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diff --git a/old/128-h.zip b/old/128-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..be9cef5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/128-h.zip diff --git a/old/128-h/128-h.htm b/old/128-h/128-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..695eb50 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/128-h/128-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,15633 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of The Arabian Nights Entertainments, by Andrew Lang +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 5%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: medium; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +PRE { font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Arabian Nights Entertainments, by Andrew Lang. + +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: The Arabian Nights Entertainments + +Author: Andrew Lang. + +Release Date: June 9, 2008 [EBook #128] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS *** + + + + +Produced by Christy Phillips and John Hamm. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +The Arabian Nights Entertainments, +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Selected and Edited +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +by +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Andrew Lang +</H2> + +<BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +after the edition of +<BR> +Longmans, Green and Co, 1918 (1898) +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Contents +</H2> + +<PRE> + <A HREF="#chap00">Preface</A> + <A HREF="#chap01">The Arabian Nights</A> + <A HREF="#chap02">The Story of the Merchant and the Genius</A> + <A HREF="#chap03">The Story of the First Old Man and of the Hind</A> + <A HREF="#chap04">The Story of the Second Old Man, and of the Two Black Dogs</A> + <A HREF="#chap05">The Story of the Fisherman</A> + <A HREF="#chap06">The Story of the Greek King and the Physician Douban</A> + <A HREF="#chap07">The Story of the Husband and the Parrot</A> + <A HREF="#chap08">The Story of the Vizir Who Was Punished</A> + <A HREF="#chap09">The Story of the Young King of the Black Isles</A> + <A HREF="#chap10">The Story of the Three Calenders, Sons of Kings, and of Five Ladies of Bagdad</A> + <A HREF="#chap11">The Story of the First Calender, Son of a King</A> + <A HREF="#chap12">The Story of the Second Calender, Son of a King</A> + <A HREF="#chap13">The Story of the Envious Man and of Him Who Was Envied</A> + <A HREF="#chap14">The Story of the Third Calender, Son of a King</A> + + <A HREF="#chap15">The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor</A> + <A HREF="#chap16">First Voyage</A> + <A HREF="#chap17">Second Voyage</A> + <A HREF="#chap18">Third Voyage</A> + <A HREF="#chap19">Fourth Voyage</A> + <A HREF="#chap20">Fifth Voyage</A> + <A HREF="#chap21">Sixth Voyage</A> + <A HREF="#chap22">Seventh and Last Voyage</A> + + <A HREF="#chap23">The Little Hunchback</A> + <A HREF="#chap24">The Story of the Barber's Fifth Brother</A> + <A HREF="#chap25">The Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother</A> + <A HREF="#chap26">The Adventures of Prince Camaralzaman and the Princess Badoura</A> + <A HREF="#chap27">Noureddin and the Fair Persian</A> + <A HREF="#chap28">Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp</A> + <A HREF="#chap29">The Adventures of Haroun-al-Raschid, Caliph of Bagdad</A> + <A HREF="#chap30">The Story of the Blind Baba-Abdalla</A> + <A HREF="#chap31">The Story of Sidi-Nouman</A> + <A HREF="#chap32">The Story of Ali Colia, Merchant of Bagdad</A> + <A HREF="#chap33">The Enchanted Horse</A> + <A HREF="#chap34">The Story of Two Sisters Who Were Jealous of Their Younger Sister</A> +</PRE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap00"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Preface +</H3> + +<P> +The stories in the Fairy Books have generally been such as old women in +country places tell to their grandchildren. Nobody knows how old they +are, or who told them first. The children of Ham, Shem and Japhet may +have listened to them in the Ark, on wet days. Hector's little boy may +have heard them in Troy Town, for it is certain that Homer knew them, +and that some of them were written down in Egypt about the time of +Moses. +</P> + +<P> +People in different countries tell them differently, but they are +always the same stories, really, whether among little Zulus, at the +Cape, or little Eskimo, near the North Pole. The changes are only in +matters of manners and customs; such as wearing clothes or not, meeting +lions who talk in the warm countries, or talking bears in the cold +countries. There are plenty of kings and queens in the fairy tales, +just because long ago there were plenty of kings in the country. A +gentleman who would be a squire now was a kind of king in Scotland in +very old times, and the same in other places. These old stories, never +forgotten, were taken down in writing in different ages, but mostly in +this century, in all sorts of languages. These ancient stories are the +contents of the Fairy books. +</P> + +<P> +Now "The Arabian Nights," some of which, but not nearly all, are given +in this volume, are only fairy tales of the East. The people of Asia, +Arabia, and Persia told them in their own way, not for children, but +for grown-up people. There were no novels then, nor any printed books, +of course; but there were people whose profession it was to amuse men +and women by telling tales. They dressed the fairy stories up, and +made the characters good Mahommedans, living in Bagdad or India. The +events were often supposed to happen in the reign of the great Caliph, +or ruler of the Faithful, Haroun al Raschid, who lived in Bagdad in +786-808 A.D. The vizir who accompanies the Caliph was also a real +person of the great family of the Barmecides. He was put to death by +the Caliph in a very cruel way, nobody ever knew why. The stories must +have been told in their present shape a good long while after the +Caliph died, when nobody knew very exactly what had really happened. +At last some storyteller thought of writing down the tales, and fixing +them into a kind of framework, as if they had all been narrated to a +cruel Sultan by his wife. Probably the tales were written down about +the time when Edward I. was fighting Robert Bruce. But changes were +made in them at different times, and a great deal that is very dull and +stupid was put in, and plenty of verses. Neither the verses nor the +dull pieces are given in this book. +</P> + +<P> +People in France and England knew almost nothing about "The Arabian +Nights" till the reigns of Queen Anne and George I., when they were +translated into French by Monsieur Galland. Grown-up people were then +very fond of fairy tales, and they thought these Arab stories the best +that they had ever read. They were delighted with Ghouls (who lived +among the tombs) and Geni, who seemed to be a kind of ogres, and with +Princesses who work magic spells, and with Peris, who are Arab fairies. +Sindbad had adventures which perhaps came out of the Odyssey of Homer; +in fact, all the East had contributed its wonders, and sent them to +Europe in one parcel. Young men once made a noise at Monsieur +Galland's windows in the dead of night, and asked him to tell them one +of his marvellous tales. Nobody talked of anything but dervishes and +vizirs, rocs and peris. The stories were translated from French into +all languages, and only Bishop Atterbury complained that the tales were +not likely to be true, and had no moral. The bishop was presently +banished for being on the side of Prince Charlie's father, and had +leisure to repent of being so solemn. +</P> + +<P> +In this book "The Arabian Nights" are translated from the French +version of Monsieur Galland, who dropped out the poetry and a great +deal of what the Arabian authors thought funny, though it seems +wearisome to us. In this book the stories are shortened here and +there, and omissions are made of pieces only suitable for Arabs and old +gentlemen. The translations are by the writers of the tales in the +Fairy Books, and the pictures are by Mr. Ford. +</P> + +<P> +I can remember reading "The Arabian Nights" when I was six years old, +in dirty yellow old volumes of small type with no pictures, and I hope +children who read them with Mr. Ford's pictures will be as happy as I +was then in the company of Aladdin and Sindbad the Sailor. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Arabian Nights +</H3> + +<P> +In the chronicles of the ancient dynasty of the Sassanidae, who reigned +for about four hundred years, from Persia to the borders of China, +beyond the great river Ganges itself, we read the praises of one of the +kings of this race, who was said to be the best monarch of his time. +His subjects loved him, and his neighbors feared him, and when he died +he left his kingdom in a more prosperous and powerful condition than +any king had done before him. +</P> + +<P> +The two sons who survived him loved each other tenderly, and it was a +real grief to the elder, Schahriar, that the laws of the empire forbade +him to share his dominions with his brother Schahzeman. Indeed, after +ten years, during which this state of things had not ceased to trouble +him, Schahriar cut off the country of Great Tartary from the Persian +Empire and made his brother king. +</P> + +<P> +Now the Sultan Schahriar had a wife whom he loved more than all the +world, and his greatest happiness was to surround her with splendour, +and to give her the finest dresses and the most beautiful jewels. It +was therefore with the deepest shame and sorrow that he accidentally +discovered, after several years, that she had deceived him completely, +and her whole conduct turned out to have been so bad, that he felt +himself obliged to carry out the law of the land, and order the +grand-vizir to put her to death. The blow was so heavy that his mind +almost gave way, and he declared that he was quite sure that at bottom +all women were as wicked as the sultana, if you could only find them +out, and that the fewer the world contained the better. So every +evening he married a fresh wife and had her strangled the following +morning before the grand-vizir, whose duty it was to provide these +unhappy brides for the Sultan. The poor man fulfilled his task with +reluctance, but there was no escape, and every day saw a girl married +and a wife dead. +</P> + +<P> +This behaviour caused the greatest horror in the town, where nothing +was heard but cries and lamentations. In one house was a father +weeping for the loss of his daughter, in another perhaps a mother +trembling for the fate of her child; and instead of the blessings that +had formerly been heaped on the Sultan's head, the air was now full of +curses. +</P> + +<P> +The grand-vizir himself was the father of two daughters, of whom the +elder was called Scheherazade, and the younger Dinarzade. Dinarzade +had no particular gifts to distinguish her from other girls, but her +sister was clever and courageous in the highest degree. Her father had +given her the best masters in philosophy, medicine, history and the +fine arts, and besides all this, her beauty excelled that of any girl +in the kingdom of Persia. +</P> + +<P> +One day, when the grand-vizir was talking to his eldest daughter, who +was his delight and pride, Scheherazade said to him, "Father, I have a +favour to ask of you. Will you grant it to me?" +</P> + +<P> +"I can refuse you nothing," replied he, "that is just and reasonable." +</P> + +<P> +"Then listen," said Scheherazade. "I am determined to stop this +barbarous practice of the Sultan's, and to deliver the girls and +mothers from the awful fate that hangs over them." +</P> + +<P> +"It would be an excellent thing to do," returned the grand-vizir, "but +how do you propose to accomplish it?" +</P> + +<P> +"My father," answered Scheherazade, "it is you who have to provide the +Sultan daily with a fresh wife, and I implore you, by all the affection +you bear me, to allow the honour to fall upon me." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you lost your senses?" cried the grand-vizir, starting back in +horror. "What has put such a thing into your head? You ought to know +by this time what it means to be the sultan's bride!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, my father, I know it well," replied she, "and I am not afraid to +think of it. If I fail, my death will be a glorious one, and if I +succeed I shall have done a great service to my country." +</P> + +<P> +"It is of no use," said the grand-vizir, "I shall never consent. If +the Sultan was to order me to plunge a dagger in your heart, I should +have to obey. What a task for a father! Ah, if you do not fear death, +fear at any rate the anguish you would cause me." +</P> + +<P> +"Once again, my father," said Scheherazade, "will you grant me what I +ask?" +</P> + +<P> +"What, are you still so obstinate?" exclaimed the grand-vizir. "Why are +you so resolved upon your own ruin?" +</P> + +<P> +But the maiden absolutely refused to attend to her father's words, and +at length, in despair, the grand-vizir was obliged to give way, and +went sadly to the palace to tell the Sultan that the following evening +he would bring him Scheherazade. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan received this news with the greatest astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"How have you made up your mind," he asked, "to sacrifice your own +daughter to me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," answered the grand-vizir, "it is her own wish. Even the sad +fate that awaits her could not hold her back." +</P> + +<P> +"Let there be no mistake, vizir," said the Sultan. "Remember you will +have to take her life yourself. If you refuse, I swear that your head +shall pay forfeit." +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," returned the vizir. "Whatever the cost, I will obey you. +Though a father, I am also your subject." So the Sultan told the +grand-vizir he might bring his daughter as soon as he liked. +</P> + +<P> +The vizir took back this news to Scheherazade, who received it as if it +had been the most pleasant thing in the world. She thanked her father +warmly for yielding to her wishes, and, seeing him still bowed down +with grief, told him that she hoped he would never repent having +allowed her to marry the Sultan. Then she went to prepare herself for +the marriage, and begged that her sister Dinarzade should be sent for +to speak to her. +</P> + +<P> +When they were alone, Scheherazade addressed her thus: +</P> + +<P> +"My dear sister; I want your help in a very important affair. My +father is going to take me to the palace to celebrate my marriage with +the Sultan. When his Highness receives me, I shall beg him, as a last +favour, to let you sleep in our chamber, so that I may have your +company during the last night I am alive. If, as I hope, he grants me +my wish, be sure that you wake me an hour before the dawn, and speak to +me in these words: 'My sister, if you are not asleep, I beg you, +before the sun rises, to tell me one of your charming stories.' Then I +shall begin, and I hope by this means to deliver the people from the +terror that reigns over them." Dinarzade replied that she would do with +pleasure what her sister wished. +</P> + +<P> +When the usual hour arrived the grand-vizir conducted Scheherazade to +the palace, and left her alone with the Sultan, who bade her raise her +veil and was amazed at her beauty. But seeing her eyes full of tears, +he asked what was the matter. "Sire," replied Scheherazade, "I have a +sister who loves me as tenderly as I love her. Grant me the favour of +allowing her to sleep this night in the same room, as it is the last we +shall be together." Schahriar consented to Scheherazade's petition and +Dinarzade was sent for. +</P> + +<P> +An hour before daybreak Dinarzade awoke, and exclaimed, as she had +promised, "My dear sister, if you are not asleep, tell me I pray you, +before the sun rises, one of your charming stories. It is the last +time that I shall have the pleasure of hearing you." +</P> + +<P> +Scheherazade did not answer her sister, but turned to the Sultan. +"Will your highness permit me to do as my sister asks?" said she. +</P> + +<P> +"Willingly," he answered. So Scheherazade began. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Merchant and the Genius +</H3> + +<P> +Sire, there was once upon a time a merchant who possessed great wealth, +in land and merchandise, as well as in ready money. He was obliged +from time to time to take journeys to arrange his affairs. One day, +having to go a long way from home, he mounted his horse, taking with +him a small wallet in which he had put a few biscuits and dates, +because he had to pass through the desert where no food was to be got. +He arrived without any mishap, and, having finished his business, set +out on his return. On the fourth day of his journey, the heat of the +sun being very great, he turned out of his road to rest under some +trees. He found at the foot of a large walnut-tree a fountain of clear +and running water. He dismounted, fastened his horse to a branch of +the tree, and sat by the fountain, after having taken from his wallet +some of his dates and biscuits. When he had finished this frugal meal +he washed his face and hands in the fountain. +</P> + +<P> +When he was thus employed he saw an enormous genius, white with rage, +coming towards him, with a scimitar in his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Arise," he cried in a terrible voice, "and let me kill you as you have +killed my son!" +</P> + +<P> +As he uttered these words he gave a frightful yell. The merchant, +quite as much terrified at the hideous face of the monster as at his +words, answered him tremblingly, "Alas, good sir, what can I have done +to you to deserve death?" +</P> + +<P> +"I shall kill you," repeated the genius, "as you have killed my son." +</P> + +<P> +"But," said the merchant, "how can I have killed your son? I do not +know him, and I have never even seen him." +</P> + +<P> +"When you arrived here did you not sit down on the ground?" asked the +genius, "and did you not take some dates from your wallet, and whilst +eating them did not you throw the stones about?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said the merchant, "I certainly did so." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," said the genius, "I tell you you have killed my son, for whilst +you were throwing about the stones, my son passed by, and one of them +struck him in the eye and killed him. So I shall kill you." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, sir, forgive me!" cried the merchant. +</P> + +<P> +"I will have no mercy on you," answered the genius. +</P> + +<P> +"But I killed your son quite unintentionally, so I implore you to spare +my life." +</P> + +<P> +"No," said the genius, "I shall kill you as you killed my son," and so +saying, he seized the merchant by the arm, threw him on the ground, and +lifted his sabre to cut off his head. +</P> + +<P> +The merchant, protesting his innocence, bewailed his wife and children, +and tried pitifully to avert his fate. The genius, with his raised +scimitar, waited till he had finished, but was not in the least touched. +</P> + +<P> +Scheherazade, at this point, seeing that it was day, and knowing that +the Sultan always rose very early to attend the council, stopped +speaking. +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed, sister," said Dinarzade, "this is a wonderful story." +</P> + +<P> +"The rest is still more wonderful," replied Scheherazade, "and you +would say so, if the sultan would allow me to live another day, and +would give me leave to tell it to you the next night." +</P> + +<P> +Schahriar, who had been listening to Scheherazade with pleasure, said +to himself, "I will wait till to-morrow; I can always have her killed +when I have heard the end of her story." +</P> + +<P> +All this time the grand-vizir was in a terrible state of anxiety. But +he was much delighted when he saw the Sultan enter the council-chamber +without giving the terrible command that he was expecting. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning, before the day broke, Dinarzade said to her sister, +"Dear sister, if you are awake I pray you to go on with your story." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan did not wait for Scheherazade to ask his leave. "Finish," +said he, "the story of the genius and the merchant. I am curious to +hear the end." +</P> + +<P> +So Scheherazade went on with the story. This happened every morning. +The Sultana told a story, and the Sultan let her live to finish it. +</P> + +<P> +When the merchant saw that the genius was determined to cut off his +head, he said: "One word more, I entreat you. Grant me a little +delay; just a short time to go home and bid my wife and children +farewell, and to make my will. When I have done this I will come back +here, and you shall kill me." +</P> + +<P> +"But," said the genius, "if I grant you the delay you ask, I am afraid +that you will not come back." +</P> + +<P> +"I give you my word of honour," answered the merchant, "that I will +come back without fail." +</P> + +<P> +"How long do you require?" asked the genius. +</P> + +<P> +"I ask you for a year's grace," replied the merchant. "I promise you +that to-morrow twelvemonth, I shall be waiting under these trees to +give myself up to you." +</P> + +<P> +On this the genius left him near the fountain and disappeared. +</P> + +<P> +The merchant, having recovered from his fright, mounted his horse and +went on his road. +</P> + +<P> +When he arrived home his wife and children received him with the +greatest joy. But instead of embracing them he began to weep so +bitterly that they soon guessed that something terrible was the matter. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell us, I pray you," said his wife, "what has happened." +</P> + +<P> +"Alas!" answered her husband, "I have only a year to live." +</P> + +<P> +Then he told them what had passed between him and the genius, and how +he had given his word to return at the end of a year to be killed. +When they heard this sad news they were in despair, and wept much. +</P> + +<P> +The next day the merchant began to settle his affairs, and first of all +to pay his debts. He gave presents to his friends, and large alms to +the poor. He set his slaves at liberty, and provided for his wife and +children. The year soon passed away, and he was obliged to depart. +When he tried to say good-bye he was quite overcome with grief, and +with difficulty tore himself away. At length he reached the place +where he had first seen the genius, on the very day that he had +appointed. He dismounted, and sat down at the edge of the fountain, +where he awaited the genius in terrible suspense. +</P> + +<P> +Whilst he was thus waiting an old man leading a hind came towards him. +They greeted one another, and then the old man said to him, "May I ask, +brother, what brought you to this desert place, where there are so many +evil genii about? To see these beautiful trees one would imagine it +was inhabited, but it is a dangerous place to stop long in." +</P> + +<P> +The merchant told the old man why he was obliged to come there. He +listened in astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"This is a most marvellous affair. I should like to be a witness of +your interview with the genius." So saying he sat down by the merchant. +</P> + +<P> +While they were talking another old man came up, followed by two black +dogs. He greeted them, and asked what they were doing in this place. +The old man who was leading the hind told him the adventure of the +merchant and the genius. The second old man had not sooner heard the +story than he, too, decided to stay there to see what would happen. He +sat down by the others, and was talking, when a third old man arrived. +He asked why the merchant who was with them looked so sad. They told +him the story, and he also resolved to see what would pass between the +genius and the merchant, so waited with the rest. +</P> + +<P> +They soon saw in the distance a thick smoke, like a cloud of dust. +This smoke came nearer and nearer, and then, all at once, it vanished, +and they saw the genius, who, without speaking to them, approached the +merchant, sword in hand, and, taking him by the arm, said, "Get up and +let me kill you as you killed my son." +</P> + +<P> +The merchant and the three old men began to weep and groan. +</P> + +<P> +Then the old man leading the hind threw himself at the monster's feet +and said, "O Prince of the Genii, I beg of you to stay your fury and to +listen to me. I am going to tell you my story and that of the hind I +have with me, and if you find it more marvellous than that of the +merchant whom you are about to kill, I hope that you will do away with +a third part of his punishment?" +</P> + +<P> +The genius considered some time, and then he said, "Very well, I agree +to this." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the First Old Man and of the Hind +</H3> + +<P> +I am now going to begin my story (said the old man), so please attend. +</P> + +<P> +This hind that you see with me is my wife. We have no children of our +own, therefore I adopted the son of a favorite slave, and determined to +make him my heir. +</P> + +<P> +My wife, however, took a great dislike to both mother and child, which +she concealed from me till too late. When my adopted son was about ten +years old I was obliged to go on a journey. Before I went I entrusted +to my wife's keeping both the mother and child, and begged her to take +care of them during my absence, which lasted a whole year. During this +time she studied magic in order to carry out her wicked scheme. When +she had learnt enough she took my son into a distant place and changed +him into a calf. Then she gave him to my steward, and told him to look +after a calf she had bought. She also changed the slave into a cow, +which she sent to my steward. +</P> + +<P> +When I returned I inquired after my slave and the child. "Your slave +is dead," she said, "and as for your son, I have not seen him for two +months, and I do not know where he is." +</P> + +<P> +I was grieved to hear of my slave's death, but as my son had only +disappeared, I thought I should soon find him. Eight months, however, +passed, and still no tidings of him; then the feast of Bairam came. +</P> + +<P> +To celebrate it I ordered my steward to bring me a very fat cow to +sacrifice. He did so. The cow that he brought was my unfortunate +slave. I bound her, but just as I was about to kill her she began to +low most piteously, and I saw that her eyes were streaming with tears. +It seemed to me most extraordinary, and, feeling a movement of pity, I +ordered the steward to lead her away and bring another. My wife, who +was present, scoffed at my compassion, which made her malice of no +avail. "What are you doing?" she cried. "Kill this cow. It is the +best we have to sacrifice." +</P> + +<P> +To please her, I tried again, but again the animal's lows and tears +disarmed me. +</P> + +<P> +"Take her away," I said to the steward, "and kill her; I cannot." +</P> + +<P> +The steward killed her, but on skinning her found that she was nothing +but bones, although she appeared so fat. I was vexed. +</P> + +<P> +"Keep her for yourself," I said to the steward, "and if you have a fat +calf, bring that in her stead." +</P> + +<P> +In a short time he brought a very fat calf, which, although I did not +know it, was my son. It tried hard to break its cord and come to me. +It threw itself at my feet, with its head on the ground, as if it +wished to excite my pity, and to beg me not to take away its life. +</P> + +<P> +I was even more surprised and touched at this action than I had been at +the tears of the cow. +</P> + +<P> +"Go," I said to the steward, "take back this calf, take great care of +it, and bring me another in its place instantly." +</P> + +<P> +As soon as my wife heard me speak this she at once cried out, "What are +you doing, husband? Do not sacrifice any calf but this." +</P> + +<P> +"Wife," I answered, "I will not sacrifice this calf," and in spite of +all her remonstrances, I remained firm. +</P> + +<P> +I had another calf killed; this one was led away. The next day the +steward asked to speak to me in private. +</P> + +<P> +"I have come," he said, "to tell you some news which I think you will +like to hear. I have a daughter who knows magic. Yesterday, when I +was leading back the calf which you refused to sacrifice, I noticed +that she smiled, and then directly afterwards began to cry. I asked +her why she did so." +</P> + +<P> +"Father," she answered, "this calf is the son of our master. I smile +with joy at seeing him still alive, and I weep to think of his mother, +who was sacrificed yesterday as a cow. These changes have been wrought +by our master's wife, who hated the mother and son." +</P> + +<P> +"At these words, of Genius," continued the old man, "I leave you to +imagine my astonishment. I went immediately with the steward to speak +with his daughter myself. First of all I went to the stable to see my +son, and he replied in his dumb way to all my caresses. When the +steward's daughter came I asked her if she could change my son back to +his proper shape." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I can," she replied, "on two conditions. One is that you will +give him to me for a husband, and the other is that you will let me +punish the woman who changed him into a calf." +</P> + +<P> +"To the first condition," I answered, "I agree with all my heart, and I +will give you an ample dowry. To the second I also agree, I only beg +you to spare her life." +</P> + +<P> +"That I will do," she replied; "I will treat her as she treated your +son." +</P> + +<P> +Then she took a vessel of water and pronounced over it some words I did +not understand; then, on throwing the water over him, he became +immediately a young man once more. +</P> + +<P> +"My son, my dear son," I exclaimed, kissing him in a transport of joy. +"This kind maiden has rescued you from a terrible enchantment, and I am +sure that out of gratitude you will marry her." +</P> + +<P> +He consented joyfully, but before they were married, the young girl +changed my wife into a hind, and it is she whom you see before you. I +wished her to have this form rather than a stranger one, so that we +could see her in the family without repugnance. +</P> + +<P> +Since then my son has become a widower and has gone travelling. I am +now going in search of him, and not wishing to confide my wife to the +care of other people, I am taking her with me. Is this not a most +marvellous tale? +</P> + +<P> +"It is indeed," said the genius, "and because of it I grant to you the +third part of the punishment of this merchant." +</P> + +<P> +When the first old man had finished his story, the second, who was +leading the two black dogs, said to the genius, "I am going to tell you +what happened to me, and I am sure that you will find my story even +more astonishing than the one to which you have just been listening. +But when I have related it, will you grant me also the third part of +the merchant's punishment?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied the genius, "provided that your story surpasses that of +the hind." +</P> + +<P> +With this agreement the second old man began in this way. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Second Old Man, and of the Two Black Dogs +</H3> + +<P> +Great prince of the genii, you must know that we are three +brothers--these two black dogs and myself. Our father died, leaving us +each a thousand sequins. With this sum we all three took up the same +profession, and became merchants. A short time after we had opened our +shops, my eldest brother, one of these two dogs, resolved to travel in +foreign countries for the sake of merchandise. With this intention he +sold all he had and bought merchandise suitable to the voyages he was +about to make. He set out, and was away a whole year. At the end of +this time a beggar came to my shop. "Good-day," I said. "Good-day," +he answered; "is it possible that you do not recognise me?" Then I +looked at him closely and saw he was my brother. I made him come into +my house, and asked him how he had fared in his enterprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Do not question me," he replied, "see me, you see all I have. It +would but renew my trouble to tell of all the misfortunes that have +befallen me in a year, and have brought me to this state." +</P> + +<P> +I shut up my shop, paid him every attention, taking him to the bath, +giving him my most beautiful robes. I examined my accounts, and found +that I had doubled my capital--that is, that I now possessed two +thousand sequins. I gave my brother half, saying: "Now, brother, you +can forget your losses." He accepted them with joy, and we lived +together as we had before. +</P> + +<P> +Some time afterwards my second brother wished also to sell his business +and travel. My eldest brother and I did all we could to dissuade him, +but it was of no use. He joined a caravan and set out. He came back +at the end of a year in the same state as his elder brother. I took +care of him, and as I had a thousand sequins to spare I gave them to +him, and he re-opened his shop. +</P> + +<P> +One day, my two brothers came to me to propose that we should make a +journey and trade. At first I refused to go. "You travelled," I said, +"and what did you gain?" But they came to me repeatedly, and after +having held out for five years I at last gave way. But when they had +made their preparation, and they began to buy the merchandise we +needed, they found they had spent every piece of the thousand sequins I +had given them. I did not reproach them. I divided my six thousand +sequins with them, giving a thousand to each and keeping one for +myself, and the other three I buried in a corner of my house. We +bought merchandise, loaded a vessel with it, and set forth with a +favorable wind. +</P> + +<P> +After two months' sailing we arrived at a seaport, where we disembarked +and did a great trade. Then we bought the merchandise of the country, +and were just going to sail once more, when I was stopped on the shore +by a beautiful though poorly dressed woman. She came up to me, kissed +my hand, and implored me to marry her, and take her on board. At first +I refused, but she begged so hard and promised to be such a good wife +to me, that at last I consented. I got her some beautiful dresses, and +after having married her, we embarked and set sail. During the voyage, +I discovered so many good qualities in my wife that I began to love her +more and more. But my brothers began to be jealous of my prosperity, +and set to work to plot against my life. One night when we were +sleeping they threw my wife and myself into the sea. My wife, however, +was a fairy, and so she did not let me drown, but transported me to an +island. When the day dawned, she said to me, +</P> + +<P> +"When I saw you on the sea-shore I took a great fancy to you, and +wished to try your good nature, so I presented myself in the disguise +you saw. Now I have rewarded you by saving your life. But I am very +angry with your brothers, and I shall not rest till I have taken their +lives." +</P> + +<P> +I thanked the fairy for all that she had done for me, but I begged her +not to kill my brothers. +</P> + +<P> +I appeased her wrath, and in a moment she transported me from the +island where we were to the roof of my house, and she disappeared a +moment afterwards. I went down, and opened the doors, and dug up the +three thousand sequins which I had buried. I went to the place where +my shop was, opened it, and received from my fellow-merchants +congratulations on my return. When I went home, I saw two black dogs +who came to meet me with sorrowful faces. I was much astonished, but +the fairy who reappeared said to me, +</P> + +<P> +"Do not be surprised to see these dogs; they are your two brothers. I +have condemned them to remain for ten years in these shapes." Then +having told me where I could hear news of her, she vanished. +</P> + +<P> +The ten years are nearly passed, and I am on the road to find her. As +in passing I met this merchant and the old man with the hind, I stayed +with them. +</P> + +<P> +This is my history, O prince of genii! Do you not think it is a most +marvellous one? +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, indeed," replied the genius, "and I will give up to you the third +of the merchant's punishment." +</P> + +<P> +Then the third old man made the genius the same request as the other +two had done, and the genius promised him the last third of the +merchant's punishment if his story surpassed both the others. +</P> + +<P> +So he told his story to the genius, but I cannot tell you what it was, +as I do not know. +</P> + +<P> +But I do know that it was even more marvellous than either of the +others, so that the genius was astonished, and said to the third old +man, "I will give up to you the third part of the merchant's +punishment. He ought to thank all three of you for having interested +yourselves in his favour. But for you, he would be here no longer." +</P> + +<P> +So saying, he disappeared, to the great joy of the company. The +merchant did not fail to thank his friends, and then each went on his +way. The merchant returned to his wife and children, and passed the +rest of his days happily with them. +</P> + +<P> +"But, sire," added Scheherazade, "however beautiful are the stories I +have just told you, they cannot compare with the story of the +Fisherman." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Fisherman +</H3> + +<P> +Sire, there was once upon a time a fisherman so old and so poor that he +could scarcely manage to support his wife and three children. He went +every day to fish very early, and each day he made a rule not to throw +his nets more than four times. He started out one morning by moonlight +and came to the sea-shore. He undressed and threw his nets, and as he +was drawing them towards the bank he felt a great weight. He though he +had caught a large fish, and he felt very pleased. But a moment +afterwards, seeing that instead of a fish he only had in his nets the +carcase of an ass, he was much disappointed. +</P> + +<P> +Vexed with having such a bad haul, when he had mended his nets, which +the carcase of the ass had broken in several places, he threw them a +second time. In drawing them in he again felt a great weight, so that +he thought they were full of fish. But he only found a large basket +full of rubbish. He was much annoyed. +</P> + +<P> +"O Fortune," he cried, "do not trifle thus with me, a poor fisherman, +who can hardly support his family!" +</P> + +<P> +So saying, he threw away the rubbish, and after having washed his nets +clean of the dirt, he threw them for the third time. But he only drew +in stones, shells, and mud. He was almost in despair. +</P> + +<P> +Then he threw his nets for the fourth time. When he thought he had a +fish he drew them in with a great deal of trouble. There was no fish +however, but he found a yellow pot, which by its weight seemed full of +something, and he noticed that it was fastened and sealed with lead, +with the impression of a seal. He was delighted. "I will sell it to +the founder," he said; "with the money I shall get for it I shall buy a +measure of wheat." +</P> + +<P> +He examined the jar on all sides; he shook it to see if it would +rattle. But he heard nothing, and so, judging from the impression of +the seal and the lid, he thought there must be something precious +inside. To find out, he took his knife, and with a little trouble he +opened it. He turned it upside down, but nothing came out, which +surprised him very much. He set it in front of him, and whilst he was +looking at it attentively, such a thick smoke came out that he had to +step back a pace or two. This smoke rose up to the clouds, and +stretching over the sea and the shore, formed a thick mist, which +caused the fisherman much astonishment. When all the smoke was out of +the jar it gathered itself together, and became a thick mass in which +appeared a genius, twice as large as the largest giant. When he saw +such a terrible-looking monster, the fisherman would like to have run +away, but he trembled so with fright that he could not move a step. +</P> + +<P> +"Great king of the genii," cried the monster, "I will never again +disobey you!" +</P> + +<P> +At these words the fisherman took courage. +</P> + +<P> +"What is this you are saying, great genius? Tell me your history and +how you came to be shut up in that vase." +</P> + +<P> +At this, the genius looked at the fisherman haughtily. "Speak to me +more civilly," he said, "before I kill you." +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! why should you kill me?" cried the fisherman. "I have just +freed you; have you already forgotten that?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered the genius; "but that will not prevent me from killing +you; and I am only going to grant you one favour, and that is to choose +the manner of your death." +</P> + +<P> +"But what have I done to you?" asked the fisherman. +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot treat you in any other way," said the genius, "and if you +would know why, listen to my story. +</P> + +<P> +"I rebelled against the king of the genii. To punish me, he shut me up +in this vase of copper, and he put on the leaden cover his seal, which +is enchantment enough to prevent my coming out. Then he had the vase +thrown into the sea. During the first period of my captivity I vowed +that if anyone should free me before a hundred years were passed, I +would make him rich even after his death. But that century passed, and +no one freed me. In the second century I vowed that I would give all +the treasures in the world to my deliverer; but he never came. +</P> + +<P> +"In the third, I promised to make him a king, to be always near him, +and to grant him three wishes every day; but that century passed away +as the other two had done, and I remained in the same plight. At last +I grew angry at being captive for so long, and I vowed that if anyone +would release me I would kill him at once, and would only allow him to +choose in what manner he should die. So you see, as you have freed me +to-day, choose in what way you will die." +</P> + +<P> +The fisherman was very unhappy. "What an unlucky man I am to have +freed you! I implore you to spare my life." +</P> + +<P> +"I have told you," said the genius, "that it is impossible. Choose +quickly; you are wasting time." +</P> + +<P> +The fisherman began to devise a plot. +</P> + +<P> +"Since I must die," he said, "before I choose the manner of my death, I +conjure you on your honour to tell me if you really were in that vase?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I was," answered the genius. +</P> + +<P> +"I really cannot believe it," said the fisherman. "That vase could not +contain one of your feet even, and how could your whole body go in? I +cannot believe it unless I see you do the thing." +</P> + +<P> +Then the genius began to change himself into smoke, which, as before, +spread over the sea and the shore, and which, then collecting itself +together, began to go back into the vase slowly and evenly till there +was nothing left outside. Then a voice came from the vase which said +to the fisherman, "Well, unbelieving fisherman, here I am in the vase; +do you believe me now?" +</P> + +<P> +The fisherman instead of answering took the lid of lead and shut it +down quickly on the vase. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, O genius," he cried, "ask pardon of me, and choose by what death +you will die! But no, it will be better if I throw you into the sea +whence I drew you out, and I will build a house on the shore to warn +fishermen who come to cast their nets here, against fishing up such a +wicked genius as you are, who vows to kill the man who frees you." +</P> + +<P> +At these words the genius did all he could to get out, but he could +not, because of the enchantment of the lid. +</P> + +<P> +Then he tried to get out by cunning. +</P> + +<P> +"If you will take off the cover," he said, "I will repay you." +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered the fisherman, "if I trust myself to you I am afraid you +will treat me as a certain Greek king treated the physician Douban. +Listen, and I will tell you." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Greek King and the Physician Douban +</H3> + +<P> +In the country of Zouman, in Persia, there lived a Greek king. This +king was a leper, and all his doctors had been unable to cure him, when +a very clever physician came to his court. +</P> + +<P> +He was very learned in all languages, and knew a great deal about herbs +and medicines. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as he was told of the king's illness he put on his best robe +and presented himself before the king. "Sire," said he, "I know that +no physician has been able to cure your majesty, but if you will follow +my instructions, I will promise to cure you without any medicines or +outward application." +</P> + +<P> +The king listened to this proposal. +</P> + +<P> +"If you are clever enough to do this," he said, "I promise to make you +and your descendants rich for ever." +</P> + +<P> +The physician went to his house and made a polo club, the handle of +which he hollowed out, and put in it the drug he wished to use. Then +he made a ball, and with these things he went the next day to the king. +</P> + +<P> +He told him that he wished him to play at polo. Accordingly the king +mounted his horse and went into the place where he played. There the +physician approached him with the bat he had made, saying, "Take this, +sire, and strike the ball till you feel your hand and whole body in a +glow. When the remedy that is in the handle of the club is warmed by +your hand it will penetrate throughout your body. The you must return +to your palace, bathe, and go to sleep, and when you awake to-morrow +morning you will be cured." +</P> + +<P> +The king took the club and urged his horse after the ball which he had +thrown. He struck it, and then it was hit back by the courtiers who +were playing with him. When he felt very hot he stopped playing, and +went back to the palace, went into the bath, and did all that the +physician had said. The next day when he arose he found, to his great +joy and astonishment, that he was completely cured. When he entered +his audience-chamber all his courtiers, who were eager to see if the +wonderful cure had been effected, were overwhelmed with joy. +</P> + +<P> +The physician Douban entered the hall and bowed low to the ground. The +king, seeing him, called him, made him sit by his side, and showed him +every mark of honour. +</P> + +<P> +That evening he gave him a long and rich robe of state, and presented +him with two thousand sequins. The following day he continued to load +him with favours. +</P> + +<P> +Now the king had a grand-vizir who was avaricious, and envious, and a +very bad man. He grew extremely jealous of the physician, and +determined to bring about his ruin. +</P> + +<P> +In order to do this he asked to speak in private with the king, saying +that he had a most important communication to make. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked the king. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," answered the grand-vizir, "it is most dangerous for a monarch +to confide in a man whose faithfulness is not proved, You do not know +that this physician is not a traitor come here to assassinate you." +</P> + +<P> +"I am sure," said the king, "that this man is the most faithful and +virtuous of men. If he wished to take my life, why did he cure me? +Cease to speak against him. I see what it is, you are jealous of him; +but do not think that I can be turned against him. I remember well +what a vizir said to King Sindbad, his master, to prevent him from +putting the prince, his son, to death." +</P> + +<P> +What the Greek king said excited the vizir's curiosity, and he said to +him, "Sire, I beg your majesty to have the condescension to tell me +what the vizir said to King Sindbad." +</P> + +<P> +"This vizir," he replied, "told King Sindbad that one ought not believe +everything that a mother-in-law says, and told him this story." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Husband and the Parrot +</H3> + +<P> +A good man had a beautiful wife, whom he loved passionately, and never +left if possible. One day, when he was obliged by important business +to go away from her, he went to a place where all kinds of birds are +sold and bought a parrot. This parrot not only spoke well, but it had +the gift of telling all that had been done before it. He brought it +home in a cage, and asked his wife to put it in her room, and take +great care of it while he was away. Then he departed. On his return +he asked the parrot what had happened during his absence, and the +parrot told him some things which made him scold his wife. +</P> + +<P> +She thought that one of her slaves must have been telling tales of her, +but they told her it was the parrot, and she resolved to revenge +herself on him. +</P> + +<P> +When her husband next went away for one day, she told on slave to turn +under the bird's cage a hand-mill; another to throw water down from +above the cage, and a third to take a mirror and turn it in front of +its eyes, from left to right by the light of a candle. The slaves did +this for part of the night, and did it very well. +</P> + +<P> +The next day when the husband came back he asked the parrot what he had +seen. The bird replied, "My good master, the lightning, thunder and +rain disturbed me so much all night long, that I cannot tell you what I +have suffered." +</P> + +<P> +The husband, who knew that it had neither rained nor thundered in the +night, was convinced that the parrot was not speaking the truth, so he +took him out of the cage and threw him so roughly on the ground that he +killed him. Nevertheless he was sorry afterwards, for he found that +the parrot had spoken the truth. +</P> + +<P> +"When the Greek king," said the fisherman to the genius, "had finished +the story of the parrot, he added to the vizir, "And so, vizir, I shall +not listen to you, and I shall take care of the physician, in case I +repent as the husband did when he had killed the parrot." But the +vizir was determined. "Sire," he replied, "the death of the parrot was +nothing. But when it is a question of the life of a king it is better +to sacrifice the innocent than save the guilty. It is no uncertain +thing, however. The physician, Douban, wishes to assassinate you. My +zeal prompts me to disclose this to your Majesty. If I am wrong, I +deserve to be punished as a vizir was once punished." "What had the +vizir done," said the Greek king, "to merit the punishment?" "I will +tell your Majesty, if you will do me the honour to listen," answered +the vizir." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Vizir Who Was Punished +</H3> + +<P> +There was once upon a time a king who had a son who was very fond of +hunting. He often allowed him to indulge in this pastime, but he had +ordered his grand-vizir always to go with him, and never to lose sight +of him. One day the huntsman roused a stag, and the prince, thinking +that the vizir was behind, gave chase, and rode so hard that he found +himself alone. He stopped, and having lost sight of it, he turned to +rejoin the vizir, who had not been careful enough to follow him. But +he lost his way. Whilst he was trying to find it, he saw on the side +of the road a beautiful lady who was crying bitterly. He drew his +horse's rein, and asked her who she was and what she was doing in this +place, and if she needed help. "I am the daughter of an Indian king," +she answered, "and whilst riding in the country I fell asleep and +tumbled off. My horse has run away, and I do not know what has become +of him." +</P> + +<P> +The young prince had pity on her, and offered to take her behind him, +which he did. As they passed by a ruined building the lady dismounted +and went in. The prince also dismounted and followed her. To his +great surprise, he heard her saying to some one inside, "Rejoice my +children; I am bringing you a nice fat youth." And other voices +replied, "Where is he, mamma, that we may eat him at once, as we are +very hungry?" +</P> + +<P> +The prince at once saw the danger he was in. He now knew that the lady +who said she was the daughter of an Indian king was an ogress, who +lived in desolate places, and who by a thousand wiles surprised and +devoured passers-by. He was terrified, and threw himself on his horse. +The pretended princess appeared at this moment, and seeing that she had +lost her prey, she said to him, "Do not be afraid. What do you want?