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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:33:55 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:33:55 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10121-0.txt b/10121-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..19d4f4e --- /dev/null +++ b/10121-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5648 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10121 *** + +ORIENTAL LITERATURE + +THE LITERATURE OF ARABIA + + +With Critical and Biographical Sketches by + +Epiphanius Wilson, A.M. + + +1900 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +THE ROMANCE OF ANTAR + +Introduction +The Early Fortunes of Antar +Khaled and Djaida +The Absians and Fazareans + + +ARABIAN POETRY + +Introduction +SELECTIONS.-- + An Elegy + The Tomb of Mano + Tomb of Sayid + On the Death of His Mistress + On Avarice + The Battle of Sabla + Verses to My Enemies + On His Friends + On Temper + The Song of Maisuna + To My Father + On Fatalism + To the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid + Lines to Harun and Yahia + The Ruin of Barmecides + To Taher Ben Hosien + The Adieu + To My Mistress + To a Female Cup-bearer + Mashdud on the Monks of Khabbet + Rakeek to His Female Companions + Dialogue by Rais + To a Lady Weeping + On a Valetudinarian + On a Miser + To Cassim Obio Allah + A Friend's Birthday + To a Cat + An Epigram upon Ebn Naphta-Wah + Fire + To a Lady Blushing + On the Vicissitudes of Life + To a Dove + On a Thunder Storm + To My Favorite Mistress + Crucifixion of Ebn Bakiah + Caprices of Fortune + On Life + Extempore Verses + On the Death of a Son + To Leila + On Moderation in our Pleasures + The Vale of Bozâa + To Adversity + On the Incompatibility of Pride and True Glory + The Death of Nedham Almolk + Lines to a Lover + Verses to My Daughters + Serenade to My Sleeping Mistress + The Inconsistent + The Capture of Jerusalem + To a Lady + An Epigram + On a Little Man with a Very Large Beard + Lamiat Alajem + To Youth + On Love + A Remonstrance with a Drunkard + Verses + On Procrastination + The Early Death of Abou Alhassan Aly + The Interview + + +ARABIAN NIGHTS + +THE SEVEN VOYAGES OF SINDBAD + First Voyage + Second Voyage + Third Voyage + Fourth Voyage + Fifth Voyage + Sixth Voyage + Seventh and Last Voyage +ALADDIN'S WONDERFUL LAMP + + + + +THE ROMANCE OF ANTAR + +[_Translation by Étienne Delécluse and Epiphanius Wilson_] + + +INTRODUCTION + +The romantic figure of Antar, or Antarah, takes the same place in +Arabian literature as that of Achilles among the Greeks. The Cid in +Spain, Orlando in Italy, and Arthur in England, are similar examples of +national ideals put forth by poets and romance writers as embodiments of +a certain half-mythic age of chivalry, when personal valor, prudence, +generosity, and high feeling gave the warrior an admitted preeminence +among his fellows. The literature of Arabia is indeed rich in novels and +tales. The "Thousand and One Nights" is of world-wide reputation, but +the "Romance of Antar" is much less artificial, more expressive of high +moral principles, and certainly superior in literary style to the +fantastic recitals of the coffee house and bazaar, in which Sindbad and +Morgiana figure. A true picture of Bedouin society, in the centuries +before Mohammed had conquered the Arabian peninsula, is given us in the +charming episodes of Antar. We see the encampments of the tribe, the +camels yielding milk and flesh for food, the women friends and +councillors of their husbands, the boys inured to arms from early days, +the careful breeding of horses, the songs of poet and minstrel stirring +all hearts, the mail-clad lines of warriors with lance and sword, the +supreme power of the King--often dealing out justice with stern, sudden, +and inflexible ferocity. Among these surroundings Antar appears, a +dazzling and irresistible warrior and a poet of wonderful power. The +Arab classics, in years long before Mohammed had taken the Kaaba and +made it the talisman of his creed, were hung in the little shrine where +the black volcanic stone was kept. They were known as Maallakat, or +Suspended Books, which had the same meaning among Arabian literati as +the term classic bore among the Italian scholars of the Renaissance. +Numbered with these books of the Kaaba were the poems of Antar, who was +thus the Taliessin of Arabian chivalry. + +It is indeed necessary to recollect that in reading the episodes of +Antar we have been taken back to the heroic age in the Arabian +peninsula. War is considered the noblest occupation of a man, and Khaled +despises the love of a noble maiden "from pride in his passion for war." +Antar has his famous horse as the Cid had his Babicca, and his +irresistible sword as Arthur his Excalibur. The wealth of chiefs and +kings consists in horses and camels; there is no mention of money or +jewelry. When a wager is made the stakes are a hundred camels. The +commercial spirit of the Arabian Nights is wanting in this spirited +romance of chivalry. The Arabs had sunk to a race of mere traders when +Aladdin became possessed of his lamp, and the trickery, greed, and +avarice of peddlers and merchants are exhibited in incident after +incident of the "Thousand and One Nights." War is despised or feared, +courage less to be relied upon than astute knavery, and one of the facts +that strikes us is the general frivolity, dishonesty, and cruelty which +prevail through the tales of Bagdad. The opposite is the case with +Antar. Natural passion has full play, but nobility of character is taken +seriously, and generosity and sensibility of heart are portrayed with +truthfulness and naiveté. Of course the whole romance is a collection of +many romantic stories: it has no epic unity. It will remind the reader +of the "Morte d'Arthur" of Sir Thomas Malory, rather than of the +"Iliad." We have chosen the most striking of these episodes as best +calculated to serve as genuine specimens of Arabian literature. They +will transport the modern reader into a new world--which is yet the old, +long vanished world of pastoral simplicity and warlike enthusiasm, in +primitive Arabia. But the novelty lies in the plot of the tales. Djaida +and Khaled, Antar and Ibla, and the race between Shidoub and the great +racers Dahir and Ghabra, bring before our eyes with singular freshness +the character of a civilization, a domestic life, a political system, +which were not wanting in refinement, purity, and justice. The +conception of such a dramatic personage as Antar would be original in +the highest degree, if it were not based upon historic fact. Antar is a +more real personage than Arthur, and quite as real and historic as the +Cid. Yet his adventures remind us very much of those which run through +the story of the Round Table. + +The Arabs, in the days of romance, were a collection of tribes and +families whose tents and villages were spread along the Red Sea, between +Egypt and the Indian Ocean. There were some tribes more powerful than +others, and the result of their tyranny was often bitter war. There was +no central monarchy, no priesthood, and no written law. The only stable +and independent unit was the family. Domestic life with its purest +virtues constituted the strong point amongst the Arabian tribes, where +gentleness, free obedience, and forbearance were conspicuous. Each tribe +bore the name of its first ancestor, and from him and his successors +came down a traditionary, unwritten law, the violation of which was +considered the most heinous of offences. There was no settled religion +before the conquest of Mohammed; each tribe and each family worshipped +whom they would--celestial spirits, sun and moon, or certain idols. In +the account given in Antar of the Council of War, the ancients, or old +men of the tribe, came forth with idols or amulets round their necks, +and the whole account of the council, in which the bard as well as the +orator addressed the people, is strictly accurate in historic details. +The custom of infanticide in the case of female children was perfectly +authorized among the Arabs, and illustrates the motive of the pretty +episode of Khaled and Djaida. War was individual and personal among the +Arabs, and murder was atoned for by murder, or by the price of a certain +number of camels. Raising of horses, peaceful contests in arms, or +poetic competitions where each bard recited in public his compositions, +formed their amusements. They were very sensible to the charms of music, +poetry and oratory, and as a general rule the Arab chieftain was brave, +generous, and munificent. + +All these historic facts are fully reflected in the highly emotional +tale of "Antar," which is the greatest of all the national romances of +Arabia. It would scarcely be possible to fix upon any individual writer +as its author, for it has been edited over and over again by Arabian +scribes, each adding his own glosses and enriching it with incidents. +Its original date may have been the sixth century of our era, about five +hundred years before the production of the "Thousand and One Nights." + +E.W. + + + + +THE EARLY FORTUNES OF ANTAR + +At the time the "Romance of Antar" opens, the most powerful and the best +governed of the Bedouin tribes were those of the Absians and the +Adnamians. King Zoheir, chief of the Absians, was firmly established +upon his throne, so that the kings of other nations, who were subject to +him, paid him tribute. The whole of Arabia in short became subject to +the Absians, so that all the chiefs of other tribes and all inhabitants +of the desert dreaded their power and depredations. + +Under these circumstances, and as a consequence of a flagrant act of +tyranny on the part of Zoheir, several chieftains, among whom was +Shedad, a son of Zoheir, seceded from the Absian tribe, and set out to +seek adventures, to attack other tribes, and to carry off their cattle +and treasure. These chieftains arrived at the dwelling-place of a +certain tribe, named Djezila, whom they fought with and pillaged. +Amongst their booty was a black woman of extraordinary beauty, the +mother of two children. Her name was Zebiba; her elder son was Djaris; +her younger Shidoub. Shedad became passionately enamoured of this woman, +and yielded all the rest of his share in the booty in order to obtain +possession of her and her two children. He dwelt in the fields with this +negress, whose sons took care of the cattle. In course of time Zebiba +bore a son to Shedad. This child was born tawny as an elephant; his eyes +were bleared, his head thick with hair, his features hard and fixed. The +corners of his mouth drooped, his eyes started from his head, his bones +were hard, his feet long; he had ears of prodigious size, and his glance +flashed like fire. In other respects he resembled Shedad, who was +transported with delight at the sight of his son, whom he named Antar. + +Meanwhile the child waxed in strength, and his name soon became known. +Then the companions of Shedad wished to dispute the possession of the +boy with him, and King Zoheir was informed of the matter. He demanded +that the boy should be brought into his presence, and Shedad complied. +As soon as the king caught sight of this extraordinary child, he uttered +a cry of astonishment, and flung him a piece of goat's flesh. At the +same moment a dog, who happened to be in the tent, seized the meat and +ran off with it. But Antar, filled with rage, pursued the animal, and, +violently taking hold of him, drew his jaws apart, splitting the throat +down to the shoulders, and thus recovered the meat. King Zoheir, in +amazement, deferred the matter to the Cadi, who confirmed Shedad's +possession of Zebiba, and her three children, Djaris, Shidoub, and +Antar. + +Shedad therefore provided a home for Zebiba, in order that his sons +might be educated in their business of tending the herds. It was at this +time that Antar began to develop his strength of body, his courage, and +intelligence. When he was ten years of age he slew a wolf which +threatened to attack the herds committed to his charge. Although brutal, +headstrong, and passionate, he early exhibited a love of justice, and a +disposition to protect the weak, especially women. He put to death a +slave who beat an old woman, his slave and companion; and this action, +although at first misunderstood, eventually gained the admiration of +King Zoheir, who treated Antar with distinction, because of his nobility +of character. In consequence of this action, which had been so much +applauded by King Zoheir, the young Arab women and their mothers hung +round Antar to learn the details of this courageous deed, and to +congratulate him on his magnanimity. + +Among the young women was Ibla, daughter of Malek, the son of Zoheir. +Ibla, fair as the full moon, was somewhat younger than Antar. She was +accustomed to banter him in a familiar way, feeling that he was her +slave. "And you," she said to him, "you, born so low, how dared you kill +the slave of a prince? What provocation can you have against him?" +"Mistress," replied Antar, "I struck that slave because he deserved it, +for he had insulted a poor woman. He knocked her down, and made her the +laughing stock of all the servants." "Of course you were right," +answered Ibla, with a smile, "and we were all delighted that you escaped +from the adventure safe and sound. Because of the service you have +rendered us by your conduct, our mothers look upon you as a son, and we +as a brother." + +From that moment Antar made the service of women his special duty above +all others. At that time the Arabian ladies had the habit of drinking +camel's milk morning and evening, and it was especially the duty of +those who waited upon them to milk the camels, and to cool it in the +wind before offering it to them. Antar had been for some time released +from this duty, when one morning he entered the dwelling of his uncle +Malek, and found there his aunt, engaged in combing the hair of her +daughter Ibla, whose ringlets, black as the night, floated over her +shoulders. Antar was struck with surprise, and Ibla, as soon as she knew +that he had seen her, fled and left him with his eyes fixed abstractedly +on her disappearing form. + +It was from this incident that the love of Antar for the daughter of his +uncle took its origin. He saw how Ibla shone in society, and his passion +grew to such an extent that he ventured to sound her praises, and to +express the feeling she excited in him by writing verses which, while +they gained the admiration of the multitude, incurred also the envy of +the chieftains. Moreover his father could not pardon the presumption of +Antar, who, born a slave, had dared to cast eyes on his free-born +cousin. + +When therefore he slew a slave who had slandered him, his father ordered +him to be flogged, and sent away to watch over the cattle in the +pastures. He had now before him a fresh opportunity for exhibiting his +prodigious strength and invincible courage. A lion attempted to attack +the herds committed to his care. He killed it at the very moment that +his father Shedad, enraged against him, had come, accompanied by his +brother, to do him ill. But a mingled feeling of admiration and fear +held their hands, and in the evening, when Antar returned from the +pastures, his father and his uncle made him seat himself at dinner with +them, while the rest of the attendants stood behind them. + +Meanwhile King Zoheir was called upon a warlike expedition against the +tribe of Temin. All his warriors followed him; the women alone remained +behind. Shedad entrusted them to the protection of Antar, who pledged +his life for their safety. During the absence of the warriors, Semiah, +the lawful wife of Shedad, conceived the idea of giving an entertainment +on the bank of the lake Zatoulizard. Ibla attended it with her mother, +and Antar witnessed all the amusements in which his beloved took part. +His passion for her became intensified. He was once tempted to violate +the modesty of love by the violence of desire, but, at that moment, he +saw a great cloud of dust rise in the distance; the shouts of war were +heard; and suddenly the warriors of the tribe of Cathan appeared on the +scene, and, descending on the pleasure-seekers, carried off the women, +including Ibla. Antar, being unarmed, ran after one of the horsemen, +seized him, strangled and threw him to the ground. Then he put on the +armor of the vanquished foe, attacked and put to flight the tribe of +Cathan, rescued the women, and obtained a booty of twenty-five horses. +From that moment Semiah, the wife of Shedad, who hitherto had a +pronounced aversion to Antar, conceived a sincere affection for him. + +King Zoheir, meantime, had returned victorious from his expedition. +Shedad returned at the same moment, and went to visit his herds. Seeing +Antar surrounded by horses which he did not know, and mounted upon a +fine black courser, he asked, "Where did these animals, and particularly +this superb horse, come from?" Then Antar, not willing to betray the +imprudence of Semiah, declared that, as the Cathanians had left their +horses behind them, he had seized them. Shedad was indignant, and +treated Antar as a robber, reproached him for his wickedness, and after +repeatedly telling him how wrong it was to rouse discord among the +Arabs, struck him with his whip, with such violence as to draw blood. +Then Semiah, distressed by the sight of this unjust treatment, took off +her veil, letting her hair fall over her shoulders, took Antar into her +arms and told all that had happened and how she and all the other women +of her tribe were indebted to this hero for their honor and liberty. +Shedad could not restrain his tenderness on learning the magnanimity of +his son's silence. Soon afterwards King Zoheir, to whom this incident +had been related, summoned Antar into his presence, and declared that a +man who could exhibit such courage and generosity was bound to become +preeminent among his companions. All the chieftains who surrounded the +king congratulated Antar, and one of his friends, in order to give the +court a complete idea of this young man's remarkable gifts, asked him to +recite some of his verses. + +In compliance with this request he recited a poem in praise of warriors +and war, and the king and all the court manifested their delight. Zoheir +bade Antar approach, gave him a robe of honor, and thanked him. That +evening Antar departed with his father Shedad, his heart full of joy +over the honors which had been lavished on him, and his love for Ibla +still more heightened. + +In spite of the indisputable virtues of Antar, in spite of the great +services he had rendered the Absians, the chieftains of this tribe still +regarded him as merely a common slave and tender of cattle. The +beginning of his rise to favor excited a feeling of keen hatred, and +caused many plots to be laid against him. A series of intrigues was +entered upon, the aim of which was the death of the hero. But each +attack upon his reputation and his life redounded to his benefit, and +furnished him with an opportunity of putting his enemies to silence and +defeat. For by his generosity and magnanimity, even his envious foes +felt themselves under obligation to him. On each of his triumphs the +mutual love between himself and Ibla went on increasing. + +After the performance of many feats as a horseman, Antar came into +possession of a famous horse named Abjer, and a sword of marvellous +temper, Djamy--and every time he appeared on the field of combat, as +well as when he returned victorious from the fight, he made a poetic +address, finishing with the words, "I am the lover of Ibla." At the +conclusion of a war in which he had performed prodigies of valor, King +Zoheir gave him the surname of Alboufauris, which means, "The Father of +Horsemen." + +The greater grew his name, the more highly he was honored by King +Zoheir, so much the more did the hatred of the chieftains and the love +of Ibla towards him increase. But it came to pass that Ibla was asked in +marriage by Amarah, a stupid youth, puffed up by his wealth and lineage. +Antar, on hearing the news, was transported with rage, and attacked his +young rival with such violence that all the Arabian chiefs begged of +Zoheir to punish the aggressor. The king left to Shedad, Antar's father, +the pronouncing of sentence. Shedad had, like the others, viewed the +rise of Antar, the black slave, to favor, with jealous eye, and sent him +back to the pastures to keep the herds. + +It was at this point that the greatness of Antar's character appeared in +its full dimensions. The hero submitted with resignation to the orders +of his father, "to whom," he said, "he owed obedience as to his master, +since he was his slave"; and he swore to him, in the presence of +witnesses, not to mount horse, nor engage in battle, without his +permission. Tears flowed from his eyes, and before departing for the +pastures he went to see his mother Zebiba, and to talk with her +concerning Ibla. "Ibla?" said his mother--"but a moment ago she was +here beside me, and said to me, 'Comfort the heart of Antar, and tell +him from me, that even should my father torture me to death in trying to +change my mind, I would not desire nor ask for other husband than +Antar.'" + +These words of Ibla filled with rapture the heart of Antar, as he +started for the pastures in company with his brothers, Djaris and +Shidoub. + +At this time the tribe of Abs, which Zoheir ruled over, was at war with +that of Tex, on account of the carrying off of Anima, daughter of the +chief of the Tex, a man known as "The Drinker of Blood." Animated by the +desire to take vengeance and recover his daughter, this chief and his +army fell upon the Absians like a thunderbolt. The Absians were +defeated, and their women, among whom was Ibla, taken prisoners. All +pride was then, in this time of need, laid aside, and to their +assistance Antar was summoned. But before acting Antar laid down his +conditions, and stipulated that, in case he succeeded in subduing the +foe and recovering the women, Ibla should be given him in marriage. +Malek, the father of Ibla, and Shedad, the father of Antar, assented, +and bound themselves by an oath to fulfil these conditions and to +reinstate Antar in all the honors and dignities belonging to him. + +Antar was victorious. He rescued Ibla, and received grateful expressions +of gratitude from his beloved, while King Zoheir gave him the kiss of +royal honor. Everything seemed to unite in fulfilling the hopes of +Antar. But at the very moment in which he was honored by royal +felicitations, several chieftains, indignant at the elevation of a black +slave, employed every means to prevent his marriage with Ibla, and to +force him to undertake enterprises which would prove fatal to him. +Shedad, his father, and Malek, the father of Ibla, connived at these +plots. They demanded of Antar, who was of that trusting disposition +which belongs to generous and brave men, that he give as a wedding +present to his bride, a thousand camels, of a particular breed, not to +be found excepting on the borders of the Persian kingdom. The hero made +no remark on hearing this treacherous demand, and was so eager to please +Ibla, that he took no count of the difficulties to be undergone. He set +off and soon found himself engaged in conflict with a large army of +Persians, who made him prisoner, and led him off with the view of +bringing him into the presence of their king. There he was taken, bound +and on horseback, when at that instant, the news came that a fierce lion +of extraordinary size was ravaging the country. It was alleged that even +armed men fled before it. Antar, who was on the point of being put to +death, asked the King of Persia to cause his arms at least to be +unbound, and to let him confront the lion. His prayer was granted; he +rushed upon the savage creature, and transfixed it with his lance. Nor +was this the only service he did the King of Persia, who in gratitude +for many others, not only gave Antar the thousand camels he was looking +for, but loaded him with treasures, with which to do homage to Ibla. + +On his return Antar was received with a rapturous welcome by the Absian +tribe. But the hostile and the envious continued to plot against him. +They still aimed at preventing his marriage, and compassing his death. +Amarah, who aspired to Ibla's hand, backed by all the chieftains hostile +to Antar, renewed his suit and pretensions. Ibla was carried off from +her house among the Absians, and taken to another tribe. Then Antar set +out in search of her, and at length rescued her: their mutual love was +intensified by this reunion. By a series of wiles and intrigues +skilfully conducted, the chiefs who surrounded Ibla persuaded her to +demand still further dowry from Antar. She spoke of Khaled and Djaida, +whose history has already been related; she said, in presence of Antar, +that that young warrior girl would not consent to marry Khaled, saving +on the condition that her camel's bridle be held by the daughter of +Moawich. This word was sufficient for Antar, and he promised to Ibla +that Djaida should hold the bridle of her camel on her wedding day; and +more than that, the head of Khaled should be slung round the neck of the +warrior girl. Thus the hero, constantly loving and beloved by Ibla, +incessantly deceived by the cunningly devised obstacles raised by his +foes, sustained his reputation for greatness of character and strength +of arm, submitted with resignation to the severest tests, and passed +victoriously through them all. After the death of King Zoheir, whom he +avenged, he undertook to assist Cais, Zoheir's son, in all his +enterprises, and after a long series of adventures which tired the +patience, love, and courage of Antar, this hero, recognized as chief +among Arabian chieftains, obtained the great reward of his long +struggles and mighty toils, by marriage to his well-loved Ibla. + + + + +KHALED AND DJAIDA + +Moharib and Zahir were brothers, of the same father and mother; the +Arabs call them "brothers germane." Both were, renowned for courage and +daring. But Moharib was chief of the tribe, and Zahir, being subject to +his authority, was no more than his minister, giving him counsel and +advice. Now it happened that a violent dispute arose between them. Zahir +subsequently retired to his tent, in profound sorrow, and not knowing +what course to take. "What is the matter with you?" asked his wife, "Why +are you so troubled? What has happened to you? Has any one displeased or +insulted you--the greatest of Arab chiefs?" "What am I to do?" replied +Zahir; "the man who has injured me is one whom I cannot lay hands on, or +do him wrong; he is my companion in the bosom of my family, my brother +in the world. Ah, if it had been any one but he, I would have shown him +what sort of a man he was at odds with, and have made an example of him +before all the chiefs of our tribes!" "Leave him; let him enjoy his +possessions alone," cried his wife, and, in order to persuade her +husband to take this course, she recited verses from a poet of the time, +which dissuade a man from tolerating an insult even at the hands of his +parents. + +Zahir assented to the advice of his wife. He made all preparations for +departure, struck his tents, loaded his camels, and started off on the +road towards the camp of the Saad tribe, with whom he was in alliance. +Yet in spite of all, he felt a keen pang at separating himself from his +brother--and thus he spoke: "On starting on a journey which removes me +from you, I shall be a thousand years on the way, and each year will +carry me a thousand leagues.... Even though the favors you heap upon me +be worth a thousand Egypts, and each of these Egypts had a thousand +Niles, all those favors would be despised. I shall be contented with +little so long as I am far from you. Away from you, I shall recite this +distich, which is worth more than a necklace of fine pearls: 'When a man +is wronged on the soil of his tribe, there is nothing left him but to +leave it; you, who have so wickedly injured me, before long shall feel +the power of the kindly divinity, for he is your judge and mine, he is +unchangeable and eternal." + +Zahir continued his journey, until he reached the Saad tribe, when he +dismounted from his horse. He was cordially received and was pressed to +take up his abode with them. His wife was at that time soon to become a +mother, and he said to her: "If a son is given to us, he will be right +welcome; but if it be a daughter, conceal her sex and let people think +we have a male child, so that my brother may have no reason to crow over +us." When her time came Zahir's wife brought into the world a daughter. +They agreed that her name should be actually Djaida, but that publicly +she should be known as Djonder, that people might take her for a boy. In +order to promote this belief, they kept up feasting and entertainment +early and late for many days. + +About the same time Moharib, the other brother, had a son born to him, +whom he named Khaled (The Eternal). He chose this name in gratitude to +God, because, since his brother's departure, his affairs had prospered +well. + +The two children eventually reached full age, and their renown was +widespread among the Arabs. Zahir had taught his daughter to ride on +horseback, and had trained her in all the accomplishments fitting to a +warrior bold and daring. He accustomed her to the severest toils, and +the most perilous enterprises. When he went to war, he put her among the +other Arabs of the tribe, and in the midst of these horsemen she soon +took her rank as one of the most valiant of them. Thus it came to pass +that she eclipsed all her comrades, and would even attack the lions in +their dens. At last her name became an object of terror; when she had +overcome a champion she never failed to cry out: "I am Djonder, son of +Zahir, horseman of the tribes." + +Her cousin Khaled, on the other hand, distinguished himself equally by +his brilliant courage. His father Moharib, a wise and prudent chief, had +built houses of entertainment for strangers; all horsemen found a +welcome there. Khaled had been brought up in the midst of warriors. In +this school his spirit had been formed, here he had learned to ride, and +at last had become an intrepid warrior, and a redoubtable hero. It was +soon perceived by the rest of the army that his spirit and valor were +unconquerable. + +Eventually he heard tell of his cousin Djonder, and his desire to see +and know him and to witness his skill in arms became extreme. But he +could not satisfy this desire because of the dislike which his father +showed for his cousin, the son of his uncle. This curiosity of Khaled +continued unsatisfied until the death of his father Moharib, which put +him in possession of rank, wealth, and lands. He followed the example of +his father in entertaining strangers, protecting the weak and +unfortunate, and giving raiment to the naked. He continued also to scour +the plains on horseback with his warriors, and in this way waxed greater +in bodily strength and courage. After some time, gathering together a +number of rich gifts, he started, in company with his mother, to visit +his uncle. He did not draw rein until he reached the dwelling of Zahir, +who was delighted to see him, and made magnificent preparations for his +entertainment; for the uncle had heard tell on many occasions of his +nephew's worth and valor. Khaled also visited his cousin. He saluted +her, pressed her to his bosom, and kissed her forehead, thinking she was +a young man. He felt the greatest pleasure in her company, and remained +ten days with his uncle, regularly taking part in the jousts and +contests of the horsemen and warriors. As for his cousin, the moment she +had seen how handsome and valiant Khaled was, she had fallen violently +in love with him. Her sleep left her; she could not eat; and her love +grew to such a pitch that feeling her heart completely lost to him, she +spoke to her mother and said: "O mother, should my cousin leave without +taking me in his company, I shall die of grief at his absence." Then her +mother was touched with pity for her, and uttered no reproaches, feeling +that they would be in vain. "Djaida," she said, "conceal your feelings, +and restrain yourself from grief. You have done nothing improper, for +your cousin is the man of your choice, and is of your own blood. Like +him, you are fair and attractive; like him, brave and skilful in +horsemanship. Tomorrow morning, when his mother approaches us, I will +reveal to her the whole matter; we will soon afterwards give you to him +in marriage, and finally we will all return to our own country." + +The wife of Zahir waited patiently until the following morning, when the +mother of Khaled arrived. She then presented her daughter, whose head +she uncovered, so as to allow the hair to fall to her shoulders. At the +sight of such charms the mother of Khaled was beyond measure astonished, +and exclaimed: "What! is not this your son Djonder?" "No! it is +Djaida--she the moon of beauty, at last has risen." Then she told her +all that had passed between herself and her husband, and how and why +they had concealed the sex of their child. "Dear kinswoman," replied the +mother of Khaled, still quite surprised, "among all the daughters of +Arabia who have been celebrated for their beauty I have never seen one +more lovely than this one. What is her name?" "I have already told you +that it is Djaida, and my especial purpose in telling you the secret is +to offer you all these charms, for I ardently desire to marry my +daughter to your son, so that we may all be able to return to our own +land." The mother of Khaled at once assented to this proposal, and said: +"The possession of Djaida will doubtless render my son very happy." She +at once rose and went out to look for Khaled, and communicated to him +all she had seen and learned, not failing to extol especially the charms +of Djaida. "By the faith of an Arab," said she, "never, my son, have I +seen in the desert, or in any city, a girl such as your cousin; I do not +except the most beautiful. Nothing is so perfect as she is, nothing more +lovely and attractive. Make haste, my son, to see your uncle and ask him +for his daughter in marriage. You will be happy indeed if he grants your +prayer: Go, my son, and do not waste time in winning her." + +When Khaled had heard these words, he cast his eyes to the ground, and +remained for some time thoughtful and gloomy. Then he replied: "My +mother, I cannot remain here any longer. I must return home amid my +horsemen and troops. I have no intention of saying anything more to my +cousin; I am convinced that she is a person whose temper and ideas of +life are uncertain; her character and manner of speech are utterly +destitute of stability and propriety. I have always been accustomed to +live amid warriors, on whom I spend my wealth, and with whom I win a +soldier's renown. As for my cousin's love for me, it is the weakness of +a woman, of a young girl." He then donned his armor, mounted his horse, +bade his uncle farewell, and announced his intention of leaving at once. +"What means this haste?" cried Zahir. "I can remain here no longer," +answered Khaled, and, putting his horse to a gallop, he flung himself +into the depths of the wilderness. His mother, after relating to Djaida +the conversation she held with her son, mounted a camel and made her way +towards her own country. + +The soul of Djaida felt keenly this indignity. She brooded over +it--sleepless and without appetite. Some days afterwards, as her father +was preparing with his horsemen to make a foray against his foes, his +glance fell on Djaida, and seeing how altered she was in face, and +dejected in spirit, he refrained from saying anything, thinking and +hoping that she would surely become herself again after a short time. + +Scarcely was Zahir out of sight of his tents, when Djaida, who felt +herself like to die, and whose frame of mind was quite unsupportable, +said to her mother: "Mother, I feel that I am dying, and that this +miserable Khaled is still in the vigor of life. I should like, if God +gives me the power, to make him taste the fury of death, the bitterness +of its pang and torture." So saying, she rose like a lioness, put on her +armor, and mounted her horse, telling her mother she was going on a +hunting expedition. Swiftly, and without stopping, she traversed rocks +and mountains, her excitement increasing as she approached the +dwelling-place of her cousin. As she was disguised, she entered, +unrecognized, into the tent where strangers were received. Her visor +was, however, lowered, like that of a horseman of Hijaz. Slaves and +servants received her, offered her hospitality, comporting themselves +towards her as to one of the guests, and the most noble personages of +the land. That night Djaida took rest; but the following day she joined +the military exercises, challenged many cavaliers, and exhibited so much +address and bravery, that she produced great astonishment among the +spectators. Long before noon the horsemen of her cousin were compelled +to acknowledge her superiority over themselves. Khaled wished to witness +her prowess, and, surprised at the sight of so much skill, he offered to +match himself with her. Djaida entered the contest with him, and then +both of them joining in combat tried, one after another, all the methods +of attack and defence, until the shadows of night came on. When they +separated both were unhurt, and none could say who was the victor. Thus +Djaida, while rousing the admiration of the spectators, saw the +annoyance they felt on finding their chief equalled in fight by so +skilful an opponent. Khaled ordered his antagonist to be treated with +all the care and honor imaginable, then retired to his tent, his mind +filled with thoughts of his conflict. Djaida remained three days at her +cousin's habitation. Every morning she presented herself on the ground +of combat, and remained under arms until night. She enjoyed it greatly, +still keeping her _incognito_, whilst Khaled, on the other hand, +made no enquiries, and asked no questions of her, as to who she was and +to what tribe she might belong. + +On the morning of the fourth day, while Khaled, according to his custom, +rode over the plain, and passed close to the tents reserved for +strangers, he saw Djaida mounting her horse. He saluted her, and she +returned his salute. "Noble Arab," said Khaled, "I should like to ask +you one question. Up to this moment I have failed in courtesy towards +you, but, I now beg of you, in the name of that God who has endowed you +with such great dexterity in arms, tell me, who are you, and to what +noble princes are you allied? For I have never met your equal among +brave cavaliers. Answer me, I beseech you, for I am dying to learn." +Djaida smiled, and raising her visor, replied: "Khaled, I am a woman, +and not a warrior. I am your cousin Djaida, who offered herself to you, +and wished to give herself to you; but you refused her--from the pride +you felt in your passion for arms." As she spoke she turned her horse +suddenly, stuck spurs into him, and dashed off at full gallop towards +her own country. + +Khaled filled with confusion withdrew to his tent, not knowing what to +do, nor what would be the end of the passionate love which he suddenly +felt rise within him. He was seized with disgust for all these warlike +habits and tastes, which had reduced him to the melancholy plight in +which he found himself. His distaste for women was changed into love. He +sent for his mother and related to her all that had occurred. "My son," +she said, "all these circumstances should render Djaida still dearer to +you. Wait patiently a little, until I have been able to go and ask her +of her mother." She straightway mounted her camel, and started through +the desert on the tracks of Djaida, who immediately on her arrival home +had told her mother all that had happened. As soon as the mother of +Khaled had arrived, she flung herself into the arms of her kinswoman and +demanded Djaida in marriage for her son, for Zahir had not yet returned +from his foray. When Djaida heard from her mother the request of Khaled, +she said, "This shall never be, though I be forced to drink the cup of +death. That which occurred at his tents was brought about by me to +quench the fire of my grief and unhappiness, and soothe the anguish of +my heart." + +At these words the mother of Khaled, defeated of her object, went back +to her son, who was tortured by the most cruel anxiety. He rose suddenly +to his feet, for his love had reached the point of desperation, and +asked with inquietude what were the feelings of his cousin. When he +learned the answer of Djaida his distress became overwhelming, for her +refusal only increased his passion. "What is to be done, my mother," he +exclaimed. "I see no way of escaping from this embarrassment," she +replied, "excepting you assemble all your horsemen from among the Arab +sheiks, and from among those with whom you are on friendly terms. Wait +until your uncle returns from the campaign, and then, surrounded by your +followers, go to him, and in the presence of the assembled warriors, +demand of him his daughter in marriage. If he deny that he has a +daughter, tell him all that has happened, and urge him until he gives +way to your demand." This advice, and the plan proposed moderated the +grief of Khaled. As soon as he learned that his uncle had returned home, +he assembled all the chiefs of his family and told his story to them. +All of them were very much astonished, and Madi Kereb. one of the +Khaled's bravest companions, could not help saying: "This is a strange +affair; we have always heard say that your uncle had a son named +Djonder, but now the truth is known. You are certainly the man who has +most right to the daughter of your uncle. It is therefore our best +course to present ourselves in a body and prostrate ourselves before +him, asking him to return to his family and not to give his daughter to +a stranger." Khaled, without hearing any more, took with him a hundred +of his bravest horsemen, being those who had been brought up with +Moharib and Zahir from their childhood, and, having provided themselves +with presents even more costly than those they had taken before, they +started off, and marched on until they came to the tribe of Saad. Khaled +began by complimenting his uncle on his happy return from war, but no +one could be more astonished than Zahir at this second visit, especially +when he saw his nephew accompanied by all the chieftains of his family. +It never for a moment occurred to him that his daughter Djaida had +anything to do with Khaled's return, but thought that his nephew merely +wished to persuade him to return to his native territory. He offered +them every hospitality, provided them with tents and entertained them +magnificently. He ordered camels and sheep to be killed, and gave a +banquet; he furnished his guests with all things needful and proper for +three days. On the fourth day Khaled arose, and after thanking his uncle +for all his attentions, asked him for his daughter in marriage, and +begged him to return to his own land. Zahir denied that he had any child +but his son Djonder, but Khaled told him all that he had learned, and +all that had passed between himself and Djaida. At these words Zahir was +overcome with shame and turned his eyes to the ground. He remained for +some moments plunged in thought, and after reflecting that the affair +must needs proceed from bad to worse, he addressed those present in the +following words: "Kinsmen, I will no longer delay acknowledging this +secret; therefore to end the matter, she shall be married to her cousin +as soon as possible, for, of all the men I know, he is most worthy of +her." He offered his hand to Khaled, who immediately clasped it in +presence of the chiefs who were witnesses to the contract. The dowry was +fixed at five hundred brown black-eyed camels, and a thousand camels +loaded with the choicest products of Yemen. The tribe of Saad, in the +midst of which Zahir had lived, were excluded from all part in this +incident. + +But when Zahir had asked his daughter's consent to this arrangement, +Djaida was overwhelmed with confusion at the course her father had +taken. Since he let his daughter clearly understand that he did not wish +her to remain unmarried, she at last replied: "My father, if my cousin +desires to have me in marriage, I shall not enter into his tent until he +undertakes to slaughter at my wedding a thousand camels, out of those +which belong to Gheshem, son of Malik, surnamed 'The Brandisher of +Spears.'" Kahled agreed to this condition; but the sheiks and the +warriors did not leave Zahir before he had collected all his possessions +for transportation to his own country. No sooner were these preparations +completed than Khaled marched forth at the head of a thousand horsemen, +with whose assistance he subdued the tribe of Aamir. Having thrice +wounded "The Brandisher of Spears," and slain a great number of his +champions, he carried off their goods and brought back from their +country even a richer spoil than Djaida had demanded. Loaded with booty +he returned, and was intoxicated with success. But when he asked that a +day should be fixed for the wedding, Djaida begged him to approach, and +said to him: "If you desire that I become your wife, fulfil first of all +my wishes, and keep the engagement I make with you. This is my demand: I +wish that on the day of my marriage, some nobleman's daughter, a +free-born woman, hold the bridle of my camel; she must be the daughter +of a prince of the highest rank, so that I may be the most honored of +all the daughters of Arabia." Khaled consented, and prepared to carry +out her wishes. That very day he started with his horsemen, and +traversed plains and valleys, searching the land of Ymer, even till he +reached the country of Hijar and the hills of Sand. In this place he +attacked the tribe-family of Moawich, son of Mizal. He burst upon them +like a rain-storm, and cutting a way with his sword through the opposing +horsemen, he took prisoner Amima, daughter of Moawich, at the very +moment when she was betaking herself to flight. + +After having accomplished feats which rendered futile the resistance of +the most experienced heroes, after having scattered all the tribes in +flight, and carried off all the wealth of all the Arabs in that country, +he returned home. But he did not wish to come near his tents until he +had first gathered in all the wealth which he had left at different +points and places in the desert. + +The young maidens marched before him sounding their cymbals and other +instruments of music. All the tribe rejoiced; and when Khaled appeared, +he distributed clothing to the widows and orphans, and invited his +companions and friends to the feast he was preparing for his wedding. +All the Arabs of the country came in a crowd to the marriage. He caused +them to be regaled with abundance of flesh and wine. But while all the +guests abandoned themselves to feasting and pleasure, Khaled, +accompanied by ten slaves, prepared to scour the wild and marshy places +of the land, in order to attack hand to hand in their caverns the lions +and lionesses and their cubs, and bear them slain to the tents, in order +to provide meat for all those who attended the festival. + +Djaida had been informed of this design. She disguised herself in coat +of mail, mounted her horse, and left the tents; as three days of +festivities still remained, she hastily followed Khaled into the desert, +and met him face to face in a cavern. She flung herself upon him with +the impetuosity of a wild beast, and attacked him furiously, crying +aloud, "Arab! dismount from your horse, take off your coat of mail, and +your armor; if you hesitate to do so, I will run this lance through your +heart." Khaled was resolved at once to resist her in this demand. They +engaged in furious combat. The struggle lasted for more than an hour, +when the warrior saw in the eyes of his adversary an expression which +alarmed him. He remounted his horse, and having wheeled round his steed +from the place of combat, exclaimed: "By the faith of an Arab, I adjure +you to tell me what horseman of the desert you are; for I feel that your +attack and the violence of your blows are irresistible. In fact, you +have prevented me from accomplishing that which I had intended, and all +that I had eagerly desired to do." At these words Djaida raised her +visor, thus permitting him to see her face. "Khaled," she cried, "is it +necessary for the girl you love to attack wild beasts, in order that the +daughters of Arabia may learn that this is not the exclusive privilege +of a warrior?" At this cutting rebuke Khaled was overcome with shame. +"By the faith of an Arab," he replied, "no one but you can overcome me; +but is there anyone in this country who has challenged you, or are you +come hither merely to prove to me the extent of your valor?" "By the +faith of an Arab," replied Djaida, "I came into this desert solely for +the purpose of helping you to hunt wild beasts, and in order that your +warriors might not reproach you for choosing me as your wife." At these +words Khaled felt thrilled with surprise and admiration, that such +spirit and resolution should have been exhibited in the conduct of +Djaida. + +Then both of them dismounted from their horses and entered into a +cavern. There Khaled seized two ferocious wild beasts, and Djaida +attacked and carried off a lion and two lionesses. After these exploits +they exchanged congratulations, and Djaida felt happy to be with Khaled. +"Meanwhile," she said, "I shall not permit you to leave our tents until +after our marriage." She immediately left him in haste and betook +herself to her own dwelling. + +Khaled proceeded to rejoin the slaves whom he had left a little way off, +and ordered them to carry to the tents the beasts he had slain. +Trembling with fright at the view of what Khaled had done, they extolled +him with admiration above all other champions of the land. + +The feasts meanwhile went on, and all who came were welcomed with +magnificence. The maidens sounded their cymbals; the slaves waved their +swords in the air, and the young girls sang from morn till evening. It +was in the midst of such rejoicings that Djaida and Khaled were married. +Amima, the daughter of Moawich, held the reins of the young bride's +camel, and men and women alike extolled the glory of Djaida. + + + + +THE ABSIANS AND FAZAREANS + +King Cais, chief of the Absians, distrusting the evil designs of +Hadifah, the chief of the tribe of Fazarah, had sent out his slaves in +every direction to look after Antar. One of these slaves on his return +said to the king: "As for Antar, I have not even heard his name; but as +I passed by the tribe of Tenim, I slept one night in the tents of the +tribe Byah. There I saw a colt of remarkable beauty. He belonged to a +man named Jahir, son of Awef. I have never seen a colt so fine and +swift." This recital made a profound impression upon Cais. And in truth +this young animal was the wonder of the world, and never had a handsomer +horse been reared among the Arabs. He was in all points high-bred and +renowned for race and lineage, for his sire was Ocab and his dam Helweh, +and these were horses regarded by the Arabs as quicker than lightning. +All the tribes admired their points, and the tribe of Byah had become +celebrated above all others, because of the mare and stallion which +pertained to it. + +As for this fine colt, one day, when his sire Ocab had been put out on +pasture, he was being led by the daughter of Jahir along the side of a +lake at noonday, and there he saw the mare Helweh, who was tethered +close to the tent of her master. He immediately began to neigh, and +slipped his halter. The young girl in her embarrassment let him go, and +for modesty took refuge in the tent of a friend. The stallion remained +on the spot until the girl returned. She seized the halter and took him +to the stables. + +But her father discerned the anxiety which she could not conceal. He +questioned her, and she told him what had happened. He became furious +with rage on hearing her story, for he was naturally choleric; he ran +among the tents, flinging off his turban, and crying at the top of his +voice, while all the Arabs crowded round him, "Tribe of Byah, tribe of +Byah! Kinsmen and friends, hear me." Then he related what his daughter +had told him. "I cannot permit," he added, "that the blood of my horse +should be blended with that of Helweh; yet I am not willing to sell him +for the most costly sheep and camels; and if I cannot otherwise prevent +Helweh from bearing a colt to my stallion, I shall be glad if some one +will put the mare to death." "By all means," cried his listeners, "do as +you please, for we can have no objection." Such were the usual terms of +Arabian courtesy. + +Nevertheless, Helweh, in course of time, bore a fine colt, whose birth +brought great joy to her master. He named the young horse Dahir. The +colt waxed in strength and beauty, until he actually excelled his sire +Ocab. His chest was broad, his neck long, his hoofs hard, his nostrils +widely expanded. His tail swept the ground, and he was of the gentlest +temper; in short, he was the most perfect creature ever seen. Being +reared with the greatest care, his shape was perfect as the archway of a +royal palace. When the mare Helweh, followed by her colt, was one day +moving along the shore of a lake, Ocab's owner chanced to see them. He +seized the young horse, and took him home with him, leaving his mother +in grief for his difference. "As for Jahir," he said, "this colt belongs +to me, and I have more right to him than anyone else." + +The news of the colt's disappearance soon reached his owner's ears. He +assembled the chiefs of the tribe, and told them what had happened. They +sent to Jahir, and he was reproached bitterly. "Jahir," they said, "you +have not suffered, yet have done injustice, in that you carried off that +which belonged to another man." "Say no more," answered Jahir, "and +spare me these reproaches, for, by the faith of an Arab, I will not +return the colt, unless compelled by main force. I will declare war +against you first." At that moment the tribe was not prepared for a +quarrel; and several of them said to Jahir: "We are too much attached to +you to push things to such an extreme as that; we are your allies and +kinsmen. We will not fight with you, though an idol of gold were at +stake." Then Kerim, son of Wahrab (the latter being the owner of the +mare and colt, a man renowned among the Arabs for his generosity), +seeing the obstinacy of Jahir, said to him: "Cousin, the colt is +certainly yours, and belongs to you; as for the mare here, accept her as +a present from my hand, so that mother and colt will not be separated, +and no one will ever be able to accuse me of wronging a kinsman." + +The tribe highly applauded this act, and Jahir was so humiliated by the +generosity with which he had been treated, that he returned mare and +colt to Kerim, adding to the gift a pair of male and a pair of female +camels. + +Dahir soon became a horse of absolute perfection in every point, and +when his master Kerim undertook to race him with another horse, he rode +the animal himself, and was in the habit of saying to his antagonist, +"Even should you pass me like an arrow, I could catch you up, and +distance you," and in fact this always happened. + +As soon as King Cais heard tell of this horse, he became beside himself +with longing and mortification, and his sleep left him. He sent to +Kerim, offering to buy the horse for as much gold or silver as the owner +demanded, and adding that the price would be forwarded without delay. +This message enraged Kerim. "Is not this Cais a fool, or a man of no +understanding?" he exclaimed. "Does he think I am a man of traffic--a +horse-dealer, who cannot mount the horses he owns? I swear by the faith +of an Arab that if he had asked for Dahir, as a present, I would have +sent the horse, and a troop of camels besides: but if he thinks of +obtaining him by bidding a price, he will never have him; even were I +bound to drink the cup of death." + +The messenger returned to Cais, and gave him the answer of Kerim, at +which the latter was much annoyed. "Am I a king over the tribes of Abs, +of Adnan, of Fazarah, and of Dibyan," he exclaimed, "and yet a common +Arab dares to oppose me!" He summoned his people and his warriors. +Immediately there was the flash of armor, of coats of mail, and swords +and helmets appeared amid the tents; the champions mounted their steeds, +shook their spears, and marched forth against the tribe of Byah. As soon +as they reached their enemy's territory they overran the pastures, and +gathered an immense booty in cattle, which Cais divided among his +followers. They next made for the tents and surprised the dwellers +there, who were not prepared for such an attack: Kerim being absent with +his warriors on an expedition of the same sort. Cais at the head of the +Absians, pushing his way into the dwellings, carried off the wives and +daughters of his foe. + +As for Dahir, he was tethered to one of the tent-pegs, for Kerim never +used him as a charger, for fear some harm might befall him, or he might +be killed. One of the slaves who had been left in the encampment, and +had been among the first to see the approach of the Absians, went up to +Dahir for the purpose of breaking the line by which he was hobbled. This +he failed to accomplish, but mounting him, and digging his heels into +his flanks, he forced the horse, although he was hobbled, to rush off +prancing like a fawn, until he reached the desert. It was in vain that +the Absians pursued him; they could not even catch up with the trail of +dust that he left behind him. + +As soon as Cais perceived Dahir, he recognized him, and the desire of +possessing him became intensified. He hurried on, but his chagrin was +great, as he perceived that, do what he would, he never could catch up +with him. At last the slave, perceiving that he had quite out-distanced +the Absians, dismounted, untied the feet of Dahir, leapt again into the +saddle, and galloped off. Cais, who had kept up the pursuit, gained +ground during this stop, and coming within ear-shot of the slave, +shouted out, "Stop, Arab, there is no cause for fear; you have my +protection; by the faith of a noble Arab, I swear it." At these words +the slave stopped. "Do you intend to sell that horse?" said King Cais to +him, "for in that case you have the most eager buyer of all the Arabian +tribesmen." "I do not wish to sell him, sire," replied the slave, +"excepting at one price, the restoration of all the booty." "I will buy +him then," the King answered, and he clasped the hand of the Arab as +pledge of the bargain. The slave dismounted from the young horse, and +delivered him over to King Cais, and the latter overjoyed at having his +wish, leapt on to his back, and set out to rejoin the Absians, whom he +commanded to restore all the booty which they had taken. His order was +executed to the letter. King Cais, enchanted at the success of his +enterprise, and at the possession of Dahir, returned home. So great was +his fondness for the horse that he groomed and fed him with his own +hands. Soon as Hadifah, chief of the tribe of Fazarah, heard that Cais +had possession of Dahir, jealousy filled his heart. In concert with +other chiefs he plotted the death of this beautiful horse. + +Now it came to pass that at this time Hadifah gave a great feast, and +Carwash, kinsman of King Cais, was present. At the end of the meal, and +while the wine circulated freely the course of conversation turned to +the most famous chiefs of the time. The subject being exhausted, the +guests began to speak about their most celebrated horses, and next, of +the journeys made by them in the desert. "Kinsmen," said Carwash, "none +of you ever saw a horse like Dahir, which belongs to my ally Cais. It is +vain to seek his equal; his pace is absolutely terrifying. He chases +away sorrow from the heart of him who beholds him, and protects like a +strong tower the man who mounts him." Carwash did not stop here, but +continued to praise, in the highest and most distinguished language, the +horse Dahir, until all of the tribe of Fazarah and of the family of +Zyad, felt their hearts swell with rage. "Do you hear him, brother?" +said Haml to Hadifah; "come, that is enough," he added, turning towards +Carwash. "All that you have said about Dahir is absolute nonsense--for +at present there are no horses better or finer than mine, and those of +my brother." + +With these words he ordered his slaves to bring his horses and parade +them before Carwash. This was done. "Come, Carwash, look at that horse." +"He is not worth the hay you feed him on," said the other. Then those of +Hadifah were led out; among them was a mare, named Ghabra, and a +stallion called Marik. "Now look at these," said Hadifah. "They are not +worth the hay they eat," replied Carwash. Hadifah, filled with +indignation at these words: "What, not even Ghabra?" "Not even Ghabra, +or all the horses in the world," repeated Carwash. "Would you like to +make a bet for us with King Cais?" "Certainly," answered Carwash--"I +will wager that Dahir will beat all the horses of the tribe of Fazarah, +even if he carries a hundred weight of stone on his back." They +discussed the matter for a long time, the one affirming the other +denying the statements, until Hadifah closed the altercation by saying, +"I hold to the wager, on condition that the winner takes from the loser +as many male and female camels as he chooses." "You are going to play me +a nice trick," said Carwash, "and for my part I tell you plainly that I +won't bet more than twenty camels; the man whose horse loses shall pay +this forfeit." The matter was arranged accordingly. They sat at table +until nightfall, and then rested. + +The next day Carwash left his tent at early morn, went to the tribe of +Abs, to find Cais, whom he told about the wager. "You were wrong," said +Cais. "You might have made a bet with anyone excepting Hadifah, who is a +man of tricks and treachery. If you have made the wager, you will have +to declare it off." Cais waited until certain persons who were with him +had retired, then he at once took horse, and repaired to the tribe of +Fazarah, where everybody was taking their morning meal in their tents. +Cais dismounted, took off his arms, and seating himself among them began +to eat with them, like a noble Arab. "Cousin," said Hadifah to him +jokingly, "What large mouthfuls you take; heaven preserve me from having +an appetite like yours." "It is true," said Cais, "that I am dying of +hunger, but by Him who abides always, and will abide forever, I came not +here merely to eat your victuals. My intention is to annul the wager +which was yesterday made between you and my kinsman Carwash, I beg of +you to cancel this bet, for all that is uttered over cups and flagons is +of no serious account, and ought to be forgotten." "I would have you to +know," was the answer, "that I will not withdraw from the challenge, +unless you forfeit the camels which are staked. If you accept this +condition, I shall be perfectly indifferent to everything else. +Nevertheless, if you wish it, I will seize the camels by force, or, if +it be your good pleasure, I will waive every claim, save as a debt of +honor." In spite of all that Cais could say, Hadifah remained firm in +his resolution, and as his brother began to deride Cais, the latter lost +his temper, and with a face blazing with wrath he asked of Hadifah, +"What stake did you offer in your wager with my cousin?" "Twenty +she-camels," said Hadifah. "As for this first wager," answered Cais, "I +cancel it, and propose another one in its stead: I will bet thirty +camels." "And I forty," replied Hadifah, "I make it fifty," was the +retort of Cais. "Sixty," quickly added the other; and they continued +raising the terms of the wager, until the number of camels staked was +one hundred. The contract of the bet was deposited in the hands of a man +named Sabic, son of Wahhab, and in the presence of a crowd of youths and +old men. "What shall be the length of the race?" asked Hadifah of Cais. +"One hundred bow-shots," replied Cais, "and we have an archer here, +Ayas, the son of Mansour, who will measure the ground." Ayas was in fact +the strongest and most accomplished archer then living among the Arabs. +King Cais, by choosing Ayas, wished the course to be made long, knowing +the endurance of his horse, and the longer distance Dahir had to travel, +the more he gained speed, from the increased excitement of his spirit. +"Well now, we had better fix the day for the race," said Cais to +Hadifah. "Forty days will be required," replied Hadifah, "to bring the +horses into condition." "You are right," said Cais, and they agreed that +the horses should be trained for forty days, that the race should take +place by the lake Zatalirsad, and that the horse that first reached the +goal should be declared winner. All these preliminaries having been +arranged, Cais returned to his tents. + +Meanwhile one of the horsemen of the tribe of Fazarah said to his +neighbors: "Kinsmen, you may rest assured that there is going to be a +breach between the tribe of Abs and that of Fazarah, as a result of this +race between Dahir and Ghabra. The two tribes, you must know, will be +mutually estranged, for King Cais has been there in person; now he is a +prince and the son of a prince. He has made every effort to cancel the +bet, but Hadifah would by no means consent. All this is the beginning of +a broil, which may be followed by a war, possibly lasting fifty years, +and many a one will fall in the struggle." + +Hadifah hearing this prediction, said: "I don't trouble myself much +about the matter, and your suggestion seems to me absurd." "O Hadifah," +exclaimed Ayas, "I am going to tell you what will be the result of all +your obstinacy towards Cais." Then he recited some verses, with the +following meaning: "In thee, O Hadifah, there is no beauty; and in the +purity of Cais there is not a single blot. How sincere and honest was +his counsels, although they were lacking in prudence and dignity. Make a +wager with a man who does not possess even an ass, and whose father has +never been rich enough to buy a horse. Let Cais alone; he has wealth, +lands, horses, a proud spirit, and he is the owner of this Dahir, who is +always first on the day of a race, whether he is resting or +running--this Dahir, a steed whose feet even appear through the +obscurity of night like burning brands." "Ayas," replied Hadifah, "do +you think I would break my word? I will take the camels of Cais, and +will not permit my name to be inscribed among the number of those who +have been vanquished. Let things run their course." + +As soon as King Cais had regained his tents he hastened to tell his +slaves to begin the training of his horses, and to pay especial +attention to Dahir. Then he told his kinsmen all that had taken place +between himself and Hadifah. Antar was present at this recital, and as +he took great interest in all that concerned the king, he said, "Cais, +calm your fears, keep your eyes well open, run the race, and have no +fear. For, by the faith of an Arab, if Hadifah makes any trouble or +misunderstanding, I will kill him, as well as the whole tribe of +Fazarah." + +The conversation on this subject continued until they reached the tents, +which Antar declined to enter before seeing Dahir. He walked several +times round this animal, and saw at a glance that the horse actually +possessed qualities which astonished any one who saw him. + +Hadifah quickly learned the return of Antar, and knew that the hero was +encouraging King Cais to run the race. Haml, Hadifah's brother, had also +heard the news, and in the distress which he felt remarked to Hadifah, +"I fear lest Antar should fall upon me, or some one of the family of +Beder, and kill us, and thus render us disgraced. Give up this race, or +we are ruined. Let me go to King Cais, and I will not leave him until he +promises to come to you and cancel the contract." "Do as you please," +answered Hadifah. Thereupon Haml took horse, and went immediately to +King Cais. He found him with his uncle Assyed, a wise and prudent man. +Haml approached Cais, saluted him by kissing his hand, and after saying +that he was the bearer of an important message, added: "Kinsman, you +know that my brother Hadifah is a low fellow, whose mind is full of +intrigues. I have spent the last three days in trying to persuade him to +cancel this wager. At last he has said: 'Very good, if Cais comes to me, +and wishes to be released from the contract, I will annul it; but do not +let any Arab think that I abandon the bet through fear of Antar.' Now +you, Cais, are aware that the greatest proof of attachment between +kinsmen is their willingness to give way to one another. So I am here to +beg that you will come to the dwelling of my brother Hadifah and ask him +to give up the race, before it causes trouble, and the tribe be utterly +driven away from its territories." At this address of Haml, Cais became +flushed with shame, for he was trusting and generous. He at once arose, +and leaving his uncle Assyed in charge of his domestic business, he +accompanied Haml to the land of Fazarah. When they were midway on their +journey Haml began to utter lavish praises of Cais to the latter's face, +and to blame his own brother's faults, in the following terms: "O Cais, +do not let your wrath be stirred up against Hadifah, for he is verily a +man headstrong and unjust in his actions. O Cais, if you persist in +holding to the bet, great disasters will follow. Both you and he are +impulsive and passionate, and this is what causes me to feel anxiety +about you, Cais. Put aside your private feelings, be kind and generous, +and it will come to pass that the oppressor himself will become the +oppressed." + +Haml continued to abuse his brother, and to flatter Cais with +expressions of admiration all the way, until in the evening they arrived +at the tribe of Fazarah. Hadifah, who at the moment was surrounded by +many powerful chiefs, upon whose aid he depended in the hour of need, +had changed his mind since his brother Haml's departure, and in place of +coming to terms and making peace with Cais he had determined to yield in +nothing, but to maintain rigorously the conditions of the coming race. +He was speaking of this very matter with one of the chiefs at the moment +when Cais and Haml presented themselves before him. As soon as Hadifah +saw Cais, he resolved to cover him with shame. Turning therefore to his +brother, he asked: "Who ordered you to go to this man? By the faith of a +noble Arab, even if all the men who cover the surface of the earth were +to come and importune me, saying, 'O Hadifah, give up one hair of these +camels,' I would not yield until a lance had pierced my heart and a +sword stricken the head from my shoulders." Cais crimsoned, and +immediately remounted his horse, bitterly reproaching Haml. He returned +home with the utmost haste, and found his uncle and brothers waiting for +him in extreme anxiety. "O my son!" said his uncle Assyed as soon as he +saw him, "you have had a disastrous journey, for it has caused you to be +disgraced." + +"If Hadifah had not been surrounded by certain chiefs, who gave him +treacherous counsels, I could have arranged the whole affair," answered +Cais. "There is now nothing left but to carry out the race and the bet." + +King Cais did not sleep the whole of that night. On the morrow he +thought of nothing but the training of his horses during the forty days' +interval before the race. All the Arabs of the land agreed to come to +the pastures and see the race, and when the forty days had expired the +horsemen of the two tribes came in a crowd to the banks of lake +Zatalirsud. Next arrived the archer Ayas, who, turning his back to the +lake at the point where the horses were to start, drew his bow as he +walked toward the north a hundred times, and measured out to the goal +the course of a hundred bow-shots. Soon the horsemen of Ghitfan and +Dibyan arrived, for they were of the same territory, and because of +their friendly relations and kinship were comprised as one tribe under +the name of Adnan. King Cais had begged Antar not to show himself on +this occasion, fearing that his appearance might cause dissension. Antar +listened to this advice, but was unable to rest quiet in the tents. The +interest he felt in Cais, and the deep distrust with which the falseness +of the Fazareans--who were always ready for treason--inspired him, +induced him to show himself. Girding on his sword Dhami, and mounting +his famous charger, Abjer, he took with him his brother Shidoub, and +reached the spot fixed upon for the race, in order that he might watch +over the safety of King Zoheir's sons. On his arrival he seemed to excel +all that crowd, like a lion clad in coat of mail. He carried his naked +sword, and his eyes flashed like blazing coals. As soon as he had +reached the middle of the crowd, he cried out with a loud voice, that +struck terror to all hearts: "Hearken, noble Arabian chieftains and men +of renown assembled here--all of you know that I was supported and +favored by King Zoheir, father of King Cais, that I am a slave bound to +him, by his goodness and munificence; that it is he who caused my +parents to acknowledge me, and gave me my rank, making me to be numbered +among Arab chiefs. Although he is no longer living, I wish to show my +gratitude to him, and bring the kings of the land into subjection to +him, even after his death. He has left a son, whom his brothers have +acknowledged, and have set on the throne of his father. This son is +Cais, whom they have thus distinguished, because of his wisdom, +rectitude, and noble heart. I am the slave of Cais, and am his property; +I intend to be the supporter of him whom I love, and the enemy of +whosoever resists him. It shall never be said, as long as I live, that I +have suffered an enemy to affront him. As to the conditions of this +wager, it is our duty to see them observed. The best thing, accordingly, +to do is to let the horses race unobstructed, for victory comes from the +creator of day and night. I make an oath, therefore, by the holy house +at Mecca, by the temple, by the eternal God, who never forgets his +servants and never sleeps, that if Hadifah commits any act of violence, +I will make him drink the cup of vengeance and of death; and will make +the whole tribe of Fazarah the byword of all the world. And you, Arab +chieftains, if you sincerely desire the race to take place, conduct +yourselves with justice and impartiality; otherwise, by the eyes of my +dear Ibla, I will make the horses run the race in blood." "Antar is +right," the horsemen shouted on all sides. + +Hadifah chose, as the rider of Ghabra, a groom of the tribe of Dibyan. +This man had passed all his days and many of his nights in rearing and +tending horses. Cais, on the other hand, chose as rider of Dahir a groom +of the tribe of Abs, much better trained and experienced in his +profession than was the Dibyanian. When the two contestants had mounted +their horses King Cais gave this parting instruction to his groom: "Do +not let the reins hang too loosely in managing Dahir; if you see him +flag, stand up in your stirrups, and press his flanks gently with your +legs. Do not urge him too much, or you will break his spirit." Hadifah +heard this advice and repeated it, word for word, to his rider. + +Antar began to laugh. "By the faith of an Arab," he said to Hadifah, +"you will be beaten. Are words so scarce that you are obliged to use +exactly those of Cais? But as a matter of fact Cais is a king, the son +of a king; he ought always to be imitated by others, and since you have +followed, word by word, his speech, it is a proof that your horse will +follow his in the desert." + +At these words the heart of Hadifah swelled with rage and indignation, +and he swore with an oath that he would not let his horse run that day, +but that he wished the race to take place at sunrise, next morning. This +delay was indispensable to him in preparing the act of perfidy which he +meditated, for he had no sooner seen Dahir than he was speechless with +astonishment at the beauty and perfections of the horse. + +The judges had already dismounted and the horsemen of the various tribes +were preparing to return home, when Shidoub began to cry out with a loud +voice, "Tribes of Abs, of Adnan, of Fazarah and of Dibyan, and all here +present attend to me for an instant, and listen to words which shall be +repeated from generation to generation." All the warriors stood +motionless. "Speak on," they cried, "what is your will? Perhaps there +may be something good in your words." "Illustrious Arabs," continued +Shidoub, "you know what happened in consequence of the match between +Dahir and Ghabra: I assure you on my life that I will outstrip both of +them in running, even were they swifter than the wind. But listen to the +condition I offer; if I am the winner, I am to take the hundred camels +which are at stake; but if I am beaten, I am to forfeit fifty." Upon +this one of the Sheiks of Fazarah exclaimed, "What is that you are +saying, vile slave? Why should you receive a hundred camels if you win +and only forfeit fifty if you lose?" "Do you ask why, ancient mire of a +dunghill," replied Shidoub, "because I have but two legs to run on and a +horse has four, not counting his tail." All the Arabs burst out +laughing; yet as they were astonished at the conditions proposed by +Shidoub, and extremely curious to see him run the race, they agreed that +he should make the hazardous experiment. + +When all had returned to the tents Antar said to Shidoub: "Come, now, +thou son of a cursed mother, how dared thou say that thou couldst +outstrip these two horses, whose race all horsemen of our tribes have +assembled to see, and who all the world admits have no equals in speed, +not even among the birds of the air?" "By him who created the springs in +the rocks and who knows all things," replied Shidoub, "I will outstrip +those two horses, be they fleet as the winds. Yes, and my victory will +have an advantageous result, for when the Arabs hear of it, they will +give up all idea of pursuing me, when I run across the desert." Antar +laughed, for he was in doubt about Shidoub's plan. The latter went to +find King Cais and his brothers, and the other witnesses of the race, +and made oath on his life that he would outstrip the two horses. All +present acknowledged themselves witnesses of the oath, and left the +spot, filled with astonishment at the proposition. + +As for the trickster Hadifah, in the evening he summoned one of his +slaves named Dames, a rascal, if ever there was one. "O Dames," he said, +"you frequently boast of your cunning, but hitherto I have had no +opportunity of putting it to the proof." "My Lord," answered the slave, +"tell me in what way I can be useful to you." "I desire," said Hadifah, +"that you go and post yourself in the great pass. Remain in this place, +and go and hide yourself there in the morning. Watch the horses well, +and see if Dahir is in advance. If he is, show yourself suddenly, strike +him on the head, and cause him to stop, so that Ghabra may outstrip him, +and we may not incur the disgrace of defeat. For I confess that since I +have seen Dahir, his excellent points have made me doubt the superiority +of Ghabra, and I fear my mare will be beaten, and we shall become the +laughing stock of all the Arabs." "But, sir, how shall I distinguish +Dahir from Ghabra when they advance, both of them wrapped in a cloud of +dust?" Hadifah replied, "I am going to give you a sign, and to explain +how the matter may be free from difficulty." As he spoke he picked up +some stones from the ground and said: "Take these stones with you at +sunrise, begin to count them, and throw them to the earth, four at a +time. You must repeat the operation five times, and the last time Ghabra +will arrive. That is the calculation I have made, so that if a cloud of +dust presents itself to you, and some of the stones, a third or a half +of them, still remain in your hand, you may be sure that Dahir has +gained first place, and is before your eyes. You must then hurl a stone +at his head, as I said, and stop his running, so that my mare may gain +the lead." The slave agreed to do so. He provided himself with stones +and went to hide himself at the great pass, and Hadifah felt confident +of gaining the wager. + +At the dawn of day, the Arabs, coming from all quarters, were assembled +on the race ground. The judges gave the signal for the start, and the +two riders uttered loud shouts. The racers started like flashes of +lightning which dazzle the sight and seemed like the wind when, as it +blows, it increases in fury. Ghabra passed ahead of Dahir and distanced +him. "Now you are lost, my brother of the tribe of Abs," cried the +Fazarean groom to the Absian, "try and console yourself for this +defeat." "You lie," retorted the Absian, "and in a few moments you will +see how completely you are mistaken. Wait till we have passed this +uneven ground. Mares always travel faster on rough roads than on smooth +country." And so it happened, for when they arrived in the plain, Dahir +shot forward like a giant, leaving a trail of dust behind him. It seemed +as if he went on wings, not legs; in the twinkling of an eye he had +outstripped Ghabra. "Here," cried the Absian to the Fazarean groom, +"send a messenger from me to the family of Beder, and you yourself drink +the bitter cup of patience behind me." Meanwhile Shidoub, swift as the +north wind, kept ahead of Dahir, bounding like a fawn and running like +an ostrich, until he reached the defile where Dames was hidden. The +slave had only thrown down less than a third of his pebbles, when he +looked up and saw Dahir approaching. + +He waited till the horse passed close by him, and suddenly showed +himself with a shout, and hit the racer violently between the eyes with +a stone. The horse reared, stopped one moment, and the rider was on the +point of being unseated. Shidoub was a witness to the incident, and +having looked at the slave, recognized him as belonging to the +treacherous Hadifah. In the violence of his rage he flung himself upon +Dames, and struck him dead with his sword: then he approached Dahir for +the purpose of speaking soothingly to him, and starting him again on the +race; but, alas, the mare Ghabra rushed up like the wind. Then Shidoub, +fearing defeat, thinking of the camels he would forfeit, set out running +at full speed towards the lake, where he arrived two bow-shots in +advance of the horses. Ghabra followed, then Dahir last, bearing on his +forehead the mark of the missile; his cheeks were covered with blood and +tears. + +All the spectators were astounded on seeing the agility and endurance of +Shidoub; but as soon as Ghabra had reached the finish the Fazareans +uttered loud shouts of joy. Dahir was led home all bleeding, and his +rider told the men of the tribe of Abs what the slave had done. Cais +examined the wound of his horse and asked for full details of the +occurrence. Antar grew crimson with anger, and laid his hand upon his +invincible sword, as if impatient to annihilate the tribe of the +Fazareans. But the sheiks restrained him, although with difficulty, +after which they went to Hadifah to cover him with shame, and to +reproach him with the infamous deed he had done. Hadifah denied it, with +false oaths, affirming that he knew nothing of the blow dealt to Dahir; +then he added, "I demand the camels which are due to me, and I do not +admit the treacherous pretext on which they are being withheld." + +"That blow is doubtless of evil augury for the tribe of Fazarah," said +Cais. "God will certainly give us victory and triumph, and destroy them. +For Hadifah only desired this race to take place in order that it might +cause trouble and discord, and the disturbance which this contest is +sure to excite will stir up one tribe against another, so that there +will be many men killed, and children made orphans." The conversation +which followed among the tribesmen became more and more excited, +confusion followed, shouts rang out on all sides, and drawn swords +flashed. Bloodshed would have resulted had not the sheiks and wise men +dismounted and with bared heads mingled with the crowd, with humble +mien, imploring them, until at last the matter was settled as +harmoniously as possible. It was agreed that Shidoub should receive the +amount of the wager--a hundred camels from the tribe of Fazarah, and +that Hadifah should abandon his claims and refrain from all dispute. +Such were the measures taken to extinguish the hostility and disorder +which threatened to burst out among the tribes. Then the different +families retired to their own dwellings, but the hearts of all were +filled with bitter hatred. One whose resentment seemed keenest was +Hadifah, especially when he learned of the slave Dames's death. As for +Cais, he was also filled with mute rage and intense hatred. Yet Antar +tried to reassure him. "King," he said to him, "do not let your heart be +a prey to mortification; for I swear by the tomb of King Zoheir, your +father, that I will cause disgrace and infamy to fall on Hadifah, and it +is only from regard for you that I have up to this time delayed action." +Soon after all returned to their tents. + +The following morning Shidoub killed twenty of the camels he had won the +day before, and caused the meat to be distributed among the widows and +those who had been wounded and crippled in war. He slaughtered twenty +others, which he used in entertaining the tribe of Abs, including women +and slaves. Finally, the next day, he killed the rest of the camels and +made a great feast near the lake Zatalirsad, to which he invited the +sons of King Zoheir and his noblest chieftains. At the end of this +banquet, when the wine circulated among the guests, all praised the +behavior of Shidoub. But the news of the camel slaughter and of all the +feasting was soon known to the tribe of Fazarah. All the enraged +tribesmen hastened to seek Hadifah. "What," said they, "while we were +first in the race, slaves and traitorous Absians have eaten our camels! +Send for an equal number of camels, by all means; but if he refuses them +let us make a terrible war upon the Absians." + +Hadifah raised his eyes upon his son Abou-Firacah. "Mount horse at +once," he said to him, "and go and say to Cais: my father says that you +must this instant pay the wager, or he will come and seize the amount by +main force, and will bring trouble upon you." There was then present a +chief among the sheiks, who, hearing the order that Hadifah had given to +his son, said: "O Hadifah, are you not ashamed to send such a message to +the tribe of the Absians? Are they not our kindred and allies? Does this +proposal harmonize with the counsel and desire of allaying dissensions? +The genuine man shows gratitude for generosity and kindness. I think it +quite reasonable to expect that you desist from this perverse mood, +which will end in our total extermination. Cais has shown himself quite +impartial and has done wrong to no one; cherish, therefore, peace with +the horsemen of the tribe of Abs. Take warning from what happened to the +slave Dames; he struck Dahir, the horse of King Cais, and God punished +him at once; he is left bathed in his slavish blood. I beg you to listen +to none but wise counsels; act nobly, and abandon base designs. While +you are thus forewarned as to your situation, keep a prudent eye on your +affairs." This discourse rendered Hadifah furious. "Contemptible sheik! +Dog of a traitor!" he exclaimed. "What! Must I be in fear of Cais and +the whole tribe of the Absians? By the faith of an Arab, I will let all +men of honor know that if Cais refuse to send the camels I will not +leave one of his tents standing." The sheik was indignant, and to +increase the fear he would cast into the heart of Hadifah he spoke to +him in verses, to the following effect: "Insult is cowardliness, for it +takes by surprise him who is not expecting it, as the night enwraps +those who wander in the desert. When the sword shall once be drawn look +out for blows. Be just and do not clothe thyself with dishonor. Enquire +of those who know the fate of Themond and his tribe, when they committed +acts of rebellion and tyranny. They will tell you that a command of God +from on high destroyed them in one night, and on the morrow they lay +scattered on the ground, their eyes turned towards the sky." + +Hadifah dissembled his contempt for these verses and the sheik who had +pronounced them, but he ordered his son to go at once to Cais. +Abou-Firacah started for the tribe of Abs, and as soon as he arrived +there repaired to the home of Cais, who was absent. The messenger asked +then for his wife Modelilah, the daughter of Rebia. "What do you desire +of my husband?" she asked. "I demand my due, the prize of the horse +race." "Misfortune take you and that which you demand," she replied. +"Son of Hadifah! Do you not fear the consequences of such perfidy? If +Cais were here he would send you to your death, instantly." Abou-Firacah +returned to his father, to whom he told all that the wife of Cais had +said "What, you coward," shouted Hadifah, "do you come back without +completing your errand? Are you afraid of the daughter of Rebia? Go to +him again." + +As Abou-Firacah reminded his father that it was now near night-fall, the +message was postponed until the next day. As for Cais, when he +re-entered his home, he learned from his wife that Abou-Firacah had come +to ask for the camels. "By the faith of an Arab," he said, "if I had +been here I would have slain him. But the matter is closed; let us think +no more of it." Yet King Cais passed the night in grief and annoyance +until sunrise, at which time he betook himself to his tent Antar came to +see him. Cais rose, and making him take a seat, mentioned the name of +Hadifah. "Would you believe he had the shamelessness to send his son to +demand the camels of me? Ah, if I had been present I would have slain +the messenger." Scarcely had he finished uttering these words when +Abou-Firacah presented himself on horseback. Without dismounting, and +uttering no word of salutation or preface, he said: "Cais, my father +desires that you send him that which is his due; by so doing your +conduct will be that of a generous man; but if you refuse, my father +will come against you, carry off his property by force, and plunge you +into misfortune." + +On hearing these words Cais felt the light change to darkness before his +eyes. "O thou son of a vile coward," he exclaimed "how is it that you +are not more respectful in your address to me?" He seized a javelin and +plunged it into the breast of Abou-Firacah. Pierced through, the young +messenger lost control of his horse.