diff options
Diffstat (limited to '3442-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 3442-8.txt | 16292 |
1 files changed, 16292 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/3442-8.txt b/3442-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..76d90c8 --- /dev/null +++ b/3442-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16292 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, V8 + +This is the 8-bit version, with accents and diacritical marks. + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. The words +are carefully chosen to provide users with the information they +need about what they can legally do with the texts. + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) +organization with EIN [Employee Identification Number] 64-6221541 + + +Title: The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 8 + +Author: Richard F. Burton + +Release Date: September, 2002 [Etext #3442] +[Yes, we are about one year ahead of schedule] +[The actual date this file first posted = 07/31/01] +Last Updated: June 24, 2015 + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Project Gutenberg's The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, V8 + + +This etext was scanned by J.C. Byers +(www.capitalnet.com/~jcbyers/index.htm) +and proofread by Doris Ringbloom + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions, +all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a +copyright notice is included. Therefore, we usually do NOT keep any +of these books in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our books one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to send us error messages even years after +the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our sites at: +https://gutenberg.org +http://promo.net/pg + + +Those of you who want to download any Etext before announcement +can surf to them as follows, and just download by date; this is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 +or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour this year as we release fifty new Etext +files per month, or 500 more Etexts in 2000 for a total of 3000+ +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +should reach over 300 billion Etexts given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext +Files by December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000 = 1 Trillion] +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +At our revised rates of production, we will reach only one-third +of that goal by the end of 2001, or about 4,000 Etexts unless we +manage to get some real funding. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of July 12, 2001 contributions are only being solicited from people in: +Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, +Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, +Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North +Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, +Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, +Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in about 45 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, +additions to this list will be made and fund raising +will begin in the additional states. Please feel +free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork +to legally request donations in all 50 states. If +your state is not listed and you would like to know +if we have added it since the list you have, just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in +states where we are not yet registered, we know +of no prohibition against accepting donations +from donors in these states who approach us with +an offer to donate. + + +International donations are accepted, +but we don't know ANYTHING about how +to make them tax-deductible, or +even if they CAN be made deductible, +and don't have the staff to handle it +even if there are ways. + +All donations should be made to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) +organization with EIN [Employee Identification Number] 64-6221541, +and has been approved as a 501(c)(3) organization by the US Internal +Revenue Service (IRS). Donations are tax-deductible to the maximum +extent permitted by law. As the requirements for other states are met, +additions to this list will be made and fund raising will begin in the +additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information at: + +https://www.gutenberg.org/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +hart@pobox.com forwards to hart@prairienet.org and archive.org +if your mail bounces from archive.org, I will still see it, if +it bounces from prairienet.org, better resend later on. . . . + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +*** + + +Example command-line FTP session: + +ftp ftp.ibiblio.org +login: anonymous +password: your@login +cd pub/docs/books/gutenberg +cd etext90 through etext99 or etext00 through etext02, etc. +dir [to see files] +get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files] +GET GUTINDEX.?? [to get a year's listing of books, e.g., GUTINDEX.99] +GET GUTINDEX.ALL [to get a listing of ALL books] + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this etext if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etexts, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this etext, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the etext, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the etext (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.07/27/01*END* + + + + + +This etext was scanned by JC Byers +(http://www.capitalnet.com/~jcbyers) and proofread Lynn Bornath, +J.C. Byers, Diane Doerfler, Carrie R. Lorenz, and Robert Sinton. + + + + + + THE BOOK OF THE + THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT + A Plain and Literal Translation + of the Arabian Nights Entertainments + + Translated and Annotated by + Richard F. Burton + + VOLUME EIGHT + Privately Printed By The Burton Club + + + + A Message to + Frederick Hankey, + formerly of No. 2, Rue Laffitte, Paris. + +My Dear Fred, + + 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. + + + Richard F. Burton. + + + + + Contents of the Eighth Volume + + + King Mohammed Bin Sabaik and the Merchant Hasan (continued) + a. Story of Prince Sayf Al-Muluk and the Princess Badi'a + Al-Jamal (continued) +155. Hassan of Bassorah +156. Khalifah The Fisherman Of Baghdad + The same from the Breslau Edition +157. Masrur and Zayn Al-Mawasif +158. Ali Nur Al-Din and Miriam the Girdle-Girl + + + + + + The Book Of The + THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT + + + + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night, + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night, + +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 + + + + + HASAN OF BASSORAH.[FN#5] + + + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Eightieth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-first Night, + +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, + +"My patience fails me and grows anxiety; * And with your absence + growth of grief I see. +By Allah, Patience went what time ye went! * Loss of all Hope how + suffer patiently? +When lost my loved one how can' joy I sleep? * Who shall enjoy + such life of low degree? +Thou 'rt gone and, desolating house and home, * Hast fouled the + fount erst flowed from foulness free: +Thou wast my fame, my grace 'mid folk, my stay; * Mine aid wast + thou in all adversity! +Perish the day, when from mine eyes they bore * My friend, till + sight I thy return to me!" + +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, + +"Leyla's phantom came by night, when drowsiness had overcome me, + towards morning while my companions were sleeping in the + desert, +But when we awoke to behold the nightly phantom, I saw the air + vacant and the place of visitation was distant."[FN#23] + +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, + +"A dog, dog-fathered, by dog-grandsire bred; * No good in dog + from dog race issued: +E'en for a gnat no resting-place gives he * Who is composed of + seed by all men shed."[FN#24] + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-second Night, + +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, + +"In patience, O my God, Thy doom forecast * I'll bear, an thereby + come Thy grace at last: +They've dealt us wrong, transgressed and ordered ill; * Haply Thy + Grace shall pardon what is past." + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-third Night, + +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, + +"Consider but thy Lord, His work shall bring * Comfort to thee, + with quick relief and near: +Despair not when thou sufferest sorest bane: * In bane how many + blessed boons appear!" + +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, + +"When God upon a man possessed of reasoning, Hearing and sight + His will in aught to pass would bring, +He stops his ears and blinds his eyes and draws his wit, From + him, as one draws out the hairs to paste that cling; +Till, His decrees fulfilled, He gives him back His wit, That + therewithal he may receive admonishing. +So say thou not of aught that haps, 'How happened it?' For Fate + and fortune fixed do order everything.[FN#34]" + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night, + +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, + +"The wide plain is narrowed before these eyes * And the landscape + troubles this heart of mine. +Since my friends went forth, by the loss of them * Joy fled and + these eyelids rail floods of brine: +Sleep shunned these eyeballs for parting woe * And my mind is + worn with sore pain and pine: +Would I wot an Time shall rejoin our lots * And the joys of love + with night-talk combine." + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night, + +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 Cæsar 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] + +"When I took up her shift and discovered the terrace-roof of her + kaze, I found it as strait as my humour or eke my worldly + ways: +So I thrust it, incontinent, in, halfway, and she heaved a sigh. + 'For what dost thou sigh?' quoth I. 'For the rest of it + sure,' she says." + +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] + +"A maiden 'twas, the dresser's art had decked with cunning + sleight; +The sun thou 'd'st say had robbed her cheek and shone with + borrowed light. +She came to us apparelled fair in under vest of green, +Like as the ripe pomegranate hides beneath its leafy screen; +And when we asked her what might be the name of what she wore, +She answered in a quaint reply that double meaning bore: +The desert's heart we penetrate in such apparel dressed, +And Pierce-heart therefore is the name by which we call the + vest." + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night, + +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] + +"Her lip-dews rival honey-sweets, that sweet virginity; * + Keener than Hindi scymitar the glance she casts at thee: +She shames the bending bough of Bán with graceful movement slow * + And as she smiles her teeth appear with leven's brilliancy: +When I compared with rose a-bloom the tintage of her cheeks, * + She laughed in scorn and cried, 'Whoso compares with rosery +My hue and breasts, granados terms, is there no shame in him? * + How should pomegranates bear on bough such fruit in form or + blee? +Now by my beauty and mine eyes and heart and eke by Heaven * + Of favours mine and by the Hell of my unclemency, +They say 'She is a garden-rose in very pride of bloom'; * + And yet no rose can ape my cheek nor branch my symmetry! +If any garden own a thing which unto me is like, * + What then is that he comes to crave of me and only me?"' + +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, + +"May God deny me boon of troth if I * After your absence sweets + of slumber know: +Yea; since that sev'rance never close mine eyes, * Nor rest + repose me since departed you! +'Twould seem as though you saw me in your sleep; * Would Heaven + the dreams of sleep were real-true! +Indeed I dote on sleep though needed not, * For sleep may bring + me that dear form to view." + +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, + +"The birds took flight at eve and winged their way; * And sinless + he who died of Love's death-blow. +I'll keep my love-tale secret while I can * But, an desire + prevail, its needs must show: +Night brought me nightly vision, bright as dawn; * While nights + of my desire lack morning-glow. +I mourn for them[FN#61] while they heart-freest sleep * And winds + of love on me their plaything blow: +Free I bestow my tears, my wealth, my heart * My wit, my sprite:– + most gain who most bestow! +The worst of woes and banes is enmity * Beautiful maidens deal us + to our woe. +Favour they say's forbidden to the fair * And shedding lovers' + blood their laws allow; +That naught can love-sicks do but lavish soul, * And stake in + love-play life on single throw:[FN#62] +I cry in longing ardour for my love: * Lover can only weep and + wail Love-lowe." + +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, + +"O thou who shamest sun in morning sheen * The branch + confounding, yet with nescience blest; +Would Heaven I wot an Time shall bring return * And quench the + fires which flame unmanifest,-- +Bring us together in a close embrace, * Thy cheek upon my cheek, + thy breast abreast! +Who saith, In Love dwells sweetness? when in Love * Are bitterer + days than Aloës[FN#63] bitterest." + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night, + +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, + +"Lover, when parted from the thing he loves, * Has naught save + weary woe and bane to bear. +Inside is sickness, outside living lowe, * His first is fancy and + his last despair." + +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, + +"Restore my heart as 'twas within my breast, * Let mine eyes + sleep again, then fly fro' me. +Deem ye the nights have had the might to change * Love's vow? + Who changeth may he never be!" + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninetieth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-first Night, + +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, + +"Thy shape's temptation, eyes as Houri's fain * And sheddeth + Beauty's sheen[FN#75] that radiance rare: +My glance portrayed thy glorious portraiture: * Rubies one-half + and gems the third part were: +Musk made a fifth: a sixth was ambergris * The sixth a pearl but + pearl without compare. +Eve never bare a daughter evening thee * Nor breathes thy like in + Khuld's[FN#76] celestial air. +An thou would torture me 'tis wont of Love * And if thou pardon + 'tis thy choice I swear: +Then, O world bright'ner and O end of wish! * Loss of thy charms + who could in patience bear?" + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-second Night, + +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, + +"Indeed afflicted sore are we and all distraught, * Seeking for + union; yet we find no way: +And Love's calamities upon us grow * And Love though light with + heaviest weight doth weigh." + +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, + +"Ne'er dawn the severance-day on any wise * That robs of sleep + these heavy-lidded eyes. +From us and thee it hath fair union torn * It wastes our force + and makes our forms its prize." + +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, + +"How shall he taste of sleep who lacks repose * Who wakes a-night + when all in slumber wone? +He ownèd wealth and family and fame * Yet fared from house and + home an exile lone: +Live coal beneath his[FN#80] ribs he bears for bane, * And mighty + longing, mightier ne'er was known: +Passion hath seized him, Passion mastered him; * Yet is he + constant while he maketh moan: +His case for Love proclaimeth aye that he, * (As prove his tears) + is wretched, woebegone." + +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, + +"Fortune had ruth upon my plight * Pitied my long long bane and + blight; +Gave me what I would liefest sight; * And set me free from all + afright. +So pardon I the sin that sin * nèd she in days evanisht quite; +E'en to the sin she sinned when she * Bleached my hair-parting + silvern white." + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-third Night, + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-fourth Night, + +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, + +"I ever ask for news of you from whatso breezes pass * And never + any but yourselves can pass across my mind." + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night, + +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 rivière of jewels, worth all the treasures of Chosroe and +Cæsar, 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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-sixth Night, + +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] + +"O who hast quitted these abodes and faredst lief and light * To + other objects of thy love with fain and fastest flight! +Deem'st thou that 'bided I with you in solace and in joy * Or + that my days amid you all were clear of bane and blight? +When I was captive ta'en of Love and snarèd in his snare, * He + made of Love my prison and he fared fro' me forthright: +So when my fear was hidden, he made sure that ne'er should I * + Pray to the One, th' Omnipotent to render me my right: +He charged his mother keep the secret with all the care she + could, * In closet shut and treated me with enemy's + despight: +But I o'erheard their words and held them fast in memory * And + hoped for fortune fair and weal and blessings infinite: +My faring to the Hammam-bath then proved to me the means * Of + making minds of folk to be confounded at my sight: +Wondered the Bride of Al-Rashid to see my brilliancy * When she + beheld me right and left with all of beauty dight: +Then quoth I, 'O our Caliph's wife, I once was wont to own * A + dress of feathers rich and rare that did the eyes delight: +An it were now on me thou shouldst indeed see wondrous things * + That would efface all sorrows and disperse all sores of + sprite:' +Then deigned our Caliph's Bride to cry, 'Where is that dress of + thine?' * And I replied, 'In house of him kept darkling as + the night.' +So down upon it pounced Masrúr and brought it unto her, * And + when 'twas there each feather cast a ray of beaming light: +Therewith I took it from his hand and opened it straightway * And + saw its plumèd bosom and its buttons pleased my sight: +And so I clad myself therein and took with me my babes; * And + spread my wings and flew away with all my main and might; +Saying, 'O husband's mother mine tell him when cometh he * An + ever wouldest meet her thou from house and home must flee."' + +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, + +"Your faring on the parting-day drew many a tear fro' me, * Who + must your flying from the home long mourn in misery: +And cried I for the parting pang in anguish likest fire * And + tear-floods chafed mine eyelids sore that ne'er of tears + were free; +'Yes, this is Severance, Ah, shall we e'er joy return of you? * + For your departure hath deprived my power of privacy!' +Ah, would they had returned to me in covenant of faith * An they + return perhaps restore of past these eyne may see." + +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, + +"Deep in mine eye-balls ever dwells the phantom-form of thee * My + heart when throbbing or at rest holds fast thy memory: +And love of thee doth never cease to course within my breast, * + As course the juices in the fruits which deck the branchy + tree: +And every day I see thee not my bosom straightened is * And even + censurers excuse the woes in me they see: +O thou whose love hath gotten hold the foremost in the heart * Of + me whose fondness is excelled by mine insanity: +Fear the Compassionate in my case and some compassion show! * + Love of thee makes me taste of death in bitterest pungency." + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-seventh Night, + +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, + +"When shall the severance-fire be quenched by union, love, with + you? * When shall I win my wish of you and days that were + renew? +The parting-day affrighted me and wrought me dire dismay * And + doubleth woe, O master mine, by the sad word 'Adieu.'" + +Anon came forward the second Princess and embraced him and +recited these two couplets, + +"Farewelling thee indeed is like to bidding life farewell * And + like the loss of Zephyr[FN#96] 'tis to lose thee far our + sight: +Thine absence is a flaming fire which burneth up my heart * And + in thy presence I enjoy the Gardens of Delight."[FN#97] + +Presently came forward the third and embraced him and recited +these two couplets, + +"We left not taking leave of thee (when bound to other goal) * + From aught of ill intention or from weariness and dole: +Thou art my soul, my very soul, the only soul of me: * And how + shall I farewell myself and say, 'Adieu my Soul?'"[FN#98] + +After her came forward the fourth and embraced him and recited +these two couplets, + +"Nought garred me weep save where and when of severance spake he, + * Persisting in his cruel will with sore persistency: +Look at this pearl-like ornament I've hung upon mine ear: * 'Tis + of the tears of me compact, this choicest jewelry!" + +In her turn came forward the fifth and embraced him and recited +these two couplets, + +"Ah, fare thee not; for I've no force thy faring to endure, * Nor + e'en to say the word farewell before my friend is sped: +Nor any patience to support the days of severance, * Nor any + tears on ruined house and wasted home to shed." + +Next came the sixth and embraced him and recited these two +couplets, + +"I cried, as the camels went off with them, * And Love pained my + vitals with sorest pain: +Had I a King who would lend me rule * I'd seize every ship that + dares sail the Main." + +Lastly came forward the seventh and embraced him and recited +these couplets, + +"When thou seest parting, be patient still, * Nor let foreign + parts deal thy soul affright: +But abide, expecting a swift return, * For all hearts hold + parting in sore despight." + +And eke these two couplets, + +"Indeed I'm heartbroken to see thee start, * Nor can I farewell + thee ere thou depart; +Allah wotteth I left not to say adieu * Save for fear that saying + would melt your heart." + +Hasan also wept for parting from them, till he swooned, and +repeated these couplets, + +"Indeed, ran my tears on the severance-day * Like pearls I + threaded in necklace-way: +The cameleer drove his camels with song * But I lost heart, + patience and strength and stay: +I bade them farewell and retired in grief * From tryst-place and + camp where my dearlings lay: +I turned me unknowing the way nor joyed * My soul, but in hopes + to return some day. +Oh listen, my friend, to the words of love * God forbid thy heart + forget all I say! +O my soul when thou partest wi' them, part too * With all joys of + life nor for living pray!" + +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] + +"Folk have made moan of passion before me, of past years, * And + live and dead for absence have suffered pains and fears; +But that within my bosom I harbour, with mine eyes * I've never + seen the like of nor heard with mine ears." + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-eighth Night, + +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] + +"Pause ye and see his sorry state since when ye fain withdrew; * + Haply, when wrought your cruelty, you'll have the grace to + rue: +For an ye look on him, you'll doubt of him by sickness-stress * + As though, by Allah, he were one before ye never knew. +He dies for nothing save for love of you, and he would be * + Numbered amid the dead did not he moan and groan for you. +And deem not pangs of severance sit all lightly on his soul; * + 'Tis heavy load on lover-wight; 'twere lighter an ye slew." + +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] + +"Beareth for love a burden sore this soul of me, * Could break a + mortal's back however strong that be; +I am distraught to see my case and languor grows * Making my day + and night indifferent in degree: +I own to having dreaded Death before this day: * This day I hold + my death mine only remedy." + +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, + +"Their image bides with me, ne'er quits me, ne'er shall fly; * + But holds within my heart most honourable stead; +But for reunion-hope, I'd see me die forthright, * And but for + phantom-form of thee my sleep had fled." + +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, + +"My soul for loss of lover sped I sight; * Nor life enjoying + neither life's delight: +My case is one whose cure is all unknown; * Can any cure the sick + but doctor wight? +O who hast reft my sleep-joys, leaving me * To ask the breeze + that blew from that fair site,-- +Blew from my lover's land (the land that owns * Those charms so + sore a grief in soul excite), +'O breeze, that visitest her land, perhaps * Breathing her scent, + thou mayst revive my sprite!'" + +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, + +"Haply and happily may Fortune bend her rein * Bringing my love, + for Time's a freke of jealous strain;[FN#103] +Fortune may prosper me, supply mine every want, * And bring a + blessing where before were ban and bane." + +Then he wept till he fainted again, and presently coming to +himself recited the two following couplets, + +"My wish, mine illness, mine unease! by Allah, own * Art thou + content? then I in love contented wone! +Dost thou forsake me thus sans crime or sin * Meet me in ruth, I + pray, and be our parting gone." + +Then he wept till he swooned away once more and when he revived +he repeated these couplets, + +"Sleep fled me, by my side wake ever shows * And hoard of + tear-drops from these eyne aye flows; +For love they weep with beads cornelian-like * And growth of + distance greater dolence grows: +Lit up my longing, O my love, in me * Flames burning 'neath my + ribs with fiery throes! +Remembering thee a tear I never shed * But in it thunder roars + and leven glows." + +Then he wept till he fainted away a fourth time, and presently +recovering, recited these couplets, + +"Ah! for lowe of love and longing suffer ye as suffer we? * Say, + as pine we and as yearn we for you are pining ye? +Allah do the death of Love, what a bitter draught is his! * Would + I wot of Love what plans and what projects nurseth he! +Your faces radiant-fair though afar from me they shine, * Are + mirrored in our eyes whatsoever the distance be; +My heart must ever dwell on the memories of your tribe; * And the + turtle-dove reneweth all as oft as moaneth she: +Ho thou dove, who passest night-tide in calling on thy fere, * + Thou doublest my repine, bringing grief for company; +And leavest thou mine eyelids with weeping unfulfilled * For the + dearlings who departed, whom we never more may see: +I melt for the thought of you at every time and hour, * And I + long for you when Night showeth cheek of blackest blee." + +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. + + When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-ninth Night, + +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, + +"Pink cheeks and eyes enpupil'd black have dealt me sore + despight; * And whenas wake overpowered sleep my patience + fled in fright: +The fair and sleek-limbed maidens hard of heart withal laid waste + * My very bones till not a breath is left for man to sight: +Houris, who fare with gait of grace as roes o'er sandy-mound: * + Did Allah's saints behold their charms they'd doat thereon + forthright; +Faring as fares the garden breeze that bloweth in the dawn. * For + love of them a sore unrest and troubles rack my sprite: +I hung my hopes upon a maid, a loveling fair of them, * For whom + my heart still burns with lowe in Lazá-hell they light;-- +A dearling soft of sides and haught and graceful in her gait, * + Her grace is white as morning, but her hair is black as + night: +She stirreth me! But ah, how many heroes have her cheeks * + Upstirred for love, and eke her eyes that mingle black and + white." + +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, + +'Let destiny with slackened rein its course appointed fare! And + lie thou down to sleep by night, with heart devoid of care; +For 'twixt the closing of an eye and th' opening thereof, God + hath it in His power to change a case from foul to + fair."