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am lost," he answered, "and I am looking for the road." +</P> + +<P> +"Keep straight on," said the ogress, "and you will find it." +</P> + +<P> +The prince could hardly believe his ears, and rode off as hard as he +could. He found his way, and arrived safe and sound at his father's +house, where he told him of the danger he had run because of the +grand-vizir's carelessness. The king was very angry, and had him +strangled immediately. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," went on the vizir to the Greek king, "to return to the +physician, Douban. If you do not take care, you will repent of having +trusted him. Who knows what this remedy, with which he has cured you, +may not in time have a bad effect on you?" +</P> + +<P> +The Greek king was naturally very weak, and did not perceive the wicked +intention of his vizir, nor was he firm enough to keep to his first +resolution. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, vizir," he said, "you are right. Perhaps he did come to take my +life. He might do it by the mere smell of one of his drugs. I must +see what can be done." +</P> + +<P> +"The best means, sire, to put your life in security, is to send for him +at once, and to cut off his head directly he comes," said the vizir. +</P> + +<P> +"I really think," replied the king, "that will be the best way." +</P> + +<P> +He then ordered one of his ministers to fetch the physician, who came +at once. +</P> + +<P> +"I have had you sent for," said the king, "in order to free myself from +you by taking your life." +</P> + +<P> +The physician was beyond measure astonished when he heard he was to die. +</P> + +<P> +"What crimes have I committed, your majesty?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have learnt," replied the king, "that you are a spy, and intend to +kill me. But I will be first, and kill you. Strike," he added to an +executioner who was by, "and rid me of this assassin." +</P> + +<P> +At this cruel order the physician threw himself on his knees. "Spare +my life," he cried, "and yours will be spared." +</P> + +<P> +The fisherman stopped here to say to the genius: "You see what passed +between the Greek king and the physician has just passed between us +two. The Greek king," he went on, "had no mercy on him, and the +executioner bound his eyes." +</P> + +<P> +All those present begged for his life, but in vain. +</P> + +<P> +The physician on his knees, and bound, said to the king: "At least let +me put my affairs in order, and leave my books to persons who will make +good use of them. There is one which I should like to present to your +majesty. It is very precious, and ought to be kept carefully in your +treasury. It contains many curious things the chief being that when +you cut off my head, if your majesty will turn to the sixth leaf, and +read the third line of the left-hand page, my head will answer all the +questions you like to ask it." +</P> + +<P> +The king, eager to see such a wonderful thing, put off his execution to +the next day, and sent him under a strong guard to his house. There +the physician put his affairs in order, and the next day there was a +great crowd assembled in the hall to see his death, and the doings +after it. The physician went up to the foot of the throne with a large +book in his hand. He carried a basin, on which he spread the covering +of the book, and presenting it to the king, said: "Sire, take this +book, and when my head is cut off, let it be placed in the basin on the +covering of this book; as soon as it is there, the blood will cease to +flow. Then open the book, and my head will answer your questions. +But, sire, I implore your mercy, for I am innocent." +</P> + +<P> +"Your prayers are useless, and if it were only to hear your head speak +when you are dead, you should die." +</P> + +<P> +So saying, he took the book from the physician's hands, and ordered the +executioner to do his duty. +</P> + +<P> +The head was so cleverly cut off that it fell into the basin, and +directly the blood ceased to flow. Then, to the great astonishment of +the king, the eyes opened, and the head said, "Your majesty, open the +book." The king did so, and finding that the first leaf stuck against +the second, he put his finger in his mouth, to turn it more easily. He +did the same thing till he reached the sixth page, and not seeing any +writing on it, "Physician," he said, "there is no writing." +</P> + +<P> +"Turn over a few more pages," answered the head. The king went on +turning, still putting his finger in his mouth, till the poison in +which each page was dipped took effect. His sight failed him, and he +fell at the foot of his throne. +</P> + +<P> +When the physician's head saw that the poison had taken effect, and +that the king had only a few more minutes to live, "Tyrant," it cried, +"see how cruelty and injustice are punished." +</P> + +<P> +Scarcely had it uttered these words than the king died, and the head +lost also the little life that had remained in it. +</P> + +<P> +That is the end of the story of the Greek king, and now let us return +to the fisherman and the genius. +</P> + +<P> +"If the Greek king," said the fisherman, "had spared the physician, he +would not have thus died. The same thing applies to you. Now I am +going to throw you into the sea." +</P> + +<P> +"My friend," said the genius, "do not do such a cruel thing. Do not +treat me as Imma treated Ateca." +</P> + +<P> +"What did Imma do to Ateca?" asked the fisherman. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think I can tell you while I am shut up in here?" replied the +genius. "Let me out, and I will make you rich." +</P> + +<P> +The hope of being no longer poor made the fisherman give way. +</P> + +<P> +"If you will give me your promise to do this, I will open the lid. I +do not think you will dare to break your word." +</P> + +<P> +The genius promised, and the fisherman lifted the lid. He came out at +once in smoke, and then, having resumed his proper form, the first +thing he did was to kick the vase into the sea. This frightened the +fisherman, but the genius laughed and said, "Do not be afraid; I only +did it to frighten you, and to show you that I intend to keep my word; +take your nets and follow me." +</P> + +<P> +He began to walk in front of the fisherman, who followed him with some +misgivings. They passed in front of the town, and went up a mountain +and then down into a great plain, where there was a large lake lying +between four hills. +</P> + +<P> +When they reached the lake the genius said to the fisherman, "Throw +your nets and catch fish." +</P> + +<P> +The fisherman did as he was told, hoping for a good catch, as he saw +plenty of fish. What was his astonishment at seeing that there were +four quite different kinds, some white, some red, some blue, and some +yellow. He caught four, one of each colour. As he had never seen any +like them he admired them very much, and he was very pleased to think +how much money he would get for them. +</P> + +<P> +"Take these fish and carry them to the Sultan, who will give you more +money for them than you have ever had in your life. You can come every +day to fish in this lake, but be careful not to throw your nets more +than once every day, otherwise some harm will happen to you. If you +follow my advice carefully you will find it good." +</P> + +<P> +Saying these words, he struck his foot against the ground, which +opened, and when he had disappeared, it closed immediately. +</P> + +<P> +The fisherman resolved to obey the genius exactly, so he did not cast +his nets a second time, but walked into the town to sell his fish at +the palace. +</P> + +<P> +When the Sultan saw the fish he was much astonished. He looked at them +one after the other, and when he had admired them long enough, "Take +these fish," he said to his first vizir, "and given them to the clever +cook the Emperor of the Greeks sent me. I think they must be as good +as they are beautiful." +</P> + +<P> +The vizir took them himself to the cook, saying, "Here are four fish +that have been brought to the Sultan. He wants you to cook them." +</P> + +<P> +Then he went back to the Sultan, who told him to give the fisherman +four hundred gold pieces. The fisherman, who had never before +possessed such a large sum of money at once, could hardly believe his +good fortune. He at once relieved the needs of his family, and made +good use of it. +</P> + +<P> +But now we must return to the kitchen, which we shall find in great +confusion. The cook, when she had cleaned the fish, put them in a pan +with some oil to fry them. When she thought them cooked enough on one +side she turned them on the other. But scarcely had she done so when +the walls of the kitchen opened, and there came out a young and +beautiful damsel. She was dressed in an Egyptian dress of flowered +satin, and she wore earrings, and a necklace of white pearls, and +bracelets of gold set with rubies, and she held a wand of myrtle in her +hand. +</P> + +<P> +She went up to the pan, to the great astonishment of the cook, who +stood motionless at the sight of her. She struck one of the fish with +her rod, "Fish, fish," said she, "are you doing your duty?" The fish +answered nothing, and then she repeated her question, whereupon they +all raised their heads together and answered very distinctly, "Yes, +yes. If you reckon, we reckon. If you pay your debts, we pay ours. +If you fly, we conquer, and we are content." +</P> + +<P> +When they had spoken the girl upset the pan, and entered the opening in +the wall, which at once closed, and appeared the same as before. +</P> + +<P> +When the cook had recovered from her fright she lifted up the fish +which had fallen into the ashes, but she found them as black as +cinders, and not fit to serve up to the Sultan. She began to cry. +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! what shall I say to the Sultan? He will be so angry with me, +and I know he will not believe me!" +</P> + +<P> +Whilst she was crying the grand-vizir came in and asked if the fish +were ready. She told him all that had happened, and he was much +surprised. He sent at once for the fisherman, and when he came said to +him, "Fisherman, bring me four more fish like you have brought already, +for an accident has happened to them so that they cannot be served up +to the Sultan." +</P> + +<P> +The fisherman did not say what the genius had told him, but he excused +himself from bringing them that day on account of the length of the +way, and he promised to bring them next day. +</P> + +<P> +In the night he went to the lake, cast his nets, and on drawing them in +found four fish, which were like the others, each of a different colour. +</P> + +<P> +He went back at once and carried them to the grand-vizir as he had +promised. +</P> + +<P> +He then took them to the kitchen and shut himself up with the cook, who +began to cook them as she had done the four others on the previous day. +When she was about to turn them on the other side, the wall opened, the +damsel appeared, addressed the same words to the fish, received the +same answer, and then overturned the pan and disappeared. +</P> + +<P> +The grand-vizir was filled with astonishment. "I shall tell the Sultan +all that has happened," said he. And he did so. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan was very much astounded, and wished to see this marvel for +himself. So he sent for the fisherman, and asked him to procure four +more fish. The fisherman asked for three days, which were granted, and +he then cast his nets in the lake, and again caught four different +coloured fish. The sultan was delighted to see he had got them, and +gave him again four hundred gold pieces. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the Sultan had the fish he had them carried to his room with +all that was needed to cook them. +</P> + +<P> +Then he shut himself up with the grand-vizir, who began to prepare them +and cook them. When they were done on one side he turned them over on +the other. Then the wall of the room opened, but instead of the maiden +a black slave came out. He was enormously tall, and carried a large +green stick with which he touched the fish, saying in a terrible voice, +"Fish, fish, are you doing your duty?" To these words the fish lifting +up their heads replied, "Yes, yes. If you reckon, we reckon. If you +pay your debts, we pay ours. If you fly, we conquer, and are content." +</P> + +<P> +The black slave overturned the pan in the middle of the room, and the +fish were turned to cinders. Then he stepped proudly back into the +wall, which closed round him. +</P> + +<P> +"After having seen this," said the Sultan, "I cannot rest. These fish +signify some mystery I must clear up." +</P> + +<P> +He sent for the fisherman. "Fisherman," he said, "the fish you have +brought us have caused me some anxiety. Where did you get them from?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," he answered, "I got them from a lake which lies in the middle +of four hills beyond yonder mountains." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know this lake?" asked the Sultan of the grand-vizir. +</P> + +<P> +"No; though I have hunted many times round that mountain, I have never +heard of it," said the vizir. +</P> + +<P> +As the fisherman said it was only three hours' journey away, the sultan +ordered his whole court to mount and ride thither, and the fisherman +led them. +</P> + +<P> +They climbed the mountain, and then, on the other side, saw the lake as +the fisherman had described. The water was so clear that they could +see the four kinds of fish swimming about in it. They looked at them +for some time, and then the Sultan ordered them to make a camp by the +edge of the water. +</P> + +<P> +When night came the Sultan called his vizir, and said to him, "I have +resolved to clear up this mystery. I am going out alone, and do you +stay here in my tent, and when my ministers come to-morrow, say I am +not well, and cannot see them. Do this each day till I return." +</P> + +<P> +The grand-vizir tried to persuade the Sultan not to go, but in vain. +The Sultan took off his state robe and put on his sword, and when he +saw all was quiet in the camp he set forth alone. +</P> + +<P> +He climbed one of the hills, and then crossed the great plain, till, +just as the sun rose, he beheld far in front of him a large building. +When he came near to it he saw it was a splendid palace of beautiful +black polished marble, covered with steel as smooth as a mirror. +</P> + +<P> +He went to the gate, which stood half open, and went in, as nobody came +when he knocked. He passed through a magnificent courtyard and still +saw no one, though he called aloud several times. +</P> + +<P> +He entered large halls where the carpets were of silk, the lounges and +sofas covered with tapestry from Mecca, and the hangings of the most +beautiful Indian stuffs of gold and silver. Then he found himself in a +splendid room, with a fountain supported by golden lions. The water +out of the lions' mouths turned into diamonds and pearls, and the +leaping water almost touched a most beautifully-painted dome. The +palace was surrounded on three sides by magnificent gardens, little +lakes, and woods. Birds sang in the trees, which were netted over to +keep them always there. +</P> + +<P> +Still the Sultan saw no one, till he heard a plaintive cry, and a voice +which said, "Oh that I could die, for I am too unhappy to wish to live +any longer!" +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan looked round to discover who it was who thus bemoaned his +fate, and at last saw a handsome young man, richly clothed, who was +sitting on a throne raised slightly from the ground. His face was very +sad. +</P> + +<P> +The sultan approached him and bowed to him. The young man bent his +head very low, but did not rise. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," he said to the Sultan, "I cannot rise and do you the reverence +that I am sure should be paid to your rank." +</P> + +<P> +"Sir," answered the Sultan, "I am sure you have a good reason for not +doing so, and having heard your cry of distress, I am come to offer you +my help. Whose is this palace, and why is it thus empty?" +</P> + +<P> +Instead of answering the young man lifted up his robe, and showed the +Sultan that, from the waist downwards, he was a block of black marble. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan was horrified, and begged the young man to tell him his +story. +</P> + +<P> +"Willingly I will tell you my sad history," said the young man. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Young King of the Black Isles +</H3> + +<P> +You must know, sire, that my father was Mahmoud, the king of this +country, the Black Isles, so called from the four little mountains +which were once islands, while the capital was the place where now the +great lake lies. My story will tell you how these changes came about. +</P> + +<P> +My father died when he was sixty-six, and I succeeded him. I married +my cousin, whom I loved tenderly, and I thought she loved me too. +</P> + +<P> +But one afternoon, when I was half asleep, and was being fanned by two +of her maids, I heard one say to the other, "What a pity it is that our +mistress no longer loves our master! I believe she would like to kill +him if she could, for she is an enchantress." +</P> + +<P> +I soon found by watching that they were right, and when I mortally +wounded a favourite slave of hers for a great crime, she begged that +she might build a palace in the garden, where she wept and bewailed him +for two years. +</P> + +<P> +At last I begged her to cease grieving for him, for although he could +not speak or move, by her enchantments she just kept him alive. She +turned upon me in a rage, and said over me some magic words, and I +instantly became as you see me now, half man and half marble. +</P> + +<P> +Then this wicked enchantress changed the capital, which was a very +populous and flourishing city, into the lake and desert plain you saw. +The fish of four colours which are in it are the different races who +lived in the town; the four hills are the four islands which give the +name to my kingdom. All this the enchantress told me to add to my +troubles. And this is not all. Every day she comes and beats me with +a whip of buffalo hide. +</P> + +<P> +When the young king had finished his sad story he burst once more into +tears, and the Sultan was much moved. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me," he cried, "where is this wicked woman, and where is the +miserable object of her affection, whom she just manages to keep alive?" +</P> + +<P> +"Where she lives I do not know," answered the unhappy prince, "but she +goes every day at sunrise to see if the slave can yet speak to her, +after she has beaten me." +</P> + +<P> +"Unfortunate king," said the Sultan, "I will do what I can to avenge +you." +</P> + +<P> +So he consulted with the young king over the best way to bring this +about, and they agreed their plan should be put in effect the next day. +The Sultan then rested, and the young king gave himself up to happy +hopes of release. The next day the Sultan arose, and then went to the +palace in the garden where the black slave was. He drew his sword and +destroyed the little life that remained in him, and then threw the body +down a well. He then lay down on the couch where the slave had been, +and waited for the enchantress. +</P> + +<P> +She went first to the young king, whom she beat with a hundred blows. +</P> + +<P> +Then she came to the room where she thought her wounded slave was, but +where the Sultan really lay. +</P> + +<P> +She came near his couch and said, "Are you better to-day, my dear +slave? Speak but one word to me." +</P> + +<P> +"How can I be better," answered the Sultan, imitating the language of +the Ethiopians, "when I can never sleep for the cries and groans of +your husband?" +</P> + +<P> +"What joy to hear you speak!" answered the queen. "Do you wish him to +regain his proper shape?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said the Sultan; "hasten to set him at liberty, so that I may no +longer hear his cries." +</P> + +<P> +The queen at once went out and took a cup of water, and said over it +some words that made it boil as if it were on the fire. Then she threw +it over the prince, who at once regained his own form. He was filled +with joy, but the enchantress said, "Hasten away from this place and +never come back, lest I kill you." +</P> + +<P> +So he hid himself to see the end of the Sultan's plan. +</P> + +<P> +The enchantress went back to the Palace of Tears and said, "Now I have +done what you wished." +</P> + +<P> +"What you have done," said the Sultan, "is not enough to cure me. +Every day at midnight all the people whom you have changed into fish +lift their heads out of the lake and cry for vengeance. Go quickly, +and give them their proper shape." +</P> + +<P> +The enchantress hurried away and said some words over the lake. +</P> + +<P> +The fish then became men, women, and children, and the houses and shops +were once more filled. The Sultan's suite, who had encamped by the +lake, were not a little astonished to see themselves in the middle of a +large and beautiful town. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as she had disenchanted it the queen went back to the palace. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you quite well now?" she said. +</P> + +<P> +"Come near," said the Sultan. "Nearer still." +</P> + +<P> +She obeyed. Then he sprang up, and with one blow of his sword he cut +her in two. +</P> + +<P> +Then he went and found the prince. +</P> + +<P> +"Rejoice," he said, "your cruel enemy is dead." +</P> + +<P> +The prince thanked him again and again. +</P> + +<P> +"And now," said the Sultan. "I will go back to my capital, which I am +glad to find is so near yours." +</P> + +<P> +"So near mine!" said the King of the Black Isles. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know it is a whole year's journey from here? You came here in +a few hours because it was enchanted. But I will accompany you on your +journey." +</P> + +<P> +"It will give me much pleasure if you will escort me," said the Sultan, +"and as I have no children, I will make you my heir." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan and the prince set out together, the Sultan laden with rich +presents from the King of the Black Isles. +</P> + +<P> +The day after he reached his capital the Sultan assembled his court and +told them all that had befallen him, and told them how he intended to +adopt the young king as his heir. +</P> + +<P> +Then he gave each man presents in proportion to his rank. +</P> + +<P> +As for the fisherman, as he was the first cause of the deliverance of +the young prince, the Sultan gave him much money, and made him and his +family happy for the rest of their days. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Three Calenders, Sons of Kings,<BR> +and of Five Ladies of Bagdad +</H3> + +<P> +In the reign of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid, there lived at Bagdad a +porter who, in spite of his humble calling, was an intelligent and +sensible man. One morning he was sitting in his usual place with his +basket before him, waiting to be hired, when a tall young lady, covered +with a long muslin veil, came up to him and said, "Pick up your basket +and follow me." The porter, who was greatly pleased by her appearance +and voice, jumped up at once, poised his basket on his head, and +accompanied the lady, saying to himself as he went, "Oh, happy day! +Oh, lucky meeting!" +</P> + +<P> +The lady soon stopped before a closed door, at which she knocked. It +was opened by an old man with a long white beard, to whom the lady held +out money without speaking. The old man, who seemed to understand what +she wanted, vanished into the house, and returned bringing a large jar +of wine, which the porter placed in his basket. Then the lady signed +to him to follow, and they went their way. +</P> + +<P> +The next place she stopped at was a fruit and flower shop, and here she +bought a large quantity of apples, apricots, peaches, and other things, +with lilies, jasmine, and all sorts of sweet-smelling plants. From +this shop she went to a butcher's, a grocer's, and a poulterer's, till +at last the porter exclaimed in despair, "My good lady, if you had only +told me you were going to buy enough provisions to stock a town, I +would have brought a horse, or rather a camel." The lady laughed, and +told him she had not finished yet, but after choosing various kinds of +scents and spices from a druggist's store, she halted before a +magnificent palace, at the door of which she knocked gently. The +porteress who opened it was of such beauty that the eyes of the man +were quite dazzled, and he was the more astonished as he saw clearly +that she was no slave. The lady who had led him hither stood watching +him with amusement, till the porteress exclaimed, "Why don't you come +in, my sister? This poor man is so heavily weighed down that he is +ready to drop." +</P> + +<P> +When they were both inside the door was fastened, and they all three +entered a large court, surrounded by an open-work gallery. At one end +of the court was a platform, and on the platform stood an amber throne +supported by four ebony columns, garnished with pearls and diamonds. +In the middle of the court stood a marble basin filled with water from +the mouth of a golden lion. +</P> + +<P> +The porter looked about him, noticing and admiring everything; but his +attention was specially attracted by a third lady sitting on the +throne, who was even more beautiful than the other two. By the respect +shown to her by the others, he judged that she must be the eldest, and +in this he was right. This lady's name was Zobeida, the porteress was +Sadie, and the housekeeper was Amina. At a word from Zobeida, Sadie +and Amina took the basket from the porter, who was glad enough to be +relieved from its weight; and when it was emptied, paid him handsomely +for its use. But instead of taking up his basket and going away, the +man still lingered, till Zobeida inquired what he was waiting for, and +if he expected more money. "Oh, madam," returned he, "you have already +given me too much, and I fear I may have been guilty of rudeness in not +taking my departure at once. But, if you will pardon my saying so, I +was lost in astonishment at seeing such beautiful ladies by themselves. +A company of women without men is, however, as dull as a company of men +without women." And after telling some stories to prove his point, he +ended by entreating them to let him stay and make a fourth at their +dinner. +</P> + +<P> +The ladies were rather amused at the man's assurances and after some +discussion it was agreed that he should be allowed to stay, as his +society might prove entertaining. "But listen, friend," said Zobeida, +"if we grant your request, it is only on condition that you behave with +the utmost politeness, and that you keep the secret of our way of +living, which chance has revealed to you." Then they all sat down to +table, which had been covered by Amina with the dishes she had bought. +</P> + +<P> +After the first few mouthfuls Amina poured some wine into a golden cup. +She first drank herself, according to the Arab custom, and then filled +it for her sisters. When it came to the porter's turn he kissed +Amina's hand, and sang a song, which he composed at the moment in +praise of the wine. The three ladies were pleased with the song, and +then sang themselves, so that the repast was a merry one, and lasted +much longer than usual. +</P> + +<P> +At length, seeing that the sun was about to set, Sadia said to the +porter, "Rise and go; it is now time for us to separate." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, madam," replied he, "how can you desire me to quit you in the +state in which I am? Between the wine I have drunk, and the pleasure +of seeing you, I should never find the way to my house. Let me remain +here till morning, and when I have recovered my senses I will go when +you like." +</P> + +<P> +"Let him stay," said Amina, who had before proved herself his friend. +"It is only just, as he has given us so much amusement." +</P> + +<P> +"If you wish it, my sister," replied Zobeida; "but if he does, I must +make a new condition. Porter," she continued, turning to him, "if you +remain, you must promise to ask no questions about anything you may +see. If you do, you may perhaps hear what you don't like." +</P> + +<P> +This being settled, Amina brought in supper, and lit up the hall with a +number of sweet smelling tapers. They then sat down again at the +table, and began with fresh appetites to eat, drink, sing, and recite +verses. In fact, they were all enjoying themselves mightily when they +heard a knock at the outer door, which Sadie rose to open. She soon +returned saying that three Calenders, all blind in the right eye, and +all with their heads, faces, and eyebrows clean shaved, begged for +admittance, as they were newly arrived in Bagdad, and night had already +fallen. "They seem to have pleasant manners," she added, "but you have +no idea how funny they look. I am sure we should find their company +diverting." +</P> + +<P> +Zobeida and Amina made some difficulty about admitting the new comers, +and Sadie knew the reason of their hesitation. But she urged the +matter so strongly that Zobeida was at last forced to consent. "Bring +them in, then," said she, "but make them understand that they are not +to make remarks about what does not concern them, and be sure to make +them read the inscription over the door." For on the door was written +in letters of gold, "Whoso meddles in affairs that are no business of +his, will hear truths that will not please him." +</P> + +<P> +The three Calenders bowed low on entering, and thanked the ladies for +their kindness and hospitality. The ladies replied with words of +welcome, and they were all about to seat themselves when the eyes of +the Calenders fell on the porter, whose dress was not so very unlike +their own, though he still wore all the hair that nature had given him. +"This," said one of them, "is apparently one of our Arab brothers, who +has rebelled against our ruler." +</P> + +<P> +The porter, although half asleep from the wine he had drunk, heard the +words, and without moving cried angrily to the Calender, "Sit down and +mind your own business. Did you not read the inscription over the +door? Everybody is not obliged to live in the same way." +</P> + +<P> +"Do not be so angry, my good man," replied the Calender; "we should be +very sorry to displease you;" so the quarrel was smoothed over, and +supper began in good earnest. When the Calenders had satisfied their +hunger, they offered to play to their hostesses, if there were any +instruments in the house. The ladies were delighted at the idea, and +Sadie went to see what she could find, returning in a few moments laden +with two different kinds of flutes and a tambourine. Each Calender +took the one he preferred, and began to play a well-known air, while +the ladies sang the words of the song. These words were the gayest and +liveliest possible, and every now and then the singers had to stop to +indulge the laughter which almost choked them. In the midst of all +their noise, a knock was heard at the door. +</P> + +<P> +Now early that evening the Caliph secretly left the palace, accompanied +by his grand-vizir, Giafar, and Mesrour, chief of the eunuchs, all +three wearing the dresses of merchants. Passing down the street, the +Caliph had been attracted by the music of instruments and the sound of +laughter, and had ordered his vizir to go and knock at the door of the +house, as he wished to enter. The vizir replied that the ladies who +lived there seemed to be entertaining their friends, and he thought his +master would do well not to intrude on them; but the Caliph had taken +it into his head to see for himself, and insisted on being obeyed. +</P> + +<P> +The knock was answered by Sadie, with a taper in her hand, and the +vizir, who was surprised at her beauty, bowed low before her, and said +respectfully, "Madam, we are three merchants who have lately arrived +from Moussoul, and, owing to a misadventure which befel us this very +night, only reached our inn to find that the doors were closed to us +till to-morrow morning. Not knowing what to do, we wandered in the +streets till we happened to pass your house, when, seeing lights and +hearing the sound of voices, we resolved to ask you to give us shelter +till the dawn. If you will grant us this favour, we will, with your +permission, do all in our power to help you spend the time pleasantly." +</P> + +<P> +Sadie answered the merchant that she must first consult her sisters; +and after having talked over the matter with them, she returned to tell +him that he and his two friends would be welcome to join their company. +They entered and bowed politely to the ladies and their guests. Then +Zobeida, as the mistress, came forward and said gravely, "You are +welcome here, but I hope you will allow me to beg one thing of +you--have as many eyes as you like, but no tongues; and ask no +questions about anything you see, however strange it may appear to you." +</P> + +<P> +"Madam," returned the vizir, "you shall be obeyed. We have quite +enough to please and interest us without troubling ourselves about that +with which we have no concern." Then they all sat down, and drank to +the health of the new comers. +</P> + +<P> +While the vizir, Giafar, was talking to the ladies the Caliph was +occupied in wondering who they could be, and why the three Calenders +had each lost his right eye. He was burning to inquire the reason of +it all, but was silenced by Zobeida's request, so he tried to rouse +himself and to take his part in the conversation, which was very +lively, the subject of discussion being the many different sorts of +pleasures that there were in the world. After some time the Calenders +got up and performed some curious dances, which delighted the rest of +the company. +</P> + +<P> +When they had finished Zobeida rose from her seat, and, taking Amina by +the hand, she said to her, "My sister, our friends will excuse us if we +seem to forget their presence and fulfil our nightly task." Amina +understood her sister's meaning, and collecting the dishes, glasses, +and musical instruments, she carried them away, while Sadie swept the +hall and put everything in order. Having done this she begged the +Calenders to sit on a sofa on one side of the room, and the Caliph and +his friends to place themselves opposite. As to the porter, she +requested him to come and help her and her sister. +</P> + +<P> +Shortly after Amina entered carrying a seat, which she put down in the +middle of the empty space. She next went over to the door of a closet +and signed to the porter to follow her. He did so, and soon reappeared +leading two black dogs by a chain, which he brought into the centre of +the hall. Zobeida then got up from her seat between the Calenders and +the Caliph and walked slowly across to where the porter stood with the +dogs. "We must do our duty," she said with a deep sigh, pushing back +her sleeves, and, taking a whip from Sadie, she said to the man, "Take +one of those dogs to my sister Amina and give me the other." +</P> + +<P> +The porter did as he was bid, but as he led the dog to Zobeida it +uttered piercing howls, and gazed up at her with looks of entreaty. +But Zobeida took no notice, and whipped the dog till she was out of +breath. She then took the chain from the porter, and, raising the dog +on its hind legs, they looked into each other's eyes sorrowfully till +tears began to fall from both. Then Zobeida took her handkerchief and +wiped the dog's eyes tenderly, after which she kissed it, then, putting +the chain into the porter's hand she said, "Take it back to the closet +and bring me the other." +</P> + +<P> +The same ceremony was gone through with the second dog, and all the +while the whole company looked on with astonishment. The Caliph in +particular could hardly contain himself, and made signs to the vizir to +ask what it all meant. But the vizir pretended not to see, and turned +his head away. +</P> + +<P> +Zobeida remained for some time in the middle of the room, till at last +Sadie went up to her and begged her to sit down, as she also had her +part to play. At these words Amina fetched a lute from a case of +yellow satin and gave it to Sadie, who sang several songs to its +accompaniment. When she was tired she said to Amina, "My sister, I can +do no more; come, I pray you, and take my place." +</P> + +<P> +Amina struck a few chords and then broke into a song, which she sang +with so much ardour that she was quite overcome, and sank gasping on a +pile of cushions, tearing open her dress as she did so to give herself +some air. To the amazement of all present, her neck, instead of being +as smooth and white as her face, was a mass of scars. +</P> + +<P> +The Calenders and the Caliph looked at each other, and whispered +together, unheard by Zobeida and Sadie, who were tending their fainting +sister. +</P> + +<P> +"What does it all mean?' asked the Caliph. +</P> + +<P> +"We know no more than you," said the Calender to whom he had spoken. +</P> + +<P> +"What! You do not belong to the house?" +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," answered all the Calenders together, "we came here for the +first time an hour before you." +</P> + +<P> +They then turned to the porter to see if he could explain the mystery, +but the porter was no wiser than they were themselves. At length the +Caliph could contain his curiosity no longer, and declared that he +would compel the ladies to tell them the meaning of their strange +conduct. The vizir, foreseeing what would happen, implored him to +remember the condition their hostesses had imposed, and added in a +whisper that if his Highness would only wait till morning he could as +Caliph summon the ladies to appear before him. But the Caliph, who was +not accustomed to be contradicted, rejected this advice, and it was +resolved after a little more talking that the question should be put by +the porter. Suddenly Zobeida turned round, and seeing their excitement +she said, "What is the matter--what are you all discussing so +earnestly?" +</P> + +<P> +"Madam," answered the porter, "these gentlemen entreat you to explain +to them why you should first whip the dogs and then cry over them, and +also how it happens that the fainting lady is covered with scars. They +have requested me, Madam, to be their mouthpiece." +</P> + +<P> +</P> + +<P> +"Is it true, gentlemen," asked Zobeida, drawing herself up, "that you +have charged this man to put me that question?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is," they all replied, except Giafar, who was silent. +</P> + +<P> +"Is this," continued Zobeida, growing more angry every moment, "is this +the return you make for the hospitality I have shown you? Have you +forgotten the one condition on which you were allowed to enter the +house? Come quickly," she added, clapping her hands three times, and +the words were hardly uttered when seven black slaves, each armed with +a sabre, burst in and stood over the seven men, throwing them on the +ground, and preparing themselves, on a sign from their mistress, to cut +off their heads. +</P> + +<P> +The seven culprits all thought their last hour had come, and the Caliph +repented bitterly that he had not taken the vizir's advice. But they +made up their minds to die bravely, all except the porter, who loudly +inquired of Zobeida why he was to suffer for other people's faults, and +declared that these misfortunes would never have happened if it had not +been for the Calenders, who always brought ill-luck. He ended by +imploring Zobeida not to confound the innocent with the guilty and to +spare his life. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of her anger, there was something so comic in the groans of +the porter that Zobeida could not refrain from laughing. But putting +him aside she addressed the others a second time, saying, "Answer me; +who are you? Unless you tell me truly you have not another moment to +live. I can hardly think you are men of any position, whatever country +you belong to. If you were, you would have had more consideration for +us." +</P> + +<P> +The Caliph, who was naturally very impatient, suffered far more than +either of the others at feeling that his life was at the mercy of a +justly offended lady, but when he heard her question he began to +breathe more freely, for he was convinced that she had only to learn +his name and rank for all danger to be over. So he whispered hastily +to the vizir, who was next to him, to reveal their secret. But the +vizir, wiser than his master, wished to conceal from the public the +affront they had received, and merely answered, "After all, we have +only got what we deserved." +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Zobeida had turned to the three Calenders and inquired if, as +they were all blind, they were brothers. +</P> + +<P> +"No, madam," replied one, "we are no blood relations at all, only +brothers by our mode of life." +</P> + +<P> +"And you," she asked, addressing another, "were you born blind of one +eye?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, madam," returned he, "I became blind through a most surprising +adventure, such as probably has never happened to anybody. After that +I shaved my head and eyebrows and put on the dress in which you see me +now." +</P> + +<P> +Zobeida put the same question to the other two Calenders, and received +the same answer. +</P> + +<P> +"But," added the third, "it may interest you, madam, to know that we +are not men of low birth, but are all three sons of kings, and of +kings, too, whom the world holds in high esteem." +</P> + +<P> +At these words Zobeida's anger cooled down, and she turned to her +slaves and said, "You can give them a little more liberty, but do not +leave the hall. Those that will tell us their histories and their +reasons for coming here shall be allowed to leave unhurt; those who +refuse--" And she paused, but in a moment the porter, who understood +that he had only to relate his story to set himself free from this +terrible danger, immediately broke in, +</P> + +<P> +"Madam, you know already how I came here, and what I have to say will +soon be told. Your sister found me this morning in the place where I +always stand waiting to be hired. She bade me follow her to various +shops, and when my basket was quite full we returned to this house, +when you had the goodness to permit me to remain, for which I shall be +eternally grateful. That is my story." +</P> + +<P> +He looked anxiously to Zobeida, who nodded her head and said, "You can +go; and take care we never meet again." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, madam," cried the porter, "let me stay yet a little while. It is +not just that the others should have heard my story and that I should +not hear theirs," and without waiting for permission he seated himself +on the end of the sofa occupied by the ladies, whilst the rest crouched +on the carpet, and the slaves stood against the wall. +</P> + +<P> +Then one of the Calenders, addressing himself to Zobeida as the +principal lady, began his story. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the First Calender, Son of a King +</H3> + +<P> +In order, madam, to explain how I came to lose my right eye, and to +wear the dress of a Calender, you must first know that I am the son of +a king. My father's only brother reigned over the neighbouring +country, and had two children, a daughter and a son, who were of the +same age as myself. +</P> + +<P> +As I grew up, and was allowed more liberty, I went every year to pay a +visit to my uncle's court, and usually stayed there about two months. +In this way my cousin and I became very intimate, and were much +attached to each other. The very last time I saw him he seemed more +delighted to see me than ever, and gave a great feast in my honour. +When we had finished eating, he said to me, "My cousin, you would never +guess what I have been doing since your last visit to us! Directly +after your departure I set a number of men to work on a building after +my own design. It is now completed, and ready to be lived in. I +should like to show it to you, but you must first swear two things: to +be faithful to me, and to keep my secret." +</P> + +<P> +Of course I did not dream of refusing him anything he asked, and gave +the promise without the least hesitation. He then bade me wait an +instant, and vanished, returning in a few moments with a richly dressed +lady of great beauty, but as he did not tell me her name, I thought it +was better not to inquire. We all three sat down to table and amused +ourselves with talking of all sorts of indifferent things, and with +drinking each other's health. Suddenly the prince said to me, "Cousin, +we have no time to lose; be so kind as to conduct this lady to a +certain spot, where you will find a dome-like tomb, newly built. You +cannot mistake it. Go in, both of you, and wait till I come. I shall +not be long." +</P> + +<P> +As I had promised I prepared to do as I was told, and giving my hand to +the lady, I escorted her, by the light of the moon, to the place of +which the prince had spoken. We had barely reached it when he joined +us himself, carrying a small vessel of water, a pickaxe, and a little +bag containing plaster. +</P> + +<P> +With the pickaxe he at once began to destroy the empty sepulchre in the +middle of the tomb. One by one he took the stones and piled them up in +a corner. When he had knocked down the whole sepulchre he proceeded to +dig at the earth, and beneath where the sepulchre had been I saw a +trap-door. He raised the door and I caught sight of the top of a spiral +staircase; then he said, turning to the lady, "Madam, this is the way +that will lead you down to the spot which I told you of." +</P> + +<P> +The lady did not answer, but silently descended the staircase, the +prince following her. At the top, however, he looked at me. "My +cousin," he exclaimed, "I do not know how to thank you for your +kindness. Farewell." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" I cried. "I don't understand." +</P> + +<P> +"No matter," he replied, "go back by the path that you came." +</P> + +<P> +He would say no more, and, greatly puzzled, I returned to my room in +the palace and went to bed. When I woke, and considered my adventure, +I thought that I must have been dreaming, and sent a servant to ask if +the prince was dressed and could see me. But on hearing that he had +not slept at home I was much alarmed, and hastened to the cemetery, +where, unluckily, the tombs were all so alike that I could not discover +which was the one I was in search of, though I spent four days in +looking for it. +</P> + +<P> +You must know that all this time the king, my uncle, was absent on a +hunting expedition, and as no one knew when he would be back, I at last +decided to return home, leaving the ministers to make my excuses. I +longed to tell them what had become of the prince, about whose fate +they felt the most dreadful anxiety, but the oath I had sworn kept me +silent. +</P> + +<P> +On my arrival at my father's capital, I was astonished to find a large +detachment of guards drawn up before the gate of the palace; they +surrounded me directly I entered. I asked the officers in command the +reason of this strange behaviour, and was horrified to learn that the +army had mutinied and put to death the king, my father, and had placed +the grand-vizir on the throne. Further, that by his orders I was +placed under arrest. +</P> + +<P> +Now this rebel vizir had hated me from my boy-hood, because once, when +shooting at a bird with a bow, I had shot out his eye by accident. Of +course I not only sent a servant at once to offer him my regrets and +apologies, but I made them in person. It was all of no use. He +cherished an undying hatred towards me, and lost no occasion of showing +it. Having once got me in his power I felt he could show no mercy, and +I was right. Mad with triumph and fury he came to me in my prison and +tore out my right eye. That is how I lost it. +</P> + +<P> +My persecutor, however, did not stop here. He shut me up in a large +case and ordered his executioner to carry me into a desert place, to +cut off my head, and then to abandon my body to the birds of prey. The +case, with me inside it, was accordingly placed on a horse, and the +executioner, accompanied by another man, rode into the country until +they found a spot suitable for the purpose. But their hearts were not +so hard as they seemed, and my tears and prayers made them waver. +</P> + +<P> +"Forsake the kingdom instantly," said the executioner at last, "and +take care never to come back, for you will not only lose your head, but +make us lose ours." I thanked him gratefully, and tried to console +myself for the loss of my eye by thinking of the other misfortunes I +had escaped. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +After all I had gone through, and my fear of being recognised by some +enemy, I could only travel very slowly and cautiously, generally +resting in some out-of-the-way place by day, and walking as far as I +was able by night, but at length I arrived in the kingdom of my uncle, +of whose protection I was sure. +</P> + +<P> +I found him in great trouble about the disappearance of his son, who +had, he said, vanished without leaving a trace; but his own grief did +not prevent him sharing mine. We mingled our tears, for the loss of +one was the loss of the other, and then I made up my mind that it was +my duty to break the solemn oath I had sworn to the prince. I +therefore lost no time in telling my uncle everything I knew, and I +observed that even before I had ended his sorrow appeared to be +lightened a little. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear nephew," he said, "your story gives me some hope. I was aware +that my son was building a tomb, and I think I can find the spot. But +as he wished to keep the matter secret, let us go alone and seek the +place ourselves." +</P> + +<P> +He then bade me disguise myself, and we both slipped out of a garden +door which opened on to the cemetery. It did not take long for us to +arrive at the scene of the prince's disappearance, or to discover the +tomb I had sought so vainly before. We entered it, and found the +trap-door which led to the staircase, but we had great difficulty in +raising it, because the prince had fastened it down underneath with the +plaster he had brought with him. +</P> + +<P> +My uncle went first, and I followed him. When we reached the bottom of +the stairs we stepped into a sort of ante-room, filled with such a +dense smoke that it was hardly possible to see anything. However, we +passed through the smoke into a large chamber, which at first seemed +quite empty. The room was brilliantly lighted, and in another moment +we perceived a sort of platform at one end, on which were the bodies of +the prince and a lady, both half-burned, as if they had been dragged +out of a fire before it had quite consumed them. +</P> + +<P> +This horrible sight turned me faint, but, to my surprise, my uncle did +not show so much surprise as anger. +</P> + +<P> +"I knew," he said, "that my son was tenderly attached to this lady, +whom it was impossible he should ever marry. I tried to turn his +thoughts, and presented to him the most beautiful princesses, but he +cared for none of them, and, as you see, they have now been united by a +horrible death in an underground tomb." But, as he spoke, his anger +melted into tears, and again I wept with him. +</P> + +<P> +When he recovered himself he drew me to him. "My dear nephew," he +said, embracing me, "you have come to me to take his place, and I will +do my best to forget that I ever had a son who could act in so wicked a +manner." Then he turned and went up the stairs. +</P> + +<P> +We reached the palace without anyone having noticed our absence, when, +shortly after, a clashing of drums, and cymbals, and the blare of +trumpets burst upon our astonished ears. At the same time a thick +cloud of dust on the horizon told of the approach of a great army. My +heart sank when I perceived that the commander was the vizir who had +dethroned my father, and was come to seize the kingdom of my uncle. +</P> + +<P> +The capital was utterly unprepared to stand a siege, and seeing that +resistance was useless, at once opened its gates. My uncle fought hard +for his life, but was soon overpowered, and when he fell I managed to +escape through a secret passage, and took refuge with an officer whom I +knew I could trust. +</P> + +<P> +Persecuted by ill-fortune, and stricken with grief, there seemed to be +only one means of safety left to me. I shaved my beard and my +eyebrows, and put on the dress of a calender, in which it was easy for +me to travel without being known. I avoided the towns till I reached +the kingdom of the famous and powerful Caliph, Haroun-al-Raschid, when +I had no further reason to fear my enemies. It was my intention to +come to Bagdad and to throw myself at the feet of his Highness, who +would, I felt certain, be touched by my sad story, and would grant me, +besides, his help and protection. +</P> + +<P> +After a journey which lasted some months I arrived at length at the +gates of this city. It was sunset, and I paused for a little to look +about me, and to decide which way to turn my steps. I was still +debating on this subject when I was joined by this other calender, who +stopped to greet me. "You, like me, appear to be a stranger," I said. +He replied that I was right, and before he could say more the third +calender came up. He, also, was newly arrived in Bagdad, and being +brothers in misfortune, we resolved to cast in our lots together, and +to share whatever fate might have in store. +</P> + +<P> +By this time it had grown late, and we did not know where to spend the +night. But our lucky star having guided us to this door, we took the +liberty of knocking and of asking for shelter, which was given to us at +once with the best grace in the world. +</P> + +<P> +This, madam, is my story. +</P> + +<P> +"I am satisfied," replied Zobeida; "you can go when you like." +</P> + +<P> +The calender, however, begged leave to stay and to hear the histories +of his two friends and of the three other persons of the company, which +he was allowed to do. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Second Calender, Son of a King +</H3> + +<P> +"Madam," said the young man, addressing Zobeida, "if you wish to know +how I lost my right eye, I shall have to tell you the story of my whole +life." +</P> + +<P> +I was scarcely more than a baby, when the king my father, finding me +unusually quick and clever for my age, turned his thoughts to my +education. I was taught first to read and write, and then to learn the +Koran, which is the basis of our holy religion, and the better to +understand it, I read with my tutors the ablest commentators on its +teaching, and committed to memory all the traditions respecting the +Prophet, which have been gathered from the mouth of those who were his +friends. I also learnt history, and was instructed in poetry, +versification, geography, chronology, and in all the outdoor exercises +in which every prince should excel. But what I liked best of all was +writing Arabic characters, and in this I soon surpassed my masters, and +gained a reputation in this branch of knowledge that reached as far as +India itself. +</P> + +<P> +Now the Sultan of the Indies, curious to see a young prince with such +strange tastes, sent an ambassador to my father, laden with rich +presents, and a warm invitation to visit his court. My father, who was +deeply anxious to secure the friendship of so powerful a monarch, and +held besides that a little travel would greatly improve my manners and +open my mind, accepted gladly, and in a short time I had set out for +India with the ambassador, attended only by a small suite on account of +the length of the journey, and the badness of the roads. However, as +was my duty, I took with me ten camels, laden with rich presents for +the Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +We had been travelling for about a month, when one day we saw a cloud +of dust moving swiftly towards us; and as soon as it came near, we +found that the dust concealed a band of fifty robbers. Our men barely +numbered half, and as we were also hampered by the camels, there was no +use in fighting, so we tried to overawe them by informing them who we +were, and whither we were going. The robbers, however, only laughed, +and declared that was none of their business, and, without more words, +attacked us brutally. I defended myself to the last, wounded though I +was, but at length, seeing that resistance was hopeless, and that the +ambassador and all our followers were made prisoners, I put spurs to my +horse and rode away as fast as I could, till the poor beast fell dead +from a wound in his side. I managed to jump off without any injury, +and looked about to see if I was pursued. But for the moment I was +safe, for, as I imagined, the robbers were all engaged in quarrelling +over their booty. +</P> + +<P> +I found myself in a country that was quite new to me, and dared not +return to the main road lest I should again fall into the hands of the +robbers. Luckily my wound was only a slight one, and after binding it +up as well as I could, I walked on for the rest of the day, till I +reached a cave at the foot of a mountain, where I passed the night in +peace, making my supper off some fruits I had gathered on the way. +</P> + +<P> +I wandered about for a whole month without knowing where I was going, +till at length I found myself on the outskirts of a beautiful city, +watered by winding streams, which enjoyed an eternal spring. My +delight at the prospect of mixing once more with human beings was +somewhat damped at the thought of the miserable object I must seem. My +face and hands had been burned nearly black; my clothes were all in +rags, and my shoes were in such a state that I had been forced to +abandon them altogether. +</P> + +<P> +I entered the town, and stopped at a tailor's shop to inquire where I +was. The man saw I was better than my condition, and begged me to sit +down, and in return I told him my whole story. The tailor listened +with attention, but his reply, instead of giving me consolation, only +increased my trouble. +</P> + +<P> +"Beware," he said, "of telling any one what you have told me, for the +prince who governs the kingdom is your father's greatest enemy, and he +will be rejoiced to find you in his power." +</P> + +<P> +I thanked the tailor for his counsel, and said I would do whatever he +advised; then, being very hungry, I gladly ate of the food he put +before me, and accepted his offer of a lodging in his house. +</P> + +<P> +In a few days I had quite recovered from the hardships I had undergone, +and then the tailor, knowing that it was the custom for the princes of +our religion to learn a trade or profession so as to provide for +themselves in times of ill-fortune, inquired if there was anything I +could do for my living. I replied that I had been educated as a +grammarian and a poet, but that my great gift was writing. +</P> + +<P> +"All that is of no use here," said the tailor. "Take my advice, put on +a short coat, and as you seem hardy and strong, go into the woods and +cut firewood, which you will sell in the streets. By this means you +will earn your living, and be able to wait till better times come. The +hatchet and the cord shall be my present." +</P> + +<P> +This counsel was very distasteful to me, but I thought I could not do +otherwise than adopt it. So the next morning I set out with a company +of poor wood-cutters, to whom the tailor had introduced me. Even on +the first day I cut enough wood to sell for a tolerable sum, and very +soon I became more expert, and had made enough money to repay the +tailor all he had lent me. +</P> + +<P> +I had been a wood-cutter for more than a year, when one day I wandered +further into the forest than I had ever done before, and reached a +delicious green glade, where I began to cut wood. I was hacking at the +root of a tree, when I beheld an iron ring fastened to a trapdoor of +the same metal. I soon cleared away the earth, and pulling up the +door, found a staircase, which I hastily made up my mind to go down, +carrying my hatchet with me by way of protection. When I reached the +bottom I discovered that I was in a huge palace, as brilliantly lighted +as any palace above ground that I had ever seen, with a long gallery +supported by pillars of jasper, ornamented with capitals of gold. Down +this gallery a lady came to meet me, of such beauty that I forgot +everything else, and thought only of her. +</P> + +<P> +To save her all the trouble possible, I hastened towards her, and bowed +low. +</P> + +<P> +"Who are you? Who are you?" she said. "A man or a genius?" +</P> + +<P> +"A man, madam," I replied; "I have nothing to do with genii." +</P> + +<P> +"By what accident do you come here?" she asked again with a sigh. "I +have been in this place now for five and twenty years, and you are the +first man who has visited me." +</P> + +<P> +Emboldened by her beauty and gentleness, I ventured to reply, "Before, +madam, I answer your question, allow me to say how grateful I am for +this meeting, which is not only a consolation to me in my own heavy +sorrow, but may perhaps enable me to render your lot happier," and then +I told her who I was, and how I had come there. +</P> + +<P> +"Alas, prince," she said, with a deeper sigh than before, "you have +guessed rightly in supposing me an unwilling prisoner in this gorgeous +place. I am the daughter of the king of the Ebony Isle, of whose fame +you surely must have heard. At my father's desire I was married to a +prince who was my own cousin; but on my very wedding day, I was +snatched up by a genius, and brought here in a faint. For a long while +I did nothing but weep, and would not suffer the genius to come near +me; but time teaches us submission, and I have now got accustomed to +his presence, and if clothes and jewels could content me, I have them +in plenty. Every tenth day, for five and twenty years, I have received +a visit from him, but in case I should need his help at any other time, +I have only to touch a talisman that stands at the entrance of my +chamber. It wants still five days to his next visit, and I hope that +during that time you will do me the honour to be my guest." +</P> + +<P> +I was too much dazzled by her beauty to dream of refusing her offer, +and accordingly the princess had me conducted to the bath, and a rich +dress befitting my rank was provided for me. Then a feast of the most +delicate dishes was served in a room hung with embroidered Indian +fabrics. +</P> + +<P> +Next day, when we were at dinner, I could maintain my patience no +longer, and implored the princess to break her bonds, and return with +me to the world which was lighted by the sun. +</P> + +<P> +"What you ask is impossible," she answered; "but stay here with me +instead, and we can be happy, and all you will have to do is to betake +yourself to the forest every tenth day, when I am expecting my master +the genius. He is very jealous, as you know, and will not suffer a man +to come near me." +</P> + +<P> +"Princess," I replied, "I see it is only fear of the genius that makes +you act like this. For myself, I dread him so little that I mean to +break his talisman in pieces! Awful though you think him, he shall +feel the weight of my arm, and I herewith take a solemn vow to stamp +out the whole race." +</P> + +<P> +The princess, who realized the consequences of such audacity, entreated +me not to touch the talisman. "If you do, it will be the ruin of both +of us," said she; "I know genii much better than you." But the wine I +had drunk had confused my brain; I gave one kick to the talisman, and +it fell into a thousand pieces. +</P> + +<P> +Hardly had my foot touched the talisman when the air became as dark as +night, a fearful noise was heard, and the palace shook to its very +foundations. In an instant I was sobered, and understood what I had +done. "Princess!" I cried, "what is happening?" +</P> + +<P> +"Alas!" she exclaimed, forgetting all her own terrors in anxiety for +me, "fly, or you are lost." +</P> + +<P> +I followed her advice and dashed up the staircase, leaving my hatchet +behind me. But I was too late. The palace opened and the genius +appeared, who, turning angrily to the princess, asked indignantly, +</P> + +<P> +"What is the matter, that you have sent for me like this?" +</P> + +<P> +"A pain in my heart," she replied hastily, "obliged me to seek the aid +of this little bottle. Feeling faint, I slipped and fell against the +talisman, which broke. That is really all." +</P> + +<P> +"You are an impudent liar!" cried the genius. "How did this hatchet +and those shoes get here?" +</P> + +<P> +"I never saw them before," she answered, "and you came in such a hurry +that you may have picked them up on the road without knowing it." To +this the genius only replied by insults and blows. I could hear the +shrieks and groans of the princess, and having by this time taken off +my rich garments and put on those in which I had arrived the previous +day, I lifted the trap, found myself once more in the forest, and +returned to my friend the tailor, with a light load of wood and a heart +full of shame and sorrow. +</P> + +<P> +The tailor, who had been uneasy at my long absence, was, delighted to +see me; but I kept silence about my adventure, and as soon as possible +retired to my room to lament in secret over my folly. While I was thus +indulging my grief my host entered, and said, "There is an old man +downstairs who has brought your hatchet and slippers, which he picked +up on the road, and now restores to you, as he found out from one of +your comrades where you lived. You had better come down and speak to +him yourself." At this speech I changed colour, and my legs trembled +under me. The tailor noticed my confusion, and was just going to +inquire the reason when the door of the room opened, and the old man +appeared, carrying with him my hatchet and shoes. +</P> + +<P> +"I am a genius," he said, "the son of the daughter of Eblis, prince of +the genii. Is not this hatchet yours, and these shoes?" Without +waiting for an answer--which, indeed, I could hardly have given him, so +great was my fright--he seized hold of me, and darted up into the air +with the quickness of lightning, and then, with equal swiftness, +dropped down towards the earth. When he touched the ground, he rapped +it with his foot; it opened, and we found ourselves in the enchanted +palace, in the presence of the beautiful princess of the Ebony Isle. +But how different she looked from what she was when I had last seen +her, for she was lying stretched on the ground covered with blood, and +weeping bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +"Traitress!" cried the genius, "is not this man your lover?" +</P> + +<P> +She lifted up her eyes slowly, and looked sadly at me. "I never saw +him before," she answered slowly. "I do not know who he is." +</P> + +<P> +"What!" exclaimed the genius, "you owe all your sufferings to him, and +yet you dare to say he is a stranger to you!" +</P> + +<P> +"But if he really is a stranger to me," she replied, "why should I tell +a lie and cause his death?" +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," said the genius, drawing his sword, "take this, and cut +off his head." +</P> + +<P> +"Alas," answered the princess, "I am too weak even to hold the sabre. +And supposing that I had the strength, why should I put an innocent man +to death?" +</P> + +<P> +"You condemn yourself by your refusal," said the genius; then turning +to me, he added, "and you, do you not know her?" +</P> + +<P> +"How should I?" I replied, resolved to imitate the princess in her +fidelity. "How should I, when I never saw her before?" +</P> + +<P> +"Cut her head off," then, "if she is a stranger to you, and I shall +believe you are speaking the truth, and will set you at liberty." +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly," I answered, taking the sabre in my hands, and making a +sign to the princess to fear nothing, as it was my own life that I was +about to sacrifice, and not hers. But the look of gratitude she gave +me shook my courage, and I flung the sabre to the earth. +</P> + +<P> +"I should not deserve to live," I said to the genius, "if I were such a +coward as to slay a lady who is not only unknown to me, but who is at +this moment half dead herself. Do with me as you will--I am in your +power--but I refuse to obey your cruel command." +</P> + +<P> +"I see," said the genius, "that you have both made up your minds to +brave me, but I will give you a sample of what you may expect." So +saying, with one sweep of his sabre he cut off a hand of the princess, +who was just able to lift the other to wave me an eternal farewell. +Then I lost consciousness for several minutes. +</P> + +<P> +When I came to myself I implored the genius to keep me no longer in +this state of suspense, but to lose no time in putting an end to my +sufferings. The genius, however, paid no attention to my prayers, but +said sternly, "That is the way in which a genius treats the woman who +has betrayed him. If I chose, I could kill you also; but I will be +merciful, and content myself with changing you into a dog, an ass, a +lion, or a bird--whichever you prefer." +</P> + +<P> +I caught eagerly at these words, as giving me a faint hope of softening +his wrath. "O genius!" I cried, "as you wish to spare my life, be +generous, and spare it altogether. Grant my prayer, and pardon my +crime, as the best man in the whole world forgave his neighbour who was +eaten up with envy of him." Contrary to my hopes, the genius seemed +interested in my words, and said he would like to hear the story of the +two neighbours; and as I think, madam, it may please you, I will tell +it to you also. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Envious Man and of Him Who Was Envied +</H3> + +<P> +In a town of moderate size, two men lived in neighbouring houses; +but they had not been there very long before one man took such a +hatred of the other, and envied him so bitterly, that the poor man +determined to find another home, hoping that when they no longer +met every day his enemy would forget all about him. So he sold +his house and the little furniture it contained, and moved into +the capital of the country, which was luckily at no great distance. +About half a mile from this city he bought a nice little place, +with a large garden and a fair-sized court, in the centre of which +stood an old well. +</P> + +<P> +In order to live a quieter life, the good man put on the robe +of a dervish, and divided his house into a quantity of small cells, +where he soon established a number of other dervishes. +The fame of his virtue gradually spread abroad, and many people, +including several of the highest quality, came to visit him and ask +his prayers. +</P> + +<P> +Of course it was not long before his reputation reached the ears of +the man who envied him, and this wicked wretch resolved never to rest +till he had in some way worked ill to the dervish whom he hated. +So he left his house and his business to look after themselves, +and betook himself to the new dervish monastery, where he was +welcomed by the founder with all the warmth imaginable. The excuse +he gave for his appearance was that he had come to consult the +chief of the dervishes on a private matter of great importance. +"What I have to say must not be overheard," he whispered; +"command, I beg of you, that your dervishes retire into their cells, +as night is approaching, and meet me in the court." +</P> + +<P> +The dervish did as he was asked without delay, and directly they +were alone together the envious man began to tell a long story, +edging, as they walked to and fro, always nearer to the well, and when +they were quite close, he seized the dervish and dropped him in. +He then ran off triumphantly, without having been seen by anyone, +and congratulating himself that the object of his hatred was dead, +and would trouble him no more. +</P> + +<P> +But in this he was mistaken! The old well had long been inhabited +(unknown to mere human beings) by a set of fairies and genii, +who caught the dervish as he fell, so that he received no hurt. +The dervish himself could see nothing, but he took for granted that +something strange had happened, or he must certainly have been dashed +against the side of the well and been killed. He lay quite still, +and in a moment he heard a voice saying, "Can you guess whom this man +is that we have saved from death?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied several other voices. +</P> + +<P> +And the first speaker answered, "I will tell you. This man, +from pure goodness of heart, forsook the town where he lived and +came to dwell here, in the hope of curing one of his neighbours +of the envy he felt towards him. But his character soon won him +the esteem of all, and the envious man's hatred grew, till he +came here with the deliberate intention of causing his death. +And this he would have done, without our help, the very day before +the Sultan has arranged to visit this holy dervish, and to entreat +his prayers for the princess, his daughter." +</P> + +<P> +"But what is the matter with the princess that she needs +the dervish's prayers?" asked another voice. +</P> + +<P> +"She has fallen into the power of the genius Maimoum, the son of Dimdim," +replied the first voice. "But it would be quite simple for this +holy chief of the dervishes to cure her if he only knew! In his +convent there is a black cat which has a tiny white tip to its tail. +Now to cure the princess the dervish must pull out seven of these +white hairs, burn three, and with their smoke perfume the head +of the princess. This will deliver her so completely that Maimoum, +the son of Dimdim, will never dare to approach her again." +</P> + +<P> +The fairies and genii ceased talking, but the dervish did not forget +a word of all they had said; and when morning came he perceived +a place in the side of the well which was broken, and where he +could easily climb out. +</P> + +<P> +The dervishes, who could not imagine what had become of him, +were enchanted at his reappearance. He told them of the attempt on +his life made by his guest of the previous day, and then retired into +his cell. He was soon joined here by the black cat of which the voice +had spoken, who came as usual to say good-morning to his master. +He took him on his knee and seized the opportunity to pull seven +white hairs out of his tail, and put them on one side till they +were needed. +</P> + +<P> +The sun had not long risen before the Sultan, who was anxious +to leave nothing undone that might deliver the princess, +arrived with a large suite at the gate of the monastery, +and was received by the dervishes with profound respect. +The Sultan lost no time in declaring the object of his visit, +and leading the chief of the dervishes aside, he said to him, +"Noble scheik, you have guessed perhaps what I have come to ask you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sire," answered the dervish; "if I am not mistaken, it is +the illness of the princess which has procured me this honour." +</P> + +<P> +"You are right," returned the Sultan, "and you will give me fresh +life if you can by your prayers deliver my daughter from the strange +malady that has taken possession of her." +</P> + +<P> +"Let your highness command her to come here, and I will see what I +can do." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan, full of hope, sent orders at once that the princess +was to set out as soon as possible, accompanied by her usual staff +of attendants. When she arrived, she was so thickly veiled that +the dervish could not see her face, but he desired a brazier to be +held over her head, and laid the seven hairs on the burning coals. +The instant they were consumed, terrific cries were heard, +but no one could tell from whom they proceeded. Only the dervish +guessed that they were uttered by Maimoum the son of Dimdim, +who felt the princess escaping him. +</P> + +<P> +All this time she had seemed unconscious of what she was doing, +but now she raised her hand to her veil and uncovered her face. +"Where am I?" she said in a bewildered manner; "and how did I +get here?" +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan was so delighted to hear these words that he not only +embraced his daughter, but kissed the hand of the dervish. +Then, turning to his attendants who stood round, he said to them, +"What reward shall I give to the man who has restored me my daughter?" +</P> + +<P> +They all replied with one accord that he deserved the hand +of the princess. +</P> + +<P> +"That is my own opinion," said he, "and from this moment I declare +him to be my son-in-law." +</P> + +<P> +Shortly after these events, the grand-vizir died, and his post +was given to the dervish. But he did not hold it for long, for the +Sultan fell a victim to an attack of illness, and as he had no sons, +the soldiers and priests declared the dervish heir to the throne, +to the great joy of all the people. +</P> + +<P> +One day, when the dervish, who had now become Sultan, was making +a royal progress with his court, he perceived the envious man standing +in the crowd. He made a sign to one of his vizirs, and whispered in +his ear, "Fetch me that man who is standing out there, but take great +care not to frighten him." The vizir obeyed, and when the envious man +was brought before the Sultan, the monarch said to him, "My friend, +I am delighted to see you again." Then turning to an officer, +he added, "Give him a thousand pieces of gold out of my treasury, +and twenty waggon-loads of merchandise out of my private stores, +and let an escort of soldiers accompany him home." He then took +leave of the envious man, and went on his way. +</P> + +<P> +Now when I had ended my story, I proceeded to show the genius +how to apply it to himself. "O genius," I said, "you see that this +Sultan was not content with merely forgiving the envious man +for the attempt on his life; he heaped rewards and riches upon him." +</P> + +<P> +But the genius had made up his mind, and could not be softened. +"Do not imagine that you are going to escape so easily," he said. +"All I can do is to give you bare life; you will have to learn what +happens to people who interfere with me." +</P> + +<P> +As he spoke he seized me violently by the arm; the roof of the palace +opened to make way for us, and we mounted up so high into the air +that the earth looked like a little cloud. Then, as before, +he came down with the swiftness of lightning, and we touched +the ground on a mountain top. +</P> + +<P> +Then he stooped and gathered a handful of earth, and murmured some +words over it, after which he threw the earth in my face, saying as +he did so, "Quit the form of a man, and assume that of a monkey." +This done, he vanished, and I was in the likeness of an ape, +and in a country I had never seen before. +</P> + +<P> +However there was no use in stopping where I was, so I came down +the mountain and found myself in a flat plain which was bounded +by the sea. I travelled towards it, and was pleased to see a +vessel moored about half a mile from shore. There were no waves, +so I broke off the branch of a tree, and dragging it down to the +water's edge, sat across it, while, using two sticks for oars, +I rowed myself towards the ship. +</P> + +<P> +The deck was full of people, who watched my progress with interest, +but when I seized a rope and swung myself on board, I found that I +had only escaped death at the hands of the genius to perish +by those of the sailors, lest I should bring ill-luck to the +vessel and the merchants. "Throw him into the sea!" cried one. +"Knock him on the head with a hammer," exclaimed another. "Let me +shoot him with an arrow," said a third; and certainly somebody +would have had his way if I had not flung myself at the captain's +feet and grasped tight hold of his dress. He appeared touched +by my action and patted my head, and declared that he would take +me under his protection, and that no one should do me any harm. +</P> + +<P> +At the end of about fifty days we cast anchor before a large town, +and the ship was immediately surrounded by a multitude of small +boats filled with people, who had come either to meet their friends +or from simple curiosity. Among others, one boat contained several +officials, who asked to see the merchants on board, and informed +them that they had been sent by the Sultan in token of welcome, +and to beg them each to write a few lines on a roll of paper. +"In order to explain this strange request," continued the officers, +"it is necessary that you should know that the grand-vizir, +lately dead, was celebrated for his beautiful handwriting, +and the Sultan is anxious to find a similar talent in his successor. +Hitherto the search has been a failure, but his Highness has not yet +given up hope." +</P> + +<P> +One after another the merchants set down a few lines upon the roll, +and when they had all finished, I came forward, and snatched +the paper from the man who held it. At first they all thought I +was going to throw it into the sea, but they were quieted when they +saw I held it with great care, and great was their surprise when I +made signs that I too wished to write something. +</P> + +<P> +"Let him do it if he wants to," said the captain. "If he only makes +a mess of the paper, you may be sure I will punish him for it. +But if, as I hope, he really can write, for he is the cleverest +monkey I ever saw, I will adopt him as my son. The one I lost had +not nearly so much sense!" +</P> + +<P> +No more was said, and I took the pen and wrote the six sorts +of writing in use among the Arabs, and each sort contained +an original verse or couplet, in praise of the Sultan. And not +only did my handwriting completely eclipse that of the merchants, +but it is hardly too much to say that none so beautiful had ever +before been seen in that country. When I had ended the officials +took the roll and returned to the Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the monarch saw my writing he did not so much as look +at the samples of the merchants, but desired his officials to take +the finest and most richly caparisoned horse in his stables, +together with the most magnificent dress they could procure, +and to put it on the person who had written those lines, and bring +him to court. +</P> + +<P> +The officials began to laugh when they heard the Sultan's command, +but as soon as they could speak they said, "Deign, your highness, +to excuse our mirth, but those lines were not written by a man +but by a monkey." +</P> + +<P> +"A monkey!" exclaimed the Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sire," answered the officials. "They were written by a monkey +in our presence." +</P> + +<P> +"Then bring me the monkey," he replied, "as fast as you can." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan's officials returned to the ship and showed the royal +order to the captain. +</P> + +<P> +"He is the master," said the good man, and desired that I should +be sent for. +</P> + +<P> +Then they put on me the gorgeous robe and rowed me to land, where I +was placed on the horse and led to the palace. Here the Sultan +was awaiting me in great state surrounded by his court. +</P> + +<P> +All the way along the streets I had been the object of curiosity +to a vast crowd, which had filled every doorway and every window, +and it was amidst their shouts and cheers that I was ushered into +the presence of the Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +I approached the throne on which he was seated and made him three +low bows, then prostrated myself at his feet to the surprise of everyone, +who could not understand how it was possible that a monkey should +be able to distinguish a Sultan from other people, and to pay him +the respect due to his rank. However, excepting the usual speech, +I omitted none of the common forms attending a royal audience. +</P> + +<P> +When it was over the Sultan dismissed all the court, keeping with him +only the chief of the eunuchs and a little slave. He then passed +into another room and ordered food to be brought, making signs +to me to sit at table with him and eat. I rose from my seat, +kissed the ground, and took my place at the table, eating, as you +may suppose, with care and in moderation. +</P> + +<P> +Before the dishes were removed I made signs that writing materials, +which stood in one corner of the room, should be laid in front of me. +I then took a peach and wrote on it some verses in praise of the Sultan, +who was speechless with astonishment; but when I did the same +thing on a glass from which I had drunk he murmured to himself, +"Why, a man who could do as much would be cleverer than any other man, +and this is only a monkey!" +</P> + +<P> +Supper being over chessmen were brought, and the Sultan signed to me +to know if I would play with him. I kissed the ground and laid my hand +on my head to show that I was ready to show myself worthy of the honour. +He beat me the first game, but I won the second and third, and seeing +that this did not quite please I dashed off a verse by way of consolation. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan was so enchanted with all the talents of which I had given +proof that he wished me to exhibit some of them to other people. +So turning to the chief of the eunuchs he said, "Go and beg my daughter, +Queen of Beauty, to come here. I will show her something she has +never seen before." +</P> + +<P> +The chief of the eunuchs bowed and left the room, ushering in a few +moments later the princess, Queen of Beauty. Her face was uncovered, +but the moment she set foot in the room she threw her veil over +her head. "Sire," she said to her father, "what can you be thinking +of to summon me like this into the presence of a man?" +</P> + +<P> +"I do not understand you," replied the Sultan. "There is nobody +here but the eunuch, who is your own servant, the little slave, +and myself, yet you cover yourself with your veil and reproach me +for having sent for you, as if I had committed a crime." +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," answered the princess, "I am right and you are wrong. +This monkey is really no monkey at all, but a young prince who has +been turned into a monkey by the wicked spells of a genius, son of +the daughter of Eblis." +</P> + +<P> +As will be imagined, these words took the Sultan by surprise, and he +looked at me to see how I should take the statement of the princess. +As I was unable to speak, I placed my hand on my head to show that it +was true. +</P> + +<P> +"But how do you know this, my daughter?" asked he. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied Queen of Beauty, "the old lady who took care of me +in my childhood was an accomplished magician, and she taught me +seventy rules of her art, by means of which I could, in the twinkling +of an eye, transplant your capital into the middle of the ocean. +Her art likewise teaches me to recognise at first sight all persons +who are enchanted, and tells me by whom the spell was wrought." +</P> + +<P> +"My daughter," said the Sultan, "I really had no idea you were +so clever." +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied the princess, "there are many out-of-the-way things +it is as well to know, but one should never boast of them." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," asked the Sultan, "can you tell me what must be done +to disenchant the young prince?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly; and I can do it." +</P> + +<P> +"Then restore him to his former shape," cried the Sultan. +"You could give me no greater pleasure, for I wish to make him +my grand-vizir, and to give him to you for your husband." +</P> + +<P> +"As your Highness pleases," replied the princess. +</P> + +<P> +Queen of Beauty rose and went to her chamber, from which she +fetched a knife with some Hebrew words engraven on the blade. +She then desired the Sultan, the chief of the eunuchs, the little +slave, and myself to descend into a secret court of the palace, +and placed us beneath a gallery which ran all round, she herself +standing in the centre of the court. Here she traced a large +circle and in it wrote several words in Arab characters. +</P> + +<P> +When the circle and the writing were finished she stood in the middle +of it and repeated some verses from the Koran. Slowly the air +grew dark, and we felt as if the earth was about to crumble away, +and our fright was by no means diminished at seeing the genius, +son of the daughter of Eblis, suddenly appear under the form of a +colossal lion. +</P> + +<P> +"Dog," cried the princess when she first caught sight of him, +"you think to strike terror into me by daring to present yourself +before me in this hideous shape." +</P> + +<P> +"And you," retorted the lion, "have not feared to break our treaty +that engaged solemnly we should never interfere with each other." +</P> + +<P> +"Accursed genius!" exclaimed the princess, "it is you by whom +that treaty was first broken." +</P> + +<P> +"I will teach you how to give me so much trouble," said the lion, +and opening his huge mouth he advanced to swallow her. But the +princess expected something of the sort and was on her guard. +She bounded on one side, and seizing one of the hairs of his mane +repeated two or three words over it. In an instant it became a sword, +and with a sharp blow she cut the lion's body into two pieces. +These pieces vanished no one knew where, and only the lion's +head remained, which was at once changed into a scorpion. +Quick as thought the princess assumed the form of a serpent +and gave battle to the scorpion, who, finding he was getting +the worst of it, turned himself into an eagle and took flight. +But in a moment the serpent had become an eagle more powerful still, +who soared up in the air and after him, and then we lost sight of +them both. +</P> + +<P> +We all remained where we were quaking with anxiety, when the ground +opened in front of us and a black and white cat leapt out, its hair +standing on end, and miauing frightfully. At its heels was a wolf, +who had almost seized it, when the cat changed itself into a worm, +and, piercing the skin of a pomegranate which had tumbled from a tree, +hid itself in the fruit. The pomegranate swelled till it grew as +large as a pumpkin, and raised itself on to the roof of the gallery, +from which it fell into the court and was broken into bits. +While this was taking place the wolf, who had transformed himself +into a cock, began to swallow the seed of the pomegranate as fast +as he could. When all were gone he flew towards us, flapping his +wings as if to ask if we saw any more, when suddenly his eye fell +on one which lay on the bank of the little canal that flowed +through the court; he hastened towards it, but before he could touch +it the seed rolled into the canal and became a fish. The cock +flung himself in after the fish and took the shape of a pike, +and for two hours they chased each other up and down under the water, +uttering horrible cries, but we could see nothing. At length they +rose from the water in their proper forms, but darting such flames +of fire from their mouths that we dreaded lest the palace should +catch fire. Soon, however, we had much greater cause for alarm, +as the genius, having shaken off the princess, flew towards us. +Our fate would have been sealed if the princess, seeing our danger, +had not attracted the attention of the genius to herself. As it was, +the Sultan's beard was singed and his face scorched, the chief +of the eunuchs was burned to a cinder, while a spark deprived me +of the sight of one eye. Both I and the Sultan had given up all +hope of a rescue, when there was a shout of "Victory, victory!" +from the princess, and the genius lay at her feet a great heap +of ashes. +</P> + +<P> +Exhausted though she was, the princess at once ordered the little slave, +who alone was uninjured, to bring her a cup of water, which she +took in her hand. First repeating some magic words over it, +she dashed it into my face saying, "If you are only a monkey +by enchantment, resume the form of the man you were before." +In an instant I stood before her the same man I had formerly been, +though having lost the sight of one eye. +</P> + +<P> +I was about to fall on my knees and thank the princess but she did +not give me time. Turning to the Sultan, her father, she said, +"Sire, I have gained the battle, but it has cost me dear. The fire +has penetrated to my heart, and I have only a few moments to live. +This would not have happened if I had only noticed the last +pomegranate seed and eaten it like the rest. It was the last +struggle of the genius, and up to that time I was quite safe. +But having let this chance slip I was forced to resort to fire, +and in spite of all his experience I showed the genius that I +knew more than he did. He is dead and in ashes, but my own +death is approaching fast." "My daughter," cried the Sultan, +"how sad is my condition! I am only surprised I am alive at all! +The eunuch is consumed by the flames, and the prince whom you have +delivered has lost the sight of one eye." He could say no more, +for sobs choked his voice, and we all wept together. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the princess shrieked, "I burn, I burn!" and death came +to free her from her torments. +</P> + +<P> +I have no words, madam, to tell you of my feelings at this +terrible sight. I would rather have remained a monkey all my +life than let my benefactress perish in this shocking manner. +As for the Sultan, he was quite inconsolable, and his subjects, +who had dearly loved the princess, shared his grief. For seven +days the whole nation mourned, and then the ashes of the princess +were buried with great pomp, and a superb tomb was raised over her. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the Sultan recovered from the severe illness which +had seized him after the death of the princess he sent for me +and plainly, though politely, informed me that my presence would +always remind him of his loss, and he begged that I would instantly +quit his kingdom, and on pain of death never return to it. I was, +of course, bound to obey, and not knowing what was to become of me +I shaved my beard and eyebrows and put on the dress of a calender. +After wandering aimlessly through several countries, I resolved to come +to Bagdad and request an audience of the Commander of the Faithful. +</P> + +<P> +And that, madam, is my story. +</P> + +<P> +The other Calender then told his story. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Third Calender, Son of a King +</H3> + +<P> +My story, said the Third Calender, is quite different from those of my +two friends. It was fate that deprived them of the sight of their +right eyes, but mine was lost by my own folly. +</P> + +<P> +My name is Agib, and I am the son of a king called Cassib, who reigned +over a large kingdom, which had for its capital one of the finest +seaport towns in the world. +</P> + +<P> +When I succeeded to my father's throne my first care was to visit the +provinces on the mainland, and then to sail to the numerous islands +which lay off the shore, in order to gain the hearts of my subjects. +These voyages gave me such a taste for sailing that I soon determined +to explore more distant seas, and commanded a fleet of large ships to +be got ready without delay. When they were properly fitted out I +embarked on my expedition. +</P> + +<P> +For forty days wind and weather were all in our favour, but the next +night a terrific storm arose, which blew us hither and thither for ten +days, till the pilot confessed that he had quite lost his bearings. +Accordingly a sailor was sent up to the masthead to try to catch a +sight of land, and reported that nothing was to be seen but the sea and +sky, except a huge mass of blackness that lay astern. +</P> + +<P> +On hearing this the pilot grew white, and, beating his breast, he +cried, "Oh, sir, we are lost, lost!" till the ship's crew trembled at +they knew not what. When he had recovered himself a little, and was +able to explain the cause of his terror, he replied, in answer to my +question, that we had drifted far out of our course, and that the +following day about noon we should come near that mass of darkness, +which, said he, is nothing but the famous Black Mountain. This +mountain is composed of adamant, which attracts to itself all the iron +and nails in your ship; and as we are helplessly drawn nearer, the +force of attraction will become so great that the iron and nails will +fall out of the ships and cling to the mountain, and the ships will +sink to the bottom with all that are in them. This it is that causes +the side of the mountain towards the sea to appear of such a dense +blackness. +</P> + +<P> +As may be supposed--continued the pilot--the mountain sides are very +rugged, but on the summit stands a brass dome supported on pillars, and +bearing on top the figure of a brass horse, with a rider on his back. +This rider wears a breastplate of lead, on which strange signs and +figures are engraved, and it is said that as long as this statue +remains on the dome, vessels will never cease to perish at the foot of +the mountain. +</P> + +<P> +So saying, the pilot began to weep afresh, and the crew, fearing their +last hour had come, made their wills, each one in favour of his fellow. +</P> + +<P> +At noon next day, as the pilot had foretold, we were so near to the +Black Mountain that we saw all the nails and iron fly out of the ships +and dash themselves against the mountain with a horrible noise. A +moment after the vessels fell asunder and sank, the crews with them. I +alone managed to grasp a floating plank, and was driven ashore by the +wind, without even a scratch. What was my joy on finding myself at the +bottom of some steps which led straight up the mountain, for there was +not another inch to the right or the left where a man could set his +foot. And, indeed, even the steps themselves were so narrow and so +steep that, if the lightest breeze had arisen, I should certainly have +been blown into the sea. +</P> + +<P> +When I reached the top I found the brass dome and the statue exactly as +the pilot had described, but was too wearied with all I had gone +through to do more than glance at them, and, flinging myself under the +dome, was asleep in an instant. In my dreams an old man appeared to me +and said, "Hearken, Agib! As soon as thou art awake dig up the ground +underfoot, and thou shalt find a bow of brass and three arrows of lead. +Shoot the arrows at the statue, and the rider shall tumble into the +sea, but the horse will fall down by thy side, and thou shalt bury him +in the place from which thou tookest the bow and arrows. This being +done the sea will rise and cover the mountain, and on it thou wilt +perceive the figure of a metal man seated in a boat, having an oar in +each hand. Step on board and let him conduct thee; but if thou +wouldest behold thy kingdom again, see that thou takest not the name of +Allah into thy mouth." +</P> + +<P> +Having uttered these words the vision left me, and I woke, much +comforted. I sprang up and drew the bow and arrows out of the ground, +and with the third shot the horseman fell with a great crash into the +sea, which instantly began to rise, so rapidly, that I had hardly time +to bury the horse before the boat approached me. I stepped silently in +and sat down, and the metal man pushed off, and rowed without stopping +for nine days, after which land appeared on the horizon. I was so +overcome with joy at this sight that I forgot all the old man had told +me, and cried out, "Allah be praised! Allah be praised!" +</P> + +<P> +The words were scarcely out of my mouth when the boat and man sank from +beneath me, and left me floating on the surface. All that day and the +next night I swam and floated alternately, making as well as I could +for the land which was nearest to me. At last my strength began to +fail, and I gave myself up for lost, when the wind suddenly rose, and a +huge wave cast me on a flat shore. Then, placing myself in safety, I +hastily spread my clothes out to dry in the sun, and flung myself on +the warm ground to rest. +</P> + +<P> +Next morning I dressed myself and began to look about me. There seemed +to be no one but myself on the island, which was covered with fruit +trees and watered with streams, but seemed a long distance from the +mainland which I hoped to reach. Before, however, I had time to feel +cast down, I saw a ship making directly for the island, and not knowing +whether it would contain friends or foes, I hid myself in the thick +branches of a tree. +</P> + +<P> +The sailors ran the ship into a creek, where ten slaves landed, +carrying spades and pickaxes. In the middle of the island they +stopped, and after digging some time, lifted up what seemed to be a +trapdoor. They then returned to the vessel two or three times for +furniture and provisions, and finally were accompanied by an old man, +leading a handsome boy of fourteen or fifteen years of age. They all +disappeared down the trapdoor, and after remaining below for a few +minutes came up again, but without the boy, and let down the trapdoor, +covering it with earth as before. This done, they entered the ship and +set sail. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as they were out of sight, I came down from my tree, and went +to the place where the boy had been buried. I dug up the earth till I +reached a large stone with a ring in the centre. This, when removed, +disclosed a flight of stone steps which led to a large room richly +furnished and lighted by tapers. On a pile of cushions, covered with +tapestry, sat the boy. He looked up, startled and frightened at the +sight of a stranger in such a place, and to soothe his fears, I at once +spoke: "Be not alarmed, sir, whoever you may be. I am a king, and the +son of a king, and will do you no hurt. On the contrary, perhaps I +have been sent here to deliver you out of this tomb, where you have +been buried alive." +</P> + +<P> +Hearing my words, the young man recovered himself, and when I had +ended, he said, "The reasons, Prince, that have caused me to be buried +in this place are so strange that they cannot but surprise you. My +father is a rich merchant, owning much land and many ships, and has +great dealings in precious stones, but he never ceased mourning that he +had no child to inherit his wealth. +</P> + +<P> +"At length one day he dreamed that the following year a son would be +born to him, and when this actually happened, he consulted all the wise +men in the kingdom as to the future of the infant. One and all they +said the same thing. I was to live happily till I was fifteen, when a +terrible danger awaited me, which I should hardly escape. If, however, +I should succeed in doing so, I should live to a great old age. And, +they added, when the statue of the brass horse on the top of the +mountain of adamant is thrown into the sea by Agib, the son of Cassib, +then beware, for fifty days later your son shall fall by his hand! +</P> + +<P> +"This prophecy struck the heart of my father with such woe, that he +never got over it, but that did not prevent him from attending +carefully to my education till I attained, a short time ago, my +fifteenth birthday. It was only yesterday that the news reached him +that ten days previously the statue of brass had been thrown into the +sea, and he at once set about hiding me in this underground chamber, +which was built for the purpose, promising to fetch me out when the +forty days have passed. For myself, I have no fears, as Prince Agib is +not likely to come here to look for me." +</P> + +<P> +I listened to his story with an inward laugh as to the absurdity of my +ever wishing to cause the death of this harmless boy, whom I hastened +to assure of my friendship and even of my protection; begging him, in +return, to convey me in his father's ship to my own country. I need +hardly say that I took special care not to inform him that I was the +Agib whom he dreaded. +</P> + +<P> +The day passed in conversation on various subjects, and I found him a +youth of ready wit and of some learning. I took on myself the duties +of a servant, held the basin and water for him when he washed, prepared +the dinner and set it on the table. He soon grew to love me, and for +thirty-nine days we spent as pleasant an existence as could be expected +underground. +</P> + +<P> +The morning of the fortieth dawned, and the young man when he woke gave +thanks in an outburst of joy that the danger was passed. "My father +may be here at any moment," said he, "so make me, I pray you, a bath of +hot water, that I may bathe, and change my clothes, and be ready to +receive him." +</P> + +<P> +So I fetched the water as he asked, and washed and rubbed him, after +which he lay down again and slept a little. When he opened his eyes +for the second time, he begged me to bring him a melon and some sugar, +that he might eat and refresh himself. +</P> + +<P> +I soon chose a fine melon out of those which remained, but could find +no knife to cut it with. "Look in the cornice over my head," said he, +"and I think you will see one." It was so high above me, that I had +some difficulty in reaching it, and catching my foot in the covering of +the bed, I slipped, and fell right upon the young man, the knife going +straight into his heart. +</P> + +<P> +At this awful sight I shrieked aloud in my grief and pain. I threw +myself on the ground and rent my clothes and tore my hair with sorrow. +Then, fearing to be punished as his murderer by the unhappy father, I +raised the great stone which blocked the staircase, and quitting the +underground chamber, made everything fast as before. +</P> + +<P> +Scarcely had I finished when, looking out to sea, I saw the vessel +heading for the island, and, feeling that it would be useless for me to +protest my innocence, I again concealed myself among the branches of a +tree that grew near by. +</P> + +<P> +The old man and his slaves pushed off in a boat directly the ship +touched land, and walked quickly towards the entrance to the +underground chamber; but when they were near enough to see that the +earth had been disturbed, they paused and changed colour. In silence +they all went down and called to the youth by name; then for a moment I +heard no more. Suddenly a fearful scream rent the air, and the next +instant the slaves came up the steps, carrying with them the body of +the old man, who had fainted from sorrow! Laying him down at the foot +of the tree in which I had taken shelter, they did their best to +recover him, but it took a long while. When at last he revived, they +left him to dig a grave, and then laying the young man's body in it, +they threw in the earth. +</P> + +<P> +This ended, the slaves brought up all the furniture that remained +below, and put it on the vessel, and breaking some boughs to weave a +litter, they laid the old man on it, and carried him to the ship, which +spread its sails and stood out to sea. +</P> + +<P> +So once more I was quite alone, and for a whole month I walked daily +over the island, seeking for some chance of escape. At length one day +it struck me that my prison had grown much larger, and that the +mainland seemed to be nearer. My heart beat at this thought, which was +almost too good to be true. I watched a little longer: there was no +doubt about it, and soon there was only a tiny stream for me to cross. +</P> + +<P> +Even when I was safe on the other side I had a long distance to go on +the mud and sand before I reached dry ground, and very tired I was, +when far in front of me I caught sight of a castle of red copper, +which, at first sight, I took to be a fire. I made all the haste I +could, and after some miles of hard walking stood before it, and gazed +at it in astonishment, for it seemed to me the most wonderful building +I had ever beheld. While I was still staring at it, there came towards +me a tall old man, accompanied by ten young men, all handsome, and all +blind of the right eye. +</P> + +<P> +Now in its way, the spectacle of ten men walking together, all blind of +the right eye, is as uncommon as that of a copper castle, and I was +turning over in my mind what could be the meaning of this strange fact, +when they greeted me warmly, and inquired what had brought me there. I +replied that my story was somewhat long, but that if they would take +the trouble to sit down, I should be happy to tell it them. When I had +finished, the young men begged that I would go with them to the castle, +and I joyfully accepted their offer. We passed through what seemed to +me an endless number of rooms, and came at length into a large hall, +furnished with ten small blue sofas for the ten young men, which served +as beds as well as chairs, and with another sofa in the middle for the +old man. As none of the sofas could hold more than one person, they +bade me place myself on the carpet, and to ask no questions about +anything I should see. +</P> + +<P> +After a little while the old man rose and brought in supper, which I +ate heartily, for I was very hungry. Then one of the young men begged +me to repeat my story, which had struck them all with astonishment, and +when I had ended, the old man was bidden to "do his duty," as it was +late, and they wished to go to bed. At these words he rose, and went +to a closet, from which he brought out ten basins, all covered with +blue stuff. He set one before each of the young men, together with a +lighted taper. +</P> + +<P> +When the covers were taken off the basins, I saw they were filled with +ashes, coal-dust, and lamp-black. The young men mixed these all +together, and smeared the whole over their heads and faces. They then +wept and beat their breasts, crying, "This is the fruit of idleness, +and of our wicked lives." +</P> + +<P> +This ceremony lasted nearly the whole night, and when it stopped they +washed themselves carefully, and put on fresh clothes, and lay down to +sleep. +</P> + +<P> +All this while I had refrained from questions, though my curiosity +almost seemed to burn a hole in me, but the following day, when we went +out to walk, I said to them, "Gentlemen, I must disobey your wishes, +for I can keep silence no more. You do not appear to lack wit, yet you +do such actions as none but madmen could be capable of. Whatever +befalls me I cannot forbear asking, `Why you daub your faces with +black, and how it is you are all blind of one eye?'" But they only +answered that such questions were none of my business, and that I +should do well to hold my peace. +</P> + +<P> +During that day we spoke of other things, but when night came, and the +same ceremony was repeated, I implored them most earnestly to let me +know the meaning of it all. +</P> + +<P> +"It is for your own sake," replied one of the young men, "that we have +not granted your request, and to preserve you from our unfortunate +fate. If, however, you wish to share our destiny we will delay no +longer." +</P> + +<P> +I answered that whatever might be the consequence I wished to have my +curiosity satisfied, and that I would take the result on my own head. +He then assured me that, even when I had lost my eye, I should be +unable to remain with them, as their number was complete, and could not +be added to. But to this I replied that, though I should be grieved to +part company with such honest gentlemen, I would not be turned from my +resolution on that account. +</P> + +<P> +On hearing my determination my ten hosts then took a sheep and killed +it, and handed me a knife, which they said I should by-and-by find +useful. "We must sew you into this sheep-skin," said they, "and then +leave you. A fowl of monstrous size, called a roc, will appear in the +air, taking you to be a sheep. He will snatch you up and carry you +into the sky, but be not alarmed, for he will bring you safely down and +lay you on the top of a mountain. When you are on the ground cut the +skin with the knife and throw it off. As soon as the roc sees you he +will fly away from fear, but you must walk on till you come to a castle +covered with plates of gold, studded with jewels. Enter boldly at the +gate, which always stands open, but do not ask us to tell you what we +saw or what befel us there, for that you will learn for yourself. This +only we may say, that it cost us each our right eye, and has imposed +upon us our nightly penance." +</P> + +<P> +After the young gentlemen had been at the trouble of sewing the +sheep-skin on me they left me, and retired to the hall. In a few +minutes the roc appeared, and bore me off to the top of the mountain in +his huge claws as lightly as if I had been a feather, for this great +white bird is so strong that he has been known to carry even an +elephant to his nest in the hills. +</P> + +<P> +The moment my feet touched the ground I took out my knife and cut the +threads that bound me, and the sight of me in my proper clothes so +alarmed the roc that he spread his wings and flew away. Then I set out +to seek the castle. +</P> + +<P> +I found it after wandering about for half a day, and never could I have +imagined anything so glorious. The gate led into a square court, into +which opened a hundred doors, ninety-nine of them being of rare woods +and one of gold. Through each of these doors I caught glimpses of +splendid gardens or of rich storehouses. +</P> + +<P> +Entering one of the doors which was standing open I found myself in a +vast hall where forty young ladies, magnificently dressed, and of +perfect beauty, were reclining. As soon as they saw me they rose and +uttered words of welcome, and even forced me to take possession of a +seat that was higher than their own, though my proper place was at +their feet. Not content with this, one brought me splendid garments, +while another filled a basin with scented water and poured it over my +hands, and the rest busied themselves with preparing refreshments. +After I had eaten and drunk of the most delicate food and rarest wines, +the ladies crowded round me and begged me to tell them all my +adventures. +</P> + +<P> +By the time I had finished night had fallen, and the ladies lighted up +the castle with such a prodigious quantity of tapers that even day +could hardly have been brighter. We then sat down to a supper of dried +fruits and sweetmeats, after which some sang and others danced. I was +so well amused that I did not notice how the time was passing, but at +length one of the ladies approached and informed me it was midnight, +and that, as I must be tired, she would conduct me to the room that had +been prepared for me. Then, bidding me good-night, I was left to sleep. +</P> + +<P> +I spent the next thirty-nine days in much the same way as the first, +but at the close of that time the ladies appeared (as was their custom) +in my room one morning to inquire how I had slept, and instead of +looking cheerful and smiling they were in floods of tears. "Prince," +said they, "we must leave you, and never was it so hard to part from +any of our friends. Most likely we shall never see you again, but if +you have sufficient self-command perhaps we may yet look forward to a +meeting." +</P> + +<P> +"Ladies," I replied, "what is the meaning of these strange words--I +pray you to tell me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Know then," answered one of them, "that we are all princesses--each a +king's daughter. We live in this castle together, in the way that you +have seen, but at the end of every year secret duties call us away for +the space of forty days. The time has now come; but before we depart, +we will leave you our keys, so that you may not lack entertainment +during our absence. But one thing we would ask of you. The Golden +Door, alone, forbear to open, as you value your own peace, and the +happiness of your life. That door once unlocked, we must bid you +farewell for ever." +</P> + +<P> +Weeping, I assured them of my prudence, and after embracing me +tenderly, they went their ways. +</P> + +<P> +Every day I opened two or three fresh doors, each of which contained +behind it so many curious things that I had no chance of feeling dull, +much as I regretted the absence of the ladies. Sometimes it was an +orchard, whose fruit far exceeded in bigness any that grew in my +father's garden. Sometimes it was a court planted with roses, +jessamine, dafeodils, hyacinths and anemones, and a thousand other +flowers of which I did not know the names. Or again, it would be an +aviary, fitted with all kinds of singing birds, or a treasury heaped up +with precious stones; but whatever I might see, all was perfect of its +own sort. +</P> + +<P> +Thirty-nine days passed away more rapidly than I could have conceived +possible, and the following morning the princesses were to return to +the castle. But alas! I had explored every corner, save only the room +that was shut in by the Golden Door, and I had no longer anything to +amuse myself with. I stood before the forbidden place for some time, +gazing at its beauty; then a happy inspiration struck me, that because +I unlocked the door it was not necessary that I should enter the +chamber. It would be enough for me to stand outside and view whatever +hidden wonders might be therein. +</P> + +<P> +Thus arguing against my own conscience, I turned the key, when a smell +rushed out that, pleasant though it was, overcame me completely, and I +fell fainting across the threshold. Instead of being warned by this +accident, directly I came to myself I went for a few moments into the +air to shake of the effects of the perfume, and then entered boldly. I +found myself in a large, vaulted room, lighted by tapers, scented with +aloes and ambergris, standing in golden candle-sticks, whilst gold and +silver lamps hung from the ceiling. +</P> + +<P> +Though objects of rare workmanship lay heaped around me, I paid them +scant attention, so much was I struck by a great black horse which +stood in one corner, the handsomest and best-shaped animal I had ever +seen. His saddle and bridle were of massive gold, curiously wrought; +one side of his trough was filled with clean barley and sesame, and the +other with rose water. I led the animal into the open air, and then +jumped on his back, shaking the reins as I did so, but as he never +stirred, I touched him lightly with a switch I had picked up in his +stable. No sooner did he feel the stroke, than he spread his wings +(which I had not perceived before), and flew up with me straight into +the sky. When he had reached a prodigious height, he next darted back +to earth, and alighted on the terrace belonging to a castle, shaking me +violently out of the saddle as he did so, and giving me such a blow +with his tail, that he knocked out my right eye. +</P> + +<P> +Half-stunned as I was with all that had happened to me, I rose to my +feet, thinking as I did so of what had befallen the ten young men, and +watching the horse which was soaring into the clouds. I left the +terrace and wandered on till I came to a hall, which I knew to have +been the one from which the roc had taken me, by the ten blue sofas +against the wall. +</P> + +<P> +The ten young men were not present when I first entered, but came in +soon after, accompanied by the old man. They greeted me kindly, and +bewailed my misfortune, though, indeed, they had expected nothing less. +"All that has happened to you," they said, "we also have undergone, and +we should be enjoying the same happiness still, had we not opened the +Golden Door while the princesses were absent. You have been no wiser +than we, and have suffered the same punishment. We would gladly +receive you among us, to perform such penance as we do, but we have +already told you that this is impossible. Depart, therefore, from +hence and go to the Court of Bagdad, where you shall meet with him that +can decide your destiny." They told me the way I was to travel, and I +left them. +</P> + +<P> +On the road I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved, and put on a +Calender's habit. I have had a long journey, but arrived this evening +in the city, where I met my brother Calenders at the gate, being +strangers like myself. We wondered much at one another, to see we were +all blind of the same eye, but we had no leisure to discourse at length +of our common calamities. We had only so much time as to come hither +to implore those favours which you have been generously pleased to +grant us. +</P> + +<P> +He finished, and it was Zobeida's turn to speak: "Go wherever you +please," she said, addressing all three. "I pardon you all, but you +must depart immediately out of this house." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor +</H3> + +<P> +In the times of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid 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 appetising 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. +</P> + +<P> +"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?" +</P> + +<P> +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, +</P> + +<P> +"Consider, Mighty Creator of all things, the differences 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?" +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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 entrusted 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. +</P> + +<P> +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 honour 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. +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," replied the porter, "I am called Hindbad." +</P> + +<P> +"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. +</P> + +<P> +At this question Hindbad was covered with confusion, and hanging down +his head, replied, "My lord, I confess that, overcome by weariness and +ill-humour, I uttered indiscreet words, which I pray you to pardon me." +</P> + +<P> +"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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +First Voyage +</H3> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 recognised 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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +"Captain," said I, "I am that Sindbad whom you believe to be dead, and +these are my possessions!" +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +"Have patience, and do me the favour to hear my story," said I. +</P> + +<P> +"Speak then," replied the captain, "I'm all attention." +</P> + +<P> +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 recognised me. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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: +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Second Voyage +</H3> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 honourable 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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 foot-hold--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. +</P> + +<P> +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 up rose 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. +</P> + +<P> +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 damped 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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 round 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. +</P> + +<P> +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 Rohat 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. +</P> + +<P> +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 Rohat 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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Third Voyage +</H3> + +<P> +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 harbour on a strange +island. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +When the sun rose I crept down from the tree with hardly a hope of +escaping the dreadful fate which had over-taken 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 faggots, 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 faggots, 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. +</P> + +<P> +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, +</P> + +<P> +"I have here, brother, some merchandise belonging to a passenger of +mine who is dead. Will you do me the favour 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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"In the name of Sindbad the Sailor," replied the captain. +</P> + +<P> +At this I was greatly surprised, but looking carefully at him I +recognised 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 recognised me. +</P> + +<P> +"So, captain," said I, "the merchant who owned those bales was called +Sindbad?" +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +"You suppose him to have perished then?" said I. +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! yes," he answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, captain!" I cried, "look well at me. I am that Sindbad who fell +asleep upon the island and awoke to find himself abandoned!" +</P> + +<P> +The captain stared at me in amazement, but was presently convinced that +I was indeed speaking the truth, and rejoiced greatly at my escape. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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 colour. 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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Fourth Voyage +</H3> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 seashore 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. +</P> + +<P> +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 favour, 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 lock-smith 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. +</P> + +<P> +One day the king sent for me and said, "Sindbad, I am going to ask a +favour 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." +</P> + +<P> +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 neighbours, 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. +</P> + +<P> +"Heaven preserve you," said I, "and send you a long life!" +</P> + +<P> +"Alas!" he replied, "what is the good of saying that when I have but an +hour left to live!" +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +"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!" +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +"But, your Majesty," said I, "dare I ask if this law applies to +foreigners also?" +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 realised 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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Fifth Voyage +</H3> + +<P> +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 favourable 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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 cosy 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 ship-wrecked 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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 a while +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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 cocoanuts, 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 +labour our sacks were filled with the fruit which we could not +otherwise have obtained. +</P> + +<P> +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 labours and +comforted myself with all the pleasures that my riches could give me. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Sixth Voyage +</H3> + +<P> +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 minute 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: +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +This speech discouraged us much, and we began to lament over our sad +fate. +</P> + +<P> +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, and +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. +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +One of the natives, who understood this tongue, then came forward +saying: +</P> + +<P> +"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?" +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"I am Sindbad," I replied, "whom men call `the Sailor,' for I have +voyaged much upon many seas." +</P> + +<P> +"And how come you here?" asked the king. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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: +</P> + +<P> +"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 +seashore 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 entrusted 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 Haroun al Raschid, and assure him of +my friendship." +</P> + +<P> +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 +colour, 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 Haroun al +Raschid 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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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 favourites, 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!'" +</P> + +<P> +"Then the one who stands behind the throne answers: 'This king, so +great and powerful, must die, must die, must die!'" +</P> + +<P> +"And the first takes up the chant again, `All praise to Him who lives +for evermore.'" +</P> + +<P> +"Further, my lord, in Serendib no judge is needed, for to the king +himself his people come for justice." +</P> + +<P> +The Caliph was well satisfied with my report. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +So saying he dismissed me with rich presents, and I returned in peace +to my own house. +</P> + +<P> +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, Sindbad thus began. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Seventh and Last Voyage +</H3> + +<P> +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 follow him into the presence of Haroun al Raschid, +which I accordingly did. After I had saluted him, the Caliph said: +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +The Caliph's commandment fell upon me like a thunderbolt. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +With this I gave him a long account of some of my strangest adventures, +to which he listened patiently. +</P> + +<P> +"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 +honour and dignity demand it." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"Welcome, Sindbad," he cried. "I have thought of you often, and +rejoice to see you once more." +</P> + +<P> +After thanking him for the honour 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 toward 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. +</P> + +<P> +I answered that I was a rich merchant who had been captured by pirates, +and therefore I knew no trade. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me," said he, "can you shoot with a bow?" +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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: +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +So I stayed with him till the time of the monsoon, and every day we +added to our store of ivory till all his ware-houses 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. +</P> + +<P> +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 honours and rewards he +bestowed upon me; and since that time I have rested from my labours, +and given myself up wholly to my family and my friends. +</P> + +<P> +Thus Sindbad ended the story of his seventh and last voyage, and +turning to Hindbad he added: +</P> + +<P> +"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?" +</P> + +<P> +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 in it." +</P> + +<P> +Sindbad then gave him a hundred sequins, and hence-forward 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. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Little Hunchback +</H3> + +<P> +In the kingdom of Kashgar, which is, as everybody knows, situated on +the frontiers of Great Tartary, there lived long ago a tailor and his +wife who loved each other very much. One day, when the tailor was hard +at work, a little hunchback came and sat at the entrance of the shop, +and began to sing and play his tambourine. The tailor was amused with +the antics of the fellow, and thought he would take him home to divert +his wife. The hunchback having agreed to his proposal, the tailor +closed his shop and they set off together. +</P> + +<P> +When they reached the house they found the table ready laid for supper, +and in a very few minutes all three were sitting before a beautiful +fish which the tailor's wife had cooked with her own hands. But +unluckily, the hunchback happened to swallow a large bone, and, in +spite of all the tailor and his wife could do to help him, died of +suffocation in an instant. Besides being very sorry for the poor man, +the tailor and his wife were very much frightened on their own account, +for if the police came to hear of it the worthy couple ran the risk of +being thrown into prison for wilful murder. In order to prevent this +dreadful calamity they both set about inventing some plan which would +throw suspicion on some one else, and at last they made up their minds +that they could do no better than select a Jewish doctor who lived +close by as the author of the crime. So the tailor picked up the +hunchback by his head while his wife took his feet and carried him to +the doctor's house. Then they knocked at the door, which opened +straight on to a steep staircase. A servant soon appeared, feeling her +way down the dark staircase and inquired what they wanted. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell your master," said the tailor, "that we have brought a very sick +man for him to cure; and," he added, holding out some money, "give him +this in advance, so that he may not feel he is wasting his time." The +servant remounted the stairs to give the message to the doctor, and the +moment she was out of sight the tailor and his wife carried the body +swiftly after her, propped it up at the top of the staircase, and ran +home as fast as their legs could carry them. +</P> + +<P> +Now the doctor was so delighted at the news of a patient (for he was +young, and had not many of them), that he was transported with joy. +</P> + +<P> +"Get a light," he called to the servant, "and follow me as fast as you +can!" and rushing out of his room he ran towards the staircase. There +he nearly fell over the body of the hunchback, and without knowing what +it was gave it such a kick that it rolled right to the bottom, and very +nearly dragged the doctor after it. "A light! a light!" he cried +again, and when it was brought and he saw what he had done he was +almost beside himself with terror. +</P> + +<P> +"Holy Moses!" he exclaimed, "why did I not wait for the light? I have +killed the sick man whom they brought me; and if the sacred Ass of +Esdras does not come to my aid I am lost! It will not be long before I +am led to jail as a murderer." +</P> + +<P> +Agitated though he was, and with reason, the doctor did not forget to +shut the house door, lest some passers-by might chance to see what had +happened. He then took up the corpse and carried it into his wife's +room, nearly driving her crazy with fright. +</P> + +<P> +"It is all over with us!" she wailed, "if we cannot find some means of +getting the body out of the house. Once let the sun rise and we can +hide it no longer! How were you driven to commit such a terrible +crime?" +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind that," returned the doctor, "the thing is to find a way out +of it." +</P> + +<P> +For a long while the doctor and his wife continued to turn over in +their minds a way of escape, but could not find any that seemed good +enough. At last the doctor gave it up altogether and resigned himself +to bear the penalty of his misfortune. +</P> + +<P> +But his wife, who had twice his brains, suddenly exclaimed, "I have +thought of something! Let us carry the body on the roof of the house +and lower it down the chimney of our neighbour the Mussulman." Now this +Mussulman was employed by the Sultan, and furnished his table with oil +and butter. Part of his house was occupied by a great storeroom, where +rats and mice held high revel. +</P> + +<P> +The doctor jumped at his wife's plan, and they took up the hunchback, +and passing cords under his armpits they let him down into the +purveyor's bed-room so gently that he really seemed to be leaning +against the wall. When they felt he was touching the ground they drew +up the cords and left him. +</P> + +<P> +Scarcely had they got back to their own house when the purveyor entered +his room. He had spent the evening at a wedding feast, and had a +lantern in his hand. In the dim light it cast he was astonished to see +a man standing in his chimney, but being naturally courageous he seized +a stick and made straight for the supposed thief. "Ah!" he cried, "so +it is you, and not the rats and mice, who steal my butter. I'll take +care that you don't want to come back!" +</P> + +<P> +So saying he struck him several hard blows. The corpse fell on the +floor, but the man only redoubled his blows, till at length it occurred +to him it was odd that the thief should lie so still and make no +resistance. Then, finding he was quite dead, a cold fear took +possession of him. "Wretch that I am," said he, "I have murdered a +man. Ah, my revenge has gone too far. Without the help of Allah I am +undone! Cursed be the goods which have led me to my ruin." And already +he felt the rope round his neck. +</P> + +<P> +But when he had got over the first shock he began to think of some way +out of the difficulty, and seizing the hunchback in his arms he carried +him out into the street, and leaning him against the wall of a shop he +stole back to his own house, without once looking behind him. +</P> + +<P> +A few minutes before the sun rose, a rich Christian merchant, who +supplied the palace with all sorts of necessaries, left his house, +after a night of feasting, to go to the bath. Though he was very +drunk, he was yet sober enough to know that the dawn was at hand, and +that all good Mussulmen would shortly be going to prayer. So he +hastened his steps lest he should meet some one on his way to the +mosque, who, seeing his condition, would send him to prison as a +drunkard. In his haste he jostled against the hunchback, who fell +heavily upon him, and the merchant, thinking he was being attacked by a +thief, knocked him down with one blow of his fist. He then called +loudly for help, beating the fallen man all the while. +</P> + +<P> +The chief policeman of the quarter came running up, and found a +Christian ill-treating a Mussulman. "What are you doing?" he asked +indignantly. +</P> + +<P> +"He tried to rob me," replied the merchant, "and very nearly choked me." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you have had your revenge," said the man, catching hold of his +arm. "Come, be off with you!" +</P> + +<P> +As he spoke he held out his hand to the hunchback to help him up, but +the hunchback never moved. "Oho!" he went on, looking closer, "so this +is the way a Christian has the impudence to treat a Mussulman!" and +seizing the merchant in a firm grasp he took him to the inspector of +police, who threw him into prison till the judge should be out of bed +and ready to attend to his case. All this brought the merchant to his +senses, but the more he thought of it the less he could understand how +the hunchback could have died merely from the blows he had received. +</P> + +<P> +The merchant was still pondering on this subject when he was summoned +before the chief of police and questioned about his crime, which he +could not deny. As the hunchback was one of the Sultan's private +jesters, the chief of police resolved to defer sentence of death until +he had consulted his master. He went to the palace to demand an +audience, and told his story to the Sultan, who only answered, +</P> + +<P> +"There is no pardon for a Christian who kills a Mussulman. Do your +duty." +</P> + +<P> +So the chief of police ordered a gallows to be erected, and sent criers +to proclaim in every street in the city that a Christian was to be +hanged that day for having killed a Mussulman. +</P> + +<P> +When all was ready the merchant was brought from prison and led to the +foot of the gallows. The executioner knotted the cord firmly round the +unfortunate man's neck and was just about to swing him into the air, +when the Sultan's purveyor dashed through the crowd, and cried, +panting, to the hangman, +</P> + +<P> +"Stop, stop, don't be in such a hurry. It was not he who did the +murder, it was I." +</P> + +<P> +The chief of police, who was present to see that everything was in +order, put several questions to the purveyor, who told him the whole +story of the death of the hunchback, and how he had carried the body to +the place where it had been found by the Christian merchant. +</P> + +<P> +"You are going," he said to the chief of police, "to kill an innocent +man, for it is impossible that he should have murdered a creature who +was dead already. It is bad enough for me to have slain a Mussulman +without having it on my conscience that a Christian who is guiltless +should suffer through my fault." +</P> + +<P> +Now the purveyor's speech had been made in a loud voice, and was heard +by all the crowd, and even if he had wished it, the chief of police +could not have escaped setting the merchant free. +</P> + +<P> +"Loose the cords from the Christian's neck," he commanded, turning to +the executioner, "and hang this man in his place, seeing that by his +own confession he is the murderer." +</P> + +<P> +The hangman did as he was bid, and was tying the cord firmly, when he +was stopped by the voice of the Jewish doctor beseeching him to pause, +for he had something very important to say. When he had fought his way +through the crowd and reached the chief of police, +</P> + +<P> +"Worshipful sir," he began, "this Mussulman whom you desire to hang is +unworthy of death; I alone am guilty. Last night a man and a woman who +were strangers to me knocked at my door, bringing with them a patient +for me to cure. The servant opened it, but having no light was hardly +able to make out their faces, though she readily agreed to wake me and +to hand me the fee for my services. While she was telling me her story +they seem to have carried the sick man to the top of the staircase and +then left him there. I jumped up in a hurry without waiting for a +lantern, and in the darkness I fell against something, which tumbled +headlong down the stairs and never stopped till it reached the bottom. +When I examined the body I found it was quite dead, and the corpse was +that of a hunchback Mussulman. Terrified at what we had done, my wife +and I took the body on the roof and let it down the chimney of our +neighbour the purveyor, whom you were just about to hang. The +purveyor, finding him in his room, naturally thought he was a thief, +and struck him such a blow that the man fell down and lay motionless on +the floor. Stooping to examine him, and finding him stone dead, the +purveyor supposed that the man had died from the blow he had received; +but of course this was a mistake, as you will see from my account, and +I only am the murderer; and although I am innocent of any wish to +commit a crime, I must suffer for it all the same, or else have the +blood of two Musselmans on my conscience. Therefore send away this +man, I pray you, and let me take his place, as it is I who am guilty." +</P> + +<P> +On hearing the declaration of the Jewish doctor, the chief of police +commanded that he should be led to the gallows, and the Sultan's +purveyor go free. The cord was placed round the Jew's neck, and his +feet had already ceased to touch the ground when the voice of the +tailor was heard beseeching the executioner to pause one moment and to +listen to what he had to say. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, my lord," he cried, turning to the chief of police, "how nearly +have you caused the death of three innocent people! But if you will +only have the patience to listen to my tale, you shall know who is the +real culprit. If some one has to suffer, it must be me! Yesterday, at +dusk, I was working in my shop with a light heart when the little +hunchback, who was more than half drunk, came and sat in the doorway. +He sang me several songs, and then I invited him to finish the evening +at my house. He accepted my invitation, and we went away together. At +supper I helped him to a slice of fish, but in eating it a bone stuck +in his throat, and in spite of all we could do he died in a few +minutes. We felt deeply sorry for his death, but fearing lest we +should be held responsible, we carried the corpse to the house of the +Jewish doctor. I knocked, and desired the servant to beg her master to +come down as fast as possible and see a sick man whom we had brought +for him to cure; and in order to hasten his movements I placed a piece +of money in her hand as the doctor's fee. Directly she had disappeared +I dragged the body to the top of the stairs, and then hurried away with +my wife back to our house. In descending the stairs the doctor +accidentally knocked over the corpse, and finding him dead believed +that he himself was the murderer. But now you know the truth set him +free, and let me die in his stead." +</P> + +<P> +The chief of police and the crowd of spectators were lost in +astonishment at the strange events to which the death of the hunchback +had given rise. +</P> + +<P> +"Loosen the Jewish doctor," said he to the hangman, "and string up the +tailor instead, since he has made confession of his crime. Really, one +cannot deny that this is a very singular story, and it deserves to be +written in letters of gold." +</P> + +<P> +The executioner speedily untied the knots which confined the doctor, +and was passing the cord round the neck of the tailor, when the Sultan +of Kashgar, who had missed his jester, happened to make inquiry of his +officers as to what had become of him. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied they, "the hunchback having drunk more than was good +for him, escaped from the palace and was seen wandering about the town, +where this morning he was found dead. A man was arrested for having +caused his death, and held in custody till a gallows was erected. At +the moment that he was about to suffer punishment, first one man +arrived, and then another, each accusing themselves of the murder, and +this went on for a long time, and at the present instant the chief of +police is engaged in questioning a man who declares that he alone is +the true assassin." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan of Kashgar no sooner heard these words than he ordered an +usher to go to the chief of police and to bring all the persons +concerned in the hunchback's death, together with the corpse, that he +wished to see once again. The usher hastened on his errand, but was +only just in time, for the tailor was positively swinging in the air, +when his voice fell upon the silence of the crowd, commanding the +hangman to cut down the body. The hangman, recognising the usher as +one of the king's servants, cut down the tailor, and the usher, seeing +the man was safe, sought the chief of police and gave him the Sultan's +message. Accordingly, the chief of police at once set out for the +palace, taking with him the tailor, the doctor, the purveyor, and the +merchant, who bore the dead hunchback on their shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +When the procession reached the palace the chief of police prostrated +himself at the feet of the Sultan, and related all that he knew of the +matter. The Sultan was so much struck by the circumstances that he +ordered his private historian to write down an exact account of what +had passed, so that in the years to come the miraculous escape of the +four men who had thought themselves murderers might never be forgotten. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan asked everybody concerned in the hunchback's affair to tell +him their stories. Among others was a prating barber, whose tale of +one of his brothers follows. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Barber's Fifth Brother +</H3> + +<P> +As long as our father lived Alnaschar was very idle. Instead of +working for his bread he was not ashamed to ask for it every evening, +and to support himself next day on what he had received the night +before. When our father died, worn out by age, he only left seven +hundred silver drachmas to be divided amongst us, which made one +hundred for each son. Alnaschar, who had never possessed so much money +in his life, was quite puzzled to know what to do with it. After +reflecting upon the matter for some time he decided to lay it out on +glasses, bottles, and things of that sort, which he would buy from a +wholesale merchant. Having bought his stock he next proceeded to look +out for a small shop in a good position, where he sat down at the open +door, his wares being piled up in an uncovered basket in front of him, +waiting for a customer among the passers-by. +</P> + +<P> +In this attitude he remained seated, his eyes fixed on the basket, but +his thoughts far away. Unknown to himself he began to talk out loud, +and a tailor, whose shop was next door to his, heard quite plainly what +he was saying. +</P> + +<P> +"This basket," said Alnaschar to himself, "has cost me a hundred +drachmas--all that I possess in the world. Now in selling the +contents piece by piece I shall turn two hundred, and these hundreds I +shall again lay out in glass, which will produce four hundred. By this +means I shall in course of time make four thousand drachmas, which will +easily double themselves. When I have got ten thousand I will give up +the glass trade and become a jeweller, and devote all my time to +trading in pearls, diamonds, and other precious stones. At last, +having all the wealth that heart can desire, I will buy a beautiful +country house, with horses and slaves, and then I will lead a merry +life and entertain my friends. At my feasts I will send for musicians +and dancers from the neighbouring town to amuse my guests. In spite of +my riches I shall not, however, give up trade till I have amassed a +capital of a hundred thousand drachmas, when, having become a man of +much consideration, I shall request the hand of the grand-vizir's +daughter, taking care to inform the worthy father that I have heard +favourable reports of her beauty and wit, and that I will pay down on +our wedding day 3 thousand gold pieces. Should the vizir refuse my +proposal, which after all is hardly to be expected, I will seize him by +the beard and drag him to my house." +</P> + +<P> +When I shall have married his daughter I will give her ten of the best +eunuchs that can be found for her service. Then I shall put on my most +gorgeous robes, and mounted on a horse with a saddle of fine gold, and +its trappings blazing with diamonds, followed by a train of slaves, I +shall present myself at the house of the grand-vizir, the people +casting down their eyes and bowing low as I pass along. At the foot of +the grand-vizir's staircase I shall dismount, and while my servants +stand in a row to right and left I shall ascend the stairs, at the head +of which the grand-vizir will be waiting to receive me. He will then +embrace me as his son-in-law, and giving me his seat will place himself +below me. This being done (as I have every reason to expect), two of +my servants will enter, each bearing a purse containing a thousand +pieces of gold. One of these I shall present to him saying, "Here are +the thousand gold pieces that I offered for your daughter's hand, and +here," I shall continue, holding out the second purse, "are another +thousand to show you that I am a man who is better than his word." +After hearing of such generosity the world will talk of nothing else. +</P> + +<P> +I shall return home with the same pomp as I set out, and my wife will +send an officer to compliment me on my visit to her father, and I shall +confer on the officer the honour of a rich dress and a handsome gift. +Should she send one to me I shall refuse it and dismiss the bearer. I +shall never allow my wife to leave her rooms on any pretext whatever +without my permission, and my visits to her will be marked by all the +ceremony calculated to inspire respect. No establishment will be +better ordered than mine, and I shall take care always to be dressed in +a manner suitable to my position. In the evening, when we retire to +our apartments, I shall sit in the place of honour, where I shall +assume a grand demeanour and speak little, gazing straight before me, +and when my wife, lovely as the full moon, stands humbly in front of my +chair I shall pretend not to see her. Then her women will say to me, +"Respected lord and master, your wife and slave is before you waiting +to be noticed. She is mortified that you never deign to look her way; +she is tired of standing so long. Beg her, we pray you, to be seated." +Of course I shall give no signs of even hearing this speech, which will +vex them mightily. They will throw themselves at my feet with +lamentations, and at length I will raise my head and throw a careless +glance at her, then I shall go back to my former attitude. The women +will think that I am displeased at my wife's dress and will lead her +away to put on a finer one, and I on my side shall replace the one I am +wearing with another yet more splendid. They will then return to the +charge, but this time it will take much longer before they persuade me +even to look at my wife. It is as well to begin on my wedding-day as I +mean to go on for the rest of our lives. +</P> + +<P> +The next day she will complain to her mother of the way she has been +treated, which will fill my heart with joy. Her mother will come to +seek me, and, kissing my hands with respect, will say, "My lord" (for +she could not dare to risk my anger by using the familiar title of +"son-in-law"), "My lord, do not, I implore you, refuse to look upon my +daughter or to approach her. She only lives to please you, and loves +you with all her soul." But I shall pay no more heed to my +mother-in-law's words than I did to those of the women. Again she will +beseech me to listen to her entreaties, throwing herself this time at +my feet, but all to no purpose. Then, putting a glass of wine into my +wife's hand, she will say to her, "There, present that to him yourself, +he cannot have the cruelty to reject anything offered by so beautiful a +hand," and my wife will take it and offer it to me tremblingly with +tears in her eyes, but I shall look in the other direction. This will +cause her to weep still more, and she will hold out the glass crying, +"Adorable husband, never shall I cease my prayers till you have done me +the favour to drink." Sick of her importunities, these words will goad +me to fury. I shall dart an angry look at her and give her a sharp +blow on the cheek, at the same time giving her a kick so violent that +she will stagger across the room and fall on to the sofa. +</P> + +<P> +"My brother," pursued the barber, "was so much absorbed in his dreams +that he actually did give a kick with his foot, which unluckily hit the +basket of glass. It fell into the street and was instantly broken into +a thousand pieces." +</P> + +<P> +His neighbour the tailor, who had been listening to his visions, broke +into a loud fit of laughter as he saw this sight. +</P> + +<P> +"Wretched man!" he cried, "you ought to die of shame at behaving so to +a young wife who has done nothing to you. You must be a brute for her +tears and prayers not to touch your heart. If I were the grand-vizir I +would order you a hundred blows from a bullock whip, and would have you +led round the town accompanied by a herald who should proclaim your +crimes." +</P> + +<P> +The accident, so fatal to all his profits, had restored my brother to +his senses, and seeing that the mischief had been caused by his own +insufferable pride, he rent his clothes and tore his hair, and lamented +himself so loudly that the passers-by stopped to listen. It was a +Friday, so these were more numerous than usual. Some pitied Alnaschar, +others only laughed at him, but the vanity which had gone to his head +had disappeared with his basket of glass, and he was loudly bewailing +his folly when a lady, evidently a person of consideration, rode by on +a mule. She stopped and inquired what was the matter, and why the man +wept. They told her that he was a poor man who had laid out all his +money on this basket of glass, which was now broken. On hearing the +cause of these loud wails the lady turned to her attendant and said to +him, "Give him whatever you have got with you." The man obeyed, and +placed in my brother's hands a purse containing five hundred pieces of +gold. Alnaschar almost died of joy on receiving it. He blessed the +lady a thousand times, and, shutting up his shop where he had no longer +anything to do, he returned home. +</P> + +<P> +He was still absorbed in contemplating his good fortune, when a knock +came to his door, and on opening it he found an old woman standing +outside. +</P> + +<P> +"My son," she said, "I have a favour to ask of you. It is the hour of +prayer and I have not yet washed myself. Let me, I beg you, enter your +house, and give me water." +</P> + +<P> +My brother, although the old woman was a stranger to him, did not +hesitate to do as she wished. He gave her a vessel of water and then +went back to his place and his thoughts, and with his mind busy over +his last adventure, he put his gold into a long and narrow purse, which +he could easily carry in his belt. During this time the old woman was +busy over her prayers, and when she had finished she came and +prostrated herself twice before my brother, and then rising called down +endless blessings on his head. Observing her shabby clothes, my +brother thought that her gratitude was in reality a hint that he should +give her some money to buy some new ones, so he held out two pieces of +gold. The old woman started back in surprise as if she had received an +insult. "Good heavens!" she exclaimed, "what is the meaning of this? +Is it possible that you take me, my lord, for one of those miserable +creatures who force their way into houses to beg for alms? Take back +your money. I am thankful to say I do not need it, for I belong to a +beautiful lady who is very rich and gives me everything I want." +</P> + +<P> +My brother was not clever enough to detect that the old woman had +merely refused the two pieces of money he had offered her in order to +get more, but he inquired if she could procure him the pleasure of +seeing this lady. +</P> + +<P> +"Willingly," she replied; "and she will be charmed to marry you, and to +make you the master of all her wealth. So pick up your money and +follow me." +</P> + +<P> +Delighted at the thought that he had found so easily both a fortune and +a beautiful wife, my brother asked no more questions, but concealing +his purse, with the money the lady had given him, in the folds of his +dress, he set out joyfully with his guide. +</P> + +<P> +They walked for some distance till the old woman stopped at a large +house, where she knocked. The door was opened by a young Greek slave, +and the old woman led my brother across a well-paved court into a +well-furnished hall. Here she left him to inform her mistress of his +presence, and as the day was hot he flung himself on a pile of cushions +and took off his heavy turban. In a few minutes there entered a lady, +and my brother perceived at the first glance that she was even more +beautiful and more richly dressed than he had expected. He rose from +his seat, but the lady signed to him to sit down again and placed +herself beside him. After the usual compliments had passed between +them she said, "We are not comfortable here, let us go into another +room," and passing into a smaller chamber, apparently communicating +with no other, she continued to talk to him for some time. Then rising +hastily she left him, saying, "Stay where you are, I will come back in +a moment." +</P> + +<P> +He waited as he was told, but instead of the lady there entered a huge +black slave with a sword in his hand. Approaching my brother with an +angry countenance he exclaimed, "What business have you here?" His +voice and manner were so terrific that Alnaschar had not strength to +reply, and allowed his gold to be taken from him, and even sabre cuts +to be inflicted on him without making any resistance. As soon as he +was let go, he sank on the ground powerless to move, though he still +had possession of his senses. Thinking he was dead, the black ordered +the Greek slave to bring him some salt, and between them they rubbed it +into his wounds, thus giving him acute agony, though he had the +presence of mind to give no sign of life. They then left him, and +their place was taken by the old woman, who dragged him to a trapdoor +and threw him down into a vault filled with the bodies of murdered men. +</P> + +<P> +At first the violence of his fall caused him to lose consciousness, but +luckily the salt which had been rubbed into his wounds had by its +smarting preserved his life, and little by little he regained his +strength. At the end of two days he lifted the trapdoor during the +night and hid himself in the courtyard till daybreak, when he saw the +old woman leave the house in search of more prey. Luckily she did not +observe him, and when she was out of sight he stole from this nest of +assassins and took refuge in my house. +</P> + +<P> +I dressed his wounds and tended him carefully, and when a month had +passed he was as well as ever. His one thought was how to be revenged +on that wicked old hag, and for this purpose he had a purse made large +enough to contain five hundred gold pieces, but filled it instead with +bits of glass. This he tied round him with his sash, and, disguising +himself as an old woman, he took a sabre, which he hid under his dress. +</P> + +<P> +One morning as he was hobbling through the streets he met his old enemy +prowling to see if she could find anyone to decoy. He went up to her +and, imitating the voice of a woman, he said, "Do you happen to have a +pair of scales you could lend me? I have just come from Persia and +have brought with me five hundred gold pieces, and I am anxious to see +if they are the proper weight." +</P> + +<P> +"Good woman," replied the old hag, "you could not have asked anyone +better. My son is a money-changer, and if you will follow me he will +weigh them for you himself. Only we must be quick or he will have gone +to his shop." So saying she led the way to the same house as before, +and the door was opened by the same Greek slave. +</P> + +<P> +Again my brother was left in the hall, and the pretended son appeared +under the form of the black slave. "Miserable crone," he said to my +brother, "get up and come with me," and turned to lead the way to the +place of murder. Alnaschar rose too, and drawing the sabre from under +his dress dealt the black such a blow on his neck that his head was +severed from his body. My brother picked up the head with one hand, +and seizing the body with the other dragged it to the vault, when he +threw it in and sent the head after it. The Greek slave, supposing +that all had passed as usual, shortly arrived with the basin of salt, +but when she beheld Alnaschar with the sabre in his hand she let the +basin fall and turned to fly. My brother, however, was too quick for +her, and in another instant her head was rolling from her shoulders. +The noise brought the old woman running to see what was the matter, and +he seized her before she had time to escape. "Wretch!" he cried, "do +you know me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who are you, my lord?" she replied trembling all over. "I have never +seen you before." +</P> + +<P> +"I am he whose house you entered to offer your hypocritical prayers. +Don't you remember now?" +</P> + +<P> +She flung herself on her knees to implore mercy, but he cut her in four +pieces. +</P> + +<P> +There remained only the lady, who was quite ignorant of all that was +taking place around her. He sought her through the house, and when at +last he found her, she nearly fainted with terror at the sight of him. +She begged hard for life, which he was generous enough to give her, but +he bade her to tell him how she had got into partnership with the +abominable creatures he had just put to death. +</P> + +<P> +"I was once," replied she, "the wife of an honest merchant, and that +old woman, whose wickedness I did not know, used occasionally to visit +me. 'Madam,' she said to me one day, 'we have a grand wedding at our +house to-day. If you would do us the honour to be present, I am sure +you would enjoy yourself.' I allowed myself to be persuaded, put on my +richest dress, and took a purse with a hundred pieces of gold. Once +inside the doors I was kept by force by that dreadful black, and it is +now three years that I have been here, to my great grief." +</P> + +<P> +"That horrible black must have amassed great wealth," remarked my +brother. +</P> + +<P> +"Such wealth," returned she, "that if you succeed in carrying it all +away it will make you rich for ever. Come and let us see how much +there is." +</P> + +<P> +She led Alnaschar into a chamber filled with coffers packed with gold, +which he gazed at with an admiration he was powerless to conceal. +"Go," she said, "and bring men to carry them away." +</P> + +<P> +My brother did not wait to be told twice, and hurried out into the +streets, where he soon collected ten men. They all came back to the +house, but what was his surprise to find the door open, and the room +with the chests of gold quite empty. The lady had been cleverer than +himself, and had made the best use of her time. However, he tried to +console himself by removing all the beautiful furniture, which more +than made up for the five hundred gold pieces he had lost. +</P> + +<P> +Unluckily, on leaving the house, he forgot to lock the door, and the +neighbours, finding the place empty, informed the police, who next +morning arrested Alnaschar as a thief. My brother tried to bribe them +to let him off, but far from listening to him they tied his hands, and +forced him to walk between them to the presence of the judge. When +they had explained to the official the cause of complaint, he asked +Alnaschar where he had obtained all the furniture that he had taken to +his house the day before. +</P> + +<P> +"Sir," replied Alnaschar, "I am ready to tell you the whole story, but +give, I pray you, your word, that I shall run no risk of punishment." +</P> + +<P> +"That I promise," said the judge. So my brother began at the beginning +and related all his adventures, and how he had avenged himself on those +who had betrayed him. As to the furniture, he entreated the judge at +least to allow him to keep part to make up for the five hundred pieces +of gold which had been stolen from him. +</P> + +<P> +The judge, however, would say nothing about this, and lost no time in +sending men to fetch away all that Alnaschar had taken from the house. +When everything had been moved and placed under his roof he ordered my +brother to leave the town and never more to enter it on peril of his +life, fearing that if he returned he might seek justice from the +Caliph. Alnaschar obeyed, and was on his way to a neighbouring city +when he fell in with a band of robbers, who stripped him of his clothes +and left him naked by the roadside. Hearing of his plight, I hurried +after him to console him for his misfortunes, and to dress him in my +best robe. I then brought him back disguised, under cover of night, to +my house, where I have since given him all the care I bestow on my +other brothers. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother +</H3> + +<P> +There now remains for me to relate to you the story of my sixth +brother, whose name was Schacabac. Like the rest of us, he inherited a +hundred silver drachmas from our father, which he thought was a large +fortune, but through ill-luck, he soon lost it all, and was driven to +beg. As he had a smooth tongue and good manners, he really did very +well in his new profession, and he devoted himself specially to making +friends with the servants in big houses, so as to gain access to their +masters. +</P> + +<P> +One day he was passing a splendid mansion, with a crowd of servants +lounging in the courtyard. He thought that from the appearance of the +house it might yield him a rich harvest, so he entered and inquired to +whom it belonged. +</P> + +<P> +"My good man, where do you come from?" replied the servant. "Can't you +see for yourself that it can belong to nobody but a Barmecide?" for the +Barmecides were famed for their liberality and generosity. My brother, +hearing this, asked the porters, of whom there were several, if they +would give him alms. They did not refuse, but told him politely to go +in, and speak to the master himself. +</P> + +<P> +My brother thanked them for their courtesy and entered the building, +which was so large that it took him some time to reach the apartments +of the Barmecide. At last, in a room richly decorated with paintings, +he saw an old man with a long white beard, sitting on a sofa, who +received him with such kindness that my brother was emboldened to make +his petition. +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," he said, "you behold in me a poor man who only lives by the +help of persons as rich and as generous as you." +</P> + +<P> +Before he could proceed further, he was stopped by the astonishment +shown by the Barmecide. "Is it possible," he cried, "that while I am +in Bagdad, a man like you should be starving? That is a state of +things that must at once be put an end to! Never shall it be said that +I have abandoned you, and I am sure that you, on your part, will never +abandon me." +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," answered my brother, "I swear that I have not broken my fast +this whole day." +</P> + +<P> +"What, you are dying of hunger?" exclaimed the Barmecide. "Here, +slave; bring water, that we may wash our hands before meat!" No slave +appeared, but my brother remarked that the Barmecide did not fail to +rub his hands as if the water had been poured over them. +</P> + +<P> +Then he said to my brother, "Why don't you wash your hands too?" and +Schacabac, supposing that it was a joke on the part of the Barmecide +(though he could see none himself), drew near, and imitated his motion. +</P> + +<P> +When the Barmecide had done rubbing his hands, he raised his voice, and +cried, "Set food before us at once, we are very hungry." No food was +brought, but the Barmecide pretended to help himself from a dish, and +carry a morsel to his mouth, saying as he did so, "Eat, my friend, eat, +I entreat. Help yourself as freely as if you were at home! For a +starving man, you seem to have a very small appetite." +</P> + +<P> +"Excuse me, my lord," replied Schacabac, imitating his gestures as +before, "I really am not losing time, and I do full justice to the +repast." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you like this bread?" asked the Barmecide. "I find it +particularly good myself." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, my lord," answered my brother, who beheld neither meat nor bread, +"never have I tasted anything so delicious." +</P> + +<P> +"Eat as much as you want," said the Barmecide. "I bought the woman who +makes it for five hundred pieces of gold, so that I might never be +without it." +</P> + +<P> +After ordering a variety of dishes (which never came) to be placed on +the table, and discussing the merits of each one, the Barmecide +declared that having dined so well, they would now proceed to take +their wine. To this my brother at first objected, declaring that it +was forbidden; but on the Barmecide insisting that it was out of the +question that he should drink by himself, he consented to take a +little. The Barmecide, however, pretended to fill their glasses so +often, that my brother feigned that the wine had gone into his head, +and struck the Barmecide such a blow on the head, that he fell to the +ground. Indeed, he raised his hand to strike him a second time, when +the Barmecide cried out that he was mad, upon which my brother +controlled himself, and apologised and protested that it was all the +fault of the wine he had drunk. At this the Barmecide, instead of +being angry, began to laugh, and embraced him heartily. "I have long +been seeking," he exclaimed, "a man of your description, and henceforth +my house shall be yours. You have had the good grace to fall in with +my humour, and to pretend to eat and to drink when nothing was there. +Now you shall be rewarded by a really good supper." +</P> + +<P> +Then he clapped his hands, and all the dishes were brought that they +had tasted in imagination before and during the repast, slaves sang and +played on various instruments. All the while Schacabac was treated by +the Barmecide as a familiar friend, and dressed in a garment out of his +own wardrobe. +</P> + +<P> +Twenty years passed by, and my brother was still living with the +Barmecide, looking after his house, and managing his affairs. At the +end of that time his generous benefactor died without heirs, so all his +possessions went to the prince. They even despoiled my brother of +those that rightly belonged to him, and he, now as poor as he had ever +been in his life, decided to cast in his lot with a caravan of pilgrims +who were on their way to Mecca. Unluckily, the caravan was attacked +and pillaged by the Bedouins, and the pilgrims were taken prisoners. +My brother became the slave of a man who beat him daily, hoping to +drive him to offer a ransom, although, as Schacabac pointed out, it was +quite useless trouble, as his relations were as poor as himself. At +length the Bedouin grew tired of tormenting, and sent him on a camel to +the top of a high barren mountain, where he left him to take his +chance. A passing caravan, on its way to Bagdad, told me where he was +to be found, and I hurried to his rescue, and brought him in a +deplorable condition back to the town. +</P> + +<P> +"This,"--continued the barber,--"is the tale I related to the Caliph, +who, when I had finished, burst into fits of laughter. +</P> + +<P> +"Well were you called `the Silent,'" said he; "no name was ever better +deserved. But for reasons of my own, which it is not necessary to +mention, I desire you to leave the town, and never to come back." +</P> + +<P> +"I had of course no choice but to obey, and travelled about for several +years until I heard of the death of the Caliph, when I hastily returned +to Bagdad, only to find that all my brothers were dead. It was at this +time that I rendered to the young cripple the important service of +which you have heard, and for which, as you know, he showed such +profound ingratitude, that he preferred rather to leave Bagdad than to +run the risk of seeing me. I sought him long from place to place, but +it was only to-day, when I expected it least, that I came across him, +as much irritated with me as ever"-- So saying the tailor went on to +relate the story of the lame man and the barber, which has already been +told. +</P> + +<P> +"When the barber," he continued, "had finished his tale, we came to the +conclusion that the young man had been right, when he had accused him +of being a great chatter-box. However, we wished to keep him with us, +and share our feast, and we remained at table till the hour of +afternoon prayer. Then the company broke up, and I went back to work +in my shop. +</P> + +<P> +"It was during this interval that the little hunchback, half drunk +already, presented himself before me, singing and playing on his drum. +I took him home, to amuse my wife, and she invited him to supper. +While eating some fish, a bone got into his throat, and in spite of all +we could do, he died shortly. It was all so sudden that we lost our +heads, and in order to divert suspicion from ourselves, we carried the +body to the house of a Jewish physician. He placed it in the chamber +of the purveyor, and the purveyor propped it up in the street, where it +was thought to have been killed by the merchant. +</P> + +<P> +"This, Sire, is the story which I was obliged to tell to satisfy your +highness. It is now for you to say if we deserve mercy or punishment; +life or death?" +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan of Kashgar listened with an air of pleasure which filled the +tailor and his friends with hope. "I must confess," he exclaimed, +"that I am much more interested in the stories of the barber and his +brothers, and of the lame man, than in that of my own jester. But +before I allow you all four to return to your own homes, and have the +corpse of the hunchback properly buried, I should like to see this +barber who has earned your pardon. And as he is in this town, let an +usher go with you at once in search of him." +</P> + +<P> +The usher and the tailor soon returned, bringing with them an old man +who must have been at least ninety years of age. "O Silent One," said +the Sultan, "I am told that you know many strange stories. Will you +tell some of them to me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind my stories for the present," replied the barber, "but will +your Highness graciously be pleased to explain why this Jew, this +Christian, and this Mussulman, as well as this dead body, are all here?" +</P> + +<P> +"What business is that of yours?" asked the Sultan with a smile; but +seeing that the barber had some reasons for his question, he commanded +that the tale of the hunchback should be told him. +</P> + +<P> +"It is certainly most surprising," cried he, when he had heard it all, +"but I should like to examine the body." He then knelt down, and took +the head on his knees, looking at it attentively. Suddenly he burst +into such loud laughter that he fell right backwards, and when he had +recovered himself enough to speak, he turned to the Sultan. "The man +is no more dead than I am," he said; "watch me." As he spoke he drew a +small case of medicines from his pocket and rubbed the neck of the +hunchback with some ointment made of balsam. Next he opened the dead +man's mouth, and by the help of a pair of pincers drew the bone from +his throat. At this the hunchback sneezed, stretched himself and +opened his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan and all those who saw this operation did not know which to +admire most, the constitution of the hunchback who had apparently been +dead for a whole night and most of one day, or the skill of the barber, +whom everyone now began to look upon as a great man. His Highness +desired that the history of the hunchback should be written down, and +placed in the archives beside that of the barber, so that they might be +associated in people's minds to the end of time. And he did not stop +there; for in order to wipe out the memory of what they had undergone, +he commanded that the tailor, the doctor, the purveyor and the +merchant, should each be clothed in his presence with a robe from his +own wardrobe before they returned home. As for the barber, he bestowed +on him a large pension, and kept him near his own person. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap26"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Adventures of Prince Camaralzaman and the Princess Badoura +</H3> + +<P> +Some twenty days' sail from the coast of Persia lies the isle of the +children of Khaledan. The island is divided into several provinces, in +each of which are large flourishing towns, and the whole forms an +important kingdom. It was governed in former days by a king named +Schahzaman, who, with good right, considered himself one of the most +peaceful, prosperous, and fortunate monarchs on the earth. In fact, he +had but one grievance, which was that none of his four wives had given +him an heir. +</P> + +<P> +This distressed him so greatly that one day he confided his grief to +the grand-vizir, who, being a wise counsellor, said: "Such matters are +indeed beyond human aid. Allah alone can grant your desire, and I +should advise you, sire, to send large gifts to those holy men who +spend their lives in prayer, and to beg for their intercessions. Who +knows whether their petitions may not be answered!" +</P> + +<P> +The king took his vizir's advice, and the result of so many prayers for +an heir to the throne was that a son was born to him the following year. +</P> + +<P> +Schahzaman sent noble gifts as thank offerings to all the mosques and +religious houses, and great rejoicings were celebrated in honour of the +birth of the little prince, who was so beautiful that he was named +Camaralzaman, or "Moon of the Century." +</P> + +<P> +Prince Camaralzaman was brought up with extreme care by an excellent +governor and all the cleverest teachers, and he did such credit to them +that when he was grown up, a more charming and accomplished young man +was not to be found. Whilst he was still a youth the king, his father, +who loved him dearly, had some thoughts of abdicating in his favour. +As usual he talked over his plans with his grand-vizir, who, though he +did not approve the idea, would not state all his objections. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," he replied, "the prince is still very young for the cares of +state. Your Majesty fears his growing idle and careless, and doubtless +you are right. But how would it be if he were first to marry? This +would attach him to his home, and your Majesty might give him a share +in your counsels, so that he might gradually learn how to wear a crown, +which you can give up to him whenever you find him capable of wearing +it." +</P> + +<P> +The vizir's advice once more struck the king as being good, and he sent +for his son, who lost no time in obeying the summons, and standing +respectfully with downcast eyes before the king asked for his commands. +</P> + +<P> +"I have sent for you," said the king, "to say that I wish you to marry. +What do you think about it?" +</P> + +<P> +The prince was so much overcome by these words that he remained silent +for some time. At length he said: "Sire, I beg you to pardon me if I +am unable to reply as you might wish. I certainly did not expect such +a proposal as I am still so young, and I confess that the idea of +marrying is very distasteful to me. Possibly I may not always be in +this mind, but I certainly feel that it will require some time to +induce me to take the step which your Majesty desires." +</P> + +<P> +This answer greatly distressed the king, who was sincerely grieved by +his objection to marriage. However he would not have recourse to +extreme measures, so he said: "I do not wish to force you; I will give +you time to reflect, but remember that such a step is necessary, for a +prince such as you who will some day be called to rule over a great +kingdom." +</P> + +<P> +From this time Prince Camaralzaman was admitted to the royal council, +and the king showed him every mark of favour. +</P> + +<P> +At the end of a year the king took his son aside, and said: "Well, my +son, have you changed your mind on the subject of marriage, or do you +still refuse to obey my wish?" +</P> + +<P> +The prince was less surprised but no less firm than on the former +occasion, and begged his father not to press the subject, adding that +it was quite useless to urge him any longer. +</P> + +<P> +This answer much distressed the king, who again confided his trouble to +his vizir. +</P> + +<P> +"I have followed your advice," he said; "but Camaralzaman declines to +marry, and is more obstinate than ever." +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied the vizir, "much is gained by patience, and your +Majesty might regret any violence. Why not wait another year and then +inform the Prince in the midst of the assembled council that the good +of the state demands his marriage? He cannot possibly refuse again +before so distinguished an assemblage, and in our immediate presence." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan ardently desired to see his son married at once, but he +yielded to the vizir's arguments and decided to wait. He then visited +the prince's mother, and after telling her of his disappointment and of +the further respite he had given his son, he added: "I know that +Camaralzaman confides more in you than he does in me. Pray speak very +seriously to him on this subject, and make him realize that he will +most seriously displease me if he remains obstinate, and that he will +certainly regret the measures I shall be obliged to take to enforce my +will." +</P> + +<P> +So the first time the Sultana Fatima saw her son she told him she had +heard of his refusal to marry, adding how distressed she felt that he +should have vexed his father so much. She asked what reasons he could +have for his objections to obey. +</P> + +<P> +"Madam," replied the prince, "I make no doubt that there are as many +good, virtuous, sweet, and amiable women as there are others very much +the reverse. Would that all were like you! But what revolts me is the +idea of marrying a woman without knowing anything at all about her. My +father will ask the hand of the daughter of some neighbouring +sovereign, who will give his consent to our union. Be she fair or +frightful, clever or stupid, good or bad, I must marry her, and am left +no choice in the matter. How am I to know that she will not be proud, +passionate, contemptuous, and recklessly extravagant, or that her +disposition will in any way suit mine?" +</P> + +<P> +"But, my son," urged Fatima, "you surely do not wish to be the last of +a race which has reigned so long and so gloriously over this kingdom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Madam," said the prince, "I have no wish to survive the king, my +father, but should I do so I will try to reign in such a manner as may +be considered worthy of my predecessors." +</P> + +<P> +These and similar conversations proved to the Sultan how useless it was +to argue with his son, and the year elapsed without bringing any change +in the prince's ideas. +</P> + +<P> +At length a day came when the Sultan summoned him before the council, +and there informed him that not only his own wishes but the good of the +empire demanded his marriage, and desired him to give his answer before +the assembled ministers. +</P> + +<P> +At this Camaralzaman grew so angry and spoke with so much heat that the +king, naturally irritated at being opposed by his son in full council, +ordered the prince to be arrested and locked up in an old tower, where +he had nothing but a very little furniture, a few books, and a single +slave to wait on him. +</P> + +<P> +Camaralzaman, pleased to be free to enjoy his books, showed himself +very indifferent to his sentence. +</P> + +<P> +When night came he washed himself, performed his devotions, and, having +read some pages of the Koran, lay down on a couch, without putting out +the light near him, and was soon asleep. +</P> + +<P> +Now there was a deep well in the tower in which Prince Camaralzaman was +imprisoned, and this well was a favourite resort of the fairy Maimoune, +daughter of Damriat, chief of a legion of genii. Towards midnight +Maimoune floated lightly up from the well, intending, according to her +usual habit, to roam about the upper world as curiosity or accident +might prompt. +</P> + +<P> +The light in the prince's room surprised her, and without disturbing +the slave, who slept across the threshold, she entered the room, and +approaching the bed was still more astonished to find it occupied. +</P> + +<P> +The prince lay with his face half hidden by the coverlet. Maimoune +lifted it a little and beheld the most beautiful youth she had ever +seen. +</P> + +<P> +"What a marvel of beauty he must be when his eyes are open!" she +thought. "What can he have done to deserve to be treated like this?" +</P> + +<P> +She could not weary gazing at Camaralzaman, but at length, having +softly kissed his brow and each cheek, she replaced the coverlet and +resumed her flight through the air. +</P> + +<P> +As she entered the middle region she heard the sound of great wings +coming towards her, and shortly met one of the race of bad genii. This +genie, whose name was Danhasch, recognised Maimoune with terror, for he +knew the supremacy which her goodness gave her over him. He would +gladly have avoided her altogether, but they were so near that he must +either be prepared to fight or yield to her, so he at once addressed +her in a conciliatory tone: +</P> + +<P> +"Good Maimoune, swear to me by Allah to do me no harm, and on my side I +will promise not to injure you." +</P> + +<P> +"Accursed genie!" replied Maimoune, "what harm can you do me? But I +will grant your power and give the promise you ask. And now tell me +what you have seen and done to-night." +</P> + +<P> +"Fair lady," said Danhasch, "you meet me at the right moment to hear +something really interesting. I must tell you that I come from the +furthest end of China, which is one of the largest and most powerful +kingdoms in the world. The present king has one only daughter, who is +so perfectly lovely that neither you, nor I, nor any other creature +could find adequate terms in which to describe her marvellous charms. +You must therefore picture to yourself the most perfect features, +joined to a brilliant and delicate complexion, and an enchanting +expression, and even then imagination will fall short of the reality. +</P> + +<P> +"The king, her father, has carefully shielded this treasure from the +vulgar gaze, and has taken every precaution to keep her from the sight +of everyone except the happy mortal he may choose to be her husband. +But in order to give her variety in her confinement he has built her +seven palaces such as have never been seen before. The first palace is +entirely composed of rock crystal, the second of bronze, the third of +fine steel, the fourth of another and more precious species of bronze, +the fifth of touchstone, the sixth of silver, and the seventh of solid +gold. They are all most sumptuously furnished, whilst the gardens +surrounding them are laid out with exquisite taste. In fact, neither +trouble nor cost has been spared to make this retreat agreeable to the +princess. The report of her wonderful beauty has spread far and wide, +and many powerful kings have sent embassies to ask her hand in +marriage. The king has always received these embassies graciously, but +says that he will never oblige the princess to marry against her will, +and as she regularly declines each fresh proposal, the envoys have had +to leave as disappointed in the result of their missions as they were +gratified by their magnificent receptions." +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," said the princess to her father, "you wish me to marry, and I +know you desire to please me, for which I am very grateful. But, +indeed, I have no inclination to change my state, for where could I +find so happy a life amidst so many beautiful and delightful +surroundings? I feel that I could never be as happy with any husband +as I am here, and I beg you not to press one on me." +</P> + +<P> +"At last an embassy came from a king so rich and powerful that the King +of China felt constrained to urge this suit on his daughter. He told +her how important such an alliance would be, and pressed her to +consent. In fact, he pressed her so persistingly that the princess at +length lost her temper and quite forgot the respect due to her father. +"Sire," cried she angrily, "do not speak further of this or any other +marriage or I will plunge this dagger in my breast and so escape from +all these importunities." +</P> + +<P> +"The king of China was extremely indignant with his daughter and +replied: "You have lost your senses and you must be treated +accordingly." So he had her shut in one set of rooms in one of her +palaces, and only allowed her ten old women, of whom her nurse was the +head, to wait on her and keep her company. He next sent letters to all +the kings who had sued for the princess's hand, begging they would +think of her no longer, as she was quite insane, and he desired his +various envoys to make it known that anyone who could cure her should +have her to wife. +</P> + +<P> +"Fair Maimoune," continued Danhasch, "this is the present state of +affairs. I never pass a day without going to gaze on this incomparable +beauty, and I am sure that if you would only accompany me you would +think the sight well worth the trouble, and own that you never saw such +loveliness before." +</P> + +<P> +The fairy only answered with a peal of laughter, and when at length she +had control of her voice she cried, "Oh, come, you are making game of +me! I thought you had something really interesting to tell me instead +of raving about some unknown damsel. What would you say if you could +see the prince I have just been looking at and whose beauty is really +transcendent? That is something worth talking about, you would +certainly quite lose your head." +</P> + +<P> +"Charming Maimoune," asked Danhasch, "may I inquire who and what is the +prince of whom you speak?" +</P> + +<P> +"Know," replied Maimoune, "that he is in much the same case as your +princess. The king, his father, wanted to force him to marry, and on +the prince's refusal to obey he has been imprisoned in an old tower +where I have just seen him." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't like to contradict a lady," said Danhasch, "but you must +really permit me to doubt any mortal being as beautiful as my princess." +</P> + +<P> +"Hold your tongue," cried Maimoune. "I repeat that is impossible." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't wish to seem obstinate," replied Danhasch, "the best +plan to test the truth of what I say will be for you to let me take you +to see the princess for yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"There is no need for that," retorted Maimoune; "we can satisfy +ourselves in another way. Bring your princess here and lay her down +beside my prince. We can then compare them at leisure, and decide +which is in the right." +</P> + +<P> +Danhasch readily consented, and after having the tower where the prince +was confined pointed out to him, and making a wager with Maimoune as to +the result of the comparison, he flew off to China to fetch the +princess. +</P> + +<P> +In an incredibly short time Danhasch returned, bearing the sleeping +princess. Maimoune led him to the prince's room, and the rival beauty +was placed beside him. +</P> + +<P> +When the prince and princess lay thus side by side, an animated dispute +as to their respective charms arose between the fairy and the genius. +Danhasch began by saying: +</P> + +<P> +"Now you see that my princess is more beautiful than your prince. Can +you doubt any longer?" +</P> + +<P> +"Doubt! Of course I do!" exclaimed Maimoune. "Why, you must be blind +not to see how much my prince excels your princess. I do not deny that +your princess is very handsome, but only look and you must own that I +am in the right." +</P> + +<P> +"There is no need for me to look longer," said Danhasch, "my first +impression will remain the same; but of course, charming Maimoune, I am +ready to yield to you if you insist on it." +</P> + +<P> +"By no means," replied Maimoune. "I have no idea of being under any +obligation to an accursed genius like you. I refer the matter to an +umpire, and shall expect you to submit to his verdict." +</P> + +<P> +Danhasch readily agreed, and on Maimoune striking the floor with her +foot it opened, and a hideous, hump-backed, lame, squinting genius, +with six horns on his head, hands like claws, emerged. As soon as he +beheld Maimoune he threw himself at her feet and asked her commands. +</P> + +<P> +"Rise, Caschcasch," said she. "I summoned you to judge between me and +Danhasch. Glance at that couch, and say without any partiality whether +you think the youth or the maiden lying there the more beautiful." +</P> + +<P> +Caschcasch looked at the prince and princess with every token of +surprise and admiration. At length, having gazed long without being +able to come to a decision, he said +</P> + +<P> +"Madam, I must confess that I should deceive you were I to declare one +to be handsomer than the other. There seems to me only one way in +which to decide the matter, and that is to wake one after the other and +judge which of them expresses the greater admiration for the other." +</P> + +<P> +This advice pleased Maimoune and Danhasch, and the fairy at once +transformed herself into the shape of a gnat and settling on +Camaralzaman's throat stung him so sharply that he awoke. As he did so +his eyes fell on the Princess of China. Surprised at finding a lady so +near him, he raised himself on one arm to look at her. The youth and +beauty of the princess at once awoke a feeling to which his heart had +as yet been a stranger, and he could not restrain his delight. +</P> + +<P> +"What loveliness! What charms! Oh, my heart, my soul!" he exclaimed, +as he kissed her forehead, her eyes and mouth in a way which would +certainly have roused her had not the genie's enchantments kept her +asleep. +</P> + +<P> +"How, fair lady!" he cried, "you do not wake at the signs of +Camaralzaman's love? Be you who you may, he is not unworthy of you." +</P> + +<P> +It then suddenly occurred to him, that perhaps this was the bride his +father had destined for him, and that the King had probably had her +placed in this room in order to see how far Camaralzaman's aversion to +marriage would withstand her charms. +</P> + +<P> +"At all events," he thought, "I will take this ring as a remembrance of +her." +</P> + +<P> +So saying he drew off a fine ring which the princess wore on her +finger, and replaced it by one of his own. After which he lay down +again and was soon fast asleep. +</P> + +<P> +Then Danhasch, in his turn, took the form of a gnat and bit the +princess on her lip. +</P> + +<P> +She started up, and was not a little amazed at seeing a young man +beside her. From surprise she soon passed to admiration, and then to +delight on perceiving how handsome and fascinating he was. +</P> + +<P> +"Why," cried she, "was it you my father wished me to marry? How +unlucky that I did not know sooner! I should not have made him so +angry. But wake up! wake up! for I know I shall love you with all my +heart." +</P> + +<P> +So saying she shook Camaralzaman so violently that nothing but the +spells of Maimoune could have prevented his waking. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh!" cried the princess. "Why are you so drowsy?" So saying she took +his hand and noticed her own ring on his finger, which made her wonder +still more. But as he still remained in a profound slumber she pressed +a kiss on his cheek and soon fell fast asleep too. +</P> + +<P> +Then Maimoune turning to the genie said: "Well, are you satisfied that +my prince surpasses your princess? Another time pray believe me when I +assert anything." +</P> + +<P> +Then turning to Caschcasch: "My thanks to you, and now do you and +Danhasch bear the princess back to her own home." +</P> + +<P> +The two genii hastened to obey, and Maimoune returned to her well. +</P> + +<P> +On waking next morning the first thing Prince Camaralzaman did was to +look round for the lovely lady he had seen at night, and the next to +question the slave who waited on him about her. But the slave +persisted so strongly that he knew nothing of any lady, and still less +of how she got into the tower, that the prince lost all patience, and +after giving him a good beating tied a rope round him and ducked him in +the well till the unfortunate man cried out that he would tell +everything. Then the prince drew him up all dripping wet, but the +slave begged leave to change his clothes first, and as soon as the +prince consented hurried off just as he was to the palace. Here he +found the king talking to the grand-vizir of all the anxiety his son +had caused him. The slave was admitted at once and cried: +</P> + +<P> +"Alas, Sire! I bring sad news to your Majesty. There can be no doubt +that the prince has completely lost his senses. He declares that he +saw a lady sleeping on his couch last night, and the state you see me +in proves how violent contradiction makes him." He then gave a minute +account of all the prince had said and done. +</P> + +<P> +The king, much moved, begged the vizir to examine into this new +misfortune, and the latter at once went to the tower, where he found +the prince quietly reading a book. After the first exchange of +greetings the vizir said: +</P> + +<P> +"I feel really very angry with your slave for alarming his Majesty by +the news he brought him." +</P> + +<P> +"What news?" asked the prince. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah!" replied the vizir, "something absurd, I feel sure, seeing how I +find you." +</P> + +<P> +"Most likely," said the prince; "but now that you are here I am glad of +the opportunity to ask you where is the lady who slept in this room +last night?" +</P> + +<P> +The grand-vizir felt beside himself at this question. +</P> + +<P> +"Prince!" he exclaimed, "how would it be possible for any man, much +less a woman, to enter this room at night without walking over your +slave on the threshold? Pray consider the matter, and you will realise +that you have been deeply impressed by some dream." +</P> + +<P> +But the prince angrily insisted on knowing who and where the lady was, +and was not to be persuaded by all the vizir's protestations to the +contrary that the plot had not been one of his making. At last, losing +patience, he seized the vizir by the beard and loaded him with blows. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop, Prince," cried the unhappy vizir, "stay and hear what I have to +say." +</P> + +<P> +The prince, whose arm was getting tired, paused. +</P> + +<P> +"I confess, Prince," said the vizir, "that there is some foundation for +what you say. But you know well that a minister has to carry out his +master's orders. Allow me to go and to take to the king any message +you may choose to send." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," said the prince; "then go and tell him that I consent to +marry the lady whom he sent or brought here last night. Be quick and +bring me back his answer." +</P> + +<P> +The vizir bowed to the ground and hastened to leave the room and tower. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," asked the king as soon as he appeared, "and how did you find my +son?" +</P> + +<P> +"Alas, sire," was the reply, "the slave's report is only too true!" +</P> + +<P> +He then gave an exact account of his interview with Camaralzaman and of +the prince's fury when told that it was not possible for any lady to +have entered his room, and of the treatment he himself had received. +The king, much distressed, determined to clear up the matter himself, +and, ordering the vizir to follow him, set out to visit his son. +</P> + +<P> +The prince received his father with profound respect, and the king, +making him sit beside him, asked him several questions, to which +Camaralzaman replied with much good sense. At last the king said: "My +son, pray tell me about the lady who, it is said, was in your room last +night." +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied the prince, "pray do not increase my distress in this +matter, but rather make me happy by giving her to me in marriage. +However much I may have objected to matrimony formerly, the sight of +this lovely girl has overcome all my prejudices, and I will gratefully +receive her from your hands." +</P> + +<P> +The king was almost speechless on hearing his son, but after a time +assured him most solemnly that he knew nothing whatever about the lady +in question, and had not connived at her appearance. He then desired +the prince to relate the whole story to him. +</P> + +<P> +Camaralzaman did so at great length, showed the ring, and implored his +father to help to find the bride he so ardently desired. +</P> + +<P> +"After all you tell me," remarked the king, "I can no longer doubt your +word; but how and whence the lady came, or why she should have stayed +so short a time I cannot imagine. The whole affair is indeed +mysterious. Come, my dear son, let us wait together for happier days." +</P> + +<P> +So saying the king took Camaralzaman by the hand and led him back to +the palace, where the prince took to his bed and gave himself up to +despair, and the king shutting himself up with his son entirely +neglected the affairs of state. +</P> + +<P> +The prime minister, who was the only person admitted, felt it his duty +at last to tell the king how much the court and all the people +complained of his seclusion, and how bad it was for the nation. He +urged the sultan to remove with the prince to a lovely little island +close by, whence he could easily attend public audiences, and where the +charming scenery and fine air would do the invalid so much good as to +enable him to bear his father's occasional absence. +</P> + +<P> +The king approved the plan, and as soon as the castle on the island +could be prepared for their reception he and the prince arrived there, +Schahzaman never leaving his son except for the prescribed public +audiences twice a week. +</P> + +<P> +Whilst all this was happening in the capital of Schahzaman the two +genii had carefully borne the Princess of China back to her own palace +and replaced her in bed. On waking next morning she first turned from +one side to another and then, finding herself alone, called loudly for +her women. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me," she cried, "where is the young man I love so dearly, and who +slept near me last night?" +</P> + +<P> +"Princess," exclaimed the nurse, "we cannot tell what you allude to +without more explanation." +</P> + +<P> +"Why," continued the princess, "the most charming and beautiful young +man lay sleeping beside me last night. I did my utmost to wake him, +but in vain." +</P> + +<P> +"Your Royal Highness wishes to make game of us," said the nurse. "Is +it your pleasure to rise?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am quite in earnest," persisted the princess, "and I want to know +where he is." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Princess," expostulated the nurse, "we left you quite alone last +night, and we have seen no one enter your room since then." +</P> + +<P> +At this the princess lost all patience, and taking the nurse by her +hair she boxed her ears soundly, crying out: "You shall tell me, you +old witch, or I'll kill you." +</P> + +<P> +The nurse had no little trouble in escaping, and hurried off to the +queen, to whom she related the whole story with tears in her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"You see, madam," she concluded, "that the princess must be out of her +mind. If only you will come and see her, you will be able to judge for +yourself." +</P> + +<P> +The queen hurried to her daughter's apartments, and after tenderly +embracing her, asked her why she had treated her nurse so badly. +</P> + +<P> +"Madam," said the princess, "I perceive that your Majesty wishes to +make game of me, but I can assure you that I will never marry anyone +except the charming young man whom I saw last night. You must know +where he is, so pray send for him." +</P> + +<P> +The queen was much surprised by these words, but when she declared that +she knew nothing whatever of the matter the princess lost all respect, +and answered that if she were not allowed to marry as she wished she +should kill herself, and it was in vain that the queen tried to pacify +her and bring her to reason. +</P> + +<P> +The king himself came to hear the rights of the matter, but the +princess only persisted in her story, and as a proof showed the ring on +her finger. The king hardly knew what to make of it all, but ended by +thinking that his daughter was more crazy than ever, and without +further argument he had her placed in still closer confinement, with +only her nurse to wait on her and a powerful guard to keep the door. +</P> + +<P> +Then he assembled his council, and having told them the sad state of +things, added: "If any of you can succeed in curing the princess, I +will give her to him in marriage, and he shall be my heir." +</P> + +<P> +An elderly emir present, fired with the desire to possess a young and +lovely wife and to rule over a great kingdom, offered to try the magic +arts with which he was acquainted. +</P> + +<P> +"You are welcome to try," said the king, "but I make one condition, +which is, that should you fail you will lose your life." +</P> + +<P> +The emir accepted the condition, and the king led him to the princess, +who, veiling her face, remarked, "I am surprised, sire, that you should +bring an unknown man into my presence." +</P> + +<P> +"You need not be shocked," said the king; "this is one of my emirs who +asks your hand in marriage." +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied the princess, "this is not the one you gave me before +and whose ring I wear. Permit me to say that I can accept no other." +</P> + +<P> +The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding +how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not +venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's +disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off. +</P> + +<P> +This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to +cure her cost them their lives. +</P> + +<P> +Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for +some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels. He had +been in many countries and learnt many things, including astrology. +Needless to say that one of the first things his mother told him was +the sad condition of the princess, his foster-sister. Marzavan asked if +she could not manage to let him see the princess without the king's +knowledge. +</P> + +<P> +After some consideration his mother consented, and even persuaded the +eunuch on guard to make no objection to Marzavan's entering the royal +apartment. +</P> + +<P> +The princess was delighted to see her foster-brother again, and after +some conversation she confided to him all her history and the cause of +her imprisonment. +</P> + +<P> +Marzavan listened with downcast eyes and the utmost attention. When +she had finished speaking he said, +</P> + +<P> +"If what you tell me, Princess, is indeed the case, I do not despair of +finding comfort for you. Take patience yet a little longer. I will +set out at once to explore other countries, and when you hear of my +return be sure that he for whom you sigh is not far off." So saying, he +took his leave and started next morning on his travels. +</P> + +<P> +Marzavan journeyed from city to city and from one island and province +to another, and wherever he went he heard people talk of the strange +story of the Princess Badoura, as the Princess of China was named. +</P> + +<P> +After four months he reached a large populous seaport town named Torf, +and here he heard no more of the Princess Badoura but a great deal of +Prince Camaralzaman, who was reported ill, and whose story sounded very +similar to that of the Princess Badoura. +</P> + +<P> +Marzavan was rejoiced, and set out at once for Prince Camaralzaman's +residence. The ship on which he embarked had a prosperous voyage till +she got within sight of the capital of King Schahzaman, but when just +about to enter the harbour she suddenly struck on a rock, and foundered +within sight of the palace where the prince was living with his father +and the grand-vizir. +</P> + +<P> +Marzavan, who swam well, threw himself into the sea and managed to land +close to the palace, where he was kindly received, and after having a +change of clothing given him was brought before the grand-vizir. The +vizir was at once attracted by the young man's superior air and +intelligent conversation, and perceiving that he had gained much +experience in the course of his travels, he said, "Ah, how I wish you +had learnt some secret which might enable you to cure a malady which +has plunged this court into affliction for some time past!" +</P> + +<P> +Marzavan replied that if he knew what the illness was he might possibly +be able to suggest a remedy, on which the vizir related to him the +whole history of Prince Camaralzaman. +</P> + +<P> +On hearing this Marzavan rejoiced inwardly, for he felt sure that he +had at last discovered the object of the Princess Badoura's +infatuation. However, he said nothing, but begged to be allowed to see +the prince. +</P> + +<P> +On entering the royal apartment the first thing which struck him was +the prince himself, who lay stretched out on his bed with his eyes +closed. The king sat near him, but, without paying any regard to his +presence, Marzavan exclaimed, "Heavens! what a striking likeness!" +And, indeed, there was a good deal of resemblance between the features +of Camaralzaman and those of the Princess of China. +</P> + +<P> +These words caused the prince to open his eyes with languid curiosity, +and Marzavan seized this moment to pay him his compliments, contriving +at the same time to express the condition of the Princess of China in +terms unintelligible, indeed, to the Sultan and his vizir, but which +left the prince in no doubt that his visitor could give him some +welcome information. +</P> + +<P> +The prince begged his father to allow him the favour of a private +interview with Marzavan, and the king was only too pleased to find his +son taking an interest in anyone or anything. As soon as they were +left alone Marzavan told the prince the story of the Princess Badoura +and her sufferings, adding, "I am convinced that you alone can cure +her; but before starting on so long a journey you must be well and +strong, so do your best to recover as quickly as may be." +</P> + +<P> +These words produced a great effect on the prince, who was so much +cheered by the hopes held out that he declared he felt able to get up +and be dressed. The king was overjoyed at the result of Marzavan's +interview, and ordered public rejoicings in honour of the prince's +recovery. +</P> + +<P> +Before long the prince was quite restored to his original state of +health, and as soon as he felt himself really strong he took Marzavan +aside and said: +</P> + +<P> +"Now is the time to perform your promise. I am so impatient to see my +beloved princess once more that I am sure I shall fall ill again if we +do not start soon. The one obstacle is my father's tender care of me, +for, as you may have noticed, he cannot bear me out of his sight." +</P> + +<P> +"Prince," replied Marzavan, "I have already thought over the matter, +and this is what seems to me the best plan. You have not been out of +doors since my arrival. Ask the king's permission to go with me for +two or three days' hunting, and when he has given leave order two good +horses to be held ready for each of us. Leave all the rest to me." +</P> + +<P> +Next day the prince seized a favourable opportunity for making his +request, and the king gladly granted it on condition that only one +night should be spent out for fear of too great fatigue after such a +long illness. +</P> + +<P> +Next morning Prince Camaralzaman and Marzavan were off betimes, +attended by two grooms leading the two extra horses. They hunted a +little by the way, but took care to get as far from the towns as +possible. At night-fall they reached an inn, where they supped and +slept till midnight. Then Marzavan awoke and roused the prince without +disturbing anyone else. He begged the prince to give him the coat he +had been wearing and to put on another which they had brought with +them. They mounted their second horses, and Marzavan led one of the +grooms' horses by the bridle. +</P> + +<P> +By daybreak our travellers found themselves where four cross roads met +in the middle of the forest. Here Marzavan begged the prince to wait +for him, and leading the groom's horse into a dense part of the wood he +cut its throat, dipped the prince's coat in its blood, and having +rejoined the prince threw the coat on the ground where the roads parted. +</P> + +<P> +In answer to Camaralzaman's inquiries as to the reason for this, +Marzavan replied that the only chance they had of continuing their +journey was to divert attention by creating the idea of the prince's +death. "Your father will doubtless be plunged in the deepest grief," +he went on, "but his joy at your return will be all the greater." +</P> + +<P> +The prince and his companion now continued their journey by land and +sea, and as they had brought plenty of money to defray their expenses +they met with no needless delays. At length they reached the capital +of China, where they spent three days in a suitable lodging to recover +from their fatigues. +</P> + +<P> +During this time Marzavan had an astrologer's dress prepared for the +prince. They then went to the baths, after which the prince put on the +astrologer's robe and was conducted within sight of the king's palace +by Marzavan, who left him there and went to consult his mother, the +princess's nurse. +</P> + +<P> +Meantime the prince, according to Marzavan's instructions, advanced +close to the palace gates and there proclaimed aloud: +</P> + +<P> +"I am an astrologer and I come to restore health to the Princess +Badoura, daughter of the high and mighty King of China, on the +conditions laid down by His Majesty of marrying her should I succeed, +or of losing my life if I fail." +</P> + +<P> +It was some little time since anyone had presented himself to run the +terrible risk involved in attempting to cure the princess, and a crowd +soon gathered round the prince. On perceiving his youth, good looks, +and distinguished bearing, everyone felt pity for him. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you thinking of, sir," exclaimed some; "why expose yourself +to certain death? Are not the heads you see exposed on the town wall +sufficient warning? For mercy's sake give up this mad idea and retire +whilst you can." +</P> + +<P> +But the prince remained firm, and only repeated his cry with greater +assurance, to the horror of the crowd. +</P> + +<P> +"He is resolved to die!" they cried; "may heaven have pity on him!" +</P> + +<P> +Camaralzaman now called out for the third time, and at last the +grand-vizir himself came out and fetched him in. +</P> + +<P> +The prime minister led the prince to the king, who was much struck by +the noble air of this new adventurer, and felt such pity for the fate +so evidently in store for him, that he tried to persuade the young man +to renounce his project. +</P> + +<P> +But Camaralzaman politely yet firmly persisted in his intentions, and +at length the king desired the eunuch who had the guard of the +princess's apartments to conduct the astrologer to her presence. +</P> + +<P> +The eunuch led the way through long passages, and Camaralzaman followed +rapidly, in haste to reach the object of his desires. At last they +came to a large hall which was the ante-room to the princess's chamber, +and here Camaralzaman said to the eunuch: +</P> + +<P> +"Now you shall choose. Shall I cure the princess in her own presence, +or shall I do it from here without seeing her?" +</P> + +<P> +The eunuch, who had expressed many contemptuous doubts as they came +along of the newcomer's powers, was much surprised and said: +</P> + +<P> +"If you really can cure, it is immaterial when you do it. Your fame +will be equally great." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," replied the prince: "then, impatient though I am to see +the princess, I will effect the cure where I stand, the better to +convince you of my power." He accordingly drew out his writing case +and wrote as follows--"Adorable princess! The enamoured Camaralzaman +has never forgotten the moment when, contemplating your sleeping +beauty, he gave you his heart. As he was at that time deprived of the +happiness of conversing with you, he ventured to give you his ring as a +token of his love, and to take yours in exchange, which he now encloses +in this letter. Should you deign to return it to him he will be the +happiest of mortals, if not he will cheerfully resign himself to death, +seeing he does so for love of you. He awaits your reply in your +ante-room." +</P> + +<P> +Having finished this note the prince carefully enclosed the ring in it +without letting the eunuch see it, and gave him the letter, saying: +</P> + +<P> +"Take this to your mistress, my friend, and if on reading it and seeing +its contents she is not instantly cured, you may call me an impudent +impostor." +</P> + +<P> +The eunuch at once passed into the princess's room, and handing her the +letter said: +</P> + +<P> +"Madam, a new astrologer has arrived, who declares that you will be +cured as soon as you have read this letter and seen what it contains." +</P> + +<P> +The princess took the note and opened it with languid indifference. +But no sooner did she see her ring than, barely glancing at the +writing, she rose hastily and with one bound reached the doorway and +pushed back the hangings. Here she and the prince recognised each +other, and in a moment they were locked in each other's arms, where +they tenderly embraced, wondering how they came to meet at last after +so long a separation. The nurse, who had hastened after her charge, +drew them back to the inner room, where the princess restored her ring +to Camaralzaman. +</P> + +<P> +"Take it back," she said, "I could not keep it without returning yours +to you, and I am resolved to wear that as long as I live." +</P> + +<P> +Meantime the eunuch had hastened back to the king. "Sire," he cried, +"all the former doctors and astrologers were mere quacks. This man has +cured the princess without even seeing her." He then told all to the +king, who, overjoyed, hastened to his daughter's apartments, where, +after embracing her, he placed her hand in that of the prince, saying: +</P> + +<P> +"Happy stranger, I keep my promise, and give you my daughter to wife, +be you who you may. But, if I am not much mistaken, your condition is +above what you appear to be." +</P> + +<P> +The prince thanked the king in the warmest and most respectful terms, +and added: "As regards my person, your Majesty has rightly guessed +that I am not an astrologer. It is but a disguise which I assumed in +order to merit your illustrious alliance. I am myself a prince, my +name is Camaralzaman, and my father is Schahzaman, King of the Isles of +the Children of Khaledan." He then told his whole history, including +the extraordinary manner of his first seeing and loving the Princess +Badoura. +</P> + +<P> +When he had finished the king exclaimed: "So remarkable a story must +not be lost to posterity. It shall be inscribed in the archives of my +kingdom and published everywhere abroad." +</P> + +<P> +The wedding took place next day amidst great pomp and rejoicings. +Marzavan was not forgotten, but was given a lucrative post at court, +with a promise of further advancement. +</P> + +<P> +The prince and princess were now entirely happy, and months slipped by +unconsciously in the enjoyment of each other's society. +</P> + +<P> +One night, however, Prince Camaralzaman dreamt that he saw his father +lying at the point of death, and saying: "Alas! my son whom I loved so +tenderly, has deserted me and is now causing my death." +</P> + +<P> +The prince woke with such a groan as to startle the princess, who asked +what was the matter. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah!" cried the prince, "at this very moment my father is perhaps no +more!" and he told his dream. +</P> + +<P> +The princess said but little at the time, but next morning she went to +the king, and kissing his hand said: +</P> + +<P> +"I have a favour to ask of your Majesty, and I beg you to believe that +it is in no way prompted by my husband. It is that you will allow us +both to visit my father-in-law King Schahzaman." +</P> + +<P> +Sorry though the king felt at the idea of parting with his daughter, he +felt her request to be so reasonable that he could not refuse it, and +made but one condition, which was that she should only spend one year +at the court of King Schahzaman, suggesting that in future the young +couple should visit their respective parents alternately. +</P> + +<P> +The princess brought this good news to her husband, who thanked her +tenderly for this fresh proof of her affection. +</P> + +<P> +All preparations for the journey were now pressed forwards, and when +all was ready the king accompanied the travellers for some days, after +which he took an affectionate leave of his daughter, and charging the +prince to take every care of her, returned to his capital. +</P> + +<P> +The prince and princess journeyed on, and at the end of a month reached +a huge meadow interspersed with clumps of big trees which cast a most +pleasant shade. As the heat was great, Camaralzaman thought it well to +encamp in this cool spot. Accordingly the tents were pitched, and the +princess entering hers whilst the prince was giving his further orders, +removed her girdle, which she placed beside her, and desiring her women +to leave her, lay down and was soon asleep. +</P> + +<P> +When the camp was all in order the prince entered the tent and, seeing +the princess asleep, he sat down near her without speaking. His eyes +fell on the girdle which, he took up, and whilst inspecting the +precious stones set in it he noticed a little pouch sewn to the girdle +and fastened by a loop. He touched it and felt something hard within. +Curious as to what this might be, he opened the pouch and found a +cornelian engraved with various figures and strange characters. +</P> + +<P> +"This cornelian must be something very precious," thought he, "or my +wife would not wear it on her person with so much care." +</P> + +<P> +In truth it was a talisman which the Queen of China had given her +daughter, telling her it would ensure her happiness as long as she +carried it about her. +</P> + +<P> +The better to examine the stone the prince stepped to the open doorway +of the tent. As he stood there holding it in the open palm of his +hand, a bird suddenly swooped down, picked the stone up in its beak and +flew away with it. +</P> + +<P> +Imagine the prince's dismay at losing a thing by which his wife +evidently set such store! +</P> + +<P> +The bird having secured its prey flew off some yards and alighted on +the ground, holding the talisman it its beak. Prince Camaralzaman +advanced, hoping the bird would drop it, but as soon as he approached +the thief fluttered on a little further still. He continued his +pursuit till the bird suddenly swallowed the stone and took a longer +flight than before. The prince then hoped to kill it with a stone, but +the more hotly he pursued the further flew the bird. +</P> + +<P> +In this fashion he was led on by hill and dale through the entire day, +and when night came the tiresome creature roosted on the top of a very +high tree where it could rest in safety. +</P> + +<P> +The prince in despair at all his useless trouble began to think whether +he had better return to the camp. "But," thought he, "how shall I find +my way back? Must I go up hill or down? I should certainly lose my +way in the dark, even if my strength held out." Overwhelmed by hunger, +thirst, fatigue and sleep, he ended by spending the night at the foot +of the tree. +</P> + +<P> +Next morning Camaralzaman woke up before the bird left its perch, and +no sooner did it take flight than he followed it again with as little +success as the previous day, only stopping to eat some herbs and fruit +he found by the way. In this fashion he spent ten days, following the +bird all day and spending the night at the foot of a tree, whilst it +roosted on the topmost bough. On the eleventh day the bird and the +prince reached a large town, and as soon as they were close to its +walls the bird took a sudden and higher flight and was shortly +completely out of sight, whilst Camaralzaman felt in despair at having +to give up all hopes of ever recovering the talisman of the Princess +Badoura. +</P> + +<P> +Much cast down, he entered the town, which was built near the sea and +had a fine harbour. He walked about the streets for a long time, not +knowing where to go, but at length as he walked near the seashore he +found a garden door open and walked in. +</P> + +<P> +The gardener, a good old man, who was at work, happened to look up, +and, seeing a stranger, whom he recognised by his dress as a Mussulman, +he told him to come in at once and to shut the door. +</P> + +<P> +Camaralzaman did as he was bid, and inquired why this precaution was +taken. +</P> + +<P> +"Because," said the gardener, "I see that you are a stranger and a +Mussulman, and this town is almost entirely inhabited by idolaters, who +hate and persecute all of our faith. It seems almost a miracle that +has led you to this house, and I am indeed glad that you have found a +place of safety." +</P> + +<P> +Camaralzaman warmly thanked the kind old man for offering him shelter, +and was about to say more, but the gardener interrupted him with: +</P> + +<P> +"Leave compliments alone. You are weary and must be hungry. Come in, +eat, and rest." So saying he led the prince into his cottage, and +after satisfying his hunger begged to learn the cause of his arrival. +</P> + +<P> +Camaralzaman told him all without disguise, and ended by inquiring the +shortest way to his father's capital. "For," added he, "if I tried to +rejoin the princess, how should I find her after eleven days' +separation. Perhaps, indeed, she may be no longer alive!" At this +terrible thought he burst into tears. +</P> + +<P> +The gardener informed Camaralzaman that they were quite a year's land +journey to any Mahomedan country, but that there was a much shorter +route by sea to the Ebony Island, from whence the Isles of the Children +of Khaledan could be easily reached, and that a ship sailed once a year +for the Ebony Island by which he might get so far as his very home. +</P> + +<P> +"If only you had arrived a few days sooner," he said, "you might have +embarked at once. As it is you must now wait till next year, but if +you care to stay with me I offer you my house, such as it is, with all +my heart." +</P> + +<P> +Prince Camaralzaman thought himself lucky to find some place of refuge, +and gladly accepted the gardener's offer. He spent his days working in +the garden, and his nights thinking of and sighing for his beloved wife. +</P> + +<P> +Let us now see what had become during this time of the Princess Badoura. +</P> + +<P> +On first waking she was much surprised not to find the prince near her. +She called her women and asked if they knew where he was, and whilst +they were telling her that they had seen him enter the tent, but had +not noticed his leaving it, she took up her belt and perceived that the +little pouch was open and the talisman gone. +</P> + +<P> +She at once concluded that her husband had taken it and would shortly +bring it back. She waited for him till evening rather impatiently, and +wondering what could have kept him from her so long. When night came +without him she felt in despair and abused the talisman and its maker +roundly. In spite of her grief and anxiety however, she did not lose +her presence of mind, but decided on a courageous, though very unusual +step. +</P> + +<P> +Only the princess and her women knew of Camaralzaman's disappearance, +for the rest of the party were sleeping or resting in their tents. +Fearing some treason should the truth be known, she ordered her women +not to say a word which would give rise to any suspicion, and proceeded +to change her dress for one of her husband's, to whom, as has been +already said, she bore a strong likeness. +</P> + +<P> +In this disguise she looked so like the prince that when she gave +orders next morning to break up the camp and continue the journey no +one suspected the change. She made one of her women enter her litter, +whilst she herself mounted on horseback and the march began. +</P> + +<P> +After a protracted journey by land and sea the princess, still under +the name and disguise of Prince Camaralzaman, arrived at the capital of +the Ebony Island whose king was named Armanos. +</P> + +<P> +No sooner did the king hear that the ship which was just in port had on +board the son of his old friend and ally than he hurried to meet the +supposed prince, and had him and his retinue brought to the palace, +where they were lodged and entertained sumptuously. +</P> + +<P> +After three days, finding that his guest, to whom he had taken a great +fancy, talked of continuing his journey, King Armanos said to him: +</P> + +<P> +"Prince, I am now an old man, and unfortunately I have no son to whom +to leave my kingdom. It has pleased Heaven to give me only one +daughter, who possesses such great beauty and charm that I could only +give her to a prince as highly born and as accomplished as yourself. +Instead, therefore, of returning to your own country, take my daughter +and my crown and stay with us. I shall feel that I have a worthy +successor, and shall cheerfully retire from the fatigues of government." +</P> + +<P> +The king's offer was naturally rather embarrassing to the Princess +Badoura. She felt that it was equally impossible to confess that she +had deceived him, or to refuse the marriage on which he had set his +heart; a refusal which might turn all his kindness to hatred and +persecution. +</P> + +<P> +All things considered, she decided to accept, and after a few moments +silence said with a blush, which the king attributed to modesty: +</P> + +<P> +"Sire, I feel so great an obligation for the good opinion your Majesty +has expressed for my person and of the honour you do me, that, though I +am quite unworthy of it, I dare not refuse. But, sire, I can only +accept such an alliance if you give me your promise to assist me with +your counsels." +</P> + +<P> +The marriage being thus arranged, the ceremony was fixed for the +following day, and the princess employed the intervening time in +informing the officers of her suite of what had happened, assuring them +that the Princess Badoura had given her full consent to the marriage. +She also told her women, and bade them keep her secret well. +</P> + +<P> +King Armanos, delighted with the success of his plans, lost no time in +assembling his court and council, to whom he presented his successor, +and placing his future son-in-law on the throne made everyone do homage +and take oaths of allegiance to the new king. +</P> + +<P> +At night the whole town was filled with rejoicings, and with much pomp +the Princess Haiatelnefous (this was the name of the king's daughter) +was conducted to the palace of the Princess Badoura. +</P> + +<P> +Now Badoura had thought much of the difficulties of her first interview +with King Armanos' daughter, and she felt the only thing to do was at +once to take her into her confidence. +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly, as soon as they were alone she took Haiatelnefous by the +hand and said: +</P> + +<P> +"Princess, I have a secret to tell you, and must throw myself on your +mercy. I am not Prince Camaralzaman, but a princess like yourself and +his wife, and I beg you to listen to my story, then I am sure you will +forgive my imposture, in consideration of my sufferings." +</P> + +<P> +She then related her whole history, and at its close Haiatelnefous +embraced her warmly, and assured her of her entire sympathy and +affection. +</P> + +<P> +The two princesses now planned out their future action, and agreed to +combine to keep up the deception and to let Badoura continue to play a +man's part until such time as there might be news of the real +Camaralzaman. +</P> + +<P> +Whilst these things were passing in the Ebony Island Prince +Camaralzaman continued to find shelter in the gardeners cottage in the +town of the idolaters. +</P> + +<P> +Early one morning the gardener said to the prince: +</P> + +<P> +"To-day is a public holiday, and the people of the town not only do not +work themselves but forbid others to do so. You had better therefore +take a good rest whilst I go to see some friends, and as the time is +near for the arrival of the ship of which I told you I will make +inquiries about it, and try to bespeak a passage for you." He then put +on his best clothes and went out, leaving the prince, who strolled into +the garden and was soon lost in thoughts of his dear wife and their sad +separation. +</P> + +<P> +As he walked up and down he was suddenly disturbed in his reverie by +the noise two large birds were making in a tree. +</P> + +<P> +Camaralzaman stood still and looked up, and saw that the birds were +fighting so savagely with beaks and claws that before long one fell +dead to the ground, whilst the conqueror spread his wings and flew +away. Almost immediately two other larger birds, who had been watching +the duel, flew up and alighted, one at the head and the other at the +feet of the dead bird. They stood there some time sadly shaking their +heads, and then dug up a grave with their claws in which they buried +him. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as they had filled in the grave the two flew off, and ere long +returned, bringing with them the murderer, whom they held, one by a +wing and the other by a leg, with their beaks, screaming and struggling +with rage and terror. But they held tight, and having brought him to +his victim's grave, they proceeded to kill him, after which they tore +open his body, scattered the inside and once more flew away. +</P> + +<P> +The prince, who had watched the whole scene with much interest, now +drew near the spot where it happened, and glancing at the dead bird he +noticed something red lying near which had evidently fallen out of its +inside. He picked it up, and what was his surprise when he recognised +the Princess Badoura's talisman which had been the cause of many +misfortunes. It would be impossible to describe his joy; he kissed the +talisman repeatedly, wrapped it up, and carefully tied it round his +arm. For the first time since his separation from the princess he had +a good night, and next morning he was up at day-break and went +cheerfully to ask what work he should do. +</P> + +<P> +The gardener told him to cut down an old fruit tree which had quite +died away, and Camaralzaman took an axe and fell to vigorously. As he +was hacking at one of the roots the axe struck on something hard. On +pushing away the earth he discovered a large slab of bronze, under +which was disclosed a staircase with ten steps. He went down them and +found himself in a roomy kind of cave in which stood fifty large bronze +jars, each with a cover on it. The prince uncovered one after another, +and found them all filled with gold dust. Delighted with his discovery +he left the cave, replaced the slab, and having finished cutting down +the tree waited for the gardener's return. +</P> + +<P> +The gardener had heard the night before that the ship about which he +was inquiring would start ere long, but the exact date not being yet +known he had been told to return next day for further information. He +had gone therefore to inquire, and came back with good news beaming in +his face. +</P> + +<P> +"My son," said he, "rejoice and hold yourself ready to start in three +days' time. The ship is to set sail, and I have arranged all about +your passage with the captain. +</P> + +<P> +"You could not bring me better news," replied Camaralzaman, "and in +return I have something pleasant to tell you. Follow me and see the +good fortune which has befallen you." +</P> + +<P> +He then led the gardener to the cave, and having shown him the treasure +stored up there, said how happy it made him that Heaven should in this +way reward his kind host's many virtues and compensate him for the +privations of many years. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" asked the gardener. "Do you imagine that I should +appropriate this treasure? It is yours, and I have no right whatever +to it. For the last eighty years I have dug up the ground here without +discovering anything. It is clear that these riches are intended for +you, and they are much more needed by a prince like yourself than by an +old man like me, who am near my end and require nothing. This treasure +comes just at the right time, when you are about to return to your own +country, where you will make good use of it." +</P> + +<P> +But the prince would not hear of this suggestion, and finally after +much discussion they agreed to divide the gold. When this was done the +gardener said: +</P> + +<P> +"My son, the great thing now is to arrange how you can best carry off +this treasure as secretly as possible for fear of losing it. There are +no olives in the Ebony Island, and those imported from here fetch a +high price. As you know, I have a good stock of the olives which grew +in this garden. Now you must take fifty jars, fill each half full of +gold dust and fill them up with the olives. We will then have them +taken on board ship when you embark." +</P> + +<P> +The prince took this advice, and spent the rest of the day filling the +fifty jars, and fearing lest the precious talisman might slip from his +arm and be lost again, he took the precaution of putting it in one of +the jars, on which he made a mark so as to be able to recognise it. +When night came the jars were all ready, and the prince and his host +went to bed. +</P> + +<P> +Whether in consequence of his great age, or of the fatigues and +excitement of the previous day, I do not know, but the gardener passed +a very bad night. He was worse next day, and by the morning of the +third day was dangerously ill. At daybreak the ship's captain and some +of his sailors knocked at the garden door and asked for the passenger +who was to embark. +</P> + +<P> +"I am he," said Camaralzaman, who had opened the door. "The gardener +who took my passage is ill and cannot see you, but please come in and +take these jars of olives and my bag, and I will follow as soon as I +have taken leave of him." +</P> + +<P> +The sailors did as he asked, and the captain before leaving charged +Camaralzaman to lose no time, as the wind was fair, and he wished to +set sail at once. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as they were gone the prince returned to the cottage to bid +farewell to his old friend, and to thank him once more for all his +kindness. But the old man was at his last gasp, and had barely +murmured his confession of faith when he expired. +</P> + +<P> +Camaralzaman was obliged to stay and pay him the last offices, so +having dug a grave in the garden he wrapped the kind old man up and +buried him. He then locked the door, gave up the key to the owner of +the garden, and hurried to the quay only to hear that the ship had +sailed long ago, after waiting three hours for him. +</P> + +<P> +It may well be believed that the prince felt in despair at this fresh +misfortune, which obliged him to spend another year in a strange and +distasteful country. Moreover, he had once more lost the Princess +Badoura's talisman, which he feared he might never see again. There +was nothing left for him but to hire the garden as the old man had +done, and to live on in the cottage. As he could not well cultivate +the garden by himself, he engaged a lad to help him, and to secure the +rest of the treasure he put the remaining gold dust into fifty more +jars, filling them up with olives so as to have them ready for +transport. +</P> + +<P> +Whilst the prince was settling down to this second year of toil and +privation, the ship made a rapid voyage and arrived safely at the Ebony +Island. +</P> + +<P> +As the palace of the new king, or rather of the Princess Badoura, +overlooked the harbour, she saw the ship entering it and asked what +vessel it was coming in so gaily decked with flags, and was told that +it was a ship from the Island of the Idolaters which yearly brought +rich merchandise. +</P> + +<P> +The princess, ever on the look out for any chance of news of her +beloved husband, went down to the harbour attended by some officers of +the court, and arrived just as the captain was landing. She sent for +him and asked many questions as to his country, voyage, what passengers +he had, and what his vessel was laden with. The captain answered all +her questions, and said that his passengers consisted entirely of +traders who brought rich stuffs from various countries, fine muslins, +precious stones, musk, amber, spices, drugs, olives, and many other +things. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as he mentioned olives, the princess, who was very partial to +them, exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"I will take all you have on board. Have them unloaded and we will +make our bargain at once, and tell the other merchants to let me see +all their best wares before showing them to other people." +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied the captain, "I have on board fifty very large pots of +olives. They belong to a merchant who was left behind, as in spite of +waiting for him he delayed so long that I was obliged to set sail +without him." +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind," said the princess, "unload them all the same, and we will +arrange the price." +</P> + +<P> +The captain accordingly sent his boat off to the ship and it soon +returned laden with the fifty pots of olives. The princess asked what +they might be worth. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied the captain, "the merchant is very poor. Your Majesty +will not overpay him if you give him a thousand pieces of silver." +</P> + +<P> +"In order to satisfy him and as he is so poor," said the princess, "I +will order a thousand pieces of gold to be given you, which you will be +sure to remit to him." +</P> + +<P> +So saying she gave orders for the payment and returned to the palace, +having the jars carried before her. When evening came the Princess +Badoura retired to the inner part of the palace, and going to the +apartments of the Princess Haiatelnefous she had the fifty jars of +olives brought to her. She opened one to let her friend taste the +olives and to taste them herself, but great was her surprise when, on +pouring some into a dish, she found them all powdered with gold dust. +"What an adventure! how extraordinary!" she cried. Then she had the +other jars opened, and was more and more surprised to find the olives +in each jar mixed with gold dust. +</P> + +<P> +But when at length her talisman was discovered in one of the jars her +emotion was so great that she fainted away. The Princess Haiatelnefous +and her women hastened to restore her, and as soon as she recovered +consciousness she covered the precious talisman with kisses. +</P> + +<P> +Then, dismissing the attendants, she said to her friend: +</P> + +<P> +"You will have guessed, my dear, that it was the sight of this talisman +which has moved me so deeply. This was the cause of my separation from +my dear husband, and now, I am convinced, it will be the means of our +reunion." +</P> + +<P> +As soon as it was light next day the Princess Badoura sent for the +captain, and made further inquiries about the merchant who owned the +olive jars she had bought. +</P> + +<P> +In reply the captain told her all he knew of the place where the young +man lived, and how, after engaging his passage, he came to be left +behind. +</P> + +<P> +"If that is the case," said the princess, "you must set sail at once +and go back for him. He is a debtor of mine and must be brought here +at once, or I will confiscate all your merchandise. I shall now give +orders to have all the warehouses where your cargo is placed under the +royal seal, and they will only be opened when you have brought me the +man I ask for. Go at once and obey my orders." +</P> + +<P> +The captain had no choice but to do as he was bid, so hastily +provisioning his ship he started that same evening on his return voyage. +</P> + +<P> +When, after a rapid passage, he gained sight of the Island of +Idolaters, he judged it better not to enter the harbour, but casting +anchor at some distance he embarked at night in a small boat with six +active sailors and landed near Camaralzaman's cottage. +</P> + +<P> +The prince was not asleep, and as he lay awake moaning over all the sad +events which had separated him from his wife, he thought he heard a +knock at the garden door. He went to open it, and was immediately +seized by the captain and sailors, who without a word of explanation +forcibly bore him off to the boat, which took them back to the ship +without loss of time. No sooner were they on board than they weighed +anchor and set sail. +</P> + +<P> +Camaralzaman, who had kept silence till then, now asked the captain +(whom he had recognised) the reason for this abduction. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you not a debtor of the King of the Ebony Island?" asked the +captain. +</P> + +<P> +"I? Why, I never even heard of him before, and never set foot in his +kingdom!" was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you must know better than I," said the captain. "You will soon +see him now, and meantime be content where you are and have patience." +</P> + +<P> +The return voyage was as prosperous as the former one, and though it +was night when the ship entered the harbour, the captain lost no time +in landing with his passenger, whom he conducted to the palace, where +he begged an audience with the king. +</P> + +<P> +Directly the Princess Badoura saw the prince she recognised him in +spite of his shabby clothes. She longed to throw herself on his neck, +but restrained herself, feeling it was better for them both that she +should play her part a little longer. She therefore desired one of her +officers to take care of him and to treat him well. Next she ordered +another officer to remove the seals from the warehouse, whilst she +presented the captain with a costly diamond, and told him to keep the +thousand pieces of gold paid for the olives, as she would arrange +matters with the merchant himself. +</P> + +<P> +She then returned to her private apartments, where she told the +Princess Haiatelnefous all that had happened, as well as her plans for +the future, and begged her assistance, which her friend readily +promised. +</P> + +<P> +Next morning she ordered the prince to be taken to the bath and clothed +in a manner suitable to an emir or governor of a province. He was then +introduced to the council, where his good looks and grand air drew the +attention of all on him. +</P> + +<P> +Princess Badoura, delighted to see him looking himself once more, +turned to the other emirs, saying: +</P> + +<P> +"My lords, I introduce to you a new colleague, Camaralzaman, whom I +have known on my travels and who, I can assure you, you will find well +deserves your regard and admiration." +</P> + +<P> +Camaralzaman was much surprised at hearing the king--whom he never +suspected of being a woman in disguise--asserting their acquaintance, +for he felt sure he had never seen her before. However he received all +the praises bestowed on him with becoming modesty, and prostrating +himself, said: +</P> + +<P> +"Sire, I cannot find words in which to thank your Majesty for the great +honour conferred on me. I can but assure you that I will do all in my +power to prove myself worthy of it." +</P> + +<P> +On leaving the council the prince was conducted to a splendid house +which had been prepared for him, where he found a full establishment +and well-filled stables at his orders. On entering his study his +steward presented him with a coffer filled with gold pieces for his +current expenses. He felt more and more puzzled by such good fortune, +and little guessed that the Princess of China was the cause of it. +</P> + +<P> +After a few days the Princess Badoura promoted Camaralzaman to the post +of grand treasurer, an office which he filled with so much integrity +and benevolence as to win universal esteem. +</P> + +<P> +He would now have thought himself the happiest of men had it not been +for that separation which he never ceased to bewail. He had no clue to +the mystery of his present position, for the princess, out of +compliment to the old king, had taken his name, and was generally known +as King Armanos the younger, few people remembering that on her first +arrival she went by another name. +</P> + +<P> +At length the princess felt that the time had come to put an end to her +own and the prince's suspense, and having arranged all her plans with +the Princess Haiatelnefous, she informed Camaralzaman that she wished +his advice on some important business, and, to avoid being disturbed, +desired him to come to the palace that evening. +</P> + +<P> +The prince was punctual, and was received in the private apartment, +when, having ordered her attendants to withdraw, the princess took from +a small box the talisman, and, handing it to Camaralzaman, said: "Not +long ago an astrologer gave me this talisman. As you are universally +well informed, you can perhaps tell me what is its use." +</P> + +<P> +Camaralzaman took the talisman and, holding it to the light, cried with +surprise, "Sire, you ask me the use of this talisman. Alas! hitherto +it has been only a source of misfortune to me, being the cause of my +separation from the one I love best on earth. The story is so sad and +strange that I am sure your Majesty will be touched by it if you will +permit me to tell it you." +</P> + +<P> +"I will hear it some other time," replied the princess. "Meanwhile I +fancy it is not quite unknown to me. Wait here for me. I will return +shortly." +</P> + +<P> +So saying she retired to another room, where she hastily changed her +masculine attire for that of a woman, and, after putting on the girdle +she wore the day they parted, returned to Camaralzaman. +</P> + +<P> +The prince recognised her at once, and, embracing her with the utmost +tenderness, cried, "Ah, how can I thank the king for this delightful +surprise?" +</P> + +<P> +"Do not expect ever to see the king again," said the princess, as she +wiped the tears of joy from her eyes, "in me you see the king. Let us +sit down, and I will tell you all about it." +</P> + +<P> +She then gave a full account of all her adventures since their parting, +and dwelt much on the charms and noble disposition of the Princess +Haiatelnefous, to whose friendly assistance she owed so much. When she +had done she asked to hear the prince's story, and in this manner they +spent most of the night. +</P> + +<P> +Next morning the princess resumed her woman's clothes, and as soon as +she was ready she desired the chief eunuch to beg King Armanos to come +to her apartments. +</P> + +<P> +When the king arrived great was his surprise at finding a strange lady +in company of the grand treasurer who had no actual right to enter the +private apartment. Seating himself he asked for the king. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," said the princess, "yesterday I was the king, to-day I am only +the Princess of China and wife to the real Prince Camaralzaman, son of +King Schahzaman, and I trust that when your Majesty shall have heard +our story you will not condemn the innocent deception I have been +obliged to practise." +</P> + +<P> +The king consented to listen, and did so with marked surprise. +</P> + +<P> +At the close of her narrative the princess said, "Sire, as our religion +allows a man to have more than one wife, I would beg your Majesty to +give your daughter, the Princess Haiatelnefous, in marriage to Prince +Camaralzaman. I gladly yield to her the precedence and title of Queen +in recognition of the debt of gratitude which I owe her." +</P> + +<P> +King Armanos heard the princess with surprise and admiration, then, +turning to Camaralzaman, he said, "My son, as your wife, the Princess +Badoura (whom I have hitherto looked on as my son-in-law), consents to +share your hand and affections with my daughter, I have only to ask if +this marriage is agreeable to you, and if you will consent to accept +the crown which the Princess Badoura deserves to wear all her life, but +which she prefers to resign for love of you." +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied Camaralzaman, "I can refuse your Majesty nothing." +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly Camaralzaman was duly proclaimed king, and as duly married +with all pomp to the Princess Haiatelnefous, with whose beauty, +talents, and affections he had every reason to be pleased. +</P> + +<P> +The two queens lived in true sisterly harmony together, and after a +time each presented King Camaralzaman with a son, whose births were +celebrated throughout the kingdom with the utmost rejoicing. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap27"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Noureddin and the Fair Persian +</H3> + +<P> +Balsora was the capital of a kingdom long tributary to the caliph. +During the time of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid the king of Balsora, +who was his cousin, was called Zinebi. Not thinking one vizir enough +for the administration of his estates he had two, named Khacan and +Saouy. +</P> + +<P> +Khacan was kind, generous, and liberal, and took pleasure in obliging, +as far as in him lay, those who had business with him. Throughout the +entire kingdom there was no one who did not esteem and praise him as he +deserved. +</P> + +<P> +Saouy was quite a different character, and repelled everyone with whom +he came in contact; he was always gloomy, and, in spite of his great +riches, so miserly that he denied himself even the necessaries of life. +What made him particularly detested was the great aversion he had to +Khacan, of whom he never ceased to speak evil to the king. +</P> + +<P> +One day, while the king amused himself talking with his two vizirs and +other members of the council, the conversation turned on female slaves. +While some declared that it sufficed for a slave to be beautiful, +others, and Khacan was among the number, maintained that beauty alone +was not enough, but that it must be accompanied by wit, wisdom, +modesty, and, if possible, knowledge. +</P> + +<P> +The king not only declared himself to be of this opinion, but charged +Khacan to procure him a slave who should fulfil all these conditions. +Saouy, who had been of the opposite side, and was jealous of the honour +done to Khacan, said, "Sire, it will be very difficult to find a slave +as accomplished as your Majesty desires, and, if she is to be found, +she will be cheap if she cost less than 10,000 gold pieces." +</P> + +<P> +"Saouy," answered the king, "you seem to find that a very great sum. +For you it may be so, but not for me." +</P> + +<P> +And forthwith he ordered his grand treasurer, who was present, to send +10,000 gold pieces to Khacan for the purchase of the slave. +</P> + +<P> +As soon, then, as Khacan returned home he sent for the dealers in +female slaves, and charged them directly they had found such a one as +he described to inform him. They promised to do their utmost, and no +day passed that they did not bring a slave for his inspection but none +was found without some defect. +</P> + +<P> +At length, early one morning, while Khacan was on his way to the king's +palace, a dealer, throwing himself in his way, announced eagerly that a +Persian merchant, arrived late the previous evening, had a slave to +sell whose wit and wisdom were equal to her incomparable beauty. +</P> + +<P> +Khacan, overjoyed at this news, gave orders that the slave should be +brought for his inspection on his return from the palace. The dealer +appearing at the appointed hour, Khacan found the slave beautiful +beyond his expectations, and immediately gave her the name of "The Fair +Persian." +</P> + +<P> +Being a man of great wisdom and learning, he perceived in the short +conversation he had with her that he would seek in vain another slave +to surpass her in any of the qualities required by the king, and +therefore asked the dealer what price the merchant put upon her. +</P> + +<P> +"Sir," was the answer, "for less than 10,000 gold pieces he will not +let her go; he declares that, what with masters for her instruction, +and for bodily exercises, not to speak of clothing and nourishment, he +has already spent that sum upon her. She is in every way fit to be the +slave of a king; she plays every musical instrument, she sings, she +dances, she makes verses, in fact there is no accomplishment in which +she does not excel." +</P> + +<P> +Khacan, who was better able to judge of her merits than the dealer, +wishing to bring the matter to a conclusion, sent for the merchant, and +said to him, "It is not for myself that I wish to buy your slave, but +for the king. Her price, however, is too high." +</P> + +<P> +"Sir," replied the merchant, "I should esteem it an honour to present +her to his Majesty, did it become a merchant to do such a thing. I ask +no more than the sum it has cost me to make her such as she is." +</P> + +<P> +Khacan, not wishing to bargain, immediately had the sum counted out, +and given to the merchant, who before withdrawing said: +</P> + +<P> +"Sir, as she is destined for the king, I would have you observe that +she is extremely tired with the long journey, and before presenting her +to his Majesty you would do well to keep her a fortnight in your own +house, and to see that a little care is bestowed upon her. The sun has +tanned her complexion, but when she has been two or three times to the +bath, and is fittingly dressed, you will see how much her beauty will +be increased." +</P> + +<P> +Khacan thanked the merchant for his advice, and determined to follow +it. He gave the beautiful Persian an apartment near to that of his +wife, whom he charged to treat her as befitting a lady destined for the +king, and to order for her the most magnificent garments. +</P> + +<P> +Before bidding adieu to the fair Persian, he said to her: "No happiness +can be greater than what I have procured for you; judge for yourself, +you now belong to the king. I have, however, to warn you of one thing. +I have a son, who, though not wanting in sense, is young, foolish, and +headstrong, and I charge you to keep him at a distance." +</P> + +<P> +The Persian thanked him for his advice, and promised to profit by it. +</P> + +<P> +Noureddin--for so the vizir's son was named--went freely in and out of +his mother's apartments. He was young, well-made and agreeable, and +had the gift of charming all with whom he came in contact. As soon as +he saw the beautiful Persian, though aware that she was destined for +the king, he let himself be carried away by her charms, and determined +at once to use every means in his power to retain her for himself. The +Persian was equally captivated by Noureddin, and said to herself: "The +vizir does me too great honour in buying me for the king. I should +esteem myself very happy if he would give me to his son." +</P> + +<P> +Noureddin availed himself of every opportunity to gaze upon her beauty, +to talk and laugh with her, and never would have left her side if his +mother had not forced him. +</P> + +<P> +Some time having elapsed, on account of the long journey, since the +beautiful Persian had been to the bath, five or six days after her +purchase the vizir's wife gave orders that the bath should be heated +for her, and that her own female slaves should attend her there, and +after-wards should array her in a magnificent dress that had been +prepared for her. +</P> + +<P> +Her toilet completed, the beautiful Persian came to present herself to +the vizir's wife, who hardly recognised her, so greatly was her beauty +increased. Kissing her hand, the beautiful slave said: "Madam, I do +not know how you find me in this dress that you have had prepared for +me; your women assure me that it suits me so well that they hardly knew +me. If it is the truth they tell me, and not flattery, it is to you I +owe the transformation." +</P> + +<P> +"My daughter," answered the vizir's wife, "they do not flatter you. I +myself hardly recognised you. The improvement is not due to the dress +alone, but largely to the beautifying effects of the bath. I am so +struck by its results, that I would try it on myself." +</P> + +<P> +Acting forthwith on this decision she ordered two little slaves during +her absence to watch over the beautiful Persian, and not to allow +Noureddin to enter should he come. +</P> + +<P> +She had no sooner gone than he arrived, and not finding his mother in +her apartment, would have sought her in that of the Persian. The two +little slaves barred the entrance, saying that his mother had given +orders that he was not to be admitted. Taking each by an arm, he put +them out of the anteroom, and shut the door. Then they rushed to the +bath, informing their mistress with shrieks and tears that Noureddin +had driven them away by force and gone in. +</P> + +<P> +This news caused great consternation to the lady, who, dressing herself +as quickly as possible, hastened to the apartment of the fair Persian, +to find that Noureddin had already gone out. Much astonished to see +the vizir's wife enter in tears, the Persian asked what misfortune had +happened. +</P> + +<P> +"What!" exclaimed the lady, "you ask me that, knowing that my son +Noureddin has been alone with you?" +</P> + +<P> +"But, madam," inquired the Persian, "what harm is there in that?" +</P> + +<P> +"How! Has my husband not told you that you are destined for the king?