--Antar dragged him down and flung +him on the ground. Then, turning the horse's head away from the +direction of Fazarah, he struck him on the flank with a holly-stick, and +the horse took the road towards the pastures, and finally entered his +stable, all covered with blood. The shepherds at once led him to the +tents, crying out, "Misfortune! Misfortune!" + +Hadifah became furious. He smote upon his breast, repeating the words: +"Tribe of Fazarah, to arms, to arms, to arms!" and all the disaffected +came to Hadifah once more, begging him to declare war on the Absians, +and to take vengeance on them. "Kinsmen!" replied Hadifah, with +alacrity, "let none of us sleep to-night without our armor on." And so +it happened. + +At break of day Hadifah was on horseback; the warriors were ready, and +only women and children and the feeble were left in the tents. Cais, on +the other hand, after slaying Abou-Firacah, expected that the Fazareans +would come and attack himself and his warriors; he therefore prepared +for battle. Antar was charged with taking the necessary reconnoitre. He +left in the tents only women, children, and those too feeble to bear the +sword; then he put himself in command of the heroes of Carad. Nothing +could be more brilliant than the ranks of the Absians in their coats of +mail and gleaming weapons. These preparations caused an anxious moment +for both parties. They marched forth against each other, and the sun had +scarcely appeared, before scimitars flashed, and the whole country was +in a turmoil. + +Antar was impatient to press forward, and satisfy his thirst for battle; +but, lo! Hadifah, dressed in a black robe, advances, his heart broken by +the death of his son. "Son of Zoheir," he cried to Cais, "it is a base +action to slay a child; but it is good to meet in battle, to decide with +these lances which shall predominate, you or me." These words cut Cais +to the quick. Hurried along by passion he left his standard and rushed +against Hadifah. Then the two chiefs, spurred on by mutual hatred, +fought together on their noble chargers, until nightfall. Cais was +mounted on Dahir, and Hadifah on Ghabra. In the course of this combat +the exploits of the past were eclipsed. Each tribe despaired of his +chieftain's safety, and they were eager to make a general attack, in +order to stop the struggle of the chieftains and the fury with which +they contended. Cries began to be heard in the air. Scimitars were +drawn, and lances advanced over the ears of Arabian chargers. Antar +approached certain Absian chiefs and said, "Let us attack the traitors." +He prepared to charge, when the ancients of the two tribes came forth +into the middle of the plain, with heads uncovered, their feet bared, +and their idols hung from their shoulders. Standing between the two +armies they spoke as follows: "Kinsmen and allies, in the name of that +harmony which has hitherto prevailed among us, let us do nothing that +will make us the byword of our slaves. Let us not furnish our enemies +with ground for reproaching us. Let us forget all matter of dispute and +dissension. Let us not turn wives into widows and our children into +orphans. Satisfy your warlike ardor by attacking those among the Arabs +who are your real foes; and you, kinsmen of Fazarah, show yourselves +more humble and less haughty, towards your brethren the Absians. Above +all, forget not that insolent wrong has often caused the destruction of +many tribes, which have had sore reason to regret their impious actions; +in this way many men have been deprived of their possessions, and a vast +number been plunged into the gulf of despair and regret. Expect the +fatal hour of death, the day of dissolution, for it is upon you. You +will be rent asunder by the threatening eagles of destruction, and +enclosed in the dark prison-house of the tomb. Take care, that when your +bodies are separated from life, men may think about you without any +other memory than that of your virtues." + +The sheiks talked together for a long time, and meanwhile the flame of +passion which had been kindled in the soul of the two heroes, Cais and +Hadifah, became quenched. Hadifah withdrew from the fight, and it was +agreed that Cais should pay as the price of Abou-Firacah's blood a +quantity of cattle and a string of camels. The sheiks did not wish even +then to quit the field of battle until Cais and Hadifah embraced each +other and had agreed to all the arrangements. Antar was crimson with +rage. "O King Cais," he exclaimed, "what have you done? What! while our +swords flash in our hands shall the tribe of Fazarah exact a price for +the blood of its dead? And we never be able to obtain retaliation +excepting with our spear points! The blood of our dead is shed, and +shall we not avenge it?" Hadifah was beside himself on hearing these +words. "And you, vile bastard," said Antar to him, "you son of a vile +mother, must your honor be purchased at the expense of our disgrace? But +for the presence of these noble sheiks I would annihilate you and all +your people this very instant." + +Then Hadifah's indignation and anger overleaped all bounds. "By the +faith of an Arab," he said to the sheiks, "I wish to hear no talk of +peace at the moment that the enemy is ready to spear me." "Do not talk +in that way, dear son of my mother," said Haml to his brother. "Do not +dart away on the path of imprudence; abandon these gloomy resolutions. +Remain in peace with the allies of the Absians, for they are shining +stars: the burnished sun that guides all Arabs who love glory. It was +but the other day that you wronged them by causing the horse Dahir to be +wounded, and thus erred from the path of justice. As for your son, he +was justly slain, for you had sent him to demand something that was not +due you. After all, nothing is so proper as to make peace, for he who +would seek and stir up war is a tyrant, and an oppressor. Accept +therefore the compensation offered you, or you are likely to call up +around us a fire which will burn us in the flames of hell." Haml +concluded with verses of the following import: "By the truth of him who +has rooted firm the mountains, without foundations, if you decline to +accept the compensation offered by the Absians, you are in the wrong. +They acknowledge Hadifah as their chief; be a chief in very deed, and be +content with the cattle and camels offered you. Dismount from the horse +of outrage, and mount it not again, for it will carry you to the sea of +grief and calamity. Hadifah, renounce like a generous man, all violence, +but particularly the idea of contending with the Absians. Make of them +and of their leader a powerful rampart against the enemies that may +attack us. Make of them friends that will remain faithful, for they are +men of the noblest intentions. Such are the Absians, and if Cais has +acted unjustly towards you, it is you who first set him the example some +days ago." + +When Haml finished these verses, the chiefs of the different tribes +thanked him, and Hadifah having consented to accept the compensation +offered, all the Arabs renounced violence and war. All who carried arms +remained at home. Cais sent to Hadifah two hundred camels, six +men-slaves, ten women-slaves, and ten horses. Thus peace was +reestablished and every one rested in tranquillity throughout the land. + + + + +SELECTIONS FROM ARABIAN POETRY + +[_Translation by J.D. Carlyle_] + + +INTRODUCTION + +The essential qualities of Arabian poetry appear in the "Romance of +Antar," and the tales of the "Thousand and One Nights." For such a +blending of prose and verse is the favorite form of Arabian literature +in its highest and severest form, even in the drama. But the character +of the people is most clearly shown in the lyrical poems of the Bedouin +country. The pastoral poetry of the peninsula is so local in its +allusions that it cannot adequately be translated into English. It is in +the lyrics that we find that "touch of nature which makes the whole +world kin." The gorgeousness of Hindoo literature, with its lavish +description of jewelry and gold, precious stones and marbles, hideous +demons, and mighty gods, is not to be looked for in Arabia. There the +horizon is clear, and the plain has nothing but human occupants. The +common passions of men are the only powers at work; love, war, sorrow, +and wine, are the subjects of these little songs, some of which might +have been written by "Anacreon" Moore, and others by Catullus. The +influence of Greek poetry is indeed manifest in these light and +sometimes frivolous effusions. The sweetness and grace which distinguish +some are only equalled by the wit of others. For wit is the prevailing +characteristic of Arabian poetry, which is attractive for its +cleverness, its brightness, the alternate smiles and tears which shine +through it, and make the present selections so refreshing and +interesting a revelation of the national heart and intellect. + +I use the word refreshing, because some of the imagery of these lyrics +is new to me, and quite unparalleled in European literature. What can +be more novel, and at the same time more charming than the following +simile, with which a short elegy concludes:-- + + "But though in dust thy relics lie, + Thy virtues, Mano, ne'er shall die; + Though Nile's full stream be seen no more, + That spread his waves from shore to shore, + Still in the verdure of the plain + His vivifying smiles remain." + +The praise of a humble lot has been sung from Háfiz to Horace, but +never illustrated by a prettier conceit than the Arabic poet has +recourse to in this stanza:-- + + "Not always wealth, not always force + A splendid destiny commands; + The lordly vulture gnaws the corse + That rots upon yon barren sands. + + "Nor want nor weakness still conspires + To bind us to a sordid state; + The fly that with a touch expires, + Sips honey from the royal plate." + +This is undoubtedly a very original way of stating the philosophic axiom +of the Augustan poet, + + "The lord of boundless revenues, + Do not salute as happy." + +I have spoken of the wit of these verses, which is certainly one of +their distinguishing qualities. It is quite Attic in its flavor and +exquisitely delicate in its combined good-humor and freedom from rancor. +An epigram, according to the old definition, should be like a bee; it +should carry the sweetness of honey, although it bears a sting at the +end. Sometimes the end has a point which does not sting, as in the +following quatrain of an Arabic poet:-- + + "When I sent you my melons, you cried out with scorn, + They ought to be heavy and wrinkled and yellow; + When I offered myself, whom those graces adorn, + You flouted, and called me an ugly old fellow." + +Martial himself could not have excelled the wit of an epigram addressed +to a very little man who wore a very big beard, which thus concludes:-- + + "Surely thou cherishest thy beard + In hope to hide thyself behind it." + +To study a literature like that of the Arabians, even partially and in a +translation, is one of those experiences which enlarge and stimulate the +mind and expand its range of impressions with a distinctly elevating and +liberalizing effect. It has the result of genuine education, in that it +increases our capacity for sympathy for other peoples, making us better +acquainted with the language in which they reveal that common human +heart which they share with us. + +E.W. + + + + +AN ELEGY[1] + + Those dear abodes which once contain'd the fair, + Amidst Mitata's wilds I seek in vain, + Nor towers, nor tents, nor cottages are there, + But scatter'd ruins and a silent plain. + + The proud canals that once Rayana grac'd, + Their course neglected and their waters gone, + Among the level'd sands are dimly trac'd, + Like moss-grown letters on a mouldering stone. + + Rayana say, how many a tedious year + Its hallow'd circle o'er our heads hath roll'd, + Since to my vows thy tender maids gave ear, + And fondly listened to the tale I told? + + How oft, since then, the star of spring, that pours + A never-failing stream, hath drenched thy head? + How oft, the summer cloud in copious showers + Or gentle drops its genial influence shed? + + How oft since then, the hovering mist of morn + Hath caus'd thy locks with glittering gems to glow? + How oft hath eve her dewy treasures borne + To fall responsive to the breeze below? + + The matted thistles, bending to the gale, + Now clothe those meadows once with verdure gay; + Amidst the windings of that lonely vale + The teeming antelope and ostrich stray. + + The large-eyed mother of the herd that flies + Man's noisy haunts, here finds a sure retreat, + Here watches o'er her young, till age supplies + Strength to their limbs and swiftness to their feet. + + Save where the swelling stream hath swept those walls + And giv'n their deep foundations to the light + (As the retouching pencil that recalls + A long-lost picture to the raptur'd sight). + + Save where the rains have wash'd the gathered sand + And bared the scanty fragments to our view, + (As the dust sprinkled on a punctur'd hand + Bids the faint tints resume their azure hue). + + No mossy record of those once lov'd seats + Points out the mansion to inquiring eyes; + No tottering wall, in echoing sounds, repeats + Our mournful questions and our bursting sighs. + + Yet, midst those ruin'd heaps, that naked plain, + Can faithful memory former scenes restore, + Recall the busy throng, the jocund train, + And picture all that charm'd us there before. + + Ne'e shall my heart the fatal morn forget + That bore the fair ones from these seats so dear-- + I see, I see the crowding litters yet, + And yet the tent-poles rattle in my ear. + + I see the maids with timid steps descend, + The streamers wave in all their painted pride, + The floating curtains every fold extend, + And vainly strive the charms within to hide. + + What graceful forms those envious folds enclose! + What melting glances thro' those curtains play! + Sure Weira's antelopes, or Tudah's roes + Thro' yonder veils their sportive young survey! + + The band mov'd on--to trace their steps I strove, + I saw them urge the camel's hastening flight, + Till the white vapor, like a rising grove, + Snatch'd them forever from my aching sight. + + Nor since that morn have I Nawara seen, + The bands are burst which held us once so fast, + Memory but tells me that such things have been, + And sad Reflection adds, that they are past. + +_Lebid Ben Rabiat Alamary_. + + [1] The author of this poem was a native of Yemen. He was contemporary + with Mohammed and was already celebrated as a poet when the prophet + began to promulgate his doctrines. Lebid embraced Islamism and was + one of the most aggressive helpers in its establishment. He fixed + his abode in the city of Cufa, where he died at a very advanced age. + This elegy, as is evident, was written previous to Lebid's conversion + to Islamism. Its subject is one that must be ever interesting to + the feeling mind--the return of a person after a long absence to + the place of his birth--in fact it is the Arabian "Deserted Village." + + +THE TOMB OF MANO + + Friends of my heart, who share my sighs! + Go seek the turf where Mano lies, + And woo the dewy clouds of spring, + To sweep it with prolific wing. + + Within that cell, beneath that heap, + Friendship and Truth and Honor sleep, + Beneficence, that used to clasp + The world within her ample grasp. + + There rests entomb'd--of thought bereft-- + For were one conscious atom left + New bliss, new kindness to display, + 'Twould burst the grave, and seek the day. + + But tho' in dust thy relics lie, + Thy virtues, Mano, ne'er shall die; + Tho' Nile's full stream be seen no more, + That spread his waves from shore to shore, + Still in the verdure of the plain + His vivifying smiles remain. + +_Hassan Alasady_. + + +TOMB OF SAYID[2] + + Blest are the tenants of the tomb! + With envy I their lot survey! + For Sayid shares the solemn gloom, + And mingles with their mouldering clay. + + Dear youth! I'm doom'd thy loss to mourn + When gathering ills around combine; + And whither now shall Malec turn, + Where look for any help but thine? + + At this dread moment when the foe + My life with rage insatiate seeks, + In vain I strive to ward the blow, + My buckler falls, my sabre breaks. + + Upon thy grassy tomb I knelt, + And sought from pain a short relief-- + Th' attempt was vain--I only felt + Intenser pangs and livelier grief. + + The bud of woe no more represt, + Fed by the tears that drench'd it there, + Shot forth and fill'd my laboring breast + Soon to expand and shed despair. + + But tho' of Sayid I'm bereft, + From whom the stream of bounty came, + Sayid a nobler meed has left-- + Th' exhaustless heritage of fame. + + Tho' mute the lips on which I hung, + Their silence speaks more loud to me + Than any voice from mortal tongue, + "What Sayid was let Malec be." + +_Abd Almalec Alharithy_. + + [2] Abd Almalec was a native of Arabia Felix. The exact period when + he flourished is unknown, but as this production is taken from the + Hamasa it is most probable that he was anterior to Mohammedanism. + + +THE DEATH OF HIS MISTRESS[3] + + Dost thou wonder that I flew + Charm'd to meet my Leila's view? + Dost thou wonder that I hung + Raptur'd on my Leila's tongue? + If her ghost's funereal screech + Thro' the earth my grave should reach, + On that voice I lov'd so well + My transported ghost would dwell:-- + If in death I can descry + Where my Leila's relics lie, + Saher's dust will flee away, + There to join his Leila's clay. + +_Abu Saher Alhedily_. + + [3] The sentiment contained in this production determines its + antiquity. It was the opinion of the Pagan Arabs that upon the + death of any person a bird, by them called Manah, issued from his + brain, which haunted the sepulchre of the deceased, uttering a + lamentable scream. + + +ON AVARICE[4] + + How frail are riches and their joys? + Morn builds the heap which eve destroys; + Yet can they have one sure delight-- + The thought that we've employed them right. + + What bliss can wealth afford to me + When life's last solemn hour I see, + When Mavia's sympathizing sighs + Will but augment my agonies? + + Can hoarded gold dispel the gloom + That death must shed around his tomb? + Or cheer the ghost which hovers there, + And fills with shrieks the desert air? + + What boots it, Mavia, in the grave, + Whether I lov'd to waste or save? + The hand that millions now can grasp, + In death no more than mine shall clasp. + + Were I ambitious to behold + Increasing stores of treasured gold, + Each tribe that roves the desert knows + I might be wealthy if I chose:-- + + But other joys can gold impart, + Far other wishes warm my heart-- + Ne'er may I strive to swell the heap, + Till want and woe have ceas'd to weep. + + With brow unalter'd I can see + The hour of wealth or poverty: + I've drunk from both the cups of fate, + Nor this could sink, nor that elate. + + With fortune blest, I ne'er was found + To look with scorn on those around; + Nor for the loss of paltry ore, + Shall Hatem seem to Hatem poor. + +_Hatem Tai_. + + [4] Hatem Tai was an Arabian chief, who lived a short time prior to + the promulgation of Mohammedanism. He has been so much celebrated + through the East for his generosity that even to this day the + greatest encomium which can be given to a generous man is to say + that he is as liberal as Hatem. Hatem was also a poet; but his + talents were principally exerted in recommending his favorite + virtue. + + +THE BATTLE OF SABLA[5] + + Sabla, them saw'st th' exulting foe + In fancied triumphs crown'd; + Thou heard'st their frantic females throw + These galling taunts around:-- + + "Make now your choice--the terms we give, + Desponding victims, hear; + These fetters on your hands receive, + Or in your hearts the spear." + + "And is the conflict o'er," we cried, + "And lie we at your feet? + And dare you vauntingly decide + The fortune we must meet? + + "A brighter day we soon shall see, + Tho' now the prospect lowers, + And conquest, peace, and liberty + Shall gild our future hours." + + The foe advanc'd:--in firm array + We rush'd o'er Sabla's sands, + And the red sabre mark'd our way + Amidst their yielding bands. + + Then, as they writh'd in death's cold grasp, + We cried, "Our choice is made, + These hands the sabre's hilt shall clasp, + Your hearts shall have the blade." + +_Jaafer Ben Alba_. + + [5] This poem and the one following it are both taken from the Hamasa + and afford curious instances of the animosity which prevailed + amongst the several Arabian clans, and of the rancor with which + they pursued each other, when once at variance. + + +VERSES TO MY ENEMIES + + Why thus to passion give the rein? + Why seek your kindred tribe to wrong? + Why strive to drag to light again + The fatal feud entomb'd so long? + + Think not, if fury ye display, + But equal fury we can deal; + Hope not, if wrong'd, but we repay + Revenge for every wrong we feel. + + Why thus to passion give the rein? + Why seek the robe of peace to tear? + Rash youths desist, your course restrain, + Or dread the wrath ye blindly dare. + + Yet friendship we not ask from foes, + Nor favor hope from you to prove, + We lov'd you not, great Allah knows, + Nor blam'd you that ye could not love. + + To each are different feelings given, + This slights, and that regards his brother; + 'Tis ours to live--thanks to kind heav'n-- + Hating and hated by each other. + +_Alfadhel Ibn Alabas_. + + +ON HIS FRIENDS[6] + + With conscious pride I view the band + Of faithful friends that round me stand, + With pride exult that I alone + Can join these scatter'd gems in one:-- + For they're a wreath of pearls, and I + The silken cord on which they lie. + + 'Tis mine their inmost souls to see, + Unlock'd is every heart to me, + To me they cling, on me they rest, + And I've a place in every breast:-- + For they're a wreath of pearls, and I + The silken cord on which they lie. + +_Meskin Aldaramy_. + + [6] These lines are also from the Hamasa. + + +ON TEMPER[7] + + Yes, Leila, I swore by the fire of thine eyes, + I ne'er could a sweetness unvaried endure; + The bubbles of spirit, that sparkling arise, + Forbid life to stagnate and render it pure. + + But yet, my dear maid, tho' thy spirit's my pride, + I'd wish for some sweetness to temper the bowl; + If life be ne'er suffer'd to rest or subside, + It may not be flat, but I fear 'twill be foul. + +_Nabegat Beni Jaid_. + + [7] There have been several Arabian poets of the name of Nabegat. The + author of these verses was descended from the family of Jaid. As + he died in the fortieth year of the Hegira, aged one hundred and + twenty, he must have been fourscore at the promulgation of Islamism; + he, however, declared himself an early convert to the new faith. + + +THE SONG OF MAISUNA[8] + + The russet suit of camel's hair, + With spirits light, and eye serene, + Is dearer to my bosom far + Than all the trappings of a queen. + + The humble tent and murmuring breeze + That whistles thro' its fluttering wall, + My unaspiring fancy please + Better than towers and splendid halls. + + Th' attendant colts that bounding fly + And frolic by the litter's side, + Are dearer in Maisuna's eye + Than gorgeous mules in all their pride. + + The watch-dog's voice that bays whene'er + A stranger seeks his master's cot, + Sounds sweeter in Maisuna's ear + Than yonder trumpet's long-drawn note. + + The rustic youth unspoilt by art, + Son of my kindred, poor but free, + Will ever to Maisuna's heart + Be dearer, pamper'd fool, than thee. + + [8] Maisuma was a daughter of the tribe of Calab; a tribe, according + to Abulfeda, remarkable both for the purity of dialect spoken in + it, and for the number of poets it had produced. She was married, + whilst very young, to the Caliph Mowiah. But this exalted situation + by no means suited the disposition of Maisuna, and amidst all the + pomp and splendor of Damascus, she languished for the simple + pleasures of her native desert. + + +TO MY FATHER[9] + + Must then my failings from the shaft + Of anger ne'er escape? + And dost thou storm because I've quaff'd + The water of the grape? + + That I can thus from wine be driv'n + Thou surely ne'er canst think-- + Another reason thou hast giv'n + Why I resolve to drink. + + 'Twas sweet the flowing cup to seize, + 'Tis sweet thy rage to see; + And first I drink myself to please; + And next--to anger thee. + +_Yezid_. + + [9] Yezid succeeded Mowiah in the Caliphate A.H. 60; and in most + respects showed himself to be of a very different disposition from + his predecessor. He was naturally cruel, avaricious, and debauched; + but instead of concealing his vices from the eyes of his subjects, + he seemed to make a parade of those actions which he knew no good + Mussulman could look upon without horror; he drank wine in public, + he caressed his dogs, and was waited upon by his eunuchs in sight + of the whole court. + + +ON FATALISM[10] + + Not always wealth, not always force + A splendid destiny commands; + The lordly vulture gnaws the corse + That rots upon yon barren sands. + + Nor want, nor weakness still conspires + To bind us to a sordid state; + The fly that with a touch expires + Sips honey from the royal plate. + +_Imam Shafay Mohammed Ben Idris_. + +[10] Shafay, the founder of one of the four orthodox sects into + which the Mohammedans are divided, was a disciple of Malek Ben + Ans, and master to Ahmed Ebn Hanbal; each of whom, like himself, + founded a sect which is still denominated from the name of its + author. The fourth sect is that of Abou Hanifah. This differs + in tenets considerably from the three others, for whilst the + Malekites, the Shafaites, and the Hanbalites are invariably + bigoted to tradition in their interpretations of the Koran, the + Hanifites consider themselves as at liberty in any difficulty to + make use of their own reason. + + +TO THE CALIPH HARUN-AL-RASHID[11] + + Religion's gems can ne'er adorn + The flimsy robe by pleasure worn; + Its feeble texture soon would tear, + And give those jewels to the air. + + Thrice happy they who seek th' abode + Of peace and pleasure, in their God! + Who spurn the world, its joys despise, + And grasp at bliss beyond the skies. + +_Ibrahim Ben Adham_. + +[11] The author of this poem was a hermit of Syria, equally celebrated + for his talents and piety. He was son to a prince of Khorasan, and + born about the ninety-seventh year of the Hegira. This poem was + addressed to the Caliph upon his undertaking a pilgrimage to Mecca. + + +LINES TO HARUN AND YAHIA[12] + + Th' affrighted sun ere while he fled, + And hid his radiant face in night; + A cheerless gloom the world overspread-- + But Harun came, and all was bright. + + Again the sun shoots forth his rays, + Nature is deck'd in beauty's robe-- + For mighty Harun's sceptre sways, + And Yahia's arm sustains the globe. + +_Isaac Almousely_. + +[12] Isaac Almousely is considered by the Orientals as the most + celebrated musician that ever flourished in the world. He was born + in Persia, but having resided almost entirely at Mousel, he is + generally supposed to have been a native of that place. + + +THE RUIN OF BARMECIDES[13] + + No, Barmec! Time hath never shown + So sad a change of wayward fate; + Nor sorrowing mortals ever known + A grief so true, a loss so great. + + Spouse of the world! Thy soothing breast + Did balm to every woe afford; + And now no more by thee caress'd, + The widow'd world bewails her Lord. + +[13] The family of Barmec was one of the most illustrious in the + East. They were descended from the ancient kings of Persia, and + possessed immense property in various countries; they derived still + more consequence from the favor which they enjoyed at the court of + Bagdad, where, for many years, they filled the highest offices of + the state with universal approbation. + + +TO TAHER BEN HOSIEN[14] + + A pair of right hands and a single dim eye + Must form not a man, but a monster, they cry:-- + Change a hand to an eye, good Taher, if you can, + And a monster perhaps may be chang'd to man. + +[14] Taher Ben Hosien was ambidexter and one-eyed and, strange to say, + the most celebrated general of his time. + + +THE ADIEU[15] + + The boatmen shout, "Tis time to part, + No longer we can stay"-- + 'Twas then Maimnna taught my heart + How much a glance could say. + + With trembling steps to me she came; + "Farewell," she would have cried, + But ere her lips the word could frame + In half-form'd sounds it died. + + Then bending down with looks of love, + Her arms she round me flung, + And, as the gale hangs on the grove, + Upon my breast she hung. + + My willing arms embraced the maid, + My heart with raptures beat; + While she but wept the more and said, + "Would we had never met!" + +_Abou Mohammed_. + +[15] This was sung before the Caliph Wathek, by Abou Mohammed, a + musician of Bagdad, as a specimen of his musical talents; and such + were its effects upon the Caliph, that he immediately testified his + approbation of the performance by throwing his own robe over the + shoulders of Abou Mohammed, and ordering him a present of an hundred + thousand dirhems. + + +TO MY MISTRESS[16] + + Ungenerous and mistaken maid, + To scorn me thus because I'm poor! + Canst thou a liberal hand upbraid + For dealing round some worthless ore? + + To spare's the wish of little souls, + The great but gather to bestow; + Yon current down the mountain rolls, + And stagnates in the swamp below. + +_Abou Teman Habib_. + +[16] Abou Teman is considered the most excellent of all the Arabian + poets. He was born near Damascus A.H. 190, and educated in Egypt; + but the principal part of his life was spent at Bagdad, under the + patronage of the Abasside Caliphs. + + +TO A FEMALE CUP-BEARER[17] + + Come, Leila, fill the goblet up, + Reach round the rosy wine, + Think not that we will take the cup + From any hand but thine. + + A draught like this 'twere vain to seek, + No grape can such supply; + It steals its tint from Leila's cheek, + Its brightness from her eye. + +_Abd Alsalam Ben Ragban_. + +[17] Abd Alsalam was a poet more remarkable for abilities than morality. + We may form an idea of the nature of his compositions from the + nickname he acquired amongst his contemporaries of Cock of the + Evil Genii. He died in the 236th year of the Hegira, aged near + eighty. + + +MASHDUD ON THE MONKS OF KHABBET[18] + + Tenants of yon hallow'd fane! + Let me your devotions share, + There increasing raptures reign-- + None are ever sober there. + + Crowded gardens, festive bowers + Ne'er shall claim a thought of mine; + You can give in Khabbet's towers-- + Purer joys and brighter wine. + + Tho' your pallid faces prove + How you nightly vigils keep, + 'Tis but that you ever love + Flowing goblets more than sleep. + + Tho' your eye-balls dim and sunk + Stream in penitential guise, + 'Tis but that the wine you've drunk + Bubbles over from your eyes. + +[18] The three following songs were written by Mashdud, Rakeek, and + Rais, three of the most celebrated improvisators in Bagdad, at an + entertainment given by Abou Isy. + + +RAKEEK TO HIS FEMALE COMPANIONS + + Tho' the peevish tongues upbraid, + Tho' the brows of wisdom scowl, + Fair ones here on roses laid, + Careless will we quaff the bowl. + + Let the cup, with nectar crown'd, + Thro' the grove its beams display, + It can shed a lustre round, + Brighter than the torch of day. + + Let it pass from hand to hand, + Circling still with ceaseless flight, + Till the streaks of gray expand + O'er the fleeting robe of night. + + As night flits, she does but cry, + "Seize the moments that remain"-- + Thus our joys with yours shall vie, + Tenants of yon hallow'd fane! + + +DIALOGUE BY RAIS + + _Rais_: + + Maid of sorrow, tell us why + Sad and drooping hangs thy head? + Is it grief that bids thee sigh? + Is it sleep that flies thy bed? + + _Lady_: + + Ah! I mourn no fancied wound, + Pangs too true this heart have wrung, + Since the snakes which curl around + Selim's brows my bosom stung. + + Destin'd now to keener woes, + I must see the youth depart, + He must go, and as he goes + Rend at once my bursting heart. + + Slumber may desert my bed, + Tis not slumber's charms I seek-- + 'Tis the robe of beauty spread + O'er my Selim's rosy cheek. + + +TO A LADY WEEPING[19] + + When I beheld thy blue eyes shine + Thro' the bright drop that pity drew, + I saw beneath those tears of thine + A blue-ey'd violet bath'd in dew. + + The violet ever scents the gale, + Its hues adorn the fairest wreath, + But sweetest thro' a dewy veil + Its colors glow, its odors breathe. + + And thus thy charms in brightness rise-- + When wit and pleasure round thee play, + When mirth sits smiling in thine eyes, + Who but admires their sprightly ray? + But when thro' pity's flood they gleam, + Who but must love their soften'd beam? + +_Ebn Alrumi_. + +[19] Ebn Alrumi is reckoned by the Arabian writers as one of the most + excellent of all their poets. He was by birth a Syrian, and passed + the greatest part of his time at Emessa, where he died A.H. 283. + + +ON A VALETUDINARIAN + + So careful is Isa, and anxious to last, + So afraid of himself is he grown, + He swears thro' two nostrils the breath goes too fast, + And he's trying to breathe thro' but one. + +_Ebn Alrumi_. + + +ON A MISER + + "Hang her, a thoughtless, wasteful fool, + She scatters corn where'er she goes"-- + Quoth Hassan, angry at his mule, + That dropt a dinner to the crows. + +_Ebn Alrumi_. + + +TO CASSIM OBIO ALLAH[20] + + Poor Cassim! thou art doom'd to mourn + By destiny's decree; + Whatever happens it must turn + To misery for thee. + + Two sons hadst thou, the one thy pride, + The other was thy pest; + Ah, why did cruel death decide + To snatch away the best? + + No wonder thou shouldst droop with woe, + Of such a child bereft; + But now thy tears must doubly flow, + For, ah! the other's left. + +_Aly Ben Ahmed Ben Mansour_. + +[20] Aly Ben Ahmed distinguished himself in prose as well as poetry, + and an historical work of considerable reputation, of which he was + the author, is still extant. But he principally excelled in satire, + and so fond was he of indulging this dangerous talent that no one + escaped his lash; if he could only bring out a sarcasm, it was + matter of indifference to him whether an enemy or a brother smarted + under its severity. He died at Bagdad A.H. 302. + + +A FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY[21] + + When born, in tears we saw thee drown'd, + While thine assembled friends around, + With smiles their joy confest; + So live, that at thy parting hour, + They may the flood of sorrow pour, + And thou in smiles be drest! + +[21] The thought contained in these lines, appears so natural and so + obvious, that one wonders it did not occur to all who have attempted + to write upon a birthday or a death. + + +TO A CAT + + Poor Puss is gone! 'Tis fate's decree-- + Yet I must still her loss deplore, + For dearer than a child was she, + And ne'er shall I behold her more. + + With many a sad presaging tear + This morn I saw her steal away, + While she went on without a fear + Except that she should miss her prey. + + I saw her to the dove-house climb, + With cautious feet and slow she stept + Resolv'd to balance loss of time + By eating faster than she crept. + + Her subtle foes were on the watch, + And mark'd her course, with fury fraught, + And while she hoped the birds to catch, + An arrow's point the huntress caught. + + In fancy she had got them all, + And drunk their blood and suck'd their breath; + Alas! she only got a fall, + And only drank the draught of death. + + Why, why was pigeons' flesh so nice, + That thoughtless cats should love it thus? + Hadst thou but liv'd on rats and mice, + Thou hadst been living still, poor Puss. + + Curst be the taste, howe'er refined, + That prompts us for such joys to wish, + And curst the dainty where we find + Destruction lurking in the dish. + +_Ibn Alalaf Alnaharwany_. + + +AN EPIGRAM UPON EBN NAPHTA-WAH[22] + + By the former with ruin and death we are curst, + In the latter we grieve for the ills of the first; + And as for the whole, where together they meet, + It's a drunkard, a liar, a thief, and a cheat. + +_Mohammed Ben Zeid Almotakalam_. + +[22] Mohammed Ben Arfa, here called Naphta-Wah, was descended from a + noble family in Khorasan. He applied himself to study with + indefatigable perseverance, and was a very voluminous author in + several branches of literature, but he is chiefly distinguished as + a grammarian. He died in the year of the Hegira 323. + + +FIRE[23] + +_A Riddle_. + + The loftiest cedars I can eat, + Yet neither paunch nor mouth have I, + I storm whene'er you give me meat, + Whene'er you give me drink, I die. + +[23] This composition seems a fit supplement to the preceding one; + notwithstanding its absurdity, however. It is inserted merely to + show that this mode of trifling was not unknown to the Orientals. + It is taken from the Mostatraf, where a great number of similar + productions on various subjects are preserved. + + +TO A LADY BLUSHING[24] + + Leila, whene'er I gaze on thee + My altered cheek turns pale, + While upon thine, sweet maid, I see + A deep'ning blush prevail. + + Leila, shall I the cause impart + Why such a change takes place? + The crimson stream deserts my heart, + To mantle on thy face. + +_The Caliph Radhi Billah_. + +[24] Radhi Billah, son to Moctader, was the twentieth Caliph of the + house of Abbas, and the last of these princes who possessed any + substantial power. + + +ON THE VICISSITUDES OF LIFE + + Mortal joys, however pure, + Soon their turbid source betray; + Mortal bliss, however sure, + Soon must totter and decay. + + Ye who now, with footsteps keen, + Range through hope's delusive field, + Tell us what the smiling scene + To your ardent grasp can yield? + + Other youths have oft before + Deem'd their joys would never fade, + Till themselves were seen no more + Swept into oblivion's shade. + + Who, with health and pleasure gay, + E'er his fragile state could know, + Were not age and pain to say + Man is but the child of woe? + +_The Caliph Radhi Billah_. + + +TO A DOVE + + The Dove to ease an aching breast, + In piteous murmurs vents her cares; + Like me she sorrows, for opprest, + Like me, a load of grief she bears. + + Her plaints are heard in every wood, + While I would fain conceal my woes; + But vain's my wish, the briny flood, + The more I strive, the faster flows. + + Sure, gentle Bird, my drooping heart + Divides the pangs of love with thine, + And plaintive murm'rings are thy part, + And silent grief and tears are mine. + +_Serage Alwarak_. + + +ON A THUNDER STORM + + Bright smil'd the morn, till o'er its head + The clouds in thicken'd foldings spread + A robe of sable hue; + Then, gathering round day's golden king, + They stretch'd their wide o'ershadowing wing, + And hid him from our view. + + The rain his absent beams deplor'd, + And, soften'd into weeping, pour'd + Its tears in many a flood; + The lightning laughed with horrid glare; + The thunder growl'd, in rage; the air + In silent sorrow stood. + +_Ibrahim Ben Khiret Abou Isaac_. + + +TO MY FAVORITE MISTRESS + + I saw their jealous eyeballs roll, + I saw them mark each glance of mine, + I saw thy terrors, and my soul + Shar'd ev'ry pang that tortur'd thine. + + In vain to wean my constant heart, + Or quench my glowing flame, they strove; + Each deep-laid scheme, each envious art, + But wak'd my fears for her I love. + + 'Twas this compelled the stern decree, + That forc'd thee to those distant towers, + And left me nought but love for thee, + To cheer my solitary hours. + + Yet let not Abla sink deprest, + Nor separation's pangs deplore; + We meet not--'tis to meet more blest; + We parted--'tis to part no more. + +_Saif Addaulet, Sultan of Aleppe_. + + +CRUCIFIXION OF EBN BAKIAH[25] + + Whatever thy fate, in life and death, + Thou'rt doom'd above us still to rise, + Whilst at a distance far beneath + We view thee with admiring eyes. + + The gazing crowds still round thee throng, + Still to thy well-known voice repair, + As when erewhile thy hallow'd tongue + Pour'd in the Mosque the solemn prayer. + + Still, generous Vizir, we survey + Thine arms extended o'er our head, + As lately, in the festive day, + When they were stretch'd thy gifts to shed. + + Earth's narrow boundaries strove in vain + To limit thy aspiring mind, + And now we see thy dust disdain + Within her breast to be confin'd. + + The earth's too small for one so great, + Another mansion thou shalt have-- + The clouds shall be thy winding sheet, + The spacious vault of heaven thy grave. + +_Abou Hassan Alanbary_. + +[25] Ebn Bakiah was vizir to Azzad Addaulet or Bachteir, Emir Alomra + of Bagdad, under the Caliphs Moti Lillah and Tay Lillah; but Azzad + Addaulet being deprived of his office, and driven from Bagdad by + Adhed Addaulet, Sultan of Persia, Ebn Bakiah was seized and + crucified at the gates of the city, by order of the conqueror. + + +CAPRICES OF FORTUNE[26] + + Why should I blush that Fortune's frown + Dooms me life's humble paths to tread? + To live unheeded, and unknown? + To sink forgotten to the dead? + + 'Tis not the good, the wise, the brave, + That surest shine, or highest rise; + The feather sports upon the wave, + The pearl in ocean's cavern lies. + + Each lesser star that studs the sphere + Sparkles with undiminish'd light: + Dark and eclips'd alone appear + The lord of day, the queen of night. + +_Shems Almaali Cabus_. + +[26] History can show few princes so amiable and few so unfortunate + as Shems Almaali Cabus. He is described as possessed of almost every + virtue and every accomplishment: his piety, justice, generosity, and + humanity, are universally celebrated; nor was he less conspicuous + for intellectual powers; his genius was at once penetrating, solid, + and brilliant, and he distinguished himself equally as an orator, a + philosopher, and a poet. + + +ON LIFE + + Like sheep, we're doom'd to travel o'er + The fated track to all assign'd, + These follow those that went before, + And leave the world to those behind. + + As the flock seeks the pasturing shade, + Man presses to the future day, + While death, amidst the tufted glade, + Like the dun robber,[A] waits his prey. + +[A] The wolf. + + +EXTEMPORE VERSES[27] + + Lowering as Barkaidy's face + The wintry night came in, + Cold as the music of his bass, + And lengthen'd as his chin. + + Sleep from my aching eyes had fled, + And kept as far apart, + As sense from Ebn Fahdi's head, + Or virtue from his heart. + + The dubious paths my footsteps balk'd, + I slipp'd along the sod, + As if on Jaber's faith I'd walk'd, + Or on his truth had trod. + + At length the rising King of day + Burst on the gloomy wood, + Like Carawash's eye, whose ray + Dispenses every good. + +_Ebn Alramacram_. + +[27] The occasion of the following composition is thus related by + Abulfeda. Carawash, Sultan of Mousel, being one wintry evening + engaged in a party of pleasure along with Barkaidy, Ebn Fahdi, Abou + Jaber, and the improvisatore poet, Ebn Alramacram, resolved to + divert himself at the expense of his companions. He therefore + ordered the poet to give a specimen of his talents, which at the + same time should convey a satire upon the three courtiers, and a + compliment to himself. Ebn Alramacram took his subject from the + stormy appearance of the night, and immediately produced these + verses. + + +ON THE DEATH OF A SON[28] + + Tyrant of man! Imperious Fate! + I bow before thy dread decree, + Nor hope in this uncertain state + To find a seat secure from thee. + + Life is a dark, tumultuous stream, + With many a care and sorrow foul, + Yet thoughtless mortals vainly deem + That it can yield a limpid bowl. + + Think not that stream will backward flow, + Or cease its destin'd course to keep; + As soon the blazing spark shall glow + Beneath the surface of the deep. + + Believe not Fate at thy command + Will grant a meed she never gave; + As soon the airy tower shall stand, + That's built upon a passing wave. + + Life is a sleep of threescore years, + Death bids us wake and hail the light, + And man, with all his hopes and fears, + Is but a phantom of the night. + +_Aly Ben Mohammed Altahmany_. + +[28] Aly Ben Mohammed was a native of that part of Arabia called Hejaz; + and was celebrated not only as a poet, but as a politician. + + +TO LEILA + + Leila, with too successful art, + Has spread for me love's cruel snare; + And now, when she has caught my heart, + She laughs, and leaves it to despair. + + Thus the poor sparrow pants for breath, + Held captive by a playful boy, + And while it drinks the draught of death, + The thoughtless child looks on with joy. + + Ah! were its flutt'ring pinions free, + Soon would it bid its chains adieu, + Or did the child its suff'rings see, + He'd pity and relieve them too. + + +ON MODERATION IN OUR PLEASURES[29] + + How oft does passion's grasp destroy + The pleasure that it strives to gain? + How soon the thoughtless course of joy + Is doom'd to terminate in pain? + + When prudence would thy steps delay, + She but restrains to make thee blest; + Whate'er from joy she lops away, + But heightens and secures the rest. + + Wouldst thou a trembling flame expand, + That hastens in the lamp to die? + With careful touch, with sparing hand, + The feeding stream of life supply. + + But if thy flask profusely sheds + A rushing torrent o'er the blaze, + Swift round the sinking flame it spreads, + And kills the fire it fain would raise. + +_Abou Alcassim Ebn Tabataba_. + +[29] Tabataba deduced his pedigree from Ali Ben Abou Taleb, and Fatima, + the daughter of Mohammed. He was born at Ispahan, but passed the + principal part of his life in Egypt, where he was appointed chief + of the sheriffs, i.e. the descendants of the Prophet, a dignity + held in the highest veneration by every Mussulman. He died in the + year of the Hegira 418, with the reputation of being one of the + most excellent poets of his time. + + +THE VALE OF BOZAA[30] + + The intertwining boughs for thee + Have wove, sweet dell, a verdant vest, + And thou in turn shalt give to me + A verdant couch upon thy breast. + + To shield me from day's fervid glare + Thine oaks their fostering arms extend, + As anxious o'er her infant care + I've seen a watchful mother bend. + + A brighter cup, a sweeter draught, + I gather from that rill of thine, + Than maddening drunkards ever quaff'd, + Than all the treasures of the vine. + + So smooth the pebbles on its shore, + That not a maid can thither stray, + But counts her strings of jewels o'er, + And thinks the pearls have slipp'd away. + +_Ahmed Ben Yousef Almenazy_. + +[30] Ben Yousef for many years acted as vizir to Abou Nasser, Sultan + of Diarbeker. His political talents are much praised, and he is + particularly celebrated for the address he displayed while upon + an embassy to the Greek Emperor at Constantinople. Yousef's + poetry must be looked upon merely as a jeu d'esprit suggested + by the beauties of the vale of Bozâa, as he passed through it. + + +TO ADVERSITY[31] + + Hail, chastening friend Adversity! 'Tis thine + The mental ore to temper and refine, + To cast in virtue's mould the yielding heart, + And honor's polish to the mind impart. + Without thy wakening touch, thy plastic aid, + I'd lain the shapeless mass that nature made; + But form'd, great artist, by thy magic hand, + I gleam a sword to conquer and command. + +_Abou Menbaa Carawash_. + + +[31] The life of this prince was checkered with various adventures; + he was perpetually engaged in contests either with the neighboring + sovereigns, or the princes of his own family. After many struggles + he was obliged to submit to his brother, Abou Camel, who + immediately ordered him to be seized, and conveyed to a place + of security. + + +ON THE INCOMPATIBILITY OF PRIDE AND TRUE GLORY[32] + + Think not, Abdallah, pride and fame + Can ever travel hand in hand; + With breast oppos'd, and adverse aim, + On the same narrow path they stand. + + Thus youth and age together meet, + And life's divided moments share; + This can't advance till that retreat, + What's here increas'd, is lessen'd there. + + And thus the falling shades of night + Still struggle with the lucid ray, + And e'er they stretch their gloomy flight + Must win the lengthen'd space from day. + +_Abou Alola_. + +[32] Abou Alola is esteemed as one of the most excellent of the + Arabian poets. He was born blind, but this did not deter him from + the pursuit of literature. Abou Alola died at Maara in the year + 449, aged eighty-six. + + +THE DEATH OF NEDHAM ALMOLK + + Thy virtues fam'd thro' every land, + Thy spotless life, in age and youth, + Prove thee a pearl, by nature's hand, + Form'd out of purity and truth. + + Too long its beams of Orient light + Upon a thankless world were shed; + Allah has now reveng'd the slight, + And call'd it to its native bed. + +_Shebal Addaulet_. + + +LINES TO A LOVER + + When you told us our glances soft, timid and mild, + Could occasion such wounds in the heart, + Can ye wonder that yours, so ungovern'd and wild, + Some wounds to our cheeks should impart? + + The wounds on our cheeks are but transient, I own, + With a blush they appear and decay; + But those on the heart, fickle youths, ye have shown + To be even more transient than they. + +_Waladata_. + + +VERSES TO MY DAUGHTERS[33] + + With jocund heart and cheerful brow + I used to hail the festal morn-- + How must Mohammed greet it now?-- + A prisoner helpless and forlorn. + + While these dear maids in beauty's bloom, + With want opprest, with rags o'erspread, + By sordid labors at the loom + Must earn a poor, precarious bread. + + Those feet that never touched the ground, + Till musk or camphor strew'd the way, + Now bare and swoll'n with many a wound. + Must struggle thro' the miry clay. + + Those radiant cheeks are veil'd in woe, + A shower descends from every eye, + And not a starting tear can flow, + That wakes not an attending sigh. + + Fortune, that whilom own'd my sway, + And bow'd obsequious to my nod, + Now sees me destin'd to obey, + And bend beneath oppression's rod. + + Ye mortals with success elate, + Who bask in hope's delusive beam, + Attentive view Mohammed's fate, + And own that bliss is but a dream. + +_Mohammed Bed Abad_. + +[33] Seville was one of those small sovereignties into which Spain + had been divided after the extinction of the house of Ommiah. It + did not long retain its independence, and the only prince who ever + presided over it as a separate kingdom seems to have been Mohammed + Ben Abad, the author of these verses. For thirty-three years he + reigned over Seville and the neighboring districts with considerable + reputation, but being attacked by Joseph, son to the Emperor of + Morocco, at the head of a numerous army of Africans, was defeated, + taken prisoner, and thrown into a dungeon, where he died in the year + 488. + + +SERENADE TO MY SLEEPING MISTRESS[34] + + Sure Harut's[B] potent spells were breath'd + Upon that magic sword, thine eye; + For if it wounds us thus while sheath'd, + When drawn, 'tis vain its edge to fly. + + How canst thou doom me, cruel fair, + Plung'd in the hell[C] of scorn to groan? + No idol e'er this heart could share, + This heart has worshipp'd thee alone. + +_Aly Ben Abd_. + +[34] This author was by birth an African; but having passed over to + Spain, he was much patronized by Mohammed, Sultan of Seville. After + the fall of his master, Ben Abd returned to Africa, and died at + Tangier, A.H. 488. + +[B] A wicked angel who is permitted to tempt mankind by teaching them + magic; see the legend respecting him in the Koran. + +[C] The poet here alludes to the punishments denounced in the Koran + against those who worship a plurality of Gods: "their couch shall + be in hell, and over them shall be coverings of fire." + + +THE INCONSISTENT[35] + + When I sent you my melons, you cried out with scorn, + They ought to be heavy and wrinkled and yellow; + When I offer'd myself, whom those graces adorn, + You flouted, and call'd me an ugly old fellow. + +[35] Written to a lady upon her refusal of a present of melons, and her + rejection of the addresses of an admirer. + + +THE CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM[36] + + From our distended eyeballs flow + A mingled stream of tears and blood; + No care we feel, nor wish to know, + But who shall pour the largest flood. + + But what defense can tears afford? + What aid supply in this dread hour? + When kindled by the sparkling sword + War's raging flames the land devour. + + No more let sleep's seductive charms + Upon your torpid souls be shed: + A crash like this, such dire alarms, + Might burst the slumbers of the dead. + + Think where your dear companions lie-- + Survey their fate, and hear their woes-- + How some thro' trackless deserts fly, + Some in the vulture's maw repose; + + While some more wretched still, must bear + The tauntings of a Christian's tongue-- + Hear this--and blush ye not to wear + The silken robe of peace so long? + + Remember what ensanguin'd showers + The Syrian plains with crimson dyed, + And think how many blooming flowers + In Syrian forts their beauties hide. + + Arabian youths! In such a cause + Can ye the voice of glory slight? + Warriors of Persia! Can ye pause, + Or fear to mingle in the fight? + + If neither piety nor shame + Your breasts can warm, your souls can move, + Let emulation's bursting flame + Wake you to vengeance and to love. + +_Almodhafer Alabiwerdy_. + +[36] The capture of Jerusalem took place in the 492d year of the Hegira, + A.D. 1099. Alabiwerdy, who wrote these verses, was a native of + Khorasan; he died A.H. 507. + + +TO A LADY + + No, Abla, no--when Selim tells + Of many an unknown grace that dwells + In Abla's face and mien, + When he describes the sense refin'd, + That lights thine eye and fills thy mind, + By thee alone unseen. + + Tis not that drunk with love he sees + Ideal charms, which only please + Thro' passion's partial veil, + 'Tis not that flattery's glozing tongue + Hath basely fram'd an idle song, + But truth that breath'd the tale. + + Thine eyes unaided ne'er could trace + Each opening charm, each varied grace, + That round thy person plays; + Some must remain conceal'd from thee, + For Selim's watchful eye to see, + For Selim's tongue to praise. + + One polish'd mirror can declare + That eye so bright, that face so fair, + That cheek which shames the rose; + But how thy mantle waves behind, + How float thy tresses on the wind, + Another only shows. + + +AN EPIGRAM[37] + + Whoever has recourse to thee + Can hope for health no more, + He's launched into perdition's sea, + A sea without a shore. + + Where'er admission thou canst gain, + Where'er thy phiz can pierce, + At once the Doctor they retain, + The mourners and the hearse. + +_George_. + +[37] Written to Abou Alchair Selamu, an Egyptian physician. The author + was a physician of Antioch. + + +ON A LITTLE MAN WITH A VERY LARGE BEARD + + How can thy chin that burden bear? + Is it all gravity to shock? + Is it to make the people stare? + And be thyself a laughing stock? + + When I behold thy little feet + After thy beard obsequious run, + I always fancy that I meet + Some father followed by his son. + + A man like thee scarce e'er appear'd-- + A beard like thine--where shall we find it? + Surely thou cherishest thy beard + In hope to hide thyself behind it. + +_Isaai, Ben Khalif_. + + +LAMIAT ALAJEM[38] + + No kind supporting hand I meet, + But Fortitude shall stay my feet; + No borrow'd splendors round me shine, + But Virtue's lustre all is mine; + A Fame unsullied still I boast, + Obscur'd, conceal'd, but never lost-- + The same bright orb that led the day + Pours from the West his mellow'd ray. + + Zaura, farewell! No more I see + Within thy walls, a home for me; + Deserted, spurn'd, aside I'm toss'd, + As an old sword whose scabbard's lost: + Around thy walls I seek in vain + Some bosom that will soothe my pain-- + No friend is near to breathe relief, + Or brother to partake my grief. + For many a melancholy day + Thro' desert vales I've wound my way; + The faithful beast, whose back I press, + In groans laments her lord's distress; + + In every quiv'ring of my spear + A sympathetic sigh I hear; + The camel bending with his load, + And struggling thro' the thorny road, + 'Midst the fatigues that bear him down, + In Hassan's woes forgets his own; + Yet cruel friends my wanderings chide, + My sufferings slight, my toils deride. + + Once wealth, I own, engrossed each thought, + There was a moment when I sought + The glitt'ring stores Ambition claims + To feed the wants his fancy frames; + But now 'tis past--the changing day + Has snatch'd my high-built hopes away, + And bade this wish my labors close-- + Give me not riches, but repose. + 'Tis he--that mien my friend declares, + That stature, like the lance he bears; + I see that breast which ne'er contain'd + A thought by fear or folly stain'd, + Whose powers can every change obey, + In business grave, in trifles gay, + And, form'd each varying taste to please, + Can mingle dignity with ease. + + What, tho' with magic influence, sleep, + O'er every closing eyelid creep: + Tho' drunk with its oblivious wine + Our comrades on their bales recline, + My Selim's trance I sure can break-- + Selim, 'tis I, 'tis I who speak. + Dangers on every side impend, + And sleep'st thou, careless of thy friend? + Thou sleep'st while every star on high, + Beholds me with a wakeful eye-- + Thou changest, ere the changeful night + Hath streak'd her fleeting robe with white. + + 'Tis love that hurries me along-- + I'm deaf to fear's repressive song-- + The rocks of Idham I'll ascend, + Tho' adverse darts each path defend, + And hostile sabres glitter there, + To guard the tresses of the fair. + + Come, Selim, let us pierce the grove, + While night befriends, to seek my love. + The clouds of fragrance as they rise + Shall mark the place where Abla lies. + Around her tent my jealous foes, + Like lions, spread their watchful rows; + Amidst their bands, her bow'r appears + Embosom'd in a wood of spears-- + A wood still nourish'd by the dews, + Which smiles, and softest looks diffuse. + Thrice happy youths! who midst yon shades + Sweet converse hold with Idham's maids, + What bliss, to view them gild the hours, + And brighten wit and fancy's powers, + While every foible they disclose + New transport gives, new graces shows. + 'Tis theirs to raise with conscious art + The flames of love in every heart; + 'Tis yours to raise with festive glee + The flames of hospitality: + Smit by their glances lovers lie, + And helpless sink and hopeless die; + While slain by you the stately steed + To crown the feast, is doom'd to bleed, + To crown the feast, where copious flows + The sparkling juice that soothes your woes, + That lulls each care and heals each wound, + As the enlivening bowl goes round. + Amidst those vales my eager feet + Shall trace my Abla's dear retreat, + A gale of health may hover there, + To breathe some solace to my care. + I fear not love--I bless the dart + Sent in a glance to pierce the heart: + With willing breast the sword I hail + That wounds me thro' an half-clos'd veil: + Tho' lions howling round the shade, + My footsteps haunt, my walks invade, + No fears shall drive me from the grove, + If Abla listen to my love. + + Ah, Selim! shall the spells of ease + Thy friendship chain, thine ardor freeze! + Wilt thou enchanted thus, decline + Each gen'rous thought, each bold design? + Then far from men some cell prepare; + Or build a mansion in the air-- + But yield to us, ambition's tide, + Who fearless on its waves can ride; + Enough for thee if thou receive + The scattered spray the billows leave. + + Contempt and want the wretch await + Who slumbers in an abject state-- + 'Midst rushing crowds, by toil and pain + The meed of Honor we must gain; + At Honor's call, the camel hastes + Thro' trackless wilds and dreary wastes, + Till in the glorious race she find + The fleetest coursers left behind: + By toils like these alone, he cries, + Th' adventurous youths to greatness rise; + If bloated indolence were fame, + And pompous ease our noblest aim, + The orb that regulates the day + Would ne'er from Aries' mansion stray. + + I've bent at Fortune's shrine too long-- + Too oft she heard my suppliant tongue-- + Too oft has mock'd my idle prayers, + While fools and knaves engross'd her cares, + Awake for them, asleep to me, + Heedless of worth she scorn'd each plea. + Ah! had her eyes, more just survey'd + The diff'rent claims which each display'd, + Those eyes from partial fondness free + Had slept to them, and wak'd for me. + + But, 'midst my sorrows and my toils, + Hope ever sooth'd my breast with smiles; + Her hand remov'd each gathering ill, + And oped life's closing prospects still. + Yet spite of all her friendly art + The specious scene ne'er gain'd my heart; + I lov'd it not altho' the day + Met my approach, and cheer'd my way; + I loath it now the hours retreat, + And fly me with reverted feet. + + My soul from every tarnish free + May boldly vaunt her purity, + But ah, how keen, however bright, + The sabre glitter to the sight, + Its splendor's lost, its polish vain, + Till some bold hand the steel sustain. + + Why have my days been stretch'd by fate, + To see the vile and vicious great-- + While I, who led the race so long, + Am last and meanest of the throng? + Ah, why has death so long delay'd + To wrap me in his friendly shade, + Left me to wander thus alone, + When all my heart held dear is gone! + + But let me check these fretful sighs-- + Well may the base above me rise, + When yonder planets as they run + Mount in the sky above the sun. + Resigned I bow to Fate's decree, + Nor hope his laws will change for me; + Each shifting scene, each varying hour, + But proves the ruthless tyrants' power. + + But tho' with ills unnumber'd curst, + We owe to faithless man the worst; + For man can smile with specious art, + And plant a dagger in the heart. + He only's fitted for the strife + Which fills the boist'rous paths of life, + Who, as he treads the crowded scenes, + Upon no kindred bosom leans. + Too long my foolish heart had deem'd + Mankind as virtuous as they seem'd; + The spell is broke, their faults are bare, + And now I see them as they are; + Truth from each tainted breast has flown, + And falsehood marks them all her own. + Incredulous I listen now + To every tongue, and every vow, + For still there yawns a gulf between + Those honeyed words, and what they mean; + With honest pride elate, I see + The sons of falsehood shrink from me, + As from the right line's even way + The biass'd curves deflecting stray-- + But what avails it to complain? + With souls like theirs reproof is vain; + If honor e'er such bosoms share + The sabre's point must fix it there. + But why exhaust life's rapid bowl, + And suck the dregs with sorrow foul, + When long ere this my youth has drain'd + Whatever zest the cup contain'd? + Why should we mount upon the wave, + And ocean's yawning horrors brave, + When we may swallow from the flask + Whatever the wants of mortals ask? + + Contentment's realms no fears invade, + No cares annoy, no sorrows shade, + There plac'd secure, in peace we rest, + Nor aught demand to make us blest. + While pleasure's gay fantastic bower, + The splendid pageant of an hour, + Like yonder meteor in the skies, + Flits with a breath no more to rise. + + As thro' life's various walks we're led, + May prudence hover o'er our head! + May she our words, our actions guide, + Our faults correct, our secrets hide! + + May she, where'er our footsteps stray, + Direct our paths, and clear the way! + + Till, every scene of tumult past, + She bring us to repose at last, + Teach us to love that peaceful shore, + And roam thro' folly's wilds no more! + +_Mauid Eddin Alhassan Abou Ismael Altograi_. + +[38] Abou Ismael was a native of Ispahan. He devoted himself to the + service of the Seljuk Sultans of Persia, and enjoyed the confidence + of Malec Shah, and his son and grandson, Mohammed and Massoud, by + the last of whom he was raised to the dignity of vizir. Massoud, + however, was not long in a condition to afford Abou Ismael any + protection, for, being attacked by his brother Mahmoud, he was + defeated, and driven from Mousel, and upon the fall of his master + the vizir was seized and thrown into prison, and at length in the + year 515 sentenced to be put to death. + + +TO YOUTH + + Yes, youth, thou'rt fled, and I am left, + Like yonder desolated bower, + By winter's ruthless hand bereft + Of every leaf and every flower. + + With heaving heart and streaming eyes + I woo'd thee to prolong thy stay, + But vain were all my tears and sighs, + Thou only fled'st more fast away. + + Yet tho' thou fled'st away so fast, + I can recall thee if I will; + For I can talk of what is past, + And while I talk, enjoy thee still. + +_Ebn Alrabia_. + + +ON LOVE[39] + + I never knew a sprightly fair + That was not dear to me, + And freely I my heart could share, + With every one I see. + + It is not this or that alone + On whom my choice would fall, + I do not more incline to one + Than I incline to all. + + The circle's bounding line are they, + Its centre is my heart, + My ready love the equal ray + That flows to every part. + +_Abou Aly_. + +[39] Abou Aly flourished in Egypt about the year 530, and was equally + celebrated as a mathematician and as a poet. + + +A REMONSTRANCE WITH A DRUNKARD[40] + + As drench'd in wine, the other night, + Zeid from the banquet sallied, + Thus I reprov'd his drunken plight, + Thus he my prudence rallied; + + "In bev'rage so impure and vile, + How canst thou thus delight?"-- + "My cups," he answer'd with a smile, + "Are generous and bright." + + "Beware those dang'rous draughts," I cried, + "With love the goblet flows"-- + "And curst is he," the youth replied, + "Who hatred only knows." + + "Those cups too soon with sickness fraught + Thy stomach shall deplore"-- + "Then soon," he cried, "the noxious draught + And all its ills are o'er." + + "Rash youth, thy guilty joys resign." + "I will," at length he said, + "I vow I'll bid adieu to wine + As soon as I am dead." + +_Yahia Ben Salamet_. + +[40] This author was a native of Syria, and died at Miafarakir in the + year of the Hegira 553. + + +VERSES[41] + + Tho' such unbounded love you swear, + 'Tis only art I see; + Can I believe that one so fair + Should ever dote on me? + + Say that you hate, and freely show + That age displeases youth; + And I may love you when I know + That you can tell the truth. + +_Caliph Almonklafi Laimrillah_. + +[41] Almonklafi was the thirty-first Caliph of the house of Abbas, and + the only one who possessed any real authority since the reign of + Radhi. These lines were addressed to a lady who pretended a + passion for him in his old age. + + +ON PROCRASTINATION[42] + + Youth is a drunken noisy hour, + With every folly fraught; + But man, by age's chast'ning power, + Is sober'd into thought. + + Then we resolve our faults to shun, + And shape our course anew; + But ere the wise reform's begun + Life closes on our view. + + The travellers thus who wildly roam, + Or heedlessly delay, + Are left, when they should reach their home, + Benighted on the way. + +_Hebat Allah Ibn Altalmith_. + +[42] Ibn Altalmith died in the 560th year of the Hegira, at the advanced + age of one hundred. + + +THE EARLY DEATH OF ABOU ALHASSAN ALY[43] + + Soon hast thou run the race of life, + Nor could our tears thy speed control-- + Still in the courser's gen'rous strife + The best will soonest reach the goal. + + As Death upon his hand turns o'er + The different gems the world displays, + He seizes first to swell his store + The brightest jewel he surveys. + + Thy name, by every breath convey'd, + Stretch'd o'er the globe its boundless flight; + Alas! in eve the lengthening shade + But lengthens to be lost in night! + + If gracious Allah bade thee close + Thy youthful eyes so soon on day, + 'Tis that he readiest welcomes those + Who love him best and best obey. + +_Alnassar Ledin Allah_. + +[43] Alnassar Ledin Allah was the thirty-fourth Abasside Caliph, and + the last excepting three who enjoyed this splendid title, which + was finally abolished by the Tartars in the year 656. + + +THE INTERVIEW + +_A Song_ + + Darkness clos'd around, loud the tempest drove, + When thro' yonder glen I saw my lover rove, + Dearest youth! + Soon he reach'd our cot--weary, wet, and cold, + But warmth, wine, and I, to cheer his spirits strove, + Dearest youth! + How my love, cried I, durst thou hither stray + Thro' the gloom, nor fear the ghosts that haunt the grove? + Dearest youth! + In this heart, said he, fear no seat can find, + When each thought is fill'd alone with thee and love, + Dearest maid! + + + + +ARABIAN NIGHTS + +[_Selected tales edited by Andrew Lang_] + + +THE SEVEN VOYAGES OF SINDBAD + +In the times of the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid there lived in Bagdad a poor +porter named Hindbad, who, on a very hot day, was sent to carry a heavy +load from one end of the city to the other. Before he had accomplished +half the distance he was so tired that, finding himself in a quiet +street where the pavement was sprinkled with rose-water, and a cool +breeze was blowing, he set his burden upon the ground, and sat down to +rest in the shade of a grand house. Very soon he decided that he could +not have chosen a pleasanter place; a delicious perfume of aloes-wood +and pastilles came from the open windows and mingled with the scent of +the rose-water which steamed up from the hot pavement. Within the palace +he heard some music, as of many instruments cunningly played, and the +melodious warble of nightingales and other birds, and by this, and the +appetizing smell of many dainty dishes of which he presently became +aware, he judged that feasting and merry-making were going on. He +wondered who lived in this magnificent house which he had never seen +before, the street in which it stood being one which he seldom had +occasion to pass. To satisfy his curiosity he went up to some splendidly +dressed servants who stood at the door, and asked one of them the name +of the master of the mansion. + +"What," replied he, "do you live in Bagdad, and not know that here lives +the noble Sindbad the Sailor, that famous traveller who sailed over +every sea upon which the sun shines?" + +The porter, who had often heard people speak of the immense wealth of +Sindbad, could not help feeling envious of one whose lot seemed to be as +happy as his own was miserable. Casting his eyes up to the sky he +exclaimed aloud:-- + +"Consider, Mighty Creator of all things, the difference between +Sindbad's life and mine. Every day I suffer a thousand hardships and +misfortunes, and have hard work to get even enough bad barley bread to +keep myself and my family alive, while the lucky Sindbad spends money +right and left and lives upon the fat of the land! What has he done that +you should give him this pleasant life--what have I done to deserve so +hard a fate?" + +So saying he stamped upon the ground like one beside himself with misery +and despair. Just at this moment a servant came out of the palace, and +taking him by the arm said, "Come with me, the noble Sindbad, my master, +wishes to speak to you." + +Hindbad was not a little surprised at this summons, and feared that his +unguarded words might have drawn upon him the displeasure of Sindbad, so +he tried to excuse himself upon the pretext that he could not leave the +burden which had been intrusted to him in the street. However the lackey +promised him that it should be taken care of, and urged him to obey the +call so pressingly that at last the porter was obliged to yield. + +He followed the servant into a vast room, where a great company was +seated round a table covered with all sorts of delicacies. In the place +of honor sat a tall, grave man, whose long white beard gave him a +venerable air. Behind his chair stood a crowd of attendants eager to +minister to his wants. This was the famous Sindbad himself. The porter, +more than ever alarmed at the sight of so much magnificence, tremblingly +saluted the noble company. Sindbad, making a sign to him to approach, +caused him to be seated at his right hand, and himself heaped choice +morsels upon his plate, and poured out for him a draught of excellent +wine, and presently, when the banquet drew to a close, spoke to him +familiarly, asking his name and occupation. + +"My lord," replied the porter, "I am called Hindbad." + +"I am glad to see you here," continued Sindbad. "And I will answer for +the rest of the company that they are equally pleased, but I wish you to +tell me what it was that you said just now in the street." For Sindbad, +passing by the open window before the feast began, had heard his +complaint and therefore had sent for him. + +At this question Hindbad was covered with confusion, and hanging down +his head, replied, "My lord, I confess that, overcome by weariness and +ill-humor, I uttered indiscreet words, which I pray you to pardon me." + +"Oh!" replied Sindbad, "do not imagine that I am so unjust as to blame +you. On the contrary, I understand your situation and can pity you. Only +you appear to be mistaken about me, and I wish to set you right. You +doubtless imagine that I have acquired all the wealth and luxury that +you see me enjoy without difficulty or danger, but this is far indeed +from being the case. I have only reached this happy state after having +for years suffered every possible kind of toil and danger. + +"Yes, my noble friends," he continued, addressing the company, "I assure +you that my adventures have been strange enough to deter even the most +avaricious men from seeking wealth by traversing the seas. Since you +have, perhaps, heard but confused accounts of my Seven Voyages, and the +dangers and wonders that I have met with by sea and land, I will now +give you a full and true account of them, which I think you will be well +pleased to hear." + +As Sindbad was relating his adventures chiefly on account of the porter, +he ordered, before beginning his tale, that the burden which had been +left in the street should be carried by some of his own servants to the +place for which Hindbad had set out at first, while he remained to +listen to the story. + + + + +FIRST VOYAGE + +I had inherited considerable wealth from my parents, and being young and +foolish I at first squandered it recklessly upon every kind of pleasure, +but presently, finding that riches speedily take to themselves wings if +managed as badly as I was managing mine, and remembering also that to be +old and poor is misery indeed, I began to bethink me of how I could make +the best of what still remained to me. I sold all my household goods by +public auction, and joined a company of merchants who traded by sea, +embarking with them at Balsora in a ship which we had fitted out between +us. + +We set sail and took our course towards the East Indies by the Persian +Gulf, having the coast of Persia upon our left hand and upon our right +the shores of Arabia Felix. I was at first much troubled by the uneasy +motion of the vessel, but speedily recovered my health, and since that +hour have been no more plagued by sea-sickness. + +From time to time we landed at various islands, where we sold or +exchanged our merchandise, and one day, when the wind dropped suddenly, +we found ourselves becalmed close to a small island like a green meadow, +which only rose slightly above the surface of the water. Our sails were +furled, and the captain gave permission to all who wished to land for a +while and amuse themselves. I was among the number, but when after +strolling about for some time we lighted a fire and sat down to enjoy +the repast which we had brought with us, we were startled by a sudden +and violent trembling of the island, while at the same moment those left +upon the ship set up an outcry bidding us come on board for our lives, +since what we had taken for an island was nothing but the back of a +sleeping whale. Those who were nearest to the boat threw themselves into +it, others sprang into the sea, but before I could save myself the whale +plunged suddenly into the depths of the ocean, leaving me clinging to a +piece of the wood which we had brought to make our fire. Meanwhile a +breeze had sprung up, and in the confusion that ensued on board our +vessel in hoisting the sails and taking up those who were in the boat +and clinging to its sides, no one missed me and I was left at the mercy +of the waves. All that day I floated up and down, now beaten this way, +now that, and when night fell I despaired for my life; but, weary and +spent as I was, I clung to my frail support, and great was my joy when +the morning light showed me that I had drifted against an island. + +The cliffs were high and steep, but luckily for me some tree-roots +protruded in places, and by their aid I climbed up at last, and +stretched myself upon the turf at the top, where I lay, more dead than +alive, till the sun was high in the heavens. By that time I was very +hungry, but after some searching I came upon some eatable herbs, and a +spring of clear water, and much refreshed I set out to explore the +island. Presently I reached a great plain where a grazing horse was +tethered, and as I stood looking at it I heard voices talking apparently +underground, and in a moment a man appeared who asked me how I came upon +the island. I told him my adventures, and heard in return that he was +one of the grooms of Mihrage, the King of the island, and that each year +they came to feed their master's horses in this plain. He took me to a +cave where his companions were assembled, and when I had eaten of the +food they set before me, they bade me think myself fortunate to have +come upon them when I did, since they were going back to their master on +the morrow, and without their aid I could certainly never have found my +way to the inhabited part of the island. + +Early the next morning we accordingly set out, and when we reached the +capital I was graciously received by the King, to whom I related my +adventures, upon which he ordered that I should be well cared for and +provided with such things as I needed. Being a merchant I sought out men +of my own profession, and particularly those who came from foreign +countries, as I hoped in this way to hear news from Bagdad, and find out +some means of returning thither, for the capital was situated upon the +sea-shore, and visited by vessels from all parts of the world. In the +meantime I heard many curious things, and answered many questions +concerning my own country, for I talked willingly with all who came to +me. Also to while away the time of waiting I explored a little island +named Cassel, which belonged to King Mihrage, and which was supposed to +be inhabited by a spirit named Deggial. Indeed, the sailors assured me +that often at night the playing of timbals could be heard upon it. +However, I saw nothing strange upon my voyage, saving some fish that +were full two hundred cubits long, but were fortunately more in dread of +us than even we were of them, and fled from us if we did but strike upon +a board to frighten them. Other fishes there were only a cubit long +which had heads like owls. + +One day after my return, as I went down to the quay, I saw a ship which +had just cast anchor, and was discharging her cargo, while the merchants +to whom it belonged were busily directing the removal of it to their +warehouses. Drawing nearer I presently noticed that my own name was +marked upon some of the packages, and after having carefully examined +them, I felt sure that they were indeed those which I had put on board +our ship at Balsora. I then recognized the captain of the vessel, but as +I was certain that he believed me to be dead, I went up to him and asked +who owned the packages that I was looking at. + +"There was on board my ship," he replied, "a merchant of Bagdad named +Sindbad. One day he and several of my other passengers landed upon what +we supposed to be an island, but which was really an enormous whale +floating asleep upon the waves. No sooner did it feel upon its back the +heat of the fire which had been kindled, than it plunged into the depths +of the sea. Several of the people who were upon it perished in the +waters, and among others this unlucky Sindbad. This merchandise is his, +but I have resolved to dispose of it for the benefit of his family if I +should ever chance to meet with them." + +"Captain," said I, "I am that Sindbad whom you believe to be dead, and +these are my possessions!" + +When the captain heard these words he cried out in amazement, "Lackaday! +and what is the world coming to? In these days there is not an honest +man to be met with. Did I not with my own eyes see Sindbad drown, and +now you have the audacity to tell me that you are he! I should have +taken you to be a just man, and yet for the sake of obtaining that which +does not belong to you, you are ready to invent this horrible +falsehood." + +"Have patience, and do me the favor to hear my story," said I. + +"Speak then," replied the captain, "I am all attention." + +So I told him of my escape and of my fortunate meeting with the king's +grooms, and how kindly I had been received at the palace. Very soon I +began to see that I had made some impression upon him, and after the +arrival of some of the other merchants, who showed great joy at once +more seeing me alive, he declared that he also recognized me. + +Throwing himself upon my neck he exclaimed, "Heaven be praised that you +have escaped from so great a danger. As to your goods, I pray you take +them, and dispose of them as you please." I thanked him, and praised his +honesty, begging him to accept several bales of merchandise in token of +my gratitude, but he would take nothing. Of the choicest of my goods I +prepared a present for King Mihrage, who was at first amazed, having +known that I had lost my all. However, when I had explained to him how +my bales had been miraculously restored to me, he graciously accepted my +gifts, and in return gave me many valuable things. I then took leave of +him, and exchanging my merchandise for sandal and aloes-wood, camphor, +nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger, I embarked upon the same vessel and +traded so successfully upon our homeward voyage that I arrived in +Balsora with about one hundred thousand sequins. My family received me +with as much joy as I felt upon seeing them once more. I bought land and +slaves, and built a great house in which I resolved to live happily, and +in the enjoyment of all the pleasures of life to forget my past +sufferings. + +Here Sindbad paused, and commanded the musicians to play again, while +the feasting continued until evening. When the time came for the porter +to depart, Sindbad gave him a purse containing one hundred sequins, +saying, "Take this, Hindbad, and go home, but to-morrow come again and +you shall hear more of my adventures." + +The porter retired quite overcome by so much generosity, and you may +imagine that he was well received at home, where his wife and children +thanked their lucky stars that he had found such a benefactor. + +The next day Hindbad, dressed in his best, returned to the voyager's +house, and was received with open arms. As soon as all the guests had +arrived the banquet began as before, and when they had feasted long and +merrily, Sindbad addressed them thus:-- + +"My friends, I beg that you will give me your attention while I relate +the adventures of my second voyage, which you will find even more +astonishing than the first." + + + + +SECOND VOYAGE + +I had resolved, as you know, on my return from my first voyage, to spend +the rest of my days quietly in Bagdad, but very soon I grew tired of +such an idle life and longed once more to find myself upon the sea. + +I procured, therefore, such goods as were suitable for the places I +intended to visit, and embarked for the second time in a good ship with +other merchants whom I knew to be honorable men. We went from island to +island, often making excellent bargains, until one day we landed at a +spot which, though covered with fruit-trees and abounding in springs of +excellent water, appeared to possess neither houses nor people. While my +companions wandered here and there gathering flowers and fruit I sat +down in a shady place, and, having heartily enjoyed the provisions and +the wine I had brought with me, I fell asleep, lulled by the murmur of a +clear brook which flowed close by. + +How long I slept I know not, but when I opened my eyes and started to my +feet I perceived with horror that I was alone and that the ship was +gone. I rushed to and fro like one distracted, uttering cries of +despair, and when from the shore I saw the vessel under full sail just +disappearing upon the horizon, I wished bitterly enough that I had been +content to stay at home in safety. But since wishes could do me no good, +I presently took courage and looked about me for a means of escape. When +I had climbed a tall tree I first of all directed my anxious glances +towards the sea; but, finding nothing hopeful there, I turned landward, +and my curiosity was excited by a huge dazzling white object, so far off +that I could not make out what it might be. + +Descending from the tree I hastily collected what remained of my +provisions and set off as fast as I could go towards it. As I drew near +it seemed to me to be a white ball of immense size and height, and when +I could touch it, I found it marvellously smooth and soft. As it was +impossible to climb it--for it presented no foothold--I walked round +about it seeking some opening, but there was none. I counted, however, +that it was at least fifty paces round. By this time the sun was near +setting, but quite suddenly it fell dark, something like a huge black +cloud came swiftly over me, and I saw with amazement that it was a bird +of extraordinary size which was hovering near. Then I remembered that I +had often heard the sailors speak of a wonderful bird called a roc, and +it occurred to me that the white object which had so puzzled me must be +its egg. + +Sure enough the bird settled slowly down upon it, covering it with its +wings to keep it warm, and I cowered close beside the egg in such a +position that one of the bird's feet, which was as large as the trunk of +a tree, was just in front of me. Taking off my turban I bound myself +securely to it with the linen in the hope that the roc, when it took +flight next morning, would bear me away with it from the desolate +island. And this was precisely what did happen. As soon as the dawn +appeared the bird rose into the air carrying me up and up till I could +no longer see the earth, and then suddenly it descended so swiftly that +I almost lost consciousness. When I became aware that the roc had +settled and that I was once again upon solid ground, I hastily unbound +my turban from its foot and freed myself, and that not a moment too +soon; for the bird, pouncing upon a huge snake, killed it with a few +blows from its powerful beak, and seizing it rose up into the air once +more and soon disappeared from my view. When I had looked about me I +began to doubt if I had gained anything by quitting the desolate island. + +The valley in which I found myself was deep and narrow, and surrounded +by mountains which towered into the clouds, and were so steep and rocky +that there was no way of climbing up their sides. As I wandered about, +seeking anxiously for some means of escaping from this trap, I observed +that the ground was strewed with diamonds, some of them of an +astonishing size. This sight gave me great pleasure, but my delight was +speedily dampened when I saw also numbers of horrible snakes so long and +so large that the smallest of them could have swallowed an elephant with +ease. Fortunately for me they seemed to hide in caverns of the rocks by +day, and only came out by night, probably because of their enemy the +roc. + +All day long I wandered up and down the valley, and when it grew dusk I +crept into a little cave, and having blocked up the entrance to it with +a stone, I ate part of my little store of food and lay down to sleep, +but all through the night the serpents crawled to and fro, hissing +horribly, so that I could scarcely close my eyes for terror. I was +thankful when the morning light appeared, and when I judged by the +silence that the serpents had retreated to their dens I came tremblingly +out of my cave and wandered up and down the valley once more, kicking +the diamonds contemptuously out of my path, for I felt that they were +indeed vain things to a man in my situation. At last, overcome with +weariness, I sat down upon a rock, but I had hardly closed my eyes when +I was startled by something which fell to the ground with a thud close +beside me. + +It was a huge piece of fresh meat, and as I stared at it several more +pieces rolled over the cliffs in different places. I had always thought +that the stories the sailors told of the famous valley of diamonds, and +of the cunning way which some merchants had devised for getting at the +precious stones, were mere travellers' tales invented to give pleasure +to the hearers, but now I perceived that they were surely true. These +merchants came to the valley at the time when the eagles, which keep +their eyries in the rocks, had hatched their young. The merchants then +threw great lumps of meat into the valley. These, falling with so much +force upon the diamonds, were sure to take up some of the precious +stones with them, when the eagles pounced upon the meat and carried it +off to their nests to feed their hungry broods. Then the merchants, +scaring away the parent birds with shouts and outcries, would secure +their treasures. Until this moment I had looked upon the valley as my +grave, for I had seen no possibility of getting out of it alive, but now +I took courage and began to devise a means of escape. I began by picking +up all the largest diamonds I could find and storing them carefully in +the leathern wallet which had held my provisions; this I tied securely +to my belt. I then chose the piece of meat which seemed most suited to +my purpose, and with the aid of my turban bound it firmly to my back; +this done I laid down upon my face and awaited the coming of the eagles. +I soon heard the flapping of their mighty wings above me, and had the +satisfaction of feeling one of them seize upon my piece of meat, and me +with it, and rise slowly towards his nest, into which he presently +dropped me. Luckily for me the merchants were on the watch, and setting +up their usual outcries, they rushed to the nest, scaring away the +eagle. Their amazement was great when they discovered me, and also their +disappointment, and with one accord they fell to abusing me for having +robbed them of their usual profit. Addressing myself to the one who +seemed most aggrieved, I said:-- + +"I am sure, if you knew all that I have suffered, you would show more +kindness towards me, and as for diamonds, I have enough here of the very +best for you and me and all your company." So saying I showed them to +him. The others all crowded around me, wondering at my adventures and +admiring the device by which I had escaped from the valley, and when +they had led me to their camp and examined my diamonds, they assured me +that in all the years that they had carried on their trade they had seen +no stones to be compared with them for size and beauty. + +I found that each merchant chose a particular nest, and took his chance +of what he might find in it. So I begged the one who owned the nest to +which I had been carried to take as much as he would of my treasure, but +he contented himself with one stone, and that by no means the largest, +assuring me that with such a gem his fortune was made, and he need toil +no more. I stayed with the merchants several days, and then as they were +journeying homewards I gladly accompanied them. Our way lay across high +mountains infested with frightful serpents, but we had the good luck to +escape them and came at last to the seashore. Thence we sailed to the +isle of Roha, where the camphor-trees grow to such a size that a hundred +men could shelter under one of them with ease. The sap flows from an +incision made high up in the tree into a vessel hung there to receive +it, and soon hardens into the substance called camphor, but the tree +itself withers up and dies when it has been so treated. + +In this same island we saw the rhinoceros, an animal which is smaller +than the elephant and larger than the buffalo. It has one horn about a +cubit long which is solid, but has a furrow from the base to the tip. +Upon it is traced in white lines the figure of a man. The rhinoceros +fights with the elephant, and transfixing him with his horn carries him +off upon his head, but becoming blinded with the blood of his enemy, he +falls helpless to the ground, and then comes the roc, and clutches them +both up in his talons and takes them to feed his young. This doubtless +astonishes you, but if you do not believe my tale go to Roha and see for +yourself. For fear of wearying you I pass over in silence many other +wonderful things which we saw in this island. Before we left I exchanged +one of my diamonds for much goodly merchandise by which I profited +greatly on our homeward way. At last we reached Balsora, whence I +hastened to Bagdad, where my first action was to bestow large sums of +money upon the poor, after which I settled down to enjoy tranquilly the +riches I had gained with so much toil and pain. + +Having thus related the adventures of his second voyage, Sindbad again +bestowed a hundred sequins upon Hindbad, inviting him to come again on +the following day and hear how he fared upon his third voyage. The other +guests also departed to their homes, but all returned at the same hour +next day, including the porter, whose former life of hard work and +poverty had already begun to seem to him like a bad dream. Again after +the feast was over did Sindbad claim the attention of his guests and +began the account of his third voyage. + + + + +THIRD VOYAGE + +After a very short time the pleasant easy life I led made me quite +forget the perils of my two voyages. Moreover, as I was still in the +prime of life, it pleased me better to be up and doing. So once more +providing myself with the rarest and choicest merchandise of Bagdad, I +conveyed it to Balsora, and set sail with other merchants of my +acquaintance for distant lands. We had touched at many ports and made +much profit, when one day upon the open sea we were caught by a terrible +wind which blew us completely out of our reckoning, and lasting for +several days finally drove us into harbor on a strange island. + +"I would rather have come to anchor anywhere than here," quoth our +captain. "This island and all adjoining it are inhabited by hairy +savages, who are certain to attack us, and whatever these dwarfs may do +we dare not resist, since they swarm like locusts, and if one of them is +killed the rest will fall upon us, and speedily make an end of us." + +These words caused great consternation among all the ship's company, and +only too soon we were to find out that the captain spoke truly. There +appeared a vast multitude of hideous savages, not more than two feet +high and covered with reddish fur. Throwing themselves into the waves +they surrounded our vessel. Chattering meanwhile in a language we could +not understand, and clutching at ropes and gangways, they swarmed up the +ship's side with such speed and agility that they almost seemed to fly. + +You may imagine the rage and terror that seized us as we watched them, +neither daring to hinder them nor able to speak a word to deter them +from their purpose, whatever it might be. Of this we were not left long +in doubt. Hoisting the sails, and cutting the cable of the anchor, they +sailed our vessel to an island which lay a little further off, where +they drove us ashore; then taking possession of her, they made off to +the place from which they had come, leaving us helpless upon a shore +avoided with horror by all mariners for a reason which you will soon +learn. + +Turning away from the sea we wandered miserably inland, finding as we +went various herbs and fruits which we ate, feeling that we might as +well live as long as possible though we had no hope of escape. Presently +we saw in the far distance what seemed to us to be a splendid palace, +towards which we turned our weary steps, but when we reached it we saw +that it was a castle, lofty, and strongly built. Pushing back the heavy +ebony doors we entered the courtyard, but upon the threshold of the +great hall beyond it we paused, frozen with horror, at the sight which +greeted us. On one side lay a huge pile of bones--human bones; and on +the other numberless spits for roasting! Overcome with despair we sank +trembling to the ground, and lay there without speech or motion. The sun +was setting when a loud noise aroused us, the door of the hall was +violently burst open and a horrible giant entered. He was as tall as a +palm tree, and perfectly black, and had one eye, which flamed like a +burning coal in the middle of his forehead. His teeth were long and +sharp and grinned horribly, while his lower lip hung down upon his +chest, and he had ears like elephant's ears, which covered his +shoulders, and nails like the claws of some fierce bird. + +At this terrible sight our senses left us and we lay like dead men. When +at last we came to ourselves the giant sat examining us attentively with +his fearful eye. Presently when he had looked at us enough he came +towards us, and stretching out his hand took me by the back of the neck, +turning me this way and that, but feeling that I was mere skin and bone +he set me down again and went on to the next, whom he treated in the +same fashion; at last he came to the captain, and finding him the +fattest of us all, he took him up in one hand and stuck him upon a spit +and proceeded to kindle a huge fire at which he presently roasted him. +After the giant had supped he lay down to sleep, snoring like the +loudest thunder, while we lay shivering with horror the whole night +through, and when day broke he awoke and went out, leaving us in the +castle. + +When we believed him to be really gone we started up bemoaning our +horrible fate, until the hall echoed with our despairing cries. Though +we were many and our enemy was alone it did not occur to us to kill him, +and indeed we should have found that a hard task, even if we had thought +of it, and no plan could we devise to deliver ourselves. So at last, +submitting to our sad fate, we spent the day in wandering up and down +the island eating such fruits as we could find, and when night came we +returned to the castle, having sought in vain for any other place of +shelter. At sunset the giant returned, supped upon one of our unhappy +comrades, slept and snored till dawn, and then left us as before. Our +condition seemed to us so frightful that several of my companions +thought it would be better to leap from the cliffs and perish in the +waves at once, rather than await so miserable an end; but I had a plan +of escape which I now unfolded to them, and which they at once agreed to +attempt. + +"Listen, my brothers," I added. "You know that plenty of driftwood lies +along the shore. Let us make several rafts, and carry them to a suitable +place. If our plot succeeds, we can wait patiently for the chance of +some passing ship which would rescue us from this fatal island. If it +fails, we must quickly take to our rafts; frail as they are, we have +more chance of saving our lives with them than we have if we remain +here." + +All agreed with me, and we spent the day in building rafts, each capable +of carrying three persons. At nightfall we returned to the castle, and +very soon in came the giant, and one more of our number was sacrificed. +But the time of our vengeance was at hand! As soon as he had finished +his horrible repast he lay down to sleep as before, and when we heard +him begin to snore I, and nine of the boldest of my comrades, rose +softly, and took each a spit, which we made red-hot in the fire, and +then at a given signal we plunged it with one accord into the giant's +eye, completely blinding him. Uttering a terrible cry, he sprang to his +feet clutching in all directions to try to seize one of us, but we had +all fled different ways as soon as the deed was done, and thrown +ourselves flat upon the ground in corners where he was not likely to +touch us with his feet. + +After a vain search he fumbled about till he found the door, and fled +out of it howling frightfully. As for us, when he was gone we made haste +to leave the fatal castle, and, stationing ourselves beside our rafts, +we waited to see what would happen. Our idea was that if, when the sun +rose, we saw nothing of the giant, and no longer heard his howls, which +still came faintly through the darkness, growing more and more distant, +we should conclude that he was dead, and that we might safely stay upon +the island and need not risk our lives upon the frail rafts. But alas! +morning light showed us our enemy approaching us, supported on either +hand by two giants nearly as large and fearful as himself, while a crowd +of others followed close upon their heels. Hesitating no longer we +clambered upon our rafts and rowed with all our might out to sea. The +giants, seeing their prey escaping them, seized up huge pieces of rock, +and wading into the water hurled them after us with such good aim that +all the rafts except the one I was upon were swamped, and their luckless +crews drowned, without our being able to do anything to help them. +Indeed I and my two companions had all we could do to keep our own raft +beyond the reach of the giants, but by dint of hard rowing we at last +gained the open sea. Here we were at the mercy of the winds and waves, +which tossed us to and fro all that day and night, but the next morning +we found ourselves near an island, upon which we gladly landed. + +There we found delicious fruits, and having satisfied our hunger we +presently lay down to rest upon the shore. Suddenly we were aroused by a +loud rustling noise, and starting up, saw that it was caused by an +immense snake which was gliding towards us over the sand. So swiftly it +came that it had seized one of my comrades before he had time to fly, +and in spite of his cries and struggles speedily crushed the life out of +him in its mighty coils and proceeded to swallow him. By this time my +other companion and I were running for our lives to some place where we +might hope to be safe from this new horror, and seeing a tall tree we +climbed up into it, having first provided ourselves with a store of +fruit off the surrounding bushes. When night came I fell asleep, but +only to be awakened once more by the terrible snake, which after hissing +horribly round the tree at last reared itself up against it, and finding +my sleeping comrade who was perched just below me, it swallowed him +also, and crawled away leaving me half dead with terror. + +When the sun rose I crept down from the tree with hardly a hope of +escaping the dreadful fate which had overtaken my comrades; but life is +sweet, and I determined to do all I could to save myself. All day long I +toiled with frantic haste and collected quantities of dry brushwood, +reeds and thorns, which I bound with fagots, and making a circle of them +under my tree I piled them firmly one upon another until I had a kind of +tent in which I crouched like a mouse in a hole when she sees the cat +coming. You may imagine what a fearful night I passed, for the snake +returned eager to devour me, and glided round and round my frail shelter +seeking an entrance. Every moment I feared that it would succeed in +pushing aside some of the fagots, but happily for me they held together, +and when it grew light my enemy retired, baffled and hungry, to his den. +As for me I was more dead than alive! Shaking with fright and half +suffocated by the poisonous breath of the monster, I came out of my tent +and crawled down to the sea, feeling that it would be better to plunge +from the cliffs and end my life at once than pass such another night of +horror. But to my joy and relief I saw a ship sailing by, and by +shouting wildly and waving my turban I managed to attract the attention +of her crew. + +A boat was sent to rescue me, and very soon I found myself on board +surrounded by a wondering crowd of sailors and merchants eager to know +by what chance I found myself in that desolate island. After I had told +my story they regaled me with the choicest food the ship afforded, and +the captain, seeing that I was in rags, generously bestowed upon me one +of his own coats. After sailing about for some time and touching at many +ports we came at last to the island of Salahat, where sandal-wood grows +in great abundance. Here we anchored, and as I stood watching the +merchants disembarking their goods and preparing to sell or exchange +them, the captain came up to me and said:-- + +"I have here, brother, some merchandise belonging to a passenger of mine +who is dead. Will you do me the favor to trade with it, and when I meet +with his heirs I shall be able to give them the money, though it will be +only just that you shall have a portion for your trouble." + +I consented gladly, for I did not like standing by idle. Whereupon he +pointed the bales out to me, and sent for the person whose duty it was +to keep a list of the goods that were upon the ship. When this man came +he asked in what name the merchandise was to be registered. + +"In the name of Sindbad the Sailor," replied the captain. + +At this I was greatly surprised, but looking carefully at him I +recognized him to be the captain of the ship upon which I had made my +second voyage, though he had altered much since that time. As for him, +believing me to be dead it was no wonder that he had not recognized me. + +"So, captain," said I, "the merchant who owned those bales was called +Sindbad?" + +"Yes," he replied. "He was so named. He belonged to Bagdad, and joined +my ship at Balsora, but by mischance he was left behind upon a desert +island where we had landed to fill up our water-casks, and it was not +until four hours later that he was missed. By that time the wind had +freshened, and it was impossible to put back for him." + +"You suppose him to have perished then?" said I. + +"Alas! yes," he answered. + +"Why, captain!" I cried, "look well at me. I am that Sindbad who fell +asleep upon the island and awoke to find himself abandoned!" + +The captain stared at me in amazement, but was presently convinced that +I was indeed speaking the truth, and rejoiced greatly at my escape. + +"I am glad to have that piece of carelessness off my conscience at any +rate," said he. "Now take your goods, and the profit I have made for you +upon them, and may you prosper in future." + +I took them gratefully, and as we went from one island to another I laid +in stores of cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. In one place I saw a +tortoise which was twenty cubits long and as many broad, also a fish +that was like a cow and had skin so thick that it was used to make +shields. Another I saw that was like a camel in shape and color. So by +degrees we came back to Balsora, and I returned to Bagdad with so much +money that I could not myself count it, besides treasures without end. I +gave largely to the poor, and bought much land to add to what I already +possessed, and thus ended my third voyage. + +When Sindbad had finished his story he gave another hundred sequins to +Hindbad, who then departed with the other guests, but next day when they +had all reassembled, and the banquet was ended, their host continued his +adventures. + + + + +FOURTH VOYAGE + +Rich and happy as I was after my third voyage, I could not make up my +mind to stay at home altogether. My love of trading, and the pleasure I +took in anything that was new and strange, made me set my affairs in +order, and begin my journey through some of the Persian provinces, +having first sent off stores of goods to await my coming in the +different places I intended to visit. I took ship at a distant seaport, +and for some time all went well, but at last, being caught in a violent +hurricane, our vessel became a total wreck in spite of all our worthy +captain could do to save her, and many of our company perished in the +waves. I, with a few others, had the good fortune to be washed ashore +clinging to pieces of the wreck, for the storm had driven us near an +island, and scrambling up beyond the reach of the waves we threw +ourselves down quite exhausted, to wait for morning. + +At daylight we wandered inland, and soon saw some huts, to which we +directed our steps. As we drew near their black inhabitants swarmed out +in great numbers and surrounded us, and we were led to their houses, and +as it were divided among our captors. I with five others was taken into +a hut, where we were made to sit upon the ground, and certain herbs were +given to us, which the blacks made signs to us to eat. Observing that +they themselves did not touch them, I was careful only to pretend to +taste my portion; but my companions, being very hungry, rashly ate up +all that was set before them, and very soon I had the horror of seeing +them become perfectly mad. Though they chattered incessantly I could not +understand a word they said, nor did they heed when I spoke to them. The +savages now produced large bowls full of rice prepared with cocoanut +oil, of which my crazy comrades ate eagerly, but I only tasted a few +grains, understanding clearly that the object of our captors was to +fatten us speedily for their own eating, and this was exactly what +happened. My unlucky companions having lost their reason, felt neither +anxiety nor fear, and ate greedily all that was offered them. So they +were soon fat and there was an end of them, but I grew leaner day by +day, for I ate but little, and even that little did me no good by reason +of my fear of what lay before me. However, as I was so far from being a +tempting morsel, I was allowed to wander about freely, and one day, when +all the blacks had gone off upon some expedition leaving only an old man +to guard me, I managed to escape from him and plunged into the forest, +running faster the more he cried to me to come back, until I had +completely distanced him. + +For seven days I hurried on, resting only when the darkness stopped me, +and living chiefly upon cocoanuts, which afforded me both meat and +drink, and on the eighth day I reached the sea-shore and saw a party of +white men gathering pepper, which grew abundantly all about. Reassured +by the nature of their occupation, I advanced towards them and they +greeted me in Arabic, asking who I was and whence I came. My delight was +great on hearing this familiar speech, and I willingly satisfied their +curiosity, telling them how I had been shipwrecked, and captured by the +blacks. "But these savages devour men!" said they. "How did you escape?" +I repeated to them what I have just told you, at which they were +mightily astonished. I stayed with them until they had collected as much +pepper as they wished, and then they took me back to their own country +and presented me to their King, by whom I was hospitably received. To +him also I had to relate my adventures, which surprised him much, and +when I had finished he ordered that I should be supplied with food and +raiment and treated with consideration. + +The island on which I found myself was full of people, and abounded in +all sorts of desirable things, and a great deal of traffic went on in +the capital, where I soon began to feel at home and contented. Moreover, +the King treated me with special favor, and in consequence of this +everyone, whether at the court or in the town, sought to make life +pleasant to me. One thing I remarked which I thought very strange; this +was that, from the greatest to the least, all men rode their horses +without bridle or stirrups. I one day presumed to ask his Majesty why he +did not use them, to which he replied, "You speak to me of things of +which I have never before heard!" This gave me an idea. I found a clever +workman and made him cut out under my direction the foundation of a +saddle, which I wadded and covered with choice leather, adorning it with +rich gold embroidery. I then got a locksmith to make me a bit and a pair +of spurs after a pattern that I drew for him, and when all these things +were completed I presented them to the King and showed him how to use +them. When I had saddled one of his horses he mounted it and rode about +quite delighted with the novelty, and to show his gratitude he rewarded +me with large gifts. After this I had to make saddles for all the +principal officers of the King's household, and as they all gave me rich +presents I soon became very wealthy and quite an important person in the +city. + +One day the King sent for me and said, "Sindbad, I am going to ask a +favor of you. Both I and my subjects esteem you, and wish you to end +your days amongst us. Therefore I desire that you will marry a rich and +beautiful lady whom I will find for you, and think no more of your own +country." + +As the King's will was law I accepted the charming bride he presented to +me, and lived happily with her. Nevertheless I had every intention of +escaping at the first opportunity, and going back to Bagdad. Things were +thus going prosperously with me when it happened that the wife of one of +my neighbors, with whom I had struck up quite a friendship, fell ill, +and presently died. I went to his house to offer my consolations, and +found him in the depths of woe. + +"Heaven preserve you," said I, "and send you a long life!" + +"Alas!" he replied, "what is the good of saying that when I have but an +hour left to live!" + +"Come, come!" said I, "surely it is not so bad as all that. I trust that +you may be spared to me for many years." + +"I hope," answered he, "that your life may be long, but as for me, all +is finished. I have set my house in order, and to-day I shall be buried +with my wife. This has been the law upon our island from the earliest +ages--the living husband goes to the grave with his dead wife, the +living wife with her dead husband. So did our fathers, and so must we +do. The law changes not, and all must submit to it!" + +As he spoke the friends and relations of the unhappy pair began to +assemble. The body, decked in rich robes and sparkling with jewels, was +laid upon an open bier, and the procession started, taking its way to a +high mountain at some distance from the city, the wretched husband, +clothed from head to foot in a black mantle, following mournfully. + +When the place of interment was reached the corpse was lowered, just as +it was, into a deep pit. Then the husband, bidding farewell to all his +friends, stretched himself upon another bier, upon which were laid seven +little loaves of bread and a pitcher of water, and he also was let +down-down-down to the depths of the horrible cavern, and then a stone +was laid over the opening, and the melancholy company wended its way +back to the city. + +You may imagine that I was no unmoved spectator of these proceedings; to +all the others it was a thing to which they had been accustomed from +their youth up; but I was so horrified that I could not help telling the +King how it struck me. + +"Sire," I said, "I am more astonished than I can express to you at the +strange custom which exists in your dominions of burying the living with +the dead. In all my travels I have never before met with so cruel and +horrible a law." + +"What would you have, Sindbad?" he replied. "It is the law for +everybody. I myself should be buried with the Queen if she were the +first to die." + +"But, your Majesty," said I, "dare I ask if this law applies to +foreigners also?" + +"Why, yes," replied the king smiling, in what I could but consider a +very heartless manner: "they