karrat azlá hú": alluding to the cool skin of healthy men when +digesting a very hearty meal. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#277] This is the true Fellah idea. A peasant will go up to his proprietor +with the "rint" in gold pieces behind his teeth and undergo an immense amount +of flogging before he spits them out. Then he will return to his wife and boast +of the number of sticks he has eaten instead of paying at once and his spouse +will say, "Verily thou art a man." Europeans know nothing of the Fellah. +Napoleon Buonaparte, for political reasons, affected great pity for him and +horror of his oppressors, the Beys and Pashas; and this affectation gradually +became public opinion. The Fellah must either tyrannise or be tyrannised over; +he is never happier than under a strong-handed despotism and he has never been +more miserable than under British rule or rather misrule. Our attempts to +constitutionalise him have made us the laughing-stock of Europe. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#278] The turban is a common substitute for a purse with the lower classes +of Egyptians; and an allusion to the still popular practice of turban-snatching +will be found in vol. i. p. 259. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#279] Arab. "Sálih," a devotee; here, a naked Dervish. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#280] Here Khalif is made a conspicuous figure in Baghdad like Boccaccio's +Calandrino and Co. He approaches in type the old Irishman now extinct, +destroyed by the reflux action of Anglo-America (U.S.) upon the miscalled +"Emerald Isle." He blunders into doing and saying funny things whose models are +the Hibernian "bulls" and acts purely upon the impulse of the moment, never +reflecting till (possibly) after all is over. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#281] Arab. "Kaylúlah," explained in vol. i. 51. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#282] i.e. thy bread lawfully gained. The "Bawwák" (trumpeter) like the +"Zammár" (piper of the Mac. Edit.) are discreditable craftsmen, associating +with Almahs and loose women and often serving as their panders. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#283] i.e. he was indecently clad. Man's "shame" extends from navel to +knees. See vol vi. 118. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#284] Rashád would be=garden-cresses or stones: Rashíd the heaven-directed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#285] Arab. "Uff 'alayka"=fie upon thee! Uff=lit. Sordes Aurium and Tuff (a +similar term of disgust)=Sordes unguinum. To the English reader the blows +administered to Khalif appear rather hard measure. But a Fellah's back is +thoroughly broken to the treatment and he would take ten times as much +punishment for a few piastres. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#286] Arab. "Zurayk" dim. of Azrak=blue-eyed. See vol. iii. 104. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#287] Of Baghdad. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#288] Arab. "Hásil," i.e. cell in a Khan for storing goods: elsewhere it is +called a Makhzan (magazine) with the same sense. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#289] The Bresl. text (iv. 347) abbreviates, or rather omits; so that in +translation details must be supplied to make sense. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#290] Arab. "Kamán," vulgar Egyptian, a contraction from Kamá (as) + anna +(since, because). So " Kamán shuwayh"=wait a bit; " Kamán marrah"=once more and +"Wa Kamána-ka"=that is why. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#291] i.e. Son of the Eagle: See vol. iv. 177. Here, however, as the text +shows it is hawk or falcon. The name is purely fanciful and made mnemonically +singular. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#292] The Egyptian Fellah knows nothing of boxing like the<br/> + +Hausá man; but he is fond of wrestling after a rude and<br/> + +uncultivated fashion, which would cause shouts of laughter in<br/> + +Cumberland and Cornwall. And there are champions in this line,<br/> + +See vol. ii. 93.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#293] The usual formula. See vol. ii. 5. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#294] As the Fellah still does after drinking a cuplet ("fingán" he calls +it) of sugared coffee. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#295] He should have said "white," the mourning colour under the Abbasides. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#296] Anglicč, "Fine feathers make fine birds"; and in Eastern parlance, +"Clothe the reed and it will become a bride." (Labbis al-Búsah tabkí 'Arúsah, +Spitta Bey, No. 275.) I must allow myself a few words of regret for the loss of +this Savant, one of the most singleminded men known to me. He was vilely +treated by the Egyptian Government, under the rule of the Jew-Moslem Riyáz; +and, his health not allowing him to live in Austria, he died shortly after +return home. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#297] Arab. " Saub (Tobe) 'Atábi": see vol. iii. 149. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#298] In text "Kimkhá," which Dozy also gives Kumkh=chenille,<br/> + +tissu de soie veloutee: Damasqučte de soie or et argent de<br/> + +Venise, du Levant , ŕ fleurs, etc. It comes from Kamkháb or<br/> + +Kimkháb, a cloth of gold, the well-known Indian "Kimcob."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#299] Here meaning=Enter in Allah's name! +</p> + +<p> +[FN#300] The Arabs have a saying, "Wine breeds gladness, music merriment and +their offspring is joy." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#301] Arab. "Jokh al-Saklát," rich kind of brocade on broadcloth. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#302] Arab. "Hanabát," which Dozy derives from O. German<br/> + +Hnapf, Hnap now Napf: thence too the Lat. Hanapus and Hanaperium:<br/> + +Ital. Anappo, Nappo; Provenc. Enap and French and English<br/> + +"Hanap"= rich bowl, basket, bag. But this is known even to the<br/> + +dictionaries.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#303] Arab. " Kirám," nobles, and " Kurúm," vines, a word which appears in +Carmel=Karam-El (God's vineyard). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#304] Arab. "Suláf al-Khandarísí," a contradiction. Suláf=the ptisane of +wine. Khandarísí, from Greek {chóndros}, lit. gruel, applies to old wine. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#305] i.e. in bridal procession. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#306] Arab. "Al-'Arús, one of the innumerable tropical names given to wine +by the Arabs. Mr. Payne refers to Grangeret de la Grange, Anthologie Arabe, p. +190. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#307] Here the text of the Mac. Edition is resumed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#308] i.e. "Adornment of (good) Qualities." See the name punned on in Night +dcccli. Lane omits this tale because it contains the illicit "Amours of a +Christian and a Jewess who dupes her husband in various abominable ways." The +text has been taken from the Mac. and the Bresl. Edits. x. 72 etc. In many +parts the former is a mere Epitome. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#309] The face of her who owns the garden. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#310] i.e. I am no public woman. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#311] i.e. with the sight of the garden and its mistress— purposely left +vague. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#312] Arab. "Dádat." Night dcclxxvi. vol. vii. p. 372. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#313] Meaning respectively "Awaking" (or blowing hard), "Affairs" (or +Misfortunes) and "Flowing" (blood or water). They are evidently intended for +the names of Jewish slave-girls. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#314] i.e. the brow-curls, or accroche-cÂurs. See vol. i. 168. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#315] Arab. "Wisháh" usually applied to woman's broad belt, stomacher +(Al-Hariri Ass. of Rayy). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#317] The old Greek "Stephane." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#317] Alluding to the popular fancy of the rain-drop which becomes a pearl. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#318] Arab. "Ghází"=one who fights for the faith. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#319] i.e. people of different conditions. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#320] The sudden change appears unnatural to Europeans; but an Eastern girl +talking to a strange man in a garden is already half won. The beauty, however, +intends to make trial of her lover's generosity before yielding. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#321] These lines have occurred in the earlier part of the<br/> + +Night: I quote Mr. Payne for variety.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#322] Arab. "Al-Sháh mát"=the King is dead, Pers. and Arab. grotesquely +mixed: Europeans explain "Checkmate" in sundry ways, all more or less wrong. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#323] Cheating (Ghadr) is so common that Easterns who have no tincture of +Western civilisation look upon it not only as venial but laudable when one can +take advantage of a simpleton. No idea of "honour" enters into it. Even in +England the old lady whist-player of the last generation required to be looked +after pretty closely—if Mr. Charles Dickens is to be trusted. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#324] Arab. "Al-Gháliyah," whence the older English Algallia.<br/> + +See vol. i., 128. The Voyage of Linschoten, etc. Hakluyt Society<br/> + +MDCCCLXXXV., with notes by my learned friend the late Arthur Coke<br/> + +Burnell whose early death was so sore a loss to Oriental<br/> + +students.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#325] A favourite idiom, "What news bringest thou?" ("O<br/> + +Asám!" Arab. Prov. ii. 589) used by Háris bin Amrú, King of<br/> + +Kindah, to the old woman Asám whom he had sent to inspect a girl<br/> + +he purposed marrying.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#326] Amongst the Jews the Arab Salám becomes "Shalúm" and a<br/> + +Jewess would certainly not address this ceremonial greeting to a<br/> + +Christian. But Eastern storytellers care little for these<br/> + +minutić; and the "Adornment of Qualities," was not by birth a<br/> + +Jewess as the sequel will show.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#327] Arab. "Sálifah," the silken plaits used as adjuncts.<br/> + +See vol. iii, 313.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#328] I have translated these lines in vol. i. 131, and quoted Mr. Torrens +in vol. iv. 235. Here I borrow from Mr. Payne. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#329] Mr. Payne notes:—Apparently some place celebrated for its fine bread, +as Gonesse in seventeenth-century France. It occurs also in Bresl. Edit. (iv. +203) and Dozy does not understand it. But Arj the root=good odour. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#330] Arab. "Tás," from Pers. Tásah. M. Charbonneau a Professor of Arabic +at Constantine and Member of the Asiatic Soc. Paris, who published the Histoire +de Chams-Eddine et Nour-Eddine with Maghrabi punctuation (Paris, Hachette, +1852) remarks the similarity of this word to Tazza and a number of other +whimsical coincidences as Zauj, {zygós} jugum; Inkár, negare; matrah, matelas; +Ishtirá, acheter, etc. To which I may add wasat, waist; zabad, civet; Bás, buss +(kiss); uzrub (pron. Zrub), drub; Kat', cut; Tarík, track; etc., etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#331] We should say "To her (I drink)" etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#332] This is ad captandum. The lovers becoming Moslems would secure the +sympathy of the audience. In the sequel (Night dccclviii) we learn that the +wilful young woman was a born Moslemah who had married a Jew but had never +Judaized. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#333] The doggerel of this Kasidah is not so phenomenal as some we have +seen. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#334] Arab. "'Andam"=Brazil wood, vol. iii. 263. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#335] Arab. " Himŕ." See supra, p. 102. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#336] i.e. her favours were not lawful till the union was sanctified by +heartwhole (if not pure) love. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#337] Arab. "Mansúr wa munazzam=oratio soluta et ligata. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#338] i.e. the cupbearers. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#339] Which is not worse than usual. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#340] i.e. "Ornament of Qualities." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#341] The 'Akík, a mean and common stone, ranks high in<br/> + +Moslem poetry on account of the saying of Mohammed recorded by<br/> + +Ali and Ayishah "Seal with seals of Carnelian." ('Akik.)<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#342] See note ii. at the end of this volume. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#343] Arab. "Mahall" as opposed to the lady's "Manzil," which would be +better "Makám." The Arabs had many names for their old habitations, e.g.; +Kubbah, of brick; Sutrah, of sun-dried mud; Hazírah, of wood; Tiráf, a tent of +leather; Khabáa, of wool; Kash'a, of skins; Nakhád, of camel's or goat's hair; +Khaymah, of cotton cloth; Wabar, of soft hair as the camel's undercoat and +Fustát (the well-known P.N.) a tent of horsehair or any hair (Sha'ar) but +Wabar. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#344] This is the Maghribi form of the Arab. Súk=a bazar-street, known from +Tanjah (Tangiers) to Timbuctoo. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#345] Arab. "Walímah" usually=a wedding-feast. According to the learned +Nasíf al-Yazají the names of entertainments are as follows: Al-Jafalŕ=a general +invitation, opp. to Al-Nakarŕ, especial; Khurs, a childbirth feast; 'Akíkah, +when the boy-babe is first shaved; A'zár=circumcision-feast; Hizák, when the +boy has finished his perlection of the Koran; Milák, on occasion of +marriage-offer; Wazímah, a mourning entertainment; Wakírah=a "house-warming"; +Nakí'ah, on returning from wayfare; 'Akírah, at beginning of the month Rajab; +Kirŕ=a guest-feast and Maadubah, a feast for other cause; any feast. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#346] Arab. "Anistaná" the pop. phrase=thy company gladdens us. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#347] Here "Muákhát" or making mutual brotherhood would be=entering into a +formal agreement for partnership. For the forms of "making brotherhood," see +vol. iii. {151}. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#348] Arab. "Ishárah" in classical Arab. signs with the finger (beckoning); +Aumá with the hand; Ramz, with the lips; Khalaj, with the eyelids (wink); and +Ghamz with the eye. Aumáz is a furtive glance, especially of women, and Ilház, +a side-glance from lahaza, limis oculis intuitus est. See Preston's Al-Hariri, +p. 181. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#349] Arab. "Haudaj" (Hind. Haudah, vulg. Howda=elephant-saddle), the +women's camel-litter, a cloth stretched over a wooden frame. See the Prize-poem +of Lebid, v. 12. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#350] i.e. the twelve days' visit. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#351] See note, vol. vii. {226}. So Dryden (Virgil):— +</p> + +<p> + "And the hoarse raven on the blasted bough<br/> + + By croaking to the left presaged the coming blow."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +And Gay (Fable xxxvii.), +</p> + +<p> + "That raven on the left-hand oak,<br/> + + Curse on his ill-betiding croak!"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +In some Persian tales two crows seen together are a good omen. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#352] Vulgar Moslems hold that each man's fate is written in the sutures of +his skull but none can read the lines. See vol. iii. 123. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#353] i.e. cease not to bemoan her lot whose moon-faced beloved ones are +gone. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#354] Arab. "Rukb" used of a return caravan; and also meaning travellers on +camels. The vulgar however apply "Rákib" (a camel-rider) to a man on horseback +who is properly Fáris plur. "Khayyálah," while "Khayyál" is a good rider. Other +names are "Fayyál" (elephant-rider), Baghghál (mule-rider) and Hammár +(donkey-rider). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#355] A popular exaggeration. See vol. i. 117 +</p> + +<p> +[FN#356] Lit. Empty of tent-ropes (Atnáb). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#357] Arab. "'Abír," a fragrant powder sprinkled on face, body and clothes. +In India it is composed of rice flower or powdered bark of the mango, Deodar +(uvaria longifolia), Sandalwood, lign-aloes or curcuma (zerumbat or zedoaria) +with rose-flowers, camphor, civet and anise-seed. There are many of these +powders: see in Herklots Chiksá, Phul, Ood, Sundul, Uggur, and Urgujja. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#358] i.e. fair faced boys and women. These lines are from the Bresl. Edit. +x. 160. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#359] i.e. the Chief Kazi. For the origin of the Office and title see vol. +ii. 90, and for the Kazi al-Arab who administers justice among the Badawin see +Pilgrimage iii. 45. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#360] Arab. "Raas al-Mál"=capital, as opposed to Ribá or<br/> + +Ribh=interest. This legal expression has been adopted by all<br/> + +Moslem races.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#361] Our Aden which is thus noticed by Abulfeda (A.D. 1331): "Aden in the +lowlands of Tehámah * * * also called Abyana from a man (who found it?), built +upon the seashore, a station (for land travellers) and a sailing-place for +merchant ships India-bound, is dry and sunparcht (Kashifah, squalid, scorbutic) +and sweet water must be imported. * * * It lies 86 parasangs from San'á but Ibn +Haukal following the travellers makes it three stages. The city, built on the +skirt of a wall-like mountain, has a watergate and a landgate known as Bab +al-Sákayn. But 'Adan Lá'ah (the modest, the timid, the less known as opposed to +Abyan, the better known?) is a city in the mountains of Sabir, Al-Yaman, whence +issued the supporters of the Fatimite Caliphs of Egypt." 'Adan etymologically +means in Arab. and Heb. pleasure ({hédone}), Eden (the garden), the Heaven in +which spirits will see Allah and our "Coal-hole of the East," which we can +hardly believe ever to have been an Eden. Mr. Badger who supplied me with this +note described the two Adens in a paper in Ocean Highways, which he cannot now +find. In the 'Ajáib al-Makhlúkát, Al-Kazwíni (ob. A.D. 1275) derives the name +from Ibn Sinán bin Ibrahím; and is inclined there to place the Bír al-Mu'attal +(abandoned well) and the Kasr alMashíd (lofty palace) of Koran xxii. 44; and he +adds "Kasr al-Misyad" to those mentioned in the tale of Sayf al-Mulúk and +Badí'a al-Jamál. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#362] Meaning that she had been carried to the Westward of<br/> + +Meccah.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#363] Arab. "Zahrawíyah" which contains a kind of double entendre. Fátimah +the Prophet's only daughter is entitled Al-Zahrá the "bright-blooming"; and +this is also an epithet of Zohrah the planet Venus. For Fatimah see vol. vi. +145. Of her Mohammed said, "Love your daughters, for I too am a father of +daughters" and, "Love them, they are the comforters, the dearlings." The Lady +appears in Moslem history a dreary young woman (died ćt. 28) who made this +world, like Honorius, a hell in order to win a next-world heaven. Her titles +are Zahrá and Batúl (Pilgrimage ii. 90) both signifying virgin. Burckhardt +translates Zahrá by "bright blooming" (the etymological sense): it denotes +literally a girl who has not menstruated, in which state of purity the +Prophet's daughter is said to have lived and died. "Batúl" has the sense of a +"clean maid" and is the title given by Eastern Christians to the Virgin Mary. +The perpetual virginity of Fatimah even after motherhood (Hasan and Husayn) is +a point of orthodoxy in Al-Islam as Juno's with the Romans and Umá's with the +Hindú worshippers of Shiva. During her life Mohammed would not allow Ali a +second wife, and he held her one of the four perfects, the other three being +Asia wife of "Pharaoh," the Virgin Mary and Khadijah his own wife. She caused +much scandal after his death by declaring that he had left her the Fadak estate +(Abulfeda I, 133, 273) a castle with a fine palm-orchard near Khaybar. Abu Bakr +dismissed the claim quoting the Apostle's Hadis, "We prophets are folk who will +away nothing: what we leave is alms-gift to the poor," and Shí'ahs greatly +resent his decision. (See Dabistan iii. 5152 for a different rendering of the +words.) I have given the popular version of the Lady Fatimah's death and burial +(Pilgrimage ii. 315) and have remarked that Moslem historians delight in the +obscurity which hangs over her last resting-place, as if it were an honour even +for the receptacle of her ashes to be concealed from the eyes of men. Her +repute is a curious comment on Tom Hood's +</p> + +<p> +"Where woman has never a soul to save." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#364] For Sharif and Sayyid, descendants of Mohammed, see vol. iv. 170. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#365] These lines have occurred with variants in vol. iii. 257, and iv. 50. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#366] Arab. "Hazrat," esp. used in India and corresponding with our +medićval "prćsentia vostra." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#367] This wholesale slaughter by the tale-teller of worshipful and +reverend men would bring down the gallery like a Spanish tragedy in which all +the actors are killed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#368] They are called indifferently "Ruhbán"=monks or<br/> + +"Batárikah"=patriarchs. See vol. ii. 89.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#369] Arab. "Khilál." The toothpick, more esteemed by the Arabs than by us, +is, I have said, often used by the poets as an emblem of attenuation without +offending good taste. Nizami (Layla u Majnún) describes a lover as "thin as a +toothpick." The "elegant" Hariri (Ass. of Barkaid) describes a toothpick with +feminine attributes, "shapely of shape, attractive, provocative of appetite, +delicate as the leanest of lovers, polished as a poinard and bending as a green +bough." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#370] From Bresl. Edit. x. 194. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#371] Trébutien (vol. ii. 344 et seq.) makes the seven monks sing as many +anthems, viz. (1) Congregamini; (2) Vias tuas demonstra mihi; (3) Dominus +illuminatis; (4) Custodi linguam; (5) Unam petii a Domino; (6) Nec adspiciat me +visus, and (7) Turbatus est a furore oculus meus. Dánis the Abbot chaunts Anima +mea turbata est valdč. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#372] A neat and characteristic touch: the wilful beauty eats and drinks +before she thinks of her lover. Alas for Masrur married. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#373] The unfortunate Jew, who seems to have been a model husband +(Orientally speaking), would find no pity with a coffee-house audience because +he had been guilty of marrying a Moslemah. The union was null and void +therefore the deliberate murder was neither high nor petty treason. But, The +Nights, though their object is to adorn a tale, never deliberately attempt to +point a moral and this is one of their many charms. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#374] These lines have repeatedly occurred. I quote Mr.<br/> + +Payne.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#375] i.e. by the usual expiation. See vol. {ii. 186}. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#376] Arab. "Shammirí"=up and ready! +</p> + +<p> +[FN#377] I borrow the title from the Bresl. Edit. x. 204. Mr. Payne prefers +"Ali Noureddin and the Frank King's Daughter." Lane omits also this tale +because it resembles Ali Shar and Zumurrud (vol. iv. 187) and Alá al-Din Abu +al-Shámát (vol. iv. 29), "neither of which is among the text of the +collection." But he has unconsciously omitted one of the highest interest. Dr. +Bacher (Germ. Orient. Soc.) finds the original in Charlemagne's daughter Emma +and his secretary Eginhardt as given in Grimm's Deutsche Sagen. I shall note +the points of resemblance as the tale proceeds. The correspondence with the +King of France may be a garbled account of the letters which passed between +Harun al-Rashid and Nicephorus, "the Roman dog." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#378] Arab. "Allaho Akbar," the Moslem slogan or war-cry. See vol. ii. 89. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#379] The gate-keeper of Paradise. See vol. iii. 15, 20. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#380] Negroes. Vol. iii. 75. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#381] Arab. "Nakat," with the double meaning of to spot and to handsel +especially dancing and singing women; and, as Mr. Payne notes in this +acceptation it is practically equivalent to the English phrase "to mark (or +cross) the palm with silver." I have translated "Anwá" by Pleiads; but it means +the setting of one star and simultaneous rising of another foreshowing rain. +There are seven Anwá (plur. of nawa) in the Solar year viz. Al-Badri +(Sept.-Oct.); Al-Wasmiyy (late autumn and December); Al-Waliyy (to April); +Al-Ghamír (June); Al-Busriyy (July); Bárih al-Kayz (August) and Ahrák al-Hawá +extending to September 8. These are tokens of approaching rain, metaphorically +used by the poets to express "bounty". See Preston's Hariri (p. 43) and Chenery +upon the Ass. of the Banu Haram. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#382] i.e. They trip and stumble in their hurry to get there. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#383] Arab. "Kumm" = sleeve or petal. See vol. v. 32. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#384] Arab. "Kiráb" = sword-case of wood, the sheath being of leather. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#385] Arab. "Akr kayrawán," both rare words. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#386] A doubtful tradition in the Mishkát al-Masábih declares that every +pomegranate contains a grain from Paradise. See vol. i. 134. The Koranic +reference is to vi. 99. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#387] Arab. "Aswad," lit. black but used for any dark colour, here green as +opposed to the lighter yellow. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#388] The idea has occurred in vol. i. 158. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#389] So called from the places where they grow. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#390] See vol. vii. for the almond-apricot whose stone is cracked to get at +the kernel. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#391] For Roum see vol. iv. 100: in Morocco "Roumi" means simply a +European. The tetrastich alludes to the beauty of the Greek slaves. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#392] Arab. "Ahlan" in adverb form lit. = "as one of the household": so in +the greeting "Ahlan wa Sahlan" (and at thine ease), wa Marhabá (having a wide +free place). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#393] For the Sufrah table-cloth see vol. i. 178. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#394] See vol. iii. 302, for the unclean allusion in fig and sycamore. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#395] In the text "of Tor": see vol. ii. 242. The pear is mentioned by +Homer and grows wild in South Europe. Dr. Victor Hehn (The Wanderings of +Plants, etc.) comparing the Gr.{ápios} with the Lat. Pyrus, suggests that the +latter passed over to the Kelts and Germans amongst whom the fruit was not +indigenous. Our fine pears are mostly from the East. e.g. the "bergamot" is the +Beg Armud, Prince of Pears, from Angora. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#396] i.e. "Royal," it may or may not come from Sultaníyah, a town near +Baghdad. See vol. i. 83; where it applies to oranges and citrons. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#397] 'Andam = Dragon's blood: see vol. iii. 263. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#398] Arab. "Jamár," the palm-pith and cabbage, both eaten by<br/> + +Arabs with sugar.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#399] Arab. "Anwár" = lights, flowers (mostly yellow): hence the Moroccan +"N'wár," with its usual abuse of Wakf or quiescence. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#400] Mr. Payne quotes Eugčne Fromentin, "Un Eté dans le Sahara," Paris, +1857, p. 194. Apricot drying can be seen upon all the roofs at Damascus where, +however, the season for each fruit is unpleasantly short, ending almost as soon +as it begins. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#401] Arab. "Jalájal" = small bells for falcons: in Port. cascaveis, whence +our word. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#402] Khulanján. Sic all editions; but Khalanj, or Khaulanj adj. Khalanji, +a tree with a strong-smelling wood which held in hand as a chaplet acts as +perfume, as is probably intended. In Span. Arabic it is the Erica-wood. The +"Muhit" tells us that is a tree parcel yellow and red growing in parts of India +and China, its leaf is that of the Tamarisk (Tarfá); its flower is coloured +red, yellow and white; it bears a grain like mustard-seed (Khardal) and of its +wood they make porringers. Hence the poet sings, +</p> + +<p> +"Yut 'amu 'l-shahdu fí 'l-jifáni, wa yuska * Labanu 'l-Bukhti fi<br/> + +Kusá'i 'l-Khalanji:<br/> + +Honey's served to them in platters for food; * Camels' milk in<br/> + +bowls of the Khalanj wood."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +The pl. Khalánij is used by Himyán bin Kaháfah in this "bayt", +</p> + +<p> +"Hattá izá má qazati 'l-Hawáijá * Wa malaat Halába-há<br/> + +'l-Khalánijá:<br/> + +Until she had done every work of hers * And with sweet milk had<br/> + +filled the porringers."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#403] In text Al-Shá'ir Al-Walahán, vol. iii. 226. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#404] The orange I have said is the growth of India and the golden apples +of the Hesperides were not oranges but probably golden nuggets. Captain +Rolleston (Globe, Feb. 5, '84, on "Morocco-Lixus") identifies the Garden with +the mouth of the Lixus River while M. Antichan would transfer it to the hideous +and unwholesome Bissagos Archipelago. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#405] Arab. "Ikyán," the living gold which is supposed to grow in the +ground. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#406] For the Kubbad or Captain Shaddock's fruit see vol. ii. 310, where it +is misprinted Kubád. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#407] Full or Fill in Bresl. Edit. = Arabian jessamine or cork-tree +({phellón}. The Bul. and Mac. Edits. read "filfil" = pepper or palm-fibre. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#408] Arab. "Sumbul al-'Anbari"; the former word having been introduced +into England by patent medicines. "Sumbul" in Arab. and Pers. means the +hyacinth, the spikenard or the Sign Virgo. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#409] Arab. "Lisán al-Hamal" lit. = Lamb's tongue. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#410] See in Bresl. Edit. X, 221. Taif, a well-known town in the mountain +region East of Meccah, and not in the Holy Land, was once famous for scented +goat's leather. It is considered to be a "fragment of Syria" (Pilgrimage ii. +207) and derives its name = the circumambulator from its having circuited +pilgrim-like round the Ka'abah (Ibid.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#411] Arab. "Mikhaddah" = cheek-pillow: Ital. guanciale. In<br/> + +Bresl. Edit. Mudawwarah (a round cushion) Sinjabiyah (of Ermine).<br/> + +For "Mudawwarah" see vol. iv. 135.