[FN#104] + +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, + +"An I be healed of disease in frame, * I'm unhealed of illness in + heart and sprite: +There is no healing disease of love, * Save lover and loved one + to re-unite." + +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, + +"A beloved familiar o'erreigns my heart * And Allah's ruling + reigns evermore: +She hath all the Arabs' united charms * This gazelle who feeds on + my bosom's core. +Though my skill and patience for love of her fail, * I weep + whilst I wot that 'tis vain to deplore. +The dearling hath twice seven years, as though * She were moon of + five nights and of five plus four."[FN#106] + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundredth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and First Night, + +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, + +"For loss of lover mine and stress of love I dree, * I stood + bewailing self in deep despondency. +Longing for him, the Spring-camp's dust I kissed and kissed, * + But this bred more of grief and galling reverie. +God guard the gone, who in our hearts must e'er abide * With + nearing woes and joys which still the farther flee. +They say me, 'Patience!' But they bore it all away: * On + parting-day, and left me naught save tormentry. +And naught affrighted me except the word he said, * 'Forget me + not when gone nor drive from memory.' +To whom shall turn I? hope in whom when you are lost? * Who were + my only hopes and joys and woes of me? +But ah, the pang of home-return when parting thus! * How joyed at + seeing me return mine enemy. +Then well-away! this 'twas I guarded me against! * And ah, thou + lowe of Love double thine ardency![FN#111] +An fled for aye my friends I'll not survive the flight; * Yet an + they deign return, Oh joy! Oh ecstacy! +Never, by Allah tears and weeping I'll contain * For loss of you, + but tears on tears and tears will rain." + +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, + +"You are my wish, of creatures brightest-light * I deem you lief + as hearing, fain as sight: +You hold my heart which hath become your home * And since you + left me, lords, right sore's my plight: +Then think not I have yielded up your love, * Your love which set + this wretch in fierce affright: +You went and went my joy whenas you went; * And waned and wax'ed + wan the brightest light: +You left me lone to watch the stars in woe: * Railing tears + likest rain-drops infinite. +Thou'rt longsome to the wight, who pining lies * On wake, + moon-gazing through the night, +O Night! Wind! an thou pass the tribe where they abide * Give + them my greeting, life is fain of flight. +And tell them somewhat of the pangs I bear: * The loved one + kenneth not my case aright." + +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, + +"By Love's right! naught of farness thy slave can estrange * Nor + am I one to fail in my fealty: +I suffer such pains did I tell my case * To folk, they'd cry, + 'Madness! clean witless is he!' +Then ecstasy, love-longing, transport and lowe! * Whose case is + such case how shall ever he be?" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Second Night, + +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, + +"With you is my heart-cure a heart that goes; * And from + hill-foot of eyelids the tear-rill flows: +And parting and sorrow and exile and dole * And farness from + country and throe that o'erthrows: +Naught am I save a lover distracted by love, * Far parted from + loved one and wilted by woes. +And 'tis Love that hath brought me such sorrow, say where * Is + the noble of soul who such sorrow unknows?" + +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, + +"Glory to Him who guides the skies! * The lover sore in sorrow + lies. +Who hath not tasted of Love's food * Knows not what mean its + miseries. +Did I attempt to stem my tears * Rivers of blood would fount and + rise. +How many an intimate is hard * Of heart, and pains in sorest + wise! +An she with me her word would keep, * Of tears and sighs I'd fain + devise, +But I'm forgone, rejected quite * Ruin on me hath cast her eyes. +At my fell pangs fell wildlings weep * And not a bird for me but + cries." + +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 daïses, +each facing other, and in each daïs a jetting fountain, at whose +corners stood lions of red gold, spouting gerbes from their +mouths into the basin. On each daïs 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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Third Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fourth Night, + +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, + + +"A term decreed my lot I 'spy; * And, when its days shall end, I + die. +Though lions fought with me in lair * If Time be mine I'd beat + them, I!" + +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-à-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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifth Night, + +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, + +"In her cheek-corners nine calamities * Wone, and when shown, + each one Jehannam is: +Hideous the face and favour foulest foul * As cheek of hog; yea, + 'tis a cesspool phiz." + +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, + +"When will Time grant we meet, when shall we be * Again united + after severance stark? +And I shall win my choicest wish and view? * Blame end and Love + abide without remark? +Were Nile to flow as freely as my tears, * 'Twould leave no + region but with water-mark: +'Twould overthrow Hijaz and Egypt-land * 'Twould deluge Syria and + 'twould drown Irák. +This, O my love, is caused by thy disdain, * Be kind and promise + meeting fair and fain!" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixth Night, + +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 hyænas 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, + +"A Zephyr bloweth from the lover's site; * And thou canst view me + in the saddest plight: +The Night of Union is as brilliant morn; * And black the + Severance-day as blackest night: +Farewelling friend is sorrow sorest sore * Parting from lover's + merest undelight. +I will not blame her harshness save to her, * And 'mid mankind + nor friend nor fere I sight: +How can I be consoled for loss of you? * Base censor's blame + shall not console my sprite! +O thou in charms unique, unique's my love; * O peerless thou, my + heart hath peerless might! +Who maketh semblance that he loveth you * And dreadeth blame is + most blame-worthy wight." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventh Night, + +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, + +"The name of what drave me distraught * Hath letters renowned + among men: +A four into five multiplied * And a multiplied six into + ten.[FN#134]" + +Then Hasan wept and chanted the following Mawwál,[FN#135] + +"O heart, an lover false thee, shun the parting bane * Nor to + forgetfulness thy thoughts constrain: +Be patient; thou shalt bury all thy foes; * Allah ne'er falseth + man of patience fain." + +And this also, + +"An wouldst be life,long safe, vaunt not delight; * Never + despair, nor wone o'erjoyed in sprite! +Forbear, rejoice not, mourn not o'er thy plight * And in ill day + 'Have not we oped?'--recite."[FN#136] + +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, + +"'Blame not!' said I to all who blamèd me; * 'Mine eye-lids + naught but tears were made to dree:' +The tears that brim these orbs have overflowed * My checks, for + lovers and love's cruelty. +Leave me to love though waste this form of me! * For I of Love + adore the insanity: +And, Oh my dearling, passion grows on me * For you--and you, why + grudge me clemency? +You wronged me after swearing troth and plight, * Falsed my + companionship and turned to flee: +And cup of humbling for your rigours sore * Ye made me drain what + day departed ye: +Then melt, O heart, with longing for their sight * And, O mine + eyes, with crowns of tears be dight." + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighth Night, + +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, + +"O Kings of beauty, grace to prisoner ta'en * Of eyelids fit to + rule the Chosroës' reign: +Ye pass the wafts of musk in perfumed breath; * Your cheeks the + charms of blooming rose disdain. +The softest Zephyr breathes where pitch ye camp * And thence + far-scattered sweetness fills the plain: +Censor of me, leave blame and stint advice! * Thou bringest + wearying words and wisdom vain: +Why heat my passion with this flame and up- * braid me when + naught thou knowest of its bane? +Captured me eyes with passion maladifs, * And overthrew me with + Love's might and main: +I scatter tears the while I scatter verse; * You are my theme for + rhyme and prosy strain. +Melted my vitals glow of rosy cheeks * And in the Lazá-lowe my + heart is lain: +Tell me, an I leave to discourse of you, * What speech my breast + shall broaden? +Tell me deign! Life-long I loved the lovelings fair, but ah, * To + grant my wish eke Allah must be fain!" + +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-Hudà,[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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Ninth Night, + +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, + +"God make thy glory last in joy of life; * Allah confirm the + boons he deigned bestow: +Thy grace and grandeur may our Lord increase * And aye Th' + Almighty aid thee o'er thy foe!" + +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, + +"Yea, I will laud thee while the ring-dove moans, * Though fail + my wish of due and lawful scope: +Ne'er was I whirled in bliss and joys gone by * Wherein I found + thee not both root and rope."[FN#143] + +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, + +"You've roused my desire and remain at rest,-- * Waked my wounded + lids while you slept with zest. +And ye made me a vow ye would not hang back * But your guile when + you chained me waxt manifest. +I loved you in childhood unknowing Love; * Then slay me not who + am sore opprest. +Fear ye not from Allah when slaying a friend * Who gazeth on + stars when folk sleep their best? +By Allah, my kinsmen, indite on my tomb * 'This man was the slave + of Love's harshest hest!' +Haps a noble youth, like me Love's own thrall, * When he sees my + grave on my name shall call." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Tenth Night, + +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, + +"O breeze that blowest from the land Irak * And from their + corners whoso cry 'Wak! Wak!' +Bear news of me to friends and say for me * I've tasted + passion-food of bitter smack. +O dearlings of my love, show grace and ruth * My heart is melted + for this severance-rack." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Eleventh Night, + +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, + +"I sight their track and pine for longing love; * And o'er their + homesteads weep I and I yearn: +And I pray Heaven who willèd we should part, * Will deign to + grant us boon of safe return." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Twelfth Night, + +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, + +"Witnesses unto love of thee I've four; * And wants each case two + witnesses; no more! +A heart aye fluttering, limbs that ever quake, * A wasted frame + and tongue that speech forswore." + +And also these two, + +"Two things there be, an blood-tears thereover * Wept eyes till + not one trace thou couldst discover, +Eyes ne'er could pay the tithe to them is due * The prime of + youth and severance from lover." + +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-Hudà, the second Najm al-Sabáh, the +third Shams al-Zuhà, 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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirteenth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fourteenth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifteenth Night, + +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, + +"By rights of you, this heart of mine could ne'er aby * Severance + from you albeit Union death imply! +Your phantom saith to me, 'A-morrow we shall meet!' * Shall I + despite the foe the morrow-day espy? +By rights of you I swear, my lords, that since the day * Of + severance ne'er the sweets of lips enjoyèd I! +An Allah bade me perish for the love of you, * Mid greatest + martyrs for your love I lief will die. +Oft a gazelle doth make my heart her browsing stead * The while + her form of flesh like sleep eludes mine eye: +If in the lists of Law my bloodshed she deny, * Prove it two + witnesses those cheeks of ruddy dye." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixteenth Night, + +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, + +"You're far, yet to my heart you're nearest near; * Absent yet + present in my sprite you appear: +By Allah, ne'er to other I've inclined * But tyranny of Time in + patience bear! +Nights pass while still I love you and they end, * And burns my + breast with flames of fell Sa'ir;[FN#153] +I was a youth who parting for an hour * Bore not, then what of + months that make a year? +Jealous am I of breeze-breath fanning thee; * Yea jealous-mad of + fair soft-sided fere!" + +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, + +"Suffer mine eye-babes weep lost of love and tears express: * + Rare is my solace and increases my distress: +The cup of Severance-chances to the dregs I've drained; * Who is + the man to bear love-loss with manliness? +Ye spread the Carpet of Disgrace[FN#154] betwixt us twain; * Ah, + when shalt be uprolled, O Carpet of Disgrace? +I watched the while you slept; and if you deemed that I * Forgot + your love I but forget forgetfulness: +Woe's me! indeed my heart is pining for the love * Of you, the + only leaches who can cure my case: +See ye not what befel me from your fell disdain? * Debased am I + before the low and high no less. +I hid my love of you but longing laid it bare, * And burns my + heart wi' fire of passion's sorest stress: +Ah! deign have pity on my piteous case, for I * Have kept our + troth in secresy and patent place! +Would Heaven I wot shall Time e'er deign us twain rejoin! * You + are my heart's desire, my sprite's sole happiness: +My vitals bear the Severance-wound: would Heaven that you * With + tidings from your camp would deign my soul to bless!" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventeenth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighteenth Night, + +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, + +"My friends, despight this distance and this cruelty, * I pine + for you, incline to you where'er you be. +My glance for ever turns toward your hearth and home * And mourns + my heart the bygone days you woned with me, +How many a night foregathered we withouten fear * One loving, + other faithful ever fain and free!" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Nineteenth Night, + +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, + +"O Lord my foes are fain to slay me in despight * Nor deem I + anywise to find escape by flight: +I have recourse to Thee t' annul what they have done; * Thou art + th' asylum, Lord, of fearful suppliant wight." + +Then wept she grievously, till she fell down in a swoon, and +presently coming to herself, repeated these two couplets,[FN#158] + +"Troubles familiar with my heart are grown and I with them, * + Erst shunning; for the generous are sociable still. +Not one mere kind alone of woe doth lieger with me lie; * Praised + be God! There are with me thousands of kinds of ill." + +And also these, + +"Oft times Mischance shall straiten noble breast * With grief, + whence issue is for Him to shape: +But when the meshes straitest, tightest, seem * They loose, + though deemed I ne'er to find escape." + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Twentieth Night, + +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, + +"If aught I've sinned in sinful way, * Or done ill deed and gone + astray, +The past repent I and I come * To you and for your pardon pray!" + +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, + +"When in thy mother's womb thou wast, * I cast thy case the + bestest best; +And turned her heart to thee, so she * Fosterèd thee on fondest + breast. +We will suffice thee in whate'er * Shall cause thee trouble or + unrest; +We'll aid thee in thine enterprise * So rise and bow to our + behest." + +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, + +"O Zephyr of Morn, an thou pass where the dear ones dwell, * Bear + greeting of lover who ever in love-longing wones! +And tell them I'm pledged to yearning and pawned to pine * And + the might of my passion all passion of lovers unthrones. +Their sympathies haply shall breathe in a Breeze like thee * And + quicken forthright this framework of rotting bones."[FN#161] + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-first Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-second Night, + +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], + +"There remaineth not aught save a fluttering breath and an eye + whose owner is confounded. +And a desirous lover whose bowels are burned with fire + notwithstanding which she is silent. +The exulting foe pitieth her at the sight of her. Alas for her + whom the exulting foe pitieth!" + +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, + +"I call to mind the parting-day that rent our loves in twain, + When, as I turned away, the tears in very streams did rain. +The cameleer urged on his beasts with them, what while I found + Nor strength nor fortitude, nor did my heart with me remain. +Yea, back I turned, unknowing of the road nor might shake off The + trance of grief and longing love that numbed my heart and + brain; +And worst of all betided me, on my return, was one Who came to + me, in lowly guise, to glory in my pain. +Since the belovèd's gone, O soul, forswear the sweet of life Nor + covet its continuance, for, wanting him, 'twere vain. +List, O my friend, unto the tale of love, and God forbid That I + should speak and that thy heart to hearken should not deign! +As 'twere El Asmaï himself, of passion I discourse Fancies rare + and marvellous, linked in an endless chain."[FN#167] + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-third Night, + +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, + +"The land of lamping moon is bare and drear; * O eyne of me pour + forth the brimming tear! +They marched: how shall I now be patient? * That I nor heart nor + patience own I swear! +O ye, who marched yet bide in heart of me, * Will you, O lords of + me, return to that we were? +What harm if they return and I enjoy * Meeting, and they had ruth + on tears of care? +Upon the parting-day they dimmed these eyne, * For sad surprise, + and lit the flames that flare. +Sore longed I for their stay, but Fortune stayed * Longings and + turned my hope to mere despair. +Return to us (O love!) by Allah, deign! * Enow of tears have + flowed for absence-bane." + +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] + +"I have sorrowed on account of our disunion with a sorrow that + made the tears to overflow from my eyelids; +And I vowed that if Fortune reunite us, I would never again + mention our separation; +And I would say to the envious, Die ye with regret; By Allah I + have now attained my desire! +Joy hath overwhelmed me to such a degree that by its excess it + hath made me weep. +O eye, how hath weeping become thy habit? Thou weepest in joy as + well, as in sorrows." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night, + +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, + +"On me and with me bides thy volunty; * Why then such anger such + despite to me? +Whate'er befel us Heaven forbid that love * Fade for long time or + e'er forgotten be! +Ceased not the spy to haunt our sides, till seen * Our love + estranged and then estranged was he: +In truth I trusted to fair thoughts of thine * Though spake the + wicked spy maliciously. +We'll keep the secret 'twixt us twain and hold * Although the + brand of blame unsheathed we see. +The livelong day in longing love I spend * Hoping acceptance- + message from my friend." + +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] + +"Thou madest fair thy thought of Fate, whenas the days were fair, + And fearedst not the unknown ills that they to thee might + bring. +The nights were fair and calm to thee; thou wast deceived by + them, For in the peace of night is born full many a + troublous thing." + +Then Hasan wept and his wife wept for his weeping and for the +abasement she had suffered and the cruelties of Time and Fortune, + +"Baulks me my Fate as tho' she were my foe; * Each day she + showeth me new cark and care: +Fate, when I aim at good, brings clear reverse, * And lets foul + morrow wait on day that's fair." + +And also these, + +"Irks me my Fate and clean unknows that I * Of my high worth her + shifts and shafts despise. +She nights parading what ill-will she works: * I night parading + Patience to her eyes." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-fifth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-sixth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-eighth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Twenty-ninth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirtieth Night, + +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, + +"Haply shall Allah deign us twain unite * And lockt in strict + embrace we'll hail the light: +And wonders that befel me I'll recount, * And all I suffered from + the Severance-blight: +And fain I'll cure mine eyes by viewing you * For ever yearned my + heart to see your sight: +I hid a tale for you my heart within * Which when we meet o' morn + I'll fain recite: +I'll blame you for the deeds by you were done * But while blame + endeth love shall stay in site." + +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, + +"After thy faring never chanced I 'spy * A shape, but did thy form + therein descry: +Nor closed mine eyes in sleep but thee I saw, * E'en as though + dwelling 'twixt the lid and eye." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-first Night, + +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, + +"The solace of lovers is naught but far, * And parting is naught + save grief singular: +And ill-will and absence are naught but woe, * And the victims of + Love naught but martyrs are; +And how tedious is night to the loving wight * From his true love + parted 'neath evening star! +His tears course over his cheeks and so * He cries, 'O tears be + there more to flow?'" + +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, + +"By Allah, heal, O my lords, the unwhole * Of wasted frame and + heart worn with dole: +An you grant her a meeting 'tis but your grace * Shall whelm in + the boons of the friend her soul: +I despair not of Union the Lord can grant * And to weal of + meeting our woes control!" + +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 + + + + + Khalifah the Fisherman of Baghdad + + + +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, + +"An Fate afflict thee, with grief manifest, * Prepare thy + patience and make broad thy breast; +For of His grace the Lord of all the worlds * Shall send to wait + upon unrest sweet Rest." + +Then he sat awhile pondering his case, and with his head bowed +down recited also these couplets, + +"Patience, with sweet and with bitter Fate! * And weet that His + will He shall consummate: +Night oft upon woe as on abscess acts * And brings it up to the + bursting state: +And Chance and Change shall pass o'er the youth * And fleet from + his thoughts and no more shall bait." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-second Night, + +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. + + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-third Night + +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, + +"When straitened is my breast I will of my Creator pray, * Who + may and can the heaviest weight lighten in easiest way; +For ere man's glance can turn or close his eye by God His grace * + Waxeth the broken whole and yieldeth jail its prison-prey. +Therefore with Allah one and all of thy concerns commit * Whose + grace and favour men of wit shall nevermore gainsay." + +And also these twain, + +"Thou art the cause that castest men in ban and bane; * Sorrow + e'en so and sorrow's cause Thou canst assain: +Make me not covet aught that lies beyond my reach; * How many a + greedy wight his wish hath failed to gain!" + +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] + +"Thy case commit to a Heavenly Lord and thou shalt safety see; * + Act kindly through thy worldly life and live repentance- + free. +Mate not with folk suspected, lest eke thou shouldst suspected be + * And from reviling keep thy tongue lest men revile at + thee!" + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-sixth Night + +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, + +"I fix my glance on her, whene'er she wends; * And non-acceptance + of my glance breeds pain: +She favours graceful-necked gazelle at gaze; * And 'Graceful as + gazelle' to say we're fain." + +And where is this [FN#217] beside the saying of another? + +"Give me brunettes; the Syrian spears, so limber and so straight, + Tell of the slender dusky maids, so lithe and proud of gait. +Languid of eyelids, with a down like silk upon her cheek, Within + her wasting lover's heart she queens it still in state." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night, + +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, + +"When she's incensed thou seest folk like slain, * And when she's + pleased, their souls are quick again: +Her eyne are armed with glances magical * Wherewith she kills and + quickens as she's fain. +The Worlds she leadeth captive with her eyes * As tho' the Worlds + were all her slavish train." + +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, + +"Ho thou o' the tabret, my heart takes flight * And love-smit + cries while thy fingers smite! +Thou takest naught but a wounded heart, * The while for + acceptance longs the wight: +So say thou word or heavy or light; * Play whate'er thou please + it will charm the sprite. +Sois bonne, unveil thy cheek, ma belle * Rise, deftly dance and + all hearts delight." + +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, + +"She hath eyes whose babes wi' their fingers sign * To sweet + tunes without a discordant line." + +And as the poet also said in this couplet, + +"And, when she announceth the will to sing, * For Union-joy 'tis + a time divine!" + +Then she laid down the pipe, after she had charmed therewith all +who were present, and took up the lute, whereof saith the poet, + +"How many a blooming bough in glee-girl's hand is fain * as + lute to 'witch great souls by charm of cunning strain! +She sweeps tormenting lute strings by her artful touch * Wi' + finger-tips that surely chain with endless chain." + +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, + +"Sweetly discourses she on Persian string * And Unintelligence + makes understand. +And teaches she that Love's a murtherer, * Who oft the reasoning + Moslem hath unmann'd. +A maid, by Allah, in whose palm a thing * Of painted wood like + mouth can speech command. +With lute she stauncheth flow of Love; and so * Stops flow of + blood the cunning leach's hand." + +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, + +"The coming unto thee is blest: * Therein new joys for aye + attend: +Its blisses are continuous * Its blessings never end." + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fortieth Night, + +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] + +"By Allah, O tomb, have her beauties ceased and disappeared from + sight * And is the countenance changed and wan, that shone + so wonder-bright? +O tomb, O tomb, thou art neither heaven nor garden, verily: * How + comes it then that swaying branch and moon in thee unite? + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-first Night, + +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, + +"My blamers instant bid that I for her become consoled; * But I, + what can I do, whose heart declines to be controlled? +And how can I in patience bear the loss of lovely maid, * When + fails me patience for a love that holds with firmest hold! +Ne'er I'll forget her nor the bowl that 'twixt us both went round + * And wine of glances maddened me with drunkenness + ensoul'd." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-second Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-third Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-fourth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-fifth Night, + +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 + +"I long once more the love that was between us to regain, * That + I may quench the fire of grief and bate the force of bane. +O lords of me, have ruth upon the stress my passion deals * + Enough to me is what you doled of sorrow and of pain. +'Tis life to me an deign you keep the troth you deigned to plight + * 'Tis death to me an troth you break and fondest vows + profane: +Given I've sinned a sorry sin, ye grant me ruth, for naught * By + Allah, sweeter is than friend who is of pardon fain." + +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, + +"Behold a house that's like the Dwelling of Delight; [FN#260] * + Its aspect heals the sick and banishes despite. +Its sojourn for the great and wise appointed it, * And Fortune + fair therein abideth day and night." + +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, + +"To Thee be praise, O Thou who showest unremitting grace; * O + Thou whose universal bounties high and low embrace! +To Thee be praise from me! Then deign accept my praise for I * + Accept Thy boons and gifts with grateful soul in every case. +Thou hast with favours overwhelmed me, benefits and largesse * + And gracious doles my memory ne'er ceaseth to retrace. +All men from mighty main, Thy grace and goodness, drain and + drink; * And in their need Thou, only Thou, to them art + refuge-place! +So for the sake of him who came to teach mankind in ruth * + Prophet, pure, truthful-worded scion of the noblest race; +Ever be Allah's blessing and His peace on him and all * His aids + [FN#261] and kin while pilgrims fare his noble tomb to face! +And on his helpmeets [FN#262] one and all, Companions great and + good, * Through time Eternal while the bird shall sing in + shady wood!" + +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! + + + +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. + + + + + Khalif the Fisherman of Baghdad. + + + +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 daïs 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, + +"Ply me and also my mate be plied * With pure wine prest in the + olden tide.[FN#303] +Daughter of nobles[FN#304] they lead her forth[FN#305] * In + raiment of goblets beautified. +They belt her round with the brightest gems, * And pearls and + unions, the Ocean's pride; +So I by these signs and signets know * Wherefore the Wine is + entitled 'Bride.'[FN#306]" + +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, + +"Would Heaven I wot, will ever Time bring our beloveds back + again? * And, ah! will Union and its bliss to bless two + lovers deign? +Will Time assure to us united days and joinèd joy, * While from + the storms and stowres of life in safety we remain? +Then O Who bade this pleasure be, our parting past and gone, * + And made one house our meeting-stead throughout the Nights + contain; +By him, draw near me, love, and closest cling to side of me * + Else were my wearied wasted life, a vanity, a bane." + +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] + + + + + MASRUR AND ZAYN AL-MAWASIF.[FN#308] + + + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-sixth Night, + +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, + +"The breeze o' Morn blows uswards from her trace * Fragrant, and + heals the love-sick lover's case. +I stand like captive on the mounds and ask * While tears make + answer for the ruined place: +Quoth I, 'By Allah, Breeze o' Morning, say * Shall Time and + Fortune aye this stead regrace? +Shall I enjoy a fawn whose form bewitched * And langourous + eyelids wasted frame and face?'" + +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 daïses, 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, + +"Ho thou the House! Grief never home in thee; * Nor Time work + treason on thine owner's head: +All good betide the House which every guest * Harbours, when sore + distrest for way and stead!" + +Then he looked at the second daïs and found written thereon in +red gold these couplets, + +"Robe thee, O House, in richest raiment Time, * Long as the + birdies on the branchlets chime! +And sweetest perfumes breathe within thy walls * And lover meet + beloved in bliss sublime. +And dwell thy dwellers all in joy and pride * Long as the + wandering stars Heaven-hill shall climb." + +Then he looked at the third, whereon he found written in +ultramarine these two couplets, + +"Ever thy pomp and pride, O House! display * While starkeneth + Night and shineth sheeny Day! +Boon Fortune bless all entering thy walls, * And whomso dwell in + thee, for ever and aye!" + +Then he looked at the fourth and saw painted in yellow characters +this couplet, + +"This garden and this lake in truth * Are fair sitting-steads, by + the Lord of Ruth!" + +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, + +"As a crescent-moon in the garth her form * 'Mid Basil and + jasmine and Rose I scan; +And Violet faced by the Myrtle-spray * And Nu'umán's bloom and + Myrobalan: +By her perfume the Zephyrs perfumèd breathe * And with scented + sighings the branches fan. +O Garden, thou perfect of beauty art * All charms comprising in + perfect plan; +And melodious birdies sing madrigals * And the Full Moon[FN#309] + shineth in branchshade wan; +Its ring-dove, its culver, its mocking-bird * And its Philomel + sing my soul t' unman; +And the longing of love all my wits confuseth * For her charms, + as the man whom his wine bemuseth." + +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, + +"Hope not of our favours to make thy prey * And of what thou + wishest thy greed allay: +And cease thy longing; thou canst not win * The love of the Fair + thou'rt fain t' essay, +My glances to lovers are baleful and naught * I reek of thy + speech: I have said my say!" + +"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, + +"For eaters a table they brought and set * In the banquet-hall + and 'twas dight with gold: +Like th' Eternal Garden that gathers all * Man wants of meat and + wines manifold." + +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, + +"Drain not the bowl but with lovely wight * Who loves thee and + wine makes brighter bright. +And 'ware her Scorpions[FN#314] that o'er thee creep * And guard + thy tongue lest thou vex her sprite." + +Then the cup went round and when he emptied it he looked inside +and saw written, + +"And 'ware her Scorpions when pressing them, * And hide her + secrets from foes' despight." + +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, + +"The Nadd is my wine-scented powder, my bread; * And the bosom's + my bed and the breasts my stead: +And my neck-nape complains of the weight of love, * Of my pain, + of my pine, of my drearihead." + +Then Masrur looked at the breast of her shift and behold, thereon +lay wroughten in red gold this verse, + +"The fragrance of musk from the breasts of the fair * Zephyr + borrows, to sweeten the morning air." + +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, + +"The weaver-wight wrote with gold-ore bright * And her wrists on + brocade rained a brighter light: +Her palms are adorned with a silvern sheen; * And favour her + fingers the ivory's white: +For their tips are rounded like priceless pearl; * And her charms + would enlighten the nightiest night." + +And, as she paced the garth, Masrur gazed at her slippers and saw +written upon them these pleasant lines, + +"The slippers that carry these fair young feet * Cause her form + to bend in its gracious bloom: +When she paces and waves in the breeze she owns, * She shines + fullest moon in the murkiest gloom." + +She was followed by her women leaving Hubub with Masrur by the +curtain, upon whose edge were embroidered these couplets, + +"Behind the veil a damsel sits with gracious beauty dight, * + Praise to the Lord who decked her with these inner gifts of + sprite! +Guards her the garden and the bird fain bears her company; * + Gladden her wine-draughts and the bowl but makes her + brighter-bright. +Apple and Cassia-blossom show their envy of her cheeks; * And + borrows Pearl resplendency from her resplendent light; +As though the sperm that gendered her were drop of + marguerite[FN#317] * Happy who kisses her and spends in her + embrace the night." + +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, + +"Leave this thy design and depart, O man! * Nor tread paths where + lewdness and crime trepan! +Love is a net shall enmesh thy sprite, * Make thee rise a-morning + sad, weary and wan: +For our spy thou shalt eke be the cause of talk; * And for thee + shall blame me my tribe and clan: +Yet scant I marvel thou lovest a Fair:-- * Gazelles hunting lions + we aye shall scan!" + +And he answered her with these, + +"Joy of boughs, bright branch of Myrobalan! * Have ruth on the + heart all thy charms unman: +Death-cup to the dregs thou garrest me drain * And don weed of + Love with its bane and ban: +How can soothe I a heart which for stress of pine * Burns with + living coals which my longings fan?" + +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, + +"Bring gold and gear an a lover thou, * And hymn thy love so + success shalt row; +Joy the smiling fawn with the black-edged eyne * And the bending + lines of the Cassia-bough: +On her look, and a marvel therein shalt sight, * And pour out thy + life ere thy life-term show: +Love's affect be this, an thou weet the same; * But, an gold + deceive thee, leave gold and go!" + +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, + +"From Love-stupor awake, O Masrur, 'twere best; * For this day I + dread my love rend thy breast; +And to-morrow I fear me folks' marvel-tale * Shall make us a + byword from East to West: +Leave love of my like or thou'lt gain thee blame; * Why turn thee + us-wards? Such love's unblest! +For one strange of lineage whose kin repel * Thou shalt wake + ill-famed, of friends dispossest: +I'm a Zealot's child and affright the folk: * Would my life were + ended and I at rest!" + +Then Masrur answered her improvisation and began to say these +lines, + +"To grief leave a heart that to love ne'er ceased; * Nor blame, + for your blame ever love increased: +You misrule my vitals in tyrant-guise; * Morn and Eve I wend not + or West or East; +Love's law forbids me to do me die; * They say Love's victim is + ne'er released: +Well-away! Could I find in Love's Court a judge * I'd 'plain and + win to my rights at least." + +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, + +"O thou sheeniest Sun who in night dost shine! * O who stole my + soul with those large black eyne! +O slim-shaped fair with the graceful neck! * O who shamest Rose + wi' those cheeks o' thine! +Blind not our sight wi' thy fell disdain, * Disdain, that shall + load us with pain and pine; +Passion homes in our inmost, nor will be quenched * The fire of + yearning in vitals li'en: +Your love has housèd in heart of me * And of issue but you see I + ne'er a sign: +Then haply you'll pity this hapless wight * Thy sad lover and + then--O the Morn divine!" + +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], + +"Think not from her, of whom thou art enamoured aye * To win + delight; so put desire from thee away. +Leave that thou hop'st, for 'gainst her rigours whom thou lov'st + * Among the fair, in vain is all thou canst essay. +My looks to lovers bring discomfiture and woe: Indeed, * I make + no count of that which thou dost say." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-seventh Night, + +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, + +"In dream I saw a bird o'er speed (meseem'd), * Love's garden + decked with blooms that smiled and gleamed: +But I shall ken, when won my wish and will * Of thee, the + truthful sense of what I dreamed." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-eighth Night, + +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, + +"Of Time and what befel me I complain, * Mourning my loss by + chess and eyes of bane. +For love of gentlest, softest-sided fair * Whose like is not of + maids or mortal strain: +The shafts of glances from those eyne who shot * And led her + conquering host to battle-plain +Red men and white men and the clashing Knights * And, crying + 'Look to thee!' came forth amain: +And, when down charging, finger-tips she showed * That gloomed + like blackest night for sable stain, +The Whites I could not rescue, could not save * While ecstasy + made tear-floods rail and rain: +The Pawns and Castles with their Queens fell low * And fled the + Whites nor could the brunt sustain: +Yea, with her shaft of glance at me she shot * And soon that + shaft had pierced my heart and brain: +She gave me choice between her hosts, and I * The Whites like + moonlight first to choose was fain, +Saying, 'This argent folk best fitteth me * I love them, but the + Red by thee be ta'en!' +She playèd me for free accepted stake * Yet amorous mercy I could + ne'er obtain: +O fire of heart, O pine and woe of me, * Wooing a fair like moon + mid starry train: +Burns not my heart O no! nor aught regrets * Of good or land, but + ah! her eyes' disdain! +Amazed I'm grown and dazed for drearihead * And blame I Time who + brought such pine and pain. +Quoth she, 'Why art thou so bedazed!' quoth I * 'Wine-drunken + wight shall more of wine assain?' +That mortal stole my sense by silk-soft shape, * Which doth for + heart-core hardest rock contain. +I nervèd self and cried, 'This day she's mine' * By bet, nor fear + I prove she unhumàne: +My heart ne'er ceased to seek possession, till * Beggared I found + me for conditions twain: +Will youth you loveth shun the Love-dealt blow, * Tho' were he + whelmed in Love's high-surging main? +So woke the slave sans e'en a coin to turn, * Thralled to repine + for what he ne'er shall gain!" + +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, + +"Joy is nigh, O Masrúr, so rejoice in true rede; * Whenas night + shall fall thou shalt do kind-deed: +Crave not of the sordid a loan, fair youth, * Wine stole my wits + but they now take heed: +All thy good I reft shall return to thee, * O Masrúr, and I'll + add to them amorous meed; +For indeed th' art patient, and sweet of soul * When wronged by + thy lover's tyrannic greed. +So haste to enjoy us and luck to thee! * Lest my folk come + between us speed, love, all speed! +Hurry uswards thou, nor delay, and while * My mate is far, on + Love's fruit come feed." + +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, + +"A breeze of love on my soul did blow * That consumed my liver + for stress of lowe; +When my sweetheart went all my longings grew; * And with tears in + torrent mine eyelids flow: +Such my doubt and fears, did I tell their tale * To deaf rocks + and pebbles they'd melt for woe. +Would Heaven I wot shall I sight delight, * And shall win my wish + and my friend shall know! +Shall be folded up nights that doomed us part * And I be healed + of what harms my heart?" + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Forty-ninth Night, + +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, + +"Came the writ whose contents a new joy revealed, * Which in + vitals mine I would keep ensealed: +And my longings grew when I kissed that writ, * As were pearl of + passion therein concealed." + +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, + +"Shamed is the bough of Bán by pace of her; * And harmed are + lovers by the gaze of her. +A moon she rose from murks, the hair of her, * A sun from locks + the brow encase of her: +Blest he she nights with by the grace of her, * Who dies in her + with oath by days of her!" + +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] + +"Dip thou with spoons in saucers four and gladden heart and eye * + With many a various kind of stew and fricassee and fry. +Thereon fat quails (ne'er shall I cease to love and tender them) + * And rails and fowls and dainty birds of all the kinds that + fly. +Glory to God for the Kabobs, for redness all aglow, * And + potherbs, steeped in vinegar, in porringers thereby! +Fair fall the rice with sweet milk dressed, wherein the hands did + plunge * And eke the forearms of the fair were buried, + bracelet-high! +How my heart yearneth with regret over two plates of fish * That + by two manchet-cakes of bread of Tewarij[FN#329] did lie!" + +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, + +"Mine eyes I admire that can feed their fill * On charms of a + girl rising worlds to light: +In her time she hath none to compare for gifts * Of spirit and + body a mere delight. +Her shape breeds envy in Cassia-tree * When fares she forth in + her symmetry dight: +With luminous brow shaming moon of dark * And crown-like crescent + the brightest bright. +When treads she earth's surface her fragrance scents * The Zephyr + that breathes over plain and height." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fiftieth Night, + +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], + +"I am taken: my heart bums with living flame +For Union shorn whenas Severance came, +In the love of a damsel who forced my soul +And with delicate cheeklet my reason stole. +She hath eyebrows united and eyes black-white +And her teeth are leven that smiles in light: +The tale of her years is but ten plus four; +Tears like Dragon's blood[FN#334] for her love I pour. +First I saw that face 'mid parterre and rill, +Outshining full Lune on horizon-hill; +And stood like a captive for awe, and cried, +'Allah's Peace, O who in demesne[FN#335] doth hide!' +She returned my salam, gaily answering +With the sweetest speech likest pearls a-string. +But when heard my words, she right soon had known +My want and her heart waxed hard as stone, +And quoth she, 'Be not this a word silly-bold?' +But quoth I, 'Refrain thee nor flyte and scold! +An to-day thou consent such affair were light; +They like is the loved, mine the lover-wight!' +When she knew my mind she but smiled in mirth +And cried, 'Now, by the Maker of Heaven and Earth! +I'm a Jewess of Jewry's driest e'er seen +And thou art naught save a Nazarene. +Why seek my favours? Thine's other caste; +An this deed thou do thou'lt repent the past. +Say, does Love allow with two Faiths to play? +Men shall blame thee like me, at each break of day! +Wilt thou laugh at beliefs and deride their rite, +And in thine and mine prove thee sinful sprite? +An thou lovedest me thou hadst turnèd Jew, +Losing worlds for love and my favours due; +And by the Evangel strong oath hadst sworn +To keep our secret intact from scorn!' +So I took the Torah and sware strong oath +I would hold to the covenant made by both. +Then by law, religion and creed I sware, +And bound her by oaths that most binding were; +And asked her, 'Thy name, O my dear delight?' +And she, 'Zayn al-Mawásif at home I'm hight!' +'O Zayn al-Mawasif!' (cried I) 'Hear my call: +Thy love hath made me thy veriest thrall!' +Then I peeped 'neath her chin-veil and 'spied such charms +That the longing of love filled my heart with qualms. +'Neath the curtain I ceased not to humble me, +And complain of my heart-felt misery; +But when she saw me by Love beguiled +She raised her face-veil and sweetly smiled: +And when breeze of Union our faces kiss'd +With musk-pod she scented fair neck and wrist; +And the house with her essences seemed to drip, +And I kissed pure wine from each smiling lip: +Then like branch of Bán 'neath her robe she swayed +And joys erst unlawful[FN#336] she lawful made: +And joined, conjoined through our night we lay +With clip, kiss of inner lip, langue fourrée. +The world hath no grace but the one loved fere +In thine arms to clasp with possession sheer! +With the morn she rose and she bade Good-bye +While her brow shone brighter than moon a-sky; +Reciting at parting (while tear-drops hung +On her cheeks, these scattered and other strung),[FN#337] +'Allah's pact in mind all my life I'll bear +And the lovely nights and strong oath I sware.'" + +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, + +"Joy from stroke of string doth to me incline, * And sweet is + a-morning our early wine; +Whenas Love unveileth the amourist's heart, * And by rending the + veil he displays his sign, +With a draught so pure, so dear, so bright, * As in hand of + Moons[FN#338] the Sun's sheeny shine +O' nights it cometh with joy to 'rase * The hoar of sorrow by + boon divine." + +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, + +"We joy in full Moon who the wine bears round, * And in concert + of lutes that from gardens sound; +Where the dove moans at dawn and where bends the bough * To Morn, + and all pathways of pleasure are found." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-first Night, + +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], + +"Stand thou and hear what fell to me * For love of you gazelle to + dree! +Shot me a white doe with her shaft * O' glances wounding + woundily. +Love was my ruin, for was I * Straitened by longing ecstasy: +I loved and woo'd a young coquette * Girded by strong artillery, +Whom in a garth I first beheld * A form whose sight was symmetry. +I greeted her and when she deigned * Greeting return, 'Salám,' + quoth she +'What be thy name?' said I, she said, * 'My name declares my + quality![FN#340]' +'Zayn al-Mawásif I am hight.' * Cried I, 'Oh deign I mercy see,' +'Such is the longing in my heart * No lover claimeth rivalry!' +Quoth she, 'With me an thou 'rt in love * And to enjoy me + pleadest plea, +I want of thee oh! muchel wealth; * Beyond all compt my wants o' + thee! +I want o' thee full many a robe * Of sendal, silk and damaskry; +A quarter quintal eke of musk: * These of one night shall pay the + fee. +Pearls, unions and carnelian[FN#341]-stones * The bestest best of + jewelry!' +Of fairest patience showed I show * In contrariety albe: +At last she favoured me one night * When rose the moon a crescent + wee; +An stranger blame me for her sake * I say, 'O blamers listen ye! +She showeth locks of goodly length * And black as blackest night + its blee; +While on her cheeks the roses glow * Like Lazá-flame incendiary: +In every eyelash is a sword * And every glance hath archery: +Her liplets twain old wine contain, * And dews of fount-like + purity: +Her teeth resemble strings o' pearls, * Arrayed in line and fresh + from sea: +Her neck is like the neck of doe, * Pretty and carven perfectly: +Her bosom is a marble slab * Whence rise two breasts like towers + on lea: +And on her stomach shows a crease * Perfumed with rich perfumery; +Beneath which same there lurks a Thing * Limit of mine + expectancy. +A something rounded, cushioned-high * And plump, my lords, to + high degree: +To me 'tis likest royal throne * Whither my longings wander free; +There 'twixt two pillars man shall find * Benches of high-built + tracery. +It hath specific qualities * Drive sanest men t' insanity; +Full mouth it hath like mouth of neck * Or well begirt by stony + key; +Firm lips with camelry's compare * And shows it eye of cramoisie. +An draw thou nigh with doughty will * To do thy doing lustily, +Thou'll find it fain to face thy bout * And strong and fierce in + valiancy. +It bendeth backwards every brave * Shorn of his battle-bravery. +At times imberbe, but full of spunk * To battle with the + Paynimry. +'T will show thee liveliness galore * And perfect in its + raillery: +Zayn al-Mawasif it is like * Complete in charms and courtesy. +To her dear arms one night I came * And won meed given lawfully: +I passed with her that self-same night * (Best of my nights!) in + gladdest glee; +And when the morning rose, she rose * And crescent like her + visnomy: +Then swayed her supple form as sway * The lances lopt from limber + tree; +And when farewelling me she cried, * 'When shall such nights + return to me?' +Then I replied, 'O eyen-light, * When He vouchsafeth His + decree!'"[FN#342] + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-second Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-third Night, + +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, + +"Masrur joys life made fair by all delight of days, * Fulfilled + of boons, while mine the sorest grief displays. +The Days have falsed me in the breast of her I love * And in my + heart are fires which all-consuming blaze: +Yea, Time was clear for thee, but now 'tis past and gone * While + yet her lovely charms thy wit and senses daze: +Espied these eyes of mine her gifts of loveliness: * Oh, hard my + case and sore my woe on spirit weighs! +I saw the maiden of the tribe deal rich old wine * Of lips like + Salsabíl to friend my love betrays: +E'en so, O mocking-bird, thou dost betray my breast * And to a + rival teachest Love and lover-ways: +Strange things indeed and wondrous saw these eyne of me * Which + were they sleep-drowned still from Sleep's abyss would raise: +I see my best belovèd hath forsworn my love * And eke like my + mocking-bird fro' me a-startled strays. +By truth of Allah, Lord of Worlds who, whatso wills * His Fate, + for creatures works and none His hest gainsays, +Forsure I'll deal to that ungodly wight his due * Who but to sate + his wicked will her heart withdrew!" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fourth Night, + +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, + +"Bear our salams, O Dove, from this our stead * From lover to + beloved far severèd! +Bid him fro' me ne'er cease to yearn and mourn * O'er happy days + and hours for ever fled: +Eke I in grief shall ever mourn and yearn, * Dwelling on days of + love and lustihead; +Long was our joyance, seeming aye to last, * When night and + morning to reunion led; +Till croaked the Raven[FN#351] of the Wold one day * His cursed + croak and did our union dead. +We sped and left the homestead dark and void * Its gates + unpeopled and its dwellers sped." + +Then she went to the second door and wrote thereon these +couplets, + +"O who passest this doorway, by Allah, see * The charms of my + fere in the glooms and make plea +For me, saying, 'I think of the Past and weep * Yet boot me no + tears flowing full and free.' +Say, 'An fail thee patience for what befel * Scatter earth and + dust on the head of thee! +And o'er travel lands East and West, and deem * God sufficeth thy + case, so bear patiently!'" + +Then she went to the third door and wept sore and thereon wrote +these couplets, + +"Fare softly, Masrúr! an her sanctuary * Thou seek, and read what + a-door writ she. +Ne'er forget Love-plight, if true man; how oft * Hast savoured + Nights' bitter and sweetest gree! +O Masrúr! forget not her neighbourhood * For wi' thee must her + gladness and joyance flee! +But beweep those dearest united days * When thou camest veilèd in + secresy; +Wend for sake of us over farthest wone; * Span the wold for us, + for us dive in sea; +Allah bless the past days! Ah, how glad they were * When in + Gardens of Fancy the flowers pluckt we! +The nights of Union from us are fled * And parting-glooms dim + their radiancy; +Ah! had this lasted as hopèd we, but * He left only our breasts + and the rosery. +Will revolving days on Re-union dawn? * Then our vow to the Lord + shall accomplisht be. +Learn thou our lots are in hand of Him * Who on lines of + skull[FN#352] writes our destiny!" + +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, + +"Allah's peace on thee, House of Vacancy! * Ceased in thee all + our joys, all our jubilee. +O thou Dove of the homestead, ne'er cease to bemoan * Whose moons + and full moons[FN#353] sorest severance dree: +Masrúr, fare softly and mourn our loss; * Loving thee our eyes + lose their brilliancy: +Would thy sight had seen, on our marching day, * Tears shed by a + heart in Hell's flagrancy! +Forget not the plight in the garth-shade pledged * When we sat + enveiléd in privacy:" + +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, + +"The Lord, empty House! to thee peace decree * Long we bore + therein growth of misery: +Would my life-thread were shorn in that safe abode * And o' night + I had died in mine ecstasy! +Home-sickness I mourn, and my strangerhood * Irks my soul, nor + the riddle of future I ree. +Would I wot shall I ever that house resee * And find it, as erst, + home of joy and glee!" + +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, + +"Would I wot for what crime shot and pierced are we * Thro' the + days with Estrangement's archery! +O my heart's desire, to thy door I came * One day, when high waxt + mine expectancy: +But I found the home waste as the wold and void * And I 'plained + my pine and groaned wretchedly: +And I asked the walls of my friends who fared * With my heart in + pawn and in pendency; +And they said, 'All marched from the camp and left *An ambushed + sorrow on hill and lea;' +And a writ on the walls did they write, as write * Folk who keep + their faith while the Worlds are three." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-fifth Night, + +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, + +"The Caravan-chief calleth loud o' night * Ere the Breeze bear + his cry in the morning-light: +They girded their loads and prepared to fare, * And hurried while + murmured the leader-wight. +They scent the scene on its every side, * As their march through + the valley they expedite. +After winning my heart by their love they went * O' morn when + their track could deceive my sight. +O my neighbour fair, I reckt ne'er to part, * Or the ground + bedewed with my tears to sight! +Woe betide my heart, now hath Severance hand * To heart and + vitals dealt bane and blight." + +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, + +"No breeze of Union to the lover blows * But moan he maketh burnt + with fiery woes: +The Zephyr fans him at the dawn o' day; * But when he wakes the + horizon lonely shows: +On bed of sickness strewn in pain he lies, * And weeps he bloody + tears in burning throes, +For the fair neighbour with my heart they bore * 'Mid travellers + urging beasts with cries and blows. +By Allah from their stead no Zephyr blew * But sniffed I as the + wight on eyeballs goes;[FN#355] +And snuff the sweetest South as musk it breathes * And on the + longing lover scent bestows." + +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, + +"O Spring-camp have ruth on mine overthrowing * My abjection, my + leanness, my tears aye flowing, +Waft the scented powder[FN#357] of breezes they breathe * In hope + it cure heart of a grief e'er growing." + +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, + +"Where is the way to Consolation's door * How shall console him + flames burn evermore? +How pleasant were the days of yore all gone: * Would we had + somewhat of those days of yore!" + +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, + +"Peace be to her, who visits me in sleeping phantasy * Stirring + desire and growing love to uttermost degree: +Verily from that dream I rose with passion maddenèd * For sight + of fairest phantom come in piece to visit me: +Say me, can dreams declare the truth anent the maid I love, * And + quench the fires of thirst and heal my love-sick malady? +Anon to me she is liberal and she strains me to her breast; * + Anon she soothes mine anxious heart with sweetest + pleasantry: +From off her dark-red damask lips the dew I wont to sip * The + fine old wine that seemed to reek of musk's perfumery. +I wondered at the wondrous things between us done in dreams, * + And won my wish and all my will of things I hoped to see; +And from that dreamery I rose, yet ne'er could hope to find * + Trace of my phantom save my pain and fiery misery: +And when I looked on her a-morn, 'twas as a lover mad * And every + eve was drunken yet no wine brought jollity. +O breathings of the northern breeze, by Allah fro' me bear * + Them-wards the greetings of my love and best salams that be: +Say them, 'The wight with whom ye made that plight of fealty * + Time with his changes made him drain Death's cup and slain + is he!'" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night, + +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, + +"Fro' them inhale I scent of Ottar and of Bán; * So fare with + heart which ecstasies of love unman: +I'd heal thy longings (love-sick lover!) by return * To site of + beauty void sans friend or mate to scan: +But still it sickeneth me with parting's ban and bane * Minding + mine olden plight with friend and partisan." + +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, + +"What ails the Raven that he croaks my lover's house hard by, * + And in my vitals lights a fire that flameth fierce and high? +For times now past and gone I spent in joyance of their love * + With love my heart hath gone to waste and I sore pain aby: +I die of longing love and lowe still in my liver raging * And + wrote to her but none there is who with the writ may hie: +Ah well-away for wasted frame! Hath farèd forth my friend * And + if she will o' nights return Oh would that thing wot I! +Then, Ho thou Breeze of East, and thou by morn e'er visit her; * + Greet her from me and stand where doth her tribe encampèd + lie!" + +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, + +"How oft bewailing the place shall be this coming and going, * + While the House bemoaneth its builder with tear-flood ever + a-flowing? +Here was bestest joy ere fared my friend with the caravan hieing + * And its dwellers and brightest-suns[FN#358] ne'er ceased + in its walls a-glowing: +Where be those fullest moons that here were always arising? * + Bedimmed them the Shafts of Days their charms of spirit + unknowing: +Leave then what is past of the Fair thou wast ever with love + espying * And look; for haply the days may restore them + without foreshowing: +For hadst thou not been, its dwellers had never departed flying * + Nor haddest thou seen the Crow with ill-omened croak + a-crying." + +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, + +"Still cleaves to this homestead mine ecstasy, * And redoubled + pine for its dwellers I dree; +And I send to your quarters the tale of my love * And the cup of + your love gave the Cup-boy to me. +And for faring of you and your farness from home * My wounded + lids are from tears ne'er free: +O thou leader of litters, turn back with my love * For my heart + redoubleth its ardency: +Greet my love and say him that naught except * Those brown-red + lips deals me remedy: +They bore him away and our union rent * And my vitals with + Severance-shaft shot he: +My love, my lowe and my longing to him * Convey, for of parting + no cure I see: +I swear an oath by your love that I * Will keep pact and covenant + faithfully, +To none I'll incline or forget your love * How shall love-sick + lover forgetful be? +So with you be the peace and my greeting fair * In letters that + perfume of musk-pod bear." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-seventh Night, + +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, + +"Thy writ, O Masrúr, stirred my sprite to pine * For by Allah, + all patience and solace I tyne: +When I read thy scripture, my vitals yearned * And watered the + herbs of the wold these eyne. +On Night's wings I'd fly an a bird * And sans thee I weet not the + sweets of wine: +Life's unlawful to me since thou faredst far * To bear parting- + lowe is no force of mine." + +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, + +"Wither thy right, O smith, which made her bear * Those iron + chains her hands and feet to wear! +Thou hast ensoiled a lady soft and bright, * Marvel of marvels, + fairest of the fair: +Hadst thou been just, those anklets ne'er had been * Of iron: nay + of purest gold they were: +By Allah! did the Kázis' Kázi sight * Her charms, he'd seat her + in the highest chair." + +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, + +"I and my love in union were unite; * And filled my friend to me + cups clearly bright +Between us reigned high mirth and jollity, * Nor Eve nor Morn + brought 'noyance or affright +Indeed we spent most joyous time, with cup * And lute and + dulcimer to add delight, +Till Time estranged our fair companionship; * My lover went and + blessing turned to blight. +Ah would the Severance-raven's croak were stilled * And + Union-dawn of Love show blessèd light!" + +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, + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-eighth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Fifty-ninth Night, + +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, + +"Rain showers of torrent tears, O Eyne and see * An they will + quench the fires that flame in me: +After my robes of gold-embroidered silk * I wake to wear the + frieze of monkery: +And all my raiment reeks of sulphur-fumes * When erst my shift + shed musky fragrancy: +And hadst thou, O Masrúr, my case descried, * Ne'er hadst thou + borne my shame and ignomy. +And eke Hubúb in iron chains is laid * By Miscreant who unknows + God's Unity. +The creed of Jewry I renounce and home, * The Moslem's Faith + accepting faithfully +Eastwards[FN#362] I prostrate self in fairest guise * Holding the + only True Belief that be: +Masrúr! forget not love between us twain * And keep our vows and + troth with goodly gree: +I've changed my faith for sake of thee, and I * For stress of + love will cleave to secrecy: +So haste to us, an us in heart thou bear, * As noble spirit, nor + as laggard fare." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixtieth Night, + +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], + +"She who my all of love by love of her hath won * Owns every + Beauty and for others leaves she none: +She gazes, a gazelle; she breathes, fresh ambergris * She waves, + a lake; she sways, a bough; she shines, a Sun." + +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, + +"Stint ye this blame; enough I suffer from Love's malady * Nor + chide the Kazi frail who fain must deal to folk decree! +Who doth accuse my love let him for me find some excuse: * Nor + blame; for lovers blameless are in lover-slavery! +I was a Kázi whom my Fate deigned aid with choicest aid * By writ + and reed and raisèd me to wealth and high degree; +Till I was shot by sharpest shaft that knows nor leach nor cure * + By Damsel's glance who came to spill my blood and murther + me. +To me came she, a Moslemah and of her wrongs she 'plained * With + lips that oped on Orient-pearls ranged fair and orderly: +I looked beneath her veil and saw a wending moon at full * Rising + below the wings of Night engloomed with blackest blee: +A brightest favour and a mouth bedight with wondrous smiles; * + Beauty had brought the loveliest garb and robed her + cap-à-pie. +By Allah, ne'er beheld my eyes a face so ferly fair * Amid + mankind whoever are, Arab or Ajamí. +My Fair! What promise didst thou make what time to me thou + said'st * 'Whenas I promise I perform, O Kazi, faithfully.' +Such is my stead and such my case calamitous and dire * And ask + me not, ye men of spunk, what dreadful teen I dree." + +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, + +"Perfect were lover's qualities in him was brought a-morn, * + Slain by his love and his beloved, to this untimely grave: +Kázi was he amid the folk, and aye 'twas his delight * To foster + all the folk and keep a-sheath the Justice-glaive: +Love caused his doom and ne'er we saw among mankind before * The + lord and master louting low before his thrallèd slave." + +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, + +"Blighted by her yet am I not to blame; * Struck by the dart at + me her fair hand threw. +Unto me came a woman called Hubúb * Chiding the world from year + to year anew: +And brought a damsel showing face that shamed * Full moon that + sails through Night-tide's blackest hue, +She showed her beauties and she 'plained her plain * Which tears + in torrents from her eyelids drew: +I to her words gave ear and gazed on her * Whenas with smiling + lips she made me rue. +Then with my heart she fared where'er she fared * And left me + pledged to sorrows soul subdue. +Such is my tale! So pity ye my case * And this my page with + Kazi's gear indue." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-first Night, + +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, + +"Thou hast won my heart by cheek and eye of thee, * I'll praise + for love in prose and poesy. +Wilt fly a lover, love-sick, love-distraught * Who strives in + dreams some cure of love to see? +Leave me not fallen, passion-fooled, since I * For pine have left + uncared the Monast'ry: +O Fairest, 'tis thy right to shed my blood, * So rue my case and + hear the cry of me!" + +When Zayn al-Mawasif heard his verses, she answered him with +these two couplets, + +"O who suest Union, ne'er hope such delight * Nor solicit my + favours, O hapless wight! +Cease to hanker for what thou canst never have: * Next door are + the greedy to sore despight." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-second Night, + +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, + +"Ho ye, my friends, draw near, for I forthright * From you + depart, since parting is my lot: +My vitals suffer pangs o' fiery love; * Flames of desire in heart + burn high and hot, +For sake of fairest girl who sought our land * Whose charms th' + horizon's full moon evens not. +She fared and left me victimed by her love * And slain by shaft + those lids death-dealing shot." + +Then another monk recited the following couplets, + +"O ye who with my vitals fled, have ruth * On this unhappy: haste + ye homeward-bound: +They fared, and fared fair Peace on farthest track * Yet lingers + in mine ear that sweetest sound: +Fared far, and far their fane; would Heaven I saw Their shade in + vision float my couch around: +And when they went wi' them they bore my heart * And in my + tear-floods all of me left drowned." + +A third monk followed with these extempore lines, + +"Throne you on highmost stead, heart, ears and sight * Your + wone's my heart; mine all's your dwelling-site: +Sweeter than honey is your name a-lip, * Running, as 'neath my + ribs runs vital sprite: +For Love hath made me as a tooth-pick[FN#369] lean * And drowned + in tears of sorrow and despight: +Let me but see you in my sleep, belike * Shall clear my cheeks of + tears that lovely sight." + +Then a fourth recited the following couplets, + +"Dumb is my tongue and scant my speech for thee * And Love the + direst torture gars me dree: +O thou full Moon, whose place is highest Heaven, * For thee but + double pine and pain in me." + +And a fifth these,[FN#370] + +"I love a moon of comely shapely form * Whose slender waist hath + title to complain: +Whose lip-dews rival must and long-kept wine; * Whose heavy + haunches haunt the minds of men: +My heart each morning burns with pain and pine * And the + night-talkers note I'm passion-slain; +While down my cheeks carnelian-like the tears * Of rosy red + shower down like railing rain." + +And a sixth the following, + +"O thou who shunnest him thy love misled! * O Branch of Bán, O + star of highmost stead! +To thee of pine and passion I complain, * O thou who fired me + with cheeks rosy-red. +Did e'er such lover lose his soul for thee, * Or from prostration + and from prayers fled?" + +And a seventh these, + +"He seized my heart and freed my tears to flow * Brought strength + to Love and bade my Patience go. +His charms are sweet as bitter his disdain; * And shafts of love + his suitors overthrow. +Stint blame, O blamer, and for past repent * None will believe + thee who dost Love unknow!" + +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], + +"My patience failed me when my lover went * And fled that day + mine aim and best intent. +O Guide o' litters lead their camels fair, * Haply some day + they'll deign with me to tent! +On parting-day Sleep parted from my lids * And grew my grieving + and my joy was shent. +I moan to Allah what for Love I dree'd * My wasted body and my + forces spent." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-third Night, + +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, + +"My wrongs hide I, withal they show to sight; * And now mine eyes + from sleep to wake are dight. +I cry when melancholy tries my sprite * Last not, O world nor + work more despight; + Lo hangs my soul 'twixt hardship and affright. +Were the Sultan hight Love but fair to me, * Slumber mine eyes' + companion were to me, +My Lords, some little mercy spare to me, * Chief of my tribe: be + debonnair to me, + Whom Love cast down, erst rich now pauper-wight! + +Censors may blame thee but I look beyond * Mine ears I stop and + leave their lies unconned +And keep my pact wi' those I love so fond: * They say, 'Thou + lov'st a runaway!' I respond, + 'Whist! whenas Fate descends she blinds the sight!'" + +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, + +"Shall I be consoled when Love hath mastered the secret of me * + And my heart is aglow with more than the charcoal's ardency? +I love her whose absence I plain before Allah for parting-stower + * And the shifts of the days and doom which allotted me + Destiny: +When shall our meeting be, O wish O' my heart and will? * O + favour of fullest Moon, when shall we Re-union see?" + +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] + +"Two things there are, for which if eyes wept tear on tear * Of + blood, till they were like indeed to disappear, +They never could fulfil the Tithe of all their due: * And these + are prime of youth and loss of loveling dear." + +Then he wept again with bitter tears and recited these also, + +"Alack and Alas! Patience taketh flight: * And from parting of + friend to sore death I'm dight: +O how woeful this farness from dear one, and oh * How my heart is + rent by mine own unright! +Would Heaven my secret I erst had kept * Nor had told the pangs + and my liver-blight: +I lived in all solace and joyance of life * Till she left and + left me in piteous plight: +O Zayn al-Mawasif, I would there were * No parting departing my + frame and sprite: +I repent me for troth-breach and blame my guilt * Of unruth to + her whereon hopes I built." + +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, + +"The world sware that for ever 'twould gar me grieve: *Tis false, + O world, so thine oath retrieve[FN#375]! +The blamer is dead and my love's in my arms: * Rise to herald of + joys and tuck high thy sleeve[FN#376]!" + +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 + + + + + + ALI NUR AL-DIN AND MIRIAM THE + GIRDLE-GIRL[FN#377] + + + +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, + +"A merchant I spied whose lovers * Were fighting in furious + guise: +Quoth he, 'Why this turmoil of people?' * Quoth I, 'Trader, for + those fine eyes!'" + +And saith another in his praise and saith well enough to +accomplish the wish of him, + +"Came a merchant to pay us a visit * Whose glance did my heart + surprise: +Quoth he, 'What surprised thee so?' * Quoth I, 'Trader, 'twas + those fine eyes.'" + +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, + +"'Describe me!' a fair one said. * Said I, 'Thou art Beauty's + queen.' +And, speaking briefest speech, * 'All charms in thee are seen.'" + +And as saith of him one of his describers, + +"His mole upon plain of cheek is like * Ambergrís-crumb on marble + plate, +And his glances likest the sword proclaim * To all Love's rebels + 'The Lord is Great!'"[FN#378] + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-fourth Night, + +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, + +"Grapes tasting with the taste of wine * Whose coats like + blackest Raven's shine: +Their sheen, amid the leafage shows, * Like women's fingers + henna'd fine." + +And as saith another on the same theme, + +"Grape-bunches likest as they sway * A-stalk, my body frail and + snell: +Honey and water thus in jar, * When sourness past, make + Hydromel." + +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, + +"Garth Heaven-watered wherein clusters waved * On boughs which + full of sap to bend were fain: +And, when the branches danced on Zephyr's palm, * The Pleiads + shower'd as gifts[FN#381] fresh pearls for rain." + +And within the arbour were written these two couplets, + +"Come with us, friend, and enter thou * This garth that cleanses + rust of grief: +Over their skirts the Zephyrs trip[FN#382] * And flowers in sleeve + to laugh are lief."[FN#383] + +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, + +"The Zephyr breatheth o'er its branches, like * Fair girls that + trip as in fair skirts they pace: +Its rills resemble swords in hands of knights * Drawn from the + scabbard and containing-case."[FN#384] + +And again as singeth the songster, + +"The streamlet swings by branchy wood and aye * Joys in its + breast those beauties to display; +And Zephyr noting this, for jealousy * Hastens and bends the + branches other way." + +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, + +"Granados of finest skin, like the breasts * Of maid + firm-standing in sight of male; +When I strip the skin, they at once display * The rubies + compelling all sense to quail." + +And even as quoth another bard, + +"Close prest appear to him who views th' inside * Red rubies in + brocaded skirts bedight: +Granado I compare with marble dome * Or virgin's breasts + delighting every sight: +Therein is cure for every ill as e'en * Left an Hadís the Prophet + pure of sprite; +And Allah (glorify His name) eke deigned * A noble say in Holy + Book indite.[FN#386] + +The apples were the sugared and the musky and the Dámáni, amazing +the beholder, whereof saith Hassan the poet, + +"Apple which joins hues twain, and brings to mind * The cheek of + lover and beloved combined: +Two wondrous opposites on branch they show * This dark[FN#387] + and that with hue incarnadined +The twain embraced when spied the spy and turned * This red, that + yellow for the shame designed."[FN#388] + +There also were apricots of various kinds, almond and camphor and +Jíláni and 'Antábi,[FN#389] wereof saith the poet, + +"And Almond-apricot suggesting swain * Whose lover's visit all + his wits hath ta'en. +Enough of love-sick lovers' plight it shows * Of face deep yellow + and heart torn in twain."[FN#390] + +And saith another and saith well, + +"Look at that Apricot whose bloom contains * Gardens with + brightness gladding all men's eyne: +Like stars the blossoms sparkle when the boughs * Are clad in + foliage dight with sheen and shine." + +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, + +"'Tis as the Figs with clear white skins outthrown * By foliaged + trees, athwart whose green they peep, +Were sons of Roum that guard the palace-roof * When shades close + in and night-long ward they keep."[FN#391] + +And saith another and saith well, + +"Welcome[FN#392] the Fig! To us it comes * Ordered in handsome + plates they bring: +Likest a Sufrah[FN#393]-cloth we draw * To shape of bag without a + ring." + +And how well saith a third, + +"Give me the Fig sweet-flavoured, beauty-clad, * Whose inner + beauties rival outer sheen: +And when it fruits thou tastest it to find * Chamomile's scent + and Sugar's saccharine: +And eke it favoureth on platters poured * Puff-balls of silken + thread and sendal green." + +And how excellent is the saying of one of them, + +"Quoth they (and I had trained my taste thereto * Nor cared for + other fruits whereby they swore), +'Why lovest so the Fig?' whereto quoth I * 'Some men love Fig and + others Sycamore.[FN#394]'" + +And are yet goodlier those of another, + +"Pleaseth me more the fig than every fruit * When ripe and + hanging from the sheeny bough; +Like Devotee who, when the clouds pour rain, * Sheds tears and + Allah's power doth avow." + +And in that garth were also pears of various kinds +Sinaïtic,[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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-fifth Night, + +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 Sinaïtic, 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, + + +"With thee that Pear agree, whose hue a-morn * Is hue of hapless + lover yellow pale; +Like virgin cloistered strait in strong Harím * Whose face like + racing steed outstrips the veil." + +And Sultani[FN#396] peaches of shades varied, yellow and red, +whereof saith the poet, + +"Like Peach in vergier growing * And sheen of Andam[FN#397] + showing: +Whose balls of yellow gold * Are dyed with blood-gouts flowing." + +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, + +"Three coats yon freshest form endue * God's work of varied shape + and hue: +Hardness surrounds it night and day; * Prisoning without a sin to + rue." + +And as well saith another, + +"Seest not that Almond plucked by hand * Of man from bough where + wont to dwell: +Peeling it shows the heart within * As union-pearl in oyster- + shell." + +And as saith a third better than he, + +"How good is Almond green I view! * The smallest fills the hand + of you: +Its nap is as the down upon * The cheeks where yet no beardlet + grew: +Its kernels in the shell are seen, * Or bachelors or married two, +As pearls they were of lucent white * Casèd and lapped in + Jasper's hue." + +And as saith yet another and saith well, + +"Mine eyes ne'er looked on aught the Almond like * For charms, + when blossoms[FN#399] in the Prime show bright: +Its head to hoariness of age inclines * The while its cheek by + youth's fresh down is dight." + +And jujube-plums of various colours, grown in clusters and alone +whereof saith one, describing them, + +"Look at the Lote-tree, note on boughs arrayed * Like goodly + apricots on reed-strown floor,[FN#400] +Their morning-hue to viewer's eye is like * Cascavels[FN#401] + cast of purest golden ore." + +And as saith another and saith right well, + +"The Jujube-tree each Day * Robeth in bright array. +As though each pome thereon * Would self to sight display. +Like falcon-bell of gold * Swinging from every spray." + +And in that garth grew blood oranges, as they were the +Khaulanján,[FN#402] whereof quoth the enamoured poet,[FN#403] + +"Red fruits that fill the hand, and shine with sheen * Of fire, + albe the scarf-skin's white as snow. +'Tis marvel snow on fire doth never melt * And, stranger still, + ne'er burns this living lowe!" + +And quoth another and quoth well, + +"And trees of Orange fruiting ferly fair * To those who straitest + have their charms surveyed; +Like cheeks of women who their forms have decked * For holiday in + robes of gold brocade." + +And yet another as well, + +"Like are the Orange-hills[FN#404] when Zephyr breathes * Swaying + the boughs and spray with airy grace, +Her cheeks that glow with lovely light when met * At greeting- + tide by cheeks of other face." + +And a fourth as fairly, + +"And fairest Fawn, we said to him 'Portray * This garth and + oranges thine eyes survey:' +And he, 'Your garden favoureth my face * Who gathereth orange + gathereth fire alway.'" + +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, + +"Hast seen a Citron-copse so weighed adown * Thou fearest bending + roll their fruit on mould; +And seemed, when Zephyr passed athwart the tree * Its branches + hung with bells of purest gold?" + +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, + +"And Shaddock mid the garden-paths, on bough * Freshest like + fairest damsel met my sight; +And to the blowing of the breeze it bent * Like golden ball to + bat of chrysolite." + +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, + +"Seest not the Lemon, when it taketh form, * Catch rays of light + and all to gaze constrain; +Like egg of pullet which the huckster's hand * Adorneth dyeing + with the saffron-stain?" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night, + +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, + +"A fan whose breath is fraught with fragrant scent; * Minding of + happy days and times forspent, +Wafting at every time its perfumed air * O'er face of noble youth + on honour bent." + +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, + +"The Rose in highest stead I rate * For that her charms ne'er + satiate; +All fragrant flow'rs be troops to her * Their general of high + estate: +Where she is not they boast and vaunt; * But, when she comes, + they stint their prate." + +Then the gardener gave a bunch to another and he recited these +two couplets, + +"Take, O my lord, to thee the Rose * Recalling scent by mush be + shed. +Like virginette by lover eyed * Who with her sleeves[FN#415] + enveileth head." + +Then he gave a bunch to a third who recited these two couplets, + +"Choice Rose that gladdens heart to see her sight; * Of Nadd + recalling fragrance exquisite. +The branchlets clip her in her leaves for joy, * Like kiss of + lips that never spake in spite." + +Then he gave a bunch to a fourth and he recited these two +couplets, + +"Seest not that rosery where Rose a-flowering displays * Mounted + upon her steed of stalk those marvels manifold? +As though the bud were ruby-stone and girded all around * With + chrysolite and held within a little hoard of gold." + +Then he gave a posy to a fifth and he recited these two couplets, + +"Wands of green chrysolite bare issue, which * Were fruits like + ingots of the growing gold.[FN#416] +And drops, a dropping from its leaves, were like * The tears my + languorous eyelids railed and rolled." + +Then he gave a sixth a bunch and he recited these two couplets, + +"O Rose, thou rare of charms that dost contain * All gifts and + Allah's secrets singular, +Thou'rt like the loved one's cheek where lover fond * And fain of + Union sticks the gold dinar."[FN#417] + +Then he gave a bunch to a seventh and he recited these two +couplets, + +"To Rose quoth I, 'What gars thy thorns to be put forth * For all + who touch thee cruellest injury?' +Quoth she, 'These flowery troops are troops of me * Who be their + lord with spines for armoury.'" + +And he gave an eighth a bunch and he recited these two couplets, + +"Allah save the Rose which yellows a-morn * Florid, vivid and + likest the nugget-ore; +And bless the fair sprays that displayed such flowers * And mimic + suns gold-begilded bore." + +Then he gave a bunch to a ninth and he recited these two +couplets, + +"The bushes of golden-hued Rose excite * In the love-sick lover + joys manifold: +'Tis a marvel shrub watered every day * With silvern lymph and it + fruiteth gold." + +Then he gave a bunch of roses to the tenth and last and he +recited these two couplets, + +"Seest not how the hosts of the Rose display * Red hues and + yellow in rosy field? +I compare the Rose and her arming thorn * To emerald lance + piercing golden shield." + +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, + +"Dawn heralds day-light: so wine pass round, * Old wine, fooling + sage till his wits he tyne: +Wot I not for its purest clarity * An 'tis wine in cup or 'tis + cup in wine."[FN#418] + +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, + +'Be as thou wilt, for Allah is bountiful * And when thou sinnest + feel thou naught alarm: +But 'ware of twofold sins nor ever dare * To give God partner or + mankind to harm.'" + +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, + +'We'll drink and Allah pardon sinners all * And cure of ills by + sucking cups I'll find: +Nor aught the sin deceives me; yet said He * 'In it there be + advantage[FN#419] to mankind.'" + +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, + +'Pass round the cup to the old and the young man, too, And take + the bowl from the hand of the shining moon,[FN#420] +But without music, I charge you, forbear to drink; I see even + horses drink to a whistled tune.'"[FN#421] + + +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, + +"Had she shown her shape to idolaters' sight, * They would gaze + on her face and their gods detest: +And if in the East to a monk she'd show'd, * He'd quit Eastern + posture and bow to West.[FN#423] +An she crached in the sea and the briniest sea * Her lips would + give it the sweetest zest." + +And quoth another in these couplets, + +"Brighter than Moon at full with kohl'd eyes she came * Like Doe, + on chasing whelps of Lioness intent: +Her night of murky locks lets fall a tent on her * A tent of + hair[FN#424] that lacks no pegs to hold the tent; +And roses lighting up her roseate cheeks are fed * By hearts and + livers flowing fire for languishment: +An 'spied her all the Age's Fair to her they'd rise * + Humbly,[FN#425] and cry 'The meed belongs to precedent!'" + +And how well saith a third bard,[FN#426] + +"Three things for ever hinder her to visit us, for fear Of the + intriguing spy and eke the rancorous envier; +Her forehead's lustre and the sound of all her ornaments And the + sweet scent her creases hold of ambergris and myrrh. +Grant with the border of her sleeve she hide her brow and doff + Her ornaments, how shall she do her scent away from her?" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-seventh Night, + +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] + +"She came apparelled in a vest of blue, +That mocked the skies and shamed their azure hue; +I thought thus clad she burst upon my sight, +Like summer moonshine on a wintry night." + +And how goodly is the saying of another and how excellent, + +"She came thick veiled, and cried I, 'O display * That face like + full moon bright with pure-white ray.' +Quoth she, 'I fear disgrace,' quoth I, 'Cut short * This talk, no + shift of days thy thoughts affray.' +Whereat she raised her veil from fairest face * And crystal spray + on gems began to stray: +And I forsooth was fain to kiss her cheek, * Lest she complain of + me on Judgment-Day. +And at such tide before the Lord on High * We first of lovers + were redress to pray: +So 'Lord, prolong this reckoning and review' * (Prayed I) 'that + longer I may sight my may.'" + +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] + +"A tree whilere was I the Bulbul's home * To whom for love I + bowed my grass-green head: +They moaned on me, and I their moaning learnt * And in that moan + my secret all men read: +The woodman felled me falling sans offence, * And slender lute of + me (as view ye) made: +But, when the fingers smite my strings, they tell * How man + despite my patience did me dead; +Hence boon-companions when they hear my moan * Distracted wax as + though by wine misled: +And the Lord softens every heart to me, * And I am hurried to the + highmost stead: +All who in charms excel fain clasp my waist; * Gazelles of + languid eyne and Houri maid: +Allah ne'er part fond lover from his joy * Nor live the loved one + who unkindly fled." + +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, + +"Would they [FN#430] the lover seek without ado, * He to his + heavy grief had bid adieu: +With him had vied the Nightingale[FN#431] on bough * As one far + parted from his lover's view: +Rouse thee! awake! The Moon lights Union-night * As tho' such + Union woke the Morn anew. +This day the blamers take of us no heed * And lute-strings bid us + all our joys ensue. +Seest not how four-fold things conjoin in one * Rose, myrtle, + scents and blooms of golden hue.[FN#432] +Yea, here this day the four chief joys unite * Drink and dinars, + beloved and lover true: +So win thy worldly joy, for joys go past * And naught but storied + tales and legends last." + +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] + +"By his cheeks' unfading damask and his smiling teeth I swear, By + the arrows that he feathers with the witchery of his air, +By his sides so soft and tender and his glances bright and keen, + By the whiteness of his forehead and the blackness of his + hair, +By his arched imperious eyebrows, chasing slumber from my lids + With their yeas and noes that hold me 'twixt rejoicing and + despair, +By the Scorpions that he launches from his ringlet-clustered + brows, Seeking still to slay his lovers with his rigours + unaware, +By the myrtle of his whiskers and the roses of his cheek, By his + lips' incarnate rubies and his teeth's fine pearls and rare, +By the straight and tender sapling of his shape, which for its + fruit Doth the twin pomegranates, shining in his snowy + bosom, wear, +By his heavy hips that tremble, both in motion and repose, And + the slender waist above them, all too slight their weight to + bear, +By the silk of his apparel and his quick and sprightly wit, By + all attributes of beauty that are fallen to his share; +Lo, the musk exhales its fragrance from his breath, and eke the + breeze From his scent the perfume borrows, that it scatters + everywhere. +Yea, the sun in all his splendour cannot with his brightness vie + And the crescent moon's a fragment that he from his nails + doth pare." + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-eighth Night, + +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, + +"A lutanist to us inclined * And stole our wits bemused with + wine: +And said to us her lute, 'The Lord * Bade us discourse by voice + divine.'" + +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, + +"He blames me for casting on him my sight * And parts fro' me + bearing my life and sprite: +He repels me but kens what my heart endures * As though Allah + himself had inspired the wight: +I portrayed his portrait in palm of hand * And cried to mine + eyes, 'Weep your doleful plight.' +For neither shall eyes of me spy his like * Nor my heart have + patience to bear its blight: +Wherefore, will I tear thee from breast, O Heart * As one who + regards him with jealous spite. +And when say I, 'O heart be consoled for pine,' * 'Tis that heart + to none other shall e'er incline:" + +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, + +"A Moon, when he bends him those eyes lay bare * A brand that + gars gazing gazelle despair: +A King, rarest charms are the host of him * And his lance-like + shape men with cane compare: +Were his softness of sides to his heart transferred * His friend + had not suffered such cark and care: +Ah for hardest heart and for softest sides! * Why not that to + these alter, make here go there? +O thou who accusest my love excuse: * Take eternal and leave me + the transient share."[FN#434] + +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, + +"Methought she was the forenoon sun until she donned the veil * + But lit she fire in vitals mine still flaring fierce and + high, +How had it hurt her an she deigned return my poor salám * With + fingertips or e'en vouchsafed one little wink of eye? +The cavalier who spied her face was wholly stupefied * By charms + that glorify the place and every charm outvie. +'Be this the Fair who makes thee pine and long for love liesse? * + Indeed thou art excused!' 'This is my fairest she;'(quoth I) +Who shot me with the shaft of looks nor deigns to rue my woes * + Of strangerhood and broken heart and love I must aby: +I rose a-morn with vanquished heart, to longing love a prey * And + weep I through the live long day and all the night I cry." + +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, + +"By the life o' thy face, O thou life o' my sprite! * I'll ne'er + leave thy love for despair or delight: +When art cruel thy vision stands hard by my side * And the + thought of thee haunts me when far from sight: +O who saddenest my glance albe weeting that I * No love but thy + love will for ever requite? +Thy cheeks are of Rose and thy lips-dews are wine; * Say, wilt + grudge them to us in this charming site?" + +Hereat Nur al-Din was gladdened with extreme gladness and +wondered with the utmost wonder, so he answered her verse with +these couplets, + +"The sun yellowed not in the murk gloom li'en * But lay pearl + enveiled 'neath horizon-chine; +Nor showed its crest to the eyes of Morn * But took refuge from + parting with Morning-shine.[FN#435] +Take my tear-drops that trickle as chain on chain * And they'll + tell my case with the clearest sign. +An my tears be likened to Nile-flood, like * Malak's[FN#436] + flooded flat be this love o'mine. +Quoth she, 'Bring thy riches!' Quoth I, 'Come, take!' * 'And thy + sleep?' 'Yes, take it from lids of eyne!'" + +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, + +"Alas, alack and well-away for blamer's calumny! * Whether or not + I make my moan or plead or show no plea: +O spurner of my love I ne'er of thee so hard would deem * That I + of thee should be despised, of thee my property. +I wont at lovers' love to rail and for their passion chide, * But + now I fain debase myself to all who rail at thee: +Yea, only yesterday I wont all amourists to blame * But now I + pardon hearts that pine for passion's ecstasy; +And of my stress of parting-stowre on me so heavy weighs * At + morning prayer to Him I'll cry, 'In thy name, O Ali!'" + +And also these two couplets, + +"His lovers said, 'Unless he deign to give us all a drink * Of + wine, of fine old wine his lips deal in their purity; +We to the Lord of Threefold Worlds will pray to grant our prayer' + * And all exclaim with single cry 'In thy name, O Ali!'" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Sixty-ninth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventieth Night, + +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, + +"Quoth I to a comrade one day, * A man of good speech and rare, +'Describe Alexandria.' * Quoth he, 'Tis a march-town fair.' +Quoth I, 'Is there living therein?' * And he, 'An the wind blow + there.'" + +Or as saith one of the poets, + +"Alexandria's a frontier;[FN#444] Whose dews of lips are sweet + and clear; +How fair the coming to it is, * So one therein no raven speer!" + + +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] + +"'Twas as by will of her she was create * Nor short nor long, but + Beauty's mould and mate: +Rose blushes reddest when she sees those cheeks * And fruits the + bough those marvel charms amate: +Moon is her favour, Musk the scent of her * Branch is her shape:– + she passeth man's estate: +'Tis e'en as were she cast in freshest pearl * And every limblet + shows a moon innate." + +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, + +"Vied the full moon for folly with her face, * But was + eclipsed[FN#452] and split for rage full sore; +And if the spiring Bán with her contend * Perish her hands who + load of fuel bore!"[FN#453] + +And how well saith another, + +"Say to the fair in the wroughten veil * How hast made that + monk-like worshipper ail? +Light of veil and light of face under it * Made the hosts of + darkness to fly from bale; +And, when came my glance to steal look at cheek. * With a + meteor-shaft the Guard made me quail."[FN#454] + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-first Night, + +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, + +'Quoth she to me,--and sore enraged for wounded pride was she, * + For she in sooth had bidden me to that which might not be,-- +'An if thou swive me not forthright, as one should swive his + wife, * Thou be made a cuckold straight, reproach it not to + me. +Meseems thy yard is made of wax, for very flaccidness; * For when + I rub it with my hand, it softens instantly.'[FN#457] + +And said he likewise of his yard, + +'I have a yard that sleeps in base and shameful way * When grants + my lover boon for which I sue and pray: +But when I wake o' mornings[FN#458] all alone in bed, * 'Tis fain + o' foin and fence and fierce for futter-play.' + +And again quoth he thereof of his yard, + +'I have a froward yard of temper ill * Dishonoring him who shows + it most regard: +It stands when sleep I, when I stand it sleeps * Heaven pity not + who pitieth that yard!'" + +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, + +"It behoveth folk who rule in our time, * And 'tis one of the + duties of magistrateship, +To hand up the Wali above his door * And beat with a whip the + Mohtasib!" + +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] + +'I sought of a fair maid to kiss her lips of coral red, But, 'No, + by Him who fashioned things from nothingness!' she said. +Unto the white of hoary hairs I never had a mind, And shall my + mouth be stuffed, forsooth, with cotton, ere I'm dead?' + +And how goodly is the saying of the poet, + +'The wise have said that white of hair is light that shines and + robes * The face of man with majesty and light that awes the + sight; +Yet until hoary seal shall stamp my parting-place of hair * I + hope and pray that same may be black as the blackest night. +Albe Time-whitened beard of man be like the book he bears[FN#462] + * When to his Lord he must return, I'd rather 'twere not + white,' + +And yet goodlier is the saying of another, + +'A guest hath stolen on my head and honour may he lack! * The + sword a milder deed hath done that dared these locks to + hack. +Avaunt, O Whiteness,[FN#463] wherein naught of brightness + gladdens sight * Thou 'rt blacker in the eyes of me than + very blackest black!' + +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] + + +'Quoth she to me, 'I see thou dy'st thy hoariness;' and I, 'I do + but hide it from thy sight, O thou mine ear and eye!' +She laughed out mockingly and said, 'A wonder 'tis indeed! Thou + so aboundest in deceit that even thy hair's a lie.' + +And how excellent is the saying of the poet, + +'O thou who dyest hoariness with black, * That youth wi' thee + abide, at least in show; +Look ye, my lot was dyèd black whilome * And (take my word!) none + other hue 'twill grow.'" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-second Night, + +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, + +'We never heard of wight nor yet espied * Who amid men three + gifts hath unified: +To wit, a beard one cubit long, a snout * Span-long and figure + tall a finger wide:' + +And quoth another poet, + +'From the plain of his face springs a minaret * Like a bezel of + ring on his finger set: +Did creation enter that vasty nose * No created thing would + elsewhere be met.'" + +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, + +'Drawn in thy shoulders are and spine thrust out, * As seeking + star which Satan gave the lout;[FN#466] +Or as he tasted had first smack of scourge * And looked in marvel + for a second bout.' + +And saith another on the same theme, + +'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?' + +And another on a similar subject, + +'Oft hunchback addeth to his bunchy back * Faults which gar folk + upon his front look black: +Like branch distort and dried by length of days * With citrons + hanging from it loose and slack.'" + +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, + +'His eyelids sore and bleared * Weakness of frame denote: +Arise, ye folk and see * Within his eyes the mote!'" + +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, + +'Ne'er was a man with beard grown overlong, * Tho' be he therefor + reverenced and fear'd, +But who the shortness noted in his wits * Added to longness noted + in his beard.' + +And quoth another,[FN#468] + +'I have a friend with a beard which God hath made to grow to a + useless length, +It is like unto one of the nights of winter long and dark and + cold.'" + +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, + +"Came to match him in beauty and loveliness rare * Full moons and + gazelles but quoth I, 'Soft fare! +Fare softly, gazelles, nor yourselves compare * With him and, O + Moons, all your pains forbear!'" + +And how well saith another bard, + +"Slim-waisted loveling, from his hair and brow * Men wake a-morn + in night and light renewed. +Blame not the mole that dwelleth on his cheek * For Nu'uman's + bloom aye shows spot negro-hued." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-third Night, + +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. + +"Waters of beauty o'er his cheeks flow bright, * And rain his + glances shafts that sorely smite: +Choked are his lovers an he deal disdain's * Bitterest draught + denaying love-delight. +His forehead and his stature and my love * Are perfect perfected + perfection-dight; +His raiment folds enfold a lovely neck * As crescent moon in + collar buttoned tight: +His eyne and twinnèd moles and tears of me * Are night that + nighteth to the nightliest night. +His eyebrows and his features and my frame[FN#470] * Crescents on + crescents are as crescents slight: +His pupils pass the wine-cup to his friends * Which, albe sweet, + tastes bitter to my sprite; +And to my thirsty throat pure drink he dealt * From smiling lips + what day we were unite: +Then is my blood to him, my death to him * His right and rightful + and most righteous right." + +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, + +"Boon Fortune sought him in humblest way[FN#472] * And came to + him draggle-tailed, all a-stir: +And none is fittest for him but she * And none is fittest but he + for her." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-fourth Night, + +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, + +"From her hair is Night, from her forehead Noon * From her + side-face Rose; from her lip wine boon: +From her Union Heaven, her Severance Hell: * Pearls from her + teeth; from her front full Moon." + +And how excellent is the saying of another bard,[FN#476] + +"A Moon she rises, Willow-wand she waves * Breathes ambergris and + gazeth a gazelle. +Meseems that sorrow wooes my heart and wins * And when she wends + makes haste therein to dwell. +Her face is fairer than the Stars of Wealth[FN#477] * And sheeny + brows the crescent Moon excel." + +And quoth a third also, + +"They shine fullest Moons, unveil Crescent-bright; * + Sway tenderest Branches and turn wild kine; +'Mid which is a Dark-eyed for love of whose charms * + The Sailors[FN#478] would joy to be ground low-li'en." + +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, + +"This is she I will never forget till I die * Nor draw near but + to those who to her draw nigh. +A being for semblance like Moon at full * Praise her Maker, her + Modeller glorify! +Tho' be sore my sin seeking love-liesse * On esperance-day ne'er + repent can I; +A couplet reciting which none can know * Save the youth who in + couplets and rhymes shall cry, +'None weeteth love but who bears its load * Nor passion, save + pleasures and pains he aby.'" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-fifth Night, + +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] + +"Go, visit her thou lovest, and regard not +The words detractors utter; envious churls +Can never favour love. Oh! sure the merciful +Ne'er make a thing more fair to look upon, +Than two fond lovers in each other's arms, +Speaking their passion in a mute embrace. +When heart has turned to heart, the fools would part them +Strike idly on cold steel. So when thou'st found +One purely, wholly thine, accept her true heart, +And live for her alone. Oh! thou that blamest +The love-struck for their love, give o'er thy talk +How canst thou minister to a mind diseased?" + +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, + +"Said I to Slim-waist who the wine engraced * Brought in + musk-scented bowl and a superfine, +'Was it prest from thy cheek?' He replied 'Nay, nay! * When did + man from Roses e'er press the Wine?'" + +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, + +"Slim-waist craved wine from her companeer; * Cried (in meeting + of friends when he feared for his fere,) +'An thou pass not the wine thou shalt pass the night, * A-banisht + my bed!' And he felt sore fear." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-sixth Night, + +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, + +"Nears my parting fro' my love, nigher draws the Severance-day * + Ah well-away for parting! and again ah well-away! +And in tway is torn my heart and O pine I'm doomed to bear * For + the nights that erst witnessed our pleasurable play! +No help for it but Envier the twain of us espy * With evil eye + and win to us his lamentable way. +For naught to us is sorer than the jealousy of men * And the + backbiter's eyne that with calumny affray." + +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] + +'Think'st thou thyself all prosperous, in days which prosp'rous + be, +Nor fearest thou impending ill, which comes by Heaven's decree? +We see the orbs of heav'n above, how numberless they are, +But sun and moon alone eclips'd, and ne'er a lesser star! +And many a tree on earth we see, some bare, some leafy green, +Of them, not one is hurt with stone save that has fruitful been! +See'st not th' refluent ocean, bear carrion on its tide, +While pearls beneath its wavy flow, fixed in the deep, abide?'" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night, + +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 daïses. 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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night, + +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] + +"Incline not to parting, I pray; * For bitter its savour is aye. +E'en the sun at his setting turns pale * To think he must part + from the day; +And so, at his rising, for joy * Of reunion, he's radient and + gay." + +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] + +"When e'er the Lord 'gainst any man, +Would fulminate some harsh decree, +And he be wise, and skilled to hear, +And used to see; +He stops his ears, and blinds his heart, +And from his brain ill judgment tears, +And makes it bald as 'twere a scalp, +Reft of its hairs;[FN#495] +Until the time when the whole man +Be pierced by this divine command; +Then He restores him intellect +To understand." + +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, + +"Now, by your love! your love I'll ne'er forget, * Though lost my + life for stress of pine and fret: +I weep and wail through livelong day and night * As moans the + dove on sandhill-tree beset. +O fairest friends, your absence spoils my life; * Nor find I + meeting-place as erst we met." + +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, + +'Whom I irk let him fly fro' me fast and faster * If I name his + name I am no directer. +Nor the wide wide world is to me so narrow * That I act expecter + to this rejecter.'"[FN#496] + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Seventy-ninth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Eightieth Night, + +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, + +"O dwelling of my friends say is there no return * Uswards? But + what ken I of matters Allah made? +Still fare the ships of Severance, sailing hastily * And in my + wounded eyelids tear have ta'en their stead, +For parting from a friend who was my wish and will * Healed every + ill and every pain and pang allay'd. +Be thou, O Allah, substitute of me for him * Such charge some day + the care of Thee shall not evade." + +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, + +"The tongue of Love within my vitals speaketh * Saying, 'This + lover boon of Love aye seeketh!' +And burn my liver hottest coals of passion * And parting on my + heart sore suffering wreaketh. +How shall I face this fiery love concealing * When fro' my + wounded lids the tear aye leaketh? + +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, + +"Say me, will Union after parting e'er return to be * After + long-lasting torments, after hopeless misery? +Alas! Alas! what wont to be shall never more return * But grant + me still return of dearest her these eyne may see. +I wonder me will Allah deign our parted lives unite * And will my + dear one's plighted troth preserve with constancy! +Naught am I save the prey of death since parting parted us; * And + will my friends consent that I a weird so deadly dree? +Alas my sorrow! Sorrowing the lover scant avails; * Indeed I melt + away in grief and passion's ecstasy: +Past is the time of my delight when were we two conjoined: * + Would Heaven I wot if Destiny mine esperance will degree! +Redouble then, O Heart, thy pains and, O mine eyes, o'erflow * + With tears till not a tear remain within these eyne of me? +Again alas for loved ones lost and loss of patience eke! * For + helpers fail me and my griefs are grown beyond decree. +The Lord of Threefold Worlds I pray He deign to me return * My + lover and we meet as wont in joy and jubilee." + +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, + +"I view their traces and with pain I pine * And by their sometime + home I weep and yearn; +And Him I pray who parting deigned decree * Some day He deign + vouchsafe me their return!" + +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, + +"Peace be with you, sans you naught compensateth me * The near, + the far, two cases only here I see: +I yearn for you at every hour and tide as yearns * For + water-place wayfarer plodding wearily. +With you abide my hearing, heart and eyen-sight * And (sweeter + than the honeycomb) your memory. +Then, O my Grief when fared afar your retinue * And bore that + ship away my sole expectancy." + +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] + +"Mazed with thy love no more I can feign patience, +This heart of mine has held none dear but thee! +And if mine eye hath gazed on other's beauty, +Ne'er be it joyed again with sight of thee! +I've sworn an oath I'll ne'er forget to love thee, +And sad's this breast that pines to meet with thee! +Thou'st made me drink a love-cup full of passion, +Blest time! When I may give the draught to thee! +Take with thee this my form where'er thou goest, +And when thou 'rt dead let me be laid near thee! +Call on me in my tomb, my bones shall answer +And sigh responses to a call from thee! +If it were asked, 'What wouldst thou Heaven should order?' +'His will,' I answer, 'First, and then what pleases thee.'" + +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, + +"O Maryam of beauty[FN#507] return, for these eyne * Are as + densest clouds railing drops in line: +Ask amid mankind and my railers shall say * That mine eyelids are + drowning these eyeballs of mine." + +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, + +"Shall we e'er be unite after severance-tide * And return in the + perfectest cheer to bide? +In my heart indeed is a lowe of love * And I'm pained by the + spies who my pain deride: +My days I pass in amaze distraught, * And her image a-nights I + would see by side: +By Allah, no hour brings me solace of love * And how can it when + makebates vex me and chide? +A soft-sided damsel of slenderest waist * Her arrows of eyne on + my heart hath plied? +Her form is like Bán[FN#508]-tree branch in garth * Shame her + charms the sun who his face most hide: +Did I not fear God (be He glorified!) * 'My Fair be glorified!' + Had I cried." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-first Night, + +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, + +"Say, will to me and you the Ruthful union show * My lords! Shall + e'er I win the wish of me or no? +A visit-boon by you will shifty Time vouchsafe? * And seize your + image eye-lids which so hungry grow? +With you were Union to be sold, I fain would buy; * But ah, I see + such grace doth all my means outgo!" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-second Night, + +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] + +'Quoth they, 'Thou'rt surely raving mad for her thou lov'st;' and + I, 'There is no pleasantness in life but for the mad,' + reply. +Compare my madness with herself for whom I rave; if she Accord + therewith, then blame me not for that which I aby.'" + +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] + +"Pass o'er my fault, for 'tis the wise man's wont +Of other's sins to take no harsh account; +And as all crimes have made my breast their site, +So thine all shapes of mercy should unite. +Who from above would mercy seek to know, +Should first be merciful to those below." + +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] + +"Like the full moon she shineth in garments all of green, With + loosened vest and collars and flowing hair beseen. +'What is thy name?' I asked her, and she replied, 'I'm she Who + roasts the hearts of lovers on coals of love and teen. +I am the pure white silver, ay, and the gold wherewith The + bondsmen from strait prison and dour releasèd been.' +Quoth I, 'I'm all with rigours consumed;' but 'On a rock,' Said + she, 'such as my heart is, thy plaints are wasted clean.' +'Even if thy heart,' I answered, 'be rock in very deed, Yet hath + God caused fair water well from the rock, I ween.'" + +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, + +"O Night of Union, Time's virginal prized, * White star of the + Nights with auroral dyes, +Thou garrest Dawn after Noon to rise * Say art thou Kohl in + Morning's Eyes, +Or wast thou Slumber to bleared eye lief? +O Night of Parting, how long thy stay * Whose latest hours aye + the first portray, +This endless circle that noways may * Show breach till the coming + of Judgment-day, +Day when dies the lover of parting-grief."[FN#525] + +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, + +"I saw him strike the gong and asked of him straightway, * Who + made the Fawn[FN#528] at striking going so knowing, eh?' +And to my soul, 'What smiting irketh thee the more-- * Striking + the gong or striking note of going,[FN#529] say?'" + +--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-third Night, + +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, + +"I ceasèd not to kiss that cheek with budding roses dight * And + eyes down cast and bit the same with most emphatic bite; +Until we were in gloria[FN#530] and lay him down the spy * And + sank his eyes within his brain declining further sight: +And struck the gongs as they that had the charge of them were + like * Muezzin crying duty-prayers in Allah's book indite. +Then rose she up right hastily and donned the dress she'd doffed + * Sore fearing lest a shooting-star[FN#531] upon our heads + alight. +And cried, 'O wish and will of me, O end of all my hopes! * + Behold the morning comes to us in brightest whitest light.' +I swear if but one day of rule were given to my life * And I were + made an Emperor of majesty and might, +Adown I'd break the buttresses of churches one and all * And by + their slaughter rid the earth of every shaveling wight." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-fourth Night, + +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, + +"To all who unknown my love for the May * From whom Fate disjoins + me O say, I pray, +'Ask my kith and kin of my love that aye * Ensweetens my verses + to lovely lay: + For the loss of the tribesmen my life o'er sway!' + +Their names when named heal all malady; * Cure and chase from + heart every pain I dree: +And my longings for love reach so high degree * That my Sprite is + maddened each morn I see, + And am grown of the crowd to be saw and say. + +No blame in them will I e'er espy: * No! nor aught of solace sans + them descry: +Your love hath shot me with pine, and I * Bear in heart a flame + that shall never die, + But fire my liver with fiery ray. + +All folk my sickness for marvel score * That in darkest night I + wake evermore +What ails them to torture this heart forlore * And deem right for + loving my blood t' outpour: + And yet--how justly unjust are they! + +Would I wot who 'twas could obtain of you * To wrong a youth + who's so fain of you: +By my life and by Him who made men of you * And the spy tell + aught I complain of you + He lies, by Allah, in foulest way! + +May the Lord my sickness never dispel, * Nor ever my heart of its + pains be well, +What day I regret that in love I fell * Or laud any land but + wherein ye dwell: + Wring my heart and ye will or make glad and gay! + +I have vitals shall ever be true to you * Though racked by the + rigours not new to you +Ere this wrong and this right I but sue to you: * Do what you + will to thrall who to you + Shall ne'er grudge his life at your feet to lay." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night, + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-sixth Night, + +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] + +"The phantom of Soada came by night to wake me towards morning + while my companions were sleeping in the desert: +But when we awoke to behold the nightly phantom, I saw the air + vacant, and the place of visitation distant." + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-seventh Night, + +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, + +"O my Censor who wakest a-morn to see * The joys of life and its + jubilee! +Had the fangs of Destiny bitten thee * In such bitter case thou + hadst pled this plea, + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me: + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!' +But from Fate's despight thou art safe this day;- * From her + falsest fay and her crying 'Nay!' +Yet blame him not whom his woes waylay * Who distraught shall say + in his agony, + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me: + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!' +Excuse such lovers in flight abhorr'd * Nor to Love's distreses + thine aid afford: +Lest thy self be bound by same binding cord * And drink of Love's + bitterest injury. + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me: + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!' +In His service I wont as the days went by * With freest heart + through the nights to lie; +Nor tasted wake, nor of Love aught reckt * Ere my heart to + subjection summoned he: + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me: + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!' +None weet of Love and his humbling wrong * Save those he sickened + so sore, so long, +Who have lost their wits 'mid the lover-throng * Draining + bitterest cup by his hard decree: + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me: + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!' +How oft in Night's gloom he cause wake to rue * Lovers' eyne, and + from eyelids their sleep withdrew; +Till tears to the railing of torrents grew, * Overflowing cheeks + , unconfined and free: + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me: + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!' +How many a man he has joyed to steep * In pain, and for pine hath + he plundered sleep,-- +Made don garb of mourning the deepest deep * And even his + dreaming forced to flee: + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me: + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!' +How oft sufferance fails me! How bones are wasted * And down my + cheeks torrent tear-drops hasted: +And embittered She all the food I tasted * However sweet it was + wont to be: + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me: + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!' +Most hapless of men who like me must love, * And must watch when + Night droops her wing from above, +Who, swimming the main where affection drove * Must sign and sink + in that gloomy sea: + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me: + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!' +Who is he to whom Love e'er stinted spite * And who scaped his + springes and easy sleight; +Who free from Love lived in life's delight? * Where is he can + boast of such liberty? + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me: + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!' +Deign Lord such suffering wight maintain * Then best Protector, + protect him deign! +Establish him and his life assain * And defend him from all + calamity: + 'Ah me, for Love and his case, ah me: + My heart is burnt by the fires I dree!'" + +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. + + When it was the Eight Hundred and Eighty-eighth Night, + +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, + +"My life is gone but love-longings remain * And my breast is + straitened with pine and pain: +And my heart for parting to melt is fain * Yet hoping that union + will come again, + And join us in one who now are twain. +Stint your blame to him who in heart's your thrall * With the + wasted frame which his sorrows gall, +Nor with aim of arrow his heart appal * For parted lover is + saddest of all, + And Love's cup of bitters is sweet to drain!" + +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, + +"I will bear in patience estrangement of friend * And on cheeks + rail tears that like torrents wend: +Haply Allah will solace my sorrow, for He * Neath the ribs of + unease maketh ease at end." + +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, + +"My heart is a thrall; my tears ne'er abate * And their rains the + railing of clouds amate; +'Twixt my weeping and watching and wanting love; * And whining + and pining for dearest mate. +Ah my burning heat, my desire, my lowe! * For the plagues that + torture my heart are eight; +And five upon five are in suite of them; * So stand and listen to + all I state: +Mem'ry, madding thoughts, moaning languishment, * Stress of + longing love, plight disconsolate; +In travail, affliction and strangerhood, * And annoy and joy when + on her I wait. +Fail me patience and stay for engrossing care * And sorrows my + suffering soul regrate. +On my heart the possession of passion grows * O who ask of what + fire in my heart's create, +Why my tears in vitals should kindle flame, * Burning heart with + ardours insatiate, +Know, I'm drowned in Deluge[FN#557] of tears and my soul * From + Lazá-lowe fares to Háwiyah-goal."