are no exception to the rule if they have +married in the country." + +When I heard this I went home much cast down, and from that time forward +my mind was never easy. If only my wife's little finger ached I fancied +she was going to die, and sure enough before very long she fell really +ill and in a few days breathed her last. My dismay was great, for it +seemed to me that to be buried alive was even a worse fate than to be +devoured by cannibals, nevertheless there was no escape. The body of my +wife, arrayed in her richest robes and decked with all her jewels, was +laid upon the bier. I followed it, and after me came a great procession, +headed by the king and all his nobles, and in this order we reached the +fatal mountain, which was one of a lofty chain bordering the sea. + +Here I made one more frantic effort to excite the pity of the King and +those who stood by, hoping to save myself even at this last moment, but +it was of no avail. No one spoke to me, they even appeared to hasten +over their dreadful task, and I speedily found myself descending into +the gloomy pit, with my seven loaves and pitcher of water beside me. +Almost before I reached the bottom the stone was rolled into its place +above my head, and I was left to my fate. A feeble ray of light shone +into the cavern through some chink, and when I had the courage to look +about me I could see that I was in a vast vault, bestrewn with bones and +bodies of the dead. I even fancied that I heard the expiring sighs of +those who, like myself, had come into this dismal place alive. All in +vain did I shriek aloud with rage and despair, reproaching myself for +the love of gain and adventure which had brought me to such a pass, but +at length, growing calmer, I took up my bread and water, and wrapping my +face in my mantle I groped my way towards the end of the cavern, where +the air was fresher. + +Here I lived in darkness and misery until my provisions were exhausted, +but just as I was nearly dead from starvation the rock was rolled away +overhead and I saw that a bier was being lowered into the cavern, and +that the corpse upon it was a man. In a moment my mind was made up, the +woman who followed had nothing to expect but a lingering death; I should +be doing her a service if I shortened her misery. Therefore when she +descended, already insensible from terror, I was ready armed with a huge +bone, one blow from which left her dead, and I secured the bread and +water which gave me a hope of life. Several times did I have recourse to +this desperate expedient, and I know not how long I had been a prisoner +when one day I fancied that I heard something near me, which breathed +loudly. Turning to the place from which the sound came I dimly saw a +shadowy form which fled at my movement, squeezing itself through a +cranny in the wall. I pursued it as fast as I could, and found myself in +a narrow crack among the rocks, along which I was just able to force my +way. I followed it for what seemed to me many miles, and at last saw +before me a glimmer of light which grew clearer every moment until I +emerged upon the sea-shore with a joy which I cannot describe. When I +was sure that I was not dreaming, I realized that it was doubtless some +little animal which had found its way into the cavern from the sea, and +when disturbed had fled, showing me a means of escape which I could +never have discovered for myself. I hastily surveyed my surroundings, +and saw that I was safe from all pursuit from the town. + +The mountains sloped sheer down to the sea, and there was no road across +them. Being assured of this I returned to the cavern, and amassed a rich +treasure of diamonds, rubies, emeralds and jewels of all kinds, which +strewed the ground. These I made up into bales, and stored them into a +safe place upon the beach, and then waited hopefully for the passing of +a ship. I had looked out for two days, however, before a single sail +appeared, so it was with much delight that I at last saw a vessel not +very far from the shore, and by waving my arms and uttering loud cries +succeeded in attracting the attention of her crew. A boat was sent off +to me, and in answer to the questions of the sailors as to how I came to +be in such a plight, I replied that I had been shipwrecked two days +before, but had managed to scramble ashore with the bales which I +pointed out to them. Luckily for me they believed my story, and without +even looking at the place where they found me, took up my bundles, and +rowed me back to the ship. Once on board, I soon saw that the captain +was too much occupied with the difficulties of navigation to pay much +heed to me, though he generously made me welcome, and would not even +accept the jewels with which I offered to pay my passage. Our voyage was +prosperous, and after visiting many lands, and collecting in each place +great store of goodly merchandise, I found myself at last in Bagdad once +more with unheard-of riches of every description. Again I gave large +sums of money to the poor, and enriched all the mosques in the city, +after which I gave myself up to my friends and relations, with whom I +passed my time in feasting and merriment. + +Here Sindbad paused, and all his hearers declared that the adventures of +his fourth voyage had pleased them better than anything they had heard +before. They then took their leave, followed by Hindbad, who had once +more received a hundred sequins, and with the rest had been bidden to +return next day for the story of the fifth voyage. + +When the time came all were in their places, and when they had eaten and +drunk of all that was set before them Sindbad began his tale. + + + + +FIFTH VOYAGE + +Not even all that I had gone through could make me contented with a +quiet life. I soon wearied of its pleasures, and longed for change and +adventure. Therefore I set out once more, but this time in a ship of my +own, which I built and fitted out at the nearest seaport. I wished to be +able to call at whatever port I chose, taking my own time; but as I did +not intend carrying enough goods for a full cargo, I invited several +merchants of different nations to join me. We set sail with the first +favorable wind, and after a long voyage upon the open seas we landed +upon an unknown island which proved to be uninhabited. We determined, +however, to explore it, but had not gone far when we found a roc's egg, +as large as the one I had seen before and evidently very nearly hatched, +for the beak of the young bird had already pierced the shell. In spite +of all I could say to deter them, the merchants who were with me fell +upon it with their hatchets, breaking the shell, and killing the young +roc. Then lighting a fire upon the ground they hacked morsels from the +bird, and proceeded to roast them while I stood by aghast. + +Scarcely had they finished their ill-omened repast, when the air above +us was darkened by two mighty shadows. The captain of my ship, knowing +by experience what this meant, cried out to us that the parent birds +were coming, and urged us to get on board with all speed. This we did, +and the sails were hoisted, but before we had made any way the rocs +reached their despoiled nest and hovered about it, uttering frightful +cries when they discovered the mangled remains of their young one. For a +moment we lost sight of them, and were flattering ourselves that we had +escaped, when they reappeared and soared into the air directly over our +vessel, and we saw that each held in its claws an immense rock ready to +crush us. There was a moment of breathless suspense, then one bird +loosed its hold and the huge block of stone hurtled through the air, but +thanks to the presence of mind of the helmsman, who turned our ship +violently in another direction, it fell into the sea close beside us, +cleaving it asunder till we could nearly see the bottom. We had hardly +time to draw a breath of relief before the other rock fell with a mighty +crash right in the midst of our luckless vessel, smashing it into a +thousand fragments, and crushing, or hurling into the sea, passengers +and crew. I myself went down with the rest, but had the good fortune to +rise unhurt, and by holding on to a piece of driftwood with one hand and +swimming with the other I kept myself afloat and was presently washed up +by the tide on to an island. Its shores were steep and rocky, but I +scrambled up safely and threw myself down to rest upon the green turf. + +When I had somewhat recovered I began to examine the spot in which I +found myself, and truly it seemed to me that I had reached a garden of +delights. There were trees everywhere, and they were laden with flowers +and fruit, while a crystal stream wandered in and out under their +shadow. When night came I slept sweetly in a cosey nook, though the +remembrance that I was alone in a strange land made me sometimes start +up and look around me in alarm, and then I wished heartily that I had +stayed at home at ease. However, the morning sunlight restored my +courage, and I once more wandered among the trees, but always with some +anxiety as to what I might see next. I had penetrated some distance into +the island when I saw an old man bent and feeble sitting upon the river +bank, and at first I took him to be some shipwrecked mariner like +myself. Going up to him I greeted him in a friendly way, but he only +nodded his head at me in reply. I then asked what he did there, and he +made signs to me that he wished to get across the river to gather some +fruit, and seemed to beg me to carry him on my back. Pitying his age and +feebleness, I took him up, and wading across the stream I bent down that +he might more easily reach the bank, and bade him get down. But instead +of allowing himself to be set upon his feet (even now it makes me laugh +to think of it!), this creature who had seemed to me so decrepit leaped +nimbly upon my shoulders, and hooking his legs round my neck gripped me +so tightly that I was well-nigh choked, and so overcome with terror that +I fell insensible to the ground. When I recovered my enemy was still in +his place, though he had released his hold enough to allow me breathing +space, and seeing me revive he prodded me adroitly first with one foot +and then with the other, until I was forced to get up and stagger about +with him under the trees while he gathered and ate the choicest fruits. +This went on all day, and even at night, when I threw myself down half +dead with weariness, the terrible old man held on tight to my neck, nor +did he fail to greet the first glimmer of morning light by drumming upon +me with his heels, until I perforce awoke and resumed my dreary march +with rage and bitterness in my heart. + +It happened one day that I passed a tree under which lay several dry +gourds, and catching one up I amused myself with scooping out its +contents and pressing into it the juice of several bunches of grapes +which hung from every bush. When it was full I left it propped in the +fork of a tree, and a few days later, carrying the hateful old man that +way, I snatched at my gourd as I passed it and had the satisfaction of a +draught of excellent wine so good and refreshing that I even forgot my +detestable burden, and began to sing and caper. + +The old monster was not slow to perceive the effect which my draught had +produced and that I carried him more lightly than usual, so he stretched +out his skinny hand and seizing the gourd first tasted its contents +cautiously, then drained them to the very last drop. The wine was strong +and the gourd capacious, so he also began to sing after a fashion, and +soon I had the delight of feeling the iron grip of his goblin legs +unclasp, and with one vigorous effort I threw him to the ground, from +which he never moved again. I was so rejoiced to have at last got rid of +this uncanny old man that I ran leaping and bounding down to the +sea-shore, where, by the greatest good luck, I met with some mariners +who had anchored off the island to enjoy the delicious fruits, and to +renew their supply of water. + +They heard the story of my escape with amazement, saying, "You fell into +the hands of the Old Man of the Sea, and it is a mercy that he did not +strangle you as he has everyone else upon whose shoulders he has managed +to perch himself. This island is well-known as the scene of his evil +deeds, and no merchant or sailor who lands upon it cares to stray far +away from his comrades." After we had talked for awhile they took me +back with them on board their ship, where the captain received me +kindly, and we soon set sail, and after several days reached a large and +prosperous-looking town where all the houses were built of stone. Here +we anchored, and one of the merchants, who had been very friendly to me +on the way, took me ashore with him and showed me a lodging set apart +for strange merchants. He then provided me with a large sack, and +pointed out to me a party of others equipped in like manner. + +"Go with them," said he, "and do as they do, but beware of losing sight +of them, for if you strayed your life would be in danger." + +With that he supplied me with provisions, and bade me farewell, and I +set out with my new companions. I soon learnt that the object of our +expedition was to fill our sacks with cocoa-nuts, but when at length I +saw the trees and noted their immense height and the slippery smoothness +of their slender trunks, I did not at all understand how we were to do +it. The crowns of the cocoa-palms were all alive with monkeys, big and +little, which skipped from one to the other with surprising agility, +seeming to be curious about us and disturbed at our appearance, and I +was at first surprised when my companions after collecting stones began +to throw them at the lively creatures, which seemed to me quite +harmless. But very soon I saw the reason of it and joined them heartily, +for the monkeys, annoyed and wishing to pay us back in our own coin, +began to tear the nuts from the trees and cast them at us with angry and +spiteful gestures, so that after very little labor our sacks were filled +with the fruit which we could not otherwise have obtained. + +As soon as we had as many as we could carry we went back to the town, +where my friend bought my share and advised me to continue the same +occupation until I had earned money enough to carry me to my own +country. This I did, and before long had amassed a considerable sum. +Just then I heard that there was a trading ship ready to sail, and +taking leave of my friend I went on board, carrying with me a goodly +store of cocoanuts; and we sailed first to the islands where pepper +grows, then to Comari where the best aloes-wood is found, and where men +drink no wine by an unalterable law. Here I exchanged my nuts for pepper +and good aloes-wood, and went a-fishing for pearls with some of the +other merchants, and my divers were so lucky that very soon I had an +immense number, and those very large and perfect. With all these +treasures I came joyfully back to Bagdad, where I disposed of them for +large sums of money, of which I did not fail as before to give the tenth +part to the poor, and after that I rested from my labors and comforted +myself with all the pleasures that my riches could give me. + +Having thus ended his story, Sindbad ordered that one hundred sequins +should be given to Hindbad, and the guests then withdrew; but after the +next day's feast he began the account of his sixth voyage as follows. + + + + +SIXTH VOYAGE + +It must be a marvel to you how, after having five times met with +shipwreck and unheard-of perils, I could again tempt fortune and risk +fresh trouble. I am even surprised myself when I look back, but +evidently it was my fate to rove, and after a year of repose I prepared +to make a sixth voyage, regardless of the entreaties of my friends and +relations, who did all they could to keep me at home. Instead of going +by the Persian Gulf, I travelled a considerable way overland, and +finally embarked from a distant Indian port with a captain who meant to +make a long voyage. And truly he did so, for we fell in with stormy +weather which drove us completely out of our course, so that for many +days neither captain nor pilot knew where we were, nor where we were +going. When they did at last discover our position we had small ground +for rejoicing, for the captain, casting his turban upon the deck and +tearing his beard, declared that we were in the most dangerous spot upon +the whole wide sea, and had been caught by a current which was at that +moment sweeping us to destruction. It was too true! In spite of all the +sailors could do we were driven with frightful rapidity towards the foot +of a mountain, which rose sheer out of the sea, and our vessel was +dashed to pieces upon the rocks at its base, not, however, until we had +managed to scramble on shore, carrying with us the most precious of our +possessions. When we had done this the captain said to us:-- + +"Now we are here we may as well begin to dig our graves at once, since +from this fatal spot no shipwrecked mariner has ever returned." + +This speech discouraged us much, and we began to lament over our sad +fate. + +The mountain formed the seaward boundary of a large island, and the +narrow strip of rocky shore upon which we stood was strewn with the +wreckage of a thousand gallant ships, while the bones of the luckless +mariners shone white in the sunshine, and we shuddered to think how soon +our own would be added to the heap. All around, too, lay vast quantities +of the costliest merchandise, and treasures were heaped in every cranny +of the rocks, but all these things only added to the desolation of the +scene. It struck me as a very strange thing that a river of clear fresh +water, which gushed out from the mountain not far from where we stood, +instead of flowing into the sea as rivers generally do, turned off +sharply, and flowed out of sight under a natural archway of rock, and +when I went to examine it more closely I found that inside the cave the +walls were thick with diamonds, rubies, and masses of crystal, and the +floor was strewn with ambergris. Here, then, upon this desolate shore we +abandoned ourselves to our fate, for there was no possibility of scaling +the mountain, and if a ship had appeared it could only have shared our +doom. The first thing our captain did was to divide equally amongst us +all the food we possessed, and then the length of each man's life +depended on the time he could make his portion last. I myself could live +upon very little. + +Nevertheless, by the time I had buried the last of my companions my +stock of provisions was so small that I hardly thought I should live +long enough to dig my own grave, which I set about doing, while I +regretted bitterly the roving disposition which was always bringing me +into such straits, and thought longingly of all the comfort and luxury +that I had left. But luckily for me the fancy took me to stand once more +beside the river where it plunged out of sight in the depths of the +cavern, and as I did so an idea struck me. This river which hid itself +underground doubtless emerged again at some distant spot. Why should I +not build a raft and trust myself to its swiftly flowing waters? If I +perished before I could reach the light of day once more I should be no +worse off than I was now, for death stared me in the face, while there +was always the possibility that, as I was born under a lucky star, I +might find myself safe and sound in some desirable land. I decided at +any rate to risk it, and speedily built myself a stout raft of +drift-wood with strong cords, of which enough and to spare lay strewn +upon the beach. I then made up many packages of rubies, emeralds, rock +crystal, ambergris, and precious stuffs, and bound them upon my raft, +being careful to preserve the balance, and then I seated myself upon it, +having two small oars that I had fashioned laid ready to my hand, and +loosed the cord which held it to the bank. Once out in the current my +raft flew swiftly under the gloomy archway, and I found myself in total +darkness, carried smoothly forward by the rapid river. On I went as it +seemed to me for many nights and days. Once the channel became so small +that I had a narrow escape of being crushed against the rocky roof, and +after that I took the precaution of lying flat upon my precious bales. +Though I only ate what was absolutely necessary to keep myself alive, +the inevitable moment came when, after swallowing my last morsel of +food, I began to wonder if I must after all die of hunger. Then, worn +out with anxiety and fatigue, I fell into a deep sleep, and when I again +opened my eyes I was once more in the light of day; a beautiful country +lay before me, and my raft, which was tied to the river bank, was +surrounded by friendly looking black men. I rose and saluted them, and +they spoke to me in return, but I could not understand a word of their +language. Feeling perfectly bewildered by my sudden return to life and +light, I murmured to myself in Arabic, "Close thine eyes, and while thou +sleepest Heaven will change thy fortune from evil to good." + +One of the natives, who understood this tongue, then came forward +saying:-- + +"My brother, be not surprised to see us; this is our land, and as we +came to get water from the river we noticed your raft floating down it, +and one of us swam out and brought you to the shore. We have waited for +your awakening; tell us now whence you come and where you were going by +that dangerous way?" + +I replied that nothing would please me better than to tell them, but +that I was starving, and would fain eat something first. I was soon +supplied with all I needed, and having satisfied my hunger I told them +faithfully all that had befallen me. They were lost in wonder at my tale +when it was interpreted to them, and said that adventures so surprising +must be related to their King only by the man to whom they had happened. +So, procuring a horse, they mounted me upon it, and we set out, followed +by several strong men carrying my raft just as it was upon their +shoulders. In this order we marched into the city of Serendib, where the +natives presented me to their King, whom I saluted in the Indian +fashion, prostrating myself at his feet and kissing the ground; but the +monarch bade me rise and sit beside him, asking first what was my name. + +"I am Sindbad," I replied, "whom men call 'the Sailor,' for I have +voyaged much upon many seas." + +"And how came you here?" asked the King. + +I told my story, concealing nothing, and his surprise and delight were +so great that he ordered my adventures to be written in letters of gold +and laid up in the archives of his kingdom. + +Presently my raft was brought in and the bales opened in his presence, +and the king declared that in all his treasury there were no such rubies +and emeralds as those which lay in great heaps before him. Seeing that +he looked at them with interest, I ventured to say that I myself and all +that I had were at his disposal, but he answered me smiling:-- + +"Nay, Sindbad. Heaven forbid that I should covet your riches; I will +rather add to them, for I desire that you shall not leave my kingdom +without some tokens of my good-will." He then commanded his officers to +provide me with a suitable lodging at his expense, and sent slaves to +wait upon me and carry my raft and my bales to my new dwelling-place. +You may imagine that I praised his generosity and gave him grateful +thanks, nor did I fail to present myself daily in his audience-chamber, +and for the rest of my time I amused myself in seeing all that was most +worthy of attention in the city. The island of Serendib being situated +on the equinoctial line, the days and nights there are of equal length. +The chief city is placed at the end of a beautiful valley, formed by the +highest mountain in the world, which is in the middle of the island. I +had the curiosity to ascend to its very summit, for this was the place +to which Adam was banished out of Paradise. Here are found rubies and +many precious things, and rare plants grow abundantly, with cedar-trees +and cocoa-palms. On the sea-shore and at the mouths of the rivers the +divers seek for pearls, and in some valleys diamonds are plentiful. +After many days I petitioned the King that I might return to my own +country, to which he graciously consented. Moreover, he loaded me with +rich gifts, and when I went to take leave of him he intrusted me with a +royal present and a letter to the Commander of the Faithful, our +sovereign lord, saying, "I pray you give these to the Caliph +Harun-al-Rashid, and assure him of my friendship." + +I accepted the charge respectfully, and soon embarked upon the vessel +which the King himself had chosen for me. The King's letter was written +in blue characters upon a rare and precious skin of yellowish color, and +these were the words of it: "The King of the Indies, before whom walk a +thousand elephants, who lives in a palace, of which the roof blazes with +a hundred thousand rubies, and whose treasure-house contains twenty +thousand diamond crowns, to the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid sends greeting. +Though the offering we present to you is unworthy of your notice, we +pray you to accept it as a mark of the esteem and friendship which we +cherish for you, and of which we gladly send you this token, and we ask +of you a like regard if you deem us worthy of it. Adieu, brother." + +The present consisted of a vase carved from a single ruby, six inches +high and as thick as my finger; this was filled with the choicest +pearls, large, and of perfect shape and lustre; secondly, a huge +snake-skin, with scales as large as a sequin, which would preserve from +sickness those who slept upon it. Then quantities of aloes-wood, +camphor, and pistachio-nuts; and lastly, a beautiful slave-girl, whose +robes glittered with precious stones. + +After a long and prosperous voyage we landed at Balsora, and I made +haste to reach Bagdad, and taking the King's letter I presented myself +at the palace gate, followed by the beautiful slave, and various members +of my own family, bearing the treasure. + +As soon as I had declared my errand I was conducted into the presence of +the Caliph, to whom, after I had made my obeisance, I gave the letter +and the King's gift, and when he had examined them he demanded of me +whether the Prince of Serendib was really as rich and powerful as he +claimed to be. + +"Commander of the Faithful," I replied, again bowing humbly before him, +"I can assure your Majesty that he has in no way exaggerated his wealth +and grandeur. Nothing can equal the magnificence of his palace. When he +goes abroad his throne is prepared upon the back of an elephant, and on +either side of him ride his ministers, his favorites, and courtiers. On +his elephant's neck sits an officer, his golden lance in his hand, and +behind him stands another bearing a pillar of gold, at the top of which +is an emerald as long as my hand. A thousand men in cloth of gold, +mounted upon richly caparisoned elephants, go before him, and as the +procession moves onward the officer who guides his elephant cries aloud, +'Behold the mighty monarch, the powerful and valiant Sultan of the +Indies, whose palace is covered with a hundred thousand rubies, who +possesses twenty thousand diamond crowns. Behold a monarch greater than +Solomon and Mihrage in all their glory!' + +"Then the one who stands behind the throne answers: 'This king, so great +and powerful, must die, must die, must die!' + +"And the first takes up the chant again, 'All praise to Him who lives +for evermore.' + +"Further, my lord, in Serendib no judge is needed, for to the King +himself his people come for justice." + +The Caliph was well satisfied with my report. + +"From the King's letter," said he, "I judged that he was a wise man. It +seems that he is worthy of his people, and his people of him." + +So saying he dismissed me with rich presents, and I returned in peace to +my own house. + +When Sindbad had done speaking his guests withdrew, Hindbad having first +received a hundred sequins, but all returned next day to hear the story +of the seventh voyage. + + + + +SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE + +After my sixth voyage I was quite determined that I would go to sea no +more. I was now of an age to appreciate a quiet life, and I had run +risks enough. I only wished to end my days in peace. One day, however, +when I was entertaining a number of my friends, I was told that an +officer of the Caliph wished to speak to me, and when he was admitted he +bade me to follow him into the presence of Harun-al-Rashid, which I +accordingly did. After I had saluted him, the Caliph said:-- + +"I have sent for you, Sindbad, because I need your services. I have +chosen you to bear a letter and a gift to the King of Serendib in return +for his message of friendship." + +The Caliph's commandment fell upon me like a thunderbolt. + +"Commander of the Faithful," I answered, "I am ready to do all that your +Majesty commands, but I humbly pray you to remember that I am utterly +disheartened by the unheard-of sufferings I have undergone. Indeed, I +have made a vow never again to leave Bagdad." + +With this I gave him a long account of some of my strangest adventures, +to which he listened patiently. + +"I admit," said he, "that you have indeed had some extraordinary +experiences, but I do not see why they should hinder you from doing as I +wish. You have only to go straight to Serendib and give my message, then +you are free to come back and do as you will. But go you must; my honor +and dignity demand it." + +Seeing that there was no help for it, I declared myself willing to obey; +and the Caliph, delighted at having got his own way, gave me a thousand +sequins for the expenses of the voyage. I was soon ready to start, and +taking the letter and the present I embarked at Balsora, and sailed +quickly and safely to Serendib. Here, when I had disclosed my errand, I +was well received, and brought into the presence of the king, who +greeted me with joy. + +"Welcome, Sindbad," he cried. "I have thought of you often, and rejoice +to see you once more." + +After thanking him for the honor that he did me, I displayed the +Caliph's gifts. First a bed with complete hangings all cloth of gold, +which cost a thousand sequins, and another like to it of crimson stuff. +Fifty robes of rich embroidery, a hundred of the finest white linen from +Cairo, Suez, Cufa, and Alexandria. Then more beds of different fashion, +and an agate vase carved with the figure of a man aiming an arrow at a +lion, and finally a costly table, which had once belonged to King +Solomon. The King of Serendib received with satisfaction the assurance +of the Caliph's friendliness towards him, and now my task being +accomplished I was anxious to depart, but it was some time before the +king would think of letting me go. At last, however, he dismissed me +with many presents, and I lost no time in going on board a ship, which +sailed at once, and for four days all went well. On the fifth day we had +the misfortune to fall in with pirates, who seized our vessel, killing +all who resisted, and making prisoners of those who were prudent enough +to submit at once, of whom I was one. When they had despoiled us of all +we possessed, they forced us to put on vile raiment, and sailing to a +distant island there sold us for slaves. I fell into the hands of a rich +merchant, who took me home with him, and clothed and fed me well, and +after some days sent for me and questioned me as to what I could do. + +I answered that I was a rich merchant who had been captured by pirates, +and therefore I knew no trade. + +"Tell me," said he, "can you shoot with a bow?" + +I replied that this had been one of the pastimes of my youth, and that +doubtless with practice my skill would come back to me. + +Upon this he provided me with a bow and arrows, and mounting me with him +upon his own elephant took the way to a vast forest which lay far from +the town. When we had reached the wildest part of it we stopped, and my +master said to me: "This forest swarms with elephants. Hide yourself in +this great tree, and shoot at all that pass you. When you have succeeded +in killing one come and tell me." + +So saying he gave me a supply of food, and returned to the town, and I +perched myself high up in the tree and kept watch. That night I saw +nothing, but just after sunrise the next morning a large herd of +elephants came crashing and trampling by. I lost no time in letting fly +several arrows, and at last one of the great animals fell to the ground +dead, and the others retreated, leaving me free to come down from my +hiding-place and run back to tell my master of my success, for which I +was praised and regaled with good things. Then we went back to the +forest together and dug a mighty trench in which we buried the elephant +I had killed, in order that when it became a skeleton my master might +return and secure its tusks. + +For two months I hunted thus, and no day passed without my securing an +elephant. Of course I did not always station myself in the same tree, +but sometimes in one place, sometimes in another. One morning as I +watched the coming of the elephants I was surprised to see that, instead +of passing the tree I was in, as they usually did, they paused, and +completely surrounded it, trumpeting horribly, and shaking the very +ground with their heavy tread, and when I saw that their eyes were fixed +upon me I was terrified, and my arrows dropped from my trembling hand. I +had indeed good reason for my terror when, an instant later, the largest +of the animals wound his trunk round the stem of my tree, and with one +mighty effort tore it up by the roots, bringing me to the ground +entangled in its branches. I thought now that my last hour was surely +come, but the huge creature, picking me up gently enough, set me upon +its back, where I clung more dead than alive, and followed by the whole +herd turned and crashed off into the dense forest. It seemed to me a +long time before I was once more set upon my feet by the elephant, and I +stood as if in a dream watching the herd, which turned and trampled off +in another direction, and were soon hidden in the dense underwood. Then, +recovering myself, I looked about me, and found that I was standing upon +the side of a great hill, strewn as far as I could see on either hand +with bones and tusks of elephants. "This then must be the elephants' +burying-place," I said to myself, "and they must have brought me here +that I might cease to persecute them, seeing that I want nothing but +their tusks, and here lie more than I could carry away in a lifetime." + +Whereupon I turned and made for the city as fast as I could go, not +seeing a single elephant by the way, which convinced me that they had +retired deeper into the forest to leave the way open to the Ivory Hill, +and I did not know how sufficiently to admire their sagacity. After a +day and a night I reached my master's house, and was received by him +with joyful surprise. + +"Ah! poor Sindbad," he cried, "I was wondering what could have become of +you. When I went to the forest I found the tree newly uprooted, and the +arrows lying beside it, and I feared I should never see you again. Pray +tell me how you escaped death." + +I soon satisfied his curiosity, and the next day we went together to the +Ivory Hill, and he was overjoyed to find that I had told him nothing but +the truth. When we had loaded our elephant with as many tusks as it +could carry and were on our way back to the city, he said:-- + +"My brother--since I can no longer treat as a slave one who has enriched +me thus--take your liberty, and may Heaven prosper you. I will no longer +conceal from you that these wild elephants have killed numbers of our +slaves every year. No matter what good advice we gave them, they were +caught sooner or later. You alone have escaped the wiles of these +animals, therefore you must be under the special protection of Heaven. +Now through you the whole town will be enriched without further loss of +life, therefore you shall not only receive your liberty, but I will also +bestow a fortune upon you." + +To which I replied, "Master, I thank you, and wish you all prosperity. +For myself I only ask liberty to return to my own country." + +"It is well," he answered, "the monsoon will soon bring the ivory ships +hither, then I will send you on your way with somewhat to pay your +passage." + +So I stayed with him till the time of the monsoon, and every day we +added to our store of ivory till all his warehouses were overflowing +with it. By this time the other merchants knew the secret, but there was +enough and to spare for all. When the ships at last arrived my master +himself chose the one in which I was to sail, and put on board for me a +great store of choice provisions, also ivory in abundance, and all the +costliest curiosities of the country, for which I could not thank him +enough, and so we parted. I left the ship at the first port we came to, +not feeling at ease upon the sea after all that had happened to me by +reason of it, and having disposed of my ivory for much gold, and bought +many rare and costly presents, I loaded my pack animals, and joined a +caravan of merchants. Our journey was long and tedious, but I bore it +patiently, reflecting that at least I had not to fear tempests, nor +pirates, nor serpents, nor any of the other perils from which I had +suffered before, and at length we reached Bagdad. My first care was to +present myself before the Caliph, and give him an account of my embassy. +He assured me that my long absence had disquieted him much, but he had +nevertheless hoped for the best. As to my adventure among the elephants +he heard it with amazement, declaring that he could not have believed it +had not my truthfulness been well-known to him. + +By his orders this story and the others I had told him were written by +his scribes in letters of gold, and laid up among his treasures. I took +my leave of him, well satisfied with the honors and rewards he bestowed +upon me; and since that time I have rested from my labors, and given +myself up wholly to my family and my friends. + +Thus Sindbad ended the story of his seventh and last voyage, and turning +to Hindbad he added:-- + +"Well, my friend, and what do you think now? Have you ever heard of +anyone who has suffered more, or had more narrow escapes than I have? Is +it not just that I should now enjoy a life of ease and tranquillity?" + +Hindbad drew near, and kissing his hand respectfully, replied, "Sir, you +have indeed known fearful perils; my troubles have been nothing compared +to yours. Moreover, the generous use you make of your wealth proves that +you deserve it. May you live long and happily in the enjoyment of it." + +Sindbad then gave him a hundred sequins, and henceforward counted him +among his friends; also he caused him to give up his profession as a +porter, and to eat daily at his table that he might all his life +remember Sindbad the Sailor. + + + + +ALADDIN'S WONDERFUL LAMP + +There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin, a +careless, idle boy, who would do nothing but play all day long in the +streets with little idle boys like himself. This so grieved the father +that he died; yet, in spite of his mother's tears and prayers, Aladdin +did not mend his ways. One day, when he was playing in the streets as +usual, a stranger asked him his age, and if he were not the son of +Mustapha the tailor. + +"I am, sir," replied Aladdin; "but he died a long while ago." + +On this the stranger, who was a famous African magician, fell on his +neck and kissed him, saying: "I am your uncle, and knew you from your +likeness to my brother. Go to your mother and tell her I am coming." + +Aladdin ran home, and told his mother of his newly-found uncle. + +"Indeed, child," she said, "your father had a brother, but I always +thought he was dead." + +However, she prepared supper, and bade Aladdin seek his uncle, who came +laden with wine and fruit. He presently fell down and kissed the place +where Mustapha used to sit, bidding Aladdin's mother not to be surprised +at not having seen him before, as he had been forty years out of the +country. He then turned to Aladdin and asked him his trade, at which the +boy hung his head, while his mother burst into tears. On learning that +Aladdin was idle and would learn no trade, he offered to take a shop for +him and stock it with merchandise. Next day he bought Aladdin a fine +suit of clothes, and took him all over the city, showing him the sights, +and brought him home at nightfall to his mother, who was overjoyed to +see her son so fine. + +Next day the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens a long way +outside the city gates. They sat down by a fountain, and the magician +pulled a cake from his girdle, which he divided between them. They then +journeyed onwards till they almost reached the mountains. Aladdin was so +tired that he begged to go back, but the magician beguiled him with +pleasant stories, and led him on in spite of himself. + +At last they came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley. + +"We will go no farther," said the false uncle. "I will show you +something wonderful; only do you gather up sticks while I kindle a +fire." + +When it was lit the magician threw on it a powder he had about him, at +the same time saying some magical words. The earth trembled a little and +opened in front of them, disclosing a square flat stone with a brass +ring in the middle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to run away, but the +magician caught him and gave him a blow that knocked him down. + +"What have I done, uncle?" he said piteously; whereupon the magician +said more kindly: "Fear nothing, but obey me. Beneath this stone lies a +treasure which is to be yours, and no one else may touch it, so you must +do exactly as I tell you." + +At the word treasure, Aladdin forgot his fears, and grasped the ring as +he was told, saying the names of his father and grandfather. The stone +came up quite easily and some steps appeared. + +"Go down," said the magician; "at the foot of those steps you will find +an open door leading into three large halls. Tuck up your gown and go +through them without touching anything, or you will die instantly. These +halls lead into a garden of fine fruit-trees. Walk on till you come to a +niche in a terrace where stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it +contains and bring it to me." + +He drew a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him +prosper. + +Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered some fruit +off the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of the +cave. The magician cried out in a great hurry:-- + +"Make haste and give me the lamp." This Aladdin refused to do until he +was out of the cave. The magician flew into a terrible passion, and +throwing some more powder on the fire, he said something, and the stone +rolled back into its place. + +The magician left Persia forever, which plainly showed that he was no +uncle of Aladdin's, but a cunning magician who had read in his magic +books of a wonderful lamp, which would make him the most powerful man in +the world. Though he alone knew where to find it, he could only receive +it from the hand of another. He had picked out the foolish Aladdin for +this purpose, intending to get the lamp and kill him afterwards. + +For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting. At last +he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring, which +the magician had forgotten to take from him. Immediately an enormous and +frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying:-- + +"What wouldst thou with me? I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey +thee in all things." + +Aladdin fearlessly replied: "Deliver me from this place!" whereupon the +earth opened, and he found himself outside. As soon as his eyes could +bear the light he went home, but fainted on the threshold. When he came +to himself he told his mother what had passed, and showed her the lamp +and the fruits he had gathered in the garden, which were in reality +precious stones. He then asked for some food. + +"Alas! child," she said, "I have nothing in the house, but I have spun a +little cotton and will go and sell it." + +Aladdin bade her keep her cotton, for he would sell the lamp instead. As +it was very dirty she began to rub it, that it might fetch a higher +price. Instantly a hideous genie appeared, and asked what she would +have. She fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly:-- + +"Fetch me something to eat!" + +The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containing +rich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles of wine. Aladdin's mother, +when she came to herself, said:-- + +"Whence comes this splendid feast?" + +"Ask not, but eat," replied Aladdin. + +So they sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told his +mother about the lamp. She begged him to sell it, and have nothing to do +with devils. + +"No," said Aladdin, "since chance has made us aware of its virtues, we +will use it and the ring likewise, which I shall always wear on my +finger." When they had eaten all the genie had brought, Aladdin sold one +of the silver plates, and so on till none was left. He then had recourse +to the genie, who gave him another set of plates, and thus they lived +for many years. + +One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed that everyone +was to stay at home and close his shutters while the princess, his +daughter, went to and from the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire to +see her face, which was very difficult, as she always went veiled. He +hid himself behind the door of the bath, and peeped through a chink. The +princess lifted her veil as she went in, and looked so beautiful that +Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He went home so changed +that his mother was frightened. He told her he loved the princess so +deeply that he could not live without her, and meant to ask her in +marriage of her father. His mother, on hearing this, burst out laughing, +but Aladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before the Sultan and carry +his request. She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magic fruits from +the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like the most beautiful +jewels. She took these with her to please the Sultan, and set out, +trusting in the lamp. The grand-vizir and the lords of council had just +gone in as she entered the hall and placed herself in front of the +Sultan. He, however, took no notice of her. She went every day for a +week, and stood in the same place. + +When the council broke up on the sixth day the Sultan said to his vizir: +"I see a certain woman in the audience-chamber every day carrying +something in a napkin. Call her next time, that I may find out what she +wants." + +Next day, at a sign from the vizir, she went up to the foot of the +throne, and remained kneeling till the Sultan said to her: "Rise, good +woman, and tell me what you want." + +She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away all but the vizir, and bade her +speak freely, promising to forgive her beforehand for anything she might +say. She then told him of her son's violent love for the princess. + +"I prayed him to forget her," she said, "but in vain; he threatened to +do some desperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for the +hand of the princess. Now I pray you to forgive not me alone, but my son +Aladdin." + +The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the napkin, whereupon she +unfolded the jewels and presented them. + +He was thunderstruck, and turning to the vizir said: "What sayest thou? +Ought I not to bestow the princess on one who values her at such a +price?" + +The vizir, who wanted her for his own son, begged the Sultan to withhold +her for three months, in the course of which he hoped his son would +contrive to make him a richer present. The Sultan granted this, and told +Aladdin's mother that, though he consented to the marriage, she must not +appear before him again for three months. + +Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after two had +elapsed his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found everyone +rejoicing, and asked what was going on. + +"Do you not know," was the answer, "that the son of the grand-vizir is +to marry the Sultan's daughter to-night?" + +Breathless, she ran and told Aladdin, who was overwhelmed at first, but +presently bethought him of the lamp. He rubbed it, and the genie +appeared, saying: "What is thy will?" + +Aladdin replied: "The Sultan, as thou knowest, has broken his promise to +me, and the vizir's son is to have the princess. My command is that +to-night you bring hither the bride and bridegroom." + +"Master, I obey," said the genie. + +Aladdin then went to his chamber, where, sure enough at midnight the +genie transported the bed containing the vizir's son and the princess. + +"Take this new-married man," he said, "and put him outside in the cold, +and return at daybreak." + +Whereupon the genie took the vizir's son out of bed, leaving Aladdin +with the princess. + +"Fear nothing," Aladdin said to her; "you are my wife, promised to me by +your unjust father, and no harm shall come to you." + +The princess was too frightened to speak, and passed the most miserable +night of her life, while Aladdin lay down beside her and slept soundly. +At the appointed hour the genie fetched in the shivering bridegroom, +laid him in his place, and transported the bed back to the palace. + +Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter good-morning. The unhappy +vizir's son jumped up and hid himself, while the princess would not say +a word, and was very sorrowful. + +The Sultan sent her mother to her, who said: "How comes it, child, that +you will not speak to your father? What has happened?" + +The princess sighed deeply, and at last told her mother how, during the +night, the bed had been carried into some strange house, and what had +passed there. Her mother did not believe her in the least, but bade her +rise and consider it an idle dream. + +The following night exactly the same thing happened, and next morning, +on the princess's refusing to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut off +her head. She then confessed all, bidding him ask the vizir's son if it +were not so. The Sultan told the vizir to ask his son, who owned the +truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the princess, he had rather die +than go through another such fearful night, and wished to be separated +from her. His wish was granted, and there was an end of feasting and +rejoicing. + +When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the +Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and the +Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent for +her. On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt less inclined than ever to +keep his word, and asked the vizir's advice, who counselled him to set +so high a value on the princess that no man living could come up to it. + +The Sultan then turned to Aladdin's mother, saying: "Good woman, a +Sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but your +son must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of jewels, carried +by forty black slaves, led by as many white ones, splendidly dressed. +Tell him that I await his answer." The mother of Aladdin bowed low and +went home, thinking all was lost. + +She gave Aladdin the message, adding: "He may wait long enough for your +answer!" + +"Not so long, mother, as you think," her son replied. "I would do a +great deal more than that for the princess." He summoned the genie, and +in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived, and filled up the small +house and garden. + +Aladdin made them set out to the palace, two and two, followed by his +mother. They were so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels in their +girdles, that everyone crowded to see them and the basins of gold they +carried on their heads. + +They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan, stood in +a half-circle round the throne with their arms crossed, while Aladdin's +mother presented them to the Sultan. + +He hesitated no longer, but said: "Good woman, return and tell your son +that I wait for him with open arms." + +She lost no time in telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste. But Aladdin +first called the genie. + +"I want a scented bath," he said, "a richly embroidered habit, a horse +surpassing the Sultan's, and twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this, +six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, ten +thousand pieces of gold in ten purses." + +No sooner said than done. Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through +the streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went. Those who had played +with him in his childhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome. + +When the Sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced him, and +led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intending to marry him to +the princess that very day. + +But Aladdin refused, saying, "I must build a palace fit for her," and +took his leave. + +Once home he said to the genie: "Build me a palace of the finest marble, +set with jasper, agate, and other precious stones. In the middle you +shall build me a large hall with a dome, its four walls of massy gold +and silver, each side having six windows, whose lattices, all except +one, which is to be left unfinished, must be set with diamonds and +rubies. There must be stables and horses and grooms and slaves; go and +see about it!" + +The palace was finished by next day, and the genie carried him there and +showed him all his orders faithfully carried out, even to the laying of +a velvet carpet from Aladdin's palace to the Sultan's. Aladdin's mother +then dressed herself carefully, and walked to the palace with her +slaves, while he followed her on horseback. The Sultan sent musicians +with trumpets and cymbals to meet them, so that the air resounded with +music and cheers. She was taken to the princess, who saluted her and +treated her with great honor. At night the princess said good-by to her +father, and set out on the carpet for Aladdin's palace, with his mother +at her side, and followed by the hundred slaves. She was charmed at the +sight of Aladdin, who ran to receive her. + +"Princess," he said, "blame your beauty for my boldness if I have +displeased you." + +She told him that, having seen him, she willingly obeyed her father in +this matter. After the wedding had taken place Aladdin led her into the +hall, where a feast was spread, and she supped with him, after which +they danced till midnight. + +Next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace. On entering the +hall with the four-and-twenty windows, with their rubies, diamonds, and +emeralds, he cried:-- + +"It is a world's wonder! There is only one thing that surprises me. Was +it by accident that one window was left unfinished?" + +"No, sir, by design," returned Aladdin. "I wished your Majesty to have +the glory of finishing this palace." + +The Sultan was pleased, and sent for the best jewellers in the city. He +showed them the unfinished window, and bade them fit it up like the +others. + +"Sir," replied their spokesman, "we cannot find jewels enough." + +The Sultan had his own fetched, which they soon used, but to no purpose, +for in a month's time the work was not half done. Aladdin, knowing that +their task was vain, bade them undo their work and carry the jewels +back, and the genie finished the window at his command. The Sultan was +surprised to receive his jewels again and visited Aladdin, who showed +him the window finished. The Sultan embraced him, the envious vizir +meanwhile hinting that it was the work of enchantment. + +Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle bearing. He was +made captain of the Sultan's armies, and won several battles for him, +but remained modest and courteous as before, and lived thus in peace and +content for several years. + +But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin, and by his magic +arts discovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing miserably in the +cave, had escaped, and had married a princess, with whom he was living +in great honor and wealth. He knew that the poor tailor's son could only +have accomplished this by means of the lamp, and travelled night and day +till he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin's ruin. As he +passed through the town he heard people talking everywhere about a +marvellous palace. + +"Forgive my ignorance," he asked, "what is this palace you speak of?" + +"Have you not heard of Prince Aladdin's palace," was the reply, "the +greatest wonder of the world? I will direct you if you have a mind to +see it." + +The magician thanked him who spoke, and having seen the palace knew that +it had been raised by the genie of the lamp, and became half mad with +rage. He determined to get hold of the lamp, and again plunge Aladdin +into the deepest poverty. + +Unluckily, Aladdin had gone a-hunting for eight days, which gave the +magician plenty of time. He bought a dozen copper lamps, put them into a +basket, and went to the palace, crying: "New lamps for old!" followed by +a jeering crowd. + +The princess, sitting in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, sent a +slave to find out what the noise was about, who came back laughing, so +that the princess scolded her. + +"Madam," replied the slave, "who can help laughing to see an old fool +offering to exchange fine new lamps for old ones?" + +Another slave, hearing this, said: "There is an old one on the cornice +there which he can have." + +Now this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there, as he could +not take it out hunting with him. The princess, not knowing its value, +laughingly bade the slave take it and make the exchange. + +She went and said to the magician: "Give me a new lamp for this." + +He snatched it and bade the slave take her choice, amid the jeers of the +crowd. Little he cared, but left off crying his lamps, and went out of +the city gates to a lonely place, where he remained till nightfall, when +he pulled out the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared, and at the +magician's command carried him, together with the palace and the +princess in it, to a lonely place in Africa. + +Next morning the Sultan looked out of the window towards Aladdin's +palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. He sent for the vizir, and +asked what had become of the palace. The vizir looked out too, and was +lost in astonishment. He again put it down to enchantment, and this time +the Sultan believed him, and sent thirty men on horseback to fetch +Aladdin in chains. They met him riding home, bound him, and forced him +to go with them on foot. The people, however, who loved him, followed, +armed, to see that he came to no harm. He was carried before the Sultan, +who ordered the executioner to cut off his head. The executioner made +Aladdin kneel down, bandaged his eyes, and raised his scimitar to +strike. At that instant the vizir, who saw that the crowd had forced +their way into the courtyard and were scaling the walls to rescue +Aladdin, called to the executioner to stay his hand. The people, indeed, +looked so threatening that the Sultan gave way and ordered Aladdin to be +unbound, and pardoned him in the sight of the crowd. + +Aladdin now begged to know what he had done. + +"False wretch!" said the Sultan, "come hither," and showed him from the +window the place where his palace had stood. + +Aladdin was so amazed that he could not say a word. + +"Where is my palace and my daughter?" demanded the Sultan. "For the +first I am not so deeply concerned, but my daughter I must have, and you +must find her or lose your head." + +Aladdin begged for forty days in which to find her, promising if he +failed, to return and suffer death at the Sultan's pleasure. His prayer +was granted, and he went forth sadly from the Sultan's presence. For +three days he wandered about like a madman, asking everyone what had +become of his palace, but they only laughed and pitied him. He came to +the banks of a river, and knelt down to say his prayers before throwing +himself in. In so doing he rubbed the magic ring he still wore. + +The genie he had seen in the cave appeared, and asked his will. + +"Save my life, genie," said Aladdin, "and bring my palace back." + +"That is not in my power," said the genie; "I am only the Slave of the +Ring; you must ask the Slave of the Lamp." + +"Even so," said Aladdin, "but thou canst take me to the palace, and set +me down under my dear wife's window." He at once found himself in +Africa, under the window of the princess, and fell asleep out of sheer +weariness. + +He was awakened by the singing of the birds, and his heart was lighter. +He saw plainly that all his misfortunes were owing to the loss of the +lamp, and vainly wondered who had robbed him of it. + +That morning the princess rose earlier than she had done since she had +been carried into Africa by the magician, whose company she was forced +to endure once a day. She, however, treated him so harshly that he dared +not live there altogether. As she was dressing, one of her women looked +out and saw Aladdin. The princess ran and opened the window, and at the +noise she made Aladdin looked up. She called to him to come to her, and +great was the joy of these lovers at seeing each other again. + +After he had kissed her Aladdin said: "I beg of you, Princess, in God's +name, before we speak of anything else, for your own sake and mine, tell +me what has become of an old lamp I left on the cornice in the hall of +four-and-twenty windows, when I went a-hunting." + +"Alas!" she said, "I am the innocent cause of our sorrows," and told him +of the exchange of the lamp. + +"Now I know," cried Aladdin, "that we have to thank the African magician +for this! Where is the lamp?" + +"He carries it about with him," said the princess, "I know, for he +pulled it out of his breast to show me. He wishes me to break my faith +with you and marry him, saying that you were beheaded by my father's +command. He is forever speaking ill of you, but I only reply by my +tears. If I persist, I doubt not that he will use violence." + +Aladdin comforted her, and left her for awhile. He changed clothes with +the first person he met in the town, and having bought a certain powder +returned to the princess, who let him in by a little side door. + +"Put on your most beautiful dress," he said to her, "and receive the +magician with smiles, leading him to believe that you have forgotten me. +Invite him to sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his +country. He will go for some, and while he is gone I will tell you what +to do." + +She listened carefully to Aladdin, and when he left her arrayed herself +gayly for the first time since she left China. She put on a girdle and +head-dress of diamonds, and seeing in a glass that she looked more +beautiful than ever, received the magician, saying to his great +amazement: "I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all my +tears will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to mourn no more, +and have therefore invited you to sup with me; but I am tired of the +wines of China, and would fain taste those of Africa." + +The magician flew to his cellar, and the princess put the powder Aladdin +had given her in her cup. When he returned she asked him to drink her +health in the wine of Africa, handing him her cup in exchange for his as +a sign she was reconciled to him. + +Before drinking the magician made her a speech in praise of her beauty, +but the princess cut him short, saying:-- + +"Let me drink first, and you shall say what you will afterwards." She +set her cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained +his to the dregs and fell back lifeless. + +The princess then opened the door to Aladdin, and flung her arms round +his neck, but Aladdin put her away, bidding her to leave him, as he had +more to do. He then went to the dead magician, took the lamp out of his +vest, and bade the genie carry the palace and all in it back to China. +This was done, and the princess in her chamber only felt two little +shocks, and little thought she was at home again. + +The Sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning for his lost +daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for there stood the +palace as before! He hastened thither, and Aladdin received him in the +hall of the four-and-twenty windows, with the princess at his side. +Aladdin told him what had happened, and showed him the dead body of the +magician, that he might believe. A ten days' feast was proclaimed, and +it seemed as if Aladdin might now live the rest of his life in peace; +but it was not to be. + +The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if possible, more +wicked and more cunning than himself. He travelled to China to avenge +his brother's death, and went to visit a pious woman called Fatima, +thinking she might be of use to him. He entered her cell and clapped a +dagger to her breast, telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain of +death. He changed clothes with her, colored his face like hers, put on +her veil and murdered her, so that she might tell no tales. Then he went +towards the palace of Aladdin, and all the people thinking he was the +holy woman, gathered round him, kissing his hands and begging his +blessing. When he got to the palace there was such a noise going on +round him that the princess bade her slave look out of the window and +ask what was the matter. The slave said it was the holy woman, curing +people by her touch of their ailments, whereupon the princess, who had +long desired to see Fatima, sent for her. On coming to the princess the +magician offered up a prayer for her health and prosperity. When he had +done the princess made him sit by her, and begged him to stay with her +always. The false Fatima, who wished for nothing better, consented, but +kept his veil down for fear of discovery. The princess showed him the +hall, and asked him what he thought of it. + +"It is truly beautiful," said the false Fatima. "In my mind it wants but +one thing." + +"And what is that?" said the princess. + +"If only a roc's egg," replied he, "were hung up from the middle of this +dome, it would be the wonder of the world." + +After this the princess could think of nothing but a roc's egg, and when +Aladdin returned from hunting he found her in a very ill humor. He +begged to know what was amiss, and she told him that all her pleasure in +the hall was spoilt for the want of a roc's egg hanging from the dome. + +"If that is all," replied Aladdin, "you shall soon be happy." + +He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared commanded +him to bring a roc's egg. The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek +that the hall shook. + +"Wretch!" he said, "is it not enough that I have done everything for +you, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him up in the +midst of this dome? You and your wife and your palace deserve to be +burnt to ashes; but this request does not come from you, but from the +brother of the African magician whom you destroyed. He is now in your +palace disguised as the holy woman--whom he murdered. He it was who put +that wish into your wife's head. Take care of yourself, for he means to +kill you." So saying the genie disappeared. + +Aladdin went back to the princess, saying his head ached, and requesting +that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on it. But when +the magician came near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger, pierced him to the +heart. + +"What have you done?" cried the princess. "You have killed the holy +woman!" + +"Not so," replied Aladdin, "but a wicked magician," and told her of how +she had been deceived. + +After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He succeeded the Sultan +when he died, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him a long line +of kings. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Oriental Literature, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10121 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..862c053 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10121 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10121) diff --git a/old/10121-8.txt b/old/10121-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0a94c54 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10121-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6071 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Oriental Literature, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Oriental Literature + The Literature of Arabia + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: November 18, 2003 [EBook #10121] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ORIENTAL LITERATURE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Beth Trapaga and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + +ORIENTAL LITERATURE + +THE LITERATURE OF ARABIA + + +With Critical and Biographical Sketches by + +Epiphanius Wilson, A.M. + + +1900 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +THE ROMANCE OF ANTAR + +Introduction +The Early Fortunes of Antar +Khaled and Djaida +The Absians and Fazareans + + +ARABIAN POETRY + +Introduction +SELECTIONS.-- + An Elegy + The Tomb of Mano + Tomb of Sayid + On the Death of His Mistress + On Avarice + The Battle of Sabla + Verses to My Enemies + On His Friends + On Temper + The Song of Maisuna + To My Father + On Fatalism + To the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid + Lines to Harun and Yahia + The Ruin of Barmecides + To Taher Ben Hosien + The Adieu + To My Mistress + To a Female Cup-bearer + Mashdud on the Monks of Khabbet + Rakeek to His Female Companions + Dialogue by Rais + To a Lady Weeping + On a Valetudinarian + On a Miser + To Cassim Obio Allah + A Friend's Birthday + To a Cat + An Epigram upon Ebn Naphta-Wah + Fire + To a Lady Blushing + On the Vicissitudes of Life + To a Dove + On a Thunder Storm + To My Favorite Mistress + Crucifixion of Ebn Bakiah + Caprices of Fortune + On Life + Extempore Verses + On the Death of a Son + To Leila + On Moderation in our Pleasures + The Vale of Bozâa + To Adversity + On the Incompatibility of Pride and True Glory + The Death of Nedham Almolk + Lines to a Lover + Verses to My Daughters + Serenade to My Sleeping Mistress + The Inconsistent + The Capture of Jerusalem + To a Lady + An Epigram + On a Little Man with a Very Large Beard + Lamiat Alajem + To Youth + On Love + A Remonstrance with a Drunkard + Verses + On Procrastination + The Early Death of Abou Alhassan Aly + The Interview + + +ARABIAN NIGHTS + +THE SEVEN VOYAGES OF SINDBAD + First Voyage + Second Voyage + Third Voyage + Fourth Voyage + Fifth Voyage + Sixth Voyage + Seventh and Last Voyage +ALADDIN'S WONDERFUL LAMP + + + + +THE ROMANCE OF ANTAR + +[_Translation by Étienne Delécluse and Epiphanius Wilson_] + + +INTRODUCTION + +The romantic figure of Antar, or Antarah, takes the same place in +Arabian literature as that of Achilles among the Greeks. The Cid in +Spain, Orlando in Italy, and Arthur in England, are similar examples of +national ideals put forth by poets and romance writers as embodiments of +a certain half-mythic age of chivalry, when personal valor, prudence, +generosity, and high feeling gave the warrior an admitted preeminence +among his fellows. The literature of Arabia is indeed rich in novels and +tales. The "Thousand and One Nights" is of world-wide reputation, but +the "Romance of Antar" is much less artificial, more expressive of high +moral principles, and certainly superior in literary style to the +fantastic recitals of the coffee house and bazaar, in which Sindbad and +Morgiana figure. A true picture of Bedouin society, in the centuries +before Mohammed had conquered the Arabian peninsula, is given us in the +charming episodes of Antar. We see the encampments of the tribe, the +camels yielding milk and flesh for food, the women friends and +councillors of their husbands, the boys inured to arms from early days, +the careful breeding of horses, the songs of poet and minstrel stirring +all hearts, the mail-clad lines of warriors with lance and sword, the +supreme power of the King--often dealing out justice with stern, sudden, +and inflexible ferocity. Among these surroundings Antar appears, a +dazzling and irresistible warrior and a poet of wonderful power. The +Arab classics, in years long before Mohammed had taken the Kaaba and +made it the talisman of his creed, were hung in the little shrine where +the black volcanic stone was kept. They were known as Maallakat, or +Suspended Books, which had the same meaning among Arabian literati as +the term classic bore among the Italian scholars of the Renaissance. +Numbered with these books of the Kaaba were the poems of Antar, who was +thus the Taliessin of Arabian chivalry. + +It is indeed necessary to recollect that in reading the episodes of +Antar we have been taken back to the heroic age in the Arabian +peninsula. War is considered the noblest occupation of a man, and Khaled +despises the love of a noble maiden "from pride in his passion for war." +Antar has his famous horse as the Cid had his Babicca, and his +irresistible sword as Arthur his Excalibur. The wealth of chiefs and +kings consists in horses and camels; there is no mention of money or +jewelry. When a wager is made the stakes are a hundred camels. The +commercial spirit of the Arabian Nights is wanting in this spirited +romance of chivalry. The Arabs had sunk to a race of mere traders when +Aladdin became possessed of his lamp, and the trickery, greed, and +avarice of peddlers and merchants are exhibited in incident after +incident of the "Thousand and One Nights." War is despised or feared, +courage less to be relied upon than astute knavery, and one of the facts +that strikes us is the general frivolity, dishonesty, and cruelty which +prevail through the tales of Bagdad. The opposite is the case with +Antar. Natural passion has full play, but nobility of character is taken +seriously, and generosity and sensibility of heart are portrayed with +truthfulness and naiveté. Of course the whole romance is a collection of +many romantic stories: it has no epic unity. It will remind the reader +of the "Morte d'Arthur" of Sir Thomas Malory, rather than of the +"Iliad." We have chosen the most striking of these episodes as best +calculated to serve as genuine specimens of Arabian literature. They +will transport the modern reader into a new world--which is yet the old, +long vanished world of pastoral simplicity and warlike enthusiasm, in +primitive Arabia. But the novelty lies in the plot of the tales. Djaida +and Khaled, Antar and Ibla, and the race between Shidoub and the great +racers Dahir and Ghabra, bring before our eyes with singular freshness +the character of a civilization, a domestic life, a political system, +which were not wanting in refinement, purity, and justice. The +conception of such a dramatic personage as Antar would be original in +the highest degree, if it were not based upon historic fact. Antar is a +more real personage than Arthur, and quite as real and historic as the +Cid. Yet his adventures remind us very much of those which run through +the story of the Round Table. + +The Arabs, in the days of romance, were a collection of tribes and +families whose tents and villages were spread along the Red Sea, between +Egypt and the Indian Ocean. There were some tribes more powerful than +others, and the result of their tyranny was often bitter war. There was +no central monarchy, no priesthood, and no written law. The only stable +and independent unit was the family. Domestic life with its purest +virtues constituted the strong point amongst the Arabian tribes, where +gentleness, free obedience, and forbearance were conspicuous. Each tribe +bore the name of its first ancestor, and from him and his successors +came down a traditionary, unwritten law, the violation of which was +considered the most heinous of offences. There was no settled religion +before the conquest of Mohammed; each tribe and each family worshipped +whom they would--celestial spirits, sun and moon, or certain idols. In +the account given in Antar of the Council of War, the ancients, or old +men of the tribe, came forth with idols or amulets round their necks, +and the whole account of the council, in which the bard as well as the +orator addressed the people, is strictly accurate in historic details. +The custom of infanticide in the case of female children was perfectly +authorized among the Arabs, and illustrates the motive of the pretty +episode of Khaled and Djaida. War was individual and personal among the +Arabs, and murder was atoned for by murder, or by the price of a certain +number of camels. Raising of horses, peaceful contests in arms, or +poetic competitions where each bard recited in public his compositions, +formed their amusements. They were very sensible to the charms of music, +poetry and oratory, and as a general rule the Arab chieftain was brave, +generous, and munificent. + +All these historic facts are fully reflected in the highly emotional +tale of "Antar," which is the greatest of all the national romances of +Arabia. It would scarcely be possible to fix upon any individual writer +as its author, for it has been edited over and over again by Arabian +scribes, each adding his own glosses and enriching it with incidents. +Its original date may have been the sixth century of our era, about five +hundred years before the production of the "Thousand and One Nights." + +E.W. + + + + +THE EARLY FORTUNES OF ANTAR + +At the time the "Romance of Antar" opens, the most powerful and the best +governed of the Bedouin tribes were those of the Absians and the +Adnamians. King Zoheir, chief of the Absians, was firmly established +upon his throne, so that the kings of other nations, who were subject to +him, paid him tribute. The whole of Arabia in short became subject to +the Absians, so that all the chiefs of other tribes and all inhabitants +of the desert dreaded their power and depredations. + +Under these circumstances, and as a consequence of a flagrant act of +tyranny on the part of Zoheir, several chieftains, among whom was +Shedad, a son of Zoheir, seceded from the Absian tribe, and set out to +seek adventures, to attack other tribes, and to carry off their cattle +and treasure. These chieftains arrived at the dwelling-place of a +certain tribe, named Djezila, whom they fought with and pillaged. +Amongst their booty was a black woman of extraordinary beauty, the +mother of two children. Her name was Zebiba; her elder son was Djaris; +her younger Shidoub. Shedad became passionately enamoured of this woman, +and yielded all the rest of his share in the booty in order to obtain +possession of her and her two children. He dwelt in the fields with this +negress, whose sons took care of the cattle. In course of time Zebiba +bore a son to Shedad. This child was born tawny as an elephant; his eyes +were bleared, his head thick with hair, his features hard and fixed. The +corners of his mouth drooped, his eyes started from his head, his bones +were hard, his feet long; he had ears of prodigious size, and his glance +flashed like fire. In other respects he resembled Shedad, who was +transported with delight at the sight of his son, whom he named Antar. + +Meanwhile the child waxed in strength, and his name soon became known. +Then the companions of Shedad wished to dispute the possession of the +boy with him, and King Zoheir was informed of the matter. He demanded +that the boy should be brought into his presence, and Shedad complied. +As soon as the king caught sight of this extraordinary child, he uttered +a cry of astonishment, and flung him a piece of goat's flesh. At the +same moment a dog, who happened to be in the tent, seized the meat and +ran off with it. But Antar, filled with rage, pursued the animal, and, +violently taking hold of him, drew his jaws apart, splitting the throat +down to the shoulders, and thus recovered the meat. King Zoheir, in +amazement, deferred the matter to the Cadi, who confirmed Shedad's +possession of Zebiba, and her three children, Djaris, Shidoub, and +Antar. + +Shedad therefore provided a home for Zebiba, in order that his sons +might be educated in their business of tending the herds. It was at this +time that Antar began to develop his strength of body, his courage, and +intelligence. When he was ten years of age he slew a wolf which +threatened to attack the herds committed to his charge. Although brutal, +headstrong, and passionate, he early exhibited a love of justice, and a +disposition to protect the weak, especially women. He put to death a +slave who beat an old woman, his slave and companion; and this action, +although at first misunderstood, eventually gained the admiration of +King Zoheir, who treated Antar with distinction, because of his nobility +of character. In consequence of this action, which had been so much +applauded by King Zoheir, the young Arab women and their mothers hung +round Antar to learn the details of this courageous deed, and to +congratulate him on his magnanimity. + +Among the young women was Ibla, daughter of Malek, the son of Zoheir. +Ibla, fair as the full moon, was somewhat younger than Antar. She was +accustomed to banter him in a familiar way, feeling that he was her +slave. "And you," she said to him, "you, born so low, how dared you kill +the slave of a prince? What provocation can you have against him?" +"Mistress," replied Antar, "I struck that slave because he deserved it, +for he had insulted a poor woman. He knocked her down, and made her the +laughing stock of all the servants." "Of course you were right," +answered Ibla, with a smile, "and we were all delighted that you escaped +from the adventure safe and sound. Because of the service you have +rendered us by your conduct, our mothers look upon you as a son, and we +as a brother." + +From that moment Antar made the service of women his special duty above +all others. At that time the Arabian ladies had the habit of drinking +camel's milk morning and evening, and it was especially the duty of +those who waited upon them to milk the camels, and to cool it in the +wind before offering it to them. Antar had been for some time released +from this duty, when one morning he entered the dwelling of his uncle +Malek, and found there his aunt, engaged in combing the hair of her +daughter Ibla, whose ringlets, black as the night, floated over her +shoulders. Antar was struck with surprise, and Ibla, as soon as she knew +that he had seen her, fled and left him with his eyes fixed abstractedly +on her disappearing form. + +It was from this incident that the love of Antar for the daughter of his +uncle took its origin. He saw how Ibla shone in society, and his passion +grew to such an extent that he ventured to sound her praises, and to +express the feeling she excited in him by writing verses which, while +they gained the admiration of the multitude, incurred also the envy of +the chieftains. Moreover his father could not pardon the presumption of +Antar, who, born a slave, had dared to cast eyes on his free-born +cousin. + +When therefore he slew a slave who had slandered him, his father ordered +him to be flogged, and sent away to watch over the cattle in the +pastures. He had now before him a fresh opportunity for exhibiting his +prodigious strength and invincible courage. A lion attempted to attack +the herds committed to his care. He killed it at the very moment that +his father Shedad, enraged against him, had come, accompanied by his +brother, to do him ill. But a mingled feeling of admiration and fear +held their hands, and in the evening, when Antar returned from the +pastures, his father and his uncle made him seat himself at dinner with +them, while the rest of the attendants stood behind them. + +Meanwhile King Zoheir was called upon a warlike expedition against the +tribe of Temin. All his warriors followed him; the women alone remained +behind. Shedad entrusted them to the protection of Antar, who pledged +his life for their safety. During the absence of the warriors, Semiah, +the lawful wife of Shedad, conceived the idea of giving an entertainment +on the bank of the lake Zatoulizard. Ibla attended it with her mother, +and Antar witnessed all the amusements in which his beloved took part. +His passion for her became intensified. He was once tempted to violate +the modesty of love by the violence of desire, but, at that moment, he +saw a great cloud of dust rise in the distance; the shouts of war were +heard; and suddenly the warriors of the tribe of Cathan appeared on the +scene, and, descending on the pleasure-seekers, carried off the women, +including Ibla. Antar, being unarmed, ran after one of the horsemen, +seized him, strangled and threw him to the ground. Then he put on the +armor of the vanquished foe, attacked and put to flight the tribe of +Cathan, rescued the women, and obtained a booty of twenty-five horses. +From that moment Semiah, the wife of Shedad, who hitherto had a +pronounced aversion to Antar, conceived a sincere affection for him. + +King Zoheir, meantime, had returned victorious from his expedition. +Shedad returned at the same moment, and went to visit his herds. Seeing +Antar surrounded by horses which he did not know, and mounted upon a +fine black courser, he asked, "Where did these animals, and particularly +this superb horse, come from?" Then Antar, not willing to betray the +imprudence of Semiah, declared that, as the Cathanians had left their +horses behind them, he had seized them. Shedad was indignant, and +treated Antar as a robber, reproached him for his wickedness, and after +repeatedly telling him how wrong it was to rouse discord among the +Arabs, struck him with his whip, with such violence as to draw blood. +Then Semiah, distressed by the sight of this unjust treatment, took off +her veil, letting her hair fall over her shoulders, took Antar into her +arms and told all that had happened and how she and all the other women +of her tribe were indebted to this hero for their honor and liberty. +Shedad could not restrain his tenderness on learning the magnanimity of +his son's silence. Soon afterwards King Zoheir, to whom this incident +had been related, summoned Antar into his presence, and declared that a +man who could exhibit such courage and generosity was bound to become +preeminent among his companions. All the chieftains who surrounded the +king congratulated Antar, and one of his friends, in order to give the +court a complete idea of this young man's remarkable gifts, asked him to +recite some of his verses. + +In compliance with this request he recited a poem in praise of warriors +and war, and the king and all the court manifested their delight. Zoheir +bade Antar approach, gave him a robe of honor, and thanked him. That +evening Antar departed with his father Shedad, his heart full of joy +over the honors which had been lavished on him, and his love for Ibla +still more heightened. + +In spite of the indisputable virtues of Antar, in spite of the great +services he had rendered the Absians, the chieftains of this tribe still +regarded him as merely a common slave and tender of cattle. The +beginning of his rise to favor excited a feeling of keen hatred, and +caused many plots to be laid against him. A series of intrigues was +entered upon, the aim of which was the death of the hero. But each +attack upon his reputation and his life redounded to his benefit, and +furnished him with an opportunity of putting his enemies to silence and +defeat. For by his generosity and magnanimity, even his envious foes +felt themselves under obligation to him. On each of his triumphs the +mutual love between himself and Ibla went on increasing. + +After the performance of many feats as a horseman, Antar came into +possession of a famous horse named Abjer, and a sword of marvellous +temper, Djamy--and every time he appeared on the field of combat, as +well as when he returned victorious from the fight, he made a poetic +address, finishing with the words, "I am the lover of Ibla." At the +conclusion of a war in which he had performed prodigies of valor, King +Zoheir gave him the surname of Alboufauris, which means, "The Father of +Horsemen." + +The greater grew his name, the more highly he was honored by King +Zoheir, so much the more did the hatred of the chieftains and the love +of Ibla towards him increase. But it came to pass that Ibla was asked in +marriage by Amarah, a stupid youth, puffed up by his wealth and lineage. +Antar, on hearing the news, was transported with rage, and attacked his +young rival with such violence that all the Arabian chiefs begged of +Zoheir to punish the aggressor. The king left to Shedad, Antar's father, +the pronouncing of sentence. Shedad had, like the others, viewed the +rise of Antar, the black slave, to favor, with jealous eye, and sent him +back to the pastures to keep the herds. + +It was at this point that the greatness of Antar's character appeared in +its full dimensions. The hero submitted with resignation to the orders +of his father, "to whom," he said, "he owed obedience as to his master, +since he was his slave"; and he swore to him, in the presence of +witnesses, not to mount horse, nor engage in battle, without his +permission. Tears flowed from his eyes, and before departing for the +pastures he went to see his mother Zebiba, and to talk with her +concerning Ibla. "Ibla?" said his mother--"but a moment ago she was +here beside me, and said to me, 'Comfort the heart of Antar, and tell +him from me, that even should my father torture me to death in trying to +change my mind, I would not desire nor ask for other husband than +Antar.'" + +These words of Ibla filled with rapture the heart of Antar, as he +started for the pastures in company with his brothers, Djaris and +Shidoub. + +At this time the tribe of Abs, which Zoheir ruled over, was at war with +that of Tex, on account of the carrying off of Anima, daughter of the +chief of the Tex, a man known as "The Drinker of Blood." Animated by the +desire to take vengeance and recover his daughter, this chief and his +army fell upon the Absians like a thunderbolt. The Absians were +defeated, and their women, among whom was Ibla, taken prisoners. All +pride was then, in this time of need, laid aside, and to their +assistance Antar was summoned. But before acting Antar laid down his +conditions, and stipulated that, in case he succeeded in subduing the +foe and recovering the women, Ibla should be given him in marriage. +Malek, the father of Ibla, and Shedad, the father of Antar, assented, +and bound themselves by an oath to fulfil these conditions and to +reinstate Antar in all the honors and dignities belonging to him. + +Antar was victorious. He rescued Ibla, and received grateful expressions +of gratitude from his beloved, while King Zoheir gave him the kiss of +royal honor. Everything seemed to unite in fulfilling the hopes of +Antar. But at the very moment in which he was honored by royal +felicitations, several chieftains, indignant at the elevation of a black +slave, employed every means to prevent his marriage with Ibla, and to +force him to undertake enterprises which would prove fatal to him. +Shedad, his father, and Malek, the father of Ibla, connived at these +plots. They demanded of Antar, who was of that trusting disposition +which belongs to generous and brave men, that he give as a wedding +present to his bride, a thousand camels, of a particular breed, not to +be found excepting on the borders of the Persian kingdom. The hero made +no remark on hearing this treacherous demand, and was so eager to please +Ibla, that he took no count of the difficulties to be undergone. He set +off and soon found himself engaged in conflict with a large army of +Persians, who made him prisoner, and led him off with the view of +bringing him into the presence of their king. There he was taken, bound +and on horseback, when at that instant, the news came that a fierce lion +of extraordinary size was ravaging the country. It was alleged that even +armed men fled before it. Antar, who was on the point of being put to +death, asked the King of Persia to cause his arms at least to be +unbound, and to let him confront the lion. His prayer was granted; he +rushed upon the savage creature, and transfixed it with his lance. Nor +was this the only service he did the King of Persia, who in gratitude +for many others, not only gave Antar the thousand camels he was looking +for, but loaded him with treasures, with which to do homage to Ibla. + +On his return Antar was received with a rapturous welcome by the Absian +tribe. But the hostile and the envious continued to plot against him. +They still aimed at preventing his marriage, and compassing his death. +Amarah, who aspired to Ibla's hand, backed by all the chieftains hostile +to Antar, renewed his suit and pretensions. Ibla was carried off from +her house among the Absians, and taken to another tribe. Then Antar set +out in search of her, and at length rescued her: their mutual love was +intensified by this reunion. By a series of wiles and intrigues +skilfully conducted, the chiefs who surrounded Ibla persuaded her to +demand still further dowry from Antar. She spoke of Khaled and Djaida, +whose history has already been related; she said, in presence of Antar, +that that young warrior girl would not consent to marry Khaled, saving +on the condition that her camel's bridle be held by the daughter of +Moawich. This word was sufficient for Antar, and he promised to Ibla +that Djaida should hold the bridle of her camel on her wedding day; and +more than that, the head of Khaled should be slung round the neck of the +warrior girl. Thus the hero, constantly loving and beloved by Ibla, +incessantly deceived by the cunningly devised obstacles raised by his +foes, sustained his reputation for greatness of character and strength +of arm, submitted with resignation to the severest tests, and passed +victoriously through them all. After the death of King Zoheir, whom he +avenged, he undertook to assist Cais, Zoheir's son, in all his +enterprises, and after a long series of adventures which tired the +patience, love, and courage of Antar, this hero, recognized as chief +among Arabian chieftains, obtained the great reward of his long +struggles and mighty toils, by marriage to his well-loved Ibla. + + + + +KHALED AND DJAIDA + +Moharib and Zahir were brothers, of the same father and mother; the +Arabs call them "brothers germane." Both were, renowned for courage and +daring. But Moharib was chief of the tribe, and Zahir, being subject to +his authority, was no more than his minister, giving him counsel and +advice. Now it happened that a violent dispute arose between them. Zahir +subsequently retired to his tent, in profound sorrow, and not knowing +what course to take. "What is the matter with you?" asked his wife, "Why +are you so troubled? What has happened to you? Has any one displeased or +insulted you--the greatest of Arab chiefs?" "What am I to do?" replied +Zahir; "the man who has injured me is one whom I cannot lay hands on, or +do him wrong; he is my companion in the bosom of my family, my brother +in the world. Ah, if it had been any one but he, I would have shown him +what sort of a man he was at odds with, and have made an example of him +before all the chiefs of our tribes!" "Leave him; let him enjoy his +possessions alone," cried his wife, and, in order to persuade her +husband to take this course, she recited verses from a poet of the time, +which dissuade a man from tolerating an insult even at the hands of his +parents. + +Zahir assented to the advice of his wife. He made all preparations for +departure, struck his tents, loaded his camels, and started off on the +road towards the camp of the Saad tribe, with whom he was in alliance. +Yet in spite of all, he felt a keen pang at separating himself from his +brother--and thus he spoke: "On starting on a journey which removes me +from you, I shall be a thousand years on the way, and each year will +carry me a thousand leagues.... Even though the favors you heap upon me +be worth a thousand Egypts, and each of these Egypts had a thousand +Niles, all those favors would be despised. I shall be contented with +little so long as I am far from you. Away from you, I shall recite this +distich, which is worth more than a necklace of fine pearls: 'When a man +is wronged on the soil of his tribe, there is nothing left him but to +leave it; you, who have so wickedly injured me, before long shall feel +the power of the kindly divinity, for he is your judge and mine, he is +unchangeable and eternal." + +Zahir continued his journey, until he reached the Saad tribe, when he +dismounted from his horse. He was cordially received and was pressed to +take up his abode with them. His wife was at that time soon to become a +mother, and he said to her: "If a son is given to us, he will be right +welcome; but if it be a daughter, conceal her sex and let people think +we have a male child, so that my brother may have no reason to crow over +us." When her time came Zahir's wife brought into the world a daughter. +They agreed that her name should be actually Djaida, but that publicly +she should be known as Djonder, that people might take her for a boy. In +order to promote this belief, they kept up feasting and entertainment +early and late for many days. + +About the same time Moharib, the other brother, had a son born to him, +whom he named Khaled (The Eternal). He chose this name in gratitude to +God, because, since his brother's departure, his affairs had prospered +well. + +The two children eventually reached full age, and their renown was +widespread among the Arabs. Zahir had taught his daughter to ride on +horseback, and had trained her in all the accomplishments fitting to a +warrior bold and daring. He accustomed her to the severest toils, and +the most perilous enterprises. When he went to war, he put her among the +other Arabs of the tribe, and in the midst of these horsemen she soon +took her rank as one of the most valiant of them. Thus it came to pass +that she eclipsed all her comrades, and would even attack the lions in +their dens. At last her name became an object of terror; when she had +overcome a champion she never failed to cry out: "I am Djonder, son of +Zahir, horseman of the tribes." + +Her cousin Khaled, on the other hand, distinguished himself equally by +his brilliant courage. His father Moharib, a wise and prudent chief, had +built houses of entertainment for strangers; all horsemen found a +welcome there. Khaled had been brought up in the midst of warriors. In +this school his spirit had been formed, here he had learned to ride, and +at last had become an intrepid warrior, and a redoubtable hero. It was +soon perceived by the rest of the army that his spirit and valor were +unconquerable. + +Eventually he heard tell of his cousin Djonder, and his desire to see +and know him and to witness his skill in arms became extreme. But he +could not satisfy this desire because of the dislike which his father +showed for his cousin, the son of his uncle. This curiosity of Khaled +continued unsatisfied until the death of his father Moharib, which put +him in possession of rank, wealth, and lands. He followed the example of +his father in entertaining strangers, protecting the weak and +unfortunate, and giving raiment to the naked. He continued also to scour +the plains on horseback with his warriors, and in this way waxed greater +in bodily strength and courage. After some time, gathering together a +number of rich gifts, he started, in company with his mother, to visit +his uncle. He did not draw rein until he reached the dwelling of Zahir, +who was delighted to see him, and made magnificent preparations for his +entertainment; for the uncle had heard tell on many occasions of his +nephew's worth and valor. Khaled also visited his cousin. He saluted +her, pressed her to his bosom, and kissed her forehead, thinking she was +a young man. He felt the greatest pleasure in her company, and remained +ten days with his uncle, regularly taking part in the jousts and +contests of the horsemen and warriors. As for his cousin, the moment she +had seen how handsome and valiant Khaled was, she had fallen violently +in love with him. Her sleep left her; she could not eat; and her love +grew to such a pitch that feeling her heart completely lost to him, she +spoke to her mother and said: "O mother, should my cousin leave without +taking me in his company, I shall die of grief at his absence." Then her +mother was touched with pity for her, and uttered no reproaches, feeling +that they would be in vain. "Djaida," she said, "conceal your feelings, +and restrain yourself from grief. You have done nothing improper, for +your cousin is the man of your choice, and is of your own blood. Like +him, you are fair and attractive; like him, brave and skilful in +horsemanship. Tomorrow morning, when his mother approaches us, I will +reveal to her the whole matter; we will soon afterwards give you to him +in marriage, and finally we will all return to our own country." + +The wife of Zahir waited patiently until the following morning, when the +mother of Khaled arrived. She then presented her daughter, whose head +she uncovered, so as to allow the hair to fall to her shoulders. At the +sight of such charms the mother of Khaled was beyond measure astonished, +and exclaimed: "What! is not this your son Djonder?" "No! it is +Djaida--she the moon of beauty, at last has risen." Then she told her +all that had passed between herself and her husband, and how and why +they had concealed the sex of their child. "Dear kinswoman," replied the +mother of Khaled, still quite surprised, "among all the daughters of +Arabia who have been celebrated for their beauty I have never seen one +more lovely than this one. What is her name?" "I have already told you +that it is Djaida, and my especial purpose in telling you the secret is +to offer you all these charms, for I ardently desire to marry my +daughter to your son, so that we may all be able to return to our own +land." The mother of Khaled at once assented to this proposal, and said: +"The possession of Djaida will doubtless render my son very happy." She +at once rose and went out to look for Khaled, and communicated to him +all she had seen and learned, not failing to extol especially the charms +of Djaida. "By the faith of an Arab," said she, "never, my son, have I +seen in the desert, or in any city, a girl such as your cousin; I do not +except the most beautiful. Nothing is so perfect as she is, nothing more +lovely and attractive. Make haste, my son, to see your uncle and ask him +for his daughter in marriage. You will be happy indeed if he grants your +prayer: Go, my son, and do not waste time in winning her." + +When Khaled had heard these words, he cast his eyes to the ground, and +remained for some time thoughtful and gloomy. Then he replied: "My +mother, I