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#412] "Coffee" is here evidently an anachronism and was probably inserted +by the copyist. See vol. v. 169, for its first metnion. But "Kahwah" may have +preserved its original meaning = strong old wine (vol. ii. 261); and the amount +of wine-drinking and drunkenness proves that the coffee movement had not set +in. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#413] i.e. they are welcome. In Marocco "Lá baas" means, "I am pretty well" +(in health). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#414] The Rose (Ward) in Arab. is masculine, sounding to us most uncouth. +But there is a fem. form Wardah = a single rose. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#415] Arab. "Akmám," pl. of Kumm, a sleeve, a petal. See vol. iv. 107 and +supra p. 267. The Moslem woman will show any part of her person rather than her +face, instinctively knowing that the latter may be recognised whereas the +former cannot. The traveller in the outer East will see ludicrous situations in +which the modest one runs away with hind parts bare and head and face carefully +covered. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#416] Arab. "Ikyán" which Mr. Payne translates "vegetable gold" very +picturesquely but not quite preserving the idea. See supra p. 272. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#417] It is the custom for fast youths, in Egypt, Syria, and elsewhere to +stick small gold pieces, mere spangles of metal on the brows, cheeks and lips +of the singing and dancing girls and the perspiration and mask of cosmetics +make them adhere for a time till fresh movement shakes them off. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#418] See the same idea in vol. i. 132, and 349. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#419] "They will ask thee concerning wine and casting of lots; say: 'In +both are great sin and great advantages to mankind; but the sin of them both is +greater than their advantage.'" See Koran ii. 216. Mohammed seems to have made +up his mind about drinking by slow degrees; and the Koranic law is by no means +so strict as the Mullahs have made it. The prohibitions, revealed at widely +different periods and varying in import and distinction, have been discussed by +Al-Bayzáwi in his commentary on the above chapter. He says that the first +revelation was in chapt. xvi. 69 but, as the passage was disregarded, Omar and +others consulted the Apostle who replied to them in chapt. ii. 216. Then, as +this also was unnoticed, came the final decision in chapt. v. 92, making wine +and lots the work of Satan. Yet excuses are never wanting to the Moslem, he can +drink Champagne and Cognac, both unknown in Mohammed's day and he can use wine +and spirits medicinally, like sundry of ourselves, who turn up the nose of +contempt at the idea of drinking for pleasure. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#420] i.e. a fair-faced cup-bearer. The lines have occurred before: so I +quote Mr. Payne. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#421] It is the custom of the Arabs to call their cattle to water by +whistling; not to whistle to them, as Europeans do, whilst making water. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#422] i.e. bewitching. See vol. i. 85. These incompatible metaphors are +brought together by the Saj'a (prose rhyme) in—"iyah." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#423] Mesopotamian Christians, who still turn towards Jerusalem, face the +West, instead of the East, as with Europeans: here the monk is so dazed that he +does not know what to do. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#424] Arab. "Bayt Sha'ar" = a house of hair (tent) or a couplet of verse. +Watad (a tentpeg) also is prosodical, a foot when the two first letters are +"moved" (vowelled) and the last is jazmated (quiescent), e.g. Lakad. It is +termed Majmú'a (united), as opposed to "Mafrúk" (separated), e.g. Kabla, when +the "moved" consonants are disjoined by a quiescent. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#425] Lit. standing on their heads, which sounds ludicrous enough in +English, not in Arabic. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#426] These lines are in vol. iii. 251. I quote Mr. Payne who notes "The +bodies of Eastern women of the higher classes by dint of continual maceration, +Esther-fashion, in aromatic oils and essences, would naturally become +impregnated with the sweet scents of the cosmetics used." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#427] These lines occur in vol. i. 218: I quote Torrens for variety. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#428] So we speak of a "female screw." The allusion is to the dove-tailing +of the pieces. This personification of the lute has occurred before: but I +solicit the reader's attention to it; it has a fulness of Oriental flavour all +its own. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#429] I again solicit the reader's attention to the simplicity, the pathos +and the beauty of this personification of the lute. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#430] "They" for she. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#431] The Arabs very justly make the "'Andalib" = nightingale, masculine. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#432] Anwár = lights or flowers: See Night dccclxv. supra p. 270. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#433] These couplets have occurred in vol. i. 168; so I quote<br/> + +Mr. Payne.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#434] i.e. You may have his soul but leave me his body: company with him in +the next world and let me have him in this. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#435] Alluding to the Koranic (cxiii. 1.), "I take refuge with the Lord of +the Daybreak from the mischief of that which He hath created, etc." This is +shown by the first line wherein occurs the Koranic word "Ghásik" (cxiii. 3) +which may mean the first darkness when it overspreadeth or the moon when it is +eclipsed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#436] "Malak" = level ground; also tract on the Nile sea.<br/> + +Lane M.E. ii. 417, and Bruckhardt Nubia 482.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#437] This sentiment has often been repeated. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#438] The owl comes in because "Búm" (pron. boom) rhymes with<br/> + +Kayyúm = the Eternal.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#439] For an incident like this see my Pilgrimmage (vol. i. 176). How true +to nature the whole scene is; the fond mother excusing her boy and the +practical father putting the excuse aside. European paternity, however, would +probably exclaim, "The beast's in liquor!" +</p> + +<p> +[FN#440] In ancient times this seems to have been the universal and perhaps +instinctive treatment of the hand that struck a father. By Nur al-Din's flight +the divorce-oath became technically null and void for Taj al-Din had sworn to +mutilate his son next morning. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#441] So Roderic Random and his companions "sewed their money between the +lining and the waistband of their breeches, except some loose silver for +immediate expense on the road." For a description of these purses see +Pilgrimage i. 37. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#442] Arab. Rashid (our Rosetta), a corruption of the Coptic<br/> + +Trashit; ever famous for the Stone.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#443] For a parallel passage in praise of Alexandria see vol. i. 290, etc. +The editor or scribe was evidently an Egyptian. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#444] Arab. "Saghr" (Thagr), the opening of the lips showing the teeth. See +vol. i. p. 156. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#445] Iskandariyah, the city of Iskandar or Alexander the Great, whose +"Soma" was attractive to the Greeks as the corpse of the Prophet Daniel +afterwards was to the Moslems. The choice of site, then occupied only by the +pauper village of Rhacotis, is one proof of many that the Macedonian conqueror +had the inspiration of genius. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#446] i.e. paid them down. See vol. i. 281; vol. ii. 145. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#447] Arab. "Baltiyah," Sonnini's "Bolti" and Nébuleux (because it is +dozid-coloured when fried), the Labrus Niloticus from its labra or large fleshy +lips. It lives on the "leaves of Paradise" hence the flesh is delicate and +savoury and it is caught with the épervier or sweep-net in the Nile, canals and +pools. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#448] Arab. "Liyyah," not a delicate comparison, but exceedingly apt +besides rhyming to "Baltiyah." The cauda of the "five-quarter sheep, whose +tails are so broad and thick that there is as much flesh upon them as upon a +quarter of their body," must not be confounded with the lank appendage of our +English muttons. See i. 25, Dr. Burnell's Linschoten (Hakluyt Soc. 1885). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#449] A variant occurs in vol. iv. 191. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#450] Arab. "Tars Daylami," a small shield of bright metal. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#451] Arab. "Kaukab al-durri," see Pilgrimage ii. 82. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#452] Arab. "Kusúf" applied to the moon; Khusúf being the solar eclipse. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#453] May Abú Lahab's hands perish. . . and his wife be a bearer of +faggots!" Koran cxi. 1 & 4. The allusion is neat. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#454] Alluding to the Angels who shoot down the Jinn. See vol. i. 224. The +index misprints "Shibáh." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#455] For a similar scene see Ali Shar and Zumurrud, vol. iv. 187. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#456] i.e. of the girl whom as the sequel shows, her owner had promised not +to sell without her consent. This was and is a common practice. See vol. iv. +192. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#457] These lines have occurred in vol. iii. p. 303. I quote<br/> + +Mr. Payne.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#458] Alluding to the erectio et distensio penis which comes on before dawn +in tropical lands and which does not denote any desire for women. Some +Anglo-Indians term the symptom signum salutis, others a urine-proud pizzle. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#459] Arab. "Mohtasib," in the Maghrib "Mohtab," the officer charged with +inspecting weights and measures and with punishing fraud in various ways such +as nailing the cheat's ears to his shop's shutter, etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#460] Every where in the Moslem East the slave holds himself superior to +the menial freeman, a fact which I would impress upon the several Anti-slavery +Societies, honest men whose zeal mostly exceeds their knowledge, and whose +energy their discretion. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#461] These lines, extended to three couplets, occur in vol. iv. 193. I +quote Mr. Payne. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#462] "At this examination (on Judgment Day) Mohammedans also believe that +each person will have the book, wherein all the actions of his life are +written, delivered to him; which books the righteous will receive in their +right hand, and read with great pleasure and satisfaction; but the ungodly will +be obliged to take them, against their wills, in their left (Koran xvii. xviii. +lxix, and lxxxiv.), which will be bound behind their backs, their right hand +being tied to their necks." Sale, Preliminary Discourse; Sect. iv. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#463] "Whiteness" (bayáz) also meaning lustre, honour. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#464] This again occurs in vol. iv. 194. So I quote Mr.<br/> + +Payne.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#465] Her impudence is intended to be that of a captive<br/> + +Princess.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#466] i.e. bent groundwards. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#467] See vol. iv. 192. In Marocco Za'ar is applied to a man with fair +skin, red hair and blue eyes (Gothic blood?) and the term is not complimentary +as "Sultan Yazid Za'ar." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#468] The lines have occurred before (vol. iv. 194). I quote Mr. Lane ii. +440. Both he and Mr. Payne have missed the point in "ba'zu layáli" a certain +night when his mistress had left him so lonely. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#469] Arab. "Raat-hu." This apparently harmless word suggests one similar +in sound and meaning which gave some trouble in its day. Says Mohammed in the +Koran (ii. 98) "O ye who believe! say not (to the Apostle) Rá'iná (look at us) +but Unzurná (regard us)." "Rá'iná" as pronounced in Hebrew means "our bad one." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#470] By reason of its leanness. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#471] In the Mac. Edit. "Fifty." For a scene which illustrates this +mercantile transaction see my Pilgrimage i. 88, and its deduction. "How often +is it our fate, in the West as in the East, to see in bright eyes and to hear +from rosy lips an implied, if not an expressed 'Why don't you buy me?' or, +worse still, 'Why can't you buy me?'" +</p> + +<p> +[FN#472] See vol. ii. 165 dragging or trailing the skirts = walking without +the usual strut or swagger: here it means assuming the humble manners of a +slave in presence of the master. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#473] This is the Moslem form of "boycotting": so amongst early Christians +they refused to give one another God-speed. Amongst Hindús it takes the form of +refusing "Hukkah (pipe) and water" which practically makes a man an outcast. In +the text the old man expresses the popular contempt for those who borrow and +who do not repay. He had evidently not read the essay of Elia on the +professional borrower. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#474] See note p. 273. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#475] i.e. the best kind of camels. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#476] This first verse has occurred three times. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#477] Arab. "Surayyá" in Dictionaries a dim. of Sarwá = moderately rich. It +may either denote abundance of rain or a number of stars forming a +constellation. Hence in Job (xxxviii. 31) it is called a heap (kímah). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#478] Pleiads in Gr. the Stars whereby men sail. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#479] This is the Eastern idea of the consequence of satisfactory coition +which is supposed to be the very seal of love. Westerns have run to the other +extreme. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#480] "Al-Ríf" simply means lowland: hence there is a Ríf in the +Nile-delta. The word in Europe is applied chiefly to the Maroccan coast +opposite Gibraltar (not, as is usually supposed the North-Western seaboard) +where the Berber-Shilhá race, so famous as the "Rif pirates" still closes the +country to travellers. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#481] i.e. Upper Egypt. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#482] These local excellencies of coition are described jocosely rather +than anthropologically. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#483] See vol. i. 223: I take from Torrens, p. 223. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#484] For the complete ablution obligatory after copulation before prayers +can be said. See vol. v. 199. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#485] Arab. "Zunnár," the Greek {zoonárion}, for which, see vol. ii. 215. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#486] Miriam (Arabic Maryam), is a Christian name, in Moslem lands. Abú +Maryam "Mary's father" (says Motarrazi on Al-Hariri, Ass. of Alexandria) is a +term of contempt, for men are called after sons (e.g. Abu Zayd), not after +daughters. In more modern authors Abu Maryam is the name of ushers and lesser +officials in the Kazi's court. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#487] This formality, so contrary to our Western familiarity after +possession, is an especial sign of good breeding amongst Arabs and indeed all +Eastern nations. It reminds us of the "grand manner" in Europe two hundred +years ago, not a trace of which now remains. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#488] These lines are in Night i. ordered somewhat differently: so I quote +Torrens (p. 14). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#489] i.e. to the return Salám—"And with thee be peace and the mercy of +Allah and His blessings!" See vol. ii. 146. The enslaved Princess had +recognised her father's Wazir and knew that he could have but one object, which +being a man of wit and her lord a "raw laddie," he was sure to win. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#490] It is quite in Moslem manners for the bystanders to force the sale +seeing a silly lad reject a most advantageous offer for sentimental reasons. +And the owner of the article would be bound by their consent. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#491] Arab. "Wa'llahi." "Bi" is the original particle of swearing, a Harf +al-jarr (governing the genitive as Bi'lláhi) and suggesting the idea of +adhesion: "Wa" (noting union) is its substitute in oath-formulć and "Ta" takes +the place of Wa as Ta'lláhi. The three-fold forms are combined in a great +"swear." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#492] i.e. of divorcing their own wives. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#493] These lines have occurred before: I quote Mr. Payne. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#494] These lines are in Night xxvi., vol. i. 275: I quote<br/> + +Torrens (p. 277), with a correction for "when ere."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#495] This should be "draws his senses from him as one pulls hair out of +pate." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#496] Rághib and Záhid: see vol. v. 141. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#497] Carolus Magnus then held court in Paris; but the text evidently +alludes to one of the port-cities of Provence as Marseille which we English +will miscall Marseilles. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#498] Here the writer, not the young wife, speaks; but as a tale-teller he +says "hearer" not "reader." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#499] Kayrawán, the Arab. form of the Greek Cyrene which has lately been +opened to travellers and has now lost the mystery which enshrouded it. In Hafiz +and the Persian poets it is the embodiment of remoteness and secrecy; as we +till the last quarter century spoke of the "deserts of Central Africa." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#500] Arab. "'Innín": alluding to all forms of impotence, from dislike, +natural deficiency or fascination, the favourite excuse. Easterns seldom +attribute it to the true cause, weak action of the heart; but the Romans knew +the truth when they described one of its symptoms as cold feet. "Clino-pedalis, +ad venerem invalidus, ab ea antiqua opinione, frigiditatem pedum concubituris +admodum officere." Hence St. Francis and the bare-footed Friars. See Glossarium +Eroticum Linguae Latinć, Parisiis, Dondey-Dupré, MDCCCXXVI. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#501] I have noted the use of "island" for "land" in general. So in the +European languages of the sixteenth century, insula was used for peninsula, +e.g. Insula de Cori = the Corean peninsula. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#502] As has been noticed (vol. i. 333), the monocular is famed for +mischief and men expect the mischief to come from his blinded eye. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#503] Here again we have a specimen of "inverted speech" (vol. ii. 265); +abusive epithets intended for a high compliment, signifying that the man was a +tyrant over rebels and a froward devil to the foe. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#504] Arab. "Bab al-Bahr," see vol. iii. 281. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#505] Arab. "Batárikah" see vol. ii. 89. The Templars, Knights of Malta and +other orders half ecclesiastic, half military suggested the application of the +term. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#506] These lines have occurred in vol. i. 280—I quote<br/> + +Torrens (p. 283).<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#507] Maryam al-Husn containing a double entendre, "O place of the white +doe (Rím) of beauty!" The girl's name was Maryam the Arab. form of Mary, also +applied to the B.V. by Eastern Christians. Hence a common name of Syrian women +is "Husn Maryam" = (one endowed with the spiritual beauties of Mary: vol. iv. +87). I do not think that the name was "manufactured by the Arab story-tellers +after the pattern of their own names (e.g. Nur al-Din or Noureddin, light of +the faith, Tajeddin, crown of faith, etc.) for the use of their imaginary +Christian female characters." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#508] I may here remind readers that the Bán, which some Orientalists will +write "Ben," is a straight and graceful species of Moringa with plentiful and +intensely green foliage. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#509] Arab. "Amúd al-Sawári" = the Pillar of Masts, which is still the +local name of Diocletian's column absurdly named by Europeans "Pompey's +Pillar." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#510] Arab. "Batiyah," also used as a wine-jar (amphora), a flagon. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#511] Arab. "Al-Kursán," evidently from the Ital. "Corsaro," a runner. So +the Port. "Cabo Corso," which we have corrupted to "Cape Coast Castle" (Gulf of +Guinea), means the Cape of Tacking. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#512] Arab. "Ghuráb," which Europeans turn to "Grab." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#513] Arab. "Sayyib" (Thayyib) a rare word: it mostly applies to a woman +who leaves her husband after lying once with him. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#514] Arab. "Batárikah:" here meaning knights, leaders of armed men as in +Night dccclxii., supra p. 256, it means "monks." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#515] i.e. for the service of a temporal monarch. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#516] Arab. "Sayr" = a broad strip of leather still used by way of girdle +amongst certain Christian religions in the East. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#517] Arab. "Haláwat al-Salámah," the sweetmeats offered to friends after +returning from a journey or escaping sore peril. See vol. iv. 60. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#518] So Eginhardt was an Erzcapellan and belonged to the ghostly +profession. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#519] These lines are in vols. iii. 258 and iv. 204. I quote<br/> + +Mr. Payne.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#520] Arab. "Firásah," lit. = skill in judging of horse flesh<br/> + +(Faras) and thence applied, like "Kiyáfah," to physiognomy. One<br/> + +Kári was the first to divine man's future by worldly signs<br/> + +(Al-Maydáni, Arab. prov. ii. 132) and the knowledge was<br/> + +hereditary in the tribe Mashíj.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#521] Reported to be a "Hadis" or saying of Mohammed, to whom are +attributed many such shrewd aphorisms, e.g. "Allah defend us from the ire of +the mild (tempered)." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#522] These lines are in vol. i. 126. I quote Torrens (p. 120). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#523] These lines have occurred before. I quote Mr. Payne. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#524] Arab. "Khák-bák," an onomatopÂia like our flip-flap and a host of +similar words. This profaning a Christian Church which contained the relics of +the Virgin would hugely delight the coffee-house habitués, and the Egyptians +would be equally flattered to hear that the son of a Cairene merchant had made +the conquest of a Frankish Princess Royal. That he was an arrant poltroon +mattered very little, as his cowardice only set of his charms. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#525] i.e. after the rising up of the dead. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#526] Arab. "Nafísah," the precious one i.e. the Virgin. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#527] Arab. "Nákús," a wooden gong used by Eastern Christians which were +wisely forbidden by the early Moslems. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#528] i.e. a graceful, slender youth. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#529] There is a complicatd pun in this line: made by splitting the word +after the fashion of punsters. "Zarbu 'l-Nawákísí" = the striking of the gongs, +and "Zarbu 'l Nawá, Kísí = striking the departure signal: decide thou (fem. +addressed to the Nafs, soul or self)" I have attempted a feeble imitation. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#530] The modern Italian term of the venereal finish. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#531] Arab. "Najm al-Munkazzi," making the envious spy one of the prying +Jinns at whom is launched the Shiháb or shooting-star by the angels who prevent +them listening at the gates of Heaven. See vol. i. 224. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#532] Arab. "Sandúk al-Nuzur," lit. "the box of vowed oblations." This act +of sacrilege would find high favour with the auditory. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#533] The night consisting like the day of three watches. See vol. i. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#534] Arab. "Al-Khaukhah," a word now little used. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#535] Arab. "Námúsiyah," lit. mosquito curtains. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#536] Arab. "Jáwashiyah," see vol. ii. 49. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#537] Arab. "Kayyimah," the fem. of "Kayyim," misprinted<br/> + +"Kayim" in vol. ii. 93.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#538] i.e. hadst thou not disclosed thyself. He has one great merit in a +coward of not being ashamed for his cowardice; and this is a characteristic of +the modern Egyptian, whose proverb is, "He ran away, Allah shame him! is better +than, He was slain, Allah bless him!" +</p> + +<p> +[FN#539] Arab. "Ahjar al-Kassárín" nor forgotten. In those days ships anchored +in the Eastern port of Alexandria which is now wholly abandoned on account of +the rocky bottom and the dangerous "Levanter," which as the Gibraltar proverb +says +</p> + +<p> +"Makes the stones canter." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#540] Arab. "Hakk" = rights, a word much and variously used. To express the +possessive "mine" a Badawi says "Hakki" (pron. Haggi) and "Lílí;" a Syrian +"Shítí" for Shayyati, my little thing or "taba 'i" my dependent; an Egyptian +"Bitá' i" my portion and a Maghribi "M'tá 'i" and "diyyáli" (di allazí lí = +this that is to me). Thus "mine" becomes a shibboleth. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#541] i.e. The "Good for nothing," the "Bad'un;" not some forgotten ruffian +of the day, but the hero of a tale antedating The Nights in their present form. +See Terminal Essay, x. ii. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#542] i.e. Hoping to catch Nur al-Din. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#543] Arab. "Sawwáhún" = the Wanderers, Pilgrims, wandering Arabs, whose +religion, Al-Islam, so styled by its Christain opponents. And yet the new creed +was at once accepted by whole regions of Christians, and Mauritania, which had +rejected Roman paganism and Gothic Christianity. This was e.g. Syria and the +so-called "Holy Land," not because, as is fondly asserted by Christians, +al-Islam was forced upon them by the sword, but on account of its fulfilling a +need, its supplying a higher belief, unity as opposed to plurality, and its +preaching a more manly attitude of mind and a more sensible rule of conduct. +Arabic still preserves a host of words special to the Christian creed; and many +of them have been adopted by Moslems but with changes of signification. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#544] i.e. of things commanded and things prohibited. The writer is +thinking of the Koran in which there are not a few abrogated injunctions. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#545] See below for the allusion. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#546] Arab. "Kafrá" = desert place. It occurs in this couplet, +</p> + +<p> + "Wa Kabrun Harbin fí-makánin Kafrin;<br/> + + Wa laysa Kurba Kabri Harbin Kabrun."<br/> + + "Harb's corse is quartered in coarse wold accurst;<br/> + + Nor close to corse of Harb is other corse;—"<br/> +</p> + +<p> +words made purposely harsh because uttered by a Jinni who killed a traveller +named "Harb." So Homer:— +</p> + +<p> +{pollŕ d' hánanta, kátanta, párantá te dachmía t' ęlthon.} +</p> + +<p> +and Pope:— +</p> + +<p> +"O'er hills, o'er dales, o'er crags, o'er rocks they go, etc." +</p> + +<p> +See Preface (p. v.) to Captain A. Lockett's learned and whimsical volume, "The +Muit Amil" etc. Calcutta, 1814. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#547] These lines have occurred vol. iv. 267. I quote Mr.<br/> + +Lane.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#548] The topethesia is here designedly made absurd. Alexandria was one of +the first cities taken by the Moslems (A.H. 21 = 642) and the Christian pirates +preferred attacking weaker places, Rosetta and Damietta. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#549] Arab. "Bilád al-Rúm," here and elsewhere applied to<br/> + +France.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#550] Here the last line of p. 324, vol. iv. in the Mac.<br/> + +Edit. is misplaced and belongs to the next page.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#551] Arab. "Akhawán shakíkán" = brothers german (of men and beasts) born +of one father and mother, sire and dam. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#552] "The Forerunner" and "The Overtaker," terms borrowed from the Arab +Epsom. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#553] Known to us as "the web and pin," it is a film which affects Arab +horses in the damp hot regions of Malabar and Zanzibar and soon blinds them. +This equine cataract combined with loin-disease compels men to ride Pegu and +other ponies. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#554] Arab. "Zujáj bikr" whose apparent meaning would be glass in the lump +and unworked. Zaj áj bears, however, the meaning of clove-nails (the ripe bud +of the clove-shrub) and may possibly apply to one of the manifold "Alfáz +Adwiyah" (names of drugs). Here, however, pounded glass would be all sufficient +to blind a horse: it is much used in the East especially for dogs affected by +intestinal vermicules. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#555] Alluding to the Arab saying "The two rests"<br/> + +(Al-ráhatáni) "certainty of success or failure," as opposed to<br/> + +"Wiswás" when the mind fluctuates in doubt.<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#556] She falls in love with the groom, thus anticipating the noble +self-devotion of Miss Aurora Floyd. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#557] Arab. "Túfán" see vol. {iv. 136}: here it means the<br/> + +"Deluge of Noah."<br/> +</p> + +<p> +[FN#558] Two of the Hells. See vol. v. 240. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#559] Lit. "Out upon a prayer who imprecated our parting!" +</p> + +<p> +[FN#560] The use of masculine for feminine has frequently been noted. I have +rarely changed the gender or the number the plural being often employed for the +singular (vol. i. 98). Such change may avoid "mystification and confusion" but +this is the very purpose of the substitution which must be preserved if "local +colour" is to be respected. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 8, by Richard F. Burton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT *** + +***** This file should be named 3442-h.htm or 3442-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/4/3442/ + +This etext was scanned by J.C. 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