[FN#558] + +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, + +"I hope for Union with my love which I may ne'er obtain * At all, + but bitterness of life is all the gain I gain: +My tears are likest to the main for ebb and flow of tide; * But + when I meet the blamer-wight to staunch my tears I'm fain. +Woe to the wretch who garred us part by spelling of his + spells;[FN#559] * Could I but hend his tongue in hand I'd + cut his tongue in twain: +Yet will I never blame the days for whatso deed they did * + Mingling with merest, purest gall the cup they made me + drain! +To whom shall I address myself; and whom but you shall seek * A + heart left hostage in your Court, by you a captive ta'en? +Who shall avenge my wrongs on you,[FN#560] tyrant despotical * + Whose tyranny but grows the more, the more I dare complain? +I made him regnant of my soul that he the reign assain * But me + he wasted wasting too the soul I gave to reign. +Ho thou, the Fawn, whom I so lief erst gathered to my breast * + Enow of severance tasted I to own its might and main, +Thou'rt he whose favours joined in one all beauties known to man, + * Yet I thereon have wasted all my Patience' fair domain. +I entertained him in my heart whereto he brought unrest * But I + am satisfied that I such guest could entertain. +My tears for ever flow and flood, likest the surging sea * And + would I wot the track to take that I thereto attain. +Yet sore I fear that I shall die in depths of my chagrin * And + must despair for evermore to win the wish I'd win." + +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, + +"I longed for him I love; but, when we met, * I was amazed nor + tongue nor eyes I found. +I had got ready volumes of reproach; * But when we met, could + syllable no sound." + +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. + + + + + + +End of Volume 8. + + + + + + Arabian Nights, Volume 8 + Footnotes + + + + +[FN#1] Ironicè; we are safe as long as we are defended by such a +brave. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#4] Here ends vol. iii. of the Mac. Edit. + +[FN#5] This famous tale is a sister prose-poem to the "Arabian +Odyssey" Sindbad the Seaman; only the Bassorite's travels are in +Jinn-land and Japan. It has points of resemblance in +"fundamental outline" with the Persian Romance of the Fairy Hasan +Bánú and King Bahrám-i-Gúr. See also the Kathá (s.s.) and the two +sons of the Asúra Máyá; the Tartar "Sidhi Kúr" (Tales of a +Vampire or Enchanted Corpse) translated by Mr. W. J. Thoms (the +Father of "Folk-lore" in 1846,) in "Lays and Legends of various +Nations"; the Persian Bahár-i-Dánish (Prime of Lore). Miss +Stokes' "Indian Fairy Tales"; Miss Frere's "Old Deccan Days" and +Mrs. F. A. Steel's "Tale of the King and his Seven Sons," with +notes by Lieutenant (now Captain) R. C. Temple (Folk-lore of the +Panjab, Indian Antiquary of March, 1882). + +[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." + +[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." + +[FN#8] Persians being always a suspected folk. + +[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." + +[FN#10] Arab. "Sindán" or "Sindiyán" (Dozy). "Sandán," anvil; +"Sindán," big, strong (Steingass). + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#13] Lit. "bade him lean upon it with the shears" (Al-Káz). + +[FN#14] There are many kinds of Kohls (Hindos. Surmá and +Kajjal) used in medicine and magic. See Herklots, p. 227. + +[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 + +[FN#16] i.e. £375. + +[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. + +[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?" + +[FN#19] Arab. "Kabbát" in the Bresl. Edit. "Ka'abán ": Lane +(iii. 519) reads "Ka'áb plur. of Ka'ab a cup." + +[FN#20] A most palpable sneer. But Hasan is purposely +represented as a "softy" till aroused and energized by the magic +of Love. + +[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." + +[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). + +[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. + +[FN#24] i.e. a superfetation of iniquity. + +[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. + +[FN#26] Nár = fire, being feminine, like the names of the other +"elements." + +[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). + +[FN#28] In Mac. Edit. "Bahriyah": in Bresl. Edit. "Nawátíyah." +See vol. vi. 242, for {Naýtes}, navita, nauta. + +[FN#29] In Bresl. Edit. (iv. 285) "Yá Khwájah," for which see +vol. vi. 46. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#32] The "Rocs" (Al-Arkhákh) in the Bresl. Edit. (iv. 290). +The Rakham = aquiline vulture. + +[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. + +[FN#34] These lines occurred in Night xxvi. vol. i. 275: I quote +Mr. Payne for variety. + +[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. + +[FN#36] i.e. If I fail in my self-imposed duty, thou shalt +charge me therewith on the Judgment-day. + +[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. + +[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 + +[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.) + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#42] En tout bien et en tout honneur, be it understood. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#46] Arab. "Zindík." See vol. v. 230. + +[FN#47] Lane translates this "put for him the remaining food and +water;" but Al-Ákhar (Mac. Edit.) evidently refers to the Najíb +(dromedary). + +[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. + +[FN#49] The mother in Arab tales is ma mère, now becoming +somewhat ridiculous in France on account of the over use of that +venerable personage. + +[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 +à peu près 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. + +[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). + +[FN#52] This description of the view is one of the most gorgeous +in The Nights. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#55] The lines occur in vol. ii. 331: I have quoted Mr. +Payne. Here they are singularly out of place. + +[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." + +[FN#57] These lines occur in vol. i. 219: I have borrowed from +Torrens (p. 219). + +[FN#58] The appearance of which ends the fast and begins the +Lesser Festival. See vol. i. 84. + +[FN#59] See note, vol. i. 84, for notices of the large navel; +much appreciated by Easterns. + +[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. + +[FN#61] "Them" as usual for "her." + +[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. + +[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-- + + "Aw'ákibu s-sabri (Kála ba'azuhum) + Mahmúdah: Kultu, 'khshi an takhirriní.'" + +"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. + +[FN#64] Arab. "Akúna fidá-ka." Fidá = ransom, self-sacrifice and +Fidá'an = instead of. The phrase, which everywhere occurs in The +Nights, means, "I would give my life to save thine " + +[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. + +[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." + +[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.) + +[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. + +[FN#69] Meaning her companions and suite. + +[FN#70] Arab. "'Abáah" vulg. "'Abáyah." See vol. ii. 133. + +[FN#71] Feet in the East lack that development of sebaceous +glands which afflicts Europeans. + +[FN#72] i.e. cutting the animals' throats after Moslem law. + +[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. + +[FN#74] Arab. "Sakaba Kúrahá;" the forge in which children are +hammered out? + +[FN#75] Arab. "Má al-Maláhat" = water (brilliancy) of beauty. + +[FN#76] The fourth of the Seven Heavens, the "Garden of +Eternity," made of yellow coral. + +[FN#77] How strange this must sound to the Young Woman of London +in the nineteenth century. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#80] "His" for "her," i.e. herself, making somewhat of +confusion between her state and that of her son. + +[FN#81] i.e. his mother; the words are not in the Mac. Edit. + +[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.) + +[FN#83] This is a popular saying but hardly a "vulgar proverb." +(Lane iii. 522.) It reminds rather of Shakespear's: + + "So loving to my mother, + That he might not beteem the winds of heaven + Visit her face too roughly." + +[FN#84] i.e. God forbid that I should oppose thee! + +[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. + +[FN#86] i.e. She would have pleaded ill-treatment and lawfully +demanded to be sold. + +[FN#87] The Hindus speak of "the only bond that woman knows--her +heart." + +[FN#88] i.e. a rarity, a present (especially in Persian). + +[FN#89] Arab. "Al-bisát" wa'l-masnad lit. the carpet and the +cushion. + +[FN#90] For "Báb al-bahr" and "Báb al-Barr" see vol. iii. 281. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#94] They are mere doggerel, like most of the pièces de +circonstance. + +[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 puellæ 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 Langlès), 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). + +[FN#96] I accept the emendation of Lane's Shaykh, "Nasím " +(Zephyr) for "Nadím " (cup-companion). + +[FN#97] "Jannat al-Ná'im" = Garden of Delights is No. V Heaven, +made of white diamond. + +[FN#98] This appears to her very prettily put. + +[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. + +[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." + +[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. + +[FN#102] From Bresl. Edit. (vi. 29): the four in the Mac. Edit. +are too irrelevant. + +[FN#103] Arab. "Ghayúr"--jealous, an admirable epithet which +Lane dilutes to "changeable"--making a truism of a metaphor. + +[FN#104] These lines have occurred before. I quote Mr. Payne. + +[FN#105] i.e. One fated to live ten years. + +[FN#106] This poetical way of saying "fourteen" suggests Camoens +(The Lusiads) Canto v. 2. + +[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. + +[FN#108] The month which begins the Moslem year. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#111] Like Camoens, one of the model lovers, he calls upon +Love to torment him still more--ad majorem Dei (amoris) gloriam. + +[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." + +[FN#113] Arab. "Kantara al-lijám fi Karbús (bow) sarjih." + +[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. + +[FN#115] The Arabs knew what large libraries were; and a learned +man could not travel without camel-loads of dictionaries. + +[FN#116] Arab. "Adim;" now called Bulghár, our Moroccan +leather. + +[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." + +[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.). + +[FN#119] In the Mac. Edit. "Soldiers of Al-Daylam" i.e. warlike +as the Daylamites or Medes. See vol. ii. 94. + +[FN#120] Bilkís, it will be remembered, is the Arab. name of the +Queen of Sheba who visited Solomon. In Abyssinia she is termed +Kebra zá negest or zá makadá, the latter (according to Ferdinand +Werne's "African Wanderings," Longmans, 1852) being synonymous +with Ityopia or Habash (Ethiopia or Abyssinia). + +[FN#121] Arab. "Dakkah," which Lane translates by "settee." + +[FN#122] Arab. "Ambar al-Khám" the latter word (raw) being pure +Persian. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#127] These are the Puellæ 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 "Phœnix." It also mentions a hare-like animal, now male then +female, and the Somal behind Cape Guardafui tell the same tale of +their Cynhyænas. + +[FN#128] i.e. I will keep thee as though thou wert the apple of +my eye. + +[FN#129] A mere exaggeration of the "Gull-fairs" noted by +travellers in sundry islands as Ascension and the rock off +Brazilian Santos. + +[FN#130] Arab. "Kámil wa Basít wa Wáfir" = the names of three +popular metres, for which see the Terminal Essay. + +[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.). + +[FN#132] Arab. "Shafaif" opposed to "Shafah" the mouth-lips. + +[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. + +[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 {kysòs} or {kyssòs}, 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, + + To five and five and fifty-five + The first of letters add + To make a thing to please a King + And drive a wise man mad. + +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.) + +Supplementary Note To Hasan of Bassorah. + +Note(p.93)--There is something wondrous naïve 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 Asiaticæ +Commentarii), gravely noting, "Hæc Elegia non admodum dissimilis +esse videtur pulcherrimi illius carminis de Sauli et Jonathani +obitu; at que adeò versus iste 'ubi provocant adversarios nunquam +rediit a pugnæ contentione sine spiculo sanguine imbuto,' ex +Hebræo reddi videtur, + + A sanguine occisorum, a fortium virorum adipe, + Arcus Jonathani non rediit irritus." + +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:-- + + O folk I have a wondrous tale, so rare + Much shall it profit hearers wise and ware! + I saw in salad-years a potent Brave + And sharp of edge and point his warrior glaive; + Who entered joust and list with hardiment + Fearless of risk, of victory confident, + His vigorous onset straitest places oped + And easy passage through all narrows groped: + He ne'er encountered foe in single fight + But came from tilt with spear in blood stained bright; + Nor stormed a fortress howso strong and stark-- + With fencèd gates defended deep and dark-- + When shown his flag without th' auspicious cry + "Aidance from Allah and fair victory nigh!" ‡ + Thus wise full many a night his part he played + In strength and youthtide's stately garb arrayed, + Dealing to fair young girl delicious joy + And no less welcome to the blooming boy. + But Time ne'er ceased to stint his wondrous strength + (Steadfast and upright as the gallow's length) + Until the Nights o'erthrew him by their might + And friends contemned him for a feckless wight; + Nor was a wizard but who wasted skill + Over his case, nor leach could heal his ill. + Then he abandoned arms abandoned him + Who gave and took salutes so fierce and grim; + And now lies prostrate drooping haughty crest; + For who lives longest him most ills molest. + Then see him, here he lies on bier for bet;-- + Who will a shroud bestow on stranger dead? + +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. + +‡ 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). + +[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," + + / / / . + +The scheme is distinctly anapæstic and Mr. Lyall (Translations of +Ancient Arabic Poetry) compares with a cognate metre, the Tawíl, +certain lines in Abt Vogler, e.g. + + "Ye know why the forms are fair, ye hear how the tale is +told." + +[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. + +[FN#137] Lane renders Nur al-Hudà (Light of Salvation) by Light +of Day which would be Nur al-Hadà. + +[FN#138] In the Bresl. Edit. "Yá Salám"=O safety!--a vulgar +ejaculation. + +[FN#139] A favourite idiom meaning from the mischief which may +(or will) come from the Queen. + +[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. + +[FN#141] In token that she intended to act like a man. + +[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. + +[FN#143] Arab. "Sabab" which also means cause. Vol. ii. 14. +There is the same metaphorical use of "Habl"= cord and cause. + +[FN#144] Arab. "Himà," 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." + +[FN#145] She was a maid and had long been of marriageable age. + +[FN#146] The young man had evidently "kissed the Blarney stone"; +but the flattery is the more telling as he speaks from the heart. + +[FN#147] "Inshallah " here being= D. V. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#151] Arab. "Fájirah" and elsewhere "Áhirah," =whore and +strumpet used often in loose talk as mere abuse without special +meaning. + +[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. + +[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 (Lazà); Jews (Hutamah); Sabians (Sa'ir); Guebres +(Sakar); Pagans or idolaters (Jahím); and Hypocrites (Háwiyah). + +[FN#154] Arab. "'Atb," more literally= "blame," "reproach." + +[FN#155] Bresl. Edit. In the Mac. "it returned to the place +whence I had brought it"--an inferior reading. + +[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). + +[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 à 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. + +[FN#158] These lines occur in vol. vii. p. 340. I quote Mr. +Payne. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#161] So Hafiz, "Bád-i-Sabá chu bugzarí" etc. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#164] Arab. "Raff," a shelf proper, running round the room +about 7-7½ 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. + +[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. + +[FN#166] These lines have occurred in Night dclxxxix. vol. vii. +p. 119. I quote Lane. + +[FN#167] The lines have occurred before. I quote Mr. Payne. + +[FN#168] This formula, I repeat, especially distinguishes the +Tale of Hasan of Bassorah. + +[FN#169] These lines have occurred in vol. 1. 249. I quote Lane. + +[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. + +[FN#171] These lines occur in vol. i. 25: so I quote Mr. Payne. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#175] Wazir of Solomon. See vol. i. 42; and vol. iii. 97. + +[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. + +[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!" + +[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. + +[FN#179] Neither dome nor fount etc. are mentioned before, the +normal inadvertency. + +[FN#180] In Eastern travel the rest comes before the eating and +drinking. + +[FN#181] Arab. "'Id" (pron.'Eed) which I have said (vol. i. 42, +317) is applied to the two great annual festivals, the "Fête 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." + +[FN#182] Alluding to Hasan seizing her feather dress and so +taking her to wife. + +[FN#183] Arab. "Kharajú"=they (masc.) went forth, a vulgarism +for "Kharajna" (fem.) + +[FN#184] Note the notable housewife who, at a moment when youth +would forget everything, looks to the main chance. + +[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. + +[FN#186] This is so rare, even amongst the poorest classes in +the East, that it is mentioned with some emphasis. + +[FN#187] A beauty among the Egyptians, not the Arabs. + +[FN#188] True Fellah--"chaff." + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#191] i.e. the words I am about to speak to thee. + +[FN#192] Arab. "Sahifah," which may mean "page" (Lane) or "book" +(Payne). + +[FN#193] Pronounce, "Abussa'ádát" = Father of Prosperities: +Lane imagines that it came from the Jew's daughter being called +"Sa'adat." But the latter is the Jew's wife (Night dcccxxxiii) +and the word in the text is plural. + +[FN#194] Arab. "Furkh samak" lit. a fish-chick, an Egyptian +vulgarism. + +[FN#195] Arab. "Al-Rasif"; usually a river-quay, levée, an +embankment. Here it refers to the great dyke which distributed +the Tigris-water. + +[FN#196] Arab. "Dajlah," see vol. i, p 180. It is evidently +the origin of the biblical "Hid-dekel" "Hid" = fierceness, +swiftness. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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). + +[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. + +[FN#201] The Silurus is generally so called in English on +account of its feeler-acting mustachios. + +[FN#202] See Night dcccvii, vol. viii. p. 94. + +[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. + +[FN#204] See vol. ii. 197. "Al-Siddíkah" (fem.) is a title of +Ayishah, who, however, does not appear to have deserved it. + +[FN#205] The Jew's wife. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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). + +[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. + +[FN#212] Arab. "Fa-immá 'alayhá wa-immá bihá," i.e. whether +(luck go) against it or (luck go) with it. + +[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. + +[FN#214] The copper cucurbites in which Solomon imprisoned the +rebellious Jinns, often alluded to in The Nights. + +[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. + +[FN#216] For the name see vol. ii.61, in the Tale of Ghánim bin +'Ayyúb where the Caliph's concubine is also drugged by the Lady +Zubaydah. + +[FN#217] We should say, "What is this?" etc. The lines have +occurred before so I quote Mr. Payne. + +[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. + +[FN#219] Arab. "Shakhs," a word which has travelled as far as +Hindostan. + +[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. + +[FN#221] He is described by Al-Siyúti (p. 309) as "very fair, +tall handsome and of captivating appearance." + +[FN#222] Arab. "Uzn al-Kuffah" lit. "Ear of the basket," which +vulgar Egyptians pronounce "Wizn," so "Wajh" (face) becomes +"Wishsh" and so forth. + +[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. + +[FN#224] Arab. "Sátúr," a kind of chopper which here would be +used for the purpose of splitting and cleaning and scaling the +fish. + +[FN#225] And, consequently, that the prayer he is about to make +will find ready acceptance. + +[FN#226] Arab. "Ruh bilá Fuzúl" (lit. excess, exceeding) still a +popular phrase. + +[FN#227] i.e. better give the fish than have my head broken. + +[FN#228] Said ironicè, a favourite figure of speech with the +Fellah: the day began badly and threatened to end unluckily. + +[FN#229] The penalty of Theft. See vol. i. 274. + +[FN#230] This is the model of a courtly compliment; and it would +still be admired wherever Arabs are not "frankified." + +[FN#231] Arab. "Shibábah;" Lane makes it a kind of reed- +flageolet. + +[FN#232] These lines occur in vol. i. 76: I quote Mr. Payne. + +[FN#233] The instinctive way of juggling with Heaven like our +sanding the sugar and going to church. + +[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." + +[FN#235] For "Sandal," see vol. ii. {55}. Sandalí properly means +an Eunuch clean rasé, but here Sandal is a P.N. = Sandal-wood. + +[FN#236] Arab. "Yá mumátil," one who retards payment. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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." + +[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. + +[FN#241] Uncle of the Prophet: for his death see Pilgrimage ii. +248. + +[FN#242] First cousin of the Prophet, son of Abú Tálib, a +brother of Al-Abbas from whom the Abbasides claimed descent. + +[FN#243] i.e. I hope thou hast or Allah grant thou have good +tidings to tell me. + +[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. + +[FN#245] Yásamín and Narjis, names of slave-girls or eunuchs. + +[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. + +[FN#247] The formula (meaning, "What has he to do here?") is by +no means complimentary. + +[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. + +[FN#249] i.e. What a bother thou art, etc. + +[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). + +[FN#251] Arab. "Bismillah, Námí!" here it is not a blessing, +but a simple invitation, "Now please go to sleep." + +[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). + +[FN#253] This is not ironical, as Lane and Payne suppose, but a +specimen of inverted speech--Thou art in luck this time! + +[FN#254] Arab. "Marhúb" = terrible: Lane reads "Mar'úb" = +terrified. But the former may also mean, threatened with +something terrible. + +[FN#255] i.e. in Kut al-Kulúb. + +[FN#256] Lit. to the son of thy paternal uncle, i.e. Mohammed. + +[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." + +[FN#258] Koran xxxix. 54. I have quoted Mr. Rodwell who affects +the Arabic formula, omitting the normal copulatives. + +[FN#259] Easterns find it far easier to "get the chill of +poverty out of their bones" than Westerns. + +[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.-- + + Daily is there a supply of food: + Within it gladness doth ever brood + * * * * + Prolonged, increased; abides there Joy, etc., etc. + +[FN#261] Arab. "Ansár" = auxiliaries, the men of Al-Medinah +(Pilgrimage ii. 130, etc.). + +[FN#262] Arab. "Asháb" = the companions of the Prophet who may +number 500 (Pilgrimage ii. 81, etc.). + +[FN#263] Arab. "Hásilah" prob. a corner of a "Godown" in some +Khan or Caravanserai. + +[FN#264] Arab. "Funduk" from the Gr. {pandocheîon}, whence the +Italian Fondaco e.g. at Venice the Fondaco de' Turchi. + +[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, situlæ. In Petermann's Reisen (i. 89) Satr=assiette. + +[FN#266] Which made him expect a heavy haul. + +[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). + +[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." + +[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. + +[FN#270] Arab. "Nabbút"=a quarterstaff: see vol. i. 234. + +[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 +Athenæus. I may note that the Bresl. Edit. (iv. 332) also affects +the Egyptian vulgarism "Farkh-Banni" of the Mac. Edit. (Night +dcccxxxii.). + +[FN#272] The story-teller forgets that Khalif had neither basket +nor knife. + +[FN#273] Arab. "Rayhán" which may here mean any scented herb. + +[FN#274] In the text "Fard Kalmah," a vulgarism. The Mac. Edit. +(Night dcccxxxv.) more aptly says, "Two words" (Kalmatáni, vulg. +Kalmatayn) the Twofold Testimonies to the Unity of Allah and the +Mission of His Messenger. + +[FN#275] The lowest Cairene chaff which has no respect for +itself or others. + +[FN#276] Arab. "Karrat azlá hú": alluding to the cool skin of +healthy men when digesting a very hearty meal. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#279] Arab. "Sálih," a devotee; here, a naked Dervish. + +[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. + +[FN#281] Arab. "Kaylúlah," explained in vol. i. 51. + +[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. + +[FN#283] i.e. he was indecently clad. Man's "shame" extends from +navel to knees. See vol vi. 118. + +[FN#284] Rashád would be=garden-cresses or stones: Rashíd the +heaven-directed. + +[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. + +[FN#286] Arab. "Zurayk" dim. of Azrak=blue-eyed. See vol. iii. +104. + +[FN#287] Of Baghdad. + +[FN#288] Arab. "Hásil," i.e. cell in a Khan for storing goods: +elsewhere it is called a Makhzan (magazine) with the same sense. + +[FN#289] The Bresl. text (iv. 347) abbreviates, or rather omits; +so that in translation details must be supplied to make sense. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#292] The Egyptian Fellah knows nothing of boxing like the +Hausá man; but he is fond of wrestling after a rude and +uncultivated fashion, which would cause shouts of laughter in +Cumberland and Cornwall. And there are champions in this line, +See vol. ii. 93. + +[FN#293] The usual formula. See vol. ii. 5. + +[FN#294] As the Fellah still does after drinking a cuplet +("fingán" he calls it) of sugared coffee. + +[FN#295] He should have said "white," the mourning colour under +the Abbasides. + +[FN#296] Anglicè, "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. + +[FN#297] Arab. " Saub (Tobe) 'Atábi": see vol. iii. 149. + +[FN#298] In text "Kimkhá," which Dozy also gives Kumkh=chenille, +tissu de soie veloutee: Damasquète de soie or et argent de +Venise, du Levant , à fleurs, etc. It comes from Kamkháb or +Kimkháb, a cloth of gold, the well-known Indian "Kimcob." + +[FN#299] Here meaning=Enter in Allah's name! + +[FN#300] The Arabs have a saying, "Wine breeds gladness, music +merriment and their offspring is joy." + +[FN#301] Arab. "Jokh al-Saklát," rich kind of brocade on +broadcloth. + +[FN#302] Arab. "Hanabát," which Dozy derives from O. German +Hnapf, Hnap now Napf: thence too the Lat. Hanapus and Hanaperium: +Ital. Anappo, Nappo; Provenc. Enap and French and English +"Hanap"= rich bowl, basket, bag. But this is known even to the +dictionaries. + +[FN#303] Arab. " Kirám," nobles, and " Kurúm," vines, a word +which appears in Carmel=Karam-El (God's vineyard). + +[FN#304] Arab. "Suláf al-Khandarísí," a contradiction. Suláf=the +ptisane of wine. Khandarísí, from Greek {chóndros}, lit. gruel, +applies to old wine. + +[FN#305] i.e. in bridal procession. + +[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. + +[FN#307] Here the text of the Mac. Edition is resumed. + +[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. + +[FN#309] The face of her who owns the garden. + +[FN#310] i.e. I am no public woman. + +[FN#311] i.e. with the sight of the garden and its mistress-- +purposely left vague. + +[FN#312] Arab. "Dádat." Night dcclxxvi. vol. vii. p. 372. + +[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. + +[FN#314] i.e. the brow-curls, or accroche-cÂœurs. See vol. i. +168. + +[FN#315] Arab. "Wisháh" usually applied to woman's broad belt, +stomacher (Al-Hariri Ass. of Rayy). + +[FN#317] The old Greek "Stephane." + +[FN#317] Alluding to the popular fancy of the rain-drop which +becomes a pearl. + +[FN#318] Arab. "Ghází"=one who fights for the faith. + +[FN#319] i.e. people of different conditions. + +[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. + +[FN#321] These lines have occurred in the earlier part of the +Night: I quote Mr. Payne for variety. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#324] Arab. "Al-Gháliyah," whence the older English Algallia. +See vol. i., 128. The Voyage of Linschoten, etc. Hakluyt Society +MDCCCLXXXV., with notes by my learned friend the late Arthur Coke +Burnell whose early death was so sore a loss to Oriental +students. + +[FN#325] A favourite idiom, "What news bringest thou?" ("O +Asám!" Arab. Prov. ii. 589) used by Háris bin Amrú, King of +Kindah, to the old woman Asám whom he had sent to inspect a girl +he purposed marrying. + +[FN#326] Amongst the Jews the Arab Salám becomes "Shalúm" and a +Jewess would certainly not address this ceremonial greeting to a +Christian. But Eastern storytellers care little for these +minutiæ; and the "Adornment of Qualities," was not by birth a +Jewess as the sequel will show. + +[FN#327] Arab. "Sálifah," the silken plaits used as adjuncts. +See vol. iii, 313. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#331] We should say "To her (I drink)" etc. + +[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. + +[FN#333] The doggerel of this Kasidah is not so phenomenal as +some we have seen. + +[FN#334] Arab. "'Andam"=Brazil wood, vol. iii. 263. + +[FN#335] Arab. " Himà." See supra, p. 102. + +[FN#336] i.e. her favours were not lawful till the union was +sanctified by heartwhole (if not pure) love. + +[FN#337] Arab. "Mansúr wa munazzam=oratio soluta et ligata. + +[FN#338] i.e. the cupbearers. + +[FN#339] Which is not worse than usual. + +[FN#340] i.e. "Ornament of Qualities." + +[FN#341] The 'Akík, a mean and common stone, ranks high in +Moslem poetry on account of the saying of Mohammed recorded by +Ali and Ayishah "Seal with seals of Carnelian." ('Akik.) + +[FN#342] See note ii. at the end of this volume. + +[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. + +[FN#344] This is the Maghribi form of the Arab. Súk=a +bazar-street, known from Tanjah (Tangiers) to Timbuctoo. + +[FN#345] Arab. "Walímah" usually=a wedding-feast. According to +the learned Nasíf al-Yazají the names of entertainments are as +follows: Al-Jafalà=a general invitation, opp. to Al-Nakarà, +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; Kirà=a guest-feast and Maadubah, a +feast for other cause; any feast. + +[FN#346] Arab. "Anistaná" the pop. phrase=thy company gladdens +us. + +[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}. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#350] i.e. the twelve days' visit. + +[FN#351] See note, vol. vii. {226}. So Dryden (Virgil):-- + + "And the hoarse raven on the blasted bough + By croaking to the left presaged the coming blow." + +And Gay (Fable xxxvii.), + + "That raven on the left-hand oak, + Curse on his ill-betiding croak!" + +In some Persian tales two crows seen together are a good omen. + +[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. + +[FN#353] i.e. cease not to bemoan her lot whose moon-faced +beloved ones are gone. + +[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). + +[FN#355] A popular exaggeration. See vol. i. 117 + +[FN#356] Lit. Empty of tent-ropes (Atnáb). + +[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. + +[FN#358] i.e. fair faced boys and women. These lines are from +the Bresl. Edit. x. 160. + +[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. + +[FN#360] Arab. "Raas al-Mál"=capital, as opposed to Ribá or +Ribh=interest. This legal expression has been adopted by all +Moslem races. + +[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. + +[FN#362] Meaning that she had been carried to the Westward of +Meccah. + +[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 æt. 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. 51–52 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 + + "Where woman has never a soul to save." + +[FN#364] For Sharif and Sayyid, descendants of Mohammed, see +vol. iv. 170. + +[FN#365] These lines have occurred with variants in vol. iii. +257, and iv. 50. + +[FN#366] Arab. "Hazrat," esp. used in India and corresponding +with our mediæval "præsentia vostra." + +[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. + +[FN#368] They are called indifferently "Ruhbán"=monks or +"Batárikah"=patriarchs. See vol. ii. 89. + +[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." + +[FN#370] From Bresl. Edit. x. 194. + +[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 valdè. + +[FN#372] A neat and characteristic touch: the wilful beauty eats +and drinks before she thinks of her lover. Alas for Masrur +married. + +[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. + +[FN#374] These lines have repeatedly occurred. I quote Mr. +Payne. + +[FN#375] i.e. by the usual expiation. See vol. {ii. 186}. + +[FN#376] Arab. "Shammirí"=up and ready! + +[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." + +[FN#378] Arab. "Allaho Akbar," the Moslem slogan or war-cry. See +vol. ii. 89. + +[FN#379] The gate-keeper of Paradise. See vol. iii. 15, 20. + +[FN#380] Negroes. Vol. iii. 75. + +[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. + +[FN#382] i.e. They trip and stumble in their hurry to get there. + +[FN#383] Arab. "Kumm" = sleeve or petal. See vol. v. 32. + +[FN#384] Arab. "Kiráb" = sword-case of wood, the sheath being of +leather. + +[FN#385] Arab. "Akr kayrawán," both rare words. + +[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. + +[FN#387] Arab. "Aswad," lit. black but used for any dark colour, +here green as opposed to the lighter yellow. + +[FN#388] The idea has occurred in vol. i. 158. + +[FN#389] So called from the places where they grow. + +[FN#390] See vol. vii. for the almond-apricot whose stone is +cracked to get at the kernel. + +[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. + +[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). + +[FN#393] For the Sufrah table-cloth see vol. i. 178. + +[FN#394] See vol. iii. 302, for the unclean allusion in fig and +sycamore. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#397] 'Andam = Dragon's blood: see vol. iii. 263. + +[FN#398] Arab. "Jamár," the palm-pith and cabbage, both eaten by +Arabs with sugar. + +[FN#399] Arab. "Anwár" = lights, flowers (mostly yellow): hence +the Moroccan "N'wár," with its usual abuse of Wakf or quiescence. + +[FN#400] Mr. Payne quotes Eugène 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. + +[FN#401] Arab. "Jalájal" = small bells for falcons: in Port. +cascaveis, whence our word. + +[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, + +"Yut 'amu 'l-shahdu fí 'l-jifáni, wa yuska * Labanu 'l-Bukhti fi +Kusá'i 'l-Khalanji: +Honey's served to them in platters for food; * Camels' milk in +bowls of the Khalanj wood." + +The pl. Khalánij is used by Himyán bin Kaháfah in this "bayt", + +"Hattá izá má qazati 'l-Hawáijá * Wa malaat Halába-há +'l-Khalánijá: +Until she had done every work of hers * And with sweet milk had +filled the porringers." + +[FN#403] In text Al-Shá'ir Al-Walahán, vol. iii. 226. + +[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. + +[FN#405] Arab. "Ikyán," the living gold which is supposed to +grow in the ground. + +[FN#406] For the Kubbad or Captain Shaddock's fruit see vol. ii. +310, where it is misprinted Kubád. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#409] Arab. "Lisán al-Hamal" lit. = Lamb's tongue. + +[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.). + +[FN#411] Arab. "Mikhaddah" = cheek-pillow: Ital. guanciale. In +Bresl. Edit. Mudawwarah (a round cushion) Sinjabiyah (of Ermine). +For "Mudawwarah" see vol. iv. 135. + +[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. + +[FN#413] i.e. they are welcome. In Marocco "Lá baas" means, "I +am pretty well" (in health). + +[FN#414] The Rose (Ward) in Arab. is masculine, sounding to us +most uncouth. But there is a fem. form Wardah = a single rose. + +[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. + +[FN#416] Arab. "Ikyán" which Mr. Payne translates "vegetable +gold" very picturesquely but not quite preserving the idea. See +supra p. 272. + +[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. + +[FN#418] See the same idea in vol. i. 132, and 349. + +[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. + +[FN#420] i.e. a fair-faced cup-bearer. The lines have occurred +before: so I quote Mr. Payne. + +[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. + +[FN#422] i.e. bewitching. See vol. i. 85. These incompatible +metaphors are brought together by the Saj'a (prose rhyme) +in--"iyah." + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#425] Lit. standing on their heads, which sounds ludicrous +enough in English, not in Arabic. + +[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." + +[FN#427] These lines occur in vol. i. 218: I quote Torrens for +variety. + +[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. + +[FN#429] I again solicit the reader's attention to the +simplicity, the pathos and the beauty of this personification of +the lute. + +[FN#430] "They" for she. + +[FN#431] The Arabs very justly make the "'Andalib" = +nightingale, masculine. + +[FN#432] Anwár = lights or flowers: See Night dccclxv. supra p. +270. + +[FN#433] These couplets have occurred in vol. i. 168; so I quote +Mr. Payne. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#436] "Malak" = level ground; also tract on the Nile sea. +Lane M.E. ii. 417, and Bruckhardt Nubia 482. + +[FN#437] This sentiment has often been repeated. + +[FN#438] The owl comes in because "Búm" (pron. boom) rhymes with +Kayyúm = the Eternal. + +[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!" + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#442] Arab. Rashid (our Rosetta), a corruption of the Coptic +Trashit; ever famous for the Stone. + +[FN#443] For a parallel passage in praise of Alexandria see vol. +i. 290, etc. The editor or scribe was evidently an Egyptian. + +[FN#444] Arab. "Saghr" (Thagr), the opening of the lips showing +the teeth. See vol. i. p. 156. + +[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. + +[FN#446] i.e. paid them down. See vol. i. 281; vol. ii. 145. + +[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. + +[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). + +[FN#449] A variant occurs in vol. iv. 191. + +[FN#450] Arab. "Tars Daylami," a small shield of bright metal. + +[FN#451] Arab. "Kaukab al-durri," see Pilgrimage ii. 82. + +[FN#452] Arab. "Kusúf" applied to the moon; Khusúf being the +solar eclipse. + +[FN#453] May Abú Lahab's hands perish. . . and his wife be a +bearer of faggots!" Koran cxi. 1 & 4. The allusion is neat. + +[FN#454] Alluding to the Angels who shoot down the Jinn. See +vol. i. 224. The index misprints "Shibáh." + +[FN#455] For a similar scene see Ali Shar and Zumurrud, vol. iv. +187. + +[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. + +[FN#457] These lines have occurred in vol. iii. p. 303. I quote +Mr. Payne. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#461] These lines, extended to three couplets, occur in vol. +iv. 193. I quote Mr. Payne. + +[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. + +[FN#463] "Whiteness" (bayáz) also meaning lustre, honour. + +[FN#464] This again occurs in vol. iv. 194. So I quote Mr. +Payne. + +[FN#465] Her impudence is intended to be that of a captive +Princess. + +[FN#466] i.e. bent groundwards. + +[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." + +[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. + +[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." + +[FN#470] By reason of its leanness. + +[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?'" + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#474] See note p. 273. + +[FN#475] i.e. the best kind of camels. + +[FN#476] This first verse has occurred three times. + +[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). + +[FN#478] Pleiads in Gr. the Stars whereby men sail. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#481] i.e. Upper Egypt. + +[FN#482] These local excellencies of coition are described +jocosely rather than anthropologically. + +[FN#483] See vol. i. 223: I take from Torrens, p. 223. + +[FN#484] For the complete ablution obligatory after copulation +before prayers can be said. See vol. v. 199. + +[FN#485] Arab. "Zunnár," the Greek {zoonárion}, for which, see vol. +ii. 215. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#488] These lines are in Night i. ordered somewhat +differently: so I quote Torrens (p. 14). + +[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. + +[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. + +[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-formulæ and "Ta" takes the place of Wa as +Ta'lláhi. The three-fold forms are combined in a great "swear." + +[FN#492] i.e. of divorcing their own wives. + +[FN#493] These lines have occurred before: I quote Mr. Payne. + +[FN#494] These lines are in Night xxvi., vol. i. 275: I quote +Torrens (p. 277), with a correction for "when ere." + +[FN#495] This should be "draws his senses from him as one pulls +hair out of pate." + +[FN#496] Rághib and Záhid: see vol. v. 141. + +[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. + +[FN#498] Here the writer, not the young wife, speaks; but as a +tale-teller he says "hearer" not "reader." + +[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." + +[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 Latinæ, +Parisiis, Dondey-Dupré, MDCCCXXVI. + +[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. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#504] Arab. "Bab al-Bahr," see vol. iii. 281. + +[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. + +[FN#506] These lines have occurred in vol. i. 280--I quote +Torrens (p. 283). + +[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." + +[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. + +[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." + +[FN#510] Arab. "Batiyah," also used as a wine-jar (amphora), a +flagon. + +[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. + +[FN#512] Arab. "Ghuráb," which Europeans turn to "Grab." + +[FN#513] Arab. "Sayyib" (Thayyib) a rare word: it mostly applies +to a woman who leaves her husband after lying once with him. + +[FN#514] Arab. "Batárikah:" here meaning knights, leaders of +armed men as in Night dccclxii., supra p. 256, it means "monks." + +[FN#515] i.e. for the service of a temporal monarch. + +[FN#516] Arab. "Sayr" = a broad strip of leather still used by +way of girdle amongst certain Christian religions in the East. + +[FN#517] Arab. "Haláwat al-Salámah," the sweetmeats offered to +friends after returning from a journey or escaping sore peril. +See vol. iv. 60. + +[FN#518] So Eginhardt was an Erzcapellan and belonged to the +ghostly profession. + +[FN#519] These lines are in vols. iii. 258 and iv. 204. I quote +Mr. Payne. + +[FN#520] Arab. "Firásah," lit. = skill in judging of horse flesh +(Faras) and thence applied, like "Kiyáfah," to physiognomy. One +Kári was the first to divine man's future by worldly signs +(Al-Maydáni, Arab. prov. ii. 132) and the knowledge was +hereditary in the tribe Mashíj. + +[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)." + +[FN#522] These lines are in vol. i. 126. I quote Torrens (p. +120). + +[FN#523] These lines have occurred before. I quote Mr. Payne. + +[FN#524] Arab. "Khák-bák," an onomatopÂœia 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. + +[FN#525] i.e. after the rising up of the dead. + +[FN#526] Arab. "Nafísah," the precious one i.e. the Virgin. + +[FN#527] Arab. "Nákús," a wooden gong used by Eastern Christians +which were wisely forbidden by the early Moslems. + +[FN#528] i.e. a graceful, slender youth. + +[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. + +[FN#530] The modern Italian term of the venereal finish. + +[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. + +[FN#532] Arab. "Sandúk al-Nuzur," lit. "the box of vowed +oblations." This act of sacrilege would find high favour with the +auditory. + +[FN#533] The night consisting like the day of three watches. See +vol. i. + +[FN#534] Arab. "Al-Khaukhah," a word now little used. + +[FN#535] Arab. "Námúsiyah," lit. mosquito curtains. + +[FN#536] Arab. "Jáwashiyah," see vol. ii. 49. + +[FN#537] Arab. "Kayyimah," the fem. of "Kayyim," misprinted +"Kayim" in vol. ii. 93. + +[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!" + +[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 + + "Makes the stones canter." + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#542] i.e. Hoping to catch Nur al-Din. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#545] See below for the allusion. + +[FN#546] Arab. "Kafrá" = desert place. It occurs in this +couplet, + + "Wa Kabrun Harbin fí-makánin Kafrin; + Wa laysa Kurba Kabri Harbin Kabrun." + "Harb's corse is quartered in coarse wold accurst; + Nor close to corse of Harb is other corse;--" + +words made purposely harsh because uttered by a Jinni who killed +a traveller named "Harb." +So Homer:-- + +{pollà d' hánanta, kátanta, párantá te dachmía t' êlthon.} + +and Pope:-- + +"O'er hills, o'er dales, o'er crags, o'er rocks they go, etc." + +See Preface (p. v.) to Captain A. Lockett's learned and whimsical +volume, "The Muit Amil" etc. Calcutta, 1814. + +[FN#547] These lines have occurred vol. iv. 267. I quote Mr. +Lane. + +[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. + +[FN#549] Arab. "Bilád al-Rúm," here and elsewhere applied to +France. + +[FN#550] Here the last line of p. 324, vol. iv. in the Mac. +Edit. is misplaced and belongs to the next page. + +[FN#551] Arab. "Akhawán shakíkán" = brothers german (of men and +beasts) born of one father and mother, sire and dam. + +[FN#552] "The Forerunner" and "The Overtaker," terms borrowed +from the Arab Epsom. + +[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. + +[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. + +[FN#555] Alluding to the Arab saying "The two rests" +(Al-ráhatáni) "certainty of success or failure," as opposed to +"Wiswás" when the mind fluctuates in doubt. + +[FN#556] She falls in love with the groom, thus anticipating the +noble self-devotion of Miss Aurora Floyd. + +[FN#557] Arab. "Túfán" see vol. {iv. 136}: here it means the +"Deluge of Noah." + +[FN#558] Two of the Hells. See vol. v. 240. + +[FN#559] Lit. "Out upon a prayer who imprecated our parting!" + +[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. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, V8 + |