cannot remain here any longer. I must return home amid my +horsemen and troops. I have no intention of saying anything more to my +cousin; I am convinced that she is a person whose temper and ideas of +life are uncertain; her character and manner of speech are utterly +destitute of stability and propriety. I have always been accustomed to +live amid warriors, on whom I spend my wealth, and with whom I win a +soldier's renown. As for my cousin's love for me, it is the weakness of +a woman, of a young girl." He then donned his armor, mounted his horse, +bade his uncle farewell, and announced his intention of leaving at once. +"What means this haste?" cried Zahir. "I can remain here no longer," +answered Khaled, and, putting his horse to a gallop, he flung himself +into the depths of the wilderness. His mother, after relating to Djaida +the conversation she held with her son, mounted a camel and made her way +towards her own country. + +The soul of Djaida felt keenly this indignity. She brooded over +it--sleepless and without appetite. Some days afterwards, as her father +was preparing with his horsemen to make a foray against his foes, his +glance fell on Djaida, and seeing how altered she was in face, and +dejected in spirit, he refrained from saying anything, thinking and +hoping that she would surely become herself again after a short time. + +Scarcely was Zahir out of sight of his tents, when Djaida, who felt +herself like to die, and whose frame of mind was quite unsupportable, +said to her mother: "Mother, I feel that I am dying, and that this +miserable Khaled is still in the vigor of life. I should like, if God +gives me the power, to make him taste the fury of death, the bitterness +of its pang and torture." So saying, she rose like a lioness, put on her +armor, and mounted her horse, telling her mother she was going on a +hunting expedition. Swiftly, and without stopping, she traversed rocks +and mountains, her excitement increasing as she approached the +dwelling-place of her cousin. As she was disguised, she entered, +unrecognized, into the tent where strangers were received. Her visor +was, however, lowered, like that of a horseman of Hijaz. Slaves and +servants received her, offered her hospitality, comporting themselves +towards her as to one of the guests, and the most noble personages of +the land. That night Djaida took rest; but the following day she joined +the military exercises, challenged many cavaliers, and exhibited so much +address and bravery, that she produced great astonishment among the +spectators. Long before noon the horsemen of her cousin were compelled +to acknowledge her superiority over themselves. Khaled wished to witness +her prowess, and, surprised at the sight of so much skill, he offered to +match himself with her. Djaida entered the contest with him, and then +both of them joining in combat tried, one after another, all the methods +of attack and defence, until the shadows of night came on. When they +separated both were unhurt, and none could say who was the victor. Thus +Djaida, while rousing the admiration of the spectators, saw the +annoyance they felt on finding their chief equalled in fight by so +skilful an opponent. Khaled ordered his antagonist to be treated with +all the care and honor imaginable, then retired to his tent, his mind +filled with thoughts of his conflict. Djaida remained three days at her +cousin's habitation. Every morning she presented herself on the ground +of combat, and remained under arms until night. She enjoyed it greatly, +still keeping her _incognito_, whilst Khaled, on the other hand, +made no enquiries, and asked no questions of her, as to who she was and +to what tribe she might belong. + +On the morning of the fourth day, while Khaled, according to his custom, +rode over the plain, and passed close to the tents reserved for +strangers, he saw Djaida mounting her horse. He saluted her, and she +returned his salute. "Noble Arab," said Khaled, "I should like to ask +you one question. Up to this moment I have failed in courtesy towards +you, but, I now beg of you, in the name of that God who has endowed you +with such great dexterity in arms, tell me, who are you, and to what +noble princes are you allied? For I have never met your equal among +brave cavaliers. Answer me, I beseech you, for I am dying to learn." +Djaida smiled, and raising her visor, replied: "Khaled, I am a woman, +and not a warrior. I am your cousin Djaida, who offered herself to you, +and wished to give herself to you; but you refused her--from the pride +you felt in your passion for arms." As she spoke she turned her horse +suddenly, stuck spurs into him, and dashed off at full gallop towards +her own country. + +Khaled filled with confusion withdrew to his tent, not knowing what to +do, nor what would be the end of the passionate love which he suddenly +felt rise within him. He was seized with disgust for all these warlike +habits and tastes, which had reduced him to the melancholy plight in +which he found himself. His distaste for women was changed into love. He +sent for his mother and related to her all that had occurred. "My son," +she said, "all these circumstances should render Djaida still dearer to +you. Wait patiently a little, until I have been able to go and ask her +of her mother." She straightway mounted her camel, and started through +the desert on the tracks of Djaida, who immediately on her arrival home +had told her mother all that had happened. As soon as the mother of +Khaled had arrived, she flung herself into the arms of her kinswoman and +demanded Djaida in marriage for her son, for Zahir had not yet returned +from his foray. When Djaida heard from her mother the request of Khaled, +she said, "This shall never be, though I be forced to drink the cup of +death. That which occurred at his tents was brought about by me to +quench the fire of my grief and unhappiness, and soothe the anguish of +my heart." + +At these words the mother of Khaled, defeated of her object, went back +to her son, who was tortured by the most cruel anxiety. He rose suddenly +to his feet, for his love had reached the point of desperation, and +asked with inquietude what were the feelings of his cousin. When he +learned the answer of Djaida his distress became overwhelming, for her +refusal only increased his passion. "What is to be done, my mother," he +exclaimed. "I see no way of escaping from this embarrassment," she +replied, "excepting you assemble all your horsemen from among the Arab +sheiks, and from among those with whom you are on friendly terms. Wait +until your uncle returns from the campaign, and then, surrounded by your +followers, go to him, and in the presence of the assembled warriors, +demand of him his daughter in marriage. If he deny that he has a +daughter, tell him all that has happened, and urge him until he gives +way to your demand." This advice, and the plan proposed moderated the +grief of Khaled. As soon as he learned that his uncle had returned home, +he assembled all the chiefs of his family and told his story to them. +All of them were very much astonished, and Madi Kereb. one of the +Khaled's bravest companions, could not help saying: "This is a strange +affair; we have always heard say that your uncle had a son named +Djonder, but now the truth is known. You are certainly the man who has +most right to the daughter of your uncle. It is therefore our best +course to present ourselves in a body and prostrate ourselves before +him, asking him to return to his family and not to give his daughter to +a stranger." Khaled, without hearing any more, took with him a hundred +of his bravest horsemen, being those who had been brought up with +Moharib and Zahir from their childhood, and, having provided themselves +with presents even more costly than those they had taken before, they +started off, and marched on until they came to the tribe of Saad. Khaled +began by complimenting his uncle on his happy return from war, but no +one could be more astonished than Zahir at this second visit, especially +when he saw his nephew accompanied by all the chieftains of his family. +It never for a moment occurred to him that his daughter Djaida had +anything to do with Khaled's return, but thought that his nephew merely +wished to persuade him to return to his native territory. He offered +them every hospitality, provided them with tents and entertained them +magnificently. He ordered camels and sheep to be killed, and gave a +banquet; he furnished his guests with all things needful and proper for +three days. On the fourth day Khaled arose, and after thanking his uncle +for all his attentions, asked him for his daughter in marriage, and +begged him to return to his own land. Zahir denied that he had any child +but his son Djonder, but Khaled told him all that he had learned, and +all that had passed between himself and Djaida. At these words Zahir was +overcome with shame and turned his eyes to the ground. He remained for +some moments plunged in thought, and after reflecting that the affair +must needs proceed from bad to worse, he addressed those present in the +following words: "Kinsmen, I will no longer delay acknowledging this +secret; therefore to end the matter, she shall be married to her cousin +as soon as possible, for, of all the men I know, he is most worthy of +her." He offered his hand to Khaled, who immediately clasped it in +presence of the chiefs who were witnesses to the contract. The dowry was +fixed at five hundred brown black-eyed camels, and a thousand camels +loaded with the choicest products of Yemen. The tribe of Saad, in the +midst of which Zahir had lived, were excluded from all part in this +incident. + +But when Zahir had asked his daughter's consent to this arrangement, +Djaida was overwhelmed with confusion at the course her father had +taken. Since he let his daughter clearly understand that he did not wish +her to remain unmarried, she at last replied: "My father, if my cousin +desires to have me in marriage, I shall not enter into his tent until he +undertakes to slaughter at my wedding a thousand camels, out of those +which belong to Gheshem, son of Malik, surnamed 'The Brandisher of +Spears.'" Kahled agreed to this condition; but the sheiks and the +warriors did not leave Zahir before he had collected all his possessions +for transportation to his own country. No sooner were these preparations +completed than Khaled marched forth at the head of a thousand horsemen, +with whose assistance he subdued the tribe of Aamir. Having thrice +wounded "The Brandisher of Spears," and slain a great number of his +champions, he carried off their goods and brought back from their +country even a richer spoil than Djaida had demanded. Loaded with booty +he returned, and was intoxicated with success. But when he asked that a +day should be fixed for the wedding, Djaida begged him to approach, and +said to him: "If you desire that I become your wife, fulfil first of all +my wishes, and keep the engagement I make with you. This is my demand: I +wish that on the day of my marriage, some nobleman's daughter, a +free-born woman, hold the bridle of my camel; she must be the daughter +of a prince of the highest rank, so that I may be the most honored of +all the daughters of Arabia." Khaled consented, and prepared to carry +out her wishes. That very day he started with his horsemen, and +traversed plains and valleys, searching the land of Ymer, even till he +reached the country of Hijar and the hills of Sand. In this place he +attacked the tribe-family of Moawich, son of Mizal. He burst upon them +like a rain-storm, and cutting a way with his sword through the opposing +horsemen, he took prisoner Amima, daughter of Moawich, at the very +moment when she was betaking herself to flight. + +After having accomplished feats which rendered futile the resistance of +the most experienced heroes, after having scattered all the tribes in +flight, and carried off all the wealth of all the Arabs in that country, +he returned home. But he did not wish to come near his tents until he +had first gathered in all the wealth which he had left at different +points and places in the desert. + +The young maidens marched before him sounding their cymbals and other +instruments of music. All the tribe rejoiced; and when Khaled appeared, +he distributed clothing to the widows and orphans, and invited his +companions and friends to the feast he was preparing for his wedding. +All the Arabs of the country came in a crowd to the marriage. He caused +them to be regaled with abundance of flesh and wine. But while all the +guests abandoned themselves to feasting and pleasure, Khaled, +accompanied by ten slaves, prepared to scour the wild and marshy places +of the land, in order to attack hand to hand in their caverns the lions +and lionesses and their cubs, and bear them slain to the tents, in order +to provide meat for all those who attended the festival. + +Djaida had been informed of this design. She disguised herself in coat +of mail, mounted her horse, and left the tents; as three days of +festivities still remained, she hastily followed Khaled into the desert, +and met him face to face in a cavern. She flung herself upon him with +the impetuosity of a wild beast, and attacked him furiously, crying +aloud, "Arab! dismount from your horse, take off your coat of mail, and +your armor; if you hesitate to do so, I will run this lance through your +heart." Khaled was resolved at once to resist her in this demand. They +engaged in furious combat. The struggle lasted for more than an hour, +when the warrior saw in the eyes of his adversary an expression which +alarmed him. He remounted his horse, and having wheeled round his steed +from the place of combat, exclaimed: "By the faith of an Arab, I adjure +you to tell me what horseman of the desert you are; for I feel that your +attack and the violence of your blows are irresistible. In fact, you +have prevented me from accomplishing that which I had intended, and all +that I had eagerly desired to do." At these words Djaida raised her +visor, thus permitting him to see her face. "Khaled," she cried, "is it +necessary for the girl you love to attack wild beasts, in order that the +daughters of Arabia may learn that this is not the exclusive privilege +of a warrior?" At this cutting rebuke Khaled was overcome with shame. +"By the faith of an Arab," he replied, "no one but you can overcome me; +but is there anyone in this country who has challenged you, or are you +come hither merely to prove to me the extent of your valor?" "By the +faith of an Arab," replied Djaida, "I came into this desert solely for +the purpose of helping you to hunt wild beasts, and in order that your +warriors might not reproach you for choosing me as your wife." At these +words Khaled felt thrilled with surprise and admiration, that such +spirit and resolution should have been exhibited in the conduct of +Djaida. + +Then both of them dismounted from their horses and entered into a +cavern. There Khaled seized two ferocious wild beasts, and Djaida +attacked and carried off a lion and two lionesses. After these exploits +they exchanged congratulations, and Djaida felt happy to be with Khaled. +"Meanwhile," she said, "I shall not permit you to leave our tents until +after our marriage." She immediately left him in haste and betook +herself to her own dwelling. + +Khaled proceeded to rejoin the slaves whom he had left a little way off, +and ordered them to carry to the tents the beasts he had slain. +Trembling with fright at the view of what Khaled had done, they extolled +him with admiration above all other champions of the land. + +The feasts meanwhile went on, and all who came were welcomed with +magnificence. The maidens sounded their cymbals; the slaves waved their +swords in the air, and the young girls sang from morn till evening. It +was in the midst of such rejoicings that Djaida and Khaled were married. +Amima, the daughter of Moawich, held the reins of the young bride's +camel, and men and women alike extolled the glory of Djaida. + + + + +THE ABSIANS AND FAZAREANS + +King Cais, chief of the Absians, distrusting the evil designs of +Hadifah, the chief of the tribe of Fazarah, had sent out his slaves in +every direction to look after Antar. One of these slaves on his return +said to the king: "As for Antar, I have not even heard his name; but as +I passed by the tribe of Tenim, I slept one night in the tents of the +tribe Byah. There I saw a colt of remarkable beauty. He belonged to a +man named Jahir, son of Awef. I have never seen a colt so fine and +swift." This recital made a profound impression upon Cais. And in truth +this young animal was the wonder of the world, and never had a handsomer +horse been reared among the Arabs. He was in all points high-bred and +renowned for race and lineage, for his sire was Ocab and his dam Helweh, +and these were horses regarded by the Arabs as quicker than lightning. +All the tribes admired their points, and the tribe of Byah had become +celebrated above all others, because of the mare and stallion which +pertained to it. + +As for this fine colt, one day, when his sire Ocab had been put out on +pasture, he was being led by the daughter of Jahir along the side of a +lake at noonday, and there he saw the mare Helweh, who was tethered +close to the tent of her master. He immediately began to neigh, and +slipped his halter. The young girl in her embarrassment let him go, and +for modesty took refuge in the tent of a friend. The stallion remained +on the spot until the girl returned. She seized the halter and took him +to the stables. + +But her father discerned the anxiety which she could not conceal. He +questioned her, and she told him what had happened. He became furious +with rage on hearing her story, for he was naturally choleric; he ran +among the tents, flinging off his turban, and crying at the top of his +voice, while all the Arabs crowded round him, "Tribe of Byah, tribe of +Byah! Kinsmen and friends, hear me." Then he related what his daughter +had told him. "I cannot permit," he added, "that the blood of my horse +should be blended with that of Helweh; yet I am not willing to sell him +for the most costly sheep and camels; and if I cannot otherwise prevent +Helweh from bearing a colt to my stallion, I shall be glad if some one +will put the mare to death." "By all means," cried his listeners, "do as +you please, for we can have no objection." Such were the usual terms of +Arabian courtesy. + +Nevertheless, Helweh, in course of time, bore a fine colt, whose birth +brought great joy to her master. He named the young horse Dahir. The +colt waxed in strength and beauty, until he actually excelled his sire +Ocab. His chest was broad, his neck long, his hoofs hard, his nostrils +widely expanded. His tail swept the ground, and he was of the gentlest +temper; in short, he was the most perfect creature ever seen. Being +reared with the greatest care, his shape was perfect as the archway of a +royal palace. When the mare Helweh, followed by her colt, was one day +moving along the shore of a lake, Ocab's owner chanced to see them. He +seized the young horse, and took him home with him, leaving his mother +in grief for his difference. "As for Jahir," he said, "this colt belongs +to me, and I have more right to him than anyone else." + +The news of the colt's disappearance soon reached his owner's ears. He +assembled the chiefs of the tribe, and told them what had happened. They +sent to Jahir, and he was reproached bitterly. "Jahir," they said, "you +have not suffered, yet have done injustice, in that you carried off that +which belonged to another man." "Say no more," answered Jahir, "and +spare me these reproaches, for, by the faith of an Arab, I will not +return the colt, unless compelled by main force. I will declare war +against you first." At that moment the tribe was not prepared for a +quarrel; and several of them said to Jahir: "We are too much attached to +you to push things to such an extreme as that; we are your allies and +kinsmen. We will not fight with you, though an idol of gold were at +stake." Then Kerim, son of Wahrab (the latter being the owner of the +mare and colt, a man renowned among the Arabs for his generosity), +seeing the obstinacy of Jahir, said to him: "Cousin, the colt is +certainly yours, and belongs to you; as for the mare here, accept her as +a present from my hand, so that mother and colt will not be separated, +and no one will ever be able to accuse me of wronging a kinsman." + +The tribe highly applauded this act, and Jahir was so humiliated by the +generosity with which he had been treated, that he returned mare and +colt to Kerim, adding to the gift a pair of male and a pair of female +camels. + +Dahir soon became a horse of absolute perfection in every point, and +when his master Kerim undertook to race him with another horse, he rode +the animal himself, and was in the habit of saying to his antagonist, +"Even should you pass me like an arrow, I could catch you up, and +distance you," and in fact this always happened. + +As soon as King Cais heard tell of this horse, he became beside himself +with longing and mortification, and his sleep left him. He sent to +Kerim, offering to buy the horse for as much gold or silver as the owner +demanded, and adding that the price would be forwarded without delay. +This message enraged Kerim. "Is not this Cais a fool, or a man of no +understanding?" he exclaimed. "Does he think I am a man of traffic--a +horse-dealer, who cannot mount the horses he owns? I swear by the faith +of an Arab that if he had asked for Dahir, as a present, I would have +sent the horse, and a troop of camels besides: but if he thinks of +obtaining him by bidding a price, he will never have him; even were I +bound to drink the cup of death." + +The messenger returned to Cais, and gave him the answer of Kerim, at +which the latter was much annoyed. "Am I a king over the tribes of Abs, +of Adnan, of Fazarah, and of Dibyan," he exclaimed, "and yet a common +Arab dares to oppose me!" He summoned his people and his warriors. +Immediately there was the flash of armor, of coats of mail, and swords +and helmets appeared amid the tents; the champions mounted their steeds, +shook their spears, and marched forth against the tribe of Byah. As soon +as they reached their enemy's territory they overran the pastures, and +gathered an immense booty in cattle, which Cais divided among his +followers. They next made for the tents and surprised the dwellers +there, who were not prepared for such an attack: Kerim being absent with +his warriors on an expedition of the same sort. Cais at the head of the +Absians, pushing his way into the dwellings, carried off the wives and +daughters of his foe. + +As for Dahir, he was tethered to one of the tent-pegs, for Kerim never +used him as a charger, for fear some harm might befall him, or he might +be killed. One of the slaves who had been left in the encampment, and +had been among the first to see the approach of the Absians, went up to +Dahir for the purpose of breaking the line by which he was hobbled. This +he failed to accomplish, but mounting him, and digging his heels into +his flanks, he forced the horse, although he was hobbled, to rush off +prancing like a fawn, until he reached the desert. It was in vain that +the Absians pursued him; they could not even catch up with the trail of +dust that he left behind him. + +As soon as Cais perceived Dahir, he recognized him, and the desire of +possessing him became intensified. He hurried on, but his chagrin was +great, as he perceived that, do what he would, he never could catch up +with him. At last the slave, perceiving that he had quite out-distanced +the Absians, dismounted, untied the feet of Dahir, leapt again into the +saddle, and galloped off. Cais, who had kept up the pursuit, gained +ground during this stop, and coming within ear-shot of the slave, +shouted out, "Stop, Arab, there is no cause for fear; you have my +protection; by the faith of a noble Arab, I swear it." At these words +the slave stopped. "Do you intend to sell that horse?" said King Cais to +him, "for in that case you have the most eager buyer of all the Arabian +tribesmen." "I do not wish to sell him, sire," replied the slave, +"excepting at one price, the restoration of all the booty." "I will buy +him then," the King answered, and he clasped the hand of the Arab as +pledge of the bargain. The slave dismounted from the young horse, and +delivered him over to King Cais, and the latter overjoyed at having his +wish, leapt on to his back, and set out to rejoin the Absians, whom he +commanded to restore all the booty which they had taken. His order was +executed to the letter. King Cais, enchanted at the success of his +enterprise, and at the possession of Dahir, returned home. So great was +his fondness for the horse that he groomed and fed him with his own +hands. Soon as Hadifah, chief of the tribe of Fazarah, heard that Cais +had possession of Dahir, jealousy filled his heart. In concert with +other chiefs he plotted the death of this beautiful horse. + +Now it came to pass that at this time Hadifah gave a great feast, and +Carwash, kinsman of King Cais, was present. At the end of the meal, and +while the wine circulated freely the course of conversation turned to +the most famous chiefs of the time. The subject being exhausted, the +guests began to speak about their most celebrated horses, and next, of +the journeys made by them in the desert. "Kinsmen," said Carwash, "none +of you ever saw a horse like Dahir, which belongs to my ally Cais. It is +vain to seek his equal; his pace is absolutely terrifying. He chases +away sorrow from the heart of him who beholds him, and protects like a +strong tower the man who mounts him." Carwash did not stop here, but +continued to praise, in the highest and most distinguished language, the +horse Dahir, until all of the tribe of Fazarah and of the family of +Zyad, felt their hearts swell with rage. "Do you hear him, brother?" +said Haml to Hadifah; "come, that is enough," he added, turning towards +Carwash. "All that you have said about Dahir is absolute nonsense--for +at present there are no horses better or finer than mine, and those of +my brother." + +With these words he ordered his slaves to bring his horses and parade +them before Carwash. This was done. "Come, Carwash, look at that horse." +"He is not worth the hay you feed him on," said the other. Then those of +Hadifah were led out; among them was a mare, named Ghabra, and a +stallion called Marik. "Now look at these," said Hadifah. "They are not +worth the hay they eat," replied Carwash. Hadifah, filled with +indignation at these words: "What, not even Ghabra?" "Not even Ghabra, +or all the horses in the world," repeated Carwash. "Would you like to +make a bet for us with King Cais?" "Certainly," answered Carwash--"I +will wager that Dahir will beat all the horses of the tribe of Fazarah, +even if he carries a hundred weight of stone on his back." They +discussed the matter for a long time, the one affirming the other +denying the statements, until Hadifah closed the altercation by saying, +"I hold to the wager, on condition that the winner takes from the loser +as many male and female camels as he chooses." "You are going to play me +a nice trick," said Carwash, "and for my part I tell you plainly that I +won't bet more than twenty camels; the man whose horse loses shall pay +this forfeit." The matter was arranged accordingly. They sat at table +until nightfall, and then rested. + +The next day Carwash left his tent at early morn, went to the tribe of +Abs, to find Cais, whom he told about the wager. "You were wrong," said +Cais. "You might have made a bet with anyone excepting Hadifah, who is a +man of tricks and treachery. If you have made the wager, you will have +to declare it off." Cais waited until certain persons who were with him +had retired, then he at once took horse, and repaired to the tribe of +Fazarah, where everybody was taking their morning meal in their tents. +Cais dismounted, took off his arms, and seating himself among them began +to eat with them, like a noble Arab. "Cousin," said Hadifah to him +jokingly, "What large mouthfuls you take; heaven preserve me from having +an appetite like yours." "It is true," said Cais, "that I am dying of +hunger, but by Him who abides always, and will abide forever, I came not +here merely to eat your victuals. My intention is to annul the wager +which was yesterday made between you and my kinsman Carwash, I beg of +you to cancel this bet, for all that is uttered over cups and flagons is +of no serious account, and ought to be forgotten." "I would have you to +know," was the answer, "that I will not withdraw from the challenge, +unless you forfeit the camels which are staked. If you accept this +condition, I shall be perfectly indifferent to everything else. +Nevertheless, if you wish it, I will seize the camels by force, or, if +it be your good pleasure, I will waive every claim, save as a debt of +honor." In spite of all that Cais could say, Hadifah remained firm in +his resolution, and as his brother began to deride Cais, the latter lost +his temper, and with a face blazing with wrath he asked of Hadifah, +"What stake did you offer in your wager with my cousin?" "Twenty +she-camels," said Hadifah. "As for this first wager," answered Cais, "I +cancel it, and propose another one in its stead: I will bet thirty +camels." "And I forty," replied Hadifah, "I make it fifty," was the +retort of Cais. "Sixty," quickly added the other; and they continued +raising the terms of the wager, until the number of camels staked was +one hundred. The contract of the bet was deposited in the hands of a man +named Sabic, son of Wahhab, and in the presence of a crowd of youths and +old men. "What shall be the length of the race?" asked Hadifah of Cais. +"One hundred bow-shots," replied Cais, "and we have an archer here, +Ayas, the son of Mansour, who will measure the ground." Ayas was in fact +the strongest and most accomplished archer then living among the Arabs. +King Cais, by choosing Ayas, wished the course to be made long, knowing +the endurance of his horse, and the longer distance Dahir had to travel, +the more he gained speed, from the increased excitement of his spirit. +"Well now, we had better fix the day for the race," said Cais to +Hadifah. "Forty days will be required," replied Hadifah, "to bring the +horses into condition." "You are right," said Cais, and they agreed that +the horses should be trained for forty days, that the race should take +place by the lake Zatalirsad, and that the horse that first reached the +goal should be declared winner. All these preliminaries having been +arranged, Cais returned to his tents. + +Meanwhile one of the horsemen of the tribe of Fazarah said to his +neighbors: "Kinsmen, you may rest assured that there is going to be a +breach between the tribe of Abs and that of Fazarah, as a result of this +race between Dahir and Ghabra. The two tribes, you must know, will be +mutually estranged, for King Cais has been there in person; now he is a +prince and the son of a prince. He has made every effort to cancel the +bet, but Hadifah would by no means consent. All this is the beginning of +a broil, which may be followed by a war, possibly lasting fifty years, +and many a one will fall in the struggle." + +Hadifah hearing this prediction, said: "I don't trouble myself much +about the matter, and your suggestion seems to me absurd." "O Hadifah," +exclaimed Ayas, "I am going to tell you what will be the result of all +your obstinacy towards Cais." Then he recited some verses, with the +following meaning: "In thee, O Hadifah, there is no beauty; and in the +purity of Cais there is not a single blot. How sincere and honest was +his counsels, although they were lacking in prudence and dignity. Make a +wager with a man who does not possess even an ass, and whose father has +never been rich enough to buy a horse. Let Cais alone; he has wealth, +lands, horses, a proud spirit, and he is the owner of this Dahir, who is +always first on the day of a race, whether he is resting or +running--this Dahir, a steed whose feet even appear through the +obscurity of night like burning brands." "Ayas," replied Hadifah, "do +you think I would break my word? I will take the camels of Cais, and +will not permit my name to be inscribed among the number of those who +have been vanquished. Let things run their course." + +As soon as King Cais had regained his tents he hastened to tell his +slaves to begin the training of his horses, and to pay especial +attention to Dahir. Then he told his kinsmen all that had taken place +between himself and Hadifah. Antar was present at this recital, and as +he took great interest in all that concerned the king, he said, "Cais, +calm your fears, keep your eyes well open, run the race, and have no +fear. For, by the faith of an Arab, if Hadifah makes any trouble or +misunderstanding, I will kill him, as well as the whole tribe of +Fazarah." + +The conversation on this subject continued until they reached the tents, +which Antar declined to enter before seeing Dahir. He walked several +times round this animal, and saw at a glance that the horse actually +possessed qualities which astonished any one who saw him. + +Hadifah quickly learned the return of Antar, and knew that the hero was +encouraging King Cais to run the race. Haml, Hadifah's brother, had also +heard the news, and in the distress which he felt remarked to Hadifah, +"I fear lest Antar should fall upon me, or some one of the family of +Beder, and kill us, and thus render us disgraced. Give up this race, or +we are ruined. Let me go to King Cais, and I will not leave him until he +promises to come to you and cancel the contract." "Do as you please," +answered Hadifah. Thereupon Haml took horse, and went immediately to +King Cais. He found him with his uncle Assyed, a wise and prudent man. +Haml approached Cais, saluted him by kissing his hand, and after saying +that he was the bearer of an important message, added: "Kinsman, you +know that my brother Hadifah is a low fellow, whose mind is full of +intrigues. I have spent the last three days in trying to persuade him to +cancel this wager. At last he has said: 'Very good, if Cais comes to me, +and wishes to be released from the contract, I will annul it; but do not +let any Arab think that I abandon the bet through fear of Antar.' Now +you, Cais, are aware that the greatest proof of attachment between +kinsmen is their willingness to give way to one another. So I am here to +beg that you will come to the dwelling of my brother Hadifah and ask him +to give up the race, before it causes trouble, and the tribe be utterly +driven away from its territories." At this address of Haml, Cais became +flushed with shame, for he was trusting and generous. He at once arose, +and leaving his uncle Assyed in charge of his domestic business, he +accompanied Haml to the land of Fazarah. When they were midway on their +journey Haml began to utter lavish praises of Cais to the latter's face, +and to blame his own brother's faults, in the following terms: "O Cais, +do not let your wrath be stirred up against Hadifah, for he is verily a +man headstrong and unjust in his actions. O Cais, if you persist in +holding to the bet, great disasters will follow. Both you and he are +impulsive and passionate, and this is what causes me to feel anxiety +about you, Cais. Put aside your private feelings, be kind and generous, +and it will come to pass that the oppressor himself will become the +oppressed." + +Haml continued to abuse his brother, and to flatter Cais with +expressions of admiration all the way, until in the evening they arrived +at the tribe of Fazarah. Hadifah, who at the moment was surrounded by +many powerful chiefs, upon whose aid he depended in the hour of need, +had changed his mind since his brother Haml's departure, and in place of +coming to terms and making peace with Cais he had determined to yield in +nothing, but to maintain rigorously the conditions of the coming race. +He was speaking of this very matter with one of the chiefs at the moment +when Cais and Haml presented themselves before him. As soon as Hadifah +saw Cais, he resolved to cover him with shame. Turning therefore to his +brother, he asked: "Who ordered you to go to this man? By the faith of a +noble Arab, even if all the men who cover the surface of the earth were +to come and importune me, saying, 'O Hadifah, give up one hair of these +camels,' I would not yield until a lance had pierced my heart and a +sword stricken the head from my shoulders." Cais crimsoned, and +immediately remounted his horse, bitterly reproaching Haml. He returned +home with the utmost haste, and found his uncle and brothers waiting for +him in extreme anxiety. "O my son!" said his uncle Assyed as soon as he +saw him, "you have had a disastrous journey, for it has caused you to be +disgraced." + +"If Hadifah had not been surrounded by certain chiefs, who gave him +treacherous counsels, I could have arranged the whole affair," answered +Cais. "There is now nothing left but to carry out the race and the bet." + +King Cais did not sleep the whole of that night. On the morrow he +thought of nothing but the training of his horses during the forty days' +interval before the race. All the Arabs of the land agreed to come to +the pastures and see the race, and when the forty days had expired the +horsemen of the two tribes came in a crowd to the banks of lake +Zatalirsud. Next arrived the archer Ayas, who, turning his back to the +lake at the point where the horses were to start, drew his bow as he +walked toward the north a hundred times, and measured out to the goal +the course of a hundred bow-shots. Soon the horsemen of Ghitfan and +Dibyan arrived, for they were of the same territory, and because of +their friendly relations and kinship were comprised as one tribe under +the name of Adnan. King Cais had begged Antar not to show himself on +this occasion, fearing that his appearance might cause dissension. Antar +listened to this advice, but was unable to rest quiet in the tents. The +interest he felt in Cais, and the deep distrust with which the falseness +of the Fazareans--who were always ready for treason--inspired him, +induced him to show himself. Girding on his sword Dhami, and mounting +his famous charger, Abjer, he took with him his brother Shidoub, and +reached the spot fixed upon for the race, in order that he might watch +over the safety of King Zoheir's sons. On his arrival he seemed to excel +all that crowd, like a lion clad in coat of mail. He carried his naked +sword, and his eyes flashed like blazing coals. As soon as he had +reached the middle of the crowd, he cried out with a loud voice, that +struck terror to all hearts: "Hearken, noble Arabian chieftains and men +of renown assembled here--all of you know that I was supported and +favored by King Zoheir, father of King Cais, that I am a slave bound to +him, by his goodness and munificence; that it is he who caused my +parents to acknowledge me, and gave me my rank, making me to be numbered +among Arab chiefs. Although he is no longer living, I wish to show my +gratitude to him, and bring the kings of the land into subjection to +him, even after his death. He has left a son, whom his brothers have +acknowledged, and have set on the throne of his father. This son is +Cais, whom they have thus distinguished, because of his wisdom, +rectitude, and noble heart. I am the slave of Cais, and am his property; +I intend to be the supporter of him whom I love, and the enemy of +whosoever resists him. It shall never be said, as long as I live, that I +have suffered an enemy to affront him. As to the conditions of this +wager, it is our duty to see them observed. The best thing, accordingly, +to do is to let the horses race unobstructed, for victory comes from the +creator of day and night. I make an oath, therefore, by the holy house +at Mecca, by the temple, by the eternal God, who never forgets his +servants and never sleeps, that if Hadifah commits any act of violence, +I will make him drink the cup of vengeance and of death; and will make +the whole tribe of Fazarah the byword of all the world. And you, Arab +chieftains, if you sincerely desire the race to take place, conduct +yourselves with justice and impartiality; otherwise, by the eyes of my +dear Ibla, I will make the horses run the race in blood." "Antar is +right," the horsemen shouted on all sides. + +Hadifah chose, as the rider of Ghabra, a groom of the tribe of Dibyan. +This man had passed all his days and many of his nights in rearing and +tending horses. Cais, on the other hand, chose as rider of Dahir a groom +of the tribe of Abs, much better trained and experienced in his +profession than was the Dibyanian. When the two contestants had mounted +their horses King Cais gave this parting instruction to his groom: "Do +not let the reins hang too loosely in managing Dahir; if you see him +flag, stand up in your stirrups, and press his flanks gently with your +legs. Do not urge him too much, or you will break his spirit." Hadifah +heard this advice and repeated it, word for word, to his rider. + +Antar began to laugh. "By the faith of an Arab," he said to Hadifah, +"you will be beaten. Are words so scarce that you are obliged to use +exactly those of Cais? But as a matter of fact Cais is a king, the son +of a king; he ought always to be imitated by others, and since you have +followed, word by word, his speech, it is a proof that your horse will +follow his in the desert." + +At these words the heart of Hadifah swelled with rage and indignation, +and he swore with an oath that he would not let his horse run that day, +but that he wished the race to take place at sunrise, next morning. This +delay was indispensable to him in preparing the act of perfidy which he +meditated, for he had no sooner seen Dahir than he was speechless with +astonishment at the beauty and perfections of the horse. + +The judges had already dismounted and the horsemen of the various tribes +were preparing to return home, when Shidoub began to cry out with a loud +voice, "Tribes of Abs, of Adnan, of Fazarah and of Dibyan, and all here +present attend to me for an instant, and listen to words which shall be +repeated from generation to generation." All the warriors stood +motionless. "Speak on," they cried, "what is your will? Perhaps there +may be something good in your words." "Illustrious Arabs," continued +Shidoub, "you know what happened in consequence of the match between +Dahir and Ghabra: I assure you on my life that I will outstrip both of +them in running, even were they swifter than the wind. But listen to the +condition I offer; if I am the winner, I am to take the hundred camels +which are at stake; but if I am beaten, I am to forfeit fifty." Upon +this one of the Sheiks of Fazarah exclaimed, "What is that you are +saying, vile slave? Why should you receive a hundred camels if you win +and only forfeit fifty if you lose?" "Do you ask why, ancient mire of a +dunghill," replied Shidoub, "because I have but two legs to run on and a +horse has four, not counting his tail." All the Arabs burst out +laughing; yet as they were astonished at the conditions proposed by +Shidoub, and extremely curious to see him run the race, they agreed that +he should make the hazardous experiment. + +When all had returned to the tents Antar said to Shidoub: "Come, now, +thou son of a cursed mother, how dared thou say that thou couldst +outstrip these two horses, whose race all horsemen of our tribes have +assembled to see, and who all the world admits have no equals in speed, +not even among the birds of the air?" "By him who created the springs in +the rocks and who knows all things," replied Shidoub, "I will outstrip +those two horses, be they fleet as the winds. Yes, and my victory will +have an advantageous result, for when the Arabs hear of it, they will +give up all idea of pursuing me, when I run across the desert." Antar +laughed, for he was in doubt about Shidoub's plan. The latter went to +find King Cais and his brothers, and the other witnesses of the race, +and made oath on his life that he would outstrip the two horses. All +present acknowledged themselves witnesses of the oath, and left the +spot, filled with astonishment at the proposition. + +As for the trickster Hadifah, in the evening he summoned one of his +slaves named Dames, a rascal, if ever there was one. "O Dames," he said, +"you frequently boast of your cunning, but hitherto I have had no +opportunity of putting it to the proof." "My Lord," answered the slave, +"tell me in what way I can be useful to you." "I desire," said Hadifah, +"that you go and post yourself in the great pass. Remain in this place, +and go and hide yourself there in the morning. Watch the horses well, +and see if Dahir is in advance. If he is, show yourself suddenly, strike +him on the head, and cause him to stop, so that Ghabra may outstrip him, +and we may not incur the disgrace of defeat. For I confess that since I +have seen Dahir, his excellent points have made me doubt the superiority +of Ghabra, and I fear my mare will be beaten, and we shall become the +laughing stock of all the Arabs." "But, sir, how shall I distinguish +Dahir from Ghabra when they advance, both of them wrapped in a cloud of +dust?" Hadifah replied, "I am going to give you a sign, and to explain +how the matter may be free from difficulty." As he spoke he picked up +some stones from the ground and said: "Take these stones with you at +sunrise, begin to count them, and throw them to the earth, four at a +time. You must repeat the operation five times, and the last time Ghabra +will arrive. That is the calculation I have made, so that if a cloud of +dust presents itself to you, and some of the stones, a third or a half +of them, still remain in your hand, you may be sure that Dahir has +gained first place, and is before your eyes. You must then hurl a stone +at his head, as I said, and stop his running, so that my mare may gain +the lead." The slave agreed to do so. He provided himself with stones +and went to hide himself at the great pass, and Hadifah felt confident +of gaining the wager. + +At the dawn of day, the Arabs, coming from all quarters, were assembled +on the race ground. The judges gave the signal for the start, and the +two riders uttered loud shouts. The racers started like flashes of +lightning which dazzle the sight and seemed like the wind when, as it +blows, it increases in fury. Ghabra passed ahead of Dahir and distanced +him. "Now you are lost, my brother of the tribe of Abs," cried the +Fazarean groom to the Absian, "try and console yourself for this +defeat." "You lie," retorted the Absian, "and in a few moments you will +see how completely you are mistaken. Wait till we have passed this +uneven ground. Mares always travel faster on rough roads than on smooth +country." And so it happened, for when they arrived in the plain, Dahir +shot forward like a giant, leaving a trail of dust behind him. It seemed +as if he went on wings, not legs; in the twinkling of an eye he had +outstripped Ghabra. "Here," cried the Absian to the Fazarean groom, +"send a messenger from me to the family of Beder, and you yourself drink +the bitter cup of patience behind me." Meanwhile Shidoub, swift as the +north wind, kept ahead of Dahir, bounding like a fawn and running like +an ostrich, until he reached the defile where Dames was hidden. The +slave had only thrown down less than a third of his pebbles, when he +looked up and saw Dahir approaching. + +He waited till the horse passed close by him, and suddenly showed +himself with a shout, and hit the racer violently between the eyes with +a stone. The horse reared, stopped one moment, and the rider was on the +point of being unseated. Shidoub was a witness to the incident, and +having looked at the slave, recognized him as belonging to the +treacherous Hadifah. In the violence of his rage he flung himself upon +Dames, and struck him dead with his sword: then he approached Dahir for +the purpose of speaking soothingly to him, and starting him again on the +race; but, alas, the mare Ghabra rushed up like the wind. Then Shidoub, +fearing defeat, thinking of the camels he would forfeit, set out running +at full speed towards the lake, where he arrived two bow-shots in +advance of the horses. Ghabra followed, then Dahir last, bearing on his +forehead the mark of the missile; his cheeks were covered with blood and +tears. + +All the spectators were astounded on seeing the agility and endurance of +Shidoub; but as soon as Ghabra had reached the finish the Fazareans +uttered loud shouts of joy. Dahir was led home all bleeding, and his +rider told the men of the tribe of Abs what the slave had done. Cais +examined the wound of his horse and asked for full details of the +occurrence. Antar grew crimson with anger, and laid his hand upon his +invincible sword, as if impatient to annihilate the tribe of the +Fazareans. But the sheiks restrained him, although with difficulty, +after which they went to Hadifah to cover him with shame, and to +reproach him with the infamous deed he had done. Hadifah denied it, with +false oaths, affirming that he knew nothing of the blow dealt to Dahir; +then he added, "I demand the camels which are due to me, and I do not +admit the treacherous pretext on which they are being withheld." + +"That blow is doubtless of evil augury for the tribe of Fazarah," said +Cais. "God will certainly give us victory and triumph, and destroy them. +For Hadifah only desired this race to take place in order that it might +cause trouble and discord, and the disturbance which this contest is +sure to excite will stir up one tribe against another, so that there +will be many men killed, and children made orphans." The conversation +which followed among the tribesmen became more and more excited, +confusion followed, shouts rang out on all sides, and drawn swords +flashed. Bloodshed would have resulted had not the sheiks and wise men +dismounted and with bared heads mingled with the crowd, with humble +mien, imploring them, until at last the matter was settled as +harmoniously as possible. It was agreed that Shidoub should receive the +amount of the wager--a hundred camels from the tribe of Fazarah, and +that Hadifah should abandon his claims and refrain from all dispute. +Such were the measures taken to extinguish the hostility and disorder +which threatened to burst out among the tribes. Then the different +families retired to their own dwellings, but the hearts of all were +filled with bitter hatred. One whose resentment seemed keenest was +Hadifah, especially when he learned of the slave Dames's death. As for +Cais, he was also filled with mute rage and intense hatred. Yet Antar +tried to reassure him. "King," he said to him, "do not let your heart be +a prey to mortification; for I swear by the tomb of King Zoheir, your +father, that I will cause disgrace and infamy to fall on Hadifah, and it +is only from regard for you that I have up to this time delayed action." +Soon after all returned to their tents. + +The following morning Shidoub killed twenty of the camels he had won the +day before, and caused the meat to be distributed among the widows and +those who had been wounded and crippled in war. He slaughtered twenty +others, which he used in entertaining the tribe of Abs, including women +and slaves. Finally, the next day, he killed the rest of the camels and +made a great feast near the lake Zatalirsad, to which he invited the +sons of King Zoheir and his noblest chieftains. At the end of this +banquet, when the wine circulated among the guests, all praised the +behavior of Shidoub. But the news of the camel slaughter and of all the +feasting was soon known to the tribe of Fazarah. All the enraged +tribesmen hastened to seek Hadifah. "What," said they, "while we were +first in the race, slaves and traitorous Absians have eaten our camels! +Send for an equal number of camels, by all means; but if he refuses them +let us make a terrible war upon the Absians." + +Hadifah raised his eyes upon his son Abou-Firacah. "Mount horse at +once," he said to him, "and go and say to Cais: my father says that you +must this instant pay the wager, or he will come and seize the amount by +main force, and will bring trouble upon you." There was then present a +chief among the sheiks, who, hearing the order that Hadifah had given to +his son, said: "O Hadifah, are you not ashamed to send such a message to +the tribe of the Absians? Are they not our kindred and allies? Does this +proposal harmonize with the counsel and desire of allaying dissensions? +The genuine man shows gratitude for generosity and kindness. I think it +quite reasonable to expect that you desist from this perverse mood, +which will end in our total extermination. Cais has shown himself quite +impartial and has done wrong to no one; cherish, therefore, peace with +the horsemen of the tribe of Abs. Take warning from what happened to the +slave Dames; he struck Dahir, the horse of King Cais, and God punished +him at once; he is left bathed in his slavish blood. I beg you to listen +to none but wise counsels; act nobly, and abandon base designs. While +you are thus forewarned as to your situation, keep a prudent eye on your +affairs." This discourse rendered Hadifah furious. "Contemptible sheik! +Dog of a traitor!" he exclaimed. "What! Must I be in fear of Cais and +the whole tribe of the Absians? By the faith of an Arab, I will let all +men of honor know that if Cais refuse to send the camels I will not +leave one of his tents standing." The sheik was indignant, and to +increase the fear he would cast into the heart of Hadifah he spoke to +him in verses, to the following effect: "Insult is cowardliness, for it +takes by surprise him who is not expecting it, as the night enwraps +those who wander in the desert. When the sword shall once be drawn look +out for blows. Be just and do not clothe thyself with dishonor. Enquire +of those who know the fate of Themond and his tribe, when they committed +acts of rebellion and tyranny. They will tell you that a command of God +from on high destroyed them in one night, and on the morrow they lay +scattered on the ground, their eyes turned towards the sky." + +Hadifah dissembled his contempt for these verses and the sheik who had +pronounced them, but he ordered his son to go at once to Cais. +Abou-Firacah started for the tribe of Abs, and as soon as he arrived +there repaired to the home of Cais, who was absent. The messenger asked +then for his wife Modelilah, the daughter of Rebia. "What do you desire +of my husband?" she asked. "I demand my due, the prize of the horse +race." "Misfortune take you and that which you demand," she replied. +"Son of Hadifah! Do you not fear the consequences of such perfidy? If +Cais were here he would send you to your death, instantly." Abou-Firacah +returned to his father, to whom he told all that the wife of Cais had +said "What, you coward," shouted Hadifah, "do you come back without +completing your errand? Are you afraid of the daughter of Rebia? Go to +him again." + +As Abou-Firacah reminded his father that it was now near night-fall, the +message was postponed until the next day. As for Cais, when he +re-entered his home, he learned from his wife that Abou-Firacah had come +to ask for the camels. "By the faith of an Arab," he said, "if I had +been here I would have slain him. But the matter is closed; let us think +no more of it." Yet King Cais passed the night in grief and annoyance +until sunrise, at which time he betook himself to his tent Antar came to +see him. Cais rose, and making him take a seat, mentioned the name of +Hadifah. "Would you believe he had the shamelessness to send his son to +demand the camels of me? Ah, if I had been present I would have slain +the messenger." Scarcely had he finished uttering these words when +Abou-Firacah presented himself on horseback. Without dismounting, and +uttering no word of salutation or preface, he said: "Cais, my father +desires that you send him that which is his due; by so doing your +conduct will be that of a generous man; but if you refuse, my father +will come against you, carry off his property by force, and plunge you +into misfortune." + +On hearing these words Cais felt the light change to darkness before his +eyes. "O thou son of a vile coward," he exclaimed "how is it that you +are not more respectful in your address to me?" He seized a javelin and +plunged it into the breast of Abou-Firacah. Pierced through, the young +messenger lost control of his horse.--Antar dragged him down and flung +him on the ground. Then, turning the horse's head away from the +direction of Fazarah, he struck him on the flank with a holly-stick, and +the horse took the road towards the pastures, and finally entered his +stable, all covered with blood. The shepherds at once led him to the +tents, crying out, "Misfortune! Misfortune!" + +Hadifah became furious. He smote upon his breast, repeating the words: +"Tribe of Fazarah, to arms, to arms, to arms!" and all the disaffected +came to Hadifah once more, begging him to declare war on the Absians, +and to take vengeance on them. "Kinsmen!" replied Hadifah, with +alacrity, "let none of us sleep to-night without our armor on." And so +it happened. + +At break of day Hadifah was on horseback; the warriors were ready, and +only women and children and the feeble were left in the tents. Cais, on +the other hand, after slaying Abou-Firacah, expected that the Fazareans +would come and attack himself and his warriors; he therefore prepared +for battle. Antar was charged with taking the necessary reconnoitre. He +left in the tents only women, children, and those too feeble to bear the +sword; then he put himself in command of the heroes of Carad. Nothing +could be more brilliant than the ranks of the Absians in their coats of +mail and gleaming weapons. These preparations caused an anxious moment +for both parties. They marched forth against each other, and the sun had +scarcely appeared, before scimitars flashed, and the whole country was +in a turmoil. + +Antar was impatient to press forward, and satisfy his thirst for battle; +but, lo! Hadifah, dressed in a black robe, advances, his heart broken by +the death of his son. "Son of Zoheir," he cried to Cais, "it is a base +action to slay a child; but it is good to meet in battle, to decide with +these lances which shall predominate, you or me." These words cut Cais +to the quick. Hurried along by passion he left his standard and rushed +against Hadifah. Then the two chiefs, spurred on by mutual hatred, +fought together on their noble chargers, until nightfall. Cais was +mounted on Dahir, and Hadifah on Ghabra. In the course of this combat +the exploits of the past were eclipsed. Each tribe despaired of his +chieftain's safety, and they were eager to make a general attack, in +order to stop the struggle of the chieftains and the fury with which +they contended. Cries began to be heard in the air. Scimitars were +drawn, and lances advanced over the ears of Arabian chargers. Antar +approached certain Absian chiefs and said, "Let us attack the traitors." +He prepared to charge, when the ancients of the two tribes came forth +into the middle of the plain, with heads uncovered, their feet bared, +and their idols hung from their shoulders. Standing between the two +armies they spoke as follows: "Kinsmen and allies, in the name of that +harmony which has hitherto prevailed among us, let us do nothing that +will make us the byword of our slaves. Let us not furnish our enemies +with ground for reproaching us. Let us forget all matter of dispute and +dissension. Let us not turn wives into widows and our children into +orphans. Satisfy your warlike ardor by attacking those among the Arabs +who are your real foes; and you, kinsmen of Fazarah, show yourselves +more humble and less haughty, towards your brethren the Absians. Above +all, forget not that insolent wrong has often caused the destruction of +many tribes, which have had sore reason to regret their impious actions; +in this way many men have been deprived of their possessions, and a vast +number been plunged into the gulf of despair and regret. Expect the +fatal hour of death, the day of dissolution, for it is upon you. You +will be rent asunder by the threatening eagles of destruction, and +enclosed in the dark prison-house of the tomb. Take care, that when your +bodies are separated from life, men may think about you without any +other memory than that of your virtues." + +The sheiks talked together for a long time, and meanwhile the flame of +passion which had been kindled in the soul of the two heroes, Cais and +Hadifah, became quenched. Hadifah withdrew from the fight, and it was +agreed that Cais should pay as the price of Abou-Firacah's blood a +quantity of cattle and a string of camels. The sheiks did not wish even +then to quit the field of battle until Cais and Hadifah embraced each +other and had agreed to all the arrangements. Antar was crimson with +rage. "O King Cais," he exclaimed, "what have you done? What! while our +swords flash in our hands shall the tribe of Fazarah exact a price for +the blood of its dead? And we never be able to obtain retaliation +excepting with our spear points! The blood of our dead is shed, and +shall we not avenge it?" Hadifah was beside himself on hearing these +words. "And you, vile bastard," said Antar to him, "you son of a vile +mother, must your honor be purchased at the expense of our disgrace? But +for the presence of these noble sheiks I would annihilate you and all +your people this very instant." + +Then Hadifah's indignation and anger overleaped all bounds. "By the +faith of an Arab," he said to the sheiks, "I wish to hear no talk of +peace at the moment that the enemy is ready to spear me." "Do not talk +in that way, dear son of my mother," said Haml to his brother. "Do not +dart away on the path of imprudence; abandon these gloomy resolutions. +Remain in peace with the allies of the Absians, for they are shining +stars: the burnished sun that guides all Arabs who love glory. It was +but the other day that you wronged them by causing the horse Dahir to be +wounded, and thus erred from the path of justice. As for your son, he +was justly slain, for you had sent him to demand something that was not +due you. After all, nothing is so proper as to make peace, for he who +would seek and stir up war is a tyrant, and an oppressor. Accept +therefore the compensation offered you, or you are likely to call up +around us a fire which will burn us in the flames of hell." Haml +concluded with verses of the following import: "By the truth of him who +has rooted firm the mountains, without foundations, if you decline to +accept the compensation offered by the Absians, you are in the wrong. +They acknowledge Hadifah as their chief; be a chief in very deed, and be +content with the cattle and camels offered you. Dismount from the horse +of outrage, and mount it not again, for it will carry you to the sea of +grief and calamity. Hadifah, renounce like a generous man, all violence, +but particularly the idea of contending with the Absians. Make of them +and of their leader a powerful rampart against the enemies that may +attack us. Make of them friends that will remain faithful, for they are +men of the noblest intentions. Such are the Absians, and if Cais has +acted unjustly towards you, it is you who first set him the example some +days ago." + +When Haml finished these verses, the chiefs of the different tribes +thanked him, and Hadifah having consented to accept the compensation +offered, all the Arabs renounced violence and war. All who carried arms +remained at home. Cais sent to Hadifah two hundred camels, six +men-slaves, ten women-slaves, and ten horses. Thus peace was +reestablished and every one rested in tranquillity throughout the land. + + + + +SELECTIONS FROM ARABIAN POETRY + +[_Translation by J.D. Carlyle_] + + +INTRODUCTION + +The essential qualities of Arabian poetry appear in the "Romance of +Antar," and the tales of the "Thousand and One Nights." For such a +blending of prose and verse is the favorite form of Arabian literature +in its highest and severest form, even in the drama. But the character +of the people is most clearly shown in the lyrical poems of the Bedouin +country. The pastoral poetry of the peninsula is so local in its +allusions that it cannot adequately be translated into English. It is in +the lyrics that we find that "touch of nature which makes the whole +world kin." The gorgeousness of Hindoo literature, with its lavish +description of jewelry and gold, precious stones and marbles, hideous +demons, and mighty gods, is not to be looked for in Arabia. There the +horizon is clear, and the plain has nothing but human occupants. The +common passions of men are the only powers at work; love, war, sorrow, +and wine, are the subjects of these little songs, some of which might +have been written by "Anacreon" Moore, and others by Catullus. The +influence of Greek poetry is indeed manifest in these light and +sometimes frivolous effusions. The sweetness and grace which distinguish +some are only equalled by the wit of others. For wit is the prevailing +characteristic of Arabian poetry, which is attractive for its +cleverness, its brightness, the alternate smiles and tears which shine +through it, and make the present selections so refreshing and +interesting a revelation of the national heart and intellect. + +I use the word refreshing, because some of the imagery of these lyrics +is new to me, and quite unparalleled in European literature. What can +be more novel, and at the same time more charming than the following +simile, with which a short elegy concludes:-- + + "But though in dust thy relics lie, + Thy virtues, Mano, ne'er shall die; + Though Nile's full stream be seen no more, + That spread his waves from shore to shore, + Still in the verdure of the plain + His vivifying smiles remain." + +The praise of a humble lot has been sung from Háfiz to Horace, but +never illustrated by a prettier conceit than the Arabic poet has +recourse to in this stanza:-- + + "Not always wealth, not always force + A splendid destiny commands; + The lordly vulture gnaws the corse + That rots upon yon barren sands. + + "Nor want nor weakness still conspires + To bind us to a sordid state; + The fly that with a touch expires, + Sips honey from the royal plate." + +This is undoubtedly a very original way of stating the philosophic axiom +of the Augustan poet, + + "The lord of boundless revenues, + Do not salute as happy." + +I have spoken of the wit of these verses, which is certainly one of +their distinguishing qualities. It is quite Attic in its flavor and +exquisitely delicate in its combined good-humor and freedom from rancor. +An epigram, according to the old definition, should be like a bee; it +should carry the sweetness of honey, although it bears a sting at the +end. Sometimes the end has a point which does not sting, as in the +following quatrain of an Arabic poet:-- + + "When I sent you my melons, you cried out with scorn, + They ought to be heavy and wrinkled and yellow; + When I offered myself, whom those graces adorn, + You flouted, and called me an ugly old fellow." + +Martial himself could not have excelled the wit of an epigram addressed +to a very little man who wore a very big beard, which thus concludes:-- + + "Surely thou cherishest thy beard + In hope to hide thyself behind it." + +To study a literature like that of the Arabians, even partially and in a +translation, is one of those experiences which enlarge and stimulate the +mind and expand its range of impressions with a distinctly elevating and +liberalizing effect. It has the result of genuine education, in that it +increases our capacity for sympathy for other peoples, making us better +acquainted with the language in which they reveal that common human +heart which they share with us. + +E.W. + + + + +AN ELEGY[1] + + Those dear abodes which once contain'd the fair, + Amidst Mitata's wilds I seek in vain, + Nor towers, nor tents, nor cottages are there, + But scatter'd ruins and a silent plain. + + The proud canals that once Rayana grac'd, + Their course neglected and their waters gone, + Among the level'd sands are dimly trac'd, + Like moss-grown letters on a mouldering stone. + + Rayana say, how many a tedious year + Its hallow'd circle o'er our heads hath roll'd, + Since to my vows thy tender maids gave ear, + And fondly listened to the tale I told? + + How oft, since then, the star of spring, that pours + A never-failing stream, hath drenched thy head? + How oft, the summer cloud in copious showers + Or gentle drops its genial influence shed? + + How oft since then, the hovering mist of morn + Hath caus'd thy locks with glittering gems to glow? + How oft hath eve her dewy treasures borne + To fall responsive to the breeze below? + + The matted thistles, bending to the gale, + Now clothe those meadows once with verdure gay; + Amidst the windings of that lonely vale + The teeming antelope and ostrich stray. + + The large-eyed mother of the herd that flies + Man's noisy haunts, here finds a sure retreat, + Here watches o'er her young, till age supplies + Strength to their limbs and swiftness to their feet. + + Save where the swelling stream hath swept those walls + And giv'n their deep foundations to the light + (As the retouching pencil that recalls + A long-lost picture to the raptur'd sight). + + Save where the rains have wash'd the gathered sand + And bared the scanty fragments to our view, + (As the dust sprinkled on a punctur'd hand + Bids the faint tints resume their azure hue). + + No mossy record of those once lov'd seats + Points out the mansion to inquiring eyes; + No tottering wall, in echoing sounds, repeats + Our mournful questions and our bursting sighs. + + Yet, midst those ruin'd heaps, that naked plain, + Can faithful memory former scenes restore, + Recall the busy throng, the jocund train, + And picture all that charm'd us there before. + + Ne'e shall my heart the fatal morn forget + That bore the fair ones from these seats so dear-- + I see, I see the crowding litters yet, + And yet the tent-poles rattle in my ear. + + I see the maids with timid steps descend, + The streamers wave in all their painted pride, + The floating curtains every fold extend, + And vainly strive the charms within to hide. + + What graceful forms those envious folds enclose! + What melting glances thro' those curtains play! + Sure Weira's antelopes, or Tudah's roes + Thro' yonder veils their sportive young survey! + + The band mov'd on--to trace their steps I strove, + I saw them urge the camel's hastening flight, + Till the white vapor, like a rising grove, + Snatch'd them forever from my aching sight. + + Nor since that morn have I Nawara seen, + The bands are burst which held us once so fast, + Memory but tells me that such things have been, + And sad Reflection adds, that they are past. + +_Lebid Ben Rabiat Alamary_. + + [1] The author of this poem was a native of Yemen. He was contemporary + with Mohammed and was already celebrated as a poet when the prophet + began to promulgate his doctrines. Lebid embraced Islamism and was + one of the most aggressive helpers in its establishment. He fixed + his abode in the city of Cufa, where he died at a very advanced age. + This elegy, as is evident, was written previous to Lebid's conversion + to Islamism. Its subject is one that must be ever interesting to + the feeling mind--the return of a person after a long absence to + the place of his birth--in fact it is the Arabian "Deserted Village." + + +THE TOMB OF MANO + + Friends of my heart, who share my sighs! + Go seek the turf where Mano lies, + And woo the dewy clouds of spring, + To sweep it with prolific wing. + + Within that cell, beneath that heap, + Friendship and Truth and Honor sleep, + Beneficence, that used to clasp + The world within her ample grasp. + + There rests entomb'd--of thought bereft-- + For were one conscious atom left + New bliss, new kindness to display, + 'Twould burst the grave, and seek the day. + + But tho' in dust thy relics lie, + Thy virtues, Mano, ne'er shall die; + Tho' Nile's full stream be seen no more, + That spread his waves from shore to shore, + Still in the verdure of the plain + His vivifying smiles remain. + +_Hassan Alasady_. + + +TOMB OF SAYID[2] + + Blest are the tenants of the tomb! + With envy I their lot survey! + For Sayid shares the solemn gloom, + And mingles with their mouldering clay. + + Dear youth! I'm doom'd thy loss to mourn + When gathering ills around combine; + And whither now shall Malec turn, + Where look for any help but thine? + + At this dread moment when the foe + My life with rage insatiate seeks, + In vain I strive to ward the blow, + My buckler falls, my sabre breaks. + + Upon thy grassy tomb I knelt, + And sought from pain a short relief-- + Th' attempt was vain--I only felt + Intenser pangs and livelier grief. + + The bud of woe no more represt, + Fed by the tears that drench'd it there, + Shot forth and fill'd my laboring breast + Soon to expand and shed despair. + + But tho' of Sayid I'm bereft, + From whom the stream of bounty came, + Sayid a nobler meed has left-- + Th' exhaustless heritage of fame. + + Tho' mute the lips on which I hung, + Their silence speaks more loud to me + Than any voice from mortal tongue, + "What Sayid was let Malec be." + +_Abd Almalec Alharithy_. + + [2] Abd Almalec was a native of Arabia Felix. The exact period when + he flourished is unknown, but as this production is taken from the + Hamasa it is most probable that he was anterior to Mohammedanism. + + +THE DEATH OF HIS MISTRESS[3] + + Dost thou wonder that I flew + Charm'd to meet my Leila's view? + Dost thou wonder that I hung + Raptur'd on my Leila's tongue? + If her ghost's funereal screech + Thro' the earth my grave should reach, + On that voice I lov'd so well + My transported ghost would dwell:-- + If in death I can descry + Where my Leila's relics lie, + Saher's dust will flee away, + There to join his Leila's clay. + +_Abu Saher Alhedily_. + + [3] The sentiment contained in this production determines its + antiquity. It was the opinion of the Pagan Arabs that upon the + death of any person a bird, by them called Manah, issued from his + brain, which haunted the sepulchre of the deceased, uttering a + lamentable scream. + + +ON AVARICE[4] + + How frail are riches and their joys? + Morn builds the heap which eve destroys; + Yet can they have one sure delight-- + The thought that we've employed them right. + + What bliss can wealth afford to me + When life's last solemn hour I see, + When Mavia's sympathizing sighs + Will but augment my agonies? + + Can hoarded gold dispel the gloom + That death must shed around his tomb? + Or cheer the ghost which hovers there, + And fills with shrieks the desert air? + + What boots it, Mavia, in the grave, + Whether I lov'd to waste or save? + The hand that millions now can grasp, + In death no more than mine shall clasp. + + Were I ambitious to behold + Increasing stores of treasured gold, + Each tribe that roves the desert knows + I might be wealthy if I chose:-- + + But other joys can gold impart, + Far other wishes warm my heart-- + Ne'er may I strive to swell the heap, + Till want and woe have ceas'd to weep. + + With brow unalter'd I can see + The hour of wealth or poverty: + I've drunk from both the cups of fate, + Nor this could sink, nor that elate. + + With fortune blest, I ne'er was found + To look with scorn on those around; + Nor for the loss of paltry ore, + Shall Hatem seem to Hatem poor. + +_Hatem Tai_. + + [4] Hatem Tai was an Arabian chief, who lived a short time prior to + the promulgation of Mohammedanism. He has been so much celebrated + through the East for his generosity that even to this day the + greatest encomium which can be given to a generous man is to say + that he is as liberal as Hatem. Hatem was also a poet; but his + talents were principally exerted in recommending his favorite + virtue. + + +THE BATTLE OF SABLA[5] + + Sabla, them saw'st th' exulting foe + In fancied triumphs crown'd; + Thou heard'st their frantic females throw + These galling taunts around:-- + + "Make now your choice--the terms we give, + Desponding victims, hear; + These fetters on your hands receive, + Or in your hearts the spear." + + "And is the conflict o'er," we cried, + "And lie we at your feet? + And dare you vauntingly decide + The fortune we must meet? + + "A brighter day we soon shall see, + Tho' now the prospect lowers, + And conquest, peace, and liberty + Shall gild our future hours." + + The foe advanc'd:--in firm array + We rush'd o'er Sabla's sands, + And the red sabre mark'd our way + Amidst their yielding bands. + + Then, as they writh'd in death's cold grasp, + We cried, "Our choice is made, + These hands the sabre's hilt shall clasp, + Your hearts shall have the blade." + +_Jaafer Ben Alba_. + + [5] This poem and the one following it are both taken from the Hamasa + and afford curious instances of the animosity which prevailed + amongst the several Arabian clans, and of the rancor with which + they pursued each other, when once at variance. + + +VERSES TO MY ENEMIES + + Why thus to passion give the rein? + Why seek your kindred tribe to wrong? + Why strive to drag to light again + The fatal feud entomb'd so long? + + Think not, if fury ye display, + But equal fury we can deal; + Hope not, if wrong'd, but we repay + Revenge for every wrong we feel. + + Why thus to passion give the rein? + Why seek the robe of peace to tear? + Rash youths desist, your course restrain, + Or dread the wrath ye blindly dare. + + Yet friendship we not ask from foes, + Nor favor hope from you to prove, + We lov'd you not, great Allah knows, + Nor blam'd you that ye could not love. + + To each are different feelings given, + This slights, and that regards his brother; + 'Tis ours to live--thanks to kind heav'n-- + Hating and hated by each other. + +_Alfadhel Ibn Alabas_. + + +ON HIS FRIENDS[6] + + With conscious pride I view the band + Of faithful friends that round me stand, + With pride exult that I alone + Can join these scatter'd gems in one:-- + For they're a wreath of pearls, and I + The silken cord on which they lie. + + 'Tis mine their inmost souls to see, + Unlock'd is every heart to me, + To me they cling, on me they rest, + And I've a place in every breast:-- + For they're a wreath of pearls, and I + The silken cord on which they lie. + +_Meskin Aldaramy_. + + [6] These lines are also from the Hamasa. + + +ON TEMPER[7] + + Yes, Leila, I swore by the fire of thine eyes, + I ne'er could a sweetness unvaried endure; + The bubbles of spirit, that sparkling arise, + Forbid life to stagnate and render it pure. + + But yet, my dear maid, tho' thy spirit's my pride, + I'd wish for some sweetness to temper the bowl; + If life be ne'er suffer'd to rest or subside, + It may not be flat, but I fear 'twill be foul. + +_Nabegat Beni Jaid_. + + [7] There have been several Arabian poets of the name of Nabegat. The + author of these verses was descended from the family of Jaid. As + he died in the fortieth year of the Hegira, aged one hundred and + twenty, he must have been fourscore at the promulgation of Islamism; + he, however, declared himself an early convert to the new faith. + + +THE SONG OF MAISUNA[8] + + The russet suit of camel's hair, + With spirits light, and eye serene, + Is dearer to my bosom far + Than all the trappings of a queen. + + The humble tent and murmuring breeze + That whistles thro' its fluttering wall, + My unaspiring fancy please + Better than towers and splendid halls. + + Th' attendant colts that bounding fly + And frolic by the litter's side, + Are dearer in Maisuna's eye + Than gorgeous mules in all their pride. + + The watch-dog's voice that bays whene'er + A stranger seeks his master's cot, + Sounds sweeter in Maisuna's ear + Than yonder trumpet's long-drawn note. + + The rustic youth unspoilt by art, + Son of my kindred, poor but free, + Will ever to Maisuna's heart + Be dearer, pamper'd fool, than thee. + + [8] Maisuma was a daughter of the tribe of Calab; a tribe, according + to Abulfeda, remarkable both for the purity of dialect spoken in + it, and for the number of poets it had produced. She was married, + whilst very young, to the Caliph Mowiah. But this exalted situation + by no means suited the disposition of Maisuna, and amidst all the + pomp and splendor of Damascus, she languished for the simple + pleasures of her native desert. + + +TO MY FATHER[9] + + Must then my failings from the shaft + Of anger ne'er escape? + And dost thou storm because I've quaff'd + The water of the grape? + + That I can thus from wine be driv'n + Thou surely ne'er canst think-- + Another reason thou hast giv'n + Why I resolve to drink. + + 'Twas sweet the flowing cup to seize, + 'Tis sweet thy rage to see; + And first I drink myself to please; + And next--to anger thee. + +_Yezid_. + + [9] Yezid succeeded Mowiah in the Caliphate A.H. 60; and in most + respects showed himself to be of a very different disposition from + his predecessor. He was naturally cruel, avaricious, and debauched; + but instead of concealing his vices from the eyes of his subjects, + he seemed to make a parade of those actions which he knew no good + Mussulman could look upon without horror; he drank wine in public, + he caressed his dogs, and was waited upon by his eunuchs in sight + of the whole court. + + +ON FATALISM[10] + + Not always wealth, not always force + A splendid destiny commands; + The lordly vulture gnaws the corse + That rots upon yon barren sands. + + Nor want, nor weakness still conspires + To bind us to a sordid state; + The fly that with a touch expires + Sips honey from the royal plate. + +_Imam Shafay Mohammed Ben Idris_. + +[10] Shafay, the founder of one of the four orthodox sects into + which the Mohammedans are divided, was a disciple of Malek Ben + Ans, and master to Ahmed Ebn Hanbal; each of whom, like himself, + founded a sect which is still denominated from the name of its + author. The fourth sect is that of Abou Hanifah. This differs + in tenets considerably from the three others, for whilst the + Malekites, the Shafaites, and the Hanbalites are invariably + bigoted to tradition in their interpretations of the Koran, the + Hanifites consider themselves as at liberty in any difficulty to + make use of their own reason. + + +TO THE CALIPH HARUN-AL-RASHID[11] + + Religion's gems can ne'er adorn + The flimsy robe by pleasure worn; + Its feeble texture soon would tear, + And give those jewels to the air. + + Thrice happy they who seek th' abode + Of peace and pleasure, in their God! + Who spurn the world, its joys despise, + And grasp at bliss beyond the skies. + +_Ibrahim Ben Adham_. + +[11] The author of this poem was a hermit of Syria, equally celebrated + for his talents and piety. He was son to a prince of Khorasan, and + born about the ninety-seventh year of the Hegira. This poem was + addressed to the Caliph upon his undertaking a pilgrimage to Mecca. + + +LINES TO HARUN AND YAHIA[12] + + Th' affrighted sun ere while he fled, + And hid his radiant face in night; + A cheerless gloom the world overspread-- + But Harun came, and all was bright. + + Again the sun shoots forth his rays, + Nature is deck'd in beauty's robe-- + For mighty Harun's sceptre sways, + And Yahia's arm sustains the globe. + +_Isaac Almousely_. + +[12] Isaac Almousely is considered by the Orientals as the most + celebrated musician that ever flourished in the world. He was born + in Persia, but having resided almost entirely at Mousel, he is + generally supposed to have been a native of that place. + + +THE RUIN OF BARMECIDES[13] + + No, Barmec! Time hath never shown + So sad a change of wayward fate; + Nor sorrowing mortals ever known + A grief so true, a loss so great. + + Spouse of the world! Thy soothing breast + Did balm to every woe afford; + And now no more by thee caress'd, + The widow'd world bewails her Lord. + +[13] The family of Barmec was one of the most illustrious in the + East. They were descended from the ancient kings of Persia, and + possessed immense property in various countries; they derived still + more consequence from the favor which they enjoyed at the court of + Bagdad, where, for many years, they filled the highest offices of + the state with universal approbation. + + +TO TAHER BEN HOSIEN[14] + + A pair of right hands and a single dim eye + Must form not a man, but a monster, they cry:-- + Change a hand to an eye, good Taher, if you can, + And a monster perhaps may be chang'd to man. + +[14] Taher Ben Hosien was ambidexter and one-eyed and, strange to say, + the most celebrated general of his time. + + +THE ADIEU[15] + + The boatmen shout, "Tis time to part, + No longer we can stay"-- + 'Twas then Maimnna taught my heart + How much a glance could say. + + With trembling steps to me she came; + "Farewell," she would have cried, + But ere her lips the word could frame + In half-form'd sounds it died. + + Then bending down with looks of love, + Her arms she round me flung, + And, as the gale hangs on the grove, + Upon my breast she hung. + + My willing arms embraced the maid, + My heart with raptures beat; + While she but wept the more and said, + "Would we had never met!" + +_Abou Mohammed_. + +[15] This was sung before the Caliph Wathek, by Abou Mohammed, a + musician of Bagdad, as a specimen of his musical talents; and such + were its effects upon the Caliph, that he immediately testified his + approbation of the performance by throwing his own robe over the + shoulders of Abou Mohammed, and ordering him a present of an hundred + thousand dirhems. + + +TO MY MISTRESS[16] + + Ungenerous and mistaken maid, + To scorn me thus because I'm poor! + Canst thou a liberal hand upbraid + For dealing round some worthless ore? + + To spare's the wish of little souls, + The great but gather to bestow; + Yon current down the mountain rolls, + And stagnates in the swamp below. + +_Abou Teman Habib_. + +[16] Abou Teman is considered the most excellent of all the Arabian + poets. He was born near Damascus A.H. 190, and educated in Egypt; + but the principal part of his life was spent at Bagdad, under the + patronage of the Abasside Caliphs. + + +TO A FEMALE CUP-BEARER[17] + + Come, Leila, fill the goblet up, + Reach round the rosy wine, + Think not that we will take the cup + From any hand but thine. + + A draught like this 'twere vain to seek, + No grape can such supply; + It steals its tint from Leila's cheek, + Its brightness from her eye. + +_Abd Alsalam Ben Ragban_. + +[17] Abd Alsalam was a poet more remarkable for abilities than morality. + We may form an idea of the nature of his compositions from the + nickname he acquired amongst his contemporaries of Cock of the + Evil Genii. He died in the 236th year of the Hegira, aged near + eighty. + + +MASHDUD ON THE MONKS OF KHABBET[18] + + Tenants of yon hallow'd fane! + Let me your devotions share, + There increasing raptures reign-- + None are ever sober there. + + Crowded gardens, festive bowers + Ne'er shall claim a thought of mine; + You can give in Khabbet's towers-- + Purer joys and brighter wine. + + Tho' your pallid faces prove + How you nightly vigils keep, + 'Tis but that you ever love + Flowing goblets more than sleep. + + Tho' your eye-balls dim and sunk + Stream in penitential guise, + 'Tis but that the wine you've drunk + Bubbles over from your eyes. + +[18] The three following songs were written by Mashdud, Rakeek, and + Rais, three of the most celebrated improvisators in Bagdad, at an + entertainment given by Abou Isy. + + +RAKEEK TO HIS FEMALE COMPANIONS + + Tho' the peevish tongues upbraid, + Tho' the brows of wisdom scowl, + Fair ones here on roses laid, + Careless will we quaff the bowl. + + Let the cup, with nectar crown'd, + Thro' the grove its beams display, + It can shed a lustre round, + Brighter than the torch of day. + + Let it pass from hand to hand, + Circling still with ceaseless flight, + Till the streaks of gray expand + O'er the fleeting robe of night. + + As night flits, she does but cry, + "Seize the moments that remain"-- + Thus our joys with yours shall vie, + Tenants of yon hallow'd fane! + + +DIALOGUE BY RAIS + + _Rais_: + + Maid of sorrow, tell us why + Sad and drooping hangs thy head? + Is it grief that bids thee sigh? + Is it sleep that flies thy bed? + + _Lady_: + + Ah! I mourn no fancied wound, + Pangs too true this heart have wrung, + Since the snakes which curl around + Selim's brows my bosom stung. + + Destin'd now to keener woes, + I must see the youth depart, + He must go, and as he goes + Rend at once my bursting heart. + + Slumber may desert my bed, + Tis not slumber's charms I seek-- + 'Tis the robe of beauty spread + O'er my Selim's rosy cheek. + + +TO A LADY WEEPING[19] + + When I beheld thy blue eyes shine + Thro' the bright drop that pity drew, + I saw beneath those tears of thine + A blue-ey'd violet bath'd in dew. + + The violet ever scents the gale, + Its hues adorn the fairest wreath, + But sweetest thro' a dewy veil + Its colors glow, its odors breathe. + + And thus thy charms in brightness rise-- + When wit and pleasure round thee play, + When mirth sits smiling in thine eyes, + Who but admires their sprightly ray? + But when thro' pity's flood they gleam, + Who but must love their soften'd beam? + +_Ebn Alrumi_. + +[19] Ebn Alrumi is reckoned by the Arabian writers as one of the most + excellent of all their poets. He was by birth a Syrian, and passed + the greatest part of his time at Emessa, where he died A.H. 283. + + +ON A VALETUDINARIAN + + So careful is Isa, and anxious to last, + So afraid of himself is he grown, + He swears thro' two nostrils the breath goes too fast, + And he's trying to breathe thro' but one. + +_Ebn Alrumi_. + + +ON A MISER + + "Hang her, a thoughtless, wasteful fool, + She scatters corn where'er she goes"-- + Quoth Hassan, angry at his mule, + That dropt a dinner to the crows. + +_Ebn Alrumi_. + + +TO CASSIM OBIO ALLAH[20] + + Poor Cassim! thou art doom'd to mourn + By destiny's decree; + Whatever happens it must turn + To misery for thee. + + Two sons hadst thou, the one thy pride, + The other was thy pest; + Ah, why did cruel death decide + To snatch away the best? + + No wonder thou shouldst droop with woe, + Of such a child bereft; + But now thy tears must doubly flow, + For, ah! the other's left. + +_Aly Ben Ahmed Ben Mansour_. + +[20] Aly Ben Ahmed distinguished himself in prose as well as poetry, + and an historical work of considerable reputation, of which he was + the author, is still extant. But he principally excelled in satire, + and so fond was he of indulging this dangerous talent that no one + escaped his lash; if he could only bring out a sarcasm, it was + matter of indifference to him whether an enemy or a brother smarted + under its severity. He died at Bagdad A.H. 302. + + +A FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY[21] + + When born, in tears we saw thee drown'd, + While thine assembled friends around, + With smiles their joy confest; + So live, that at thy parting hour, + They may the flood of sorrow pour, + And thou in smiles be drest! + +[21] The thought contained in these lines, appears so natural and so + obvious, that one wonders it did not occur to all who have attempted + to write upon a birthday or a death. + + +TO A CAT + + Poor Puss is gone! 'Tis fate's decree-- + Yet I must still her loss deplore, + For dearer than a child was she, + And ne'er shall I behold her more. + + With many a sad presaging tear + This morn I saw her steal away, + While she went on without a fear + Except that she should miss her prey. + + I saw her to the dove-house climb, + With cautious feet and slow she stept + Resolv'd to balance loss of time + By eating faster than she crept. + + Her subtle foes were on the watch, + And mark'd her course, with fury fraught, + And while she hoped the birds to catch, + An arrow's point the huntress caught. + + In fancy she had got them all, + And drunk their blood and suck'd their breath; + Alas! she only got a fall, + And only drank the draught of death. + + Why, why was pigeons' flesh so nice, + That thoughtless cats should love it thus? + Hadst thou but liv'd on rats and mice, + Thou hadst been living still, poor Puss. + + Curst be the taste, howe'er refined, + That prompts us for such joys to wish, + And curst the dainty where we find + Destruction lurking in the dish. + +_Ibn Alalaf Alnaharwany_. + + +AN EPIGRAM UPON EBN NAPHTA-WAH[22] + + By the former with ruin and death we are curst, + In the latter we grieve for the ills of the first; + And as for the whole, where together they meet, + It's a drunkard, a liar, a thief, and a cheat. + +_Mohammed Ben Zeid Almotakalam_. + +[22] Mohammed Ben Arfa, here called Naphta-Wah, was descended from a + noble family in Khorasan. He applied himself to study with + indefatigable perseverance, and was a very voluminous author in + several branches of literature, but he is chiefly distinguished as + a grammarian. He died in the year of the Hegira 323. + + +FIRE[23] + +_A Riddle_. + + The loftiest cedars I can eat, + Yet neither paunch nor mouth have I, + I storm whene'er you give me meat, + Whene'er you give me drink, I die. + +[23] This composition seems a fit supplement to the preceding one; + notwithstanding its absurdity, however. It is inserted merely to + show that this mode of trifling was not unknown to the Orientals. + It is taken from the Mostatraf, where a great number of similar + productions on various subjects are preserved. + + +TO A LADY BLUSHING[24] + + Leila, whene'er I gaze on thee + My altered cheek turns pale, + While upon thine, sweet maid, I see + A deep'ning blush prevail. + + Leila, shall I the cause impart + Why such a change takes place? + The crimson stream deserts my heart, + To mantle on thy face. + +_The Caliph Radhi Billah_. + +[24] Radhi Billah, son to Moctader, was the twentieth Caliph of the + house of Abbas, and the last of these princes who possessed any + substantial power. + + +ON THE VICISSITUDES OF LIFE + + Mortal joys, however pure, + Soon their turbid source betray; + Mortal bliss, however sure, + Soon must totter and decay. + + Ye who now, with footsteps keen, + Range through hope's delusive field, + Tell us what the smiling scene + To your ardent grasp can yield? + + Other youths have oft before + Deem'd their joys would never fade, + Till themselves were seen no more + Swept into oblivion's shade. + + Who, with health and pleasure gay, + E'er his fragile state could know, + Were not age and pain to say + Man is but the child of woe? + +_The Caliph Radhi Billah_. + + +TO A DOVE + + The Dove to ease an aching breast, + In piteous murmurs vents her cares; + Like me she sorrows, for opprest, + Like me, a load of grief she bears. + + Her plaints are heard in every wood, + While I would fain conceal my woes; + But vain's my wish, the briny flood, + The more I strive, the faster flows. + + Sure, gentle Bird, my drooping heart + Divides the pangs of love with thine, + And plaintive murm'rings are thy part, + And silent grief and tears are mine. + +_Serage Alwarak_. + + +ON A THUNDER STORM + + Bright smil'd the morn, till o'er its head + The clouds in thicken'd foldings spread + A robe of sable hue; + Then, gathering round day's golden king, + They stretch'd their wide o'ershadowing wing, + And hid him from our view. + + The rain his absent beams deplor'd, + And, soften'd into weeping, pour'd + Its tears in many a flood; + The lightning laughed with horrid glare; + The thunder growl'd, in rage; the air + In silent sorrow stood. + +_Ibrahim Ben Khiret Abou Isaac_. + + +TO MY FAVORITE MISTRESS + + I saw their jealous eyeballs roll, + I saw them mark each glance of mine, + I saw thy terrors, and my soul + Shar'd ev'ry pang that tortur'd thine. + + In vain to wean my constant heart, + Or quench my glowing flame, they strove; + Each deep-laid scheme, each envious art, + But wak'd my fears for her I love. + + 'Twas this compelled the stern decree, + That forc'd thee to those distant towers, + And left me nought but love for thee, + To cheer my solitary hours. + + Yet let not Abla sink deprest, + Nor separation's pangs deplore; + We meet not--'tis to meet more blest; + We parted--'tis to part no more. + +_Saif Addaulet, Sultan of Aleppe_. + + +CRUCIFIXION OF EBN BAKIAH[25] + + Whatever thy fate, in life and death, + Thou'rt doom'd above us still to rise, + Whilst at a distance far beneath + We view thee with admiring eyes. + + The gazing crowds still round thee throng, + Still to thy well-known voice repair, + As when erewhile thy hallow'd tongue + Pour'd in the Mosque the solemn prayer. + + Still, generous Vizir, we survey + Thine arms extended o'er our head, + As lately, in the festive day, + When they were stretch'd thy gifts to shed. + + Earth's narrow boundaries strove in vain + To limit thy aspiring mind, + And now we see thy dust disdain + Within her breast to be confin'd. + + The earth's too small for one so great, + Another mansion thou shalt have-- + The clouds shall be thy winding sheet, + The spacious vault of heaven thy grave. + +_Abou Hassan Alanbary_. + +[25] Ebn Bakiah was vizir to Azzad Addaulet or Bachteir, Emir Alomra + of Bagdad, under the Caliphs Moti Lillah and Tay Lillah; but Azzad + Addaulet being deprived of his office, and driven from Bagdad by + Adhed Addaulet, Sultan of Persia, Ebn Bakiah was seized and + crucified at the gates of the city, by order of the conqueror. + + +CAPRICES OF FORTUNE[26] + + Why should I blush that Fortune's frown + Dooms me life's humble paths to tread? + To live unheeded, and unknown? + To sink forgotten to the dead? + + 'Tis not the good, the wise, the brave, + That surest shine, or highest rise; + The feather sports upon the wave, + The pearl in ocean's cavern lies. + + Each lesser star that studs the sphere + Sparkles with undiminish'd light: + Dark and eclips'd alone appear + The lord of day, the queen of night. + +_Shems Almaali Cabus_. + +[26] History can show few princes so amiable and few so unfortunate + as Shems Almaali Cabus. He is described as possessed of almost every + virtue and every accomplishment: his piety, justice, generosity, and + humanity, are universally celebrated; nor was he less conspicuous + for intellectual powers; his genius was at once penetrating, solid, + and brilliant, and he distinguished himself equally as an orator, a + philosopher, and a poet. + + +ON LIFE + + Like sheep, we're doom'd to travel o'er + The fated track to all assign'd, + These follow those that went before, + And leave the world to those behind. + + As the flock seeks the pasturing shade, + Man presses to the future day, + While death, amidst the tufted glade, + Like the dun robber,[A] waits his prey. + +[A] The wolf. + + +EXTEMPORE VERSES[27] + + Lowering as Barkaidy's face + The wintry night came in, + Cold as the music of his bass, + And lengthen'd as his chin. + + Sleep from my aching eyes had fled, + And kept as far apart, + As sense from Ebn Fahdi's head, + Or virtue from his heart. + + The dubious paths my footsteps balk'd, + I slipp'd along the sod, + As if on Jaber's faith I'd walk'd, + Or on his truth had trod. + + At length the rising King of day + Burst on the gloomy wood, + Like Carawash's eye, whose ray + Dispenses every good. + +_Ebn Alramacram_. + +[27] The occasion of the following composition is thus related by + Abulfeda. Carawash, Sultan of Mousel, being one wintry evening + engaged in a party of pleasure along with Barkaidy, Ebn Fahdi, Abou + Jaber, and the improvisatore poet, Ebn Alramacram, resolved to + divert himself at the expense of his companions. He therefore + ordered the poet to give a specimen of his talents, which at the + same time should convey a satire upon the three courtiers, and a + compliment to himself. Ebn Alramacram took his subject from the + stormy appearance of the night, and immediately produced these + verses. + + +ON THE DEATH OF A SON[28] + + Tyrant of man! Imperious Fate! + I bow before thy dread decree, + Nor hope in this uncertain state + To find a seat secure from thee. + + Life is a dark, tumultuous stream, + With many a care and sorrow foul, + Yet thoughtless mortals vainly deem + That it can yield a limpid bowl. + + Think not that stream will backward flow, + Or cease its destin'd course to keep; + As soon the blazing spark shall glow + Beneath the surface of the deep. + + Believe not Fate at thy command + Will grant a meed she never gave; + As soon the airy tower shall stand, + That's built upon a passing wave. + + Life is a sleep of threescore years, + Death bids us wake and hail the light, + And man, with all his hopes and fears, + Is but a phantom of the night. + +_Aly Ben Mohammed Altahmany_. + +[28] Aly Ben Mohammed was a native of that part of Arabia called Hejaz; + and was celebrated not only as a poet, but as a politician. + + +TO LEILA + + Leila, with too successful art, + Has spread for me love's cruel snare; + And now, when she has caught my heart, + She laughs, and leaves it to despair. + + Thus the poor sparrow pants for breath, + Held captive by a playful boy, + And while it drinks the draught of death, + The thoughtless child looks on with joy. + + Ah! were its flutt'ring pinions free, + Soon would it bid its chains adieu, + Or did the child its suff'rings see, + He'd pity and relieve them too. + + +ON MODERATION IN OUR PLEASURES[29] + + How oft does passion's grasp destroy + The pleasure that it strives to gain? + How soon the thoughtless course of joy + Is doom'd to terminate in pain? + + When prudence would thy steps delay, + She but restrains to make thee blest; + Whate'er from joy she lops away, + But heightens and secures the rest. + + Wouldst thou a trembling flame expand, + That hastens in the lamp to die? + With careful touch, with sparing hand, + The feeding stream of life supply. + + But if thy flask profusely sheds + A rushing torrent o'er the blaze, + Swift round the sinking flame it spreads, + And kills the fire it fain would raise. + +_Abou Alcassim Ebn Tabataba_. + +[29] Tabataba deduced his pedigree from Ali Ben Abou Taleb, and Fatima, + the daughter of Mohammed. He was born at Ispahan, but passed the + principal part of his life in Egypt, where he was appointed chief + of the sheriffs, i.e. the descendants of the Prophet, a dignity + held in the highest veneration by every Mussulman. He died in the + year of the Hegira 418, with the reputation of being one of the + most excellent poets of his time. + + +THE VALE OF BOZAA[30] + + The intertwining boughs for thee + Have wove, sweet dell, a verdant vest, + And thou in turn shalt give to me + A verdant couch upon thy breast. + + To shield me from day's fervid glare + Thine oaks their fostering arms extend, + As anxious o'er her infant care + I've seen a watchful mother bend. + + A brighter cup, a sweeter draught, + I gather from that rill of thine, + Than maddening drunkards ever quaff'd, + Than all the treasures of the vine. + + So smooth the pebbles on its shore, + That not a maid can thither stray, + But counts her strings of jewels o'er, + And thinks the pearls have slipp'd away. + +_Ahmed Ben Yousef Almenazy_. + +[30] Ben Yousef for many years acted as vizir to Abou Nasser, Sultan + of Diarbeker. His political talents are much praised, and he is + particularly celebrated for the address he displayed while upon + an embassy to the Greek Emperor at Constantinople. Yousef's + poetry must be looked upon merely as a jeu d'esprit suggested + by the beauties of the vale of Bozâa, as he passed through it. + + +TO ADVERSITY[31] + + Hail, chastening friend Adversity! 'Tis thine + The mental ore to temper and refine, + To cast in virtue's mould the yielding heart, + And honor's polish to the mind impart. + Without thy wakening touch, thy plastic aid, + I'd lain the shapeless mass that nature made; + But form'd, great artist, by thy magic hand, + I gleam a sword to conquer and command. + +_Abou Menbaa Carawash_. + + +[31] The life of this prince was checkered with various adventures; + he was perpetually engaged in contests either with the neighboring + sovereigns, or the princes of his own family. After many struggles + he was obliged to submit to his brother, Abou Camel, who + immediately ordered him to be seized, and conveyed to a place + of security. + + +ON THE INCOMPATIBILITY OF PRIDE AND TRUE GLORY[32] + + Think not, Abdallah, pride and fame + Can ever travel hand in hand; + With breast oppos'd, and adverse aim, + On the same narrow path they stand. + + Thus youth and age together meet, + And life's divided moments share; + This can't advance till that retreat, + What's here increas'd, is lessen'd there. + + And thus the falling shades of night + Still struggle with the lucid ray, + And e'er they stretch their gloomy flight + Must win the lengthen'd space from day. + +_Abou Alola_. + +[32] Abou Alola is esteemed as one of the most excellent of the + Arabian poets. He was born blind, but this did not deter him from + the pursuit of literature. Abou Alola died at Maara in the year + 449, aged eighty-six. + + +THE DEATH OF NEDHAM ALMOLK + + Thy virtues fam'd thro' every land, + Thy spotless life, in age and youth, + Prove thee a pearl, by nature's hand, + Form'd out of purity and truth. + + Too long its beams of Orient light + Upon a thankless world were shed; + Allah has now reveng'd the slight, + And call'd it to its native bed. + +_Shebal Addaulet_. + + +LINES TO A LOVER + + When you told us our glances soft, timid and mild, + Could occasion such wounds in the heart, + Can ye wonder that yours, so ungovern'd and wild, + Some wounds to our cheeks should impart? + + The wounds on our cheeks are but transient, I own, + With a blush they appear and decay; + But those on the heart, fickle youths, ye have shown + To be even more transient than they. + +_Waladata_. + + +VERSES TO MY DAUGHTERS[33] + + With jocund heart and cheerful brow + I used to hail the festal morn-- + How must Mohammed greet it now?-- + A prisoner helpless and forlorn. + + While these dear maids in beauty's bloom, + With want opprest, with rags o'erspread, + By sordid labors at the loom + Must earn a poor, precarious bread. + + Those feet that never touched the ground, + Till musk or camphor strew'd the way, + Now bare and swoll'n with many a wound. + Must struggle thro' the miry clay. + + Those radiant cheeks are veil'd in woe, + A shower descends from every eye, + And not a starting tear can flow, + That wakes not an attending sigh. + + Fortune, that whilom own'd my sway, + And bow'd obsequious to my nod, + Now sees me destin'd to obey, + And bend beneath oppression's rod. + + Ye mortals with success elate, + Who bask in hope's delusive beam, + Attentive view Mohammed's fate, + And own that bliss is but a dream. + +_Mohammed Bed Abad_. + +[33] Seville was one of those small sovereignties into which Spain + had been divided after the extinction of the house of Ommiah. It + did not long retain its independence, and the only prince who ever + presided over it as a separate kingdom seems to have been Mohammed + Ben Abad, the author of these verses. For thirty-three years he + reigned over Seville and the neighboring districts with considerable + reputation, but being attacked by Joseph, son to the Emperor of + Morocco, at the head of a numerous army of Africans, was defeated, + taken prisoner, and thrown into a dungeon, where he died in the year + 488. + + +SERENADE TO MY SLEEPING MISTRESS[34] + + Sure Harut's[B] potent spells were breath'd + Upon that magic sword, thine eye; + For if it wounds us thus while sheath'd, + When drawn, 'tis vain its edge to fly. + + How canst thou doom me, cruel fair, + Plung'd in the hell[C] of scorn to groan? + No idol e'er this heart could share, + This heart has worshipp'd thee alone. + +_Aly Ben Abd_. + +[34] This author was by birth an African; but having passed over to + Spain, he was much patronized by Mohammed, Sultan of Seville. After + the fall of his master, Ben Abd returned to Africa, and died at + Tangier, A.H. 488. + +[B] A wicked angel who is permitted to tempt mankind by teaching them + magic; see the legend respecting him in the Koran. + +[C] The poet here alludes to the punishments denounced in the Koran + against those who worship a plurality of Gods: "their couch shall + be in hell, and over them shall be coverings of fire." + + +THE INCONSISTENT[35] + + When I sent you my melons, you cried out with scorn, + They ought to be heavy and wrinkled and yellow; + When I offer'd myself, whom those graces adorn, + You flouted, and call'd me an ugly old fellow. + +[35] Written to a lady upon her refusal of a present of melons, and her + rejection of the addresses of an admirer. + + +THE CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM[36] + + From our distended eyeballs flow + A mingled stream of tears and blood; + No care we feel, nor wish to know, + But who shall pour the largest flood. + + But what defense can tears afford? + What aid supply in this dread hour? + When kindled by the sparkling sword + War's raging flames the land devour. + + No more let sleep's seductive charms + Upon your torpid souls be shed: + A crash like this, such dire alarms, + Might burst the slumbers of the dead. + + Think where your dear companions lie-- + Survey their fate, and hear their woes-- + How some thro' trackless deserts fly, + Some in the vulture's maw repose; + + While some more wretched still, must bear + The tauntings of a Christian's tongue-- + Hear this--and blush ye not to wear + The silken robe of peace so long? + + Remember what ensanguin'd showers + The Syrian plains with crimson dyed, + And think how many blooming flowers + In Syrian forts their beauties hide. + + Arabian youths! In such a cause + Can ye the voice of glory slight? + Warriors of Persia! Can ye pause, + Or fear to mingle in the fight? + + If neither piety nor shame + Your breasts can warm, your souls can move, + Let emulation's bursting flame + Wake you to vengeance and to love. + +_Almodhafer Alabiwerdy_. + +[36] The capture of Jerusalem took place in the 492d year of the Hegira, + A.D. 1099. Alabiwerdy, who wrote these verses, was a native of + Khorasan; he died A.H. 507. + + +TO A LADY + + No, Abla, no--when Selim tells + Of many an unknown grace that dwells + In Abla's face and mien, + When he describes the sense refin'd, + That lights thine eye and fills thy mind, + By thee alone unseen. + + Tis not that drunk with love he sees + Ideal charms, which only please + Thro' passion's partial veil, + 'Tis not that flattery's glozing tongue + Hath basely fram'd an idle song, + But truth that breath'd the tale. + + Thine eyes unaided ne'er could trace + Each opening charm, each varied grace, + That round thy person plays; + Some must remain conceal'd from thee, + For Selim's watchful eye to see, + For Selim's tongue to praise. + + One polish'd mirror can declare + That eye so bright, that face so fair, + That cheek which shames the rose; + But how thy mantle waves behind, + How float thy tresses on the wind, + Another only shows. + + +AN EPIGRAM[37] + + Whoever has recourse to thee + Can hope for health no more, + He's launched into perdition's sea, + A sea without a shore. + + Where'er admission thou canst gain, + Where'er thy phiz can pierce, + At once the Doctor they retain, + The mourners and the hearse. + +_George_. + +[37] Written to Abou Alchair Selamu, an Egyptian physician. The author + was a physician of Antioch. + + +ON A LITTLE MAN WITH A VERY LARGE BEARD + + How can thy chin that burden bear? + Is it all gravity to shock? + Is it to make the people stare? + And be thyself a laughing stock? + + When I behold thy little feet + After thy beard obsequious run, + I always fancy that I meet + Some father followed by his son. + + A man like thee scarce e'er appear'd-- + A beard like thine--where shall we find it? + Surely thou cherishest thy beard + In hope to hide thyself behind it. + +_Isaai, Ben Khalif_. + + +LAMIAT ALAJEM[38] + + No kind supporting hand I meet, + But Fortitude shall stay my feet; + No borrow'd splendors round me shine, + But Virtue's lustre all is mine; + A Fame unsullied still I boast, + Obscur'd, conceal'd, but never lost-- + The same bright orb that led the day + Pours from the West his mellow'd ray. + + Zaura, farewell! No more I see + Within thy walls, a home for me; + Deserted, spurn'd, aside I'm toss'd, + As an old sword whose scabbard's lost: + Around thy walls I seek in vain + Some bosom that will soothe my pain-- + No friend is near to breathe relief, + Or brother to partake my grief. + For many a melancholy day + Thro' desert vales I've wound my way; + The faithful beast, whose back I press, + In groans laments her lord's distress; + + In every quiv'ring of my spear + A sympathetic sigh I hear; + The camel bending with his load, + And struggling thro' the thorny road, + 'Midst the fatigues that bear him down, + In Hassan's woes forgets his own; + Yet cruel friends my wanderings chide, + My sufferings slight, my toils deride. + + Once wealth, I own, engrossed each thought, + There was a moment when I sought + The glitt'ring stores Ambition claims + To feed the wants his fancy frames; + But now 'tis past--the changing day + Has snatch'd my high-built hopes away, + And bade this wish my labors close-- + Give me not riches, but repose. + 'Tis he--that mien my friend declares, + That stature, like the lance he bears; + I see that breast which ne'er contain'd + A thought by fear or folly stain'd, + Whose powers can every change obey, + In business grave, in trifles gay, + And, form'd each varying taste to please, + Can mingle dignity with ease. + + What, tho' with magic influence, sleep, + O'er every closing eyelid creep: + Tho' drunk with its oblivious wine + Our comrades on their bales recline, + My Selim's trance I sure can break-- + Selim, 'tis I, 'tis I who speak. + Dangers on every side impend, + And sleep'st thou, careless of thy friend? + Thou sleep'st while every star on high, + Beholds me with a wakeful eye-- + Thou changest, ere the changeful night + Hath streak'd her fleeting robe with white. + + 'Tis love that hurries me along-- + I'm deaf to fear's repressive song-- + The rocks of Idham I'll ascend, + Tho' adverse darts each path defend, + And hostile sabres glitter there, + To guard the tresses of the fair. + + Come, Selim, let us pierce the grove, + While night befriends, to seek my love. + The clouds of fragrance as they rise + Shall mark the place where Abla lies. + Around her tent my jealous foes, + Like lions, spread their watchful rows; + Amidst their bands, her bow'r appears + Embosom'd in a wood of spears-- + A wood still nourish'd by the dews, + Which smiles, and softest looks diffuse. + Thrice happy youths! who midst yon shades + Sweet converse hold with Idham's maids, + What bliss, to view them gild the hours, + And brighten wit and fancy's powers, + While every foible they disclose + New transport gives, new graces shows. + 'Tis theirs to raise with conscious art + The flames of love in every heart; + 'Tis yours to raise with festive glee + The flames of hospitality: + Smit by their glances lovers lie, + And helpless sink and hopeless die; + While slain by you the stately steed + To crown the feast, is doom'd to bleed, + To crown the feast, where copious flows + The sparkling juice that soothes your woes, + That lulls each care and heals each wound, + As the enlivening bowl goes round. + Amidst those vales my eager feet + Shall trace my Abla's dear retreat, + A gale of health may hover there, + To breathe some solace to my care. + I fear not love--I bless the dart + Sent in a glance to pierce the heart: + With willing breast the sword I hail + That wounds me thro' an half-clos'd veil: + Tho' lions howling round the shade, + My footsteps haunt, my walks invade, + No fears shall drive me from the grove, + If Abla listen to my love. + + Ah, Selim! shall the spells of ease + Thy friendship chain, thine ardor freeze! + Wilt thou enchanted thus, decline + Each gen'rous thought, each bold design? + Then far from men some cell prepare; + Or build a mansion in the air-- + But yield to us, ambition's tide, + Who fearless on its waves can ride; + Enough for thee if thou receive + The scattered spray the billows leave. + + Contempt and want the wretch await + Who slumbers in an abject state-- + 'Midst rushing crowds, by toil and pain + The meed of Honor we must gain; + At Honor's call, the camel hastes + Thro' trackless wilds and dreary wastes, + Till in the glorious race she find + The fleetest coursers left behind: + By toils like these alone, he cries, + Th' adventurous youths to greatness rise; + If bloated indolence were fame, + And pompous ease our noblest aim, + The orb that regulates the day + Would ne'er from Aries' mansion stray. + + I've bent at Fortune's shrine too long-- + Too oft she heard my suppliant tongue-- + Too oft has mock'd my idle prayers, + While fools and knaves engross'd her cares, + Awake for them, asleep to me, + Heedless of worth she scorn'd each plea. + Ah! had her eyes, more just survey'd + The diff'rent claims which each display'd, + Those eyes from partial fondness free + Had slept to them, and wak'd for me. + + But, 'midst my sorrows and my toils, + Hope ever sooth'd my breast with smiles; + Her hand remov'd each gathering ill, + And oped life's closing prospects still. + Yet spite of all her friendly art + The specious scene ne'er gain'd my heart; + I lov'd it not altho' the day + Met my approach, and cheer'd my way; + I loath it now the hours retreat, + And fly me with reverted feet. + + My soul from every tarnish free + May boldly vaunt her purity, + But ah, how keen, however bright, + The sabre glitter to the sight, + Its splendor's lost, its polish vain, + Till some bold hand the steel sustain. + + Why have my days been stretch'd by fate, + To see the vile and vicious great-- + While I, who led the race so long, + Am last and meanest of the throng? + Ah, why has death so long delay'd + To wrap me in his friendly shade, + Left me to wander thus alone, + When all my heart held dear is gone! + + But let me check these fretful sighs-- + Well may the base above me rise, + When yonder planets as they run + Mount in the sky above the sun. + Resigned I bow to Fate's decree, + Nor hope his laws will change for me; + Each shifting scene, each varying hour, + But proves the ruthless tyrants' power. + + But tho' with ills unnumber'd curst, + We owe to faithless man the worst; + For man can smile with specious art, + And plant a dagger in the heart. + He only's fitted for the strife + Which fills the boist'rous paths of life, + Who, as he treads the crowded scenes, + Upon no kindred bosom leans. + Too long my foolish heart had deem'd + Mankind as virtuous as they seem'd; + The spell is broke, their faults are bare, + And now I see them as they are; + Truth from each tainted breast has flown, + And falsehood marks them all her own. + Incredulous I listen now + To every tongue, and every vow, + For still there yawns a gulf between + Those honeyed words, and what they mean; + With honest pride elate, I see + The sons of falsehood shrink from me, + As from the right line's even way + The biass'd curves deflecting stray-- + But what avails it to complain? + With souls like theirs reproof is vain; + If honor e'er such bosoms share + The sabre's point must fix it there. + But why exhaust life's rapid bowl, + And suck the dregs with sorrow foul, + When long ere this my youth has drain'd + Whatever zest the cup contain'd? + Why should we mount upon the wave, + And ocean's yawning horrors brave, + When we may swallow from the flask + Whatever the wants of mortals ask? + + Contentment's realms no fears invade, + No cares annoy, no sorrows shade, + There plac'd secure, in peace we rest, + Nor aught demand to make us blest. + While pleasure's gay fantastic bower, + The splendid pageant of an hour, + Like yonder meteor in the skies, + Flits with a breath no more to rise. + + As thro' life's various walks we're led, + May prudence hover o'er our head! + May she our words, our actions guide, + Our faults correct, our secrets hide! + + May she, where'er our footsteps stray, + Direct our paths, and clear the way! + + Till, every scene of tumult past, + She bring us to repose at last, + Teach us to love that peaceful shore, + And roam thro' folly's wilds no more! + +_Mauid Eddin Alhassan Abou Ismael Altograi_. + +[38] Abou Ismael was a native of Ispahan. He devoted himself to the + service of the Seljuk Sultans of Persia, and enjoyed the confidence + of Malec Shah, and his son and grandson, Mohammed and Massoud, by + the last of whom he was raised to the dignity of vizir. Massoud, + however, was not long in a condition to afford Abou Ismael any + protection, for, being attacked by his brother Mahmoud, he was + defeated, and driven from Mousel, and upon the fall of his master + the vizir was seized and thrown into prison, and at length in the + year 515 sentenced to be put to death. + + +TO YOUTH + + Yes, youth, thou'rt fled, and I am left, + Like yonder desolated bower, + By winter's ruthless hand bereft + Of every leaf and every flower. + + With heaving heart and streaming eyes + I woo'd thee to prolong thy stay, + But vain were all my tears and sighs, + Thou only fled'st more fast away. + + Yet tho' thou fled'st away so fast, + I can recall thee if I will; + For I can talk of what is past, + And while I talk, enjoy thee still. + +_Ebn Alrabia_. + + +ON LOVE[39] + + I never knew a sprightly fair + That was not dear to me, + And freely I my heart could share, + With every one I see. + + It is not this or that alone + On whom my choice would fall, + I do not more incline to one + Than I incline to all. + + The circle's bounding line are they, + Its centre is my heart, + My ready love the equal ray + That flows to every part. + +_Abou Aly_. + +[39] Abou Aly flourished in Egypt about the year 530, and was equally + celebrated as a mathematician and as a poet. + + +A REMONSTRANCE WITH A DRUNKARD[40] + + As drench'd in wine, the other night, + Zeid from the banquet sallied, + Thus I reprov'd his drunken plight, + Thus he my prudence rallied; + + "In bev'rage so impure and vile, + How canst thou thus delight?"-- + "My cups," he answer'd with a smile, + "Are generous and bright." + + "Beware those dang'rous draughts," I cried, + "With love the goblet flows"-- + "And curst is he," the youth replied, + "Who hatred only knows." + + "Those cups too soon with sickness fraught + Thy stomach shall deplore"-- + "Then soon," he cried, "the noxious draught + And all its ills are o'er." + + "Rash youth, thy guilty joys resign." + "I will," at length he said, + "I vow I'll bid adieu to wine + As soon as I am dead." + +_Yahia Ben Salamet_. + +[40] This author was a native of Syria, and died at Miafarakir in the + year of the Hegira 553. + + +VERSES[41] + + Tho' such unbounded love you swear, + 'Tis only art I see; + Can I believe that one so fair + Should ever dote on me? + + Say that you hate, and freely show + That age displeases youth; + And I may love you when I know + That you can tell the truth. + +_Caliph Almonklafi Laimrillah_. + +[41] Almonklafi was the thirty-first Caliph of the house of Abbas, and + the only one who possessed any real authority since the reign of + Radhi. These lines were addressed to a lady who pretended a + passion for him in his old age. + + +ON PROCRASTINATION[42] + + Youth is a drunken noisy hour, + With every folly fraught; + But man, by age's chast'ning power, + Is sober'd into thought. + + Then we resolve our faults to shun, + And shape our course anew; + But ere the wise reform's begun + Life closes on our view. + + The travellers thus who wildly roam, + Or heedlessly delay, + Are left, when they should reach their home, + Benighted on the way. + +_Hebat Allah Ibn Altalmith_. + +[42] Ibn Altalmith died in the 560th year of the Hegira, at the advanced + age of one hundred. + + +THE EARLY DEATH OF ABOU ALHASSAN ALY[43] + + Soon hast thou run the race of life, + Nor could our tears thy speed control-- + Still in the courser's gen'rous strife + The best will soonest reach the goal. + + As Death upon his hand turns o'er + The different gems the world displays, + He seizes first to swell his store + The brightest jewel he surveys. + + Thy name, by every breath convey'd, + Stretch'd o'er the globe its boundless flight; + Alas! in eve the lengthening shade + But lengthens to be lost in night! + + If gracious Allah bade thee close + Thy youthful eyes so soon on day, + 'Tis that he readiest welcomes those + Who love him best and best obey. + +_Alnassar Ledin Allah_. + +[43] Alnassar Ledin Allah was the thirty-fourth Abasside Caliph, and + the last excepting three who enjoyed this splendid title, which + was finally abolished by the Tartars in the year 656. + + +THE INTERVIEW + +_A Song_ + + Darkness clos'd around, loud the tempest drove, + When thro' yonder glen I saw my lover rove, + Dearest youth! + Soon he reach'd our cot--weary, wet, and cold, + But warmth, wine, and I, to cheer his spirits strove, + Dearest youth! + How my love, cried I, durst thou hither stray + Thro' the gloom, nor fear the ghosts that haunt the grove? + Dearest youth! + In this heart, said he, fear no seat can find, + When each thought is fill'd alone with thee and love, + Dearest maid! + + + + +ARABIAN NIGHTS + +[_Selected tales edited by Andrew Lang_] + + +THE SEVEN VOYAGES OF SINDBAD + +In the times of the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid there lived in Bagdad a poor +porter named Hindbad, who, on a very hot day, was sent to carry a heavy +load from one end of the city to the other. Before he had accomplished +half the distance he was so tired that, finding himself in a quiet +street where the pavement was sprinkled with rose-water, and a cool +breeze was blowing, he set his burden upon the ground, and sat down to +rest in the shade of a grand house. Very soon he decided that he could +not have chosen a pleasanter place; a delicious perfume of aloes-wood +and pastilles came from the open windows and mingled with the scent of +the rose-water which steamed up from the hot pavement. Within the palace +he heard some music, as of many instruments cunningly played, and the +melodious warble of nightingales and other birds, and by this, and the +appetizing smell of many dainty dishes of which he presently became +aware, he judged that feasting and merry-making were going on. He +wondered who lived in this magnificent house which he had never seen +before, the street in which it stood being one which he seldom had +occasion to pass. To satisfy his curiosity he went up to some splendidly +dressed servants who stood at the door, and asked one of them the name +of the master of the mansion. + +"What," replied he, "do you live in Bagdad, and not know that here lives +the noble Sindbad the Sailor, that famous traveller who sailed over +every sea upon which the sun shines?" + +The porter, who had often heard people speak of the immense wealth of +Sindbad, could not help feeling envious of one whose lot seemed to be as +happy as his own was miserable. Casting his eyes up to the sky he +exclaimed aloud:-- + +"Consider, Mighty Creator of all things, the difference between +Sindbad's life and mine. Every day I suffer a thousand hardships and +misfortunes, and have hard work to get even enough bad barley bread to +keep myself and my family alive, while the lucky Sindbad spends money +right and left and lives upon the fat of the land! What has he done that +you should give him this pleasant life--what have I done to deserve so +hard a fate?" + +So saying he stamped upon the ground like one beside himself with misery +and despair. Just at this moment a servant came out of the palace, and +taking him by the arm said, "Come with me, the noble Sindbad, my master, +wishes to speak to you." + +Hindbad was not a little surprised at this summons, and feared that his +unguarded words might have drawn upon him the displeasure of Sindbad, so +he tried to excuse himself upon the pretext that he could not leave the +burden which had been intrusted to him in the street. However the lackey +promised him that it should be taken care of, and urged him to obey the +call so pressingly that at last the porter was obliged to yield. + +He followed the servant into a vast room, where a great company was +seated round a table covered with all sorts of delicacies. In the place +of honor sat a tall, grave man, whose long white beard gave him a +venerable air. Behind his chair stood a crowd of attendants eager to +minister to his wants. This was the famous Sindbad himself. The porter, +more than ever alarmed at the sight of so much magnificence, tremblingly +saluted the noble company. Sindbad, making a sign to him to approach, +caused him to be seated at his right hand, and himself heaped choice +morsels upon his plate, and poured out for him a draught of excellent +wine, and presently, when the banquet drew to a close, spoke to him +familiarly, asking his name and occupation. + +"My lord," replied the porter, "I am called Hindbad." + +"I am glad to see you here," continued Sindbad. "And I will answer for +the rest of the company that they are equally pleased, but I wish you to +tell me what it was that you said just now in the street." For Sindbad, +passing by the open window before the feast began, had heard his +complaint and therefore had sent for him. + +At this question Hindbad was covered with confusion, and hanging down +his head, replied, "My lord, I confess that, overcome by weariness and +ill-humor, I uttered indiscreet words, which I pray you to pardon me." + +"Oh!" replied Sindbad, "do not imagine that I am so unjust as to blame +you. On the contrary, I understand your situation and can pity you. Only +you appear to be mistaken about me, and I wish to set you right. You +doubtless imagine that I have acquired all the wealth and luxury that +you see me enjoy without difficulty or danger, but this is far indeed +from being the case. I have only reached this happy state after having +for years suffered every possible kind of toil and danger. + +"Yes, my noble friends," he continued, addressing the company, "I assure +you that my adventures have been strange enough to deter even the most +avaricious men from seeking wealth by traversing the seas. Since you +have, perhaps, heard but confused accounts of my Seven Voyages, and the +dangers and wonders that I have met with by sea and land, I will now +give you a full and true account of them, which I think you will be well +pleased to hear." + +As Sindbad was relating his adventures chiefly on account of the porter, +he ordered, before beginning his tale, that the burden which had been +left in the street should be carried by some of his own servants to the +place for which Hindbad had set out at first, while he remained to +listen to the story. + + + + +FIRST VOYAGE + +I had inherited considerable wealth from my parents, and being young and +foolish I at first squandered it recklessly upon every kind of pleasure, +but presently, finding that riches speedily take to themselves wings if +managed as badly as I was managing mine, and remembering also that to be +old and poor is misery indeed, I began to bethink me of how I could make +the best of what still remained to me. I sold all my household goods by +public auction, and joined a company of merchants who traded by sea, +embarking with them at Balsora in a ship which we had fitted out between +us. + +We set sail and took our course towards the East Indies by the Persian +Gulf, having the coast of Persia upon our left hand and upon our right +the shores of Arabia Felix. I was at first much troubled by the uneasy +motion of the vessel, but speedily recovered my health, and since that +hour have been no more plagued by sea-sickness. + +From time to time we landed at various islands, where we sold or +exchanged our merchandise, and one day, when the wind dropped suddenly, +we found ourselves becalmed close to a small island like a green meadow, +which only rose slightly above the surface of the water. Our sails were +furled, and the captain gave permission to all who wished to land for a +while and amuse themselves. I was among the number, but when after +strolling about for some time we lighted a fire and sat down to enjoy +the repast which we had brought with us, we were startled by a sudden +and violent trembling of the island, while at the same moment those left +upon the ship set up an outcry bidding us come on board for our lives, +since what we had taken for an island was nothing but the back of a +sleeping whale. Those who were nearest to the boat threw themselves into +it, others sprang into the sea, but before I could save myself the whale +plunged suddenly into the depths of the ocean, leaving me clinging to a +piece of the wood which we had brought to make our fire. Meanwhile a +breeze had sprung up, and in the confusion that ensued on board our +vessel in hoisting the sails and taking up those who were in the boat +and clinging to its sides, no one missed me and I was left at the mercy +of the waves. All that day I floated up and down, now beaten this way, +now that, and when night fell I despaired for my life; but, weary and +spent as I was, I clung to my frail support, and great was my joy when +the morning light showed me that I had drifted against an island. + +The cliffs were high and steep, but luckily for me some tree-roots +protruded in places, and by their aid I climbed up at last, and +stretched myself upon the turf at the top, where I lay, more dead than +alive, till the sun was high in the heavens. By that time I was very +hungry, but after some searching I came upon some eatable herbs, and a +spring of clear water, and much refreshed I set out to explore the +island. Presently I reached a great plain where a grazing horse was +tethered, and as I stood looking at it I heard voices talking apparently +underground, and in a moment a man appeared who asked me how I came upon +the island. I told him my adventures, and heard in return that he was +one of the grooms of Mihrage, the King of the island, and that each year +they came to feed their master's horses in this plain. He took me to a +cave where his companions were assembled, and when I had eaten of the +food they set before me, they bade me think myself fortunate to have +come upon them when I did, since they were going back to their master on +the morrow, and without their aid I could certainly never have found my +way to the inhabited part of the island. + +Early the next morning we accordingly set out, and when we reached the +capital I was graciously received by the King, to whom I related my +adventures, upon which he ordered that I should be well cared for and +provided with such things as I needed. Being a merchant I sought out men +of my own profession, and particularly those who came from foreign +countries, as I hoped in this way to hear news from Bagdad, and find out +some means of returning thither, for the capital was situated upon the +sea-shore, and visited by vessels from all parts of the world. In the +meantime I heard many curious things, and answered many questions +concerning my own country, for I talked willingly with all who came to +me. Also to while away the time of waiting I explored a little island +named Cassel, which belonged to King Mihrage, and which was supposed to +be inhabited by a spirit named Deggial. Indeed, the sailors assured me +that often at night the playing of timbals could be heard upon it. +However, I saw nothing strange upon my voyage, saving some fish that +were full two hundred cubits long, but were fortunately more in dread of +us than even we were of them, and fled from us if we did but strike upon +a board to frighten them. Other fishes there were only a cubit long +which had heads like owls. + +One day after my return, as I went down to the quay, I saw a ship which +had just cast anchor, and was discharging her cargo, while the merchants +to whom it belonged were busily directing the removal of it to their +warehouses. Drawing nearer I presently noticed that my own name was +marked upon some of the packages, and after having carefully examined +them, I felt sure that they were indeed those which I had put on board +our ship at Balsora. I then recognized the captain of the vessel, but as +I was certain that he believed me to be dead, I went up to him and asked +who owned the packages that I was looking at. + +"There was on board my ship," he replied, "a merchant of Bagdad named +Sindbad. One day he and several of my other passengers landed upon what +we supposed to be an island, but which was really an enormous whale +floating asleep upon the waves. No sooner did it feel upon its back the +heat of the fire which had been kindled, than it plunged into the depths +of the sea. Several of the people who were upon it perished in the +waters, and among others this unlucky Sindbad. This merchandise is his, +but I have resolved to dispose of it for the benefit of his family if I +should ever chance to meet with them." + +"Captain," said I, "I am that Sindbad whom you believe to be dead, and +these are my possessions!" + +When the captain heard these words he cried out in amazement, "Lackaday! +and what is the world coming to? In these days there is not an honest +man to be met with. Did I not with my own eyes see Sindbad drown, and +now you have the audacity to tell me that you are he! I should have +taken you to be a just man, and yet for the sake of obtaining that which +does not belong to you, you are ready to invent this horrible +falsehood." + +"Have patience, and do me the favor to hear my story," said I. + +"Speak then," replied the captain, "I am all attention." + +So I told him of my escape and of my fortunate meeting with the king's +grooms, and how kindly I had been received at the palace. Very soon I +began to see that I had made some impression upon him, and after the +arrival of some of the other merchants, who showed great joy at once +more seeing me alive, he declared that he also recognized me. + +Throwing himself upon my neck he exclaimed, "Heaven be praised that you +have escaped from so great a danger. As to your goods, I pray you take +them, and dispose of them as you please." I thanked him, and praised his +honesty, begging him to accept several bales of merchandise in token of +my gratitude, but he would take nothing. Of the choicest of my goods I +prepared a present for King Mihrage, who was at first amazed, having +known that I had lost my all. However, when I had explained to him how +my bales had been miraculously restored to me, he graciously accepted my +gifts, and in return gave me many valuable things. I then took leave of +him, and exchanging my merchandise for sandal and aloes-wood, camphor, +nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger, I embarked upon the same vessel and +traded so successfully upon our homeward voyage that I arrived in +Balsora with about one hundred thousand sequins. My family received me +with as much joy as I felt upon seeing them once more. I bought land and +slaves, and built a great house in which I resolved to live happily, and +in the enjoyment of all the pleasures of life to forget my past +sufferings. + +Here Sindbad paused, and commanded the musicians to play again, while +the feasting continued until evening. When the time came for the porter +to depart, Sindbad gave him a purse containing one hundred sequins, +saying, "Take this, Hindbad, and go home, but to-morrow come again and +you shall hear more of my adventures." + +The porter retired quite overcome by so much generosity, and you may +imagine that he was well received at home, where his wife and children +thanked their lucky stars that he had found such a benefactor. + +The next day Hindbad, dressed in his best, returned to the voyager's +house, and was received with open arms. As soon as all the guests had +arrived the banquet began as before, and when they had feasted long and +merrily, Sindbad addressed them thus:-- + +"My friends, I beg that you will give me your attention while I relate +the adventures of my second voyage, which you will find even more +astonishing than the first." + + + + +SECOND VOYAGE + +I had resolved, as you know, on my return from my first voyage, to spend +the rest of my days quietly in Bagdad, but very soon I grew tired of +such an idle life and longed once more to find myself upon the sea. + +I procured, therefore, such goods as were suitable for the places I +intended to visit, and embarked for the second time in a good ship with +other merchants whom I knew to be honorable men. We went from island to +island, often making excellent bargains, until one day we landed at a +spot which, though covered with fruit-trees and abounding in springs of +excellent water, appeared to possess neither houses nor people. While my +companions wandered here and there gathering flowers and fruit I sat +down in a shady place, and, having heartily enjoyed the provisions and +the wine I had brought with me, I fell asleep, lulled by the murmur of a +clear brook which flowed close by. + +How long I slept I know not, but when I opened my eyes and started to my +feet I perceived with horror that I was alone and that the ship was +gone. I rushed to and fro like one distracted, uttering cries of +despair, and when from the shore I saw the vessel under full sail just +disappearing upon the horizon, I wished bitterly enough that I had been +content to stay at home in safety. But since wishes could do me no good, +I presently took courage and looked about me for a means of escape. When +I had climbed a tall tree I first of all directed my anxious glances +towards the sea; but, finding nothing hopeful there, I turned landward, +and my curiosity was excited by a huge dazzling white object, so far off +that I could not make out what it might be. + +Descending from the tree I hastily collected what remained of my +provisions and set off as fast as I could go towards it. As I drew near +it seemed to me to be a white ball of immense size and height, and when +I could touch it, I found it marvellously smooth and soft. As it was +impossible to climb it--for it presented no foothold--I walked round +about it seeking some opening, but there was none. I counted, however, +that it was at least fifty paces round. By this time the sun was near +setting, but quite suddenly it fell dark, something like a huge black +cloud came swiftly over me, and I saw with amazement that it was a bird +of extraordinary size which was hovering near. Then I remembered that I +had often heard the sailors speak of a wonderful bird called a roc, and +it occurred to me that the white object which had so puzzled me must be +its egg. + +Sure enough the bird settled slowly down upon it, covering it with its +wings to keep it warm, and I cowered close beside the egg in such a +position that one of the bird's feet, which was as large as the trunk of +a tree, was just in front of me. Taking off my turban I bound myself +securely to it with the linen in the hope that the roc, when it took +flight next morning, would bear me away with it from the desolate +island. And this was precisely what did happen. As soon as the dawn +appeared the bird rose into the air carrying me up and up till I could +no longer see the earth, and then suddenly it descended so swiftly that +I almost lost consciousness. When I became aware that the roc had +settled and that I was once again upon solid ground, I hastily unbound +my turban from its foot and freed myself, and that not a moment too +soon; for the bird, pouncing upon a huge snake, killed it with a few +blows from its powerful beak, and seizing it rose up into the air once +more and soon disappeared from my view. When I had looked about me I +began to doubt if I had gained anything by quitting the desolate island. + +The valley in which I found myself was deep and narrow, and surrounded +by mountains which towered into the clouds, and were so steep and rocky +that there was no way of climbing up their sides. As I wandered about, +seeking anxiously for some means of escaping from this trap, I observed +that the ground was strewed with diamonds, some of them of an +astonishing size. This sight gave me great pleasure, but my delight was +speedily dampened when I saw also numbers of horrible snakes so long and +so large that the smallest of them could have swallowed an elephant with +ease. Fortunately for me they seemed to hide in caverns of the rocks by +day, and only came out by night, probably because of their enemy the +roc. + +All day long I wandered up and down the valley, and when it grew dusk I +crept into a little cave, and having blocked up the entrance to it with +a stone, I ate part of my little store of food and lay down to sleep, +but all through the night the serpents crawled to and fro, hissing +horribly, so that I could scarcely close my eyes for terror. I was +thankful when the morning light appeared, and when I judged by the +silence that the serpents had retreated to their dens I came tremblingly +out of my cave and wandered up and down the valley once more, kicking +the diamonds contemptuously out of my path, for I felt that they were +indeed vain things to a man in my situation. At last, overcome with +weariness, I sat down upon a rock, but I had hardly closed my eyes when +I was startled by something which fell to the ground with a thud close +beside me. + +It was a huge piece of fresh meat, and as I stared at it several more +pieces rolled over the cliffs in different places. I had always thought +that the stories the sailors told of the famous valley of diamonds, and +of the cunning way which some merchants had devised for getting at the +precious stones, were mere travellers' tales invented to give pleasure +to the hearers, but now I perceived that they were surely true. These +merchants came to the valley at the time when the eagles, which keep +their eyries in the rocks, had hatched their young. The merchants then +threw great lumps of meat into the valley. These, falling with so much +force upon the diamonds, were sure to take up some of the precious +stones with them, when the eagles pounced upon the meat and carried it +off to their nests to feed their hungry broods. Then the merchants, +scaring away the parent birds with shouts and outcries, would secure +their treasures. Until this moment I had looked upon the valley as my +grave, for I had seen no possibility of getting out of it alive, but now +I took courage and began to devise a means of escape. I began by picking +up all the largest diamonds I could find and storing them carefully in +the leathern wallet which had held my provisions; this I tied securely +to my belt. I then chose the piece of meat which seemed most suited to +my purpose, and with the aid of my turban bound it firmly to my back; +this done I laid down upon my face and awaited the coming of the eagles. +I soon heard the flapping of their mighty wings above me, and had the +satisfaction of feeling one of them seize upon my piece of meat, and me +with it, and rise slowly towards his nest, into which he presently +dropped me. Luckily for me the merchants were on the watch, and setting +up their usual outcries, they rushed to the nest, scaring away the +eagle. Their amazement was great when they discovered me, and also their +disappointment, and with one accord they fell to abusing me for having +robbed them of their usual profit. Addressing myself to the one who +seemed most aggrieved, I said:-- + +"I am sure, if you knew all that I have suffered, you would show more +kindness towards me, and as for diamonds, I have enough here of the very +best for you and me and all your company." So saying I showed them to +him. The others all crowded around me, wondering at my adventures and +admiring the device by which I had escaped from the valley, and when +they had led me to their camp and examined my diamonds, they assured me +that in all the years that they had carried on their trade they had seen +no stones to be compared with them for size and beauty. + +I found that each merchant chose a particular nest, and took his chance +of what he might find in it. So I begged the one who owned the nest to +which I had been carried to take as much as he would of my treasure, but +he contented himself with one stone, and that by no means the largest, +assuring me that with such a gem his fortune was made, and he need toil +no more. I stayed with the merchants several days, and then as they were +journeying homewards I gladly accompanied them. Our way lay across high +mountains infested with frightful serpents, but we had the good luck to +escape them and came at last to the seashore. Thence we sailed to the +isle of Roha, where the camphor-trees grow to such a size that a hundred +men could shelter under one of them with ease. The sap flows from an +incision made high up in the tree into a vessel hung there to receive +it, and soon hardens into the substance called camphor, but the tree +itself withers up and dies when it has been so treated. + +In this same island we saw the rhinoceros, an animal which is smaller +than the elephant and larger than the buffalo. It has one horn about a +cubit long which is solid, but has a furrow from the base to the tip. +Upon it is traced in white lines the figure of a man. The rhinoceros +fights with the elephant, and transfixing him with his horn carries him +off upon his head, but becoming blinded with the blood of his enemy, he +falls helpless to the ground, and then comes the roc, and clutches them +both up in his talons and takes them to feed his young. This doubtless +astonishes you, but if you do not believe my tale go to Roha and see for +yourself. For fear of wearying you I pass over in silence many other +wonderful things which we saw in this island. Before we left I exchanged +one of my diamonds for much goodly merchandise by which I profited +greatly on our homeward way. At last we reached Balsora, whence I +hastened to Bagdad, where my first action was to bestow large sums of +money upon the poor, after which I settled down to enjoy tranquilly the +riches I had gained with so much toil and pain. + +Having thus related the adventures of his second voyage, Sindbad again +bestowed a hundred sequins upon Hindbad, inviting him to come again on +the following day and hear how he fared upon his third voyage. The other +guests also departed to their homes, but all returned at the same hour +next day, including the porter, whose former life of hard work and +poverty had already begun to seem to him like a bad dream. Again after +the feast was over did Sindbad claim the attention of his guests and +began the account of his third voyage. + + + + +THIRD VOYAGE + +After a very short time the pleasant easy life I led made me quite +forget the perils of my two voyages. Moreover, as I was still in the +prime of life, it pleased me better to be up and doing. So once more +providing myself with the rarest and choicest merchandise of Bagdad, I +conveyed it to Balsora, and set sail with other merchants of my +acquaintance for distant lands. We had touched at many ports and made +much profit, when one day upon the open sea we were caught by a terrible +wind which blew us completely out of our reckoning, and lasting for +several days finally drove us into harbor on a strange island. + +"I would rather have come to anchor anywhere than here," quoth our +captain. "This island and all adjoining it are inhabited by hairy +savages, who are certain to attack us, and whatever these dwarfs may do +we dare not resist, since they swarm like locusts, and if one of them is +killed the rest will fall upon us, and speedily make an end of us." + +These words caused great consternation among all the ship's company, and +only too soon we were to find out that the captain spoke truly. There +appeared a vast multitude of hideous savages, not more than two feet +high and covered with reddish fur. Throwing themselves into the waves +they surrounded our vessel. Chattering meanwhile in a language we could +not understand, and clutching at ropes and gangways, they swarmed up the +ship's side with such speed and agility that they almost seemed to fly. + +You may imagine the rage and terror that seized us as we watched them, +neither daring to hinder them nor able to speak a word to deter them +from their purpose, whatever it might be. Of this we were not left long +in doubt. Hoisting the sails, and cutting the cable of the anchor, they +sailed our vessel to an island which lay a little further off, where +they drove us ashore; then taking possession of her, they made off to +the place from which they had come, leaving us helpless upon a shore +avoided with horror by all mariners for a reason which you will soon +learn. + +Turning away from the sea we wandered miserably inland, finding as we +went various herbs and fruits which we ate, feeling that we might as +well live as long as possible though we had no hope of escape. Presently +we saw in the far distance what seemed to us to be a splendid palace, +towards which we turned our weary steps, but when we reached it we saw +that it was a castle, lofty, and strongly built. Pushing back the heavy +ebony doors we entered the courtyard, but upon the threshold of the +great hall beyond it we paused, frozen with horror, at the sight which +greeted us. On one side lay a huge pile of bones--human bones; and on +the other numberless spits for roasting! Overcome with despair we sank +trembling to the ground, and lay there without speech or motion. The sun +was setting when a loud noise aroused us, the door of the hall was +violently burst open and a horrible giant entered. He was as tall as a +palm tree, and perfectly black, and had one eye, which flamed like a +burning coal in the middle of his forehead. His teeth were long and +sharp and grinned horribly, while his lower lip hung down upon his +chest, and he had ears like elephant's ears, which covered his +shoulders, and nails like the claws of some fierce bird. + +At this terrible sight our senses left us and we lay like dead men. When +at last we came to ourselves the giant sat examining us attentively with +his fearful eye. Presently when he had looked at us enough he came +towards us, and stretching out his hand took me by the back of the neck, +turning me this way and that, but feeling that I was mere skin and bone +he set me down again and went on to the next, whom he treated in the +same fashion; at last he came to the captain, and finding him the +fattest of us all, he took him up in one hand and stuck him upon a spit +and proceeded to kindle a huge fire at which he presently roasted him. +After the giant had supped he lay down to sleep, snoring like the +loudest thunder, while we lay shivering with horror the whole night +through, and when day broke he awoke and went out, leaving us in the +castle. + +When we believed him to be really gone we started up bemoaning our +horrible fate, until the hall echoed with our despairing cries. Though +we were many and our enemy was alone it did not occur to us to kill him, +and indeed we should have found that a hard task, even if we had thought +of it, and no plan could we devise to deliver ourselves. So at last, +submitting to our sad fate, we spent the day in wandering up and down +the island eating such fruits as we could find, and when night came we +returned to the castle, having sought in vain for any other place of +shelter. At sunset the giant returned, supped upon one of our unhappy +comrades, slept and snored till dawn, and then left us as before. Our +condition seemed to us so frightful that several of my companions +thought it would be better to leap from the cliffs and perish in the +waves at once, rather than await so miserable an end; but I had a plan +of escape which I now unfolded to them, and which they at once agreed to +attempt. + +"Listen, my brothers," I added. "You know that plenty of driftwood lies +along the shore. Let us make several rafts, and carry them to a suitable +place. If our plot succeeds, we can wait patiently for the chance of +some passing ship which would rescue us from this fatal island. If it +fails, we must quickly take to our rafts; frail as they are, we have +more chance of saving our lives with them than we have if we remain +here." + +All agreed with me, and we spent the day in building rafts, each capable +of carrying three persons. At nightfall we returned to the castle, and +very soon in came the giant, and one more of our number was sacrificed. +But the time of our vengeance was at hand! As soon as he had finished +his horrible repast he lay down to sleep as before, and when we heard +him begin to snore I, and nine of the boldest of my comrades, rose +softly, and took each a spit, which we made red-hot in the fire, and +then at a given signal we plunged it with one accord into the giant's +eye, completely blinding him. Uttering a terrible cry, he sprang to his +feet clutching in all directions to try to seize one of us, but we had +all fled different ways as soon as the deed was done, and thrown +ourselves flat upon the ground in corners where he was not likely to +touch us with his feet. + +After a vain search he fumbled about till he found the door, and fled +out of it howling frightfully. As for us, when he was gone we made haste +to leave the fatal castle, and, stationing ourselves beside our rafts, +we waited to see what would happen. Our idea was that if, when the sun +rose, we saw nothing of the giant, and no longer heard his howls, which +still came faintly through the darkness, growing more and more distant, +we should conclude that he was dead, and that we might safely stay upon +the island and need not risk our lives upon the frail rafts. But alas! +morning light showed us our enemy approaching us, supported on either +hand by two giants nearly as large and fearful as himself, while a crowd +of others followed close upon their heels. Hesitating no longer we +clambered upon our rafts and rowed with all our might out to sea. The +giants, seeing their prey escaping them, seized up huge pieces of rock, +and wading into the water hurled them after us with such good aim that +all the rafts except the one I was upon were swamped, and their luckless +crews drowned, without our being able to do anything to help them. +Indeed I and my two companions had all we could do to keep our own raft +beyond the reach of the giants, but by dint of hard rowing we at last +gained the open sea. Here we were at the mercy of the winds and waves, +which tossed us to and fro all that day and night, but the next morning +we found ourselves near an island, upon which we gladly landed. + +There we found delicious fruits, and having satisfied our hunger we +presently lay down to rest upon the shore. Suddenly we were aroused by a +loud rustling noise, and starting up, saw that it was caused by an +immense snake which was gliding towards us over the sand. So swiftly it +came that it had seized one of my comrades before he had time to fly, +and in spite of his cries and struggles speedily crushed the life out of +him in its mighty coils and proceeded to swallow him. By this time my +other companion and I were running for our lives to some place where we +might hope to be safe from this new horror, and seeing a tall tree we +climbed up into it, having first provided ourselves with a store of +fruit off the surrounding bushes. When night came I fell asleep, but +only to be awakened once more by the terrible snake, which after hissing +horribly round the tree at last reared itself up against it, and finding +my sleeping comrade who was perched just below me, it swallowed him +also, and crawled away leaving me half dead with terror. + +When the sun rose I crept down from the tree with hardly a hope of +escaping the dreadful fate which had overtaken my comrades; but life is +sweet, and I determined to do all I could to save myself. All day long I +toiled with frantic haste and collected quantities of dry brushwood, +reeds and thorns, which I bound with fagots, and making a circle of them +under my tree I piled them firmly one upon another until I had a kind of +tent in which I crouched like a mouse in a hole when she sees the cat +coming. You may imagine what a fearful night I passed, for the snake +returned eager to devour me, and glided round and round my frail shelter +seeking an entrance. Every moment I feared that it would succeed in +pushing aside some of the fagots, but happily for me they held together, +and when it grew light my enemy retired, baffled and hungry, to his den. +As for me I was more dead than alive! Shaking with fright and half +suffocated by the poisonous breath of the monster, I came out of my tent +and crawled down to the sea, feeling that it would be better to plunge +from the cliffs and end my life at once than pass such another night of +horror. But to my joy and relief I saw a ship sailing by, and by +shouting wildly and waving my turban I managed to attract the attention +of her crew. + +A boat was sent to rescue me, and very soon I found myself on board +surrounded by a wondering crowd of sailors and merchants eager to know +by what chance I found myself in that desolate island. After I had told +my story they regaled me with the choicest food the ship afforded, and +the captain, seeing that I was in rags, generously bestowed upon me one +of his own coats. After sailing about for some time and touching at many +ports we came at last to the island of Salahat, where sandal-wood grows +in great abundance. Here we anchored, and as I stood watching the +merchants disembarking their goods and preparing to sell or exchange +them, the captain came up to me and said:-- + +"I have here, brother, some merchandise belonging to a passenger of mine +who is dead. Will you do me the favor to trade with it, and when I meet +with his heirs I shall be able to give them the money, though it will be +only just that you shall have a portion for your trouble." + +I consented gladly, for I did not like standing by idle. Whereupon he +pointed the bales out to me, and sent for the person whose duty it was +to keep a list of the goods that were upon the ship. When this man came +he asked in what name the merchandise was to be registered. + +"In the name of Sindbad the Sailor," replied the captain. + +At this I was greatly surprised, but looking carefully at him I +recognized him to be the captain of the ship upon which I had made my +second voyage, though he had altered much since that time. As for him, +believing me to be dead it was no wonder that he had not recognized me. + +"So, captain," said I, "the merchant who owned those bales was called +Sindbad?" + +"Yes," he replied. "He was so named. He belonged to Bagdad, and joined +my ship at Balsora, but by mischance he was left behind upon a desert +island where we had landed to fill up our water-casks, and it was not +until four hours later that he was missed. By that time the wind had +freshened, and it was impossible to put back for him." + +"You suppose him to have perished then?" said I. + +"Alas! yes," he answered. + +"Why, captain!" I cried, "look well at me. I am that Sindbad who fell +asleep upon the island and awoke to find himself abandoned!" + +The captain stared at me in amazement, but was presently convinced that +I was indeed speaking the truth, and rejoiced greatly at my escape. + +"I am glad to have that piece of carelessness off my conscience at any +rate," said he. "Now take your goods, and the profit I have made for you +upon them, and may you prosper in future." + +I took them gratefully, and as we went from one island to another I laid +in stores of cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. In one place I saw a +tortoise which was twenty cubits long and as many broad, also a fish +that was like a cow and had skin so thick that it was used to make +shields. Another I saw that was like a camel in shape and color. So by +degrees we came back to Balsora, and I returned to Bagdad with so much +money that I could not myself count it, besides treasures without end. I +gave largely to the poor, and bought much land to add to what I already +possessed, and thus ended my third voyage. + +When Sindbad had finished his story he gave another hundred sequins to +Hindbad, who then departed with the other guests, but next day when they +had all reassembled, and the banquet was ended, their host continued his +adventures. + + + + +FOURTH VOYAGE + +Rich and happy as I was after my third voyage, I could not make up my +mind to stay at home altogether. My love of trading, and the pleasure I +took in anything that was new and strange, made me set my affairs in +order, and begin my journey through some of the Persian provinces, +having first sent off stores of goods to await my coming in the +different places I intended to visit. I took ship at a distant seaport, +and for some time all went well, but at last, being caught in a violent +hurricane, our vessel became a total wreck in spite of all our worthy +captain could do to save her, and many of our company perished in the +waves. I, with a few others, had the good fortune to be washed ashore +clinging to pieces of the wreck, for the storm had driven us near an +island, and scrambling up beyond the reach of the waves we threw +ourselves down quite exhausted, to wait for morning. + +At daylight we wandered inland, and soon saw some huts, to which we +directed our steps. As we drew near their black inhabitants swarmed out +in great numbers and surrounded us, and we were led to their houses, and +as it were divided among our captors. I with five others was taken into +a hut, where we were made to sit upon the ground, and certain herbs were +given to us, which the blacks made signs to us to eat. Observing that +they themselves did not touch them, I was careful only to pretend to +taste my portion; but my companions, being very hungry, rashly ate up +all that was set before them, and very soon I had the horror of seeing +them become perfectly mad. Though they chattered incessantly I could not +understand a word they said, nor did they heed when I spoke to them. The +savages now produced large bowls full of rice prepared with cocoanut +oil, of which my crazy comrades ate eagerly, but I only tasted a few +grains, understanding clearly that the object of our captors was to +fatten us speedily for their own eating, and this was exactly what +happened. My unlucky companions having lost their reason, felt neither +anxiety nor fear, and ate greedily all that was offered them. So they +were soon fat and there was an end of them, but I grew leaner day by +day, for I ate but little, and even that little did me no good by reason +of my fear of what lay before me. However, as I was so far from being a +tempting morsel, I was allowed to wander about freely, and one day, when +all the blacks had gone off upon some expedition leaving only an old man +to guard me, I managed to escape from him and plunged into the forest, +running faster the more he cried to me to come back, until I had +completely distanced him. + +For seven days I hurried on, resting only when the darkness stopped me, +and living chiefly upon cocoanuts, which afforded me both meat and +drink, and on the eighth day I reached the sea-shore and saw a party of +white men gathering pepper, which grew abundantly all about. Reassured +by the nature of their occupation, I advanced towards them and they +greeted me in Arabic, asking who I was and whence I came. My delight was +great on hearing this familiar speech, and I willingly satisfied their +curiosity, telling them how I had been shipwrecked, and captured by the +blacks. "But these savages devour men!" said they. "How did you escape?" +I repeated to them what I have just told you, at which they were +mightily astonished. I stayed with them until they had collected as much +pepper as they wished, and then they took me back to their own country +and presented me to their King, by whom I was hospitably received. To +him also I had to relate my adventures, which surprised him much, and +when I had finished he ordered that I should be supplied with food and +raiment and treated with consideration. + +The island on which I found myself was full of people, and abounded in +all sorts of desirable things, and a great deal of traffic went on in +the capital, where I soon began to feel at home and contented. Moreover, +the King treated me with special favor, and in consequence of this +everyone, whether at the court or in the town, sought to make life +pleasant to me. One thing I remarked which I thought very strange; this +was that, from the greatest to the least, all men rode their horses +without bridle or stirrups. I one day presumed to ask his Majesty why he +did not use them, to which he replied, "You speak to me of things of +which I have never before heard!" This gave me an idea. I found a clever +workman and made him cut out under my direction the foundation of a +saddle, which I wadded and covered with choice leather, adorning it with +rich gold embroidery. I then got a locksmith to make me a bit and a pair +of spurs after a pattern that I drew for him, and when all these things +were completed I presented them to the King and showed him how to use +them. When I had saddled one of his horses he mounted it and rode about +quite delighted with the novelty, and to show his gratitude he rewarded +me with large gifts. After this I had to make saddles for all the +principal officers of the King's household, and as they all gave me rich +presents I soon became very wealthy and quite an important person in the +city. + +One day the King sent for me and said, "Sindbad, I am going to ask a +favor of you. Both I and my subjects esteem you, and wish you to end +your days amongst us. Therefore I desire that you will marry a rich and +beautiful lady whom I will find for you, and think no more of your own +country." + +As the King's will was law I accepted the charming bride he presented to +me, and lived happily with her. Nevertheless I had every intention of +escaping at the first opportunity, and going back to Bagdad. Things were +thus going prosperously with me when it happened that the wife of one of +my neighbors, with whom I had struck up quite a friendship, fell ill, +and presently died. I went to his house to offer my consolations, and +found him in the depths of woe. + +"Heaven preserve you," said I, "and send you a long life!" + +"Alas!" he replied, "what is the good of saying that when I have but an +hour left to live!" + +"Come, come!" said I, "surely it is not so bad as all that. I trust that +you may be spared to me for many years." + +"I hope," answered he, "that your life may be long, but as for me, all +is finished. I have set my house in order, and to-day I shall be buried +with my wife. This has been the law upon our island from the earliest +ages--the living husband goes to the grave with his dead wife, the +living wife with her dead husband. So did our fathers, and so must we +do. The law changes not, and all must submit to it!" + +As he spoke the friends and relations of the unhappy pair began to +assemble. The body, decked in rich robes and sparkling with jewels, was +laid upon an open bier, and the procession started, taking its way to a +high mountain at some distance from the city, the wretched husband, +clothed from head to foot in a black mantle, following mournfully. + +When the place of interment was reached the corpse was lowered, just as +it was, into a deep pit. Then the husband, bidding farewell to all his +friends, stretched himself upon another bier, upon which were laid seven +little loaves of bread and a pitcher of water, and he also was let +down-down-down to the depths of the horrible cavern, and then a stone +was laid over the opening, and the melancholy company wended its way +back to the city. + +You may imagine that I was no unmoved spectator of these proceedings; to +all the others it was a thing to which they had been accustomed from +their youth up; but I was so horrified that I could not help telling the +King how it struck me. + +"Sire," I said, "I am more astonished than I can express to you at the +strange custom which exists in your dominions of burying the living with +the dead. In all my travels I have never before met with so cruel and +horrible a law." + +"What would you have, Sindbad?" he replied. "It is the law for +everybody. I myself should be buried with the Queen if she were the +first to die." + +"But, your Majesty," said I, "dare I ask if this law applies to +foreigners also?" + +"Why, yes," replied the king smiling, in what I could but consider a +very heartless manner: "they are no exception to the rule if they have +married in the country." + +When I heard this I went home much cast down, and from that time forward +my mind was never easy. If only my wife's little finger ached I fancied +she was going to die, and sure enough before very long she fell really +ill and in a few days breathed her last. My dismay was great, for it +seemed to me that to be buried alive was even a worse fate than to be +devoured by cannibals, nevertheless there was no escape. The body of my +wife, arrayed in her richest robes and decked with all her jewels, was +laid upon the bier. I followed it, and after me came a great procession, +headed by the king and all his nobles, and in this order we reached the +fatal mountain, which was one of a lofty chain bordering the sea. + +Here I made one more frantic effort to excite the pity of the King and +those who stood by, hoping to save myself even at this last moment, but +it was of no avail. No one spoke to me, they even appeared to hasten +over their dreadful task, and I speedily found myself descending into +the gloomy pit, with my seven loaves and pitcher of water beside me. +Almost before I reached the bottom the stone was rolled into its place +above my head, and I was left to my fate. A feeble ray of light shone +into the cavern through some chink, and when I had the courage to look +about me I could see that I was in a vast vault, bestrewn with bones and +bodies of the dead. I even fancied that I heard the expiring sighs of +those who, like myself, had come into this dismal place alive. All in +vain did I shriek aloud with rage and despair, reproaching myself for +the love of gain and adventure which had brought me to such a pass, but +at length, growing calmer, I took up my bread and water, and wrapping my +face in my mantle I groped my way towards the end of the cavern, where +the air was fresher. + +Here I lived in darkness and misery until my provisions were exhausted, +but just as I was nearly dead from starvation the rock was rolled away +overhead and I saw that a bier was being lowered into the cavern, and +that the corpse upon it was a man. In a moment my mind was made up, the +woman who followed had nothing to expect but a lingering death; I should +be doing her a service if I shortened her misery. Therefore when she +descended, already insensible from terror, I was ready armed with a huge +bone, one blow from which left her dead, and I secured the bread and +water which gave me a hope of life. Several times did I have recourse to +this desperate expedient, and I know not how long I had been a prisoner +when one day I fancied that I heard something near me, which breathed +loudly. Turning to the place from which the sound came I dimly saw a +shadowy form which fled at my movement, squeezing itself through a +cranny in the wall. I pursued it as fast as I could, and found myself in +a narrow crack among the rocks, along which I was just able to force my +way. I followed it for what seemed to me many miles, and at last saw +before me a glimmer of light which grew clearer every moment until I +emerged upon the sea-shore with a joy which I cannot describe. When I +was sure that I was not dreaming, I realized that it was doubtless some +little animal which had found its way into the cavern from the sea, and +when disturbed had fled, showing me a means of escape which I could +never have discovered for myself. I hastily surveyed my surroundings, +and saw that I was safe from all pursuit from the town. + +The mountains sloped sheer down to the sea, and there was no road across +them. Being assured of this I returned to the cavern, and amassed a rich +treasure of diamonds, rubies, emeralds and jewels of all kinds, which +strewed the ground. These I made up into bales, and stored them into a +safe place upon the beach, and then waited hopefully for the passing of +a ship. I had looked out for two days, however, before a single sail +appeared, so it was with much delight that I at last saw a vessel not +very far from the shore, and by waving my arms and uttering loud cries +succeeded in attracting the attention of her crew. A boat was sent off +to me, and in answer to the questions of the sailors as to how I came to +be in such a plight, I replied that I had been shipwrecked two days +before, but had managed to scramble ashore with the bales which I +pointed out to them. Luckily for me they believed my story, and without +even looking at the place where they found me, took up my bundles, and +rowed me back to the ship. Once on board, I soon saw that the captain +was too much occupied with the difficulties of navigation to pay much +heed to me, though he generously made me welcome, and would not even +accept the jewels with which I offered to pay my passage. Our voyage was +prosperous, and after visiting many lands, and collecting in each place +great store of goodly merchandise, I found myself at last in Bagdad once +more with unheard-of riches of every description. Again I gave large +sums of money to the poor, and enriched all the mosques in the city, +after which I gave myself up to my friends and relations, with whom I +passed my time in feasting and merriment. + +Here Sindbad paused, and all his hearers declared that the adventures of +his fourth voyage had pleased them better than anything they had heard +before. They then took their leave, followed by Hindbad, who had once +more received a hundred sequins, and with the rest had been bidden to +return next day for the story of the fifth voyage. + +When the time came all were in their places, and when they had eaten and +drunk of all that was set before them Sindbad began his tale. + + + + +FIFTH VOYAGE + +Not even all that I had gone through could make me contented with a +quiet life. I soon wearied of its pleasures, and longed for change and +adventure. Therefore I set out once more, but this time in a ship of my +own, which I built and fitted out at the nearest seaport. I wished to be +able to call at whatever port I chose, taking my own time; but as I did +not intend carrying enough goods for a full cargo, I invited several +merchants of different nations to join me. We set sail with the first +favorable wind, and after a long voyage upon the open seas we landed +upon an unknown island which proved to be uninhabited. We determined, +however, to explore it, but had not gone far when we found a roc's egg, +as large as the one I had seen before and evidently very nearly hatched, +for the beak of the young bird had already pierced the shell. In spite +of all I could say to deter them, the merchants who were with me fell +upon it with their hatchets, breaking the shell, and killing the young +roc. Then lighting a fire upon the ground they hacked morsels from the +bird, and proceeded to roast them while I stood by aghast. + +Scarcely had they finished their ill-omened repast, when the air above +us was darkened by two mighty shadows. The captain of my ship, knowing +by experience what this meant, cried out to us that the parent birds +were coming, and urged us to get on board with all speed. This we did, +and the sails were hoisted, but before we had made any way the rocs +reached their despoiled nest and hovered about it, uttering frightful +cries when they discovered the mangled remains of their young one. For a +moment we lost sight of them, and were flattering ourselves that we had +escaped, when they reappeared and soared into the air directly over our +vessel, and we saw that each held in its claws an immense rock ready to +crush us. There was a moment of breathless suspense, then one bird +loosed its hold and the huge block of stone hurtled through the air, but +thanks to the presence of mind of the helmsman, who turned our ship +violently in another direction, it fell into the sea close beside us, +cleaving it asunder till we could nearly see the bottom. We had hardly +time to draw a breath of relief before the other rock fell with a mighty +crash right in the midst of our luckless vessel, smashing it into a +thousand fragments, and crushing, or hurling into the sea, passengers +and crew. I myself went down with the rest, but had the good fortune to +rise unhurt, and by holding on to a piece of driftwood with one hand and +swimming with the other I kept myself afloat and was presently washed up +by the tide on to an island. Its shores were steep and rocky, but I +scrambled up safely and threw myself down to rest upon the green turf. + +When I had somewhat recovered I began to examine the spot in which I +found myself, and truly it seemed to me that I had reached a garden of +delights. There were trees everywhere, and they were laden with flowers +and fruit, while a crystal stream wandered in and out under their +shadow. When night came I slept sweetly in a cosey nook, though the +remembrance that I was alone in a strange land made me sometimes start +up and look around me in alarm, and then I wished heartily that I had +stayed at home at ease. However, the morning sunlight restored my +courage, and I once more wandered among the trees, but always with some +anxiety as to what I might see next. I had penetrated some distance into +the island when I saw an old man bent and feeble sitting upon the river +bank, and at first I took him to be some shipwrecked mariner like +myself. Going up to him I greeted him in a friendly way, but he only +nodded his head at me in reply. I then asked what he did there, and he +made signs to me that he wished to get across the river to gather some +fruit, and seemed to beg me to carry him on my back. Pitying his age and +feebleness, I took him up, and wading across the stream I bent down that +he might more easily reach the bank, and bade him get down. But instead +of allowing himself to be set upon his feet (even now it makes me laugh +to think of it!), this creature who had seemed to me so decrepit leaped +nimbly upon my shoulders, and hooking his legs round my neck gripped me +so tightly that I was well-nigh choked, and so overcome with terror that +I fell insensible to the ground. When I recovered my enemy was still in +his place, though he had released his hold enough to allow me breathing +space, and seeing me revive he prodded me adroitly first with one foot +and then with the other, until I was forced to get up and stagger about +with him under the trees while he gathered and ate the choicest fruits. +This went on all day, and even at night, when I threw myself down half +dead with weariness, the terrible old man held on tight to my neck, nor +did he fail to greet the first glimmer of morning light by drumming upon +me with his heels, until I perforce awoke and resumed my dreary march +with rage and bitterness in my heart. + +It happened one day that I passed a tree under which lay several dry +gourds, and catching one up I amused myself with scooping out its +contents and pressing into it the juice of several bunches of grapes +which hung from every bush. When it was full I left it propped in the +fork of a tree, and a few days later, carrying the hateful old man that +way, I snatched at my gourd as I passed it and had the satisfaction of a +draught of excellent wine so good and refreshing that I even forgot my +detestable burden, and began to sing and caper. + +The old monster was not slow to perceive the effect which my draught had +produced and that I carried him more lightly than usual, so he stretched +out his skinny hand and seizing the gourd first tasted its contents +cautiously, then drained them to the very last drop. The wine was strong +and the gourd capacious, so he also began to sing after a fashion, and +soon I had the delight of feeling the iron grip of his goblin legs +unclasp, and with one vigorous effort I threw him to the ground, from +which he never moved again. I was so rejoiced to have at last got rid of +this uncanny old man that I ran leaping and bounding down to the +sea-shore, where, by the greatest good luck, I met with some mariners +who had anchored off the island to enjoy the delicious fruits, and to +renew their supply of water. + +They heard the story of my escape with amazement, saying, "You fell into +the hands of the Old Man of the Sea, and it is a mercy that he did not +strangle you as he has everyone else upon whose shoulders he has managed +to perch himself. This island is well-known as the scene of his evil +deeds, and no merchant or sailor who lands upon it cares to stray far +away from his comrades." After we had talked for awhile they took me +back with them on board their ship, where the captain received me +kindly, and we soon set sail, and after several days reached a large and +prosperous-looking town where all the houses were built of stone. Here +we anchored, and one of the merchants, who had been very friendly to me +on the way, took me ashore with him and showed me a lodging set apart +for strange merchants. He then provided me with a large sack, and +pointed out to me a party of others equipped in like manner. + +"Go with them," said he, "and do as they do, but beware of losing sight +of them, for if you strayed your life would be in danger." + +With that he supplied me with provisions, and bade me farewell, and I +set out with my new companions. I soon learnt that the object of our +expedition was to fill our sacks with cocoa-nuts, but when at length I +saw the trees and noted their immense height and the slippery smoothness +of their slender trunks, I did not at all understand how we were to do +it. The crowns of the cocoa-palms were all alive with monkeys, big and +little, which skipped from one to the other with surprising agility, +seeming to be curious about us and disturbed at our appearance, and I +was at first surprised when my companions after collecting stones began +to throw them at the lively creatures, which seemed to me quite +harmless. But very soon I saw the reason of it and joined them heartily, +for the monkeys, annoyed and wishing to pay us back in our own coin, +began to tear the nuts from the trees and cast them at us with angry and +spiteful gestures, so that after very little labor our sacks were filled +with the fruit which we could not otherwise have obtained. + +As soon as we had as many as we could carry we went back to the town, +where my friend bought my share and advised me to continue the same +occupation until I had earned money enough to carry me to my own +country. This I did, and before long had amassed a considerable sum. +Just then I heard that there was a trading ship ready to sail, and +taking leave of my friend I went on board, carrying with me a goodly +store of cocoanuts; and we sailed first to the islands where pepper +grows, then to Comari where the best aloes-wood is found, and where men +drink no wine by an unalterable law. Here I exchanged my nuts for pepper +and good aloes-wood, and went a-fishing for pearls with some of the +other merchants, and my divers were so lucky that very soon I had an +immense number, and those very large and perfect. With all these +treasures I came joyfully back to Bagdad, where I disposed of them for +large sums of money, of which I did not fail as before to give the tenth +part to the poor, and after that I rested from my labors and comforted +myself with all the pleasures that my riches could give me. + +Having thus ended his story, Sindbad ordered that one hundred sequins +should be given to Hindbad, and the guests then withdrew; but after the +next day's feast he began the account of his sixth voyage as follows. + + + + +SIXTH VOYAGE + +It must be a marvel to you how, after having five times met with +shipwreck and unheard-of perils, I could again tempt fortune and risk +fresh trouble. I am even surprised myself when I look back, but +evidently it was my fate to rove, and after a year of repose I prepared +to make a sixth voyage, regardless of the entreaties of my friends and +relations, who did all they could to keep me at home. Instead of going +by the Persian Gulf, I travelled a considerable way overland, and +finally embarked from a distant Indian port with a captain who meant to +make a long voyage. And truly he did so, for we fell in with stormy +weather which drove us completely out of our course, so that for many +days neither captain nor pilot knew where we were, nor where we were +going. When they did at last discover our position we had small ground +for rejoicing, for the captain, casting his turban upon the deck and +tearing his beard, declared that we were in the most dangerous spot upon +the whole wide sea, and had been caught by a current which was at that +moment sweeping us to destruction. It was too true! In spite of all the +sailors could do we were driven with frightful rapidity towards the foot +of a mountain, which rose sheer out of the sea, and our vessel was +dashed to pieces upon the rocks at its base, not, however, until we had +managed to scramble on shore, carrying with us the most precious of our +possessions. When we had done this the captain said to us:-- + +"Now we are here we may as well begin to dig our graves at once, since +from this fatal spot no shipwrecked mariner has ever returned." + +This speech discouraged us much, and we began to lament over our sad +fate. + +The mountain formed the seaward boundary of a large island, and the +narrow strip of rocky shore upon which we stood was strewn with the +wreckage of a thousand gallant ships, while the bones of the luckless +mariners shone white in the sunshine, and we shuddered to think how soon +our own would be added to the heap. All around, too, lay vast quantities +of the costliest merchandise, and treasures were heaped in every cranny +of the rocks, but all these things only added to the desolation of the +scene. It struck me as a very strange thing that a river of clear fresh +water, which gushed out from the mountain not far from where we stood, +instead of flowing into the sea as rivers generally do, turned off +sharply, and flowed out of sight under a natural archway of rock, and +when I went to examine it more closely I found that inside the cave the +walls were thick with diamonds, rubies, and masses of crystal, and the +floor was strewn with ambergris. Here, then, upon this desolate shore we +abandoned ourselves to our fate, for there was no possibility of scaling +the mountain, and if a ship had appeared it could only have shared our +doom. The first thing our captain did was to divide equally amongst us +all the food we possessed, and then the length of each man's life +depended on the time he could make his portion last. I myself could live +upon very little. + +Nevertheless, by the time I had buried the last of my companions my +stock of provisions was so small that I hardly thought I should live +long enough to dig my own grave, which I set about doing, while I +regretted bitterly the roving disposition which was always bringing me +into such straits, and thought longingly of all the comfort and luxury +that I had left. But luckily for me the fancy took me to stand once more +beside the river where it plunged out of sight in the depths of the +cavern, and as I did so an idea struck me. This river which hid itself +underground doubtless emerged again at some distant spot. Why should I +not build a raft and trust myself to its swiftly flowing waters? If I +perished before I could reach the light of day once more I should be no +worse off than I was now, for death stared me in the face, while there +was always the possibility that, as I was born under a lucky star, I +might find myself safe and sound in some desirable land. I decided at +any rate to risk it, and speedily built myself a stout raft of +drift-wood with strong cords, of which enough and to spare lay strewn +upon the beach. I then made up many packages of rubies, emeralds, rock +crystal, ambergris, and precious stuffs, and bound them upon my raft, +being careful to preserve the balance, and then I seated myself upon it, +having two small oars that I had fashioned laid ready to my hand, and +loosed the cord which held it to the bank. Once out in the current my +raft flew swiftly under the gloomy archway, and I found myself in total +darkness, carried smoothly forward by the rapid river. On I went as it +seemed to me for many nights and days. Once the channel became so small +that I had a narrow escape of being crushed against the rocky roof, and +after that I took the precaution of lying flat upon my precious bales. +Though I only ate what was absolutely necessary to keep myself alive, +the inevitable moment came when, after swallowing my last morsel of +food, I began to wonder if I must after all die of hunger. Then, worn +out with anxiety and fatigue, I fell into a deep sleep, and when I again +opened my eyes I was once more in the light of day; a beautiful country +lay before me, and my raft, which was tied to the river bank, was +surrounded by friendly looking black men. I rose and saluted them, and +they spoke to me in return, but I could not understand a word of their +language. Feeling perfectly bewildered by my sudden return to life and +light, I murmured to myself in Arabic, "Close thine eyes, and while thou +sleepest Heaven will change thy fortune from evil to good." + +One of the natives, who understood this tongue, then came forward +saying:-- + +"My brother, be not surprised to see us; this is our land, and as we +came to get water from the river we noticed your raft floating down it, +and one of us swam out and brought you to the shore. We have waited for +your awakening; tell us now whence you come and where you were going by +that dangerous way?" + +I replied that nothing would please me better than to tell them, but +that I was starving, and would fain eat something first. I was soon +supplied with all I needed, and having satisfied my hunger I told them +faithfully all that had befallen me. They were lost in wonder at my tale +when it was interpreted to them, and said that adventures so surprising +must be related to their King only by the man to whom they had happened. +So, procuring a horse, they mounted me upon it, and we set out, followed +by several strong men carrying my raft just as it was upon their +shoulders. In this order we marched into the city of Serendib, where the +natives presented me to their King, whom I saluted in the Indian +fashion, prostrating myself at his feet and kissing the ground; but the +monarch bade me rise and sit beside him, asking first what was my name. + +"I am Sindbad," I replied, "whom men call 'the Sailor,' for I have +voyaged much upon many seas." + +"And how came you here?" asked the King. + +I told my story, concealing nothing, and his surprise and delight were +so great that he ordered my adventures to be written in letters of gold +and laid up in the archives of his kingdom. + +Presently my raft was brought in and the bales opened in his presence, +and the king declared that in all his treasury there were no such rubies +and emeralds as those which lay in great heaps before him. Seeing that +he looked at them with interest, I ventured to say that I myself and all +that I had were at his disposal, but he answered me smiling:-- + +"Nay, Sindbad. Heaven forbid that I should covet your riches; I will +rather add to them, for I desire that you shall not leave my kingdom +without some tokens of my good-will." He then commanded his officers to +provide me with a suitable lodging at his expense, and sent slaves to +wait upon me and carry my raft and my bales to my new dwelling-place. +You may imagine that I praised his generosity and gave him grateful +thanks, nor did I fail to present myself daily in his audience-chamber, +and for the rest of my time I amused myself in seeing all that was most +worthy of attention in the city. The island of Serendib being situated +on the equinoctial line, the days and nights there are of equal length. +The chief city is placed at the end of a beautiful valley, formed by the +highest mountain in the world, which is in the middle of the island. I +had the curiosity to ascend to its very summit, for this was the place +to which Adam was banished out of Paradise. Here are found rubies and +many precious things, and rare plants grow abundantly, with cedar-trees +and cocoa-palms. On the sea-shore and at the mouths of the rivers the +divers seek for pearls, and in some valleys diamonds are plentiful. +After many days I petitioned the King that I might return to my own +country, to which he graciously consented. Moreover, he loaded me with +rich gifts, and when I went to take leave of him he intrusted me with a +royal present and a letter to the Commander of the Faithful, our +sovereign lord, saying, "I pray you give these to the Caliph +Harun-al-Rashid, and assure him of my friendship." + +I accepted the charge respectfully, and soon embarked upon the vessel +which the King himself had chosen for me. The King's letter was written +in blue characters upon a rare and precious skin of yellowish color, and +these were the words of it: "The King of the Indies, before whom walk a +thousand elephants, who lives in a palace, of which the roof blazes with +a hundred thousand rubies, and whose treasure-house contains twenty +thousand diamond crowns, to the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid sends greeting. +Though the offering we present to you is unworthy of your notice, we +pray you to accept it as a mark of the esteem and friendship which we +cherish for you, and of which we gladly send you this token, and we ask +of you a like regard if you deem us worthy of it. Adieu, brother." + +The present consisted of a vase carved from a single ruby, six inches +high and as thick as my finger; this was filled with the choicest +pearls, large, and of perfect shape and lustre; secondly, a huge +snake-skin, with scales as large as a sequin, which would preserve from +sickness those who slept upon it. Then quantities of aloes-wood, +camphor, and pistachio-nuts; and lastly, a beautiful slave-girl, whose +robes glittered with precious stones. + +After a long and prosperous voyage we landed at Balsora, and I made +haste to reach Bagdad, and taking the King's letter I presented myself +at the palace gate, followed by the beautiful slave, and various members +of my own family, bearing the treasure. + +As soon as I had declared my errand I was conducted into the presence of +the Caliph, to whom, after I had made my obeisance, I gave the letter +and the King's gift, and when he had examined them he demanded of me +whether the Prince of Serendib was really as rich and powerful as he +claimed to be. + +"Commander of the Faithful," I replied, again bowing humbly before him, +"I can assure your Majesty that he has in no way exaggerated his wealth +and grandeur. Nothing can equal the magnificence of his palace. When he +goes abroad his throne is prepared upon the back of an elephant, and on +either side of him ride his ministers, his favorites, and courtiers. On +his elephant's neck sits an officer, his golden lance in his hand, and +behind him stands another bearing a pillar of gold, at the top of which +is an emerald as long as my hand. A thousand men in cloth of gold, +mounted upon richly caparisoned elephants, go before him, and as the +procession moves onward the officer who guides his elephant cries aloud, +'Behold the mighty monarch, the powerful and valiant Sultan of the +Indies, whose palace is covered with a hundred thousand rubies, who +possesses twenty thousand diamond crowns. Behold a monarch greater than +Solomon and Mihrage in all their glory!' + +"Then the one who stands behind the throne answers: 'This king, so great +and powerful, must die, must die, must die!' + +"And the first takes up the chant again, 'All praise to Him who lives +for evermore.' + +"Further, my lord, in Serendib no judge is needed, for to the King +himself his people come for justice." + +The Caliph was well satisfied with my report. + +"From the King's letter," said he, "I judged that he was a wise man. It +seems that he is worthy of his people, and his people of him." + +So saying he dismissed me with rich presents, and I returned in peace to +my own house. + +When Sindbad had done speaking his guests withdrew, Hindbad having first +received a hundred sequins, but all returned next day to hear the story +of the seventh voyage. + + + + +SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE + +After my sixth voyage I was quite determined that I would go to sea no +more. I was now of an age to appreciate a quiet life, and I had run +risks enough. I only wished to end my days in peace. One day, however, +when I was entertaining a number of my friends, I was told that an +officer of the Caliph wished to speak to me, and when he was admitted he +bade me to follow him into the presence of Harun-al-Rashid, which I +accordingly did. After I had saluted him, the Caliph said:-- + +"I have sent for you, Sindbad, because I need your services. I have +chosen you to bear a letter and a gift to the King of Serendib in return +for his message of friendship." + +The Caliph's commandment fell upon me like a thunderbolt. + +"Commander of the Faithful," I answered, "I am ready to do all that your +Majesty commands, but I humbly pray you to remember that I am utterly +disheartened by the unheard-of sufferings I have undergone. Indeed, I +have made a vow never again to leave Bagdad." + +With this I gave him a long account of some of my strangest adventures, +to which he listened patiently. + +"I admit," said he, "that you have indeed had some extraordinary +experiences, but I do not see why they should hinder you from doing as I +wish. You have only to go straight to Serendib and give my message, then +you are free to come back and do as you will. But go you must; my honor +and dignity demand it." + +Seeing that there was no help for it, I declared myself willing to obey; +and the Caliph, delighted at having got his own way, gave me a thousand +sequins for the expenses of the voyage. I was soon ready to start, and +taking the letter and the present I embarked at Balsora, and sailed +quickly and safely to Serendib. Here, when I had disclosed my errand, I +was well received, and brought into the presence of the king, who +greeted me with joy. + +"Welcome, Sindbad," he cried. "I have thought of you often, and rejoice +to see you once more." + +After thanking him for the honor that he did me, I displayed the +Caliph's gifts. First a bed with complete hangings all cloth of gold, +which cost a thousand sequins, and another like to it of crimson stuff. +Fifty robes of rich embroidery, a hundred of the finest white linen from +Cairo, Suez, Cufa, and Alexandria. Then more beds of different fashion, +and an agate vase carved with the figure of a man aiming an arrow at a +lion, and finally a costly table, which had once belonged to King +Solomon. The King of Serendib received with satisfaction the assurance +of the Caliph's friendliness towards him, and now my task being +accomplished I was anxious to depart, but it was some time before the +king would think of letting me go. At last, however, he dismissed me +with many presents, and I lost no time in going on board a ship, which +sailed at once, and for four days all went well. On the fifth day we had +the misfortune to fall in with pirates, who seized our vessel, killing +all who resisted, and making prisoners of those who were prudent enough +to submit at once, of whom I was one. When they had despoiled us of all +we possessed, they forced us to put on vile raiment, and sailing to a +distant island there sold us for slaves. I fell into the hands of a rich +merchant, who took me home with him, and clothed and fed me well, and +after some days sent for me and questioned me as to what I could do. + +I answered that I was a rich merchant who had been captured by pirates, +and therefore I knew no trade. + +"Tell me," said he, "can you shoot with a bow?" + +I replied that this had been one of the pastimes of my youth, and that +doubtless with practice my skill would come back to me. + +Upon this he provided me with a bow and arrows, and mounting me with him +upon his own elephant took the way to a vast forest which lay far from +the town. When we had reached the wildest part of it we stopped, and my +master said to me: "This forest swarms with elephants. Hide yourself in +this great tree, and shoot at all that pass you. When you have succeeded +in killing one come and tell me." + +So saying he gave me a supply of food, and returned to the town, and I +perched myself high up in the tree and kept watch. That night I saw +nothing, but just after sunrise the next morning a large herd of +elephants came crashing and trampling by. I lost no time in letting fly +several arrows, and at last one of the great animals fell to the ground +dead, and the others retreated, leaving me free to come down from my +hiding-place and run back to tell my master of my success, for which I +was praised and regaled with good things. Then we went back to the +forest together and dug a mighty trench in which we buried the elephant +I had killed, in order that when it became a skeleton my master might +return and secure its tusks. + +For two months I hunted thus, and no day passed without my securing an +elephant. Of course I did not always station myself in the same tree, +but sometimes in one place, sometimes in another. One morning as I +watched the coming of the elephants I was surprised to see that, instead +of passing the tree I was in, as they usually did, they paused, and +completely surrounded it, trumpeting horribly, and shaking the very +ground with their heavy tread, and when I saw that their eyes were fixed +upon me I was terrified, and my arrows dropped from my trembling hand. I +had indeed good reason for my terror when, an instant later, the largest +of the animals wound his trunk round the stem of my tree, and with one +mighty effort tore it up by the roots, bringing me to the ground +entangled in its branches. I thought now that my last hour was surely +come, but the huge creature, picking me up gently enough, set me upon +its back, where I clung more dead than alive, and followed by the whole +herd turned and crashed off into the dense forest. It seemed to me a +long time before I was once more set upon my feet by the elephant, and I +stood as if in a dream watching the herd, which turned and trampled off +in another direction, and were soon hidden in the dense underwood. Then, +recovering myself, I looked about me, and found that I was standing upon +the side of a great hill, strewn as far as I could see on either hand +with bones and tusks of elephants. "This then must be the elephants' +burying-place," I said to myself, "and they must have brought me here +that I might cease to persecute them, seeing that I want nothing but +their tusks, and here lie more than I could carry away in a lifetime." + +Whereupon I turned and made for the city as fast as I could go, not +seeing a single elephant by the way, which convinced me that they had +retired deeper into the forest to leave the way open to the Ivory Hill, +and I did not know how sufficiently to admire their sagacity. After a +day and a night I reached my master's house, and was received by him +with joyful surprise. + +"Ah! poor Sindbad," he cried, "I was wondering what could have become of +you. When I went to the forest I found the tree newly uprooted, and the +arrows lying beside it, and I feared I should never see you again. Pray +tell me how you escaped death." + +I soon satisfied his curiosity, and the next day we went together to the +Ivory Hill, and he was overjoyed to find that I had told him nothing but +the truth. When we had loaded our elephant with as many tusks as it +could carry and were on our way back to the city, he said:-- + +"My brother--since I can no longer treat as a slave one who has enriched +me thus--take your liberty, and may Heaven prosper you. I will no longer +conceal from you that these wild elephants have killed numbers of our +slaves every year. No matter what good advice we gave them, they were +caught sooner or later. You alone have escaped the wiles of these +animals, therefore you must be under the special protection of Heaven. +Now through you the whole town will be enriched without further loss of +life, therefore you shall not only receive your liberty, but I will also +bestow a fortune upon you." + +To which I replied, "Master, I thank you, and wish you all prosperity. +For myself I only ask liberty to return to my own country." + +"It is well," he answered, "the monsoon will soon bring the ivory ships +hither, then I will send you on your way with somewhat to pay your +passage." + +So I stayed with him till the time of the monsoon, and every day we +added to our store of ivory till all his warehouses were overflowing +with it. By this time the other merchants knew the secret, but there was +enough and to spare for all. When the ships at last arrived my master +himself chose the one in which I was to sail, and put on board for me a +great store of choice provisions, also ivory in abundance, and all the +costliest curiosities of the country, for which I could not thank him +enough, and so we parted. I left the ship at the first port we came to, +not feeling at ease upon the sea after all that had happened to me by +reason of it, and having disposed of my ivory for much gold, and bought +many rare and costly presents, I loaded my pack animals, and joined a +caravan of merchants. Our journey was long and tedious, but I bore it +patiently, reflecting that at least I had not to fear tempests, nor +pirates, nor serpents, nor any of the other perils from which I had +suffered before, and at length we reached Bagdad. My first care was to +present myself before the Caliph, and give him an account of my embassy. +He assured me that my long absence had disquieted him much, but he had +nevertheless hoped for the best. As to my adventure among the elephants +he heard it with amazement, declaring that he could not have believed it +had not my truthfulness been well-known to him. + +By his orders this story and the others I had told him were written by +his scribes in letters of gold, and laid up among his treasures. I took +my leave of him, well satisfied with the honors and rewards he bestowed +upon me; and since that time I have rested from my labors, and given +myself up wholly to my family and my friends. + +Thus Sindbad ended the story of his seventh and last voyage, and turning +to Hindbad he added:-- + +"Well, my friend, and what do you think now? Have you ever heard of +anyone who has suffered more, or had more narrow escapes than I have? Is +it not just that I should now enjoy a life of ease and tranquillity?" + +Hindbad drew near, and kissing his hand respectfully, replied, "Sir, you +have indeed known fearful perils; my troubles have been nothing compared +to yours. Moreover, the generous use you make of your wealth proves that +you deserve it. May you live long and happily in the enjoyment of it." + +Sindbad then gave him a hundred sequins, and henceforward counted him +among his friends; also he caused him to give up his profession as a +porter, and to eat daily at his table that he might all his life +remember Sindbad the Sailor. + + + + +ALADDIN'S WONDERFUL LAMP + +There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin, a +careless, idle boy, who would do nothing but play all day long in the +streets with little idle boys like himself. This so grieved the father +that he died; yet, in spite of his mother's tears and prayers, Aladdin +did not mend his ways. One day, when he was playing in the streets as +usual, a stranger asked him his age, and if he were not the son of +Mustapha the tailor. + +"I am, sir," replied Aladdin; "but he died a long while ago." + +On this the stranger, who was a famous African magician, fell on his +neck and kissed him, saying: "I am your uncle, and knew you from your +likeness to my brother. Go to your mother and tell her I am coming." + +Aladdin ran home, and told his mother of his newly-found uncle. + +"Indeed, child," she said, "your father had a brother, but I always +thought he was dead." + +However, she prepared supper, and bade Aladdin seek his uncle, who came +laden with wine and fruit. He presently fell down and kissed the place +where Mustapha used to sit, bidding Aladdin's mother not to be surprised +at not having seen him before, as he had been forty years out of the +country. He then turned to Aladdin and asked him his trade, at which the +boy hung his head, while his mother burst into tears. On learning that +Aladdin was idle and would learn no trade, he offered to take a shop for +him and stock it with merchandise. Next day he bought Aladdin a fine +suit of clothes, and took him all over the city, showing him the sights, +and brought him home at nightfall to his mother, who was overjoyed to +see her son so fine. + +Next day the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens a long way +outside the city gates. They sat down by a fountain, and the magician +pulled a cake from his girdle, which he divided between them. They then +journeyed onwards till they almost reached the mountains. Aladdin was so +tired that he begged to go back, but the magician beguiled him with +pleasant stories, and led him on in spite of himself. + +At last they came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley. + +"We will go no farther," said the false uncle. "I will show you +something wonderful; only do you gather up sticks while I kindle a +fire." + +When it was lit the magician threw on it a powder he had about him, at +the same time saying some magical words. The earth trembled a little and +opened in front of them, disclosing a square flat stone with a brass +ring in the middle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to run away, but the +magician caught him and gave him a blow that knocked him down. + +"What have I done, uncle?" he said piteously; whereupon the magician +said more kindly: "Fear nothing, but obey me. Beneath this stone lies a +treasure which is to be yours, and no one else may touch it, so you must +do exactly as I tell you." + +At the word treasure, Aladdin forgot his fears, and grasped the ring as +he was told, saying the names of his father and grandfather. The stone +came up quite easily and some steps appeared. + +"Go down," said the magician; "at the foot of those steps you will find +an open door leading into three large halls. Tuck up your gown and go +through them without touching anything, or you will die instantly. These +halls lead into a garden of fine fruit-trees. Walk on till you come to a +niche in a terrace where stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it +contains and bring it to me." + +He drew a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him +prosper. + +Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered some fruit +off the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of the +cave. The magician cried out in a great hurry:-- + +"Make haste and give me the lamp." This Aladdin refused to do until he +was out of the cave. The magician flew into a terrible passion, and +throwing some more powder on the fire, he said something, and the stone +rolled back into its place. + +The magician left Persia forever, which plainly showed that he was no +uncle of Aladdin's, but a cunning magician who had read in his magic +books of a wonderful lamp, which would make him the most powerful man in +the world. Though he alone knew where to find it, he could only receive +it from the hand of another. He had picked out the foolish Aladdin for +this purpose, intending to get the lamp and kill him afterwards. + +For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting. At last +he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring, which +the magician had forgotten to take from him. Immediately an enormous and +frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying:-- + +"What wouldst thou with me? I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey +thee in all things." + +Aladdin fearlessly replied: "Deliver me from this place!" whereupon the +earth opened, and he found himself outside. As soon as his eyes could +bear the light he went home, but fainted on the threshold. When he came +to himself he told his mother what had passed, and showed her the lamp +and the fruits he had gathered in the garden, which were in reality +precious stones. He then asked for some food. + +"Alas! child," she said, "I have nothing in the house, but I have spun a +little cotton and will go and sell it." + +Aladdin bade her keep her cotton, for he would sell the lamp instead. As +it was very dirty she began to rub it, that it might fetch a higher +price. Instantly a hideous genie appeared, and asked what she would +have. She fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly:-- + +"Fetch me something to eat!" + +The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containing +rich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles of wine. Aladdin's mother, +when she came to herself, said:-- + +"Whence comes this splendid feast?" + +"Ask not, but eat," replied Aladdin. + +So they sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told his +mother about the lamp. She begged him to sell it, and have nothing to do +with devils. + +"No," said Aladdin, "since chance has made us aware of its virtues, we +will use it and the ring likewise, which I shall always wear on my +finger." When they had eaten all the genie had brought, Aladdin sold one +of the silver plates, and so on till none was left. He then had recourse +to the genie, who gave him another set of plates, and thus they lived +for many years. + +One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed that everyone +was to stay at home and close his shutters while the princess, his +daughter, went to and from the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire to +see her face, which was very difficult, as she always went veiled. He +hid himself behind the door of the bath, and peeped through a chink. The +princess lifted her veil as she went in, and looked so beautiful that +Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He went home so changed +that his mother was frightened. He told her he loved the princess so +deeply that he could not live without her, and meant to ask her in +marriage of her father. His mother, on hearing this, burst out laughing, +but Aladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before the Sultan and carry +his request. She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magic fruits from +the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like the most beautiful +jewels. She took these with her to please the Sultan, and set out, +trusting in the lamp. The grand-vizir and the lords of council had just +gone in as she entered the hall and placed herself in front of the +Sultan. He, however, took no notice of her. She went every day for a +week, and stood in the same place. + +When the council broke up on the sixth day the Sultan said to his vizir: +"I see a certain woman in the audience-chamber every day carrying +something in a napkin. Call her next time, that I may find out what she +wants." + +Next day, at a sign from the vizir, she went up to the foot of the +throne, and remained kneeling till the Sultan said to her: "Rise, good +woman, and tell me what you want." + +She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away all but the vizir, and bade her +speak freely, promising to forgive her beforehand for anything she might +say. She then told him of her son's violent love for the princess. + +"I prayed him to forget her," she said, "but in vain; he threatened to +do some desperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for the +hand of the princess. Now I pray you to forgive not me alone, but my son +Aladdin." + +The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the napkin, whereupon she +unfolded the jewels and presented them. + +He was thunderstruck, and turning to the vizir said: "What sayest thou? +Ought I not to bestow the princess on one who values her at such a +price?" + +The vizir, who wanted her for his own son, begged the Sultan to withhold +her for three months, in the course of which he hoped his son would +contrive to make him a richer present. The Sultan granted this, and told +Aladdin's mother that, though he consented to the marriage, she must not +appear before him again for three months. + +Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after two had +elapsed his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found everyone +rejoicing, and asked what was going on. + +"Do you not know," was the answer, "that the son of the grand-vizir is +to marry the Sultan's daughter to-night?" + +Breathless, she ran and told Aladdin, who was overwhelmed at first, but +presently bethought him of the lamp. He rubbed it, and the genie +appeared, saying: "What is thy will?" + +Aladdin replied: "The Sultan, as thou knowest, has broken his promise to +me, and the vizir's son is to have the princess. My command is that +to-night you bring hither the bride and bridegroom." + +"Master, I obey," said the genie. + +Aladdin then went to his chamber, where, sure enough at midnight the +genie transported the bed containing the vizir's son and the princess. + +"Take this new-married man," he said, "and put him outside in the cold, +and return at daybreak." + +Whereupon the genie took the vizir's son out of bed, leaving Aladdin +with the princess. + +"Fear nothing," Aladdin said to her; "you are my wife, promised to me by +your unjust father, and no harm shall come to you." + +The princess was too frightened to speak, and passed the most miserable +night of her life, while Aladdin lay down beside her and slept soundly. +At the appointed hour the genie fetched in the shivering bridegroom, +laid him in his place, and transported the bed back to the palace. + +Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter good-morning. The unhappy +vizir's son jumped up and hid himself, while the princess would not say +a word, and was very sorrowful. + +The Sultan sent her mother to her, who said: "How comes it, child, that +you will not speak to your father? What has happened?" + +The princess sighed deeply, and at last told her mother how, during the +night, the bed had been carried into some strange house, and what had +passed there. Her mother did not believe her in the least, but bade her +rise and consider it an idle dream. + +The following night exactly the same thing happened, and next morning, +on the princess's refusing to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut off +her head. She then confessed all, bidding him ask the vizir's son if it +were not so. The Sultan told the vizir to ask his son, who owned the +truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the princess, he had rather die +than go through another such fearful night, and wished to be separated +from her. His wish was granted, and there was an end of feasting and +rejoicing. + +When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the +Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and the +Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent for +her. On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt less inclined than ever to +keep his word, and asked the vizir's advice, who counselled him to set +so high a value on the princess that no man living could come up to it. + +The Sultan then turned to Aladdin's mother, saying: "Good woman, a +Sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but your +son must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of jewels, carried +by forty black slaves, led by as many white ones, splendidly dressed. +Tell him that I await his answer." The mother of Aladdin bowed low and +went home, thinking all was lost. + +She gave Aladdin the message, adding: "He may wait long enough for your +answer!" + +"Not so long, mother, as you think," her son replied. "I would do a +great deal more than that for the princess." He summoned the genie, and +in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived, and filled up the small +house and garden. + +Aladdin made them set out to the palace, two and two, followed by his +mother. They were so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels in their +girdles, that everyone crowded to see them and the basins of gold they +carried on their heads. + +They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan, stood in +a half-circle round the throne with their arms crossed, while Aladdin's +mother presented them to the Sultan. + +He hesitated no longer, but said: "Good woman, return and tell your son +that I wait for him with open arms." + +She lost no time in telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste. But Aladdin +first called the genie. + +"I want a scented bath," he said, "a richly embroidered habit, a horse +surpassing the Sultan's, and twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this, +six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, ten +thousand pieces of gold in ten purses." + +No sooner said than done. Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through +the streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went. Those who had played +with him in his childhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome. + +When the Sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced him, and +led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intending to marry him to +the princess that very day. + +But Aladdin refused, saying, "I must build a palace fit for her," and +took his leave. + +Once home he said to the genie: "Build me a palace of the finest marble, +set with jasper, agate, and other precious stones. In the middle you +shall build me a large hall with a dome, its four walls of massy gold +and silver, each side having six windows, whose lattices, all except +one, which is to be left unfinished, must be set with diamonds and +rubies. There must be stables and horses and grooms and slaves; go and +see about it!" + +The palace was finished by next day, and the genie carried him there and +showed him all his orders faithfully carried out, even to the laying of +a velvet carpet from Aladdin's palace to the Sultan's. Aladdin's mother +then dressed herself carefully, and walked to the palace with her +slaves, while he followed her on horseback. The Sultan sent musicians +with trumpets and cymbals to meet them, so that the air resounded with +music and cheers. She was taken to the princess, who saluted her and +treated her with great honor. At night the princess said good-by to her +father, and set out on the carpet for Aladdin's palace, with his mother +at her side, and followed by the hundred slaves. She was charmed at the +sight of Aladdin, who ran to receive her. + +"Princess," he said, "blame your beauty for my boldness if I have +displeased you." + +She told him that, having seen him, she willingly obeyed her father in +this matter. After the wedding had taken place Aladdin led her into the +hall, where a feast was spread, and she supped with him, after which +they danced till midnight. + +Next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace. On entering the +hall with the four-and-twenty windows, with their rubies, diamonds, and +emeralds, he cried:-- + +"It is a world's wonder! There is only one thing that surprises me. Was +it by accident that one window was left unfinished?" + +"No, sir, by design," returned Aladdin. "I wished your Majesty to have +the glory of finishing this palace." + +The Sultan was pleased, and sent for the best jewellers in the city. He +showed them the unfinished window, and bade them fit it up like the +others. + +"Sir," replied their spokesman, "we cannot find jewels enough." + +The Sultan had his own fetched, which they soon used, but to no purpose, +for in a month's time the work was not half done. Aladdin, knowing that +their task was vain, bade them undo their work and carry the jewels +back, and the genie finished the window at his command. The Sultan was +surprised to receive his jewels again and visited Aladdin, who showed +him the window finished. The Sultan embraced him, the envious vizir +meanwhile hinting that it was the work of enchantment. + +Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle bearing. He was +made captain of the Sultan's armies, and won several battles for him, +but remained modest and courteous as before, and lived thus in peace and +content for several years. + +But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin, and by his magic +arts discovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing miserably in the +cave, had escaped, and had married a princess, with whom he was living +in great honor and wealth. He knew that the poor tailor's son could only +have accomplished this by means of the lamp, and travelled night and day +till he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin's ruin. As he +passed through the town he heard people talking everywhere about a +marvellous palace. + +"Forgive my ignorance," he asked, "what is this palace you speak of?" + +"Have you not heard of Prince Aladdin's palace," was the reply, "the +greatest wonder of the world? I will direct you if you have a mind to +see it." + +The magician thanked him who spoke, and having seen the palace knew that +it had been raised by the genie of the lamp, and became half mad with +rage. He determined to get hold of the lamp, and again plunge Aladdin +into the deepest poverty. + +Unluckily, Aladdin had gone a-hunting for eight days, which gave the +magician plenty of time. He bought a dozen copper lamps, put them into a +basket, and went to the palace, crying: "New lamps for old!" followed by +a jeering crowd. + +The princess, sitting in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, sent a +slave to find out what the noise was about, who came back laughing, so +that the princess scolded her. + +"Madam," replied the slave, "who can help laughing to see an old fool +offering to exchange fine new lamps for old ones?" + +Another slave, hearing this, said: "There is an old one on the cornice +there which he can have." + +Now this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there, as he could +not take it out hunting with him. The princess, not knowing its value, +laughingly bade the slave take it and make the exchange. + +She went and said to the magician: "Give me a new lamp for this." + +He snatched it and bade the slave take her choice, amid the jeers of the +crowd. Little he cared, but left off crying his lamps, and went out of +the city gates to a lonely place, where he remained till nightfall, when +he pulled out the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared, and at the +magician's command carried him, together with the palace and the +princess in it, to a lonely place in Africa. + +Next morning the Sultan looked out of the window towards Aladdin's +palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. He sent for the vizir, and +asked what had become of the palace. The vizir looked out too, and was +lost in astonishment. He again put it down to enchantment, and this time +the Sultan believed him, and sent thirty men on horseback to fetch +Aladdin in chains. They met him riding home, bound him, and forced him +to go with them on foot. The people, however, who loved him, followed, +armed, to see that he came to no harm. He was carried before the Sultan, +who ordered the executioner to cut off his head. The executioner made +Aladdin kneel down, bandaged his eyes, and raised his scimitar to +strike. At that instant the vizir, who saw that the crowd had forced +their way into the courtyard and were scaling the walls to rescue +Aladdin, called to the executioner to stay his hand. The people, indeed, +looked so threatening that the Sultan gave way and ordered Aladdin to be +unbound, and pardoned him in the sight of the crowd. + +Aladdin now begged to know what he had done. + +"False wretch!" said the Sultan, "come hither," and showed him from the +window the place where his palace had stood. + +Aladdin was so amazed that he could not say a word. + +"Where is my palace and my daughter?" demanded the Sultan. "For the +first I am not so deeply concerned, but my daughter I must have, and you +must find her or lose your head." + +Aladdin begged for forty days in which to find her, promising if he +failed, to return and suffer death at the Sultan's pleasure. His prayer +was granted, and he went forth sadly from the Sultan's presence. For +three days he wandered about like a madman, asking everyone what had +become of his palace, but they only laughed and pitied him. He came to +the banks of a river, and knelt down to say his prayers before throwing +himself in. In so doing he rubbed the magic ring he still wore. + +The genie he had seen in the cave appeared, and asked his will. + +"Save my life, genie," said Aladdin, "and bring my palace back." + +"That is not in my power," said the genie; "I am only the Slave of the +Ring; you must ask the Slave of the Lamp." + +"Even so," said Aladdin, "but thou canst take me to the palace, and set +me down under my dear wife's window." He at once found himself in +Africa, under the window of the princess, and fell asleep out of sheer +weariness. + +He was awakened by the singing of the birds, and his heart was lighter. +He saw plainly that all his misfortunes were owing to the loss of the +lamp, and vainly wondered who had robbed him of it. + +That morning the princess rose earlier than she had done since she had +been carried into Africa by the magician, whose company she was forced +to endure once a day. She, however, treated him so harshly that he dared +not live there altogether. As she was dressing, one of her women looked +out and saw Aladdin. The princess ran and opened the window, and at the +noise she made Aladdin looked up. She called to him to come to her, and +great was the joy of these lovers at seeing each other again. + +After he had kissed her Aladdin said: "I beg of you, Princess, in God's +name, before we speak of anything else, for your own sake and mine, tell +me what has become of an old lamp I left on the cornice in the hall of +four-and-twenty windows, when I went a-hunting." + +"Alas!" she said, "I am the innocent cause of our sorrows," and told him +of the exchange of the lamp. + +"Now I know," cried Aladdin, "that we have to thank the African magician +for this! Where is the lamp?" + +"He carries it about with him," said the princess, "I know, for he +pulled it out of his breast to show me. He wishes me to break my faith +with you and marry him, saying that you were beheaded by my father's +command. He is forever speaking ill of you, but I only reply by my +tears. If I persist, I doubt not that he will use violence." + +Aladdin comforted her, and left her for awhile. He changed clothes with +the first person he met in the town, and having bought a certain powder +returned to the princess, who let him in by a little side door. + +"Put on your most beautiful dress," he said to her, "and receive the +magician with smiles, leading him to believe that you have forgotten me. +Invite him to sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his +country. He will go for some, and while he is gone I will tell you what +to do." + +She listened carefully to Aladdin, and when he left her arrayed herself +gayly for the first time since she left China. She put on a girdle and +head-dress of diamonds, and seeing in a glass that she looked more +beautiful than ever, received the magician, saying to his great +amazement: "I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all my +tears will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to mourn no more, +and have therefore invited you to sup with me; but I am tired of the +wines of China, and would fain taste those of Africa." + +The magician flew to his cellar, and the princess put the powder Aladdin +had given her in her cup. When he returned she asked him to drink her +health in the wine of Africa, handing him her cup in exchange for his as +a sign she was reconciled to him. + +Before drinking the magician made her a speech in praise of her beauty, +but the princess cut him short, saying:-- + +"Let me drink first, and you shall say what you will afterwards." She +set her cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained +his to the dregs and fell back lifeless. + +The princess then opened the door to Aladdin, and flung her arms round +his neck, but Aladdin put her away, bidding her to leave him, as he had +more to do. He then went to the dead magician, took the lamp out of his +vest, and bade the genie carry the palace and all in it back to China. +This was done, and the princess in her chamber only felt two little +shocks, and little thought she was at home again. + +The Sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning for his lost +daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for there stood the +palace as before! He hastened thither, and Aladdin received him in the +hall of the four-and-twenty windows, with the princess at his side. +Aladdin told him what had happened, and showed him the dead body of the +magician, that he might believe. A ten days' feast was proclaimed, and +it seemed as if Aladdin might now live the rest of his life in peace; +but it was not to be. + +The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if possible, more +wicked and more cunning than himself. He travelled to China to avenge +his brother's death, and went to visit a pious woman called Fatima, +thinking she might be of use to him. He entered her cell and clapped a +dagger to her breast, telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain of +death. He changed clothes with her, colored his face like hers, put on +her veil and murdered her, so that she might tell no tales. Then he went +towards the palace of Aladdin, and all the people thinking he was the +holy woman, gathered round him, kissing his hands and begging his +blessing. When he got to the palace there was such a noise going on +round him that the princess bade her slave look out of the window and +ask what was the matter. The slave said it was the holy woman, curing +people by her touch of their ailments, whereupon the princess, who had +long desired to see Fatima, sent for her. On coming to the princess the +magician offered up a prayer for her health and prosperity. When he had +done the princess made him sit by her, and begged him to stay with her +always. The false Fatima, who wished for nothing better, consented, but +kept his veil down for fear of discovery. The princess showed him the +hall, and asked him what he thought of it. + +"It is truly beautiful," said the false Fatima. "In my mind it wants but +one thing." + +"And what is that?" said the princess. + +"If only a roc's egg," replied he, "were hung up from the middle of this +dome, it would be the wonder of the world." + +After this the princess could think of nothing but a roc's egg, and when +Aladdin returned from hunting he found her in a very ill humor. He +begged to know what was amiss, and she told him that all her pleasure in +the hall was spoilt for the want of a roc's egg hanging from the dome. + +"If that is all," replied Aladdin, "you shall soon be happy." + +He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared commanded +him to bring a roc's egg. The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek +that the hall shook. + +"Wretch!" he said, "is it not enough that I have done everything for +you, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him up in the +midst of this dome? You and your wife and your palace deserve to be +burnt to ashes; but this request does not come from you, but from the +brother of the African magician whom you destroyed. He is now in your +palace disguised as the holy woman--whom he murdered. He it was who put +that wish into your wife's head. Take care of yourself, for he means to +kill you." So saying the genie disappeared. + +Aladdin went back to the princess, saying his head ached, and requesting +that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on it. But when +the magician came near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger, pierced him to the +heart. + +"What have you done?" cried the princess. "You have killed the holy +woman!" + +"Not so," replied Aladdin, "but a wicked magician," and told her of how +she had been deceived. + +After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He succeeded the Sultan +when he died, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him a long line +of kings. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Oriental Literature, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ORIENTAL LITERATURE *** + +***** This file should be named 10121-8.txt or 10121-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/1/2/10121/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Beth Trapaga and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/10121-8.zip b/old/10121-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..958497e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10121-8.zip diff --git a/old/10121.txt b/old/10121.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f4bc7bc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10121.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6071 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Oriental Literature, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Oriental Literature + The Literature of Arabia + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: November 18, 2003 [EBook #10121] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ORIENTAL LITERATURE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Beth Trapaga and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + +ORIENTAL LITERATURE + +THE LITERATURE OF ARABIA + + +With Critical and Biographical Sketches by + +Epiphanius Wilson, A.M. + + +1900 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +THE ROMANCE OF ANTAR + +Introduction +The Early Fortunes of Antar +Khaled and Djaida +The Absians and Fazareans + + +ARABIAN POETRY + +Introduction +SELECTIONS.-- + An Elegy + The Tomb of Mano + Tomb of Sayid + On the Death of His Mistress + On Avarice + The Battle of Sabla + Verses to My Enemies + On His Friends + On Temper + The Song of Maisuna + To My Father + On Fatalism + To the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid + Lines to Harun and Yahia + The Ruin of Barmecides + To Taher Ben Hosien + The Adieu + To My Mistress + To a Female Cup-bearer + Mashdud on the Monks of Khabbet + Rakeek to His Female Companions + Dialogue by Rais + To a Lady Weeping + On a Valetudinarian + On a Miser + To Cassim Obio Allah + A Friend's Birthday + To a Cat + An Epigram upon Ebn Naphta-Wah + Fire + To a Lady Blushing + On the Vicissitudes of Life + To a Dove + On a Thunder Storm + To My Favorite Mistress + Crucifixion of Ebn Bakiah + Caprices of Fortune + On Life + Extempore Verses + On the Death of a Son + To Leila + On Moderation in our Pleasures + The Vale of Bozaa + To Adversity + On the Incompatibility of Pride and True Glory + The Death of Nedham Almolk + Lines to a Lover + Verses to My Daughters + Serenade to My Sleeping Mistress + The Inconsistent + The Capture of Jerusalem + To a Lady + An Epigram + On a Little Man with a Very Large Beard + Lamiat Alajem + To Youth + On Love + A Remonstrance with a Drunkard + Verses + On Procrastination + The Early Death of Abou Alhassan Aly + The Interview + + +ARABIAN NIGHTS + +THE SEVEN VOYAGES OF SINDBAD + First Voyage + Second Voyage + Third Voyage + Fourth Voyage + Fifth Voyage + Sixth Voyage + Seventh and Last Voyage +ALADDIN'S WONDERFUL LAMP + + + + +THE ROMANCE OF ANTAR + +[_Translation by Etienne Delecluse and Epiphanius Wilson_] + + +INTRODUCTION + +The romantic figure of Antar, or Antarah, takes the same place in +Arabian literature as that of Achilles among the Greeks. The Cid in +Spain, Orlando in Italy, and Arthur in England, are similar examples of +national ideals put forth by poets and romance writers as embodiments of +a certain half-mythic age of chivalry, when personal valor, prudence, +generosity, and high feeling gave the warrior an admitted preeminence +among his fellows. The literature of Arabia is indeed rich in novels and +tales. The "Thousand and One Nights" is of world-wide reputation, but +the "Romance of Antar" is much less artificial, more expressive of high +moral principles, and certainly superior in literary style to the +fantastic recitals of the coffee house and bazaar, in which Sindbad and +Morgiana figure. A true picture of Bedouin society, in the centuries +before Mohammed had conquered the Arabian peninsula, is given us in the +charming episodes of Antar. We see the encampments of the tribe, the +camels yielding milk and flesh for food, the women friends and +councillors of their husbands, the boys inured to arms from early days, +the careful breeding of horses, the songs of poet and minstrel stirring +all hearts, the mail-clad lines of warriors with lance and sword, the +supreme power of the King--often dealing out justice with stern, sudden, +and inflexible ferocity. Among these surroundings Antar appears, a +dazzling and irresistible warrior and a poet of wonderful power. The +Arab classics, in years long before Mohammed had taken the Kaaba and +made it the talisman of his creed, were hung in the little shrine where +the black volcanic stone was kept. They were known as Maallakat, or +Suspended Books, which had the same meaning among Arabian literati as +the term classic bore among the Italian scholars of the Renaissance. +Numbered with these books of the Kaaba were the poems of Antar, who was +thus the Taliessin of Arabian chivalry. + +It is indeed necessary to recollect that in reading the episodes of +Antar we have been taken back to the heroic age in the Arabian +peninsula. War is considered the noblest occupation of a man, and Khaled +despises the love of a noble maiden "from pride in his passion for war." +Antar has his famous horse as the Cid had his Babicca, and his +irresistible sword as Arthur his Excalibur. The wealth of chiefs and +kings consists in horses and camels; there is no mention of money or +jewelry. When a wager is made the stakes are a hundred camels. The +commercial spirit of the Arabian Nights is wanting in this spirited +romance of chivalry. The Arabs had sunk to a race of mere traders when +Aladdin became possessed of his lamp, and the trickery, greed, and +avarice of peddlers and merchants are exhibited in incident after +incident of the "Thousand and One Nights." War is despised or feared, +courage less to be relied upon than astute knavery, and one of the facts +that strikes us is the general frivolity, dishonesty, and cruelty which +prevail through the tales of Bagdad. The opposite is the case with +Antar. Natural passion has full play, but nobility of character is taken +seriously, and generosity and sensibility of heart are portrayed with +truthfulness and naivete. Of course the whole romance is a collection of +many romantic stories: it has no epic unity. It will remind the reader +of the "Morte d'Arthur" of Sir Thomas Malory, rather than of the +"Iliad." We have chosen the most striking of these episodes as best +calculated to serve as genuine specimens of Arabian literature. They +will transport the modern reader into a new world--which is yet the old, +long vanished world of pastoral simplicity and warlike enthusiasm, in +primitive Arabia. But the novelty lies in the plot of the tales. Djaida +and Khaled, Antar and Ibla, and the race between Shidoub and the great +racers Dahir and Ghabra, bring before our eyes with singular freshness +the character of a civilization, a domestic life, a political system, +which were not wanting in refinement, purity, and justice. The +conception of such a dramatic personage as Antar would be original in +the highest degree, if it were not based upon historic fact. Antar is a +more real personage than Arthur, and quite as real and historic as the +Cid. Yet his adventures remind us very much of those which run through +the story of the Round Table. + +The Arabs, in the days of romance, were a collection of tribes and +families whose tents and villages were spread along the Red Sea, between +Egypt and the Indian Ocean. There were some tribes more powerful than +others, and the result of their tyranny was often bitter war. There was +no central monarchy, no priesthood, and no written law. The only stable +and independent unit was the family. Domestic life with its purest +virtues constituted the strong point amongst the Arabian tribes, where +gentleness, free obedience, and forbearance were conspicuous. Each tribe +bore the name of its first ancestor, and from him and his successors +came down a traditionary, unwritten law, the violation of which was +considered the most heinous of offences. There was no settled religion +before the conquest of Mohammed; each tribe and each family worshipped +whom they would--celestial spirits, sun and moon, or certain idols. In +the account given in Antar of the Council of War, the ancients, or old +men of the tribe, came forth with idols or amulets round their necks, +and the whole account of the council, in which the bard as well as the +orator addressed the people, is strictly accurate in historic details. +The custom of infanticide in the case of female children was perfectly +authorized among the Arabs, and illustrates the motive of the pretty +episode of Khaled and Djaida. War was individual and personal among the +Arabs, and murder was atoned for by murder, or by the price of a certain +number of camels. Raising of horses, peaceful contests in arms, or +poetic competitions where each bard recited in public his compositions, +formed their amusements. They were very sensible to the charms of music, +poetry and oratory, and as a general rule the Arab chieftain was brave, +generous, and munificent. + +All these historic facts are fully reflected in the highly emotional +tale of "Antar," which is the greatest of all the national romances of +Arabia. It would scarcely be possible to fix upon any individual writer +as its author, for it has been edited over and over again by Arabian +scribes, each adding his own glosses and enriching it with incidents. +Its original date may have been the sixth century of our era, about five +hundred years before the production of the "Thousand and One Nights." + +E.W. + + + + +THE EARLY FORTUNES OF ANTAR + +At the time the "Romance of Antar" opens, the most powerful and the best +governed of the Bedouin tribes were those of the Absians and the +Adnamians. King Zoheir, chief of the Absians, was firmly established +upon his throne, so that the kings of other nations, who were subject to +him, paid him tribute. The whole of Arabia in short became subject to +the Absians, so that all the chiefs of other tribes and all inhabitants +of the desert dreaded their power and depredations. + +Under these circumstances, and as a consequence of a flagrant act of +tyranny on the part of Zoheir, several chieftains, among whom was +Shedad, a son of Zoheir, seceded from the Absian tribe, and set out to +seek adventures, to attack other tribes, and to carry off their cattle +and treasure. These chieftains arrived at the dwelling-place of a +certain tribe, named Djezila, whom they fought with and pillaged. +Amongst their booty was a black woman of extraordinary beauty, the +mother of two children. Her name was Zebiba; her elder son was Djaris; +her younger Shidoub. Shedad became passionately enamoured of this woman, +and yielded all the rest of his share in the booty in order to obtain +possession of her and her two children. He dwelt in the fields with this +negress, whose sons took care of the cattle. In course of time Zebiba +bore a son to Shedad. This child was born tawny as an elephant; his eyes +were bleared, his head thick with hair, his features hard and fixed. The +corners of his mouth drooped, his eyes started from his head, his bones +were hard, his feet long; he had ears of prodigious size, and his glance +flashed like fire. In other respects he resembled Shedad, who was +transported with delight at the sight of his son, whom he named Antar. + +Meanwhile the child waxed in strength, and his name soon became known. +Then the companions of Shedad wished to dispute the possession of the +boy with him, and King Zoheir was informed of the matter. He demanded +that the boy should be brought into his presence, and Shedad complied. +As soon as the king caught sight of this extraordinary child, he uttered +a cry of astonishment, and flung him a piece of goat's flesh. At the +same moment a dog, who happened to be in the tent, seized the meat and +ran off with it. But Antar, filled with rage, pursued the animal, and, +violently taking hold of him, drew his jaws apart, splitting the throat +down to the shoulders, and thus recovered the meat. King Zoheir, in +amazement, deferred the matter to the Cadi, who confirmed Shedad's +possession of Zebiba, and her three children, Djaris, Shidoub, and +Antar. + +Shedad therefore provided a home for Zebiba, in order that his sons +might be educated in their business of tending the herds. It was at this +time that Antar began to develop his strength of body, his courage, and +intelligence. When he was ten years of age he slew a wolf which +threatened to attack the herds committed to his charge. Although brutal, +headstrong, and passionate, he early exhibited a love of justice, and a +disposition to protect the weak, especially women. He put to death a +slave who beat an old woman, his slave and companion; and this action, +although at first misunderstood, eventually gained the admiration of +King Zoheir, who treated Antar with distinction, because of his nobility +of character. In consequence of this action, which had been so much +applauded by King Zoheir, the young Arab women and their mothers hung +round Antar to learn the details of this courageous deed, and to +congratulate him on his magnanimity. + +Among the young women was Ibla, daughter of Malek, the son of Zoheir. +Ibla, fair as the full moon, was somewhat younger than Antar. She was +accustomed to banter him in a familiar way, feeling that he was her +slave. "And you," she said to him, "you, born so low, how dared you kill +the slave of a prince? What provocation can you have against him?" +"Mistress," replied Antar, "I struck that slave because he deserved it, +for he had insulted a poor woman. He knocked her down, and made her the +laughing stock of all the servants." "Of course you were right," +answered Ibla, with a smile, "and we were all delighted that you escaped +from the adventure safe and sound. Because of the service you have +rendered us by your conduct, our mothers look upon you as a son, and we +as a brother." + +From that moment Antar made the service of women his special duty above +all others. At that time the Arabian ladies had the habit of drinking +camel's milk morning and evening, and it was especially the duty of +those who waited upon them to milk the camels, and to cool it in the +wind before offering it to them. Antar had been for some time released +from this duty, when one morning he entered the dwelling of his uncle +Malek, and found there his aunt, engaged in combing the hair of her +daughter Ibla, whose ringlets, black as the night, floated over her +shoulders. Antar was struck with surprise, and Ibla, as soon as she knew +that he had seen her, fled and left him with his eyes fixed abstractedly +on her disappearing form. + +It was from this incident that the love of Antar for the daughter of his +uncle took its origin. He saw how Ibla shone in society, and his passion +grew to such an extent that he ventured to sound her praises, and to +express the feeling she excited in him by writing verses which, while +they gained the admiration of the multitude, incurred also the envy of +the chieftains. Moreover his father could not pardon the presumption of +Antar, who, born a slave, had dared to cast eyes on his free-born +cousin. + +When therefore he slew a slave who had slandered him, his father ordered +him to be flogged, and sent away to watch over the cattle in the +pastures. He had now before him a fresh opportunity for exhibiting his +prodigious strength and invincible courage. A lion attempted to attack +the herds committed to his care. He killed it at the very moment that +his father Shedad, enraged against him, had come, accompanied by his +brother, to do him ill. But a mingled feeling of admiration and fear +held their hands, and in the evening, when Antar returned from the +pastures, his father and his uncle made him seat himself at dinner with +them, while the rest of the attendants stood behind them. + +Meanwhile King Zoheir was called upon a warlike expedition against the +tribe of Temin. All his warriors followed him; the women alone remained +behind. Shedad entrusted them to the protection of Antar, who pledged +his life for their safety. During the absence of the warriors, Semiah, +the lawful wife of Shedad, conceived the idea of giving an entertainment +on the bank of the lake Zatoulizard. Ibla attended it with her mother, +and Antar witnessed all the amusements in which his beloved took part. +His passion for her became intensified. He was once tempted to violate +the modesty of love by the violence of desire, but, at that moment, he +saw a great cloud of dust rise in the distance; the shouts of war were +heard; and suddenly the warriors of the tribe of Cathan appeared on the +scene, and, descending on the pleasure-seekers, carried off the women, +including Ibla. Antar, being unarmed, ran after one of the horsemen, +seized him, strangled and threw him to the ground. Then he put on the +armor of the vanquished foe, attacked and put to flight the tribe of +Cathan, rescued the women, and obtained a booty of twenty-five horses. +From that moment Semiah, the wife of Shedad, who hitherto had a +pronounced aversion to Antar, conceived a sincere affection for him. + +King Zoheir, meantime, had returned victorious from his expedition. +Shedad returned at the same moment, and went to visit his herds. Seeing +Antar surrounded by horses which he did not know, and mounted upon a +fine black courser, he asked, "Where did these animals, and particularly +this superb horse, come from?" Then Antar, not willing to betray the +imprudence of Semiah, declared that, as the Cathanians had left their +horses behind them, he had seized them. Shedad was indignant, and +treated Antar as a robber, reproached him for his wickedness, and after +repeatedly telling him how wrong it was to rouse discord among the +Arabs, struck him with his whip, with such violence as to draw blood. +Then Semiah, distressed by the sight of this unjust treatment, took off +her veil, letting her hair fall over her shoulders, took Antar into her +arms and told all that had happened and how she and all the other women +of her tribe were indebted to this hero for their honor and liberty. +Shedad could not restrain his tenderness on learning the magnanimity of +his son's silence. Soon afterwards King Zoheir, to whom this incident +had been related, summoned Antar into his presence, and declared that a +man who could exhibit such courage and generosity was bound to become +preeminent among his companions. All the chieftains who surrounded the +king congratulated Antar, and one of his friends, in order to give the +court a complete idea of this young man's remarkable gifts, asked him to +recite some of his verses. + +In compliance with this request he recited a poem in praise of warriors +and war, and the king and all the court manifested their delight. Zoheir +bade Antar approach, gave him a robe of honor, and thanked him. That +evening Antar departed with his father Shedad, his heart full of joy +over the honors which had been lavished on him, and his love for Ibla +still more heightened. + +In spite of the indisputable virtues of Antar, in spite of the great +services he had rendered the Absians, the chieftains of this tribe still +regarded him as merely a common slave and tender of cattle. The +beginning of his rise to favor excited a feeling of keen hatred, and +caused many plots to be laid against him. A series of intrigues was +entered upon, the aim of which was the death of the hero. But each +attack upon his reputation and his life redounded to his benefit, and +furnished him with an opportunity of putting his enemies to silence and +defeat. For by his generosity and magnanimity, even his envious foes +felt themselves under obligation to him. On each of his triumphs the +mutual love between himself and Ibla went on increasing. + +After the performance of many feats as a horseman, Antar came into +possession of a famous horse named Abjer, and a sword of marvellous +temper, Djamy--and every time he appeared on the field of combat, as +well as when he returned victorious from the fight, he made a poetic +address, finishing with the words, "I am the lover of Ibla." At the +conclusion of a war in which he had performed prodigies of valor, King +Zoheir gave him the surname of Alboufauris, which means, "The Father of +Horsemen." + +The greater grew his name, the more highly he was honored by King +Zoheir, so much the more did the hatred of the chieftains and the love +of Ibla towards him increase. But it came to pass that Ibla was asked in +marriage by Amarah, a stupid youth, puffed up by his wealth and lineage. +Antar, on hearing the news, was transported with rage, and attacked his +young rival with such violence that all the Arabian chiefs begged of +Zoheir to punish the aggressor. The king left to Shedad, Antar's father, +the pronouncing of sentence. Shedad had, like the others, viewed the +rise of Antar, the black slave, to favor, with jealous eye, and sent him +back to the pastures to keep the herds. + +It was at this point that the greatness of Antar's character appeared in +its full dimensions. The hero submitted with resignation to the orders +of his father, "to whom," he said, "he owed obedience as to his master, +since he was his slave"; and he swore to him, in the presence of +witnesses, not to mount horse, nor engage in battle, without his +permission. Tears flowed from his eyes, and before departing for the +pastures he went to see his mother Zebiba, and to talk with her +concerning Ibla. "Ibla?" said his mother--"but a moment ago she was +here beside me, and said to me, 'Comfort the heart of Antar, and tell +him from me, that even should my father torture me to death in trying to +change my mind, I would not desire nor ask for other husband than +Antar.'" + +These words of Ibla filled with rapture the heart of Antar, as he +started for the pastures in company with his brothers, Djaris and +Shidoub. + +At this time the tribe of Abs, which Zoheir ruled over, was at war with +that of Tex, on account of the carrying off of Anima, daughter of the +chief of the Tex, a man known as "The Drinker of Blood." Animated by the +desire to take vengeance and recover his daughter, this chief and his +army fell upon the Absians like a thunderbolt. The Absians were +defeated, and their women, among whom was Ibla, taken prisoners. All +pride was then, in this time of need, laid aside, and to their +assistance Antar was summoned. But before acting Antar laid down his +conditions, and stipulated that, in case he succeeded in subduing the +foe and recovering the women, Ibla should be given him in marriage. +Malek, the father of Ibla, and Shedad, the father of Antar, assented, +and bound themselves by an oath to fulfil these conditions and to +reinstate Antar in all the honors and dignities belonging to him. + +Antar was victorious. He rescued Ibla, and received grateful expressions +of gratitude from his beloved, while King Zoheir gave him the kiss of +royal honor. Everything seemed to unite in fulfilling the hopes of +Antar. But at the very moment in which he was honored by royal +felicitations, several chieftains, indignant at the elevation of a black +slave, employed every means to prevent his marriage with Ibla, and to +force him to undertake enterprises which would prove fatal to him. +Shedad, his father, and Malek, the father of Ibla, connived at these +plots. They demanded of Antar, who was of that trusting disposition +which belongs to generous and brave men, that he give as a wedding +present to his bride, a thousand camels, of a particular breed, not to +be found excepting on the borders of the Persian kingdom. The hero made +no remark on hearing this treacherous demand, and was so eager to please +Ibla, that he took no count of the difficulties to be undergone. He set +off and soon found himself engaged in conflict with a large army of +Persians, who made him prisoner, and led him off with the view of +bringing him into the presence of their king. There he was taken, bound +and on horseback, when at that instant, the news came that a fierce lion +of extraordinary size was ravaging the country. It was alleged that even +armed men fled before it. Antar, who was on the point of being put to +death, asked the King of Persia to cause his arms at least to be +unbound, and to let him confront the lion. His prayer was granted; he +rushed upon the savage creature, and transfixed it with his lance. Nor +was this the only service he did the King of Persia, who in gratitude +for many others, not only gave Antar the thousand camels he was looking +for, but loaded him with treasures, with which to do homage to Ibla. + +On his return Antar was received with a rapturous welcome by the Absian +tribe. But the hostile and the envious continued to plot against him. +They still aimed at preventing his marriage, and compassing his death. +Amarah, who aspired to Ibla's hand, backed by all the chieftains hostile +to Antar, renewed his suit and pretensions. Ibla was carried off from +her house among the Absians, and taken to another tribe. Then Antar set +out in search of her, and at length rescued her: their mutual love was +intensified by this reunion. By a series of wiles and intrigues +skilfully conducted, the chiefs who surrounded Ibla persuaded her to +demand still further dowry from Antar. She spoke of Khaled and Djaida, +whose history has already been related; she said, in presence of Antar, +that that young warrior girl would not consent to marry Khaled, saving +on the condition that her camel's bridle be held by the daughter of +Moawich. This word was sufficient for Antar, and he promised to Ibla +that Djaida should hold the bridle of her camel on her wedding day; and +more than that, the head of Khaled should be slung round the neck of the +warrior girl. Thus the hero, constantly loving and beloved by Ibla, +incessantly deceived by the cunningly devised obstacles raised by his +foes, sustained his reputation for greatness of character and strength +of arm, submitted with resignation to the severest tests, and passed +victoriously through them all. After the death of King Zoheir, whom he +avenged, he undertook to assist Cais, Zoheir's son, in all his +enterprises, and after a long series of adventures which tired the +patience, love, and courage of Antar, this hero, recognized as chief +among Arabian chieftains, obtained the great reward of his long +struggles and mighty toils, by marriage to his well-loved Ibla. + + + + +KHALED AND DJAIDA + +Moharib and Zahir were brothers, of the same father and mother; the +Arabs call them "brothers germane." Both were, renowned for courage and +daring. But Moharib was chief of the tribe, and Zahir, being subject to +his authority, was no more than his minister, giving him counsel and +advice. Now it happened that a violent dispute arose between them. Zahir +subsequently retired to his tent, in profound sorrow, and not knowing +what course to take. "What is the matter with you?" asked his wife, "Why +are you so troubled? What has happened to you? Has any one displeased or +insulted you--the greatest of Arab chiefs?" "What am I to do?" replied +Zahir; "the man who has injured me is one whom I cannot lay hands on, or +do him wrong; he is my companion in the bosom of my family, my brother +in the world. Ah, if it had been any one but he, I would have shown him +what sort of a man he was at odds with, and have made an example of him +before all the chiefs of our tribes!" "Leave him; let him enjoy his +possessions alone," cried his wife, and, in order to persuade her +husband to take this course, she recited verses from a poet of the time, +which dissuade a man from tolerating an insult even at the hands of his +parents. + +Zahir assented to the advice of his wife. He made all preparations for +departure, struck his tents, loaded his camels, and started off on the +road towards the camp of the Saad tribe, with whom he was in alliance. +Yet in spite of all, he felt a keen pang at separating himself from his +brother--and thus he spoke: "On starting on a journey which removes me +from you, I shall be a thousand years on the way, and each year will +carry me a thousand leagues.... Even though the favors you heap upon me +be worth a thousand Egypts, and each of these Egypts had a thousand +Niles, all those favors would be despised. I shall be contented with +little so long as I am far from you. Away from you, I shall recite this +distich, which is worth more than a necklace of fine pearls: 'When a man +is wronged on the soil of his tribe, there is nothing left him but to +leave it; you, who have so wickedly injured me, before long shall feel +the power of the kindly divinity, for he is your judge and mine, he is +unchangeable and eternal." + +Zahir continued his journey, until he reached the Saad tribe, when he +dismounted from his horse. He was cordially received and was pressed to +take up his abode with them. His wife was at that time soon to become a +mother, and he said to her: "If a son is given to us, he will be right +welcome; but if it be a daughter, conceal her sex and let people think +we have a male child, so that my brother may have no reason to crow over +us." When her time came Zahir's wife brought into the world a daughter. +They agreed that her name should be actually Djaida, but that publicly +she should be known as Djonder, that people might take her for a boy. In +order to promote this belief, they kept up feasting and entertainment +early and late for many days. + +About the same time Moharib, the other brother, had a son born to him, +whom he named Khaled (The Eternal). He chose this name in gratitude to +God, because, since his brother's departure, his affairs had prospered +well. + +The two children eventually reached full age, and their renown was +widespread among the Arabs. Zahir had taught his daughter to ride on +horseback, and had trained her in all the accomplishments fitting to a +warrior bold and daring. He accustomed her to the severest toils, and +the most perilous enterprises. When he went to war, he put her among the +other Arabs of the tribe, and in the midst of these horsemen she soon +took her rank as one of the most valiant of them. Thus it came to pass +that she eclipsed all her comrades, and would even attack the lions in +their dens. At last her name became an object of terror; when she had +overcome a champion she never failed to cry out: "I am Djonder, son of +Zahir, horseman of the tribes." + +Her cousin Khaled, on the other hand, distinguished himself equally by +his brilliant courage. His father Moharib, a wise and prudent chief, had +built houses of entertainment for strangers; all horsemen found a +welcome there. Khaled had been brought up in the midst of warriors. In +this school his spirit had been formed, here he had learned to ride, and +at last had become an intrepid warrior, and a redoubtable hero. It was +soon perceived by the rest of the army that his spirit and valor were +unconquerable. + +Eventually he heard tell of his cousin Djonder, and his desire to see +and know him and to witness his skill in arms became extreme. But he +could not satisfy this desire because of the dislike which his father +showed for his cousin, the son of his uncle. This curiosity of Khaled +continued unsatisfied until the death of his father Moharib, which put +him in possession of rank, wealth, and lands. He followed the example of +his father in entertaining strangers, protecting the weak and +unfortunate, and giving raiment to the naked. He continued also to scour +the plains on horseback with his warriors, and in this way waxed greater +in bodily strength and courage. After some time, gathering together a +number of rich gifts, he started, in company with his mother, to visit +his uncle. He did not draw rein until he reached the dwelling of Zahir, +who was delighted to see him, and made magnificent preparations for his +entertainment; for the uncle had heard tell on many occasions of his +nephew's worth and valor. Khaled also visited his cousin. He saluted +her, pressed her to his bosom, and kissed her forehead, thinking she was +a young man. He felt the greatest pleasure in her company, and remained +ten days with his uncle, regularly taking part in the jousts and +contests of the horsemen and warriors. As for his cousin, the moment she +had seen how handsome and valiant Khaled was, she had fallen violently +in love with him. Her sleep left her; she could not eat; and her love +grew to such a pitch that feeling her heart completely lost to him, she +spoke to her mother and said: "O mother, should my cousin leave without +taking me in his company, I shall die of grief at his absence." Then her +mother was touched with pity for her, and uttered no reproaches, feeling +that they would be in vain. "Djaida," she said, "conceal your feelings, +and restrain yourself from grief. You have done nothing improper, for +your cousin is the man of your choice, and is of your own blood. Like +him, you are fair and attractive; like him, brave and skilful in +horsemanship. Tomorrow morning, when his mother approaches us, I will +reveal to her the whole matter; we will soon afterwards give you to him +in marriage, and finally we will all return to our own country." + +The wife of Zahir waited patiently until the following morning, when the +mother of Khaled arrived. She then presented her daughter, whose head +she uncovered, so as to allow the hair to fall to her shoulders. At the +sight of such charms the mother of Khaled was beyond measure astonished, +and exclaimed: "What! is not this your son Djonder?" "No! it is +Djaida--she the moon of beauty, at last has risen." Then she told her +all that had passed between herself and her husband, and how and why +they had concealed the sex of their child. "Dear kinswoman," replied the +mother of Khaled, still quite surprised, "among all the daughters of +Arabia who have been celebrated for their beauty I have never seen one +more lovely than this one. What is her name?" "I have already told you +that it is Djaida, and my especial purpose in telling you the secret is +to offer you all these charms, for I ardently desire to marry my +daughter to your son, so that we may all be able to return to our own +land." The mother of Khaled at once assented to this proposal, and said: +"The possession of Djaida will doubtless render my son very happy." She +at once rose and went out to look for Khaled, and communicated to him +all she had seen and learned, not failing to extol especially the charms +of Djaida. "By the faith of an Arab," said she, "never, my son, have I +seen in the desert, or in any city, a girl such as your cousin; I do not +except the most beautiful. Nothing is so perfect as she is, nothing more +lovely and attractive. Make haste, my son, to see your uncle and ask him +for his daughter in marriage. You will be happy indeed if he grants your +prayer: Go, my son, and do not waste time in winning her." + +When Khaled had heard these words, he cast his eyes to the ground, and +remained for some time thoughtful and gloomy. Then he replied: "My +mother, I cannot remain here any longer. I must return home amid my +horsemen and troops. I have no intention of saying anything more to my +cousin; I am convinced that she is a person whose temper and ideas of +life are uncertain; her character and manner of speech are utterly +destitute of stability and propriety. I have always been accustomed to +live amid warriors, on whom I spend my wealth, and with whom I win a +soldier's renown. As for my cousin's love for me, it is the weakness of +a woman, of a young girl." He then donned his armor, mounted his horse, +bade his uncle farewell, and announced his intention of leaving at once. +"What means this haste?" cried Zahir. "I can remain here no longer," +answered Khaled, and, putting his horse to a gallop, he flung himself +into the depths of the wilderness. His mother, after relating to Djaida +the conversation she held with her son, mounted a camel and made her way +towards her own country. + +The soul of Djaida felt keenly this indignity. She brooded over +it--sleepless and without appetite. Some days afterwards, as her father +was preparing with his horsemen to make a foray against his foes, his +glance fell on Djaida, and seeing how altered she was in face, and +dejected in spirit, he refrained from saying anything, thinking and +hoping that she would surely become herself again after a short time. + +Scarcely was Zahir out of sight of his tents, when Djaida, who felt +herself like to die, and whose frame of mind was quite unsupportable, +said to her mother: "Mother, I feel that I am dying, and that this +miserable Khaled is still in the vigor of life. I should like, if God +gives me the power, to make him taste the fury of death, the bitterness +of its pang and torture." So saying, she rose like a lioness, put on her +armor, and mounted her horse, telling her mother she was going on a +hunting expedition. Swiftly, and without stopping, she traversed rocks +and mountains, her excitement increasing as she approached the +dwelling-place of her cousin. As she was disguised, she entered, +unrecognized, into the tent where strangers were received. Her visor +was, however, lowered, like that of a horseman of Hijaz. Slaves and +servants received her, offered her hospitality, comporting themselves +towards her as to one of the guests, and the most noble personages of +the land. That night Djaida took rest; but the following day she joined +the military exercises, challenged many cavaliers, and exhibited so much +address and bravery, that she produced great astonishment among the +spectators. Long before noon the horsemen of her cousin were compelled +to acknowledge her superiority over themselves. Khaled wished to witness +her prowess, and, surprised at the sight of so much skill, he offered to +match himself with her. Djaida entered the contest with him, and then +both of them joining in combat tried, one after another, all the methods +of attack and defence, until the shadows of night came on. When they +separated both were unhurt, and none could say who was the victor. Thus +Djaida, while rousing the admiration of the spectators, saw the +annoyance they felt on finding their chief equalled in fight by so +skilful an opponent. Khaled ordered his antagonist to be treated with +all the care and honor imaginable, then retired to his tent, his mind +filled with thoughts of his conflict. Djaida remained three days at her +cousin's habitation. Every morning she presented herself on the ground +of combat, and remained under arms until night. She enjoyed it greatly, +still keeping her _incognito_, whilst Khaled, on the other hand, +made no enquiries, and asked no questions of her, as to who she was and +to what tribe she might belong. + +On the morning of the fourth day, while Khaled, according to his custom, +rode over the plain, and passed close to the tents reserved for +strangers, he saw Djaida mounting her horse. He saluted her, and she +returned his salute. "Noble Arab," said Khaled, "I should like to ask +you one question. Up to this moment I have failed in courtesy towards +you, but, I now beg of you, in the name of that God who has endowed you +with such great dexterity in arms, tell me, who are you, and to what +noble princes are you allied? For I have never met your equal among +brave cavaliers. Answer me, I beseech you, for I am dying to learn." +Djaida smiled, and raising her visor, replied: "Khaled, I am a woman, +and not a warrior. I am your cousin Djaida, who offered herself to you, +and wished to give herself to you; but you refused her--from the pride +you felt in your passion for arms." As she spoke she turned her horse +suddenly, stuck spurs into him, and dashed off at full gallop towards +her own country. + +Khaled filled with confusion withdrew to his tent, not knowing what to +do, nor what would be the end of the passionate love which he suddenly +felt rise within him. He was seized with disgust for all these warlike +habits and tastes, which had reduced him to the melancholy plight in +which he found himself. His distaste for women was changed into love. He +sent for his mother and related to her all that had occurred. "My son," +she said, "all these circumstances should render Djaida still dearer to +you. Wait patiently a little, until I have been able to go and ask her +of her mother." She straightway mounted her camel, and started through +the desert on the tracks of Djaida, who immediately on her arrival home +had told her mother all that had happened. As soon as the mother of +Khaled had arrived, she flung herself into the arms of her kinswoman and +demanded Djaida in marriage for her son, for Zahir had not yet returned +from his foray. When Djaida heard from her mother the request of Khaled, +she said, "This shall never be, though I be forced to drink the cup of +death. That which occurred at his tents was brought about by me to +quench the fire of my grief and unhappiness, and soothe the anguish of +my heart." + +At these words the mother of Khaled, defeated of her object, went back +to her son, who was tortured by the most cruel anxiety. He rose suddenly +to his feet, for his love had reached the point of desperation, and +asked with inquietude what were the feelings of his cousin. When he +learned the answer of Djaida his distress became overwhelming, for her +refusal only increased his passion. "What is to be done, my mother," he +exclaimed. "I see no way of escaping from this embarrassment," she +replied, "excepting you assemble all your horsemen from among the Arab +sheiks, and from among those with whom you are on friendly terms. Wait +until your uncle returns from the campaign, and then, surrounded by your +followers, go to him, and in the presence of the assembled warriors, +demand of him his daughter in marriage. If he deny that he has a +daughter, tell him all that has happened, and urge him until he gives +way to your demand." This advice, and the plan proposed moderated the +grief of Khaled. As soon as he learned that his uncle had returned home, +he assembled all the chiefs of his family and told his story to them. +All of them were very much astonished, and Madi Kereb. one of the +Khaled's bravest companions, could not help saying: "This is a strange +affair; we have always heard say that your uncle had a son named +Djonder, but now the truth is known. You are certainly the man who has +most right to the daughter of your uncle. It is therefore our best +course to present ourselves in a body and prostrate ourselves before +him, asking him to return to his family and not to give his daughter to +a stranger." Khaled, without hearing any more, took with him a hundred +of his bravest horsemen, being those who had been brought up with +Moharib and Zahir from their childhood, and, having provided themselves +with presents even more costly than those they had taken before, they +started off, and marched on until they came to the tribe of Saad. Khaled +began by complimenting his uncle on his happy return from war, but no +one could be more astonished than Zahir at this second visit, especially +when he saw his nephew accompanied by all the chieftains of his family. +It never for a moment occurred to him that his daughter Djaida had +anything to do with Khaled's return, but thought that his nephew merely +wished to persuade him to return to his native territory. He offered +them every hospitality, provided them with tents and entertained them +magnificently. He ordered camels and sheep to be killed, and gave a +banquet; he furnished his guests with all things needful and proper for +three days. On the fourth day Khaled arose, and after thanking his uncle +for all his attentions, asked him for his daughter in marriage, and +begged him to return to his own land. Zahir denied that he had any child +but his son Djonder, but Khaled told him all that he had learned, and +all that had passed between himself and Djaida. At these words Zahir was +overcome with shame and turned his eyes to the ground. He remained for +some moments plunged in thought, and after reflecting that the affair +must needs proceed from bad to worse, he addressed those present in the +following words: "Kinsmen, I will no longer delay acknowledging this +secret; therefore to end the matter, she shall be married to her cousin +as soon as possible, for, of all the men I know, he is most worthy of +her." He offered his hand to Khaled, who immediately clasped it in +presence of the chiefs who were witnesses to the contract. The dowry was +fixed at five hundred brown black-eyed camels, and a thousand camels +loaded with the choicest products of Yemen. The tribe of Saad, in the +midst of which Zahir had lived, were excluded from all part in this +incident. + +But when Zahir had asked his daughter's consent to this arrangement, +Djaida was overwhelmed with confusion at the course her father had +taken. Since he let his daughter clearly understand that he did not wish +her to remain unmarried, she at last replied: "My father, if my cousin +desires to have me in marriage, I shall not enter into his tent until he +undertakes to slaughter at my wedding a thousand camels, out of those +which belong to Gheshem, son of Malik, surnamed 'The Brandisher of +Spears.'" Kahled agreed to this condition; but the sheiks and the +warriors did not leave Zahir before he had collected all his possessions +for transportation to his own country. No sooner were these preparations +completed than Khaled marched forth at the head of a thousand horsemen, +with whose assistance he subdued the tribe of Aamir. Having thrice +wounded "The Brandisher of Spears," and slain a great number of his +champions, he carried off their goods and brought back from their +country even a richer spoil than Djaida had demanded. Loaded with booty +he returned, and was intoxicated with success. But when he asked that a +day should be fixed for the wedding, Djaida begged him to approach, and +said to him: "If you desire that I become your wife, fulfil first of all +my wishes, and keep the engagement I make with you. This is my demand: I +wish that on the day of my marriage, some nobleman's daughter, a +free-born woman, hold the bridle of my camel; she must be the daughter +of a prince of the highest rank, so that I may be the most honored of +all the daughters of Arabia." Khaled consented, and prepared to carry +out her wishes. That very day he started with his horsemen, and +traversed plains and valleys, searching the land of Ymer, even till he +reached the country of Hijar and the hills of Sand. In this place he +attacked the tribe-family of Moawich, son of Mizal. He burst upon them +like a rain-storm, and cutting a way with his sword through the opposing +horsemen, he took prisoner Amima, daughter of Moawich, at the very +moment when she was betaking herself to flight. + +After having accomplished feats which rendered futile the resistance of +the most experienced heroes, after having scattered all the tribes in +flight, and carried off all the wealth of all the Arabs in that country, +he returned home. But he did not wish to come near his tents until he +had first gathered in all the wealth which he had left at different +points and places in the desert. + +The young maidens marched before him sounding their cymbals and other +instruments of music. All the tribe rejoiced; and when Khaled appeared, +he distributed clothing to the widows and orphans, and invited his +companions and friends to the feast he was preparing for his wedding. +All the Arabs of the country came in a crowd to the marriage. He caused +them to be regaled with abundance of flesh and wine. But while all the +guests abandoned themselves to feasting and pleasure, Khaled, +accompanied by ten slaves, prepared to scour the wild and marshy places +of the land, in order to attack hand to hand in their caverns the lions +and lionesses and their cubs, and bear them slain to the tents, in order +to provide meat for all those who attended the festival. + +Djaida had been informed of this design. She disguised herself in coat +of mail, mounted her horse, and left the tents; as three days of +festivities still remained, she hastily followed Khaled into the desert, +and met him face to face in a cavern. She flung herself upon him with +the impetuosity of a wild beast, and attacked him furiously, crying +aloud, "Arab! dismount from your horse, take off your coat of mail, and +your armor; if you hesitate to do so, I will run this lance through your +heart." Khaled was resolved at once to resist her in this demand. They +engaged in furious combat. The struggle lasted for more than an hour, +when the warrior saw in the eyes of his adversary an expression which +alarmed him. He remounted his horse, and having wheeled round his steed +from the place of combat, exclaimed: "By the faith of an Arab, I adjure +you to tell me what horseman of the desert you are; for I feel that your +attack and the violence of your blows are irresistible. In fact, you +have prevented me from accomplishing that which I had intended, and all +that I had eagerly desired to do." At these words Djaida raised her +visor, thus permitting him to see her face. "Khaled," she cried, "is it +necessary for the girl you love to attack wild beasts, in order that the +daughters of Arabia may learn that this is not the exclusive privilege +of a warrior?" At this cutting rebuke Khaled was overcome with shame. +"By the faith of an Arab," he replied, "no one but you can overcome me; +but is there anyone in this country who has challenged you, or are you +come hither merely to prove to me the extent of your valor?" "By the +faith of an Arab," replied Djaida, "I came into this desert solely for +the purpose of helping you to hunt wild beasts, and in order that your +warriors might not reproach you for choosing me as your wife." At these +words Khaled felt thrilled with surprise and admiration, that such +spirit and resolution should have been exhibited in the conduct of +Djaida. + +Then both of them dismounted from their horses and entered into a +cavern. There Khaled seized two ferocious wild beasts, and Djaida +attacked and carried off a lion and two lionesses. After these exploits +they exchanged congratulations, and Djaida felt happy to be with Khaled. +"Meanwhile," she said, "I shall not permit you to leave our tents until +after our marriage." She immediately left him in haste and betook +herself to her own dwelling. + +Khaled proceeded to rejoin the slaves whom he had left a little way off, +and ordered them to carry to the tents the beasts he had slain. +Trembling with fright at the view of what Khaled had done, they extolled +him with admiration above all other champions of the land. + +The feasts meanwhile went on, and all who came were welcomed with +magnificence. The maidens sounded their cymbals; the slaves waved their +swords in the air, and the young girls sang from morn till evening. It +was in the midst of such rejoicings that Djaida and Khaled were married. +Amima, the daughter of Moawich, held the reins of the young bride's +camel, and men and women alike extolled the glory of Djaida. + + + + +THE ABSIANS AND FAZAREANS + +King Cais, chief of the Absians, distrusting the evil designs of +Hadifah, the chief of the tribe of Fazarah, had sent out his slaves in +every direction to look after Antar. One of these slaves on his return +said to the king: "As for Antar, I have not even heard his name; but as +I passed by the tribe of Tenim, I slept one night in the tents of the +tribe Byah. There I saw a colt of remarkable beauty. He belonged to a +man named Jahir, son of Awef. I have never seen a colt so fine and +swift." This recital made a profound impression upon Cais. And in truth +this young animal was the wonder of the world, and never had a handsomer +horse been reared among the Arabs. He was in all points high-bred and +renowned for race and lineage, for his sire was Ocab and his dam Helweh, +and these were horses regarded by the Arabs as quicker than lightning. +All the tribes admired their points, and the tribe of Byah had become +celebrated above all others, because of the mare and stallion which +pertained to it. + +As for this fine colt, one day, when his sire Ocab had been put out on +pasture, he was being led by the daughter of Jahir along the side of a +lake at noonday, and there he saw the mare Helweh, who was tethered +close to the tent of her master. He immediately began to neigh, and +slipped his halter. The young girl in her embarrassment let him go, and +for modesty took refuge in the tent of a friend. The stallion remained +on the spot until the girl returned. She seized the halter and took him +to the stables. + +But her father discerned the anxiety which she could not conceal. He +questioned her, and she told him what had happened. He became furious +with rage on hearing her story, for he was naturally choleric; he ran +among the tents, flinging off his turban, and crying at the top of his +voice, while all the Arabs crowded round him, "Tribe of Byah, tribe of +Byah! Kinsmen and friends, hear me." Then he related what his daughter +had told him. "I cannot permit," he added, "that the blood of my horse +should be blended with that of Helweh; yet I am not willing to sell him +for the most costly sheep and camels; and if I cannot otherwise prevent +Helweh from bearing a colt to my stallion, I shall be glad if some one +will put the mare to death." "By all means," cried his listeners, "do as +you please, for we can have no objection." Such were the usual terms of +Arabian courtesy. + +Nevertheless, Helweh, in course of time, bore a fine colt, whose birth +brought great joy to her master. He named the young horse Dahir. The +colt waxed in strength and beauty, until he actually excelled his sire +Ocab. His chest was broad, his neck long, his hoofs hard, his nostrils +widely expanded. His tail swept the ground, and he was of the gentlest +temper; in short, he was the most perfect creature ever seen. Being +reared with the greatest care, his shape was perfect as the archway of a +royal palace. When the mare Helweh, followed by her colt, was one day +moving along the shore of a lake, Ocab's owner chanced to see them. He +seized the young horse, and took him home with him, leaving his mother +in grief for his difference. "As for Jahir," he said, "this colt belongs +to me, and I have more right to him than anyone else." + +The news of the colt's disappearance soon reached his owner's ears. He +assembled the chiefs of the tribe, and told them what had happened. They +sent to Jahir, and he was reproached bitterly. "Jahir," they said, "you +have not suffered, yet have done injustice, in that you carried off that +which belonged to another man." "Say no more," answered Jahir, "and +spare me these reproaches, for, by the faith of an Arab, I will not +return the colt, unless compelled by main force. I will declare war +against you first." At that moment the tribe was not prepared for a +quarrel; and several of them said to Jahir: "We are too much attached to +you to push things to such an extreme as that; we are your allies and +kinsmen. We will not fight with you, though an idol of gold were at +stake." Then Kerim, son of Wahrab (the latter being the owner of the +mare and colt, a man renowned among the Arabs for his generosity), +seeing the obstinacy of Jahir, said to him: "Cousin, the colt is +certainly yours, and belongs to you; as for the mare here, accept her as +a present from my hand, so that mother and colt will not be separated, +and no one will ever be able to accuse me of wronging a kinsman." + +The tribe highly applauded this act, and Jahir was so humiliated by the +generosity with which he had been treated, that he returned mare and +colt to Kerim, adding to the gift a pair of male and a pair of female +camels. + +Dahir soon became a horse of absolute perfection in every point, and +when his master Kerim undertook to race him with another horse, he rode +the animal himself, and was in the habit of saying to his antagonist, +"Even should you pass me like an arrow, I could catch you up, and +distance you," and in fact this always happened. + +As soon as King Cais heard tell of this horse, he became beside himself +with longing and mortification, and his sleep left him. He sent to +Kerim, offering to buy the horse for as much gold or silver as the owner +demanded, and adding that the price would be forwarded without delay. +This message enraged Kerim. "Is not this Cais a fool, or a man of no +understanding?" he exclaimed. "Does he think I am a man of traffic--a +horse-dealer, who cannot mount the horses he owns? I swear by the faith +of an Arab that if he had asked for Dahir, as a present, I would have +sent the horse, and a troop of camels besides: but if he thinks of +obtaining him by bidding a price, he will never have him; even were I +bound to drink the cup of death." + +The messenger returned to Cais, and gave him the answer of Kerim, at +which the latter was much annoyed. "Am I a king over the tribes of Abs, +of Adnan, of Fazarah, and of Dibyan," he exclaimed, "and yet a common +Arab dares to oppose me!" He summoned his people and his warriors. +Immediately there was the flash of armor, of coats of mail, and swords +and helmets appeared amid the tents; the champions mounted their steeds, +shook their spears, and marched forth against the tribe of Byah. As soon +as they reached their enemy's territory they overran the pastures, and +gathered an immense booty in cattle, which Cais divided among his +followers. They next made for the tents and surprised the dwellers +there, who were not prepared for such an attack: Kerim being absent with +his warriors on an expedition of the same sort. Cais at the head of the +Absians, pushing his way into the dwellings, carried off the wives and +daughters of his foe. + +As for Dahir, he was tethered to one of the tent-pegs, for Kerim never +used him as a charger, for fear some harm might befall him, or he might +be killed. One of the slaves who had been left in the encampment, and +had been among the first to see the approach of the Absians, went up to +Dahir for the purpose of breaking the line by which he was hobbled. This +he failed to accomplish, but mounting him, and digging his heels into +his flanks, he forced the horse, although he was hobbled, to rush off +prancing like a fawn, until he reached the desert. It was in vain that +the Absians pursued him; they could not even catch up with the trail of +dust that he left behind him. + +As soon as Cais perceived Dahir, he recognized him, and the desire of +possessing him became intensified. He hurried on, but his chagrin was +great, as he perceived that, do what he would, he never could catch up +with him. At last the slave, perceiving that he had quite out-distanced +the Absians, dismounted, untied the feet of Dahir, leapt again into the +saddle, and galloped off. Cais, who had kept up the pursuit, gained +ground during this stop, and coming within ear-shot of the slave, +shouted out, "Stop, Arab, there is no cause for fear; you have my +protection; by the faith of a noble Arab, I swear it." At these words +the slave stopped. "Do you intend to sell that horse?" said King Cais to +him, "for in that case you have the most eager buyer of all the Arabian +tribesmen." "I do not wish to sell him, sire," replied the slave, +"excepting at one price, the restoration of all the booty." "I will buy +him then," the King answered, and he clasped the hand of the Arab as +pledge of the bargain. The slave dismounted from the young horse, and +delivered him over to King Cais, and the latter overjoyed at having his +wish, leapt on to his back, and set out to rejoin the Absians, whom he +commanded to restore all the booty which they had taken. His order was +executed to the letter. King Cais, enchanted at the success of his +enterprise, and at the possession of Dahir, returned home. So great was +his fondness for the horse that he groomed and fed him with his own +hands. Soon as Hadifah, chief of the tribe of Fazarah, heard that Cais +had possession of Dahir, jealousy filled his heart. In concert with +other chiefs he plotted the death of this beautiful horse. + +Now it came to pass that at this time Hadifah gave a great feast, and +Carwash, kinsman of King Cais, was present. At the end of the meal, and +while the wine circulated freely the course of conversation turned to +the most famous chiefs of the time. The subject being exhausted, the +guests began to speak about their most celebrated horses, and next, of +the journeys made by them in the desert. "Kinsmen," said Carwash, "none +of you ever saw a horse like Dahir, which belongs to my ally Cais. It is +vain to seek his equal; his pace is absolutely terrifying. He chases +away sorrow from the heart of him who beholds him, and protects like a +strong tower the man who mounts him." Carwash did not stop here, but +continued to praise, in the highest and most distinguished language, the +horse Dahir, until all of the tribe of Fazarah and of the family of +Zyad, felt their hearts swell with rage. "Do you hear him, brother?" +said Haml to Hadifah; "come, that is enough," he added, turning towards +Carwash. "All that you have said about Dahir is absolute nonsense--for +at present there are no horses better or finer than mine, and those of +my brother." + +With these words he ordered his slaves to bring his horses and parade +them before Carwash. This was done. "Come, Carwash, look at that horse." +"He is not worth the hay you feed him on," said the other. Then those of +Hadifah were led out; among them was a mare, named Ghabra, and a +stallion called Marik. "Now look at these," said Hadifah. "They are not +worth the hay they eat," replied Carwash. Hadifah, filled with +indignation at these words: "What, not even Ghabra?" "Not even Ghabra, +or all the horses in the world," repeated Carwash. "Would you like to +make a bet for us with King Cais?" "Certainly," answered Carwash--"I +will wager that Dahir will beat all the horses of the tribe of Fazarah, +even if he carries a hundred weight of stone on his back." They +discussed the matter for a long time, the one affirming the other +denying the statements, until Hadifah closed the altercation by saying, +"I hold to the wager, on condition that the winner takes from the loser +as many male and female camels as he chooses." "You are going to play me +a nice trick," said Carwash, "and for my part I tell you plainly that I +won't bet more than twenty camels; the man whose horse loses shall pay +this forfeit." The matter was arranged accordingly. They sat at table +until nightfall, and then rested. + +The next day Carwash left his tent at early morn, went to the tribe of +Abs, to find Cais, whom he told about the wager. "You were wrong," said +Cais. "You might have made a bet with anyone excepting Hadifah, who is a +man of tricks and treachery. If you have made the wager, you will have +to declare it off." Cais waited until certain persons who were with him +had retired, then he at once took horse, and repaired to the tribe of +Fazarah, where everybody was taking their morning meal in their tents. +Cais dismounted, took off his arms, and seating himself among them began +to eat with them, like a noble Arab. "Cousin," said Hadifah to him +jokingly, "What large mouthfuls you take; heaven preserve me from having +an appetite like yours." "It is true," said Cais, "that I am dying of +hunger, but by Him who abides always, and will abide forever, I came not +here merely to eat your victuals. My intention is to annul the wager +which was yesterday made between you and my kinsman Carwash, I beg of +you to cancel this bet, for all that is uttered over cups and flagons is +of no serious account, and ought to be forgotten." "I would have you to +know," was the answer, "that I will not withdraw from the challenge, +unless you forfeit the camels which are staked. If you accept this +condition, I shall be perfectly indifferent to everything else. +Nevertheless, if you wish it, I will seize the camels by force, or, if +it be your good pleasure, I will waive every claim, save as a debt of +honor." In spite of all that Cais could say, Hadifah remained firm in +his resolution, and as his brother began to deride Cais, the latter lost +his temper, and with a face blazing with wrath he asked of Hadifah, +"What stake did you offer in your wager with my cousin?" "Twenty +she-camels," said Hadifah. "As for this first wager," answered Cais, "I +cancel it, and propose another one in its stead: I will bet thirty +camels." "And I forty," replied Hadifah, "I make it fifty," was the +retort of Cais. "Sixty," quickly added the other; and they continued +raising the terms of the wager, until the number of camels staked was +one hundred. The contract of the bet was deposited in the hands of a man +named Sabic, son of Wahhab, and in the presence of a crowd of youths and +old men. "What shall be the length of the race?" asked Hadifah of Cais. +"One hundred bow-shots," replied Cais, "and we have an archer here, +Ayas, the son of Mansour, who will measure the ground." Ayas was in fact +the strongest and most accomplished archer then living among the Arabs. +King Cais, by choosing Ayas, wished the course to be made long, knowing +the endurance of his horse, and the longer distance Dahir had to travel, +the more he gained speed, from the increased excitement of his spirit. +"Well now, we had better fix the day for the race," said Cais to +Hadifah. "Forty days will be required," replied Hadifah, "to bring the +horses into condition." "You are right," said Cais, and they agreed that +the horses should be trained for forty days, that the race should take +place by the lake Zatalirsad, and that the horse that first reached the +goal should be declared winner. All these preliminaries having been +arranged, Cais returned to his tents. + +Meanwhile one of the horsemen of the tribe of Fazarah said to his +neighbors: "Kinsmen, you may rest assured that there is going to be a +breach between the tribe of Abs and that of Fazarah, as a result of this +race between Dahir and Ghabra. The two tribes, you must know, will be +mutually estranged, for King Cais has been there in person; now he is a +prince and the son of a prince. He has made every effort to cancel the +bet, but Hadifah would by no means consent. All this is the beginning of +a broil, which may be followed by a war, possibly lasting fifty years, +and many a one will fall in the struggle." + +Hadifah hearing this prediction, said: "I don't trouble myself much +about the matter, and your suggestion seems to me absurd." "O Hadifah," +exclaimed Ayas, "I am going to tell you what will be the result of all +your obstinacy towards Cais." Then he recited some verses, with the +following meaning: "In thee, O Hadifah, there is no beauty; and in the +purity of Cais there is not a single blot. How sincere and honest was +his counsels, although they were lacking in prudence and dignity. Make a +wager with a man who does not possess even an ass, and whose father has +never been rich enough to buy a horse. Let Cais alone; he has wealth, +lands, horses, a proud spirit, and he is the owner of this Dahir, who is +always first on the day of a race, whether he is resting or +running--this Dahir, a steed whose feet even appear through the +obscurity of night like burning brands." "Ayas," replied Hadifah, "do +you think I would break my word? I will take the camels of Cais, and +will not permit my name to be inscribed among the number of those who +have been vanquished. Let things run their course." + +As soon as King Cais had regained his tents he hastened to tell his +slaves to begin the training of his horses, and to pay especial +attention to Dahir. Then he told his kinsmen all that had taken place +between himself and Hadifah. Antar was present at this recital, and as +he took great interest in all that concerned the king, he said, "Cais, +calm your fears, keep your eyes well open, run the race, and have no +fear. For, by the faith of an Arab, if Hadifah makes any trouble or +misunderstanding, I will kill him, as well as the whole tribe of +Fazarah." + +The conversation on this subject continued until they reached the tents, +which Antar declined to enter before seeing Dahir. He walked several +times round this animal, and saw at a glance that the horse actually +possessed qualities which astonished any one who saw him. + +Hadifah quickly learned the return of Antar, and knew that the hero was +encouraging King Cais to run the race. Haml, Hadifah's brother, had also +heard the news, and in the distress which he felt remarked to Hadifah, +"I fear lest Antar should fall upon me, or some one of the family of +Beder, and kill us, and thus render us disgraced. Give up this race, or +we are ruined. Let me go to King Cais, and I will not leave him until he +promises to come to you and cancel the contract." "Do as you please," +answered Hadifah. Thereupon Haml took horse, and went immediately to +King Cais. He found him with his uncle Assyed, a wise and prudent man. +Haml approached Cais, saluted him by kissing his hand, and after saying +that he was the bearer of an important message, added: "Kinsman, you +know that my brother Hadifah is a low fellow, whose mind is full of +intrigues. I have spent the last three days in trying to persuade him to +cancel this wager. At last he has said: 'Very good, if Cais comes to me, +and wishes to be released from the contract, I will annul it; but do not +let any Arab think that I abandon the bet through fear of Antar.' Now +you, Cais, are aware that the greatest proof of attachment between +kinsmen is their willingness to give way to one another. So I am here to +beg that you will come to the dwelling of my brother Hadifah and ask him +to give up the race, before it causes trouble, and the tribe be utterly +driven away from its territories." At this address of Haml, Cais became +flushed with shame, for he was trusting and generous. He at once arose, +and leaving his uncle Assyed in charge of his domestic business, he +accompanied Haml to the land of Fazarah. When they were midway on their +journey Haml began to utter lavish praises of Cais to the latter's face, +and to blame his own brother's faults, in the following terms: "O Cais, +do not let your wrath be stirred up against Hadifah, for he is verily a +man headstrong and unjust in his actions. O Cais, if you persist in +holding to the bet, great disasters will follow. Both you and he are +impulsive and passionate, and this is what causes me to feel anxiety +about you, Cais. Put aside your private feelings, be kind and generous, +and it will come to pass that the oppressor himself will become the +oppressed." + +Haml continued to abuse his brother, and to flatter Cais with +expressions of admiration all the way, until in the evening they arrived +at the tribe of Fazarah. Hadifah, who at the moment was surrounded by +many powerful chiefs, upon whose aid he depended in the hour of need, +had changed his mind since his brother Haml's departure, and in place of +coming to terms and making peace with Cais he had determined to yield in +nothing, but to maintain rigorously the conditions of the coming race. +He was speaking of this very matter with one of the chiefs at the moment +when Cais and Haml presented themselves before him. As soon as Hadifah +saw Cais, he resolved to cover him with shame. Turning therefore to his +brother, he asked: "Who ordered you to go to this man? By the faith of a +noble Arab, even if all the men who cover the surface of the earth were +to come and importune me, saying, 'O Hadifah, give up one hair of these +camels,' I would not yield until a lance had pierced my heart and a +sword stricken the head from my shoulders." Cais crimsoned, and +immediately remounted his horse, bitterly reproaching Haml. He returned +home with the utmost haste, and found his uncle and brothers waiting for +him in extreme anxiety. "O my son!" said his uncle Assyed as soon as he +saw him, "you have had a disastrous journey, for it has caused you to be +disgraced." + +"If Hadifah had not been surrounded by certain chiefs, who gave him +treacherous counsels, I could have arranged the whole affair," answered +Cais. "There is now nothing left but to carry out the race and the bet." + +King Cais did not sleep the whole of that night. On the morrow he +thought of nothing but the training of his horses during the forty days' +interval before the race. All the Arabs of the land agreed to come to +the pastures and see the race, and when the forty days had expired the +horsemen of the two tribes came in a crowd to the banks of lake +Zatalirsud. Next arrived the archer Ayas, who, turning his back to the +lake at the point where the horses were to start, drew his bow as he +walked toward the north a hundred times, and measured out to the goal +the course of a hundred bow-shots. Soon the horsemen of Ghitfan and +Dibyan arrived, for they were of the same territory, and because of +their friendly relations and kinship were comprised as one tribe under +the name of Adnan. King Cais had begged Antar not to show himself on +this occasion, fearing that his appearance might cause dissension. Antar +listened to this advice, but was unable to rest quiet in the tents. The +interest he felt in Cais, and the deep distrust with which the falseness +of the Fazareans--who were always ready for treason--inspired him, +induced him to show himself. Girding on his sword Dhami, and mounting +his famous charger, Abjer, he took with him his brother Shidoub, and +reached the spot fixed upon for the race, in order that he might watch +over the safety of King Zoheir's sons. On his arrival he seemed to excel +all that crowd, like a lion clad in coat of mail. He carried his naked +sword, and his eyes flashed like blazing coals. As soon as he had +reached the middle of the crowd, he cried out with a loud voice, that +struck terror to all hearts: "Hearken, noble Arabian chieftains and men +of renown assembled here--all of you know that I was supported and +favored by King Zoheir, father of King Cais, that I am a slave bound to +him, by his goodness and munificence; that it is he who caused my +parents to acknowledge me, and gave me my rank, making me to be numbered +among Arab chiefs. Although he is no longer living, I wish to show my +gratitude to him, and bring the kings of the land into subjection to +him, even after his death. He has left a son, whom his brothers have +acknowledged, and have set on the throne of his father. This son is +Cais, whom they have thus distinguished, because of his wisdom, +rectitude, and noble heart. I am the slave of Cais, and am his property; +I intend to be the supporter of him whom I love, and the enemy of +whosoever resists him. It shall never be said, as long as I live, that I +have suffered an enemy to affront him. As to the conditions of this +wager, it is our duty to see them observed. The best thing, accordingly, +to do is to let the horses race unobstructed, for victory comes from the +creator of day and night. I make an oath, therefore, by the holy house +at Mecca, by the temple, by the eternal God, who never forgets his +servants and never sleeps, that if Hadifah commits any act of violence, +I will make him drink the cup of vengeance and of death; and will make +the whole tribe of Fazarah the byword of all the world. And you, Arab +chieftains, if you sincerely desire the race to take place, conduct +yourselves with justice and impartiality; otherwise, by the eyes of my +dear Ibla, I will make the horses run the race in blood." "Antar is +right," the horsemen shouted on all sides. + +Hadifah chose, as the rider of Ghabra, a groom of the tribe of Dibyan. +This man had passed all his days and many of his nights in rearing and +tending horses. Cais, on the other hand, chose as rider of Dahir a groom +of the tribe of Abs, much better trained and experienced in his +profession than was the Dibyanian. When the two contestants had mounted +their horses King Cais gave this parting instruction to his groom: "Do +not let the reins hang too loosely in managing Dahir; if you see him +flag, stand up in your stirrups, and press his flanks gently with your +legs. Do not urge him too much, or you will break his spirit." Hadifah +heard this advice and repeated it, word for word, to his rider. + +Antar began to laugh. "By the faith of an Arab," he said to Hadifah, +"you will be beaten. Are words so scarce that you are obliged to use +exactly those of Cais? But as a matter of fact Cais is a king, the son +of a king; he ought always to be imitated by others, and since you have +followed, word by word, his speech, it is a proof that your horse will +follow his in the desert." + +At these words the heart of Hadifah swelled with rage and indignation, +and he swore with an oath that he would not let his horse run that day, +but that he wished the race to take place at sunrise, next morning. This +delay was indispensable to him in preparing the act of perfidy which he +meditated, for he had no sooner seen Dahir than he was speechless with +astonishment at the beauty and perfections of the horse. + +The judges had already dismounted and the horsemen of the various tribes +were preparing to return home, when Shidoub began to cry out with a loud +voice, "Tribes of Abs, of Adnan, of Fazarah and of Dibyan, and all here +present attend to me for an instant, and listen to words which shall be +repeated from generation to generation." All the warriors stood +motionless. "Speak on," they cried, "what is your will? Perhaps there +may be something good in your words." "Illustrious Arabs," continued +Shidoub, "you know what happened in consequence of the match between +Dahir and Ghabra: I assure you on my life that I will outstrip both of +them in running, even were they swifter than the wind. But listen to the +condition I offer; if I am the winner, I am to take the hundred camels +which are at stake; but if I am beaten, I am to forfeit fifty." Upon +this one of the Sheiks of Fazarah exclaimed, "What is that you are +saying, vile slave? Why should you receive a hundred camels if you win +and only forfeit fifty if you lose?" "Do you ask why, ancient mire of a +dunghill," replied Shidoub, "because I have but two legs to run on and a +horse has four, not counting his tail." All the Arabs burst out +laughing; yet as they were astonished at the conditions proposed by +Shidoub, and extremely curious to see him run the race, they agreed that +he should make the hazardous experiment. + +When all had returned to the tents Antar said to Shidoub: "Come, now, +thou son of a cursed mother, how dared thou say that thou couldst +outstrip these two horses, whose race all horsemen of our tribes have +assembled to see, and who all the world admits have no equals in speed, +not even among the birds of the air?" "By him who created the springs in +the rocks and who knows all things," replied Shidoub, "I will outstrip +those two horses, be they fleet as the winds. Yes, and my victory will +have an advantageous result, for when the Arabs hear of it, they will +give up all idea of pursuing me, when I run across the desert." Antar +laughed, for he was in doubt about Shidoub's plan. The latter went to +find King Cais and his brothers, and the other witnesses of the race, +and made oath on his life that he would outstrip the two horses. All +present acknowledged themselves witnesses of the oath, and left the +spot, filled with astonishment at the proposition. + +As for the trickster Hadifah, in the evening he summoned one of his +slaves named Dames, a rascal, if ever there was one. "O Dames," he said, +"you frequently boast of your cunning, but hitherto I have had no +opportunity of putting it to the proof." "My Lord," answered the slave, +"tell me in what way I can be useful to you." "I desire," said Hadifah, +"that you go and post yourself in the great pass. Remain in this place, +and go and hide yourself there in the morning. Watch the horses well, +and see if Dahir is in advance. If he is, show yourself suddenly, strike +him on the head, and cause him to stop, so that Ghabra may outstrip him, +and we may not incur the disgrace of defeat. For I confess that since I +have seen Dahir, his excellent points have made me doubt the superiority +of Ghabra, and I fear my mare will be beaten, and we shall become the +laughing stock of all the Arabs." "But, sir, how shall I distinguish +Dahir from Ghabra when they advance, both of them wrapped in a cloud of +dust?" Hadifah replied, "I am going to give you a sign, and to explain +how the matter may be free from difficulty." As he spoke he picked up +some stones from the ground and said: "Take these stones with you at +sunrise, begin to count them, and throw them to the earth, four at a +time. You must repeat the operation five times, and the last time Ghabra +will arrive. That is the calculation I have made, so that if a cloud of +dust presents itself to you, and some of the stones, a third or a half +of them, still remain in your hand, you may be sure that Dahir has +gained first place, and is before your eyes. You must then hurl a stone +at his head, as I said, and stop his running, so that my mare may gain +the lead." The slave agreed to do so. He provided himself with stones +and went to hide himself at the great pass, and Hadifah felt confident +of gaining the wager. + +At the dawn of day, the Arabs, coming from all quarters, were assembled +on the race ground. The judges gave the signal for the start, and the +two riders uttered loud shouts. The racers started like flashes of +lightning which dazzle the sight and seemed like the wind when, as it +blows, it increases in fury. Ghabra passed ahead of Dahir and distanced +him. "Now you are lost, my brother of the tribe of Abs," cried the +Fazarean groom to the Absian, "try and console yourself for this +defeat." "You lie," retorted the Absian, "and in a few moments you will +see how completely you are mistaken. Wait till we have passed this +uneven ground. Mares always travel faster on rough roads than on smooth +country." And so it happened, for when they arrived in the plain, Dahir +shot forward like a giant, leaving a trail of dust behind him. It seemed +as if he went on wings, not legs; in the twinkling of an eye he had +outstripped Ghabra. "Here," cried the Absian to the Fazarean groom, +"send a messenger from me to the family of Beder, and you yourself drink +the bitter cup of patience behind me." Meanwhile Shidoub, swift as the +north wind, kept ahead of Dahir, bounding like a fawn and running like +an ostrich, until he reached the defile where Dames was hidden. The +slave had only thrown down less than a third of his pebbles, when he +looked up and saw Dahir approaching. + +He waited till the horse passed close by him, and suddenly showed +himself with a shout, and hit the racer violently between the eyes with +a stone. The horse reared, stopped one moment, and the rider was on the +point of being unseated. Shidoub was a witness to the incident, and +having looked at the slave, recognized him as belonging to the +treacherous Hadifah. In the violence of his rage he flung himself upon +Dames, and struck him dead with his sword: then he approached Dahir for +the purpose of speaking soothingly to him, and starting him again on the +race; but, alas, the mare Ghabra rushed up like the wind. Then Shidoub, +fearing defeat, thinking of the camels he would forfeit, set out running +at full speed towards the lake, where he arrived two bow-shots in +advance of the horses. Ghabra followed, then Dahir last, bearing on his +forehead the mark of the missile; his cheeks were covered with blood and +tears. + +All the spectators were astounded on seeing the agility and endurance of +Shidoub; but as soon as Ghabra had reached the finish the Fazareans +uttered loud shouts of joy. Dahir was led home all bleeding, and his +rider told the men of the tribe of Abs what the slave had done. Cais +examined the wound of his horse and asked for full details of the +occurrence. Antar grew crimson with anger, and laid his hand upon his +invincible sword, as if impatient to annihilate the tribe of the +Fazareans. But the sheiks restrained him, although with difficulty, +after which they went to Hadifah to cover him with shame, and to +reproach him with the infamous deed he had done. Hadifah denied it, with +false oaths, affirming that he knew nothing of the blow dealt to Dahir; +then he added, "I demand the camels which are due to me, and I do not +admit the treacherous pretext on which they are being withheld." + +"That blow is doubtless of evil augury for the tribe of Fazarah," said +Cais. "God will certainly give us victory and triumph, and destroy them. +For Hadifah only desired this race to take place in order that it might +cause trouble and discord, and the disturbance which this contest is +sure to excite will stir up one tribe against another, so that there +will be many men killed, and children made orphans." The conversation +which followed among the tribesmen became more and more excited, +confusion followed, shouts rang out on all sides, and drawn swords +flashed. Bloodshed would have resulted had not the sheiks and wise men +dismounted and with bared heads mingled with the crowd, with humble +mien, imploring them, until at last the matter was settled as +harmoniously as possible. It was agreed that Shidoub should receive the +amount of the wager--a hundred camels from the tribe of Fazarah, and +that Hadifah should abandon his claims and refrain from all dispute. +Such were the measures taken to extinguish the hostility and disorder +which threatened to burst out among the tribes. Then the different +families retired to their own dwellings, but the hearts of all were +filled with bitter hatred. One whose resentment seemed keenest was +Hadifah, especially when he learned of the slave Dames's death. As for +Cais, he was also filled with mute rage and intense hatred. Yet Antar +tried to reassure him. "King," he said to him, "do not let your heart be +a prey to mortification; for I swear by the tomb of King Zoheir, your +father, that I will cause disgrace and infamy to fall on Hadifah, and it +is only from regard for you that I have up to this time delayed action." +Soon after all returned to their tents. + +The following morning Shidoub killed twenty of the camels he had won the +day before, and caused the meat to be distributed among the widows and +those who had been wounded and crippled in war. He slaughtered twenty +others, which he used in entertaining the tribe of Abs, including women +and slaves. Finally, the next day, he killed the rest of the camels and +made a great feast near the lake Zatalirsad, to which he invited the +sons of King Zoheir and his noblest chieftains. At the end of this +banquet, when the wine circulated among the guests, all praised the +behavior of Shidoub. But the news of the camel slaughter and of all the +feasting was soon known to the tribe of Fazarah. All the enraged +tribesmen hastened to seek Hadifah. "What," said they, "while we were +first in the race, slaves and traitorous Absians have eaten our camels! +Send for an equal number of camels, by all means; but if he refuses them +let us make a terrible war upon the Absians." + +Hadifah raised his eyes upon his son Abou-Firacah. "Mount horse at +once," he said to him, "and go and say to Cais: my father says that you +must this instant pay the wager, or he will come and seize the amount by +main force, and will bring trouble upon you." There was then present a +chief among the sheiks, who, hearing the order that Hadifah had given to +his son, said: "O Hadifah, are you not ashamed to send such a message to +the tribe of the Absians? Are they not our kindred and allies? Does this +proposal harmonize with the counsel and desire of allaying dissensions? +The genuine man shows gratitude for generosity and kindness. I think it +quite reasonable to expect that you desist from this perverse mood, +which will end in our total extermination. Cais has shown himself quite +impartial and has done wrong to no one; cherish, therefore, peace with +the horsemen of the tribe of Abs. Take warning from what happened to the +slave Dames; he struck Dahir, the horse of King Cais, and God punished +him at once; he is left bathed in his slavish blood. I beg you to listen +to none but wise counsels; act nobly, and abandon base designs. While +you are thus forewarned as to your situation, keep a prudent eye on your +affairs." This discourse rendered Hadifah furious. "Contemptible sheik! +Dog of a traitor!" he exclaimed. "What! Must I be in fear of Cais and +the whole tribe of the Absians? By the faith of an Arab, I will let all +men of honor know that if Cais refuse to send the camels I will not +leave one of his tents standing." The sheik was indignant, and to +increase the fear he would cast into the heart of Hadifah he spoke to +him in verses, to the following effect: "Insult is cowardliness, for it +takes by surprise him who is not expecting it, as the night enwraps +those who wander in the desert. When the sword shall once be drawn look +out for blows. Be just and do not clothe thyself with dishonor. Enquire +of those who know the fate of Themond and his tribe, when they committed +acts of rebellion and tyranny. They will tell you that a command of God +from on high destroyed them in one night, and on the morrow they lay +scattered on the ground, their eyes turned towards the sky." + +Hadifah dissembled his contempt for these verses and the sheik who had +pronounced them, but he ordered his son to go at once to Cais. +Abou-Firacah started for the tribe of Abs, and as soon as he arrived +there repaired to the home of Cais, who was absent. The messenger asked +then for his wife Modelilah, the daughter of Rebia. "What do you desire +of my husband?" she asked. "I demand my due, the prize of the horse +race." "Misfortune take you and that which you demand," she replied. +"Son of Hadifah! Do you not fear the consequences of such perfidy? If +Cais were here he would send you to your death, instantly." Abou-Firacah +returned to his father, to whom he told all that the wife of Cais had +said "What, you coward," shouted Hadifah, "do you come back without +completing your errand? Are you afraid of the daughter of Rebia? Go to +him again." + +As Abou-Firacah reminded his father that it was now near night-fall, the +message was postponed until the next day. As for Cais, when he +re-entered his home, he learned from his wife that Abou-Firacah had come +to ask for the camels. "By the faith of an Arab," he said, "if I had +been here I would have slain him. But the matter is closed; let us think +no more of it." Yet King Cais passed the night in grief and annoyance +until sunrise, at which time he betook himself to his tent Antar came to +see him. Cais rose, and making him take a seat, mentioned the name of +Hadifah. "Would you believe he had the shamelessness to send his son to +demand the camels of me? Ah, if I had been present I would have slain +the messenger." Scarcely had he finished uttering these words when +Abou-Firacah presented himself on horseback. Without dismounting, and +uttering no word of salutation or preface, he said: "Cais, my father +desires that you send him that which is his due; by so doing your +conduct will be that of a generous man; but if you refuse, my father +will come against you, carry off his property by force, and plunge you +into misfortune." + +On hearing these words Cais felt the light change to darkness before his +eyes. "O thou son of a vile coward," he exclaimed "how is it that you +are not more respectful in your address to me?" He seized a javelin and +plunged it into the breast of Abou-Firacah. Pierced through, the young +messenger lost control of his horse.--Antar dragged him down and flung +him on the ground. Then, turning the horse's head away from the +direction of Fazarah, he struck him on the flank with a holly-stick, and +the horse took the road towards the pastures, and finally entered his +stable, all covered with blood. The shepherds at once led him to the +tents, crying out, "Misfortune! Misfortune!" + +Hadifah became furious. He smote upon his breast, repeating the words: +"Tribe of Fazarah, to arms, to arms, to arms!" and all the disaffected +came to Hadifah once more, begging him to declare war on the Absians, +and to take vengeance on them. "Kinsmen!" replied Hadifah, with +alacrity, "let none of us sleep to-night without our armor on." And so +it happened. + +At break of day Hadifah was on horseback; the warriors were ready, and +only women and children and the feeble were left in the tents. Cais, on +the other hand, after slaying Abou-Firacah, expected that the Fazareans +would come and attack himself and his warriors; he therefore prepared +for battle. Antar was charged with taking the necessary reconnoitre. He +left in the tents only women, children, and those too feeble to bear the +sword; then he put himself in command of the heroes of Carad. Nothing +could be more brilliant than the ranks of the Absians in their coats of +mail and gleaming weapons. These preparations caused an anxious moment +for both parties. They marched forth against each other, and the sun had +scarcely appeared, before scimitars flashed, and the whole country was +in a turmoil. + +Antar was impatient to press forward, and satisfy his thirst for battle; +but, lo! Hadifah, dressed in a black robe, advances, his heart broken by +the death of his son. "Son of Zoheir," he cried to Cais, "it is a base +action to slay a child; but it is good to meet in battle, to decide with +these lances which shall predominate, you or me." These words cut Cais +to the quick. Hurried along by passion he left his standard and rushed +against Hadifah. Then the two chiefs, spurred on by mutual hatred, +fought together on their noble chargers, until nightfall. Cais was +mounted on Dahir, and Hadifah on Ghabra. In the course of this combat +the exploits of the past were eclipsed. Each tribe despaired of his +chieftain's safety, and they were eager to make a general attack, in +order to stop the struggle of the chieftains and the fury with which +they contended. Cries began to be heard in the air. Scimitars were +drawn, and lances advanced over the ears of Arabian chargers. Antar +approached certain Absian chiefs and said, "Let us attack the traitors." +He prepared to charge, when the ancients of the two tribes came forth +into the middle of the plain, with heads uncovered, their feet bared, +and their idols hung from their shoulders. Standing between the two +armies they spoke as follows: "Kinsmen and allies, in the name of that +harmony which has hitherto prevailed among us, let us do nothing that +will make us the byword of our slaves. Let us not furnish our enemies +with ground for reproaching us. Let us forget all matter of dispute and +dissension. Let us not turn wives into widows and our children into +orphans. Satisfy your warlike ardor by attacking those among the Arabs +who are your real foes; and you, kinsmen of Fazarah, show yourselves +more humble and less haughty, towards your brethren the Absians. Above +all, forget not that insolent wrong has often caused the destruction of +many tribes, which have had sore reason to regret their impious actions; +in this way many men have been deprived of their possessions, and a vast +number been plunged into the gulf of despair and regret. Expect the +fatal hour of death, the day of dissolution, for it is upon you. You +will be rent asunder by the threatening eagles of destruction, and +enclosed in the dark prison-house of the tomb. Take care, that when your +bodies are separated from life, men may think about you without any +other memory than that of your virtues." + +The sheiks talked together for a long time, and meanwhile the flame of +passion which had been kindled in the soul of the two heroes, Cais and +Hadifah, became quenched. Hadifah withdrew from the fight, and it was +agreed that Cais should pay as the price of Abou-Firacah's blood a +quantity of cattle and a string of camels. The sheiks did not wish even +then to quit the field of battle until Cais and Hadifah embraced each +other and had agreed to all the arrangements. Antar was crimson with +rage. "O King Cais," he exclaimed, "what have you done? What! while our +swords flash in our hands shall the tribe of Fazarah exact a price for +the blood of its dead? And we never be able to obtain retaliation +excepting with our spear points! The blood of our dead is shed, and +shall we not avenge it?" Hadifah was beside himself on hearing these +words. "And you, vile bastard," said Antar to him, "you son of a vile +mother, must your honor be purchased at the expense of our disgrace? But +for the presence of these noble sheiks I would annihilate you and all +your people this very instant." + +Then Hadifah's indignation and anger overleaped all bounds. "By the +faith of an Arab," he said to the sheiks, "I wish to hear no talk of +peace at the moment that the enemy is ready to spear me." "Do not talk +in that way, dear son of my mother," said Haml to his brother. "Do not +dart away on the path of imprudence; abandon these gloomy resolutions. +Remain in peace with the allies of the Absians, for they are shining +stars: the burnished sun that guides all Arabs who love glory. It was +but the other day that you wronged them by causing the horse Dahir to be +wounded, and thus erred from the path of justice. As for your son, he +was justly slain, for you had sent him to demand something that was not +due you. After all, nothing is so proper as to make peace, for he who +would seek and stir up war is a tyrant, and an oppressor. Accept +therefore the compensation offered you, or you are likely to call up +around us a fire which will burn us in the flames of hell." Haml +concluded with verses of the following import: "By the truth of him who +has rooted firm the mountains, without foundations, if you decline to +accept the compensation offered by the Absians, you are in the wrong. +They acknowledge Hadifah as their chief; be a chief in very deed, and be +content with the cattle and camels offered you. Dismount from the horse +of outrage, and mount it not again, for it will carry you to the sea of +grief and calamity. Hadifah, renounce like a generous man, all violence, +but particularly the idea of contending with the Absians. Make of them +and of their leader a powerful rampart against the enemies that may +attack us. Make of them friends that will remain faithful, for they are +men of the noblest intentions. Such are the Absians, and if Cais has +acted unjustly towards you, it is you who first set him the example some +days ago." + +When Haml finished these verses, the chiefs of the different tribes +thanked him, and Hadifah having consented to accept the compensation +offered, all the Arabs renounced violence and war. All who carried arms +remained at home. Cais sent to Hadifah two hundred camels, six +men-slaves, ten women-slaves, and ten horses. Thus peace was +reestablished and every one rested in tranquillity throughout the land. + + + + +SELECTIONS FROM ARABIAN POETRY + +[_Translation by J.D. Carlyle_] + + +INTRODUCTION + +The essential qualities of Arabian poetry appear in the "Romance of +Antar," and the tales of the "Thousand and One Nights." For such a +blending of prose and verse is the favorite form of Arabian literature +in its highest and severest form, even in the drama. But the character +of the people is most clearly shown in the lyrical poems of the Bedouin +country. The pastoral poetry of the peninsula is so local in its +allusions that it cannot adequately be translated into English. It is in +the lyrics that we find that "touch of nature which makes the whole +world kin." The gorgeousness of Hindoo literature, with its lavish +description of jewelry and gold, precious stones and marbles, hideous +demons, and mighty gods, is not to be looked for in Arabia. There the +horizon is clear, and the plain has nothing but human occupants. The +common passions of men are the only powers at work; love, war, sorrow, +and wine, are the subjects of these little songs, some of which might +have been written by "Anacreon" Moore, and others by Catullus. The +influence of Greek poetry is indeed manifest in these light and +sometimes frivolous effusions. The sweetness and grace which distinguish +some are only equalled by the wit of others. For wit is the prevailing +characteristic of Arabian poetry, which is attractive for its +cleverness, its brightness, the alternate smiles and tears which shine +through it, and make the present selections so refreshing and +interesting a revelation of the national heart and intellect. + +I use the word refreshing, because some of the imagery of these lyrics +is new to me, and quite unparalleled in European literature. What can +be more novel, and at the same time more charming than the following +simile, with which a short elegy concludes:-- + + "But though in dust thy relics lie, + Thy virtues, Mano, ne'er shall die; + Though Nile's full stream be seen no more, + That spread his waves from shore to shore, + Still in the verdure of the plain + His vivifying smiles remain." + +The praise of a humble lot has been sung from Hafiz to Horace, but +never illustrated by a prettier conceit than the Arabic poet has +recourse to in this stanza:-- + + "Not always wealth, not always force + A splendid destiny commands; + The lordly vulture gnaws the corse + That rots upon yon barren sands. + + "Nor want nor weakness still conspires + To bind us to a sordid state; + The fly that with a touch expires, + Sips honey from the royal plate." + +This is undoubtedly a very original way of stating the philosophic axiom +of the Augustan poet, + + "The lord of boundless revenues, + Do not salute as happy." + +I have spoken of the wit of these verses, which is certainly one of +their distinguishing qualities. It is quite Attic in its flavor and +exquisitely delicate in its combined good-humor and freedom from rancor. +An epigram, according to the old definition, should be like a bee; it +should carry the sweetness of honey, although it bears a sting at the +end. Sometimes the end has a point which does not sting, as in the +following quatrain of an Arabic poet:-- + + "When I sent you my melons, you cried out with scorn, + They ought to be heavy and wrinkled and yellow; + When I offered myself, whom those graces adorn, + You flouted, and called me an ugly old fellow." + +Martial himself could not have excelled the wit of an epigram addressed +to a very little man who wore a very big beard, which thus concludes:-- + + "Surely thou cherishest thy beard + In hope to hide thyself behind it." + +To study a literature like that of the Arabians, even partially and in a +translation, is one of those experiences which enlarge and stimulate the +mind and expand its range of impressions with a distinctly elevating and +liberalizing effect. It has the result of genuine education, in that it +increases our capacity for sympathy for other peoples, making us better +acquainted with the language in which they reveal that common human +heart which they share with us. + +E.W. + + + + +AN ELEGY[1] + + Those dear abodes which once contain'd the fair, + Amidst Mitata's wilds I seek in vain, + Nor towers, nor tents, nor cottages are there, + But scatter'd ruins and a silent plain. + + The proud canals that once Rayana grac'd, + Their course neglected and their waters gone, + Among the level'd sands are dimly trac'd, + Like moss-grown letters on a mouldering stone. + + Rayana say, how many a tedious year + Its hallow'd circle o'er our heads hath roll'd, + Since to my vows thy tender maids gave ear, + And fondly listened to the tale I told? + + How oft, since then, the star of spring, that pours + A never-failing stream, hath drenched thy head? + How oft, the summer cloud in copious showers + Or gentle drops its genial influence shed? + + How oft since then, the hovering mist of morn + Hath caus'd thy locks with glittering gems to glow? + How oft hath eve her dewy treasures borne + To fall responsive to the breeze below? + + The matted thistles, bending to the gale, + Now clothe those meadows once with verdure gay; + Amidst the windings of that lonely vale + The teeming antelope and ostrich stray. + + The large-eyed mother of the herd that flies + Man's noisy haunts, here finds a sure retreat, + Here watches o'er her young, till age supplies + Strength to their limbs and swiftness to their feet. + + Save where the swelling stream hath swept those walls + And giv'n their deep foundations to the light + (As the retouching pencil that recalls + A long-lost picture to the raptur'd sight). + + Save where the rains have wash'd the gathered sand + And bared the scanty fragments to our view, + (As the dust sprinkled on a punctur'd hand + Bids the faint tints resume their azure hue). + + No mossy record of those once lov'd seats + Points out the mansion to inquiring eyes; + No tottering wall, in echoing sounds, repeats + Our mournful questions and our bursting sighs. + + Yet, midst those ruin'd heaps, that naked plain, + Can faithful memory former scenes restore, + Recall the busy throng, the jocund train, + And picture all that charm'd us there before. + + Ne'e shall my heart the fatal morn forget + That bore the fair ones from these seats so dear-- + I see, I see the crowding litters yet, + And yet the tent-poles rattle in my ear. + + I see the maids with timid steps descend, + The streamers wave in all their painted pride, + The floating curtains every fold extend, + And vainly strive the charms within to hide. + + What graceful forms those envious folds enclose! + What melting glances thro' those curtains play! + Sure Weira's antelopes, or Tudah's roes + Thro' yonder veils their sportive young survey! + + The band mov'd on--to trace their steps I strove, + I saw them urge the camel's hastening flight, + Till the white vapor, like a rising grove, + Snatch'd them forever from my aching sight. + + Nor since that morn have I Nawara seen, + The bands are burst which held us once so fast, + Memory but tells me that such things have been, + And sad Reflection adds, that they are past. + +_Lebid Ben Rabiat Alamary_. + + [1] The author of this poem was a native of Yemen. He was contemporary + with Mohammed and was already celebrated as a poet when the prophet + began to promulgate his doctrines. Lebid embraced Islamism and was + one of the most aggressive helpers in its establishment. He fixed + his abode in the city of Cufa, where he died at a very advanced age. + This elegy, as is evident, was written previous to Lebid's conversion + to Islamism. Its subject is one that must be ever interesting to + the feeling mind--the return of a person after a long absence to + the place of his birth--in fact it is the Arabian "Deserted Village." + + +THE TOMB OF MANO + + Friends of my heart, who share my sighs! + Go seek the turf where Mano lies, + And woo the dewy clouds of spring, + To sweep it with prolific wing. + + Within that cell, beneath that heap, + Friendship and Truth and Honor sleep, + Beneficence, that used to clasp + The world within her ample grasp. + + There rests entomb'd--of thought bereft-- + For were one conscious atom left + New bliss, new kindness to display, + 'Twould burst the grave, and seek the day. + + But tho' in dust thy relics lie, + Thy virtues, Mano, ne'er shall die; + Tho' Nile's full stream be seen no more, + That spread his waves from shore to shore, + Still in the verdure of the plain + His vivifying smiles remain. + +_Hassan Alasady_. + + +TOMB OF SAYID[2] + + Blest are the tenants of the tomb! + With envy I their lot survey! + For Sayid shares the solemn gloom, + And mingles with their mouldering clay. + + Dear youth! I'm doom'd thy loss to mourn + When gathering ills around combine; + And whither now shall Malec turn, + Where look for any help but thine? + + At this dread moment when the foe + My life with rage insatiate seeks, + In vain I strive to ward the blow, + My buckler falls, my sabre breaks. + + Upon thy grassy tomb I knelt, + And sought from pain a short relief-- + Th' attempt was vain--I only felt + Intenser pangs and livelier grief. + + The bud of woe no more represt, + Fed by the tears that drench'd it there, + Shot forth and fill'd my laboring breast + Soon to expand and shed despair. + + But tho' of Sayid I'm bereft, + From whom the stream of bounty came, + Sayid a nobler meed has left-- + Th' exhaustless heritage of fame. + + Tho' mute the lips on which I hung, + Their silence speaks more loud to me + Than any voice from mortal tongue, + "What Sayid was let Malec be." + +_Abd Almalec Alharithy_. + + [2] Abd Almalec was a native of Arabia Felix. The exact period when + he flourished is unknown, but as this production is taken from the + Hamasa it is most probable that he was anterior to Mohammedanism. + + +THE DEATH OF HIS MISTRESS[3] + + Dost thou wonder that I flew + Charm'd to meet my Leila's view? + Dost thou wonder that I hung + Raptur'd on my Leila's tongue? + If her ghost's funereal screech + Thro' the earth my grave should reach, + On that voice I lov'd so well + My transported ghost would dwell:-- + If in death I can descry + Where my Leila's relics lie, + Saher's dust will flee away, + There to join his Leila's clay. + +_Abu Saher Alhedily_. + + [3] The sentiment contained in this production determines its + antiquity. It was the opinion of the Pagan Arabs that upon the + death of any person a bird, by them called Manah, issued from his + brain, which haunted the sepulchre of the deceased, uttering a + lamentable scream. + + +ON AVARICE[4] + + How frail are riches and their joys? + Morn builds the heap which eve destroys; + Yet can they have one sure delight-- + The thought that we've employed them right. + + What bliss can wealth afford to me + When life's last solemn hour I see, + When Mavia's sympathizing sighs + Will but augment my agonies? + + Can hoarded gold dispel the gloom + That death must shed around his tomb? + Or cheer the ghost which hovers there, + And fills with shrieks the desert air? + + What boots it, Mavia, in the grave, + Whether I lov'd to waste or save? + The hand that millions now can grasp, + In death no more than mine shall clasp. + + Were I ambitious to behold + Increasing stores of treasured gold, + Each tribe that roves the desert knows + I might be wealthy if I chose:-- + + But other joys can gold impart, + Far other wishes warm my heart-- + Ne'er may I strive to swell the heap, + Till want and woe have ceas'd to weep. + + With brow unalter'd I can see + The hour of wealth or poverty: + I've drunk from both the cups of fate, + Nor this could sink, nor that elate. + + With fortune blest, I ne'er was found + To look with scorn on those around; + Nor for the loss of paltry ore, + Shall Hatem seem to Hatem poor. + +_Hatem Tai_. + + [4] Hatem Tai was an Arabian chief, who lived a short time prior to + the promulgation of Mohammedanism. He has been so much celebrated + through the East for his generosity that even to this day the + greatest encomium which can be given to a generous man is to say + that he is as liberal as Hatem. Hatem was also a poet; but his + talents were principally exerted in recommending his favorite + virtue. + + +THE BATTLE OF SABLA[5] + + Sabla, them saw'st th' exulting foe + In fancied triumphs crown'd; + Thou heard'st their frantic females throw + These galling taunts around:-- + + "Make now your choice--the terms we give, + Desponding victims, hear; + These fetters on your hands receive, + Or in your hearts the spear." + + "And is the conflict o'er," we cried, + "And lie we at your feet? + And dare you vauntingly decide + The fortune we must meet? + + "A brighter day we soon shall see, + Tho' now the prospect lowers, + And conquest, peace, and liberty + Shall gild our future hours." + + The foe advanc'd:--in firm array + We rush'd o'er Sabla's sands, + And the red sabre mark'd our way + Amidst their yielding bands. + + Then, as they writh'd in death's cold grasp, + We cried, "Our choice is made, + These hands the sabre's hilt shall clasp, + Your hearts shall have the blade." + +_Jaafer Ben Alba_. + + [5] This poem and the one following it are both taken from the Hamasa + and afford curious instances of the animosity which prevailed + amongst the several Arabian clans, and of the rancor with which + they pursued each other, when once at variance. + + +VERSES TO MY ENEMIES + + Why thus to passion give the rein? + Why seek your kindred tribe to wrong? + Why strive to drag to light again + The fatal feud entomb'd so long? + + Think not, if fury ye display, + But equal fury we can deal; + Hope not, if wrong'd, but we repay + Revenge for every wrong we feel. + + Why thus to passion give the rein? + Why seek the robe of peace to tear? + Rash youths desist, your course restrain, + Or dread the wrath ye blindly dare. + + Yet friendship we not ask from foes, + Nor favor hope from you to prove, + We lov'd you not, great Allah knows, + Nor blam'd you that ye could not love. + + To each are different feelings given, + This slights, and that regards his brother; + 'Tis ours to live--thanks to kind heav'n-- + Hating and hated by each other. + +_Alfadhel Ibn Alabas_. + + +ON HIS FRIENDS[6] + + With conscious pride I view the band + Of faithful friends that round me stand, + With pride exult that I alone + Can join these scatter'd gems in one:-- + For they're a wreath of pearls, and I + The silken cord on which they lie. + + 'Tis mine their inmost souls to see, + Unlock'd is every heart to me, + To me they cling, on me they rest, + And I've a place in every breast:-- + For they're a wreath of pearls, and I + The silken cord on which they lie. + +_Meskin Aldaramy_. + + [6] These lines are also from the Hamasa. + + +ON TEMPER[7] + + Yes, Leila, I swore by the fire of thine eyes, + I ne'er could a sweetness unvaried endure; + The bubbles of spirit, that sparkling arise, + Forbid life to stagnate and render it pure. + + But yet, my dear maid, tho' thy spirit's my pride, + I'd wish for some sweetness to temper the bowl; + If life be ne'er suffer'd to rest or subside, + It may not be flat, but I fear 'twill be foul. + +_Nabegat Beni Jaid_. + + [7] There have been several Arabian poets of the name of Nabegat. The + author of these verses was descended from the family of Jaid. As + he died in the fortieth year of the Hegira, aged one hundred and + twenty, he must have been fourscore at the promulgation of Islamism; + he, however, declared himself an early convert to the new faith. + + +THE SONG OF MAISUNA[8] + + The russet suit of camel's hair, + With spirits light, and eye serene, + Is dearer to my bosom far + Than all the trappings of a queen. + + The humble tent and murmuring breeze + That whistles thro' its fluttering wall, + My unaspiring fancy please + Better than towers and splendid halls. + + Th' attendant colts that bounding fly + And frolic by the litter's side, + Are dearer in Maisuna's eye + Than gorgeous mules in all their pride. + + The watch-dog's voice that bays whene'er + A stranger seeks his master's cot, + Sounds sweeter in Maisuna's ear + Than yonder trumpet's long-drawn note. + + The rustic youth unspoilt by art, + Son of my kindred, poor but free, + Will ever to Maisuna's heart + Be dearer, pamper'd fool, than thee. + + [8] Maisuma was a daughter of the tribe of Calab; a tribe, according + to Abulfeda, remarkable both for the purity of dialect spoken in + it, and for the number of poets it had produced. She was married, + whilst very young, to the Caliph Mowiah. But this exalted situation + by no means suited the disposition of Maisuna, and amidst all the + pomp and splendor of Damascus, she languished for the simple + pleasures of her native desert. + + +TO MY FATHER[9] + + Must then my failings from the shaft + Of anger ne'er escape? + And dost thou storm because I've quaff'd + The water of the grape? + + That I can thus from wine be driv'n + Thou surely ne'er canst think-- + Another reason thou hast giv'n + Why I resolve to drink. + + 'Twas sweet the flowing cup to seize, + 'Tis sweet thy rage to see; + And first I drink myself to please; + And next--to anger thee. + +_Yezid_. + + [9] Yezid succeeded Mowiah in the Caliphate A.H. 60; and in most + respects showed himself to be of a very different disposition from + his predecessor. He was naturally cruel, avaricious, and debauched; + but instead of concealing his vices from the eyes of his subjects, + he seemed to make a parade of those actions which he knew no good + Mussulman could look upon without horror; he drank wine in public, + he caressed his dogs, and was waited upon by his eunuchs in sight + of the whole court. + + +ON FATALISM[10] + + Not always wealth, not always force + A splendid destiny commands; + The lordly vulture gnaws the corse + That rots upon yon barren sands. + + Nor want, nor weakness still conspires + To bind us to a sordid state; + The fly that with a touch expires + Sips honey from the royal plate. + +_Imam Shafay Mohammed Ben Idris_. + +[10] Shafay, the founder of one of the four orthodox sects into + which the Mohammedans are divided, was a disciple of Malek Ben + Ans, and master to Ahmed Ebn Hanbal; each of whom, like himself, + founded a sect which is still denominated from the name of its + author. The fourth sect is that of Abou Hanifah. This differs + in tenets considerably from the three others, for whilst the + Malekites, the Shafaites, and the Hanbalites are invariably + bigoted to tradition in their interpretations of the Koran, the + Hanifites consider themselves as at liberty in any difficulty to + make use of their own reason. + + +TO THE CALIPH HARUN-AL-RASHID[11] + + Religion's gems can ne'er adorn + The flimsy robe by pleasure worn; + Its feeble texture soon would tear, + And give those jewels to the air. + + Thrice happy they who seek th' abode + Of peace and pleasure, in their God! + Who spurn the world, its joys despise, + And grasp at bliss beyond the skies. + +_Ibrahim Ben Adham_. + +[11] The author of this poem was a hermit of Syria, equally celebrated + for his talents and piety. He was son to a prince of Khorasan, and + born about the ninety-seventh year of the Hegira. This poem was + addressed to the Caliph upon his undertaking a pilgrimage to Mecca. + + +LINES TO HARUN AND YAHIA[12] + + Th' affrighted sun ere while he fled, + And hid his radiant face in night; + A cheerless gloom the world overspread-- + But Harun came, and all was bright. + + Again the sun shoots forth his rays, + Nature is deck'd in beauty's robe-- + For mighty Harun's sceptre sways, + And Yahia's arm sustains the globe. + +_Isaac Almousely_. + +[12] Isaac Almousely is considered by the Orientals as the most + celebrated musician that ever flourished in the world. He was born + in Persia, but having resided almost entirely at Mousel, he is + generally supposed to have been a native of that place. + + +THE RUIN OF BARMECIDES[13] + + No, Barmec! Time hath never shown + So sad a change of wayward fate; + Nor sorrowing mortals ever known + A grief so true, a loss so great. + + Spouse of the world! Thy soothing breast + Did balm to every woe afford; + And now no more by thee caress'd, + The widow'd world bewails her Lord. + +[13] The family of Barmec was one of the most illustrious in the + East. They were descended from the ancient kings of Persia, and + possessed immense property in various countries; they derived still + more consequence from the favor which they enjoyed at the court of + Bagdad, where, for many years, they filled the highest offices of + the state with universal approbation. + + +TO TAHER BEN HOSIEN[14] + + A pair of right hands and a single dim eye + Must form not a man, but a monster, they cry:-- + Change a hand to an eye, good Taher, if you can, + And a monster perhaps may be chang'd to man. + +[14] Taher Ben Hosien was ambidexter and one-eyed and, strange to say, + the most celebrated general of his time. + + +THE ADIEU[15] + + The boatmen shout, "Tis time to part, + No longer we can stay"-- + 'Twas then Maimnna taught my heart + How much a glance could say. + + With trembling steps to me she came; + "Farewell," she would have cried, + But ere her lips the word could frame + In half-form'd sounds it died. + + Then bending down with looks of love, + Her arms she round me flung, + And, as the gale hangs on the grove, + Upon my breast she hung. + + My willing arms embraced the maid, + My heart with raptures beat; + While she but wept the more and said, + "Would we had never met!" + +_Abou Mohammed_. + +[15] This was sung before the Caliph Wathek, by Abou Mohammed, a + musician of Bagdad, as a specimen of his musical talents; and such + were its effects upon the Caliph, that he immediately testified his + approbation of the performance by throwing his own robe over the + shoulders of Abou Mohammed, and ordering him a present of an hundred + thousand dirhems. + + +TO MY MISTRESS[16] + + Ungenerous and mistaken maid, + To scorn me thus because I'm poor! + Canst thou a liberal hand upbraid + For dealing round some worthless ore? + + To spare's the wish of little souls, + The great but gather to bestow; + Yon current down the mountain rolls, + And stagnates in the swamp below. + +_Abou Teman Habib_. + +[16] Abou Teman is considered the most excellent of all the Arabian + poets. He was born near Damascus A.H. 190, and educated in Egypt; + but the principal part of his life was spent at Bagdad, under the + patronage of the Abasside Caliphs. + + +TO A FEMALE CUP-BEARER[17] + + Come, Leila, fill the goblet up, + Reach round the rosy wine, + Think not that we will take the cup + From any hand but thine. + + A draught like this 'twere vain to seek, + No grape can such supply; + It steals its tint from Leila's cheek, + Its brightness from her eye. + +_Abd Alsalam Ben Ragban_. + +[17] Abd Alsalam was a poet more remarkable for abilities than morality. + We may form an idea of the nature of his compositions from the + nickname he acquired amongst his contemporaries of Cock of the + Evil Genii. He died in the 236th year of the Hegira, aged near + eighty. + + +MASHDUD ON THE MONKS OF KHABBET[18] + + Tenants of yon hallow'd fane! + Let me your devotions share, + There increasing raptures reign-- + None are ever sober there. + + Crowded gardens, festive bowers + Ne'er shall claim a thought of mine; + You can give in Khabbet's towers-- + Purer joys and brighter wine. + + Tho' your pallid faces prove + How you nightly vigils keep, + 'Tis but that you ever love + Flowing goblets more than sleep. + + Tho' your eye-balls dim and sunk + Stream in penitential guise, + 'Tis but that the wine you've drunk + Bubbles over from your eyes. + +[18] The three following songs were written by Mashdud, Rakeek, and + Rais, three of the most celebrated improvisators in Bagdad, at an + entertainment given by Abou Isy. + + +RAKEEK TO HIS FEMALE COMPANIONS + + Tho' the peevish tongues upbraid, + Tho' the brows of wisdom scowl, + Fair ones here on roses laid, + Careless will we quaff the bowl. + + Let the cup, with nectar crown'd, + Thro' the grove its beams display, + It can shed a lustre round, + Brighter than the torch of day. + + Let it pass from hand to hand, + Circling still with ceaseless flight, + Till the streaks of gray expand + O'er the fleeting robe of night. + + As night flits, she does but cry, + "Seize the moments that remain"-- + Thus our joys with yours shall vie, + Tenants of yon hallow'd fane! + + +DIALOGUE BY RAIS + + _Rais_: + + Maid of sorrow, tell us why + Sad and drooping hangs thy head? + Is it grief that bids thee sigh? + Is it sleep that flies thy bed? + + _Lady_: + + Ah! I mourn no fancied wound, + Pangs too true this heart have wrung, + Since the snakes which curl around + Selim's brows my bosom stung. + + Destin'd now to keener woes, + I must see the youth depart, + He must go, and as he goes + Rend at once my bursting heart. + + Slumber may desert my bed, + Tis not slumber's charms I seek-- + 'Tis the robe of beauty spread + O'er my Selim's rosy cheek. + + +TO A LADY WEEPING[19] + + When I beheld thy blue eyes shine + Thro' the bright drop that pity drew, + I saw beneath those tears of thine + A blue-ey'd violet bath'd in dew. + + The violet ever scents the gale, + Its hues adorn the fairest wreath, + But sweetest thro' a dewy veil + Its colors glow, its odors breathe. + + And thus thy charms in brightness rise-- + When wit and pleasure round thee play, + When mirth sits smiling in thine eyes, + Who but admires their sprightly ray? + But when thro' pity's flood they gleam, + Who but must love their soften'd beam? + +_Ebn Alrumi_. + +[19] Ebn Alrumi is reckoned by the Arabian writers as one of the most + excellent of all their poets. He was by birth a Syrian, and passed + the greatest part of his time at Emessa, where he died A.H. 283. + + +ON A VALETUDINARIAN + + So careful is Isa, and anxious to last, + So afraid of himself is he grown, + He swears thro' two nostrils the breath goes too fast, + And he's trying to breathe thro' but one. + +_Ebn Alrumi_. + + +ON A MISER + + "Hang her, a thoughtless, wasteful fool, + She scatters corn where'er she goes"-- + Quoth Hassan, angry at his mule, + That dropt a dinner to the crows. + +_Ebn Alrumi_. + + +TO CASSIM OBIO ALLAH[20] + + Poor Cassim! thou art doom'd to mourn + By destiny's decree; + Whatever happens it must turn + To misery for thee. + + Two sons hadst thou, the one thy pride, + The other was thy pest; + Ah, why did cruel death decide + To snatch away the best? + + No wonder thou shouldst droop with woe, + Of such a child bereft; + But now thy tears must doubly flow, + For, ah! the other's left. + +_Aly Ben Ahmed Ben Mansour_. + +[20] Aly Ben Ahmed distinguished himself in prose as well as poetry, + and an historical work of considerable reputation, of which he was + the author, is still extant. But he principally excelled in satire, + and so fond was he of indulging this dangerous talent that no one + escaped his lash; if he could only bring out a sarcasm, it was + matter of indifference to him whether an enemy or a brother smarted + under its severity. He died at Bagdad A.H. 302. + + +A FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY[21] + + When born, in tears we saw thee drown'd, + While thine assembled friends around, + With smiles their joy confest; + So live, that at thy parting hour, + They may the flood of sorrow pour, + And thou in smiles be drest! + +[21] The thought contained in these lines, appears so natural and so + obvious, that one wonders it did not occur to all who have attempted + to write upon a birthday or a death. + + +TO A CAT + + Poor Puss is gone! 'Tis fate's decree-- + Yet I must still her loss deplore, + For dearer than a child was she, + And ne'er shall I behold her more. + + With many a sad presaging tear + This morn I saw her steal away, + While she went on without a fear + Except that she should miss her prey. + + I saw her to the dove-house climb, + With cautious feet and slow she stept + Resolv'd to balance loss of time + By eating faster than she crept. + + Her subtle foes were on the watch, + And mark'd her course, with fury fraught, + And while she hoped the birds to catch, + An arrow's point the huntress caught. + + In fancy she had got them all, + And drunk their blood and suck'd their breath; + Alas! she only got a fall, + And only drank the draught of death. + + Why, why was pigeons' flesh so nice, + That thoughtless cats should love it thus? + Hadst thou but liv'd on rats and mice, + Thou hadst been living still, poor Puss. + + Curst be the taste, howe'er refined, + That prompts us for such joys to wish, + And curst the dainty where we find + Destruction lurking in the dish. + +_Ibn Alalaf Alnaharwany_. + + +AN EPIGRAM UPON EBN NAPHTA-WAH[22] + + By the former with ruin and death we are curst, + In the latter we grieve for the ills of the first; + And as for the whole, where together they meet, + It's a drunkard, a liar, a thief, and a cheat. + +_Mohammed Ben Zeid Almotakalam_. + +[22] Mohammed Ben Arfa, here called Naphta-Wah, was descended from a + noble family in Khorasan. He applied himself to study with + indefatigable perseverance, and was a very voluminous author in + several branches of literature, but he is chiefly distinguished as + a grammarian. He died in the year of the Hegira 323. + + +FIRE[23] + +_A Riddle_. + + The loftiest cedars I can eat, + Yet neither paunch nor mouth have I, + I storm whene'er you give me meat, + Whene'er you give me drink, I die. + +[23] This composition seems a fit supplement to the preceding one; + notwithstanding its absurdity, however. It is inserted merely to + show that this mode of trifling was not unknown to the Orientals. + It is taken from the Mostatraf, where a great number of similar + productions on various subjects are preserved. + + +TO A LADY BLUSHING[24] + + Leila, whene'er I gaze on thee + My altered cheek turns pale, + While upon thine, sweet maid, I see + A deep'ning blush prevail. + + Leila, shall I the cause impart + Why such a change takes place? + The crimson stream deserts my heart, + To mantle on thy face. + +_The Caliph Radhi Billah_. + +[24] Radhi Billah, son to Moctader, was the twentieth Caliph of the + house of Abbas, and the last of these princes who possessed any + substantial power. + + +ON THE VICISSITUDES OF LIFE + + Mortal joys, however pure, + Soon their turbid source betray; + Mortal bliss, however sure, + Soon must totter and decay. + + Ye who now, with footsteps keen, + Range through hope's delusive field, + Tell us what the smiling scene + To your ardent grasp can yield? + + Other youths have oft before + Deem'd their joys would never fade, + Till themselves were seen no more + Swept into oblivion's shade. + + Who, with health and pleasure gay, + E'er his fragile state could know, + Were not age and pain to say + Man is but the child of woe? + +_The Caliph Radhi Billah_. + + +TO A DOVE + + The Dove to ease an aching breast, + In piteous murmurs vents her cares; + Like me she sorrows, for opprest, + Like me, a load of grief she bears. + + Her plaints are heard in every wood, + While I would fain conceal my woes; + But vain's my wish, the briny flood, + The more I strive, the faster flows. + + Sure, gentle Bird, my drooping heart + Divides the pangs of love with thine, + And plaintive murm'rings are thy part, + And silent grief and tears are mine. + +_Serage Alwarak_. + + +ON A THUNDER STORM + + Bright smil'd the morn, till o'er its head + The clouds in thicken'd foldings spread + A robe of sable hue; + Then, gathering round day's golden king, + They stretch'd their wide o'ershadowing wing, + And hid him from our view. + + The rain his absent beams deplor'd, + And, soften'd into weeping, pour'd + Its tears in many a flood; + The lightning laughed with horrid glare; + The thunder growl'd, in rage; the air + In silent sorrow stood. + +_Ibrahim Ben Khiret Abou Isaac_. + + +TO MY FAVORITE MISTRESS + + I saw their jealous eyeballs roll, + I saw them mark each glance of mine, + I saw thy terrors, and my soul + Shar'd ev'ry pang that tortur'd thine. + + In vain to wean my constant heart, + Or quench my glowing flame, they strove; + Each deep-laid scheme, each envious art, + But wak'd my fears for her I love. + + 'Twas this compelled the stern decree, + That forc'd thee to those distant towers, + And left me nought but love for thee, + To cheer my solitary hours. + + Yet let not Abla sink deprest, + Nor separation's pangs deplore; + We meet not--'tis to meet more blest; + We parted--'tis to part no more. + +_Saif Addaulet, Sultan of Aleppe_. + + +CRUCIFIXION OF EBN BAKIAH[25] + + Whatever thy fate, in life and death, + Thou'rt doom'd above us still to rise, + Whilst at a distance far beneath + We view thee with admiring eyes. + + The gazing crowds still round thee throng, + Still to thy well-known voice repair, + As when erewhile thy hallow'd tongue + Pour'd in the Mosque the solemn prayer. + + Still, generous Vizir, we survey + Thine arms extended o'er our head, + As lately, in the festive day, + When they were stretch'd thy gifts to shed. + + Earth's narrow boundaries strove in vain + To limit thy aspiring mind, + And now we see thy dust disdain + Within her breast to be confin'd. + + The earth's too small for one so great, + Another mansion thou shalt have-- + The clouds shall be thy winding sheet, + The spacious vault of heaven thy grave. + +_Abou Hassan Alanbary_. + +[25] Ebn Bakiah was vizir to Azzad Addaulet or Bachteir, Emir Alomra + of Bagdad, under the Caliphs Moti Lillah and Tay Lillah; but Azzad + Addaulet being deprived of his office, and driven from Bagdad by + Adhed Addaulet, Sultan of Persia, Ebn Bakiah was seized and + crucified at the gates of the city, by order of the conqueror. + + +CAPRICES OF FORTUNE[26] + + Why should I blush that Fortune's frown + Dooms me life's humble paths to tread? + To live unheeded, and unknown? + To sink forgotten to the dead? + + 'Tis not the good, the wise, the brave, + That surest shine, or highest rise; + The feather sports upon the wave, + The pearl in ocean's cavern lies. + + Each lesser star that studs the sphere + Sparkles with undiminish'd light: + Dark and eclips'd alone appear + The lord of day, the queen of night. + +_Shems Almaali Cabus_. + +[26] History can show few princes so amiable and few so unfortunate + as Shems Almaali Cabus. He is described as possessed of almost every + virtue and every accomplishment: his piety, justice, generosity, and + humanity, are universally celebrated; nor was he less conspicuous + for intellectual powers; his genius was at once penetrating, solid, + and brilliant, and he distinguished himself equally as an orator, a + philosopher, and a poet. + + +ON LIFE + + Like sheep, we're doom'd to travel o'er + The fated track to all assign'd, + These follow those that went before, + And leave the world to those behind. + + As the flock seeks the pasturing shade, + Man presses to the future day, + While death, amidst the tufted glade, + Like the dun robber,[A] waits his prey. + +[A] The wolf. + + +EXTEMPORE VERSES[27] + + Lowering as Barkaidy's face + The wintry night came in, + Cold as the music of his bass, + And lengthen'd as his chin. + + Sleep from my aching eyes had fled, + And kept as far apart, + As sense from Ebn Fahdi's head, + Or virtue from his heart. + + The dubious paths my footsteps balk'd, + I slipp'd along the sod, + As if on Jaber's faith I'd walk'd, + Or on his truth had trod. + + At length the rising King of day + Burst on the gloomy wood, + Like Carawash's eye, whose ray + Dispenses every good. + +_Ebn Alramacram_. + +[27] The occasion of the following composition is thus related by + Abulfeda. Carawash, Sultan of Mousel, being one wintry evening + engaged in a party of pleasure along with Barkaidy, Ebn Fahdi, Abou + Jaber, and the improvisatore poet, Ebn Alramacram, resolved to + divert himself at the expense of his companions. He therefore + ordered the poet to give a specimen of his talents, which at the + same time should convey a satire upon the three courtiers, and a + compliment to himself. Ebn Alramacram took his subject from the + stormy appearance of the night, and immediately produced these + verses. + + +ON THE DEATH OF A SON[28] + + Tyrant of man! Imperious Fate! + I bow before thy dread decree, + Nor hope in this uncertain state + To find a seat secure from thee. + + Life is a dark, tumultuous stream, + With many a care and sorrow foul, + Yet thoughtless mortals vainly deem + That it can yield a limpid bowl. + + Think not that stream will backward flow, + Or cease its destin'd course to keep; + As soon the blazing spark shall glow + Beneath the surface of the deep. + + Believe not Fate at thy command + Will grant a meed she never gave; + As soon the airy tower shall stand, + That's built upon a passing wave. + + Life is a sleep of threescore years, + Death bids us wake and hail the light, + And man, with all his hopes and fears, + Is but a phantom of the night. + +_Aly Ben Mohammed Altahmany_. + +[28] Aly Ben Mohammed was a native of that part of Arabia called Hejaz; + and was celebrated not only as a poet, but as a politician. + + +TO LEILA + + Leila, with too successful art, + Has spread for me love's cruel snare; + And now, when she has caught my heart, + She laughs, and leaves it to despair. + + Thus the poor sparrow pants for breath, + Held captive by a playful boy, + And while it drinks the draught of death, + The thoughtless child looks on with joy. + + Ah! were its flutt'ring pinions free, + Soon would it bid its chains adieu, + Or did the child its suff'rings see, + He'd pity and relieve them too. + + +ON MODERATION IN OUR PLEASURES[29] + + How oft does passion's grasp destroy + The pleasure that it strives to gain? + How soon the thoughtless course of joy + Is doom'd to terminate in pain? + + When prudence would thy steps delay, + She but restrains to make thee blest; + Whate'er from joy she lops away, + But heightens and secures the rest. + + Wouldst thou a trembling flame expand, + That hastens in the lamp to die? + With careful touch, with sparing hand, + The feeding stream of life supply. + + But if thy flask profusely sheds + A rushing torrent o'er the blaze, + Swift round the sinking flame it spreads, + And kills the fire it fain would raise. + +_Abou Alcassim Ebn Tabataba_. + +[29] Tabataba deduced his pedigree from Ali Ben Abou Taleb, and Fatima, + the daughter of Mohammed. He was born at Ispahan, but passed the + principal part of his life in Egypt, where he was appointed chief + of the sheriffs, i.e. the descendants of the Prophet, a dignity + held in the highest veneration by every Mussulman. He died in the + year of the Hegira 418, with the reputation of being one of the + most excellent poets of his time. + + +THE VALE OF BOZAA[30] + + The intertwining boughs for thee + Have wove, sweet dell, a verdant vest, + And thou in turn shalt give to me + A verdant couch upon thy breast. + + To shield me from day's fervid glare + Thine oaks their fostering arms extend, + As anxious o'er her infant care + I've seen a watchful mother bend. + + A brighter cup, a sweeter draught, + I gather from that rill of thine, + Than maddening drunkards ever quaff'd, + Than all the treasures of the vine. + + So smooth the pebbles on its shore, + That not a maid can thither stray, + But counts her strings of jewels o'er, + And thinks the pearls have slipp'd away. + +_Ahmed Ben Yousef Almenazy_. + +[30] Ben Yousef for many years acted as vizir to Abou Nasser, Sultan + of Diarbeker. His political talents are much praised, and he is + particularly celebrated for the address he displayed while upon + an embassy to the Greek Emperor at Constantinople. Yousef's + poetry must be looked upon merely as a jeu d'esprit suggested + by the beauties of the vale of Bozaa, as he passed through it. + + +TO ADVERSITY[31] + + Hail, chastening friend Adversity! 'Tis thine + The mental ore to temper and refine, + To cast in virtue's mould the yielding heart, + And honor's polish to the mind impart. + Without thy wakening touch, thy plastic aid, + I'd lain the shapeless mass that nature made; + But form'd, great artist, by thy magic hand, + I gleam a sword to conquer and command. + +_Abou Menbaa Carawash_. + + +[31] The life of this prince was checkered with various adventures; + he was perpetually engaged in contests either with the neighboring + sovereigns, or the princes of his own family. After many struggles + he was obliged to submit to his brother, Abou Camel, who + immediately ordered him to be seized, and conveyed to a place + of security. + + +ON THE INCOMPATIBILITY OF PRIDE AND TRUE GLORY[32] + + Think not, Abdallah, pride and fame + Can ever travel hand in hand; + With breast oppos'd, and adverse aim, + On the same narrow path they stand. + + Thus youth and age together meet, + And life's divided moments share; + This can't advance till that retreat, + What's here increas'd, is lessen'd there. + + And thus the falling shades of night + Still struggle with the lucid ray, + And e'er they stretch their gloomy flight + Must win the lengthen'd space from day. + +_Abou Alola_. + +[32] Abou Alola is esteemed as one of the most excellent of the + Arabian poets. He was born blind, but this did not deter him from + the pursuit of literature. Abou Alola died at Maara in the year + 449, aged eighty-six. + + +THE DEATH OF NEDHAM ALMOLK + + Thy virtues fam'd thro' every land, + Thy spotless life, in age and youth, + Prove thee a pearl, by nature's hand, + Form'd out of purity and truth. + + Too long its beams of Orient light + Upon a thankless world were shed; + Allah has now reveng'd the slight, + And call'd it to its native bed. + +_Shebal Addaulet_. + + +LINES TO A LOVER + + When you told us our glances soft, timid and mild, + Could occasion such wounds in the heart, + Can ye wonder that yours, so ungovern'd and wild, + Some wounds to our cheeks should impart? + + The wounds on our cheeks are but transient, I own, + With a blush they appear and decay; + But those on the heart, fickle youths, ye have shown + To be even more transient than they. + +_Waladata_. + + +VERSES TO MY DAUGHTERS[33] + + With jocund heart and cheerful brow + I used to hail the festal morn-- + How must Mohammed greet it now?-- + A prisoner helpless and forlorn. + + While these dear maids in beauty's bloom, + With want opprest, with rags o'erspread, + By sordid labors at the loom + Must earn a poor, precarious bread. + + Those feet that never touched the ground, + Till musk or camphor strew'd the way, + Now bare and swoll'n with many a wound. + Must struggle thro' the miry clay. + + Those radiant cheeks are veil'd in woe, + A shower descends from every eye, + And not a starting tear can flow, + That wakes not an attending sigh. + + Fortune, that whilom own'd my sway, + And bow'd obsequious to my nod, + Now sees me destin'd to obey, + And bend beneath oppression's rod. + + Ye mortals with success elate, + Who bask in hope's delusive beam, + Attentive view Mohammed's fate, + And own that bliss is but a dream. + +_Mohammed Bed Abad_. + +[33] Seville was one of those small sovereignties into which Spain + had been divided after the extinction of the house of Ommiah. It + did not long retain its independence, and the only prince who ever + presided over it as a separate kingdom seems to have been Mohammed + Ben Abad, the author of these verses. For thirty-three years he + reigned over Seville and the neighboring districts with considerable + reputation, but being attacked by Joseph, son to the Emperor of + Morocco, at the head of a numerous army of Africans, was defeated, + taken prisoner, and thrown into a dungeon, where he died in the year + 488. + + +SERENADE TO MY SLEEPING MISTRESS[34] + + Sure Harut's[B] potent spells were breath'd + Upon that magic sword, thine eye; + For if it wounds us thus while sheath'd, + When drawn, 'tis vain its edge to fly. + + How canst thou doom me, cruel fair, + Plung'd in the hell[C] of scorn to groan? + No idol e'er this heart could share, + This heart has worshipp'd thee alone. + +_Aly Ben Abd_. + +[34] This author was by birth an African; but having passed over to + Spain, he was much patronized by Mohammed, Sultan of Seville. After + the fall of his master, Ben Abd returned to Africa, and died at + Tangier, A.H. 488. + +[B] A wicked angel who is permitted to tempt mankind by teaching them + magic; see the legend respecting him in the Koran. + +[C] The poet here alludes to the punishments denounced in the Koran + against those who worship a plurality of Gods: "their couch shall + be in hell, and over them shall be coverings of fire." + + +THE INCONSISTENT[35] + + When I sent you my melons, you cried out with scorn, + They ought to be heavy and wrinkled and yellow; + When I offer'd myself, whom those graces adorn, + You flouted, and call'd me an ugly old fellow. + +[35] Written to a lady upon her refusal of a present of melons, and her + rejection of the addresses of an admirer. + + +THE CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM[36] + + From our distended eyeballs flow + A mingled stream of tears and blood; + No care we feel, nor wish to know, + But who shall pour the largest flood. + + But what defense can tears afford? + What aid supply in this dread hour? + When kindled by the sparkling sword + War's raging flames the land devour. + + No more let sleep's seductive charms + Upon your torpid souls be shed: + A crash like this, such dire alarms, + Might burst the slumbers of the dead. + + Think where your dear companions lie-- + Survey their fate, and hear their woes-- + How some thro' trackless deserts fly, + Some in the vulture's maw repose; + + While some more wretched still, must bear + The tauntings of a Christian's tongue-- + Hear this--and blush ye not to wear + The silken robe of peace so long? + + Remember what ensanguin'd showers + The Syrian plains with crimson dyed, + And think how many blooming flowers + In Syrian forts their beauties hide. + + Arabian youths! In such a cause + Can ye the voice of glory slight? + Warriors of Persia! Can ye pause, + Or fear to mingle in the fight? + + If neither piety nor shame + Your breasts can warm, your souls can move, + Let emulation's bursting flame + Wake you to vengeance and to love. + +_Almodhafer Alabiwerdy_. + +[36] The capture of Jerusalem took place in the 492d year of the Hegira, + A.D. 1099. Alabiwerdy, who wrote these verses, was a native of + Khorasan; he died A.H. 507. + + +TO A LADY + + No, Abla, no--when Selim tells + Of many an unknown grace that dwells + In Abla's face and mien, + When he describes the sense refin'd, + That lights thine eye and fills thy mind, + By thee alone unseen. + + Tis not that drunk with love he sees + Ideal charms, which only please + Thro' passion's partial veil, + 'Tis not that flattery's glozing tongue + Hath basely fram'd an idle song, + But truth that breath'd the tale. + + Thine eyes unaided ne'er could trace + Each opening charm, each varied grace, + That round thy person plays; + Some must remain conceal'd from thee, + For Selim's watchful eye to see, + For Selim's tongue to praise. + + One polish'd mirror can declare + That eye so bright, that face so fair, + That cheek which shames the rose; + But how thy mantle waves behind, + How float thy tresses on the wind, + Another only shows. + + +AN EPIGRAM[37] + + Whoever has recourse to thee + Can hope for health no more, + He's launched into perdition's sea, + A sea without a shore. + + Where'er admission thou canst gain, + Where'er thy phiz can pierce, + At once the Doctor they retain, + The mourners and the hearse. + +_George_. + +[37] Written to Abou Alchair Selamu, an Egyptian physician. The author + was a physician of Antioch. + + +ON A LITTLE MAN WITH A VERY LARGE BEARD + + How can thy chin that burden bear? + Is it all gravity to shock? + Is it to make the people stare? + And be thyself a laughing stock? + + When I behold thy little feet + After thy beard obsequious run, + I always fancy that I meet + Some father followed by his son. + + A man like thee scarce e'er appear'd-- + A beard like thine--where shall we find it? + Surely thou cherishest thy beard + In hope to hide thyself behind it. + +_Isaai, Ben Khalif_. + + +LAMIAT ALAJEM[38] + + No kind supporting hand I meet, + But Fortitude shall stay my feet; + No borrow'd splendors round me shine, + But Virtue's lustre all is mine; + A Fame unsullied still I boast, + Obscur'd, conceal'd, but never lost-- + The same bright orb that led the day + Pours from the West his mellow'd ray. + + Zaura, farewell! No more I see + Within thy walls, a home for me; + Deserted, spurn'd, aside I'm toss'd, + As an old sword whose scabbard's lost: + Around thy walls I seek in vain + Some bosom that will soothe my pain-- + No friend is near to breathe relief, + Or brother to partake my grief. + For many a melancholy day + Thro' desert vales I've wound my way; + The faithful beast, whose back I press, + In groans laments her lord's distress; + + In every quiv'ring of my spear + A sympathetic sigh I hear; + The camel bending with his load, + And struggling thro' the thorny road, + 'Midst the fatigues that bear him down, + In Hassan's woes forgets his own; + Yet cruel friends my wanderings chide, + My sufferings slight, my toils deride. + + Once wealth, I own, engrossed each thought, + There was a moment when I sought + The glitt'ring stores Ambition claims + To feed the wants his fancy frames; + But now 'tis past--the changing day + Has snatch'd my high-built hopes away, + And bade this wish my labors close-- + Give me not riches, but repose. + 'Tis he--that mien my friend declares, + That stature, like the lance he bears; + I see that breast which ne'er contain'd + A thought by fear or folly stain'd, + Whose powers can every change obey, + In business grave, in trifles gay, + And, form'd each varying taste to please, + Can mingle dignity with ease. + + What, tho' with magic influence, sleep, + O'er every closing eyelid creep: + Tho' drunk with its oblivious wine + Our comrades on their bales recline, + My Selim's trance I sure can break-- + Selim, 'tis I, 'tis I who speak. + Dangers on every side impend, + And sleep'st thou, careless of thy friend? + Thou sleep'st while every star on high, + Beholds me with a wakeful eye-- + Thou changest, ere the changeful night + Hath streak'd her fleeting robe with white. + + 'Tis love that hurries me along-- + I'm deaf to fear's repressive song-- + The rocks of Idham I'll ascend, + Tho' adverse darts each path defend, + And hostile sabres glitter there, + To guard the tresses of the fair. + + Come, Selim, let us pierce the grove, + While night befriends, to seek my love. + The clouds of fragrance as they rise + Shall mark the place where Abla lies. + Around her tent my jealous foes, + Like lions, spread their watchful rows; + Amidst their bands, her bow'r appears + Embosom'd in a wood of spears-- + A wood still nourish'd by the dews, + Which smiles, and softest looks diffuse. + Thrice happy youths! who midst yon shades + Sweet converse hold with Idham's maids, + What bliss, to view them gild the hours, + And brighten wit and fancy's powers, + While every foible they disclose + New transport gives, new graces shows. + 'Tis theirs to raise with conscious art + The flames of love in every heart; + 'Tis yours to raise with festive glee + The flames of hospitality: + Smit by their glances lovers lie, + And helpless sink and hopeless die; + While slain by you the stately steed + To crown the feast, is doom'd to bleed, + To crown the feast, where copious flows + The sparkling juice that soothes your woes, + That lulls each care and heals each wound, + As the enlivening bowl goes round. + Amidst those vales my eager feet + Shall trace my Abla's dear retreat, + A gale of health may hover there, + To breathe some solace to my care. + I fear not love--I bless the dart + Sent in a glance to pierce the heart: + With willing breast the sword I hail + That wounds me thro' an half-clos'd veil: + Tho' lions howling round the shade, + My footsteps haunt, my walks invade, + No fears shall drive me from the grove, + If Abla listen to my love. + + Ah, Selim! shall the spells of ease + Thy friendship chain, thine ardor freeze! + Wilt thou enchanted thus, decline + Each gen'rous thought, each bold design? + Then far from men some cell prepare; + Or build a mansion in the air-- + But yield to us, ambition's tide, + Who fearless on its waves can ride; + Enough for thee if thou receive + The scattered spray the billows leave. + + Contempt and want the wretch await + Who slumbers in an abject state-- + 'Midst rushing crowds, by toil and pain + The meed of Honor we must gain; + At Honor's call, the camel hastes + Thro' trackless wilds and dreary wastes, + Till in the glorious race she find + The fleetest coursers left behind: + By toils like these alone, he cries, + Th' adventurous youths to greatness rise; + If bloated indolence were fame, + And pompous ease our noblest aim, + The orb that regulates the day + Would ne'er from Aries' mansion stray. + + I've bent at Fortune's shrine too long-- + Too oft she heard my suppliant tongue-- + Too oft has mock'd my idle prayers, + While fools and knaves engross'd her cares, + Awake for them, asleep to me, + Heedless of worth she scorn'd each plea. + Ah! had her eyes, more just survey'd + The diff'rent claims which each display'd, + Those eyes from partial fondness free + Had slept to them, and wak'd for me. + + But, 'midst my sorrows and my toils, + Hope ever sooth'd my breast with smiles; + Her hand remov'd each gathering ill, + And oped life's closing prospects still. + Yet spite of all her friendly art + The specious scene ne'er gain'd my heart; + I lov'd it not altho' the day + Met my approach, and cheer'd my way; + I loath it now the hours retreat, + And fly me with reverted feet. + + My soul from every tarnish free + May boldly vaunt her purity, + But ah, how keen, however bright, + The sabre glitter to the sight, + Its splendor's lost, its polish vain, + Till some bold hand the steel sustain. + + Why have my days been stretch'd by fate, + To see the vile and vicious great-- + While I, who led the race so long, + Am last and meanest of the throng? + Ah, why has death so long delay'd + To wrap me in his friendly shade, + Left me to wander thus alone, + When all my heart held dear is gone! + + But let me check these fretful sighs-- + Well may the base above me rise, + When yonder planets as they run + Mount in the sky above the sun. + Resigned I bow to Fate's decree, + Nor hope his laws will change for me; + Each shifting scene, each varying hour, + But proves the ruthless tyrants' power. + + But tho' with ills unnumber'd curst, + We owe to faithless man the worst; + For man can smile with specious art, + And plant a dagger in the heart. + He only's fitted for the strife + Which fills the boist'rous paths of life, + Who, as he treads the crowded scenes, + Upon no kindred bosom leans. + Too long my foolish heart had deem'd + Mankind as virtuous as they seem'd; + The spell is broke, their faults are bare, + And now I see them as they are; + Truth from each tainted breast has flown, + And falsehood marks them all her own. + Incredulous I listen now + To every tongue, and every vow, + For still there yawns a gulf between + Those honeyed words, and what they mean; + With honest pride elate, I see + The sons of falsehood shrink from me, + As from the right line's even way + The biass'd curves deflecting stray-- + But what avails it to complain? + With souls like theirs reproof is vain; + If honor e'er such bosoms share + The sabre's point must fix it there. + But why exhaust life's rapid bowl, + And suck the dregs with sorrow foul, + When long ere this my youth has drain'd + Whatever zest the cup contain'd? + Why should we mount upon the wave, + And ocean's yawning horrors brave, + When we may swallow from the flask + Whatever the wants of mortals ask? + + Contentment's realms no fears invade, + No cares annoy, no sorrows shade, + There plac'd secure, in peace we rest, + Nor aught demand to make us blest. + While pleasure's gay fantastic bower, + The splendid pageant of an hour, + Like yonder meteor in the skies, + Flits with a breath no more to rise. + + As thro' life's various walks we're led, + May prudence hover o'er our head! + May she our words, our actions guide, + Our faults correct, our secrets hide! + + May she, where'er our footsteps stray, + Direct our paths, and clear the way! + + Till, every scene of tumult past, + She bring us to repose at last, + Teach us to love that peaceful shore, + And roam thro' folly's wilds no more! + +_Mauid Eddin Alhassan Abou Ismael Altograi_. + +[38] Abou Ismael was a native of Ispahan. He devoted himself to the + service of the Seljuk Sultans of Persia, and enjoyed the confidence + of Malec Shah, and his son and grandson, Mohammed and Massoud, by + the last of whom he was raised to the dignity of vizir. Massoud, + however, was not long in a condition to afford Abou Ismael any + protection, for, being attacked by his brother Mahmoud, he was + defeated, and driven from Mousel, and upon the fall of his master + the vizir was seized and thrown into prison, and at length in the + year 515 sentenced to be put to death. + + +TO YOUTH + + Yes, youth, thou'rt fled, and I am left, + Like yonder desolated bower, + By winter's ruthless hand bereft + Of every leaf and every flower. + + With heaving heart and streaming eyes + I woo'd thee to prolong thy stay, + But vain were all my tears and sighs, + Thou only fled'st more fast away. + + Yet tho' thou fled'st away so fast, + I can recall thee if I will; + For I can talk of what is past, + And while I talk, enjoy thee still. + +_Ebn Alrabia_. + + +ON LOVE[39] + + I never knew a sprightly fair + That was not dear to me, + And freely I my heart could share, + With every one I see. + + It is not this or that alone + On whom my choice would fall, + I do not more incline to one + Than I incline to all. + + The circle's bounding line are they, + Its centre is my heart, + My ready love the equal ray + That flows to every part. + +_Abou Aly_. + +[39] Abou Aly flourished in Egypt about the year 530, and was equally + celebrated as a mathematician and as a poet. + + +A REMONSTRANCE WITH A DRUNKARD[40] + + As drench'd in wine, the other night, + Zeid from the banquet sallied, + Thus I reprov'd his drunken plight, + Thus he my prudence rallied; + + "In bev'rage so impure and vile, + How canst thou thus delight?"-- + "My cups," he answer'd with a smile, + "Are generous and bright." + + "Beware those dang'rous draughts," I cried, + "With love the goblet flows"-- + "And curst is he," the youth replied, + "Who hatred only knows." + + "Those cups too soon with sickness fraught + Thy stomach shall deplore"-- + "Then soon," he cried, "the noxious draught + And all its ills are o'er." + + "Rash youth, thy guilty joys resign." + "I will," at length he said, + "I vow I'll bid adieu to wine + As soon as I am dead." + +_Yahia Ben Salamet_. + +[40] This author was a native of Syria, and died at Miafarakir in the + year of the Hegira 553. + + +VERSES[41] + + Tho' such unbounded love you swear, + 'Tis only art I see; + Can I believe that one so fair + Should ever dote on me? + + Say that you hate, and freely show + That age displeases youth; + And I may love you when I know + That you can tell the truth. + +_Caliph Almonklafi Laimrillah_. + +[41] Almonklafi was the thirty-first Caliph of the house of Abbas, and + the only one who possessed any real authority since the reign of + Radhi. These lines were addressed to a lady who pretended a + passion for him in his old age. + + +ON PROCRASTINATION[42] + + Youth is a drunken noisy hour, + With every folly fraught; + But man, by age's chast'ning power, + Is sober'd into thought. + + Then we resolve our faults to shun, + And shape our course anew; + But ere the wise reform's begun + Life closes on our view. + + The travellers thus who wildly roam, + Or heedlessly delay, + Are left, when they should reach their home, + Benighted on the way. + +_Hebat Allah Ibn Altalmith_. + +[42] Ibn Altalmith died in the 560th year of the Hegira, at the advanced + age of one hundred. + + +THE EARLY DEATH OF ABOU ALHASSAN ALY[43] + + Soon hast thou run the race of life, + Nor could our tears thy speed control-- + Still in the courser's gen'rous strife + The best will soonest reach the goal. + + As Death upon his hand turns o'er + The different gems the world displays, + He seizes first to swell his store + The brightest jewel he surveys. + + Thy name, by every breath convey'd, + Stretch'd o'er the globe its boundless flight; + Alas! in eve the lengthening shade + But lengthens to be lost in night! + + If gracious Allah bade thee close + Thy youthful eyes so soon on day, + 'Tis that he readiest welcomes those + Who love him best and best obey. + +_Alnassar Ledin Allah_. + +[43] Alnassar Ledin Allah was the thirty-fourth Abasside Caliph, and + the last excepting three who enjoyed this splendid title, which + was finally abolished by the Tartars in the year 656. + + +THE INTERVIEW + +_A Song_ + + Darkness clos'd around, loud the tempest drove, + When thro' yonder glen I saw my lover rove, + Dearest youth! + Soon he reach'd our cot--weary, wet, and cold, + But warmth, wine, and I, to cheer his spirits strove, + Dearest youth! + How my love, cried I, durst thou hither stray + Thro' the gloom, nor fear the ghosts that haunt the grove? + Dearest youth! + In this heart, said he, fear no seat can find, + When each thought is fill'd alone with thee and love, + Dearest maid! + + + + +ARABIAN NIGHTS + +[_Selected tales edited by Andrew Lang_] + + +THE SEVEN VOYAGES OF SINDBAD + +In the times of the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid there lived in Bagdad a poor +porter named Hindbad, who, on a very hot day, was sent to carry a heavy +load from one end of the city to the other. Before he had accomplished +half the distance he was so tired that, finding himself in a quiet +street where the pavement was sprinkled with rose-water, and a cool +breeze was blowing, he set his burden upon the ground, and sat down to +rest in the shade of a grand house. Very soon he decided that he could +not have chosen a pleasanter place; a delicious perfume of aloes-wood +and pastilles came from the open windows and mingled with the scent of +the rose-water which steamed up from the hot pavement. Within the palace +he heard some music, as of many instruments cunningly played, and the +melodious warble of nightingales and other birds, and by this, and the +appetizing smell of many dainty dishes of which he presently became +aware, he judged that feasting and merry-making were going on. He +wondered who lived in this magnificent house which he had never seen +before, the street in which it stood being one which he seldom had +occasion to pass. To satisfy his curiosity he went up to some splendidly +dressed servants who stood at the door, and asked one of them the name +of the master of the mansion. + +"What," replied he, "do you live in Bagdad, and not know that here lives +the noble Sindbad the Sailor, that famous traveller who sailed over +every sea upon which the sun shines?" + +The porter, who had often heard people speak of the immense wealth of +Sindbad, could not help feeling envious of one whose lot seemed to be as +happy as his own was miserable. Casting his eyes up to the sky he +exclaimed aloud:-- + +"Consider, Mighty Creator of all things, the difference between +Sindbad's life and mine. Every day I suffer a thousand hardships and +misfortunes, and have hard work to get even enough bad barley bread to +keep myself and my family alive, while the lucky Sindbad spends money +right and left and lives upon the fat of the land! What has he done that +you should give him this pleasant life--what have I done to deserve so +hard a fate?" + +So saying he stamped upon the ground like one beside himself with misery +and despair. Just at this moment a servant came out of the palace, and +taking him by the arm said, "Come with me, the noble Sindbad, my master, +wishes to speak to you." + +Hindbad was not a little surprised at this summons, and feared that his +unguarded words might have drawn upon him the displeasure of Sindbad, so +he tried to excuse himself upon the pretext that he could not leave the +burden which had been intrusted to him in the street. However the lackey +promised him that it should be taken care of, and urged him to obey the +call so pressingly that at last the porter was obliged to yield. + +He followed the servant into a vast room, where a great company was +seated round a table covered with all sorts of delicacies. In the place +of honor sat a tall, grave man, whose long white beard gave him a +venerable air. Behind his chair stood a crowd of attendants eager to +minister to his wants. This was the famous Sindbad himself. The porter, +more than ever alarmed at the sight of so much magnificence, tremblingly +saluted the noble company. Sindbad, making a sign to him to approach, +caused him to be seated at his right hand, and himself heaped choice +morsels upon his plate, and poured out for him a draught of excellent +wine, and presently, when the banquet drew to a close, spoke to him +familiarly, asking his name and occupation. + +"My lord," replied the porter, "I am called Hindbad." + +"I am glad to see you here," continued Sindbad. "And I will answer for +the rest of the company that they are equally pleased, but I wish you to +tell me what it was that you said just now in the street." For Sindbad, +passing by the open window before the feast began, had heard his +complaint and therefore had sent for him. + +At this question Hindbad was covered with confusion, and hanging down +his head, replied, "My lord, I confess that, overcome by weariness and +ill-humor, I uttered indiscreet words, which I pray you to pardon me." + +"Oh!" replied Sindbad, "do not imagine that I am so unjust as to blame +you. On the contrary, I understand your situation and can pity you. Only +you appear to be mistaken about me, and I wish to set you right. You +doubtless imagine that I have acquired all the wealth and luxury that +you see me enjoy without difficulty or danger, but this is far indeed +from being the case. I have only reached this happy state after having +for years suffered every possible kind of toil and danger. + +"Yes, my noble friends," he continued, addressing the company, "I assure +you that my adventures have been strange enough to deter even the most +avaricious men from seeking wealth by traversing the seas. Since you +have, perhaps, heard but confused accounts of my Seven Voyages, and the +dangers and wonders that I have met with by sea and land, I will now +give you a full and true account of them, which I think you will be well +pleased to hear." + +As Sindbad was relating his adventures chiefly on account of the porter, +he ordered, before beginning his tale, that the burden which had been +left in the street should be carried by some of his own servants to the +place for which Hindbad had set out at first, while he remained to +listen to the story. + + + + +FIRST VOYAGE + +I had inherited considerable wealth from my parents, and being young and +foolish I at first squandered it recklessly upon every kind of pleasure, +but presently, finding that riches speedily take to themselves wings if +managed as badly as I was managing mine, and remembering also that to be +old and poor is misery indeed, I began to bethink me of how I could make +the best of what still remained to me. I sold all my household goods by +public auction, and joined a company of merchants who traded by sea, +embarking with them at Balsora in a ship which we had fitted out between +us. + +We set sail and took our course towards the East Indies by the Persian +Gulf, having the coast of Persia upon our left hand and upon our right +the shores of Arabia Felix. I was at first much troubled by the uneasy +motion of the vessel, but speedily recovered my health, and since that +hour have been no more plagued by sea-sickness. + +From time to time we landed at various islands, where we sold or +exchanged our merchandise, and one day, when the wind dropped suddenly, +we found ourselves becalmed close to a small island like a green meadow, +which only rose slightly above the surface of the water. Our sails were +furled, and the captain gave permission to all who wished to land for a +while and amuse themselves. I was among the number, but when after +strolling about for some time we lighted a fire and sat down to enjoy +the repast which we had brought with us, we were startled by a sudden +and violent trembling of the island, while at the same moment those left +upon the ship set up an outcry bidding us come on board for our lives, +since what we had taken for an island was nothing but the back of a +sleeping whale. Those who were nearest to the boat threw themselves into +it, others sprang into the sea, but before I could save myself the whale +plunged suddenly into the depths of the ocean, leaving me clinging to a +piece of the wood which we had brought to make our fire. Meanwhile a +breeze had sprung up, and in the confusion that ensued on board our +vessel in hoisting the sails and taking up those who were in the boat +and clinging to its sides, no one missed me and I was left at the mercy +of the waves. All that day I floated up and down, now beaten this way, +now that, and when night fell I despaired for my life; but, weary and +spent as I was, I clung to my frail support, and great was my joy when +the morning light showed me that I had drifted against an island. + +The cliffs were high and steep, but luckily for me some tree-roots +protruded in places, and by their aid I climbed up at last, and +stretched myself upon the turf at the top, where I lay, more dead than +alive, till the sun was high in the heavens. By that time I was very +hungry, but after some searching I came upon some eatable herbs, and a +spring of clear water, and much refreshed I set out to explore the +island. Presently I reached a great plain where a grazing horse was +tethered, and as I stood looking at it I heard voices talking apparently +underground, and in a moment a man appeared who asked me how I came upon +the island. I told him my adventures, and heard in return that he was +one of the grooms of Mihrage, the King of the island, and that each year +they came to feed their master's horses in this plain. He took me to a +cave where his companions were assembled, and when I had eaten of the +food they set before me, they bade me think myself fortunate to have +come upon them when I did, since they were going back to their master on +the morrow, and without their aid I could certainly never have found my +way to the inhabited part of the island. + +Early the next morning we accordingly set out, and when we reached the +capital I was graciously received by the King, to whom I related my +adventures, upon which he ordered that I should be well cared for and +provided with such things as I needed. Being a merchant I sought out men +of my own profession, and particularly those who came from foreign +countries, as I hoped in this way to hear news from Bagdad, and find out +some means of returning thither, for the capital was situated upon the +sea-shore, and visited by vessels from all parts of the world. In the +meantime I heard many curious things, and answered many questions +concerning my own country, for I talked willingly with all who came to +me. Also to while away the time of waiting I explored a little island +named Cassel, which belonged to King Mihrage, and which was supposed to +be inhabited by a spirit named Deggial. Indeed, the sailors assured me +that often at night the playing of timbals could be heard upon it. +However, I saw nothing strange upon my voyage, saving some fish that +were full two hundred cubits long, but were fortunately more in dread of +us than even we were of them, and fled from us if we did but strike upon +a board to frighten them. Other fishes there were only a cubit long +which had heads like owls. + +One day after my return, as I went down to the quay, I saw a ship which +had just cast anchor, and was discharging her cargo, while the merchants +to whom it belonged were busily directing the removal of it to their +warehouses. Drawing nearer I presently noticed that my own name was +marked upon some of the packages, and after having carefully examined +them, I felt sure that they were indeed those which I had put on board +our ship at Balsora. I then recognized the captain of the vessel, but as +I was certain that he believed me to be dead, I went up to him and asked +who owned the packages that I was looking at. + +"There was on board my ship," he replied, "a merchant of Bagdad named +Sindbad. One day he and several of my other passengers landed upon what +we supposed to be an island, but which was really an enormous whale +floating asleep upon the waves. No sooner did it feel upon its back the +heat of the fire which had been kindled, than it plunged into the depths +of the sea. Several of the people who were upon it perished in the +waters, and among others this unlucky Sindbad. This merchandise is his, +but I have resolved to dispose of it for the benefit of his family if I +should ever chance to meet with them." + +"Captain," said I, "I am that Sindbad whom you believe to be dead, and +these are my possessions!" + +When the captain heard these words he cried out in amazement, "Lackaday! +and what is the world coming to? In these days there is not an honest +man to be met with. Did I not with my own eyes see Sindbad drown, and +now you have the audacity to tell me that you are he! I should have +taken you to be a just man, and yet for the sake of obtaining that which +does not belong to you, you are ready to invent this horrible +falsehood." + +"Have patience, and do me the favor to hear my story," said I. + +"Speak then," replied the captain, "I am all attention." + +So I told him of my escape and of my fortunate meeting with the king's +grooms, and how kindly I had been received at the palace. Very soon I +began to see that I had made some impression upon him, and after the +arrival of some of the other merchants, who showed great joy at once +more seeing me alive, he declared that he also recognized me. + +Throwing himself upon my neck he exclaimed, "Heaven be praised that you +have escaped from so great a danger. As to your goods, I pray you take +them, and dispose of them as you please." I thanked him, and praised his +honesty, begging him to accept several bales of merchandise in token of +my gratitude, but he would take nothing. Of the choicest of my goods I +prepared a present for King Mihrage, who was at first amazed, having +known that I had lost my all. However, when I had explained to him how +my bales had been miraculously restored to me, he graciously accepted my +gifts, and in return gave me many valuable things. I then took leave of +him, and exchanging my merchandise for sandal and aloes-wood, camphor, +nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger, I embarked upon the same vessel and +traded so successfully upon our homeward voyage that I arrived in +Balsora with about one hundred thousand sequins. My family received me +with as much joy as I felt upon seeing them once more. I bought land and +slaves, and built a great house in which I resolved to live happily, and +in the enjoyment of all the pleasures of life to forget my past +sufferings. + +Here Sindbad paused, and commanded the musicians to play again, while +the feasting continued until evening. When the time came for the porter +to depart, Sindbad gave him a purse containing one hundred sequins, +saying, "Take this, Hindbad, and go home, but to-morrow come again and +you shall hear more of my adventures." + +The porter retired quite overcome by so much generosity, and you may +imagine that he was well received at home, where his wife and children +thanked their lucky stars that he had found such a benefactor. + +The next day Hindbad, dressed in his best, returned to the voyager's +house, and was received with open arms. As soon as all the guests had +arrived the banquet began as before, and when they had feasted long and +merrily, Sindbad addressed them thus:-- + +"My friends, I beg that you will give me your attention while I relate +the adventures of my second voyage, which you will find even more +astonishing than the first." + + + + +SECOND VOYAGE + +I had resolved, as you know, on my return from my first voyage, to spend +the rest of my days quietly in Bagdad, but very soon I grew tired of +such an idle life and longed once more to find myself upon the sea. + +I procured, therefore, such goods as were suitable for the places I +intended to visit, and embarked for the second time in a good ship with +other merchants whom I knew to be honorable men. We went from island to +island, often making excellent bargains, until one day we landed at a +spot which, though covered with fruit-trees and abounding in springs of +excellent water, appeared to possess neither houses nor people. While my +companions wandered here and there gathering flowers and fruit I sat +down in a shady place, and, having heartily enjoyed the provisions and +the wine I had brought with me, I fell asleep, lulled by the murmur of a +clear brook which flowed close by. + +How long I slept I know not, but when I opened my eyes and started to my +feet I perceived with horror that I was alone and that the ship was +gone. I rushed to and fro like one distracted, uttering cries of +despair, and when from the shore I saw the vessel under full sail just +disappearing upon the horizon, I wished bitterly enough that I had been +content to stay at home in safety. But since wishes could do me no good, +I presently took courage and looked about me for a means of escape. When +I had climbed a tall tree I first of all directed my anxious glances +towards the sea; but, finding nothing hopeful there, I turned landward, +and my curiosity was excited by a huge dazzling white object, so far off +that I could not make out what it might be. + +Descending from the tree I hastily collected what remained of my +provisions and set off as fast as I could go towards it. As I drew near +it seemed to me to be a white ball of immense size and height, and when +I could touch it, I found it marvellously smooth and soft. As it was +impossible to climb it--for it presented no foothold--I walked round +about it seeking some opening, but there was none. I counted, however, +that it was at least fifty paces round. By this time the sun was near +setting, but quite suddenly it fell dark, something like a huge black +cloud came swiftly over me, and I saw with amazement that it was a bird +of extraordinary size which was hovering near. Then I remembered that I +had often heard the sailors speak of a wonderful bird called a roc, and +it occurred to me that the white object which had so puzzled me must be +its egg. + +Sure enough the bird settled slowly down upon it, covering it with its +wings to keep it warm, and I cowered close beside the egg in such a +position that one of the bird's feet, which was as large as the trunk of +a tree, was just in front of me. Taking off my turban I bound myself +securely to it with the linen in the hope that the roc, when it took +flight next morning, would bear me away with it from the desolate +island. And this was precisely what did happen. As soon as the dawn +appeared the bird rose into the air carrying me up and up till I could +no longer see the earth, and then suddenly it descended so swiftly that +I almost lost consciousness. When I became aware that the roc had +settled and that I was once again upon solid ground, I hastily unbound +my turban from its foot and freed myself, and that not a moment too +soon; for the bird, pouncing upon a huge snake, killed it with a few +blows from its powerful beak, and seizing it rose up into the air once +more and soon disappeared from my view. When I had looked about me I +began to doubt if I had gained anything by quitting the desolate island. + +The valley in which I found myself was deep and narrow, and surrounded +by mountains which towered into the clouds, and were so steep and rocky +that there was no way of climbing up their sides. As I wandered about, +seeking anxiously for some means of escaping from this trap, I observed +that the ground was strewed with diamonds, some of them of an +astonishing size. This sight gave me great pleasure, but my delight was +speedily dampened when I saw also numbers of horrible snakes so long and +so large that the smallest of them could have swallowed an elephant with +ease. Fortunately for me they seemed to hide in caverns of the rocks by +day, and only came out by night, probably because of their enemy the +roc. + +All day long I wandered up and down the valley, and when it grew dusk I +crept into a little cave, and having blocked up the entrance to it with +a stone, I ate part of my little store of food and lay down to sleep, +but all through the night the serpents crawled to and fro, hissing +horribly, so that I could scarcely close my eyes for terror. I was +thankful when the morning light appeared, and when I judged by the +silence that the serpents had retreated to their dens I came tremblingly +out of my cave and wandered up and down the valley once more, kicking +the diamonds contemptuously out of my path, for I felt that they were +indeed vain things to a man in my situation. At last, overcome with +weariness, I sat down upon a rock, but I had hardly closed my eyes when +I was startled by something which fell to the ground with a thud close +beside me. + +It was a huge piece of fresh meat, and as I stared at it several more +pieces rolled over the cliffs in different places. I had always thought +that the stories the sailors told of the famous valley of diamonds, and +of the cunning way which some merchants had devised for getting at the +precious stones, were mere travellers' tales invented to give pleasure +to the hearers, but now I perceived that they were surely true. These +merchants came to the valley at the time when the eagles, which keep +their eyries in the rocks, had hatched their young. The merchants then +threw great lumps of meat into the valley. These, falling with so much +force upon the diamonds, were sure to take up some of the precious +stones with them, when the eagles pounced upon the meat and carried it +off to their nests to feed their hungry broods. Then the merchants, +scaring away the parent birds with shouts and outcries, would secure +their treasures. Until this moment I had looked upon the valley as my +grave, for I had seen no possibility of getting out of it alive, but now +I took courage and began to devise a means of escape. I began by picking +up all the largest diamonds I could find and storing them carefully in +the leathern wallet which had held my provisions; this I tied securely +to my belt. I then chose the piece of meat which seemed most suited to +my purpose, and with the aid of my turban bound it firmly to my back; +this done I laid down upon my face and awaited the coming of the eagles. +I soon heard the flapping of their mighty wings above me, and had the +satisfaction of feeling one of them seize upon my piece of meat, and me +with it, and rise slowly towards his nest, into which he presently +dropped me. Luckily for me the merchants were on the watch, and setting +up their usual outcries, they rushed to the nest, scaring away the +eagle. Their amazement was great when they discovered me, and also their +disappointment, and with one accord they fell to abusing me for having +robbed them of their usual profit. Addressing myself to the one who +seemed most aggrieved, I said:-- + +"I am sure, if you knew all that I have suffered, you would show more +kindness towards me, and as for diamonds, I have enough here of the very +best for you and me and all your company." So saying I showed them to +him. The others all crowded around me, wondering at my adventures and +admiring the device by which I had escaped from the valley, and when +they had led me to their camp and examined my diamonds, they assured me +that in all the years that they had carried on their trade they had seen +no stones to be compared with them for size and beauty. + +I found that each merchant chose a particular nest, and took his chance +of what he might find in it. So I begged the one who owned the nest to +which I had been carried to take as much as he would of my treasure, but +he contented himself with one stone, and that by no means the largest, +assuring me that with such a gem his fortune was made, and he need toil +no more. I stayed with the merchants several days, and then as they were +journeying homewards I gladly accompanied them. Our way lay across high +mountains infested with frightful serpents, but we had the good luck to +escape them and came at last to the seashore. Thence we sailed to the +isle of Roha, where the camphor-trees grow to such a size that a hundred +men could shelter under one of them with ease. The sap flows from an +incision made high up in the tree into a vessel hung there to receive +it, and soon hardens into the substance called camphor, but the tree +itself withers up and dies when it has been so treated. + +In this same island we saw the rhinoceros, an animal which is smaller +than the elephant and larger than the buffalo. It has one horn about a +cubit long which is solid, but has a furrow from the base to the tip. +Upon it is traced in white lines the figure of a man. The rhinoceros +fights with the elephant, and transfixing him with his horn carries him +off upon his head, but becoming blinded with the blood of his enemy, he +falls helpless to the ground, and then comes the roc, and clutches them +both up in his talons and takes them to feed his young. This doubtless +astonishes you, but if you do not believe my tale go to Roha and see for +yourself. For fear of wearying you I pass over in silence many other +wonderful things which we saw in this island. Before we left I exchanged +one of my diamonds for much goodly merchandise by which I profited +greatly on our homeward way. At last we reached Balsora, whence I +hastened to Bagdad, where my first action was to bestow large sums of +money upon the poor, after which I settled down to enjoy tranquilly the +riches I had gained with so much toil and pain. + +Having thus related the adventures of his second voyage, Sindbad again +bestowed a hundred sequins upon Hindbad, inviting him to come again on +the following day and hear how he fared upon his third voyage. The other +guests also departed to their homes, but all returned at the same hour +next day, including the porter, whose former life of hard work and +poverty had already begun to seem to him like a bad dream. Again after +the feast was over did Sindbad claim the attention of his guests and +began the account of his third voyage. + + + + +THIRD VOYAGE + +After a very short time the pleasant easy life I led made me quite +forget the perils of my two voyages. Moreover, as I was still in the +prime of life, it pleased me better to be up and doing. So once more +providing myself with the rarest and choicest merchandise of Bagdad, I +conveyed it to Balsora, and set sail with other merchants of my +acquaintance for distant lands. We had touched at many ports and made +much profit, when one day upon the open sea we were caught by a terrible +wind which blew us completely out of our reckoning, and lasting for +several days finally drove us into harbor on a strange island. + +"I would rather have come to anchor anywhere than here," quoth our +captain. "This island and all adjoining it are inhabited by hairy +savages, who are certain to attack us, and whatever these dwarfs may do +we dare not resist, since they swarm like locusts, and if one of them is +killed the rest will fall upon us, and speedily make an end of us." + +These words caused great consternation among all the ship's company, and +only too soon we were to find out that the captain spoke truly. There +appeared a vast multitude of hideous savages, not more than two feet +high and covered with reddish fur. Throwing themselves into the waves +they surrounded our vessel. Chattering meanwhile in a language we could +not understand, and clutching at ropes and gangways, they swarmed up the +ship's side with such speed and agility that they almost seemed to fly. + +You may imagine the rage and terror that seized us as we watched them, +neither daring to hinder them nor able to speak a word to deter them +from their purpose, whatever it might be. Of this we were not left long +in doubt. Hoisting the sails, and cutting the cable of the anchor, they +sailed our vessel to an island which lay a little further off, where +they drove us ashore; then taking possession of her, they made off to +the place from which they had come, leaving us helpless upon a shore +avoided with horror by all mariners for a reason which you will soon +learn. + +Turning away from the sea we wandered miserably inland, finding as we +went various herbs and fruits which we ate, feeling that we might as +well live as long as possible though we had no hope of escape. Presently +we saw in the far distance what seemed to us to be a splendid palace, +towards which we turned our weary steps, but when we reached it we saw +that it was a castle, lofty, and strongly built. Pushing back the heavy +ebony doors we entered the courtyard, but upon the threshold of the +great hall beyond it we paused, frozen with horror, at the sight which +greeted us. On one side lay a huge pile of bones--human bones; and on +the other numberless spits for roasting! Overcome with despair we sank +trembling to the ground, and lay there without speech or motion. The sun +was setting when a loud noise aroused us, the door of the hall was +violently burst open and a horrible giant entered. He was as tall as a +palm tree, and perfectly black, and had one eye, which flamed like a +burning coal in the middle of his forehead. His teeth were long and +sharp and grinned horribly, while his lower lip hung down upon his +chest, and he had ears like elephant's ears, which covered his +shoulders, and nails like the claws of some fierce bird. + +At this terrible sight our senses left us and we lay like dead men. When +at last we came to ourselves the giant sat examining us attentively with +his fearful eye. Presently when he had looked at us enough he came +towards us, and stretching out his hand took me by the back of the neck, +turning me this way and that, but feeling that I was mere skin and bone +he set me down again and went on to the next, whom he treated in the +same fashion; at last he came to the captain, and finding him the +fattest of us all, he took him up in one hand and stuck him upon a spit +and proceeded to kindle a huge fire at which he presently roasted him. +After the giant had supped he lay down to sleep, snoring like the +loudest thunder, while we lay shivering with horror the whole night +through, and when day broke he awoke and went out, leaving us in the +castle. + +When we believed him to be really gone we started up bemoaning our +horrible fate, until the hall echoed with our despairing cries. Though +we were many and our enemy was alone it did not occur to us to kill him, +and indeed we should have found that a hard task, even if we had thought +of it, and no plan could we devise to deliver ourselves. So at last, +submitting to our sad fate, we spent the day in wandering up and down +the island eating such fruits as we could find, and when night came we +returned to the castle, having sought in vain for any other place of +shelter. At sunset the giant returned, supped upon one of our unhappy +comrades, slept and snored till dawn, and then left us as before. Our +condition seemed to us so frightful that several of my companions +thought it would be better to leap from the cliffs and perish in the +waves at once, rather than await so miserable an end; but I had a plan +of escape which I now unfolded to them, and which they at once agreed to +attempt. + +"Listen, my brothers," I added. "You know that plenty of driftwood lies +along the shore. Let us make several rafts, and carry them to a suitable +place. If our plot succeeds, we can wait patiently for the chance of +some passing ship which would rescue us from this fatal island. If it +fails, we must quickly take to our rafts; frail as they are, we have +more chance of saving our lives with them than we have if we remain +here." + +All agreed with me, and we spent the day in building rafts, each capable +of carrying three persons. At nightfall we returned to the castle, and +very soon in came the giant, and one more of our number was sacrificed. +But the time of our vengeance was at hand! As soon as he had finished +his horrible repast he lay down to sleep as before, and when we heard +him begin to snore I, and nine of the boldest of my comrades, rose +softly, and took each a spit, which we made red-hot in the fire, and +then at a given signal we plunged it with one accord into the giant's +eye, completely blinding him. Uttering a terrible cry, he sprang to his +feet clutching in all directions to try to seize one of us, but we had +all fled different ways as soon as the deed was done, and thrown +ourselves flat upon the ground in corners where he was not likely to +touch us with his feet. + +After a vain search he fumbled about till he found the door, and fled +out of it howling frightfully. As for us, when he was gone we made haste +to leave the fatal castle, and, stationing ourselves beside our rafts, +we waited to see what would happen. Our idea was that if, when the sun +rose, we saw nothing of the giant, and no longer heard his howls, which +still came faintly through the darkness, growing more and more distant, +we should conclude that he was dead, and that we might safely stay upon +the island and need not risk our lives upon the frail rafts. But alas! +morning light showed us our enemy approaching us, supported on either +hand by two giants nearly as large and fearful as himself, while a crowd +of others followed close upon their heels. Hesitating no longer we +clambered upon our rafts and rowed with all our might out to sea. The +giants, seeing their prey escaping them, seized up huge pieces of rock, +and wading into the water hurled them after us with such good aim that +all the rafts except the one I was upon were swamped, and their luckless +crews drowned, without our being able to do anything to help them. +Indeed I and my two companions had all we could do to keep our own raft +beyond the reach of the giants, but by dint of hard rowing we at last +gained the open sea. Here we were at the mercy of the winds and waves, +which tossed us to and fro all that day and night, but the next morning +we found ourselves near an island, upon which we gladly landed. + +There we found delicious fruits, and having satisfied our hunger we +presently lay down to rest upon the shore. Suddenly we were aroused by a +loud rustling noise, and starting up, saw that it was caused by an +immense snake which was gliding towards us over the sand. So swiftly it +came that it had seized one of my comrades before he had time to fly, +and in spite of his cries and struggles speedily crushed the life out of +him in its mighty coils and proceeded to swallow him. By this time my +other companion and I were running for our lives to some place where we +might hope to be safe from this new horror, and seeing a tall tree we +climbed up into it, having first provided ourselves with a store of +fruit off the surrounding bushes. When night came I fell asleep, but +only to be awakened once more by the terrible snake, which after hissing +horribly round the tree at last reared itself up against it, and finding +my sleeping comrade who was perched just below me, it swallowed him +also, and crawled away leaving me half dead with terror. + +When the sun rose I crept down from the tree with hardly a hope of +escaping the dreadful fate which had overtaken my comrades; but life is +sweet, and I determined to do all I could to save myself. All day long I +toiled with frantic haste and collected quantities of dry brushwood, +reeds and thorns, which I bound with fagots, and making a circle of them +under my tree I piled them firmly one upon another until I had a kind of +tent in which I crouched like a mouse in a hole when she sees the cat +coming. You may imagine what a fearful night I passed, for the snake +returned eager to devour me, and glided round and round my frail shelter +seeking an entrance. Every moment I feared that it would succeed in +pushing aside some of the fagots, but happily for me they held together, +and when it grew light my enemy retired, baffled and hungry, to his den. +As for me I was more dead than alive! Shaking with fright and half +suffocated by the poisonous breath of the monster, I came out of my tent +and crawled down to the sea, feeling that it would be better to plunge +from the cliffs and end my life at once than pass such another night of +horror. But to my joy and relief I saw a ship sailing by, and by +shouting wildly and waving my turban I managed to attract the attention +of her crew. + +A boat was sent to rescue me, and very soon I found myself on board +surrounded by a wondering crowd of sailors and merchants eager to know +by what chance I found myself in that desolate island. After I had told +my story they regaled me with the choicest food the ship afforded, and +the captain, seeing that I was in rags, generously bestowed upon me one +of his own coats. After sailing about for some time and touching at many +ports we came at last to the island of Salahat, where sandal-wood grows +in great abundance. Here we anchored, and as I stood watching the +merchants disembarking their goods and preparing to sell or exchange +them, the captain came up to me and said:-- + +"I have here, brother, some merchandise belonging to a passenger of mine +who is dead. Will you do me the favor to trade with it, and when I meet +with his heirs I shall be able to give them the money, though it will be +only just that you shall have a portion for your trouble." + +I consented gladly, for I did not like standing by idle. Whereupon he +pointed the bales out to me, and sent for the person whose duty it was +to keep a list of the goods that were upon the ship. When this man came +he asked in what name the merchandise was to be registered. + +"In the name of Sindbad the Sailor," replied the captain. + +At this I was greatly surprised, but looking carefully at him I +recognized him to be the captain of the ship upon which I had made my +second voyage, though he had altered much since that time. As for him, +believing me to be dead it was no wonder that he had not recognized me. + +"So, captain," said I, "the merchant who owned those bales was called +Sindbad?" + +"Yes," he replied. "He was so named. He belonged to Bagdad, and joined +my ship at Balsora, but by mischance he was left behind upon a desert +island where we had landed to fill up our water-casks, and it was not +until four hours later that he was missed. By that time the wind had +freshened, and it was impossible to put back for him." + +"You suppose him to have perished then?" said I. + +"Alas! yes," he answered. + +"Why, captain!" I cried, "look well at me. I am that Sindbad who fell +asleep upon the island and awoke to find himself abandoned!" + +The captain stared at me in amazement, but was presently convinced that +I was indeed speaking the truth, and rejoiced greatly at my escape. + +"I am glad to have that piece of carelessness off my conscience at any +rate," said he. "Now take your goods, and the profit I have made for you +upon them, and may you prosper in future." + +I took them gratefully, and as we went from one island to another I laid +in stores of cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. In one place I saw a +tortoise which was twenty cubits long and as many broad, also a fish +that was like a cow and had skin so thick that it was used to make +shields. Another I saw that was like a camel in shape and color. So by +degrees we came back to Balsora, and I returned to Bagdad with so much +money that I could not myself count it, besides treasures without end. I +gave largely to the poor, and bought much land to add to what I already +possessed, and thus ended my third voyage. + +When Sindbad had finished his story he gave another hundred sequins to +Hindbad, who then departed with the other guests, but next day when they +had all reassembled, and the banquet was ended, their host continued his +adventures. + + + + +FOURTH VOYAGE + +Rich and happy as I was after my third voyage, I could not make up my +mind to stay at home altogether. My love of trading, and the pleasure I +took in anything that was new and strange, made me set my affairs in +order, and begin my journey through some of the Persian provinces, +having first sent off stores of goods to await my coming in the +different places I intended to visit. I took ship at a distant seaport, +and for some time all went well, but at last, being caught in a violent +hurricane, our vessel became a total wreck in spite of all our worthy +captain could do to save her, and many of our company perished in the +waves. I, with a few others, had the good fortune to be washed ashore +clinging to pieces of the wreck, for the storm had driven us near an +island, and scrambling up beyond the reach of the waves we threw +ourselves down quite exhausted, to wait for morning. + +At daylight we wandered inland, and soon saw some huts, to which we +directed our steps. As we drew near their black inhabitants swarmed out +in great numbers and surrounded us, and we were led to their houses, and +as it were divided among our captors. I with five others was taken into +a hut, where we were made to sit upon the ground, and certain herbs were +given to us, which the blacks made signs to us to eat. Observing that +they themselves did not touch them, I was careful only to pretend to +taste my portion; but my companions, being very hungry, rashly ate up +all that was set before them, and very soon I had the horror of seeing +them become perfectly mad. Though they chattered incessantly I could not +understand a word they said, nor did they heed when I spoke to them. The +savages now produced large bowls full of rice prepared with cocoanut +oil, of which my crazy comrades ate eagerly, but I only tasted a few +grains, understanding clearly that the object of our captors was to +fatten us speedily for their own eating, and this was exactly what +happened. My unlucky companions having lost their reason, felt neither +anxiety nor fear, and ate greedily all that was offered them. So they +were soon fat and there was an end of them, but I grew leaner day by +day, for I ate but little, and even that little did me no good by reason +of my fear of what lay before me. However, as I was so far from being a +tempting morsel, I was allowed to wander about freely, and one day, when +all the blacks had gone off upon some expedition leaving only an old man +to guard me, I managed to escape from him and plunged into the forest, +running faster the more he cried to me to come back, until I had +completely distanced him. + +For seven days I hurried on, resting only when the darkness stopped me, +and living chiefly upon cocoanuts, which afforded me both meat and +drink, and on the eighth day I reached the sea-shore and saw a party of +white men gathering pepper, which grew abundantly all about. Reassured +by the nature of their occupation, I advanced towards them and they +greeted me in Arabic, asking who I was and whence I came. My delight was +great on hearing this familiar speech, and I willingly satisfied their +curiosity, telling them how I had been shipwrecked, and captured by the +blacks. "But these savages devour men!" said they. "How did you escape?" +I repeated to them what I have just told you, at which they were +mightily astonished. I stayed with them until they had collected as much +pepper as they wished, and then they took me back to their own country +and presented me to their King, by whom I was hospitably received. To +him also I had to relate my adventures, which surprised him much, and +when I had finished he ordered that I should be supplied with food and +raiment and treated with consideration. + +The island on which I found myself was full of people, and abounded in +all sorts of desirable things, and a great deal of traffic went on in +the capital, where I soon began to feel at home and contented. Moreover, +the King treated me with special favor, and in consequence of this +everyone, whether at the court or in the town, sought to make life +pleasant to me. One thing I remarked which I thought very strange; this +was that, from the greatest to the least, all men rode their horses +without bridle or stirrups. I one day presumed to ask his Majesty why he +did not use them, to which he replied, "You speak to me of things of +which I have never before heard!" This gave me an idea. I found a clever +workman and made him cut out under my direction the foundation of a +saddle, which I wadded and covered with choice leather, adorning it with +rich gold embroidery. I then got a locksmith to make me a bit and a pair +of spurs after a pattern that I drew for him, and when all these things +were completed I presented them to the King and showed him how to use +them. When I had saddled one of his horses he mounted it and rode about +quite delighted with the novelty, and to show his gratitude he rewarded +me with large gifts. After this I had to make saddles for all the +principal officers of the King's household, and as they all gave me rich +presents I soon became very wealthy and quite an important person in the +city. + +One day the King sent for me and said, "Sindbad, I am going to ask a +favor of you. Both I and my subjects esteem you, and wish you to end +your days amongst us. Therefore I desire that you will marry a rich and +beautiful lady whom I will find for you, and think no more of your own +country." + +As the King's will was law I accepted the charming bride he presented to +me, and lived happily with her. Nevertheless I had every intention of +escaping at the first opportunity, and going back to Bagdad. Things were +thus going prosperously with me when it happened that the wife of one of +my neighbors, with whom I had struck up quite a friendship, fell ill, +and presently died. I went to his house to offer my consolations, and +found him in the depths of woe. + +"Heaven preserve you," said I, "and send you a long life!" + +"Alas!" he replied, "what is the good of saying that when I have but an +hour left to live!" + +"Come, come!" said I, "surely it is not so bad as all that. I trust that +you may be spared to me for many years." + +"I hope," answered he, "that your life may be long, but as for me, all +is finished. I have set my house in order, and to-day I shall be buried +with my wife. This has been the law upon our island from the earliest +ages--the living husband goes to the grave with his dead wife, the +living wife with her dead husband. So did our fathers, and so must we +do. The law changes not, and all must submit to it!" + +As he spoke the friends and relations of the unhappy pair began to +assemble. The body, decked in rich robes and sparkling with jewels, was +laid upon an open bier, and the procession started, taking its way to a +high mountain at some distance from the city, the wretched husband, +clothed from head to foot in a black mantle, following mournfully. + +When the place of interment was reached the corpse was lowered, just as +it was, into a deep pit. Then the husband, bidding farewell to all his +friends, stretched himself upon another bier, upon which were laid seven +little loaves of bread and a pitcher of water, and he also was let +down-down-down to the depths of the horrible cavern, and then a stone +was laid over the opening, and the melancholy company wended its way +back to the city. + +You may imagine that I was no unmoved spectator of these proceedings; to +all the others it was a thing to which they had been accustomed from +their youth up; but I was so horrified that I could not help telling the +King how it struck me. + +"Sire," I said, "I am more astonished than I can express to you at the +strange custom which exists in your dominions of burying the living with +the dead. In all my travels I have never before met with so cruel and +horrible a law." + +"What would you have, Sindbad?" he replied. "It is the law for +everybody. I myself should be buried with the Queen if she were the +first to die." + +"But, your Majesty," said I, "dare I ask if this law applies to +foreigners also?" + +"Why, yes," replied the king smiling, in what I could but consider a +very heartless manner: "they are no exception to the rule if they have +married in the country." + +When I heard this I went home much cast down, and from that time forward +my mind was never easy. If only my wife's little finger ached I fancied +she was going to die, and sure enough before very long she fell really +ill and in a few days breathed her last. My dismay was great, for it +seemed to me that to be buried alive was even a worse fate than to be +devoured by cannibals, nevertheless there was no escape. The body of my +wife, arrayed in her richest robes and decked with all her jewels, was +laid upon the bier. I followed it, and after me came a great procession, +headed by the king and all his nobles, and in this order we reached the +fatal mountain, which was one of a lofty chain bordering the sea. + +Here I made one more frantic effort to excite the pity of the King and +those who stood by, hoping to save myself even at this last moment, but +it was of no avail. No one spoke to me, they even appeared to hasten +over their dreadful task, and I speedily found myself descending into +the gloomy pit, with my seven loaves and pitcher of water beside me. +Almost before I reached the bottom the stone was rolled into its place +above my head, and I was left to my fate. A feeble ray of light shone +into the cavern through some chink, and when I had the courage to look +about me I could see that I was in a vast vault, bestrewn with bones and +bodies of the dead. I even fancied that I heard the expiring sighs of +those who, like myself, had come into this dismal place alive. All in +vain did I shriek aloud with rage and despair, reproaching myself for +the love of gain and adventure which had brought me to such a pass, but +at length, growing calmer, I took up my bread and water, and wrapping my +face in my mantle I groped my way towards the end of the cavern, where +the air was fresher. + +Here I lived in darkness and misery until my provisions were exhausted, +but just as I was nearly dead from starvation the rock was rolled away +overhead and I saw that a bier was being lowered into the cavern, and +that the corpse upon it was a man. In a moment my mind was made up, the +woman who followed had nothing to expect but a lingering death; I should +be doing her a service if I shortened her misery. Therefore when she +descended, already insensible from terror, I was ready armed with a huge +bone, one blow from which left her dead, and I secured the bread and +water which gave me a hope of life. Several times did I have recourse to +this desperate expedient, and I know not how long I had been a prisoner +when one day I fancied that I heard something near me, which breathed +loudly. Turning to the place from which the sound came I dimly saw a +shadowy form which fled at my movement, squeezing itself through a +cranny in the wall. I pursued it as fast as I could, and found myself in +a narrow crack among the rocks, along which I was just able to force my +way. I followed it for what seemed to me many miles, and at last saw +before me a glimmer of light which grew clearer every moment until I +emerged upon the sea-shore with a joy which I cannot describe. When I +was sure that I was not dreaming, I realized that it was doubtless some +little animal which had found its way into the cavern from the sea, and +when disturbed had fled, showing me a means of escape which I could +never have discovered for myself. I hastily surveyed my surroundings, +and saw that I was safe from all pursuit from the town. + +The mountains sloped sheer down to the sea, and there was no road across +them. Being assured of this I returned to the cavern, and amassed a rich +treasure of diamonds, rubies, emeralds and jewels of all kinds, which +strewed the ground. These I made up into bales, and stored them into a +safe place upon the beach, and then waited hopefully for the passing of +a ship. I had looked out for two days, however, before a single sail +appeared, so it was with much delight that I at last saw a vessel not +very far from the shore, and by waving my arms and uttering loud cries +succeeded in attracting the attention of her crew. A boat was sent off +to me, and in answer to the questions of the sailors as to how I came to +be in such a plight, I replied that I had been shipwrecked two days +before, but had managed to scramble ashore with the bales which I +pointed out to them. Luckily for me they believed my story, and without +even looking at the place where they found me, took up my bundles, and +rowed me back to the ship. Once on board, I soon saw that the captain +was too much occupied with the difficulties of navigation to pay much +heed to me, though he generously made me welcome, and would not even +accept the jewels with which I offered to pay my passage. Our voyage was +prosperous, and after visiting many lands, and collecting in each place +great store of goodly merchandise, I found myself at last in Bagdad once +more with unheard-of riches of every description. Again I gave large +sums of money to the poor, and enriched all the mosques in the city, +after which I gave myself up to my friends and relations, with whom I +passed my time in feasting and merriment. + +Here Sindbad paused, and all his hearers declared that the adventures of +his fourth voyage had pleased them better than anything they had heard +before. They then took their leave, followed by Hindbad, who had once +more received a hundred sequins, and with the rest had been bidden to +return next day for the story of the fifth voyage. + +When the time came all were in their places, and when they had eaten and +drunk of all that was set before them Sindbad began his tale. + + + + +FIFTH VOYAGE + +Not even all that I had gone through could make me contented with a +quiet life. I soon wearied of its pleasures, and longed for change and +adventure. Therefore I set out once more, but this time in a ship of my +own, which I built and fitted out at the nearest seaport. I wished to be +able to call at whatever port I chose, taking my own time; but as I did +not intend carrying enough goods for a full cargo, I invited several +merchants of different nations to join me. We set sail with the first +favorable wind, and after a long voyage upon the open seas we landed +upon an unknown island which proved to be uninhabited. We determined, +however, to explore it, but had not gone far when we found a roc's egg, +as large as the one I had seen before and evidently very nearly hatched, +for the beak of the young bird had already pierced the shell. In spite +of all I could say to deter them, the merchants who were with me fell +upon it with their hatchets, breaking the shell, and killing the young +roc. Then lighting a fire upon the ground they hacked morsels from the +bird, and proceeded to roast them while I stood by aghast. + +Scarcely had they finished their ill-omened repast, when the air above +us was darkened by two mighty shadows. The captain of my ship, knowing +by experience what this meant, cried out to us that the parent birds +were coming, and urged us to get on board with all speed. This we did, +and the sails were hoisted, but before we had made any way the rocs +reached their despoiled nest and hovered about it, uttering frightful +cries when they discovered the mangled remains of their young one. For a +moment we lost sight of them, and were flattering ourselves that we had +escaped, when they reappeared and soared into the air directly over our +vessel, and we saw that each held in its claws an immense rock ready to +crush us. There was a moment of breathless suspense, then one bird +loosed its hold and the huge block of stone hurtled through the air, but +thanks to the presence of mind of the helmsman, who turned our ship +violently in another direction, it fell into the sea close beside us, +cleaving it asunder till we could nearly see the bottom. We had hardly +time to draw a breath of relief before the other rock fell with a mighty +crash right in the midst of our luckless vessel, smashing it into a +thousand fragments, and crushing, or hurling into the sea, passengers +and crew. I myself went down with the rest, but had the good fortune to +rise unhurt, and by holding on to a piece of driftwood with one hand and +swimming with the other I kept myself afloat and was presently washed up +by the tide on to an island. Its shores were steep and rocky, but I +scrambled up safely and threw myself down to rest upon the green turf. + +When I had somewhat recovered I began to examine the spot in which I +found myself, and truly it seemed to me that I had reached a garden of +delights. There were trees everywhere, and they were laden with flowers +and fruit, while a crystal stream wandered in and out under their +shadow. When night came I slept sweetly in a cosey nook, though the +remembrance that I was alone in a strange land made me sometimes start +up and look around me in alarm, and then I wished heartily that I had +stayed at home at ease. However, the morning sunlight restored my +courage, and I once more wandered among the trees, but always with some +anxiety as to what I might see next. I had penetrated some distance into +the island when I saw an old man bent and feeble sitting upon the river +bank, and at first I took him to be some shipwrecked mariner like +myself. Going up to him I greeted him in a friendly way, but he only +nodded his head at me in reply. I then asked what he did there, and he +made signs to me that he wished to get across the river to gather some +fruit, and seemed to beg me to carry him on my back. Pitying his age and +feebleness, I took him up, and wading across the stream I bent down that +he might more easily reach the bank, and bade him get down. But instead +of allowing himself to be set upon his feet (even now it makes me laugh +to think of it!), this creature who had seemed to me so decrepit leaped +nimbly upon my shoulders, and hooking his legs round my neck gripped me +so tightly that I was well-nigh choked, and so overcome with terror that +I fell insensible to the ground. When I recovered my enemy was still in +his place, though he had released his hold enough to allow me breathing +space, and seeing me revive he prodded me adroitly first with one foot +and then with the other, until I was forced to get up and stagger about +with him under the trees while he gathered and ate the choicest fruits. +This went on all day, and even at night, when I threw myself down half +dead with weariness, the terrible old man held on tight to my neck, nor +did he fail to greet the first glimmer of morning light by drumming upon +me with his heels, until I perforce awoke and resumed my dreary march +with rage and bitterness in my heart. + +It happened one day that I passed a tree under which lay several dry +gourds, and catching one up I amused myself with scooping out its +contents and pressing into it the juice of several bunches of grapes +which hung from every bush. When it was full I left it propped in the +fork of a tree, and a few days later, carrying the hateful old man that +way, I snatched at my gourd as I passed it and had the satisfaction of a +draught of excellent wine so good and refreshing that I even forgot my +detestable burden, and began to sing and caper. + +The old monster was not slow to perceive the effect which my draught had +produced and that I carried him more lightly than usual, so he stretched +out his skinny hand and seizing the gourd first tasted its contents +cautiously, then drained them to the very last drop. The wine was strong +and the gourd capacious, so he also began to sing after a fashion, and +soon I had the delight of feeling the iron grip of his goblin legs +unclasp, and with one vigorous effort I threw him to the ground, from +which he never moved again. I was so rejoiced to have at last got rid of +this uncanny old man that I ran leaping and bounding down to the +sea-shore, where, by the greatest good luck, I met with some mariners +who had anchored off the island to enjoy the delicious fruits, and to +renew their supply of water. + +They heard the story of my escape with amazement, saying, "You fell into +the hands of the Old Man of the Sea, and it is a mercy that he did not +strangle you as he has everyone else upon whose shoulders he has managed +to perch himself. This island is well-known as the scene of his evil +deeds, and no merchant or sailor who lands upon it cares to stray far +away from his comrades." After we had talked for awhile they took me +back with them on board their ship, where the captain received me +kindly, and we soon set sail, and after several days reached a large and +prosperous-looking town where all the houses were built of stone. Here +we anchored, and one of the merchants, who had been very friendly to me +on the way, took me ashore with him and showed me a lodging set apart +for strange merchants. He then provided me with a large sack, and +pointed out to me a party of others equipped in like manner. + +"Go with them," said he, "and do as they do, but beware of losing sight +of them, for if you strayed your life would be in danger." + +With that he supplied me with provisions, and bade me farewell, and I +set out with my new companions. I soon learnt that the object of our +expedition was to fill our sacks with cocoa-nuts, but when at length I +saw the trees and noted their immense height and the slippery smoothness +of their slender trunks, I did not at all understand how we were to do +it. The crowns of the cocoa-palms were all alive with monkeys, big and +little, which skipped from one to the other with surprising agility, +seeming to be curious about us and disturbed at our appearance, and I +was at first surprised when my companions after collecting stones began +to throw them at the lively creatures, which seemed to me quite +harmless. But very soon I saw the reason of it and joined them heartily, +for the monkeys, annoyed and wishing to pay us back in our own coin, +began to tear the nuts from the trees and cast them at us with angry and +spiteful gestures, so that after very little labor our sacks were filled +with the fruit which we could not otherwise have obtained. + +As soon as we had as many as we could carry we went back to the town, +where my friend bought my share and advised me to continue the same +occupation until I had earned money enough to carry me to my own +country. This I did, and before long had amassed a considerable sum. +Just then I heard that there was a trading ship ready to sail, and +taking leave of my friend I went on board, carrying with me a goodly +store of cocoanuts; and we sailed first to the islands where pepper +grows, then to Comari where the best aloes-wood is found, and where men +drink no wine by an unalterable law. Here I exchanged my nuts for pepper +and good aloes-wood, and went a-fishing for pearls with some of the +other merchants, and my divers were so lucky that very soon I had an +immense number, and those very large and perfect. With all these +treasures I came joyfully back to Bagdad, where I disposed of them for +large sums of money, of which I did not fail as before to give the tenth +part to the poor, and after that I rested from my labors and comforted +myself with all the pleasures that my riches could give me. + +Having thus ended his story, Sindbad ordered that one hundred sequins +should be given to Hindbad, and the guests then withdrew; but after the +next day's feast he began the account of his sixth voyage as follows. + + + + +SIXTH VOYAGE + +It must be a marvel to you how, after having five times met with +shipwreck and unheard-of perils, I could again tempt fortune and risk +fresh trouble. I am even surprised myself when I look back, but +evidently it was my fate to rove, and after a year of repose I prepared +to make a sixth voyage, regardless of the entreaties of my friends and +relations, who did all they could to keep me at home. Instead of going +by the Persian Gulf, I travelled a considerable way overland, and +finally embarked from a distant Indian port with a captain who meant to +make a long voyage. And truly he did so, for we fell in with stormy +weather which drove us completely out of our course, so that for many +days neither captain nor pilot knew where we were, nor where we were +going. When they did at last discover our position we had small ground +for rejoicing, for the captain, casting his turban upon the deck and +tearing his beard, declared that we were in the most dangerous spot upon +the whole wide sea, and had been caught by a current which was at that +moment sweeping us to destruction. It was too true! In spite of all the +sailors could do we were driven with frightful rapidity towards the foot +of a mountain, which rose sheer out of the sea, and our vessel was +dashed to pieces upon the rocks at its base, not, however, until we had +managed to scramble on shore, carrying with us the most precious of our +possessions. When we had done this the captain said to us:-- + +"Now we are here we may as well begin to dig our graves at once, since +from this fatal spot no shipwrecked mariner has ever returned." + +This speech discouraged us much, and we began to lament over our sad +fate. + +The mountain formed the seaward boundary of a large island, and the +narrow strip of rocky shore upon which we stood was strewn with the +wreckage of a thousand gallant ships, while the bones of the luckless +mariners shone white in the sunshine, and we shuddered to think how soon +our own would be added to the heap. All around, too, lay vast quantities +of the costliest merchandise, and treasures were heaped in every cranny +of the rocks, but all these things only added to the desolation of the +scene. It struck me as a very strange thing that a river of clear fresh +water, which gushed out from the mountain not far from where we stood, +instead of flowing into the sea as rivers generally do, turned off +sharply, and flowed out of sight under a natural archway of rock, and +when I went to examine it more closely I found that inside the cave the +walls were thick with diamonds, rubies, and masses of crystal, and the +floor was strewn with ambergris. Here, then, upon this desolate shore we +abandoned ourselves to our fate, for there was no possibility of scaling +the mountain, and if a ship had appeared it could only have shared our +doom. The first thing our captain did was to divide equally amongst us +all the food we possessed, and then the length of each man's life +depended on the time he could make his portion last. I myself could live +upon very little. + +Nevertheless, by the time I had buried the last of my companions my +stock of provisions was so small that I hardly thought I should live +long enough to dig my own grave, which I set about doing, while I +regretted bitterly the roving disposition which was always bringing me +into such straits, and thought longingly of all the comfort and luxury +that I had left. But luckily for me the fancy took me to stand once more +beside the river where it plunged out of sight in the depths of the +cavern, and as I did so an idea struck me. This river which hid itself +underground doubtless emerged again at some distant spot. Why should I +not build a raft and trust myself to its swiftly flowing waters? If I +perished before I could reach the light of day once more I should be no +worse off than I was now, for death stared me in the face, while there +was always the possibility that, as I was born under a lucky star, I +might find myself safe and sound in some desirable land. I decided at +any rate to risk it, and speedily built myself a stout raft of +drift-wood with strong cords, of which enough and to spare lay strewn +upon the beach. I then made up many packages of rubies, emeralds, rock +crystal, ambergris, and precious stuffs, and bound them upon my raft, +being careful to preserve the balance, and then I seated myself upon it, +having two small oars that I had fashioned laid ready to my hand, and +loosed the cord which held it to the bank. Once out in the current my +raft flew swiftly under the gloomy archway, and I found myself in total +darkness, carried smoothly forward by the rapid river. On I went as it +seemed to me for many nights and days. Once the channel became so small +that I had a narrow escape of being crushed against the rocky roof, and +after that I took the precaution of lying flat upon my precious bales. +Though I only ate what was absolutely necessary to keep myself alive, +the inevitable moment came when, after swallowing my last morsel of +food, I began to wonder if I must after all die of hunger. Then, worn +out with anxiety and fatigue, I fell into a deep sleep, and when I again +opened my eyes I was once more in the light of day; a beautiful country +lay before me, and my raft, which was tied to the river bank, was +surrounded by friendly looking black men. I rose and saluted them, and +they spoke to me in return, but I could not understand a word of their +language. Feeling perfectly bewildered by my sudden return to life and +light, I murmured to myself in Arabic, "Close thine eyes, and while thou +sleepest Heaven will change thy fortune from evil to good." + +One of the natives, who understood this tongue, then came forward +saying:-- + +"My brother, be not surprised to see us; this is our land, and as we +came to get water from the river we noticed your raft floating down it, +and one of us swam out and brought you to the shore. We have waited for +your awakening; tell us now whence you come and where you were going by +that dangerous way?" + +I replied that nothing would please me better than to tell them, but +that I was starving, and would fain eat something first. I was soon +supplied with all I needed, and having satisfied my hunger I told them +faithfully all that had befallen me. They were lost in wonder at my tale +when it was interpreted to them, and said that adventures so surprising +must be related to their King only by the man to whom they had happened. +So, procuring a horse, they mounted me upon it, and we set out, followed +by several strong men carrying my raft just as it was upon their +shoulders. In this order we marched into the city of Serendib, where the +natives presented me to their King, whom I saluted in the Indian +fashion, prostrating myself at his feet and kissing the ground; but the +monarch bade me rise and sit beside him, asking first what was my name. + +"I am Sindbad," I replied, "whom men call 'the Sailor,' for I have +voyaged much upon many seas." + +"And how came you here?" asked the King. + +I told my story, concealing nothing, and his surprise and delight were +so great that he ordered my adventures to be written in letters of gold +and laid up in the archives of his kingdom. + +Presently my raft was brought in and the bales opened in his presence, +and the king declared that in all his treasury there were no such rubies +and emeralds as those which lay in great heaps before him. Seeing that +he looked at them with interest, I ventured to say that I myself and all +that I had were at his disposal, but he answered me smiling:-- + +"Nay, Sindbad. Heaven forbid that I should covet your riches; I will +rather add to them, for I desire that you shall not leave my kingdom +without some tokens of my good-will." He then commanded his officers to +provide me with a suitable lodging at his expense, and sent slaves to +wait upon me and carry my raft and my bales to my new dwelling-place. +You may imagine that I praised his generosity and gave him grateful +thanks, nor did I fail to present myself daily in his audience-chamber, +and for the rest of my time I amused myself in seeing all that was most +worthy of attention in the city. The island of Serendib being situated +on the equinoctial line, the days and nights there are of equal length. +The chief city is placed at the end of a beautiful valley, formed by the +highest mountain in the world, which is in the middle of the island. I +had the curiosity to ascend to its very summit, for this was the place +to which Adam was banished out of Paradise. Here are found rubies and +many precious things, and rare plants grow abundantly, with cedar-trees +and cocoa-palms. On the sea-shore and at the mouths of the rivers the +divers seek for pearls, and in some valleys diamonds are plentiful. +After many days I petitioned the King that I might return to my own +country, to which he graciously consented. Moreover, he loaded me with +rich gifts, and when I went to take leave of him he intrusted me with a +royal present and a letter to the Commander of the Faithful, our +sovereign lord, saying, "I pray you give these to the Caliph +Harun-al-Rashid, and assure him of my friendship." + +I accepted the charge respectfully, and soon embarked upon the vessel +which the King himself had chosen for me. The King's letter was written +in blue characters upon a rare and precious skin of yellowish color, and +these were the words of it: "The King of the Indies, before whom walk a +thousand elephants, who lives in a palace, of which the roof blazes with +a hundred thousand rubies, and whose treasure-house contains twenty +thousand diamond crowns, to the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid sends greeting. +Though the offering we present to you is unworthy of your notice, we +pray you to accept it as a mark of the esteem and friendship which we +cherish for you, and of which we gladly send you this token, and we ask +of you a like regard if you deem us worthy of it. Adieu, brother." + +The present consisted of a vase carved from a single ruby, six inches +high and as thick as my finger; this was filled with the choicest +pearls, large, and of perfect shape and lustre; secondly, a huge +snake-skin, with scales as large as a sequin, which would preserve from +sickness those who slept upon it. Then quantities of aloes-wood, +camphor, and pistachio-nuts; and lastly, a beautiful slave-girl, whose +robes glittered with precious stones. + +After a long and prosperous voyage we landed at Balsora, and I made +haste to reach Bagdad, and taking the King's letter I presented myself +at the palace gate, followed by the beautiful slave, and various members +of my own family, bearing the treasure. + +As soon as I had declared my errand I was conducted into the presence of +the Caliph, to whom, after I had made my obeisance, I gave the letter +and the King's gift, and when he had examined them he demanded of me +whether the Prince of Serendib was really as rich and powerful as he +claimed to be. + +"Commander of the Faithful," I replied, again bowing humbly before him, +"I can assure your Majesty that he has in no way exaggerated his wealth +and grandeur. Nothing can equal the magnificence of his palace. When he +goes abroad his throne is prepared upon the back of an elephant, and on +either side of him ride his ministers, his favorites, and courtiers. On +his elephant's neck sits an officer, his golden lance in his hand, and +behind him stands another bearing a pillar of gold, at the top of which +is an emerald as long as my hand. A thousand men in cloth of gold, +mounted upon richly caparisoned elephants, go before him, and as the +procession moves onward the officer who guides his elephant cries aloud, +'Behold the mighty monarch, the powerful and valiant Sultan of the +Indies, whose palace is covered with a hundred thousand rubies, who +possesses twenty thousand diamond crowns. Behold a monarch greater than +Solomon and Mihrage in all their glory!' + +"Then the one who stands behind the throne answers: 'This king, so great +and powerful, must die, must die, must die!' + +"And the first takes up the chant again, 'All praise to Him who lives +for evermore.' + +"Further, my lord, in Serendib no judge is needed, for to the King +himself his people come for justice." + +The Caliph was well satisfied with my report. + +"From the King's letter," said he, "I judged that he was a wise man. It +seems that he is worthy of his people, and his people of him." + +So saying he dismissed me with rich presents, and I returned in peace to +my own house. + +When Sindbad had done speaking his guests withdrew, Hindbad having first +received a hundred sequins, but all returned next day to hear the story +of the seventh voyage. + + + + +SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE + +After my sixth voyage I was quite determined that I would go to sea no +more. I was now of an age to appreciate a quiet life, and I had run +risks enough. I only wished to end my days in peace. One day, however, +when I was entertaining a number of my friends, I was told that an +officer of the Caliph wished to speak to me, and when he was admitted he +bade me to follow him into the presence of Harun-al-Rashid, which I +accordingly did. After I had saluted him, the Caliph said:-- + +"I have sent for you, Sindbad, because I need your services. I have +chosen you to bear a letter and a gift to the King of Serendib in return +for his message of friendship." + +The Caliph's commandment fell upon me like a thunderbolt. + +"Commander of the Faithful," I answered, "I am ready to do all that your +Majesty commands, but I humbly pray you to remember that I am utterly +disheartened by the unheard-of sufferings I have undergone. Indeed, I +have made a vow never again to leave Bagdad." + +With this I gave him a long account of some of my strangest adventures, +to which he listened patiently. + +"I admit," said he, "that you have indeed had some extraordinary +experiences, but I do not see why they should hinder you from doing as I +wish. You have only to go straight to Serendib and give my message, then +you are free to come back and do as you will. But go you must; my honor +and dignity demand it." + +Seeing that there was no help for it, I declared myself willing to obey; +and the Caliph, delighted at having got his own way, gave me a thousand +sequins for the expenses of the voyage. I was soon ready to start, and +taking the letter and the present I embarked at Balsora, and sailed +quickly and safely to Serendib. Here, when I had disclosed my errand, I +was well received, and brought into the presence of the king, who +greeted me with joy. + +"Welcome, Sindbad," he cried. "I have thought of you often, and rejoice +to see you once more." + +After thanking him for the honor that he did me, I displayed the +Caliph's gifts. First a bed with complete hangings all cloth of gold, +which cost a thousand sequins, and another like to it of crimson stuff. +Fifty robes of rich embroidery, a hundred of the finest white linen from +Cairo, Suez, Cufa, and Alexandria. Then more beds of different fashion, +and an agate vase carved with the figure of a man aiming an arrow at a +lion, and finally a costly table, which had once belonged to King +Solomon. The King of Serendib received with satisfaction the assurance +of the Caliph's friendliness towards him, and now my task being +accomplished I was anxious to depart, but it was some time before the +king would think of letting me go. At last, however, he dismissed me +with many presents, and I lost no time in going on board a ship, which +sailed at once, and for four days all went well. On the fifth day we had +the misfortune to fall in with pirates, who seized our vessel, killing +all who resisted, and making prisoners of those who were prudent enough +to submit at once, of whom I was one. When they had despoiled us of all +we possessed, they forced us to put on vile raiment, and sailing to a +distant island there sold us for slaves. I fell into the hands of a rich +merchant, who took me home with him, and clothed and fed me well, and +after some days sent for me and questioned me as to what I could do. + +I answered that I was a rich merchant who had been captured by pirates, +and therefore I knew no trade. + +"Tell me," said he, "can you shoot with a bow?" + +I replied that this had been one of the pastimes of my youth, and that +doubtless with practice my skill would come back to me. + +Upon this he provided me with a bow and arrows, and mounting me with him +upon his own elephant took the way to a vast forest which lay far from +the town. When we had reached the wildest part of it we stopped, and my +master said to me: "This forest swarms with elephants. Hide yourself in +this great tree, and shoot at all that pass you. When you have succeeded +in killing one come and tell me." + +So saying he gave me a supply of food, and returned to the town, and I +perched myself high up in the tree and kept watch. That night I saw +nothing, but just after sunrise the next morning a large herd of +elephants came crashing and trampling by. I lost no time in letting fly +several arrows, and at last one of the great animals fell to the ground +dead, and the others retreated, leaving me free to come down from my +hiding-place and run back to tell my master of my success, for which I +was praised and regaled with good things. Then we went back to the +forest together and dug a mighty trench in which we buried the elephant +I had killed, in order that when it became a skeleton my master might +return and secure its tusks. + +For two months I hunted thus, and no day passed without my securing an +elephant. Of course I did not always station myself in the same tree, +but sometimes in one place, sometimes in another. One morning as I +watched the coming of the elephants I was surprised to see that, instead +of passing the tree I was in, as they usually did, they paused, and +completely surrounded it, trumpeting horribly, and shaking the very +ground with their heavy tread, and when I saw that their eyes were fixed +upon me I was terrified, and my arrows dropped from my trembling hand. I +had indeed good reason for my terror when, an instant later, the largest +of the animals wound his trunk round the stem of my tree, and with one +mighty effort tore it up by the roots, bringing me to the ground +entangled in its branches. I thought now that my last hour was surely +come, but the huge creature, picking me up gently enough, set me upon +its back, where I clung more dead than alive, and followed by the whole +herd turned and crashed off into the dense forest. It seemed to me a +long time before I was once more set upon my feet by the elephant, and I +stood as if in a dream watching the herd, which turned and trampled off +in another direction, and were soon hidden in the dense underwood. Then, +recovering myself, I looked about me, and found that I was standing upon +the side of a great hill, strewn as far as I could see on either hand +with bones and tusks of elephants. "This then must be the elephants' +burying-place," I said to myself, "and they must have brought me here +that I might cease to persecute them, seeing that I want nothing but +their tusks, and here lie more than I could carry away in a lifetime." + +Whereupon I turned and made for the city as fast as I could go, not +seeing a single elephant by the way, which convinced me that they had +retired deeper into the forest to leave the way open to the Ivory Hill, +and I did not know how sufficiently to admire their sagacity. After a +day and a night I reached my master's house, and was received by him +with joyful surprise. + +"Ah! poor Sindbad," he cried, "I was wondering what could have become of +you. When I went to the forest I found the tree newly uprooted, and the +arrows lying beside it, and I feared I should never see you again. Pray +tell me how you escaped death." + +I soon satisfied his curiosity, and the next day we went together to the +Ivory Hill, and he was overjoyed to find that I had told him nothing but +the truth. When we had loaded our elephant with as many tusks as it +could carry and were on our way back to the city, he said:-- + +"My brother--since I can no longer treat as a slave one who has enriched +me thus--take your liberty, and may Heaven prosper you. I will no longer +conceal from you that these wild elephants have killed numbers of our +slaves every year. No matter what good advice we gave them, they were +caught sooner or later. You alone have escaped the wiles of these +animals, therefore you must be under the special protection of Heaven. +Now through you the whole town will be enriched without further loss of +life, therefore you shall not only receive your liberty, but I will also +bestow a fortune upon you." + +To which I replied, "Master, I thank you, and wish you all prosperity. +For myself I only ask liberty to return to my own country." + +"It is well," he answered, "the monsoon will soon bring the ivory ships +hither, then I will send you on your way with somewhat to pay your +passage." + +So I stayed with him till the time of the monsoon, and every day we +added to our store of ivory till all his warehouses were overflowing +with it. By this time the other merchants knew the secret, but there was +enough and to spare for all. When the ships at last arrived my master +himself chose the one in which I was to sail, and put on board for me a +great store of choice provisions, also ivory in abundance, and all the +costliest curiosities of the country, for which I could not thank him +enough, and so we parted. I left the ship at the first port we came to, +not feeling at ease upon the sea after all that had happened to me by +reason of it, and having disposed of my ivory for much gold, and bought +many rare and costly presents, I loaded my pack animals, and joined a +caravan of merchants. Our journey was long and tedious, but I bore it +patiently, reflecting that at least I had not to fear tempests, nor +pirates, nor serpents, nor any of the other perils from which I had +suffered before, and at length we reached Bagdad. My first care was to +present myself before the Caliph, and give him an account of my embassy. +He assured me that my long absence had disquieted him much, but he had +nevertheless hoped for the best. As to my adventure among the elephants +he heard it with amazement, declaring that he could not have believed it +had not my truthfulness been well-known to him. + +By his orders this story and the others I had told him were written by +his scribes in letters of gold, and laid up among his treasures. I took +my leave of him, well satisfied with the honors and rewards he bestowed +upon me; and since that time I have rested from my labors, and given +myself up wholly to my family and my friends. + +Thus Sindbad ended the story of his seventh and last voyage, and turning +to Hindbad he added:-- + +"Well, my friend, and what do you think now? Have you ever heard of +anyone who has suffered more, or had more narrow escapes than I have? Is +it not just that I should now enjoy a life of ease and tranquillity?" + +Hindbad drew near, and kissing his hand respectfully, replied, "Sir, you +have indeed known fearful perils; my troubles have been nothing compared +to yours. Moreover, the generous use you make of your wealth proves that +you deserve it. May you live long and happily in the enjoyment of it." + +Sindbad then gave him a hundred sequins, and henceforward counted him +among his friends; also he caused him to give up his profession as a +porter, and to eat daily at his table that he might all his life +remember Sindbad the Sailor. + + + + +ALADDIN'S WONDERFUL LAMP + +There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin, a +careless, idle boy, who would do nothing but play all day long in the +streets with little idle boys like himself. This so grieved the father +that he died; yet, in spite of his mother's tears and prayers, Aladdin +did not mend his ways. One day, when he was playing in the streets as +usual, a stranger asked him his age, and if he were not the son of +Mustapha the tailor. + +"I am, sir," replied Aladdin; "but he died a long while ago." + +On this the stranger, who was a famous African magician, fell on his +neck and kissed him, saying: "I am your uncle, and knew you from your +likeness to my brother. Go to your mother and tell her I am coming." + +Aladdin ran home, and told his mother of his newly-found uncle. + +"Indeed, child," she said, "your father had a brother, but I always +thought he was dead." + +However, she prepared supper, and bade Aladdin seek his uncle, who came +laden with wine and fruit. He presently fell down and kissed the place +where Mustapha used to sit, bidding Aladdin's mother not to be surprised +at not having seen him before, as he had been forty years out of the +country. He then turned to Aladdin and asked him his trade, at which the +boy hung his head, while his mother burst into tears. On learning that +Aladdin was idle and would learn no trade, he offered to take a shop for +him and stock it with merchandise. Next day he bought Aladdin a fine +suit of clothes, and took him all over the city, showing him the sights, +and brought him home at nightfall to his mother, who was overjoyed to +see her son so fine. + +Next day the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens a long way +outside the city gates. They sat down by a fountain, and the magician +pulled a cake from his girdle, which he divided between them. They then +journeyed onwards till they almost reached the mountains. Aladdin was so +tired that he begged to go back, but the magician beguiled him with +pleasant stories, and led him on in spite of himself. + +At last they came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley. + +"We will go no farther," said the false uncle. "I will show you +something wonderful; only do you gather up sticks while I kindle a +fire." + +When it was lit the magician threw on it a powder he had about him, at +the same time saying some magical words. The earth trembled a little and +opened in front of them, disclosing a square flat stone with a brass +ring in the middle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to run away, but the +magician caught him and gave him a blow that knocked him down. + +"What have I done, uncle?" he said piteously; whereupon the magician +said more kindly: "Fear nothing, but obey me. Beneath this stone lies a +treasure which is to be yours, and no one else may touch it, so you must +do exactly as I tell you." + +At the word treasure, Aladdin forgot his fears, and grasped the ring as +he was told, saying the names of his father and grandfather. The stone +came up quite easily and some steps appeared. + +"Go down," said the magician; "at the foot of those steps you will find +an open door leading into three large halls. Tuck up your gown and go +through them without touching anything, or you will die instantly. These +halls lead into a garden of fine fruit-trees. Walk on till you come to a +niche in a terrace where stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it +contains and bring it to me." + +He drew a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him +prosper. + +Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered some fruit +off the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of the +cave. The magician cried out in a great hurry:-- + +"Make haste and give me the lamp." This Aladdin refused to do until he +was out of the cave. The magician flew into a terrible passion, and +throwing some more powder on the fire, he said something, and the stone +rolled back into its place. + +The magician left Persia forever, which plainly showed that he was no +uncle of Aladdin's, but a cunning magician who had read in his magic +books of a wonderful lamp, which would make him the most powerful man in +the world. Though he alone knew where to find it, he could only receive +it from the hand of another. He had picked out the foolish Aladdin for +this purpose, intending to get the lamp and kill him afterwards. + +For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting. At last +he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring, which +the magician had forgotten to take from him. Immediately an enormous and +frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying:-- + +"What wouldst thou with me? I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey +thee in all things." + +Aladdin fearlessly replied: "Deliver me from this place!" whereupon the +earth opened, and he found himself outside. As soon as his eyes could +bear the light he went home, but fainted on the threshold. When he came +to himself he told his mother what had passed, and showed her the lamp +and the fruits he had gathered in the garden, which were in reality +precious stones. He then asked for some food. + +"Alas! child," she said, "I have nothing in the house, but I have spun a +little cotton and will go and sell it." + +Aladdin bade her keep her cotton, for he would sell the lamp instead. As +it was very dirty she began to rub it, that it might fetch a higher +price. Instantly a hideous genie appeared, and asked what she would +have. She fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly:-- + +"Fetch me something to eat!" + +The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containing +rich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles of wine. Aladdin's mother, +when she came to herself, said:-- + +"Whence comes this splendid feast?" + +"Ask not, but eat," replied Aladdin. + +So they sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told his +mother about the lamp. She begged him to sell it, and have nothing to do +with devils. + +"No," said Aladdin, "since chance has made us aware of its virtues, we +will use it and the ring likewise, which I shall always wear on my +finger." When they had eaten all the genie had brought, Aladdin sold one +of the silver plates, and so on till none was left. He then had recourse +to the genie, who gave him another set of plates, and thus they lived +for many years. + +One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed that everyone +was to stay at home and close his shutters while the princess, his +daughter, went to and from the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire to +see her face, which was very difficult, as she always went veiled. He +hid himself behind the door of the bath, and peeped through a chink. The +princess lifted her veil as she went in, and looked so beautiful that +Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He went home so changed +that his mother was frightened. He told her he loved the princess so +deeply that he could not live without her, and meant to ask her in +marriage of her father. His mother, on hearing this, burst out laughing, +but Aladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before the Sultan and carry +his request. She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magic fruits from +the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like the most beautiful +jewels. She took these with her to please the Sultan, and set out, +trusting in the lamp. The grand-vizir and the lords of council had just +gone in as she entered the hall and placed herself in front of the +Sultan. He, however, took no notice of her. She went every day for a +week, and stood in the same place. + +When the council broke up on the sixth day the Sultan said to his vizir: +"I see a certain woman in the audience-chamber every day carrying +something in a napkin. Call her next time, that I may find out what she +wants." + +Next day, at a sign from the vizir, she went up to the foot of the +throne, and remained kneeling till the Sultan said to her: "Rise, good +woman, and tell me what you want." + +She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away all but the vizir, and bade her +speak freely, promising to forgive her beforehand for anything she might +say. She then told him of her son's violent love for the princess. + +"I prayed him to forget her," she said, "but in vain; he threatened to +do some desperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for the +hand of the princess. Now I pray you to forgive not me alone, but my son +Aladdin." + +The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the napkin, whereupon she +unfolded the jewels and presented them. + +He was thunderstruck, and turning to the vizir said: "What sayest thou? +Ought I not to bestow the princess on one who values her at such a +price?" + +The vizir, who wanted her for his own son, begged the Sultan to withhold +her for three months, in the course of which he hoped his son would +contrive to make him a richer present. The Sultan granted this, and told +Aladdin's mother that, though he consented to the marriage, she must not +appear before him again for three months. + +Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after two had +elapsed his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found everyone +rejoicing, and asked what was going on. + +"Do you not know," was the answer, "that the son of the grand-vizir is +to marry the Sultan's daughter to-night?" + +Breathless, she ran and told Aladdin, who was overwhelmed at first, but +presently bethought him of the lamp. He rubbed it, and the genie +appeared, saying: "What is thy will?" + +Aladdin replied: "The Sultan, as thou knowest, has broken his promise to +me, and the vizir's son is to have the princess. My command is that +to-night you bring hither the bride and bridegroom." + +"Master, I obey," said the genie. + +Aladdin then went to his chamber, where, sure enough at midnight the +genie transported the bed containing the vizir's son and the princess. + +"Take this new-married man," he said, "and put him outside in the cold, +and return at daybreak." + +Whereupon the genie took the vizir's son out of bed, leaving Aladdin +with the princess. + +"Fear nothing," Aladdin said to her; "you are my wife, promised to me by +your unjust father, and no harm shall come to you." + +The princess was too frightened to speak, and passed the most miserable +night of her life, while Aladdin lay down beside her and slept soundly. +At the appointed hour the genie fetched in the shivering bridegroom, +laid him in his place, and transported the bed back to the palace. + +Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter good-morning. The unhappy +vizir's son jumped up and hid himself, while the princess would not say +a word, and was very sorrowful. + +The Sultan sent her mother to her, who said: "How comes it, child, that +you will not speak to your father? What has happened?" + +The princess sighed deeply, and at last told her mother how, during the +night, the bed had been carried into some strange house, and what had +passed there. Her mother did not believe her in the least, but bade her +rise and consider it an idle dream. + +The following night exactly the same thing happened, and next morning, +on the princess's refusing to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut off +her head. She then confessed all, bidding him ask the vizir's son if it +were not so. The Sultan told the vizir to ask his son, who owned the +truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the princess, he had rather die +than go through another such fearful night, and wished to be separated +from her. His wish was granted, and there was an end of feasting and +rejoicing. + +When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the +Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and the +Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent for +her. On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt less inclined than ever to +keep his word, and asked the vizir's advice, who counselled him to set +so high a value on the princess that no man living could come up to it. + +The Sultan then turned to Aladdin's mother, saying: "Good woman, a +Sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but your +son must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of jewels, carried +by forty black slaves, led by as many white ones, splendidly dressed. +Tell him that I await his answer." The mother of Aladdin bowed low and +went home, thinking all was lost. + +She gave Aladdin the message, adding: "He may wait long enough for your +answer!" + +"Not so long, mother, as you think," her son replied. "I would do a +great deal more than that for the princess." He summoned the genie, and +in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived, and filled up the small +house and garden. + +Aladdin made them set out to the palace, two and two, followed by his +mother. They were so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels in their +girdles, that everyone crowded to see them and the basins of gold they +carried on their heads. + +They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan, stood in +a half-circle round the throne with their arms crossed, while Aladdin's +mother presented them to the Sultan. + +He hesitated no longer, but said: "Good woman, return and tell your son +that I wait for him with open arms." + +She lost no time in telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste. But Aladdin +first called the genie. + +"I want a scented bath," he said, "a richly embroidered habit, a horse +surpassing the Sultan's, and twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this, +six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, ten +thousand pieces of gold in ten purses." + +No sooner said than done. Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through +the streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went. Those who had played +with him in his childhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome. + +When the Sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced him, and +led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intending to marry him to +the princess that very day. + +But Aladdin refused, saying, "I must build a palace fit for her," and +took his leave. + +Once home he said to the genie: "Build me a palace of the finest marble, +set with jasper, agate, and other precious stones. In the middle you +shall build me a large hall with a dome, its four walls of massy gold +and silver, each side having six windows, whose lattices, all except +one, which is to be left unfinished, must be set with diamonds and +rubies. There must be stables and horses and grooms and slaves; go and +see about it!" + +The palace was finished by next day, and the genie carried him there and +showed him all his orders faithfully carried out, even to the laying of +a velvet carpet from Aladdin's palace to the Sultan's. Aladdin's mother +then dressed herself carefully, and walked to the palace with her +slaves, while he followed her on horseback. The Sultan sent musicians +with trumpets and cymbals to meet them, so that the air resounded with +music and cheers. She was taken to the princess, who saluted her and +treated her with great honor. At night the princess said good-by to her +father, and set out on the carpet for Aladdin's palace, with his mother +at her side, and followed by the hundred slaves. She was charmed at the +sight of Aladdin, who ran to receive her. + +"Princess," he said, "blame your beauty for my boldness if I have +displeased you." + +She told him that, having seen him, she willingly obeyed her father in +this matter. After the wedding had taken place Aladdin led her into the +hall, where a feast was spread, and she supped with him, after which +they danced till midnight. + +Next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace. On entering the +hall with the four-and-twenty windows, with their rubies, diamonds, and +emeralds, he cried:-- + +"It is a world's wonder! There is only one thing that surprises me. Was +it by accident that one window was left unfinished?" + +"No, sir, by design," returned Aladdin. "I wished your Majesty to have +the glory of finishing this palace." + +The Sultan was pleased, and sent for the best jewellers in the city. He +showed them the unfinished window, and bade them fit it up like the +others. + +"Sir," replied their spokesman, "we cannot find jewels enough." + +The Sultan had his own fetched, which they soon used, but to no purpose, +for in a month's time the work was not half done. Aladdin, knowing that +their task was vain, bade them undo their work and carry the jewels +back, and the genie finished the window at his command. The Sultan was +surprised to receive his jewels again and visited Aladdin, who showed +him the window finished. The Sultan embraced him, the envious vizir +meanwhile hinting that it was the work of enchantment. + +Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle bearing. He was +made captain of the Sultan's armies, and won several battles for him, +but remained modest and courteous as before, and lived thus in peace and +content for several years. + +But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin, and by his magic +arts discovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing miserably in the +cave, had escaped, and had married a princess, with whom he was living +in great honor and wealth. He knew that the poor tailor's son could only +have accomplished this by means of the lamp, and travelled night and day +till he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin's ruin. As he +passed through the town he heard people talking everywhere about a +marvellous palace. + +"Forgive my ignorance," he asked, "what is this palace you speak of?" + +"Have you not heard of Prince Aladdin's palace," was the reply, "the +greatest wonder of the world? I will direct you if you have a mind to +see it." + +The magician thanked him who spoke, and having seen the palace knew that +it had been raised by the genie of the lamp, and became half mad with +rage. He determined to get hold of the lamp, and again plunge Aladdin +into the deepest poverty. + +Unluckily, Aladdin had gone a-hunting for eight days, which gave the +magician plenty of time. He bought a dozen copper lamps, put them into a +basket, and went to the palace, crying: "New lamps for old!" followed by +a jeering crowd. + +The princess, sitting in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, sent a +slave to find out what the noise was about, who came back laughing, so +that the princess scolded her. + +"Madam," replied the slave, "who can help laughing to see an old fool +offering to exchange fine new lamps for old ones?" + +Another slave, hearing this, said: "There is an old one on the cornice +there which he can have." + +Now this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there, as he could +not take it out hunting with him. The princess, not knowing its value, +laughingly bade the slave take it and make the exchange. + +She went and said to the magician: "Give me a new lamp for this." + +He snatched it and bade the slave take her choice, amid the jeers of the +crowd. Little he cared, but left off crying his lamps, and went out of +the city gates to a lonely place, where he remained till nightfall, when +he pulled out the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared, and at the +magician's command carried him, together with the palace and the +princess in it, to a lonely place in Africa. + +Next morning the Sultan looked out of the window towards Aladdin's +palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. He sent for the vizir, and +asked what had become of the palace. The vizir looked out too, and was +lost in astonishment. He again put it down to enchantment, and this time +the Sultan believed him, and sent thirty men on horseback to fetch +Aladdin in chains. They met him riding home, bound him, and forced him +to go with them on foot. The people, however, who loved him, followed, +armed, to see that he came to no harm. He was carried before the Sultan, +who ordered the executioner to cut off his head. The executioner made +Aladdin kneel down, bandaged his eyes, and raised his scimitar to +strike. At that instant the vizir, who saw that the crowd had forced +their way into the courtyard and were scaling the walls to rescue +Aladdin, called to the executioner to stay his hand. The people, indeed, +looked so threatening that the Sultan gave way and ordered Aladdin to be +unbound, and pardoned him in the sight of the crowd. + +Aladdin now begged to know what he had done. + +"False wretch!" said the Sultan, "come hither," and showed him from the +window the place where his palace had stood. + +Aladdin was so amazed that he could not say a word. + +"Where is my palace and my daughter?" demanded the Sultan. "For the +first I am not so deeply concerned, but my daughter I must have, and you +must find her or lose your head." + +Aladdin begged for forty days in which to find her, promising if he +failed, to return and suffer death at the Sultan's pleasure. His prayer +was granted, and he went forth sadly from the Sultan's presence. For +three days he wandered about like a madman, asking everyone what had +become of his palace, but they only laughed and pitied him. He came to +the banks of a river, and knelt down to say his prayers before throwing +himself in. In so doing he rubbed the magic ring he still wore. + +The genie he had seen in the cave appeared, and asked his will. + +"Save my life, genie," said Aladdin, "and bring my palace back." + +"That is not in my power," said the genie; "I am only the Slave of the +Ring; you must ask the Slave of the Lamp." + +"Even so," said Aladdin, "but thou canst take me to the palace, and set +me down under my dear wife's window." He at once found himself in +Africa, under the window of the princess, and fell asleep out of sheer +weariness. + +He was awakened by the singing of the birds, and his heart was lighter. +He saw plainly that all his misfortunes were owing to the loss of the +lamp, and vainly wondered who had robbed him of it. + +That morning the princess rose earlier than she had done since she had +been carried into Africa by the magician, whose company she was forced +to endure once a day. She, however, treated him so harshly that he dared +not live there altogether. As she was dressing, one of her women looked +out and saw Aladdin. The princess ran and opened the window, and at the +noise she made Aladdin looked up. She called to him to come to her, and +great was the joy of these lovers at seeing each other again. + +After he had kissed her Aladdin said: "I beg of you, Princess, in God's +name, before we speak of anything else, for your own sake and mine, tell +me what has become of an old lamp I left on the cornice in the hall of +four-and-twenty windows, when I went a-hunting." + +"Alas!" she said, "I am the innocent cause of our sorrows," and told him +of the exchange of the lamp. + +"Now I know," cried Aladdin, "that we have to thank the African magician +for this! Where is the lamp?" + +"He carries it about with him," said the princess, "I know, for he +pulled it out of his breast to show me. He wishes me to break my faith +with you and marry him, saying that you were beheaded by my father's +command. He is forever speaking ill of you, but I only reply by my +tears. If I persist, I doubt not that he will use violence." + +Aladdin comforted her, and left her for awhile. He changed clothes with +the first person he met in the town, and having bought a certain powder +returned to the princess, who let him in by a little side door. + +"Put on your most beautiful dress," he said to her, "and receive the +magician with smiles, leading him to believe that you have forgotten me. +Invite him to sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his +country. He will go for some, and while he is gone I will tell you what +to do." + +She listened carefully to Aladdin, and when he left her arrayed herself +gayly for the first time since she left China. She put on a girdle and +head-dress of diamonds, and seeing in a glass that she looked more +beautiful than ever, received the magician, saying to his great +amazement: "I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all my +tears will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to mourn no more, +and have therefore invited you to sup with me; but I am tired of the +wines of China, and would fain taste those of Africa." + +The magician flew to his cellar, and the princess put the powder Aladdin +had given her in her cup. When he returned she asked him to drink her +health in the wine of Africa, handing him her cup in exchange for his as +a sign she was reconciled to him. + +Before drinking the magician made her a speech in praise of her beauty, +but the princess cut him short, saying:-- + +"Let me drink first, and you shall say what you will afterwards." She +set her cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained +his to the dregs and fell back lifeless. + +The princess then opened the door to Aladdin, and flung her arms round +his neck, but Aladdin put her away, bidding her to leave him, as he had +more to do. He then went to the dead magician, took the lamp out of his +vest, and bade the genie carry the palace and all in it back to China. +This was done, and the princess in her chamber only felt two little +shocks, and little thought she was at home again. + +The Sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning for his lost +daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for there stood the +palace as before! He hastened thither, and Aladdin received him in the +hall of the four-and-twenty windows, with the princess at his side. +Aladdin told him what had happened, and showed him the dead body of the +magician, that he might believe. A ten days' feast was proclaimed, and +it seemed as if Aladdin might now live the rest of his life in peace; +but it was not to be. + +The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if possible, more +wicked and more cunning than himself. He travelled to China to avenge +his brother's death, and went to visit a pious woman called Fatima, +thinking she might be of use to him. He entered her cell and clapped a +dagger to her breast, telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain of +death. He changed clothes with her, colored his face like hers, put on +her veil and murdered her, so that she might tell no tales. Then he went +towards the palace of Aladdin, and all the people thinking he was the +holy woman, gathered round him, kissing his hands and begging his +blessing. When he got to the palace there was such a noise going on +round him that the princess bade her slave look out of the window and +ask what was the matter. The slave said it was the holy woman, curing +people by her touch of their ailments, whereupon the princess, who had +long desired to see Fatima, sent for her. On coming to the princess the +magician offered up a prayer for her health and prosperity. When he had +done the princess made him sit by her, and begged him to stay with her +always. The false Fatima, who wished for nothing better, consented, but +kept his veil down for fear of discovery. The princess showed him the +hall, and asked him what he thought of it. + +"It is truly beautiful," said the false Fatima. "In my mind it wants but +one thing." + +"And what is that?" said the princess. + +"If only a roc's egg," replied he, "were hung up from the middle of this +dome, it would be the wonder of the world." + +After this the princess could think of nothing but a roc's egg, and when +Aladdin returned from hunting he found her in a very ill humor. He +begged to know what was amiss, and she told him that all her pleasure in +the hall was spoilt for the want of a roc's egg hanging from the dome. + +"If that is all," replied Aladdin, "you shall soon be happy." + +He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared commanded +him to bring a roc's egg. The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek +that the hall shook. + +"Wretch!" he said, "is it not enough that I have done everything for +you, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him up in the +midst of this dome? You and your wife and your palace deserve to be +burnt to ashes; but this request does not come from you, but from the +brother of the African magician whom you destroyed. He is now in your +palace disguised as the holy woman--whom he murdered. He it was who put +that wish into your wife's head. Take care of yourself, for he means to +kill you." So saying the genie disappeared. + +Aladdin went back to the princess, saying his head ached, and requesting +that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on it. But when +the magician came near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger, pierced him to the +heart. + +"What have you done?" cried the princess. "You have killed the holy +woman!" + +"Not so," replied Aladdin, "but a wicked magician," and told her of how +she had been deceived. + +After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He succeeded the Sultan +when he died, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him a long line +of kings. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Oriental Literature, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ORIENTAL LITERATURE *** + +***** This file should be named 10121.txt or 10121.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/1/2/10121/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Beth Trapaga and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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