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly, but Noureddin has just been to tell me that his father has +changed his mind and has bestowed me upon him. I believed him, and so +great is my affection for Noureddin that I would willingly pass my life +with him." +</P> + +<P> +"Would to heaven," exclaimed the wife of the vizir, "that what you say +were true; but Noureddin has deceived you, and his father will +sacrifice him in vengeance for the wrong he has done." +</P> + +<P> +So saying, she wept bitterly, and all her slaves wept with her. +</P> + +<P> +Khacan, entering shortly after this, was much astonished to find his +wife and her slaves in tears, and the beautiful Persian greatly +perturbed. He inquired the cause, but for some time no answer was +forthcoming. When his wife was at length sufficiently calm to inform +him of what had happened, his rage and mortification knew no bounds. +Wringing his hands and rending his beard, he exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Wretched son! thou destroyest not only thyself but thy father. The +king will shed not only thy blood but mine." His wife tried to console +him, saying: "Do not torment thyself. With the sale of my jewels I +will obtain 10,000 gold pieces, and with this sum you will buy another +slave." +</P> + +<P> +"Do not suppose," replied her husband, "that it is the loss of the +money that affects me. My honour is at stake, and that is more +precious to me than all my wealth. You know that Saouy is my mortal +enemy. He will relate all this to the king, and you will see the +consequences that will ensue." +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," said his wife, "I am quite aware of Saouy's baseness, and +that he is capable of playing you this malicious trick. But how can he +or any one else know what takes place in this house? Even if you are +suspected and the king accuses you, you have only to say that, after +examining the slave, you did not find her worthy of his Majesty. +Reassure yourself, and send to the dealers, saying that you are not +satisfied, and wish them to find you another slave." +</P> + +<P> +This advice appearing reasonable, Khacan decided to follow it, but his +wrath against his son did not abate. Noureddin dared not appear all +that day, and fearing to take refuge with his usual associates in case +his father should seek him there, he spent the day in a secluded garden +where he was not known. He did not return home till after his father +had gone to bed, and went out early next morning before the vizir +awoke, and these precautions he kept up during an entire month. +</P> + +<P> +His mother, though knowing very well that he returned to the house +every evening, dare not ask her husband to pardon him. At length she +took courage and said: +</P> + +<P> +"My lord, I know that a son could not act more basely towards his +father than Noureddin has done towards you, but after all will you now +pardon him? Do you not consider the harm you may be doing yourself, +and fear that malicious people, seeking the cause of your estrangement, +may guess the real one?" +</P> + +<P> +"Madam," replied the vizir, "what you say is very just, but I cannot +pardon Noureddin before I have mortified him as he deserves." +</P> + +<P> +"He will be sufficiently punished," answered the lady, "if you do as I +suggest. In the evening, when he returns home, lie in wait for him and +pretend that you will slay him. I will come to his aid, and while +pointing out that you only yield his life at my supplications, you can +force him to take the beautiful Persian on any conditions you please." +Khacan agreed to follow this plan, and everything took place as +arranged. On Noureddin's return Khacan pretended to be about to slay +him, but yielding to his wife's intercession, said to his son: +</P> + +<P> +"You owe your life to your mother. I pardon you on her intercession, +and on the conditions that you take the beautiful Persian for your +wife, and not your slave, that you never sell her, nor put her away." +</P> + +<P> +Noureddin, not hoping for so great indulgence, thanked his father, and +vowed to do as he desired. Khacan was at great pains frequently to +speak to the king of the difficulties attending the commission he had +given him, but some whispers of what had actually taken place did reach +Saouy's ears. +</P> + +<P> +More than a year after these events the minister took a chill, leaving +the bath while still heated to go out on important business. This +resulted in inflammation of the lungs, which rapidly increased. The +vizir, feeling that his end was at hand, sent for Noureddin, and +charged him with his dying breath never to part with the beautiful +Persian. +</P> + +<P> +Shortly afterwards he expired, leaving universal regret throughout the +kingdom; rich and poor alike followed him to the grave. Noureddin +showed every mark of the deepest grief at his father's death, and for +long refused to see any one. At length a day came when, one of his +friends being admitted, urged him strongly to be consoled, and to +resume his former place in society. This advice Noureddin was not slow +to follow, and soon he formed little society of ten young men all about +his own age, with whom he spent all his time in continual feasting and +merry-making. +</P> + +<P> +Sometimes the fair Persian consented to appear at these festivities, +but she disapproved of this lavish expenditure, and did not scruple to +warn Noureddin of the probable consequences. He, however, only laughed +at her advice, saying, that his father had always kept him in too great +constraint, and that now he rejoiced at his new-found liberty. +</P> + +<P> +What added to the confusion in his affairs was that he refused to look +into his accounts with his steward, sending him away every time he +appeared with his book. +</P> + +<P> +"See only that I live well," he said, "and do not disturb me about +anything else." +</P> + +<P> +Not only did Noureddin's friends constantly partake of his hospitality, +but in every way they took advantage of his generosity; everything of +his that they admired, whether land, houses, baths, or any other source +of his revenue, he immediately bestowed on them. In vain the Persian +protested against the wrong he did himself; he continued to scatter +with the same lavish hand. +</P> + +<P> +Throughout one entire year Noureddin did nothing but amuse himself, and +dissipate the wealth his father had taken such pains to acquire. The +year had barely elapsed, when one day, as they sat at table, there came +a knock at the door. The slaves having been sent away, Noureddin went +to open it himself. One of his friends had risen at the same time, but +Noureddin was before him, and finding the intruder to be the steward, +he went out and closed the door. The friend, curious to hear what +passed between them, hid himself behind the hangings, and heard the +following words: +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," said the steward, "I beg a thousand pardons for interrupting +you, but what I have long foreseen has taken place. Nothing remains of +the sums you gave me for your expenses, and all other sources of income +are also at end, having been transferred by you to others. If you wish +me to remain in your service, furnish me with the necessary funds, else +I must withdraw." +</P> + +<P> +So great was Noureddin's consternation that he had not a word to say in +reply. +</P> + +<P> +The friend, who had been listening behind the curtain, immediately +hastened to communicate the news to the rest of the company. +</P> + +<P> +"If this is so," they said, "we must cease to come here." +</P> + +<P> +Noureddin re-entering at that moment, they plainly saw, in spite of his +efforts to dissemble, that what they had heard was the truth. One by +one they rose, and each with a different excuse left the room, till +presently he found himself alone, though little suspecting the +resolution his friends had taken. Then, seeing the beautiful Persian, +he confided to her the statement of the steward, with many expressions +of regret for his own carelessness. +</P> + +<P> +"Had I but followed your advice, beautiful Persian," he said, "all this +would not have happened, but at least I have this consolation, that I +have spent my fortune in the company of friends who will not desert me +in an hour of need. To-morrow I will go to them, and amongst them they +will lend me a sum sufficient to start in some business." +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly next morning early Noureddin went to seek his ten friends, +who all lived in the same street. Knocking at the door of the first +and chief, the slave who opened it left him to wait in a hall while he +announced his visit to his master. "Noureddin!" he heard him exclaim +quite audibly. "Tell him, every time he calls, that I am not at home." +The same thing happened at the second door, and also at the third, and +so on with all the ten. Noureddin, much mortified, recognised too late +that he had confided in false friends, who abandoned him in his hour of +need. Overwhelmed with grief, he sought consolation from the beautiful +Persian. +</P> + +<P> +"Alas, my lord," she said, "at last you are convinced of the truth of +what I foretold. There is now no other resource left but to sell your +slaves and your furniture." +</P> + +<P> +First then he sold the slaves, and subsisted for a time on the +proceeds, after that the furniture was sold, and as much of it was +valuable it sufficed for some time. Finally this resource also came to +an end, and again he sought counsel from the beautiful Persian. +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," she said, "I know that the late vizir, your father, bought +me for 10,000 gold pieces, and though I have diminished in value since, +I should still fetch a large sum. Do not therefore hesitate to sell +me, and with the money you obtain go and establish yourself in business +in some distant town." +</P> + +<P> +"Charming Persian," answered Noureddin, "how could I be guilty of such +baseness? I would die rather than part from you whom I love better +than my life." +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," she replied, "I am well aware of your love for me, which is +only equalled by mine for you, but a cruel necessity obliges us to seek +the only remedy." +</P> + +<P> +Noureddin, convinced at length of the truth of her words, yielded, and +reluctantly led her to the slave market, where, showing her to a dealer +named Hagi Hassan, he inquired her value. +</P> + +<P> +Taking them into a room apart, Hagi Hassan exclaimed as soon as she had +unveiled, "My lord, is not this the slave your father bought for 10,000 +pieces?" +</P> + +<P> +On learning that it was so, he promised to obtain the highest possible +price for her. Leaving the beautiful Persian shut up in the room +alone, he went out to seek the slave merchants, announcing to them that +he had found the pearl among slaves, and asking them to come and put a +value upon her. As soon as they saw her they agreed that less than +4,000 gold pieces could not be asked. Hagi Hassan, then closing the +door upon her, began to offer her for sale--calling out: "Who will bid +4,000 gold pieces for the Persian slave?" +</P> + +<P> +Before any of the merchants had bid, Saouy happened to pass that way, +and judging that it must be a slave of extraordinary beauty, rode up to +Hagi Hassan and desired to see her. Now it was not the custom to show +a slave to a private bidder, but as no one dared to disobey the vizir +his request was granted. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as Saouy saw the Persian he was so struck by her beauty, that +he immediately wished to possess her, and not knowing that she belonged +to Noureddin, he desired Hagi Hassan to send for the owner and to +conclude the bargain at once. +</P> + +<P> +Hagi Hassan then sought Noureddin, and told him that his slave was +going far below her value, and that if Saouy bought her he was capable +of not paying the money. "What you must do," he said, "is to pretend +that you had no real intention of selling your slave, and only swore +you would in a fit of anger against her. When I present her to Saouy +as if with your consent you must step in, and with blows begin to lead +her away." +</P> + +<P> +Noureddin did as Hagi Hassan advised, to the great wrath of Saouy, who +riding straight at him endeavoured to take the beautiful Persian from +him by force. Noureddin letting her go, seized Saouy's horse by the +bridle, and, encouraged by the applause of the bystanders, dragged him +to the ground, beat him severely, and left him in the gutter streaming +with blood. Then, taking the beautiful Persian, he returned home +amidst the acclamations of the people, who detested Saouy so much that +they would neither interfere in his behalf nor allow his slaves to +protect him. +</P> + +<P> +Covered from head to foot with mire and streaming with blood he rose, +and leaning on two of his slaves went straight to the palace, where he +demanded an audience of the king, to whom he related what had taken +place in these words: +</P> + +<P> +"May it please your Majesty, I had gone to the slave market to buy +myself a cook. While there I heard a slave being offered for 4,000 +pieces. Asking to see her, I found she was of incomparable beauty, and +was being sold by Noureddin, the son of your late vizir, to whom your +Majesty will remember giving a sum of 10,000 gold pieces for the +purchase of a slave. This is the identical slave, whom instead of +bringing to your Majesty he gave to his own son. Since the death of +his father this Noureddin has run through his entire fortune, has sold +all his possessions, and is now reduced to selling the slave. Calling +him to me, I said: "Noureddin, I will give you 10,000 gold pieces for +your slave, whom I will present to the king. I will interest him at +the same time in your behalf, and this will be worth much more to you +than what extra money you might obtain from the merchants." "Bad old +man," he exclaimed, "rather than sell my slave to you I would give her +to a Jew." "But, Noureddin," I remonstrated, "you do not consider that +in speaking thus you wrong the king, to whom your father owed +everything." This remonstrance only irritated him the more. Throwing +himself on me like a madman, he tore me from my horse, beat me to his +heart's content, and left me in the state your Majesty sees." +</P> + +<P> +So saying Saouy turned aside his head and wept bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +The king's wrath was kindled against Noureddin. He ordered the captain +of the guard to take with him forty men, to pillage Noureddin's house, +to rase it to the ground, and to bring Noureddin and the slave to him. +A doorkeeper, named Sangiar, who had been a slave of Khacan's, hearing +this order given, slipped out of the king's apartment, and hastened to +warn Noureddin to take flight instantly with the beautiful Persian. +Then, presenting him with forty gold pieces, he disappeared before +Noureddin had time to thank him. +</P> + +<P> +As soon, then, as the fair Persian had put on her veil they fled +together, and had the good fortune to get out of the town without being +observed. At the mouth of the Euphrates they found a ship just about +to start for Bagdad. They embarked, and immediately the anchor was +raised and they set sail. +</P> + +<P> +When the captain of the guard reached Noureddin's house he caused his +soldiers to burst open the door and to enter by force, but no trace was +to be found of Noureddin and his slave, nor could the neighbours give +any information about them. When the king heard that they had escaped, +he issued a proclamation that a reward of 1,000 gold pieces would be +given to whoever would bring him Noureddin and the slave, but that, on +the contrary, whoever hid them would be severely punished. Meanwhile +Noureddin and the fair Persian had safely reached Bagdad. When the +vessel had come to an anchor they paid five gold pieces for their +passage and went ashore. Never having been in Bagdad before, they did +not know where to seek a lodging. Wandering along the banks of the +Tigris, they skirted a garden enclosed by a high wall. The gate was +shut, but in front of it was an open vestibule with a sofa on either +side. "Here," said Noureddin, "let us pass the night," and reclining +on the sofas they soon fell asleep. +</P> + +<P> +Now this garden belonged to the Caliph. In the middle of it was a vast +pavilion, whose superb saloon had eighty windows, each window having a +lustre, lit solely when the Caliph spent the evening there. Only the +door-keeper lived there, an old soldier named Scheih Ibrahim, who had +strict orders to be very careful whom he admitted, and never to allow +any one to sit on the sofas by the door. It happened that evening that +he had gone out on an errand. When he came back and saw two persons +asleep on the sofas he was about to drive them out with blows, but +drawing nearer he perceived that they were a handsome young man and +beautiful young woman, and decided to awake them by gentler means. +Noureddin, on being awoke, told the old man that they were strangers, +and merely wished to pass the night there. "Come with me," said Scheih +Ibrahim, "I will lodge you better, and will show you a magnificent +garden belonging to me." So saying the doorkeeper led the way into the +Caliph's garden, the beauties of which filled them with wonder and +amazement. Noureddin took out two gold pieces, and giving them to +Scheih Ibrahim said, +</P> + +<P> +"I beg you to get us something to eat that we may make merry together." +Being very avaricious, Scheih Ibrahim determined to spend only the +tenth part of the money and to keep the rest to himself. While he was +gone Noureddin and the Persian wandered through the gardens and went up +the white marble staircase of the pavilion as far as the locked door of +the saloon. On the return of Scheih Ibrahim they begged him to open +it, and to allow them to enter and admire the magnificence within. +Consenting, he brought not only the key, but a light, and immediately +unlocked the door. Noureddin and the Persian entering, were dazzled +with the magnificence they beheld. The paintings and furniture were of +astonishing beauty, and between each window was a silver arm holding a +candle. +</P> + +<P> +Scheih Ibrahim spread the table in front of a sofa, and all three ate +together. When they had finished eating Noureddin asked the old man to +bring them a bottle of wine. +</P> + +<P> +"Heaven forbid," said Scheih Ibrahim, "that I should come in contact +with wine! I who have four times made the pilgrimage to Mecca, and +have renounced wine for ever." +</P> + +<P> +"You would, however, do us a great service in procuring us some," said +Noureddin. "You need not touch it yourself. Take the ass which is +tied to the gate, lead it to the nearest wine-shop, and ask some +passer-by to order two jars of wine; have them put in the ass's +panniers, and drive him before you. Here are two pieces of gold for +the expenses." +</P> + +<P> +At sight of the gold, Scheih Ibrahim set off at once to execute the +commission. On his return, Noureddin said: "We have still need of +cups to drink from, and of fruit, if you can procure us some." Scheih +Ibrahim disappeared again, and soon returned with a table spread with +cups of gold and silver, and every sort of beautiful fruit. Then he +withdrew, in spite of repeated invitations to remain. +</P> + +<P> +Noureddin and the beautiful Persian, finding the wine excellent, drank +of it freely, and while drinking they sang. Both had fine voices, and +Scheih Ibrahim listened to them with great pleasure--first from a +distance, then he drew nearer, and finally put his head in at the door. +Noureddin, seeing him, called to him to come in and keep them company. +At first the old man declined, but was persuaded to enter the room, to +sit down on the edge of the sofa nearest the door, and at last to draw +closer and to seat himself by the beautiful Persian, who urged him so +persistently to drink her health that at length he yielded, and took +the cup she offered. +</P> + +<P> +Now the old man only made a pretence of renouncing wine; he frequented +wine-shops like other people, and had taken none of the precautions +Noureddin had proposed. Having once yielded, he was easily persuaded +to take a second cup, and a third, and so on till he no longer knew +what he was doing. Till near midnight they continued drinking, +laughing, and singing together. +</P> + +<P> +About that time the Persian, perceiving that the room was lit by only +one miserable tallow candle, asked Scheih Ibrahim to light some of the +beautiful candles in the silver arms. +</P> + +<P> +"Light them yourself," answered the old man; "you are younger than I, +but let five or six be enough." +</P> + +<P> +She did not stop, however, till she had lit all the eighty, but Scheih +Ibrahim was not conscious of this, and when, soon after that, Noureddin +proposed to have some of the lustres lit, he answered: +</P> + +<P> +"You are more capable of lighting them than I, but not more than three." +</P> + +<P> +Noureddin, far from contenting himself with three, lit all, and opened +all the eighty windows. +</P> + +<P> +The Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid, chancing at that moment to open a window +in the saloon of his palace looking on the garden, was surprised to see +the pavilion brilliantly illuminated. Calling the grand-vizir, Giafar, +he said to him: +</P> + +<P> +"Negligent vizir, look at the pavilion, and tell me why it is lit up +when I am not there." +</P> + +<P> +When the vizir saw that it was as the Caliph said, he trembled with +fear, and immediately invented an excuse. +</P> + +<P> +"Commander of the Faithful," he said, "I must tell you that four or +five days ago Scheih Ibrahim told me that he wished to have an assembly +of the ministers of his mosque, and asked permission to hold it in the +pavilion. I granted his request, but forgot since to mention it to +your Majesty." +</P> + +<P> +"Giafar," replied the Caliph, "you have committed three faults--first, +in giving the permission; second, in not mentioning it to me; and +third, in not investigating the matter more closely. For punishment I +condemn you to spend the rest of the night with me in company of these +worthy people. While I dress myself as a citizen, go and disguise +yourself, and then come with me." +</P> + +<P> +When they reached the garden gate they found it open, to the great +indignation of the Caliph. The door of the pavilion being also open, +he went softly upstairs, and looked in at the half-closed door of the +saloon. Great was his surprise to see Scheih Ibrahim, whose sobriety +he had never doubted, drinking and singing with a young man and a +beautiful lady. The Caliph, before giving way to his anger, determined +to watch and see who the people were and what they did. +</P> + +<P> +Presently Scheih Ibrahim asked the beautiful Persian if anything were +wanting to complete her enjoyment of the evening. +</P> + +<P> +"If only," she said, "I had an instrument upon which I might play." +</P> + +<P> +Scheih Ibrahim immediately took a lute from a cup-board and gave it to +the Persian, who began to play on it, singing the while with such skill +and taste that the Caliph was enchanted. When she ceased he went +softly downstairs and said to the vizir: +</P> + +<P> +"Never have I heard a finer voice, nor the lute better played. I am +determined to go in and make her play to me." +</P> + +<P> +"Commander of the Faithful," said the vizir, "if Scheih Ibrahim +recognises you he will die of fright." +</P> + +<P> +"I should be sorry for that," answered the Caliph, "and I am going to +take steps to prevent it. Wait here till I return." +</P> + +<P> +Now the Caliph had caused a bend in the river to form a lake in his +garden. There the finest fish in the Tigris were to be found, but +fishing was strictly forbidden. It happened that night, however, that +a fisherman had taken advantage of the gate being open to go in and +cast his nets. He was just about to draw them when he saw the Caliph +approaching. Recognising him at once in spite of his disguise, he +threw himself at his feet imploring forgiveness. +</P> + +<P> +"Fear nothing," said the Caliph, "only rise up and draw thy nets." +</P> + +<P> +The fisherman did as he was told, and produced five or six fine fish, +of which the Caliph took the two largest. Then he desired the +fisherman to change clothes with him, and in a few minutes the Caliph +was transformed into a fisherman, even to the shoes and the turban. +Taking the two fish in his hand, he returned to the vizir, who, not +recognising him, would have sent him about his business. Leaving the +vizir at the foot of the stairs, the Caliph went up and knocked at the +door of the saloon. Noureddin opened it, and the Caliph, standing on +the threshold, said: +</P> + +<P> +"Scheih Ibrahim, I am the fisher Kerim. Seeing that you are feasting +with your friends, I bring you these fish." +</P> + +<P> +Noureddin and the Persian said that when the fishes were properly +cooked and dressed they would gladly eat of them. The Caliph then +returned to the vizir, and they set to work in Scheih Ibrahim's house +to cook the fish, of which they made so tempting a dish that Noureddin +and the fair Persian ate of it with great relish. When they had +finished Noureddin took thirty gold pieces (all that remained of what +Sangiar had given him) and presented them to the Caliph, who, thanking +him, asked as a further favour if the lady would play him one piece on +the lute. The Persian gladly consented, and sang and played so as to +delight the Caliph. +</P> + +<P> +Noureddin, in the habit of giving to others whatever they admired, +said, "Fisherman, as she pleases you so much, take her; she is yours." +</P> + +<P> +The fair Persian, astounded that he should wish to part from her, took +her lute, and with tears in her eyes sang her reproaches to its music. +</P> + +<P> +The Caliph (still in the character of fisherman) said to him, "Sir, I +perceive that this fair lady is your slave. Oblige me, I beg you, by +relating your history." +</P> + +<P> +Noureddin willingly granted this request, and recounted everything from +the purchase of the slave down to the present moment. +</P> + +<P> +"And where do you go now?" asked the Caliph. +</P> + +<P> +"Wherever the hand of Allah leads me," said Noureddin. +</P> + +<P> +"Then, if you will listen to me," said the Caliph, "you will +immediately return to Balsora. I will give you a letter to the king, +which will ensure you a good reception from him." +</P> + +<P> +"It is an unheard-of thing," said Noureddin, "that a fisherman should +be in correspondence with a king." +</P> + +<P> +"Let not that astonish you," answered the Caliph; "we studied together, +and have always remained the best of friends, though fortune, while +making him a king, left me a humble fisherman." +</P> + +<P> +The Caliph then took a sheet of paper, and wrote the following letter, +at the top of which he put in very small characters this formula to +show that he must be implicitly obeyed:--"In the name of the Most +Merciful God. +</P> + +<P> +"Letter of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid to the King of Balsora. +</P> + +<P> +"Haroun-al-Raschid, son of Mahdi, sends this letter to Mohammed Zinebi, +his cousin. As soon as Noureddin, son of the Vizir Khacan, bearer of +this letter, has given it to thee, and thou hast read it, take off thy +royal mantle, put it on his shoulders, and seat him in thy place +without fail. Farewell." +</P> + +<P> +The Caliph then gave this letter to Noureddin, who immediately set off, +with only what little money he possessed when Sangiar came to his +assistance. The beautiful Persian, inconsolable at his departure, sank +on a sofa bathed in tears. +</P> + +<P> +When Noureddin had left the room, Scheih Ibrahim, who had hitherto kept +silence, said: "Kerim, for two miserable fish thou hast received a +purse and a slave. I tell thee I will take the slave, and as to the +purse, if it contains silver thou mayst keep one piece, if gold then I +will take all and give thee what copper pieces I have in my purse." +</P> + +<P> +Now here it must be related that when the Caliph went upstairs with the +plate of fish he ordered the vizir to hasten to the palace and bring +back four slaves bearing a change of raiment, who should wait outside +the pavilion till the Caliph should clap his hands. +</P> + +<P> +Still personating the fisherman, the Caliph answered: "Scheih Ibrahim, +whatever is in the purse I will share equally with you, but as to the +slave I will keep her for myself. If you do not agree to these +conditions you shall have nothing." +</P> + +<P> +The old man, furious at this insolence as he considered it, took a cup +and threw it at the Caliph, who easily avoided a missile from the hand +of a drunken man. It hit against the wall, and broke into a thousand +pieces. Scheih Ibrahim, still more enraged, then went out to fetch a +stick. The Caliph at that moment clapped his hands, and the vizir and +the four slaves entering took off the fisherman's dress and put on him +that which they had brought. +</P> + +<P> +When Scheih Ibrahim returned, a thick stick in his hand, the Caliph was +seated on his throne, and nothing remained of the fisherman but his +clothes in the middle of the room. Throwing himself on the ground at +the Caliph's feet, he said: "Commander of the Faithful, your miserable +slave has offended you, and craves forgiveness." +</P> + +<P> +The Caliph came down from his throne, and said: "Rise, I forgive +thee." Then turning to the Persian he said: "Fair lady, now you know +who I am; learn also that I have sent Noureddin to Balsora to be king, +and as soon as all necessary preparations are made I will send you +there to be queen. Meanwhile I will give you an apartment in my +palace, where you will be treated with all honour." +</P> + +<P> +At this the beautiful Persian took courage, and the Caliph was as good +as his word, recommending her to the care of his wife Zobeida. +</P> + +<P> +Noureddin made all haste on his journey to Balsora, and on his arrival +there went straight to the palace of the king, of whom he demanded an +audience. It was immediately granted, and holding the letter high +above his head he forced his way through the crowd. While the king +read the letter he changed colour. He would instantly have executed +the Caliph's order, but first he showed the letter to Saouy, whose +interests were equally at stake with his own. Pretending that he +wished to read it a second time, Saouy turned aside as if to seek a +better light; unperceived by anyone he tore off the formula from the +top of the letter, put it to his mouth, and swallowed it. Then, +turning to the king, he said: +</P> + +<P> +"Your majesty has no need to obey this letter. The writing is indeed +that of the Caliph, but the formula is absent. Besides, he has not +sent an express with the patent, without which the letter is useless. +Leave all to me, and I will take the consequences." +</P> + +<P> +The king not only listened to the persuasions of Saouy, but gave +Noureddin into his hands. Such a severe bastinado was first +administered to him, that he was left more dead than alive; then Saouy +threw him into the darkest and deepest dungeon, and fed him only on +bread and water. After ten days Saouy determined to put an end to +Noureddin's life, but dared not without the king's authority. To gain +this end, he loaded several of his own slaves with rich gifts, and +presented himself at their head to the king, saying that they were from +the new king on his coronation. +</P> + +<P> +"What!" said the king; "is that wretch still alive? Go and behead him +at once. I authorise you." +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," said Saouy, "I thank your Majesty for the justice you do me. I +would further beg, as Noureddin publicly affronted me, that the +execution might be in front of the palace, and that it might be +proclaimed throughout the city, so that no one may be ignorant of it." +</P> + +<P> +The king granted these requests, and the announcement caused universal +grief, for the memory of Noureddin's father was still fresh in the +hearts of his people. Saouy, accompanied by twenty of his own slaves, +went to the prison to fetch Noureddin, whom he mounted on a wretched +horse without a saddle. Arrived at the palace, Saouy went in to the +king, leaving Noureddin in the square, hemmed in not only by Saouy's +slaves but by the royal guard, who had great difficulty in preventing +the people from rushing in and rescuing Noureddin. So great was the +indignation against Saouy that if anyone had set the example he would +have been stoned on his way through the streets. Saouy, who witnessed +the agitation of the people from the windows of the king's privy +chambers, called to the executioner to strike at once. The king, +however, ordered him to delay; not only was he jealous of Saouy's +interference, but he had another reason. A troop of horsemen was seen +at that moment riding at full gallop towards the square. Saouy +suspected who they might be, and urged the king to give the signal for +the execution without delay, but this the king refused to do till he +knew who the horsemen were. +</P> + +<P> +Now, they were the vizir Giafar and his suite arriving at full speed +from Bagdad. For several days after Noureddin's departure with the +letter the Caliph had forgotten to send the express with the patent, +without which the letter was useless. Hearing a beautiful voice one +day in the women's part of the palace uttering lamentations, he was +informed that it was the voice of the fair Persian, and suddenly +calling to mind the patent, he sent for Giafar, and ordered him to make +for Balsora with the utmost speed--if Noureddin were dead, to hang +Saouy; if he were still alive, to bring him at once to Bagdad along +with the king and Saouy. +</P> + +<P> +Giafar rode at full speed through the square, and alighted at the steps +of the palace, where the king came to greet him. The vizir's first +question was whether Noureddin were still alive. The king replied that +he was, and he was immediately led forth, though bound hand and foot. +By the vizir's orders his bonds were immediately undone, and Saouy was +tied with the same cords. Next day Giafar returned to Bagdad, bearing +with him the king, Saouy, and Noureddin. +</P> + +<P> +When the Caliph heard what treatment Noureddin had received, he +authorised him to behead Saouy with his own hands, but he declined to +shed the blood of his enemy, who was forthwith handed over to the +executioner. The Caliph also desired Noureddin to reign over Balsora, +but this, too, he declined, saying that after what had passed there he +preferred never to return, but to enter the service of the Caliph. He +became one of his most intimate courtiers, and lived long in great +happiness with the fair Persian. As to the king, the Caliph contented +himself with sending him back to Balsora, with the recommendation to be +more careful in future in the choice of his vizir. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap28"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp +</H3> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"I am, sir," replied Aladdin; "but he died a long while ago." +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +Aladdin ran home, and told his mother of his newly found uncle. +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed, child," she said, "your father had a brother, but I always +thought he was dead." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +At last they came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +He drew a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him +prosper. +</P> + +<P> +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: +</P> + +<P> +"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. +</P> + +<P> +The magician left Persia for ever, 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. +</P> + +<P> +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: +</P> + +<P> +"What wouldst thou with me? I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey +thee in all things." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! child," she said, "I have nothing in the house, but I have spun +a little cotton and will go and sell it." +</P> + +<P> +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: +</P> + +<P> +"Fetch me something to eat!" +</P> + +<P> +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: +</P> + +<P> +"Whence comes this splendid feast?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ask not, but eat," replied Aladdin. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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 were left. He then had +recourse to the genie, who gave him another set of plates, and thus +they lived for many years. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the napkin, whereupon she +unfolded the jewels and presented them. +</P> + +<P> +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?" +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you not know," was the answer, "that the son of the grand-vizir is +to marry the Sultan's daughter to-night?" +</P> + +<P> +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?" +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +"Master, I obey," said the genie. +</P> + +<P> +Aladdin then went to his chamber, where, sure enough at midnight the +genie transported the bed containing the vizir's son and the princess. +</P> + +<P> +"Take this new-married man," he said, "and put him outside in the cold, +and return at daybreak." +</P> + +<P> +Whereupon the genie took the vizir's son out of bed, leaving Aladdin +with the princess. +</P> + +<P> +"Fear nothing," Aladdin said to her; "you are my wife, promised to me +by your unjust father, and no harm shall come to you." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan sent her mother to her, who said: "How comes it, child, +that you will not speak to your father? What has happened?" +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +She gave Aladdin the message, adding: "He may wait long enough for +your answer!" +</P> + +<P> +"Not so long, mother, as you think," her son replied "I would do a +great deal more than that for the princess." +</P> + +<P> +He summoned the genie, and in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived, +and filled up the small house and garden. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +He hesitated no longer, but said: "Good woman, return and tell your +son that I wait for him with open arms." +</P> + +<P> +She lost no time in telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste. But +Aladdin first called the genie. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +But Aladdin refused, saying, "I must build a palace fit for her," and +took his leave. +</P> + +<P> +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!" +</P> + +<P> +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 honour. At night the princess +said good-bye 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. +</P> + +<P> +"Princess," he said, "blame your beauty for my boldness if I have +displeased you." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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: +</P> + +<P> +"It is a world's wonder! There is only one thing that surprises me. +Was it by accident that one window was left unfinished?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir, by design," returned Aladdin. "I wished your Majesty to have +the glory of finishing this palace." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan was pleased, and sent for the best jewelers in the city. He +showed them the unfinished window, and bade them fit it up like the +others. +</P> + +<P> +"Sir," replied their spokesman, "we cannot find jewels enough." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 honour 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. +</P> + +<P> +"Forgive my ignorance," he asked, "what is this palace you speak of?" +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"Madam," replied the slave, "who can help laughing to see an old fool +offering to exchange fine new lamps for old ones?" +</P> + +<P> +Another slave, hearing this, said: "There is an old one on the cornice +there which he can have." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +She went and said to the magician: "Give me a new lamp for this." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +Aladdin now begged to know what he had done. +</P> + +<P> +"False wretch!" said the Sultan, "come hither," and showed him from the +window the place where his palace had stood. +</P> + +<P> +Aladdin was so amazed that he could not say a word. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +The genie he had seen in the cave appeared, and asked his will. +</P> + +<P> +"Save my life, genie," said Aladdin, "and bring my palace back." +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +"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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +"Alas!" she said "I am the innocent cause of our sorrows," and told him +of the exchange of the lamp. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I know," cried Aladdin, "that we have to thank the African +magician for this! Where is the lamp?" +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +Aladdin comforted her, and left her for a while. 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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +She listened carefully to Aladdin, and when he left her arrayed herself +gaily 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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +Before drinking the magician made her a speech in praise of her beauty, +but the princess cut him short saying: +</P> + +<P> +"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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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, coloured his face like hers, put +on her veil and murdered her, 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. +</P> + +<P> +"It is truly beautiful," said the false Fatima. "In my mind it wants +but one thing." +</P> + +<P> +"And what is that?" said the princess. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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 humour. +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. +</P> + +<P> +"It that is all," replied Aladdin, "you shall soon be happy." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"Wretch!" he cried, "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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"What have you done?" cried the princess. "You have killed the holy +woman!" +</P> + +<P> +"Not so," replied Aladdin, "but a wicked magician," and told her of how +she had been deceived. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap29"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Adventures of Haroun-al-Raschid, Caliph of Bagdad +</H3> + +<P> +The Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid sat in his palace, wondering if there was +anything left in the world that could possibly give him a few hours' +amusement, when Giafar the grand-vizir, his old and tried friend, +suddenly appeared before him. Bowing low, he waited, as was his duty, +till his master spoke, but Haroun-al-Raschid merely turned his head and +looked at him, and sank back into his former weary posture. +</P> + +<P> +Now Giafar had something of importance to say to the Caliph, and had no +intention of being put off by mere silence, so with another low bow in +front of the throne, he began to speak. +</P> + +<P> +"Commander of the Faithful," said he, "I have taken on myself to remind +your Highness that you have undertaken secretly to observe for yourself +the manner in which justice is done and order is kept throughout the +city. This is the day you have set apart to devote to this object, and +perhaps in fulfilling this duty you may find some distraction from the +melancholy to which, as I see to my sorrow, you are a prey." +</P> + +<P> +"You are right," returned the Caliph, "I had forgotten all about it. +Go and change your coat, and I will change mine." +</P> + +<P> +A few moments later they both re-entered the hall, disguised as foreign +merchants, and passed through a secret door, out into the open country. +Here they turned towards the Euphrates, and crossing the river in a +small boat, walked through that part of the town which lay along the +further bank, without seeing anything to call for their interference. +Much pleased with the peace and good order of the city, the Caliph and +his vizir made their way to a bridge, which led straight back to the +palace, and had already crossed it, when they were stopped by an old +and blind man, who begged for alms. +</P> + +<P> +The Caliph gave him a piece of money, and was passing on, but the blind +man seized his hand, and held him fast. +</P> + +<P> +"Charitable person," he said, "whoever you may be grant me yet another +prayer. Strike me, I beg of you, one blow. I have deserved it richly, +and even a more severe penalty." +</P> + +<P> +The Caliph, much surprised at this request, replied gently: "My good +man, that which you ask is impossible. Of what use would my alms be if +I treated you so ill?" And as he spoke he tried to loosen the grasp of +the blind beggar. +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," answered the man, "pardon my boldness and my persistence. +Take back your money, or give me the blow which I crave. I have sworn +a solemn oath that I will receive nothing without receiving +chastisement, and if you knew all, you would feel that the punishment +is not a tenth part of what I deserve." +</P> + +<P> +Moved by these words, and perhaps still more by the fact that he had +other business to attend to, the Caliph yielded, and struck him lightly +on the shoulder. Then he continued his road, followed by the blessing +of the blind man. When they were out of earshot, he said to the vizir, +"There must be something very odd to make that man act so--I should +like to find out what is the reason. Go back to him; tell him who I +am, and order him to come without fail to the palace to-morrow, after +the hour of evening prayer." +</P> + +<P> +So the grand-vizir went back to the bridge; gave the blind beggar first +a piece of money and then a blow, delivered the Caliph's message, and +rejoined his master. +</P> + +<P> +They passed on towards the palace, but walking through a square, they +came upon a crowd watching a young and well-dressed man who was urging +a horse at full speed round the open space, using at the same time his +spurs and whip so unmercifully that the animal was all covered with +foam and blood. The Caliph, astonished at this proceeding, inquired of +a passer-by what it all meant, but no one could tell him anything, +except that every day at the same hour the same thing took place. +</P> + +<P> +Still wondering, he passed on, and for the moment had to content +himself with telling the vizir to command the horseman also to appear +before him at the same time as the blind man. +</P> + +<P> +The next day, after evening prayer, the Caliph entered the hall, and +was followed by the vizir bringing with him the two men of whom we have +spoken, and a third, with whom we have nothing to do. They all bowed +themselves low before the throne and then the Caliph bade them rise, +and ask the blind man his name. +</P> + +<P> +"Baba-Abdalla, your Highness," said he. +</P> + +<P> +"Baba-Abdalla," returned the Caliph, "your way of asking alms yesterday +seemed to me so strange, that I almost commanded you then and there to +cease from causing such a public scandal. But I have sent for you to +inquire what was your motive in making such a curious vow. When I know +the reason I shall be able to judge whether you can be permitted to +continue to practise it, for I cannot help thinking that it sets a very +bad example to others. Tell me therefore the whole truth, and conceal +nothing." +</P> + +<P> +These words troubled the heart of Baba-Abdalla, who prostrated himself +at the feet of the Caliph. Then rising, he answered: "Commander of the +Faithful, I crave your pardon humbly, for my persistence in beseeching +your Highness to do an action which appears on the face of it to be +without any meaning. No doubt, in the eyes of men, it has none; but I +look on it as a slight expiation for a fearful sin of which I have been +guilty, and if your Highness will deign to listen to my tale, you will +see that no punishment could atone for the crime." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap30"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of the Blind Baba-Abdalla +</H3> + +<P> +I was born, Commander of the Faithful, in Bagdad, and was left an +orphan while I was yet a very young man, for my parents died within a +few days of each other. I had inherited from them a small fortune, +which I worked hard night and day to increase, till at last I found +myself the owner of eighty camels. These I hired out to travelling +merchants, whom I frequently accompanied on their various journeys, and +always returned with large profits. +</P> + +<P> +One day I was coming back from Balsora, whither I had taken a supply of +goods, intended for India, and halted at noon in a lonely place, which +promised rich pasture for my camels. I was resting in the shade under +a tree, when a dervish, going on foot towards Balsora, sat down by my +side, and I inquired whence he had come and to what place he was going. +We soon made friends, and after we had asked each other the usual +questions, we produced the food we had with us, and satisfied our +hunger. +</P> + +<P> +While we were eating, the dervish happened to mention that in a spot +only a little way off from where we were sitting, there was hidden a +treasure so great that if my eighty camels were loaded till they could +carry no more, the hiding place would seem as full as if it had never +been touched. +</P> + +<P> +At this news I became almost beside myself with joy and greed, and I +flung my arms round the neck of the dervish, exclaiming: "Good +dervish, I see plainly that the riches of this world are nothing to +you, therefore of what use is the knowledge of this treasure to you? +Alone and on foot, you could carry away a mere handful. But tell me +where it is, and I will load my eighty camels with it, and give you one +of them as a token of my gratitude." +</P> + +<P> +Certainly my offer does not sound very magnificent, but it was great to +me, for at his words a wave of covetousness had swept over my heart, +and I almost felt as if the seventy-nine camels that were left were +nothing in comparison. +</P> + +<P> +The dervish saw quite well what was passing in my mind, but he did not +show what he thought of my proposal. +</P> + +<P> +"My brother," he answered quietly, "you know as well as I do, that you +are behaving unjustly. It was open to me to keep my secret, and to +reserve the treasure for myself. But the fact that I have told you of +its existence shows that I had confidence in you, and that I hoped to +earn your gratitude for ever, by making your fortune as well as mine. +But before I reveal to you the secret of the treasure, you must swear +that, after we have loaded the camels with as much as they can carry, +you will give half to me, and let us go our own ways. I think you will +see that this is fair, for if you present me with forty camels, I on my +side will give you the means of buying a thousand more." +</P> + +<P> +I could not of course deny that what the dervish said was perfectly +reasonable, but, in spite of that, the thought that the dervish would +be as rich as I was unbearable to me. Still there was no use in +discussing the matter, and I had to accept his conditions or bewail to +the end of my life the loss of immense wealth. So I collected my +camels and we set out together under the guidance of the dervish. +After walking some time, we reached what looked like a valley, but with +such a narrow entrance that my camels could only pass one by one. The +little valley, or open space, was shut up by two mountains, whose sides +were formed of straight cliffs, which no human being could climb. +</P> + +<P> +When we were exactly between these mountains the dervish stopped. +</P> + +<P> +"Make your camels lie down in this open space," he said, "so that we +can easily load them; then we will go to the treasure." +</P> + +<P> +I did what I was bid, and rejoined the dervish, whom I found trying to +kindle a fire out of some dry wood. As soon as it was alight, he threw +on it a handful of perfumes, and pronounced a few words that I did not +understand, and immediately a thick column of smoke rose high into the +air. He separated the smoke into two columns, and then I saw a rock, +which stood like a pillar between the two mountains, slowly open, and a +splendid palace appear within. +</P> + +<P> +But, Commander of the Faithful, the love of gold had taken such +possession of my heart, that I could not even stop to examine the +riches, but fell upon the first pile of gold within my reach and began +to heap it into a sack that I had brought with me. +</P> + +<P> +The dervish likewise set to work, but I soon noticed that he confined +himself to collecting precious stones, and I felt I should be wise to +follow his example. At length the camels were loaded with as much as +they could carry, and nothing remained but to seal up the treasure, and +go our ways. +</P> + +<P> +Before, however, this was done, the dervish went up to a great golden +vase, beautifully chased, and took from it a small wooden box, which he +hid in the bosom of his dress, merely saying that it contained a +special kind of ointment. Then he once more kindled the fire, threw on +the perfume, and murmured the unknown spell, and the rock closed, and +stood whole as before. +</P> + +<P> +The next thing was to divide the camels, and to charge them with the +treasure, after which we each took command of our own and marched out +of the valley, till we reached the place in the high road where the +routes diverge, and then we parted, the dervish going towards Balsora, +and I to Bagdad. We embraced each other tenderly, and I poured out my +gratitude for the honour he had done me, in singling me out for this +great wealth, and having said a hearty farewell we turned our backs, +and hastened after our camels. +</P> + +<P> +I had hardly come up with mine when the demon of envy filled my soul. +"What does a dervish want with riches like that?" I said to myself. +"He alone has the secret of the treasure, and can always get as much as +he wants," and I halted my camels by the roadside, and ran back after +him. +</P> + +<P> +I was a quick runner, and it did not take me very long to come up with +him. "My brother," I exclaimed, as soon as I could speak, "almost at +the moment of our leave-taking, a reflection occurred to me, which is +perhaps new to you. You are a dervish by profession, and live a very +quiet life, only caring to do good, and careless of the things of this +world. You do not realise the burden that you lay upon yourself, when +you gather into your hands such great wealth, besides the fact that no +one, who is not accustomed to camels from his birth, can ever manage +the stubborn beasts. If you are wise, you will not encumber yourself +with more than thirty, and you will find those trouble enough." +</P> + +<P> +"You are right," replied the dervish, who understood me quite well, but +did not wish to fight the matter. "I confess I had not thought about +it. Choose any ten you like, and drive them before you." +</P> + +<P> +I selected ten of the best camels, and we proceeded along the road, to +rejoin those I had left behind. I had got what I wanted, but I had +found the dervish so easy to deal with, that I rather regretted I had +not asked for ten more. I looked back. He had only gone a few paces, +and I called after him. +</P> + +<P> +"My brother," I said, "I am unwilling to part from you without pointing +out what I think you scarcely grasp, that large experience of +camel-driving is necessary to anybody who intends to keep together a +troop of thirty. In your own interest, I feel sure you would be much +happier if you entrusted ten more of them to me, for with my practice +it is all one to me if I take two or a hundred." +</P> + +<P> +As before, the dervish made no difficulties, and I drove off my ten +camels in triumph, only leaving him with twenty for his share. I had +now sixty, and anyone might have imagined that I should be content. +</P> + +<P> +But, Commander of the Faithful, there is a proverb that says, "the more +one has, the more one wants." So it was with me. I could not rest as +long as one solitary camel remained to the dervish; and returning to +him I redoubled my prayers and embraces, and promises of eternal +gratitude, till the last twenty were in my hands. +</P> + +<P> +"Make a good use of them, my brother," said the holy man. "Remember +riches sometimes have wings if we keep them for ourselves, and the poor +are at our gates expressly that we may help them." +</P> + +<P> +My eyes were so blinded by gold, that I paid no heed to his wise +counsel, and only looked about for something else to grasp. Suddenly I +remembered the little box of ointment that the dervish had hidden, and +which most likely contained a treasure more precious than all the rest. +Giving him one last embrace, I observed accidentally, "What are you +going to do with that little box of ointment? It seems hardly worth +taking with you; you might as well let me have it. And really, a +dervish who has given up the world has no need of ointment!" +</P> + +<P> +Oh, if he had only refused my request! But then, supposing he had, I +should have got possession of it by force, so great was the madness +that had laid hold upon me. However, far from refusing it, the dervish +at once held it out, saying gracefully, "Take it, my friend, and if +there is anything else I can do to make you happy you must let me know." +</P> + +<P> +Directly the box was in my hands I wrenched off the cover. "As you are +so kind," I said, "tell me, I pray you, what are the virtues of this +ointment?" +</P> + +<P> +"They are most curious and interesting," replied the dervish. "If you +apply a little of it to your left eye you will behold in an instant all +the treasures hidden in the bowels of the earth. But beware lest you +touch your right eye with it, or your sight will be destroyed for ever." +</P> + +<P> +His words excited my curiosity to the highest pitch. "Make trial on +me, I implore you," I cried, holding out the box to the dervish. "You +will know how to do it better than I! I am burning with impatience to +test its charms." +</P> + +<P> +The dervish took the box I had extended to him, and, bidding me shut my +left eye, touched it gently with the ointment. When I opened it again +I saw spread out, as it were before me, treasures of every kind and +without number. But as all this time I had been obliged to keep my +right eye closed, which was very fatiguing, I begged the dervish to +apply the ointment to that eye also. +</P> + +<P> +"If you insist upon it I will do it," answered the dervish, "but you +must remember what I told you just now--that if it touches your right +eye you will become blind on the spot." +</P> + +<P> +Unluckily, in spite of my having proved the truth of the dervish's +words in so many instances, I was firmly convinced that he was now +keeping concealed from me some hidden and precious virtue of the +ointment. So I turned a deaf ear to all he said. +</P> + +<P> +"My brother," I replied smiling, "I see you are joking. It is not +natural that the same ointment should have two such exactly opposite +effects." +</P> + +<P> +"It is true all the same," answered the dervish, "and it would be well +for you if you believed my word." +</P> + +<P> +But I would not believe, and, dazzled by the greed of avarice, I +thought that if one eye could show me riches, the other might teach me +how to get possession of them. And I continued to press the dervish to +anoint my right eye, but this he resolutely declined to do. +</P> + +<P> +"After having conferred such benefits on you," said he, "I am loth +indeed to work you such evil. Think what it is to be blind, and do not +force me to do what you will repent as long as you live." +</P> + +<P> +It was of no use. "My brother," I said firmly, "pray say no more, but +do what I ask. You have most generously responded to my wishes up to +this time, do not spoil my recollection of you for a thing of such +little consequence. Let what will happen I take it on my own head, and +will never reproach you." +</P> + +<P> +"Since you are determined upon it," he answered with a sigh, "there is +no use talking," and taking the ointment he laid some on my right eye, +which was tight shut. When I tried to open it heavy clouds of darkness +floated before me. I was as blind as you see me now! +</P> + +<P> +"Miserable dervish!" I shrieked, "so it is true after all! Into what +a bottomless pit has my lust after gold plunged me. Ah, now that my +eyes are closed they are really opened. I know that all my sufferings +are caused by myself alone! But, good brother, you, who are so kind +and charitable, and know the secrets of such vast learning, have you +nothing that will give me back my sight?" +</P> + +<P> +"Unhappy man," replied the dervish, "it is not my fault that this has +befallen you, but it is a just chastisement. The blindness of your +heart has wrought the blindness of your body. Yes, I have secrets; +that you have seen in the short time that we have known each other. +But I have none that will give you back your sight. You have proved +yourself unworthy of the riches that were given you. Now they have +passed into my hands, whence they will flow into the hands of others +less greedy and ungrateful than you." +</P> + +<P> +The dervish said no more and left me, speechless with shame and +confusion, and so wretched that I stood rooted to the spot, while he +collected the eighty camels and proceeded on his way to Balsora. It +was in vain that I entreated him not to leave me, but at least to take +me within reach of the first passing caravan. He was deaf to my +prayers and cries, and I should soon have been dead of hunger and +misery if some merchants had not come along the track the following day +and kindly brought me back to Bagdad. +</P> + +<P> +From a rich man I had in one moment become a beggar; and up to this +time I have lived solely on the alms that have been bestowed on me. +But, in order to expiate the sin of avarice, which was my undoing, I +oblige each passer-by to give me a blow. +</P> + +<P> +This, Commander of the Faithful, is my story. +</P> + +<P> +When the blind man had ended the Caliph addressed him: "Baba-Abdalla, +truly your sin is great, but you have suffered enough. Henceforth +repent in private, for I will see that enough money is given you day by +day for all your wants." +</P> + +<P> +At these words Baba-Abdalla flung himself at the Caliph's feet, and +prayed that honour and happiness might be his portion for ever. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap31"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of Sidi-Nouman +</H3> + +<P> +The Caliph, Haroun-al-Raschid, was much pleased with the tale of the +blind man and the dervish, and when it was finished he turned to the +young man who had ill-treated his horse, and inquired his name also. +The young man replied that he was called Sidi-Nouman. +</P> + +<P> +"Sidi-Nouman," observed the Caliph, "I have seen horses broken all my +life long, and have even broken them myself, but I have never seen any +horse broken in such a barbarous manner as by you yesterday. Every one +who looked on was indignant, and blamed you loudly. As for myself, I +was so angry that I was very nearly disclosing who I was, and putting a +stop to it at once. Still, you have not the air of a cruel man, and I +would gladly believe that you did not act in this way without some +reason. As I am told that it was not the first time, and indeed that +every day you are to be seen flogging and spurring your horse, I wish +to come to the bottom of the matter. But tell me the whole truth, and +conceal nothing." +</P> + +<P> +Sidi-Nouman changed colour as he heard these words, and his manner grew +confused; but he saw plainly that there was no help for it. So he +prostrated himself before the throne of the Caliph and tried to obey, +but the words stuck in his throat, and he remained silent. +</P> + +<P> +The Caliph, accustomed though he was to instant obedience, guessed +something of what was passing in the young man's mind, and sought to +put him at his ease. "Sidi-Nouman," he said, "do not think of me as +the Caliph, but merely as a friend who would like to hear your story. +If there is anything in it that you are afraid may offend me, take +courage, for I pardon you beforehand. Speak then openly and without +fear, as to one who knows and loves you." +</P> + +<P> +Reassured by the kindness of the Caliph, Sidi-Nouman at length began +his tale. +</P> + +<P> +"Commander of the Faithful," said he, "dazzled though I am by the +lustre of your Highness' presence, I will do my best to satisfy your +wishes. I am by no means perfect, but I am not naturally cruel, +neither do I take pleasure in breaking the law. I admit that the +treatment of my horse is calculated to give your Highness a bad opinion +of me, and to set an evil example to others; yet I have not chastised +it without reason, and I have hopes that I shall be judged more worthy +of pity than punishment." +</P> + +<P> +Commander of the Faithful, I will not trouble to describe my birth; it +is not of sufficient distinction to deserve your Highness' attention. +My ancestors were careful people, and I inherited enough money to +enable me to live comfortably, though without show. +</P> + +<P> +Having therefore a modest fortune, the only thing wanting to my +happiness was a wife who could return my affection, but this blessing I +was not destined to get; for on the very day after my marriage, my +bride began to try my patience in every way that was most hard to bear. +</P> + +<P> +Now, seeing that the customs of our land oblige us to marry without +ever beholding the person with whom we are to pass our lives, a man has +of course no right to complain as long as his wife is not absolutely +repulsive, or is not positively deformed. And whatever defects her +body may have, pleasant ways and good behaviour will go far to remedy +them. +</P> + +<P> +The first time I saw my wife unveiled, when she had been brought to my +house with the usual ceremonies, I was enchanted to find that I had not +been deceived in regard to the account that had been given me of her +beauty. I began my married life in high spirits, and the best hopes of +happiness. +</P> + +<P> +The following day a grand dinner was served to us but as my wife did +not appear, I ordered a servant to call her. Still she did not come, +and I waited impatiently for some time. At last she entered the room, +and she took our places at the table, and plates of rice were set +before us. +</P> + +<P> +I ate mine, as was natural, with a spoon, but great was my surprise to +notice that my wife, instead of doing the same, drew from her pocket a +little case, from which she selected a long pin, and by the help of +this pin conveyed her rice grain by grain to her mouth. +</P> + +<P> +"Amina," I exclaimed in astonishment, "is that the way you eat rice at +home? And did you do it because your appetite was so small, or did you +wish to count the grains so that you might never eat more than a +certain number? If it was from economy, and you are anxious to teach +me not to be wasteful, you have no cause for alarm. We shall never +ruin ourselves in that way! Our fortune is large enough for all our +needs, therefore, dear Amina, do not seek to check yourself, but eat as +much as you desire, as I do!" +</P> + +<P> +In reply to my affectionate words, I expected a cheerful answer; yet +Amina said nothing at all, but continued to pick her rice as before, +only at longer and longer intervals. And, instead of trying the other +dishes, all she did was to put every now and then a crumb, of bread +into her mouth, that would not have made a meal for a sparrow. +</P> + +<P> +I felt provoked by her obstinacy, but to excuse her to myself as far as +I could, I suggested that perhaps she had never been used to eat in the +company of men, and that her family might have taught her that she +ought to behave prudently and discreetly in the presence of her +husband. Likewise that she might either have dined already or intend +to do so in her own apartments. So I took no further notice, and when +I had finished left the room, secretly much vexed at her strange +conduct. +</P> + +<P> +The same thing occurred at supper, and all through the next day, +whenever we ate together. It was quite clear that no woman could live +upon two or three bread-crumbs and a few grains of rice, and I +determined to find out how and when she got food. I pretended not to +pay attention to anything she did, in the hope that little by little +she would get accustomed to me, and become more friendly; but I soon +saw that my expectations were quite vain. +</P> + +<P> +One night I was lying with my eyes closed, and to, all appearance sound +asleep, when Amina arose softly, and dressed herself without making the +slightest sound. I could not imagine what she was going to do, and as +my curiosity was great I made up my mind to follow her. When she was +fully dressed, she stole quietly from the room. +</P> + +<P> +The instant she had let the curtain fall behind her, I flung a garment +on my shoulders and a pair of slippers on my feet. Looking from a +lattice which opened into the court, I saw her in the act of passing +through the street door, which she carefully left open. +</P> + +<P> +It was bright moonlight, so I easily managed to keep her in sight, till +she entered a cemetery not far from the house. There I hid myself +under the shadow of the wall, and crouched down cautiously; and hardly +was I concealed, when I saw my wife approaching in company with a +ghoul--one of those demons which, as your Highness is aware, wander +about the country making their lairs in deserted buildings and +springing out upon unwary travellers whose flesh they eat. If no live +being goes their way, they then betake themselves to the cemeteries, +and feed upon the dead bodies. +</P> + +<P> +I was nearly struck dumb with horror on seeing my wife with this +hideous female ghoul. They passed by me without noticing me, began to +dig up a corpse which had been buried that day, and then sat down on +the edge of the grave, to enjoy their frightful repast, talking quietly +and cheerfully all the while, though I was too far off to hear what +they said. When they had finished, they threw back the body into the +grave, and heaped back the earth upon it. I made no effort to disturb +them, and returned quickly to the house, when I took care to leave the +door open, as I had previously found it. Then I got back into bed, and +pretended to sleep soundly. +</P> + +<P> +A short time after Amina entered as quietly as she had gone out. She +undressed and stole into bed, congratulating herself apparently on the +cleverness with which she had managed her expedition. +</P> + +<P> +As may be guessed, after such a scene it was long before I could close +my eyes, and at the first sound which called the faithful to prayer, I +put on my clothes and went to the mosque. But even prayer did not +restore peace to my troubled spirit, and I could not face my wife until +I had made up my mind what future course I should pursue in regard to +her. I therefore spent the morning roaming about from one garden to +another, turning over various plans for compelling my wife to give up +her horrible ways; I thought of using violence to make her submit, but +felt reluctant to be unkind to her. Besides, I had an instinct that +gentle means had the best chance of success; so, a little soothed, I +turned towards home, which I reached about the hour of dinner. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as I appeared, Amina ordered dinner to be served, and we sat +down together. As usual, she persisted in only picking a few grains of +rice, and I resolved to speak to her at once of what lay so heavily on +my heart. +</P> + +<P> +"Amina," I said, as quietly as possible, "you must have guessed the +surprise I felt, when the day after our marriage you declined to eat +anything but a few morsels of rice, and altogether behaved in such a +manner that most husbands would have been deeply wounded. However I +had patience with you, and only tried to tempt your appetite by the +choicest dishes I could invent, but all to no purpose. Still, Amina, +it seems to me that there be some among them as sweet to the taste as +the flesh of a corpse?" +</P> + +<P> +I had no sooner uttered these words than Amina, who instantly +understood that I had followed her to the grave-yard, was seized with a +passion beyond any that I have ever witnessed. Her face became purple, +her eyes looked as if they would start from her head, and she +positively foamed with rage. +</P> + +<P> +I watched her with terror, wondering what would happen next, but little +thinking what would be the end of her fury. She seized a vessel of +water that stood at hand, and plunging her hand in it, murmured some +words I failed to catch. Then, sprinkling it on my face, she cried +madly: +</P> + +<P> +"Wretch, receive the reward of your prying, and become a dog." +</P> + +<P> +The words were not out of her mouth when, without feeling conscious +that any change was passing over me, I suddenly knew that I had ceased +to be a man. In the greatness of the shock and surprise--for I had no +idea that Amina was a magician--I never dreamed of running away, and +stood rooted to the spot, while Amina grasped a stick and began to beat +me. Indeed her blows were so heavy, that I only wonder they did not +kill me at once. However they succeeded in rousing me from my stupor, +and I dashed into the court-yard, followed closely by Amina, who made +frantic dives at me, which I was not quick enough to dodge. At last +she got tired of pursuing me, or else a new trick entered into her +head, which would give me speedy and painful death; she opened the gate +leading into the street, intending to crush me as I passed through. +Dog though I was, I saw through her design, and stung into presence of +mind by the greatness of the danger, I timed my movements so well that +I contrived to rush through, and only the tip of my tail received a +squeeze as she banged the gate. +</P> + +<P> +I was safe, but my tail hurt me horribly, and I yelped and howled so +loud all along the streets, that the other dogs came and attacked me, +which made matters no better. In order to avoid them, I took refuge in +a cookshop, where tongues and sheep's heads were sold. +</P> + +<P> +At first the owner showed me great kindness, and drove away the other +dogs that were still at my heels, while I crept into the darkest +corner. But though I was safe for the moment, I was not destined to +remain long under his protection, for he was one of those who hold all +dogs to be unclean, and that all the washing in the world will hardly +purify you from their contact. So after my enemies had gone to seek +other prey, he tried to lure me from my corner in order to force me +into the street. But I refused to come out of my hole, and spent the +night in sleep, which I sorely needed, after the pain inflicted on me +by Amina. +</P> + +<P> +I have no wish to weary your Highness by dwelling on the sad thoughts +which accompanied my change of shape, but it may interest you to hear +that the next morning my host went out early to do his marketing, and +returned laden with the sheep's heads, and tongues and trotters that +formed his stock in trade for the day. The smell of meat attracted +various hungry dogs in the neighbourhood, and they gathered round the +door begging for some bits. I stole out of my corner, and stood with +them. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of his objection to dogs, as unclean animals, my protector was +a kind-hearted man, and knowing I had eaten nothing since yesterday, he +threw me bigger and better bits than those which fell to the share of +the other dogs. When I had finished, I tried to go back into the shop, +but this he would not allow, and stood so firmly at the entrance with a +stout stick, that I was forced to give it up, and seek some other home. +</P> + +<P> +A few paces further on was a baker's shop, which seemed to have a gay +and merry man for a master. At that moment he was having his +breakfast, and though I gave no signs of hunger, he at once threw me a +piece of bread. Before gobbling it up, as most dogs are in the habit +of doing, I bowed my head and wagged my tail, in token of thanks, and +he understood, and smiled pleasantly. I really did not want the bread +at all, but felt it would be ungracious to refuse, so I ate it slowly, +in order that he might see that I only did it out of politeness. He +understood this also, and seemed quite willing to let me stay in his +shop, so I sat down, with my face to the door, to show that I only +asked his protection. This he gave me, and indeed encouraged me to +come into the house itself, giving me a corner where I might sleep, +without being in anybody's way. +</P> + +<P> +The kindness heaped on me by this excellent man was far greater than I +could ever have expected. He was always affectionate in his manner of +treating me, and I shared his breakfast, dinner and supper, while, on +my side, I gave him all the gratitude and attachment to which he had a +right. +</P> + +<P> +I sat with my eyes fixed on him, and he never left the house without +having me at his heels; and if it ever happened that when he was +preparing to go out I was asleep, and did not notice, he would call +"Rufus, Rufus," for that was the name he gave me. +</P> + +<P> +Some weeks passed in this way, when one day a woman came in to buy +bread. In paying for it, she laid down several pieces of money, one of +which was bad. The baker perceived this, and declined to take it, +demanding another in its place. The woman, for her part, refused to +take it back, declaring it was perfectly good, but the baker would have +nothing to do with it. "It is really such a bad imitation," he +exclaimed at last, "that even my dog would not be taken in. Here +Rufus! Rufus!" and hearing his voice, I jumped on to the counter. The +baker threw down the money before me, and said, "Find out if there is a +bad coin." I looked at each in turn, and then laid my paw on the false +one, glancing at the same time at my master, so as to point it out. +</P> + +<P> +The baker, who had of course been only in joke, was exceedingly +surprised at my cleverness, and the woman, who was at last convinced +that the man spoke the truth, produced another piece of money in its +place. When she had gone, my master was so pleased that he told all +the neighbours what I had done, and made a great deal more of it than +there really was. +</P> + +<P> +The neighbours, very naturally, declined to believe his story, and +tried me several times with all the bad money they could collect +together, but I never failed to stand the test triumphantly. +</P> + +<P> +Soon, the shop was filled from morning till night, with people who on +the pretence of buying bread came to see if I was as clever as I was +reported to be. The baker drove a roaring trade, and admitted that I +was worth my weight in gold to him. +</P> + +<P> +Of course there were plenty who envied him his large custom, and many +was the pitfall set for me, so that he never dared to let me out of his +sight. One day a woman, who had not been in the shop before, came to +ask for bread, like the rest. As usual, I was lying on the counter, +and she threw down six coins before me, one of which was false. I +detected it at once, and put my paw on it, looking as I did so at the +woman. "Yes," she said, nodding her head. "You are quite right, that +is the one." She stood gazing at me attentively for some time, then +paid for the bread, and left the shop, making a sign for me to follow +her secretly. +</P> + +<P> +Now my thoughts were always running on some means of shaking off the +spell laid on me, and noticing the way in which this woman had looked +at me, the idea entered my head that perhaps she might have guessed +what had happened, and in this I was not deceived. However I let her +go on a little way, and merely stood at the door watching her. She +turned, and seeing that I was quite still, she again beckoned to me. +</P> + +<P> +The baker all this while was busy with his oven, and had forgotten all +about me, so I stole out softly, and ran after the woman. +</P> + +<P> +When we came to her house, which was some distance off, she opened the +door and then said to me, "Come in, come in; you will never be sorry +that you followed me." When I had entered she fastened the door, and +took me into a large room, where a beautiful girl was working at a +piece of embroidery. "My daughter," exclaimed my guide, "I have +brought you the famous dog belonging to the baker which can tell good +money from bad. You know that when I first heard of him, I told you I +was sure he must be really a man, changed into a dog by magic. To-day +I went to the baker's, to prove for myself the truth of the story, and +persuaded the dog to follow me here. Now what do you say?" +</P> + +<P> +"You are right, mother," replied the girl, and rising she dipped her +hand into a vessel of water. Then sprinkling it over me she said, "If +you were born dog, remain dog; but if you were born man, by virtue of +this water resume your proper form." In one moment the spell was +broken. The dog's shape vanished as if it had never been, and it was a +man who stood before her. +</P> + +<P> +Overcome with gratitude at my deliverance, I flung myself at her feet, +and kissed the hem of her garment. "How can I thank you for your +goodness towards a stranger, and for what you have done? Henceforth I +am your slave. Deal with me as you will!" +</P> + +<P> +Then, in order to explain how I came to be changed into a dog, I told +her my whole story, and finished with rendering the mother the thanks +due to her for the happiness she had brought me. +</P> + +<P> +"Sidi-Nouman," returned the daughter, "say no more about the obligation +you are under to us. The knowledge that we have been of service to you +is ample payment. Let us speak of Amina, your wife, with whom I was +acquainted before her marriage. I was aware that she was a magician, +and she knew too that I had studied the same art, under the same +mistress. We met often going to the same baths, but we did not like +each other, and never sought to become friends. As to what concerns +you, it is not enough to have broken your spell, she must be punished +for her wickedness. Remain for a moment with my mother, I beg," she +added hastily, "I will return shortly." +</P> + +<P> +Left alone with the mother, I again expressed the gratitude I felt, to +her as well as to her daughter. +</P> + +<P> +"My daughter," she answered, "is, as you see, as accomplished a +magician as Amina herself, but you would be astonished at the amount of +good she does by her knowledge. That is why I have never interfered, +otherwise I should have put a stop to it long ago." As she spoke, her +daughter entered with a small bottle in her hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Sidi-Nouman," she said, "the books I have just consulted tell me that +Amina is not home at present, but she should return at any moment. I +have likewise found out by their means, that she pretends before the +servants great uneasiness as to your absence. She has circulated a +story that, while at dinner with her, you remembered some important +business that had to be done at once, and left the house without +shutting the door. By this means a dog had strayed in, which she was +forced to get rid of by a stick. Go home then without delay, and await +Amina's return in your room. When she comes in, go down to meet her, +and in her surprise, she will try to run away. Then have this bottle +ready, and dash the water it contains over her, saying boldly, "Receive +the reward of your crimes." That is all I have to tell you." +</P> + +<P> +Everything happened exactly as the young magician had foretold. I had +not been in my house many minutes before Amina returned, and as she +approached I stepped in front of her, with the water in my hand. She +gave one loud cry, and turned to the door, but she was too late. I had +already dashed the water in her face and spoken the magic words. Amina +disappeared, and in her place stood the horse you saw me beating +yesterday. +</P> + +<P> +This, Commander of the Faithful, is my story, and may I venture to hope +that, now you have heard the reason of my conduct, your Highness will +not think this wicked woman too harshly treated? +</P> + +<P> +"Sidi-Nouman," replied the Caliph, "your story is indeed a strange one, +and there is no excuse to be offered for your wife. But, without +condemning your treatment of her, I wish you to reflect how much she +must suffer from being changed into an animal, and I hope you will let +that punishment be enough. I do not order you to insist upon the young +magician finding the means to restore your wife to her human shape, +because I know that when once women such as she begin to work evil they +never leave off, and I should only bring down on your head a vengeance +far worse than the one you have undergone already." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap32"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of Ali Colia, Merchant of Bagdad +</H3> + +<P> +In the reign of Haroun-al-Raschid, there lived in Bagdad a merchant +named Ali Cogia, who, having neither wife nor child, contented himself +with the modest profits produced by his trade. He had spent some years +quite happily in the house his father had left him, when three nights +running he dreamed that an old man had appeared to him, and reproached +him for having neglected the duty of a good Mussulman, in delaying so +long his pilgrimage to Mecca. +</P> + +<P> +Ali Cogia was much troubled by this dream, as he was unwilling to give +up his shop, and lose all his customers. He had shut his eyes for some +time to the necessity of performing this pilgrimage, and tried to atone +to his conscience by an extra number of good works, but the dream +seemed to him a direct warning, and he resolved to put the journey off +no longer. +</P> + +<P> +The first thing he did was to sell his furniture and the wares he had +in his shop, only reserving to himself such goods as he might trade +with on the road. The shop itself he sold also, and easily found a +tenant for his private house. The only matter he could not settle +satisfactorily was the safe custody of a thousand pieces of gold which +he wished to leave behind him. +</P> + +<P> +After some thought, Ali Cogia hit upon a plan which seemed a safe one. +He took a large vase, and placing the money in the bottom of it, filled +up the rest with olives. After corking the vase tightly down, he +carried it to one of his friends, a merchant like himself, and said to +him: +</P> + +<P> +"My brother, you have probably heard that I am staffing with a caravan +in a few days for Mecca. I have come to ask whether you would do me +the favour to keep this vase of olives for me till I come back?" +</P> + +<P> +The merchant replied readily, "Look, this is the key of my shop: take +it, and put the vase wherever you like. I promise that you shall find +it in the same place on your return." +</P> + +<P> +A few days later, Ali Cogia mounted the camel that he had laden with +merchandise, joined the caravan, and arrived in due time at Mecca. +Like the other pilgrims he visited the sacred Mosque, and after all his +religious duties were performed, he set out his goods to the best +advantage, hoping to gain some customers among the passers-by. +</P> + +<P> +Very soon two merchants stopped before the pile, and when they had +turned it over, one said to the other: +</P> + +<P> +"If this man was wise he would take these things to Cairo, where he +would get a much better price than he is likely to do here." +</P> + +<P> +Ali Cogia heard the words, and lost no time in following the advice. +He packed up his wares, and instead of returning to Bagdad, joined a +caravan that was going to Cairo. The results of the journey gladdened +his heart. He sold off everything almost directly, and bought a stock +of Egyptian curiosities, which he intended selling at Damascus; but as +the caravan with which he would have to travel would not be starting +for another six weeks, he took advantage of the delay to visit the +Pyramids, and some of the cities along the banks of the Nile. +</P> + +<P> +Now the attractions of Damascus so fascinated the worthy Ali, that he +could hardly tear himself away, but at length he remembered that he had +a home in Bagdad, meaning to return by way of Aleppo, and after he had +crossed the Euphrates, to follow the course of the Tigris. +</P> + +<P> +But when he reached Mossoul, Ali had made such friends with some +Persian merchants, that they persuaded him to accompany them to their +native land, and even as far as India, and so it came to pass that +seven years had slipped by since he had left Bagdad, and during all +that time the friend with whom he had left the vase of olives had never +once thought of him or of it. In fact, it was only a month before Ali +Cogia's actual return that the affair came into his head at all, owing +to his wife's remarking one day, that it was a long time since she had +eaten any olives, and would like some. +</P> + +<P> +"That reminds me," said the husband, "that before Ali Cogia went to +Mecca seven years ago, he left a vase of olives in my care. But really +by this time he must be dead, and there is no reason we should not eat +the olives if we like. Give me a light, and I will fetch them and see +how they taste." +</P> + +<P> +"My husband," answered the wife, "beware, I pray, of your doing +anything so base! Supposing seven years have passed without news of +Ali Cogia, he need not be dead for all that, and may come back any day. +How shameful it would be to have to confess that you had betrayed your +trust and broken the seal of the vase! Pay no attention to my idle +words, I really have no desire for olives now. And probably after all +this while they are no longer good. I have a presentiment that Ali +Cogia will return, and what will he think of you? Give it up, I +entreat." +</P> + +<P> +The merchant, however, refused to listen to her advice, sensible though +it was. He took a light and a dish and went into his shop. +</P> + +<P> +"If you will be so obstinate," said his wife, "I cannot help it; but do +not blame me if it turns out ill." +</P> + +<P> +When the merchant opened the vase he found the topmost olives were +rotten, and in order to see if the under ones were in better condition +he shook some out into the dish. As they fell out a few of the gold +pieces fell out too. +</P> + +<P> +The sight of the money roused all the merchant's greed. He looked into +the vase, and saw that all the bottom was filled with gold. He then +replaced the olives and returned to his wife. +</P> + +<P> +"My wife," he said, as he entered the room, "you were quite right; the +olives are rotten, and I have recorked the vase so well that Ali Cogia +will never know it has been touched." +</P> + +<P> +"You would have done better to believe me," replied the wife. "I trust +that no harm will come of it." +</P> + +<P> +These words made no more impression on the merchant than the others had +done; and he spent the whole night in wondering how he could manage to +keep the gold if Ali Cogia should come back and claim his vase. Very +early next morning he went out and bought fresh new olives; he then +threw away the old ones, took out the gold and hid it, and filled up +the vase with the olives he had bought. This done he recorked the vase +and put it in the same place where it had been left by Ali Cogia. +</P> + +<P> +A month later Ali Cogia re-entered Bagdad, and as his house was still +let he went to an inn; and the following day set out to see his friend +the merchant, who received him with open arms and many expressions of +surprise. After a few moments given to inquiries Ali Cogia begged the +merchant to hand him over the vase that he had taken care of for so +long. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh certainly," said he, "I am only glad I could be of use to you in +the matter. Here is the key of my shop; you will find the vase in the +place where you put it." +</P> + +<P> +Ali Cogia fetched his vase and carried it to his room at the inn, where +he opened it. He thrust down his hand but could feel no money, but +still was persuaded it must be there. So he got some plates and +vessels from his travelling kit and emptied out the olives. To no +purpose. The gold was not there. The poor man was dumb with horror, +then, lifting up his hands, he exclaimed, "Can my old friend really +have committed such a crime?" +</P> + +<P> +In great haste he went back to the house of the merchant. "My friend," +he cried, "you will be astonished to see me again, but I can find +nowhere in this vase a thousand pieces of gold that I placed in the +bottom under the olives. Perhaps you may have taken a loan of them for +your business purposes; if that is so you are most welcome. I will +only ask you to give me a receipt, and you can pay the money at your +leisure." +</P> + +<P> +The merchant, who had expected something of the sort, had his reply all +ready. "Ali Cogia," he said, "when you brought me the vase of olives +did I ever touch it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I gave you the key of my shop and you put it yourself where you liked, +and did you not find it in exactly the same spot and in the same state? +If you placed any gold in it, it must be there still. I know nothing +about that; you only told me there were olives. You can believe me or +not, but I have not laid a finger on the vase." +</P> + +<P> +Ali Cogia still tried every means to persuade the merchant to admit the +truth. "I love peace," he said, "and shall deeply regret having to +resort to harsh measures. Once more, think of your reputation. I +shall be in despair if you oblige me to call in the aid of the law." +</P> + +<P> +"Ali Cogia," answered the merchant, "you allow that it was a vase of +olives you placed in my charge. You fetched it and removed it +yourself, and now you tell me it contained a thousand pieces of gold, +and that I must restore them to you! Did you ever say anything about +them before? Why, I did not even know that the vase had olives in it! +You never showed them to me. I wonder you have not demanded pearls or +diamonds. Retire, I pray you, lest a crowd should gather in front of +my shop." +</P> + +<P> +By this time not only the casual passers-by, but also the neighbouring +merchants, were standing round, listening to the dispute, and trying +every now and then to smooth matters between them. But at the +merchant's last words Ali Cogia resolved to lay the cause of the +quarrel before them, and told them the whole story. They heard him to +the end, and inquired of the merchant what he had to say. +</P> + +<P> +The accused man admitted that he had kept Ali Cogia's vase in his shop; +but he denied having touched it, and swore that as to what it contained +he only knew what Ali Cogia had told him, and called them all to +witness the insult that had been put upon him. +</P> + +<P> +"You have brought it on yourself," said Ali Cogia, taking him by the +arm, "and as you appeal to the law, the law you shall have! Let us see +if you will dare to repeat your story before the Cadi." +</P> + +<P> +Now as a good Mussulman the merchant was forbidden to refuse this +choice of a judge, so he accepted the test, and said to Ali Cogia, +"Very well; I should like nothing better. We shall soon see which of +us is in the right." +</P> + +<P> +So the two men presented themselves before the Cadi, and Ali Cogia +again repeated his tale. The Cadi asked what witnesses he had. Ali +Cogia replied that he had not taken this precaution, as he had +considered the man his friend, and up to that time had always found him +honest. +</P> + +<P> +The merchant, on his side, stuck to his story, and offered to swear +solemnly that not only had he never stolen the thousand gold pieces, +but that he did not even know they were there. The Cadi allowed him to +take the oath, and pronounced him innocent. +</P> + +<P> +Ali Cogia, furious at having to suffer such a loss, protested against +the verdict, declaring that he would appeal to the Caliph, +Haroun-al-Raschid, himself. But the Cadi paid no attention to his +threats, and was quite satisfied that he had done what was right. +</P> + +<P> +Judgment being given the merchant returned home triumphant, and Ali +Cogia went back to his inn to draw up a petition to the Caliph. The +next morning he placed himself on the road along which the Caliph must +pass after mid-day prayer, and stretched out his petition to the +officer who walked before the Caliph, whose duty it was to collect such +things, and on entering the palace to hand them to his master. There +Haroun-al-Raschid studied them carefully. +</P> + +<P> +Knowing this custom, Ali Cogia followed the Caliph into the public hall +of the palace, and waited the result. After some time the officer +appeared, and told him that the Caliph had read his petition, and had +appointed an hour the next morning to give him audience. He then +inquired the merchant's address, so that he might be summoned to attend +also. +</P> + +<P> +That very evening, the Caliph, with his grand-vizir Giafar, and +Mesrour, chief of the eunuchs, all three disguised, as was their habit, +went out to take a stroll through the town. +</P> + +<P> +Going down one street, the Caliph's attention was attracted by a noise, +and looking through a door which opened into a court he perceived ten +or twelve children playing in the moonlight. He hid himself in a dark +corner, and watched them. +</P> + +<P> +"Let us play at being the Cadi," said the brightest and quickest of +them all; "I will be the Cadi. Bring before me Ali Cogia, and the +merchant who robbed him of the thousand pieces of gold." +</P> + +<P> +The boy's words recalled to the Caliph the petition he had read that +morning, and he waited with interest to see what the children would do. +</P> + +<P> +The proposal was hailed with joy by the other children, who had heard a +great deal of talk about the matter, and they quickly settled the part +each one was to play. The Cadi took his seat gravely, and an officer +introduced first Ali Cogia, the plaintiff, and then the merchant who +was the defendant. +</P> + +<P> +Ali Cogia made a low bow, and pleaded his cause point by point; +concluding by imploring the Cadi not to inflict on him such a heavy +loss. +</P> + +<P> +The Cadi having heard his case, turned to the merchant, and inquired +why he had not repaid Ali Cogia the sum in question. +</P> + +<P> +The false merchant repeated the reasons that the real merchant had +given to the Cadi of Bagdad, and also offered to swear that he had told +the truth. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop a moment!" said the little Cadi, "before we come to oaths, I +should like to examine the vase with the olives. Ali Cogia," he added, +"have you got the vase with you?" and finding he had not, the Cadi +continued, "Go and get it, and bring it to me." +</P> + +<P> +So Ali Cogia disappeared for an instant, and then pretended to lay a +vase at the feet of the Cadi, declaring it was his vase, which he had +given to the accused for safe custody; and in order to be quite +correct, the Cadi asked the merchant if he recognised it as the same +vase. By his silence the merchant admitted the fact, and the Cadi then +commanded to have the vase opened. Ali Cogia made a movement as if he +was taking off the lid, and the little Cadi on his part made a pretence +of peering into a vase. +</P> + +<P> +"What beautiful olives!" he said, "I should like to taste one," and +pretending to put one in his mouth, he added, "they are really +excellent! +</P> + +<P> +"But," he went on, "it seems to me odd that olives seven years old +should be as good as that! Send for some dealers in olives, and let us +hear what they say!" +</P> + +<P> +Two children were presented to him as olive merchants, and the Cadi +addressed them. "Tell me," he said, "how long can olives be kept so as +to be pleasant eating?" +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," replied the merchants, "however much care is taken to +preserve them, they never last beyond the third year. They lose both +taste and colour, and are only fit to be thrown away." +</P> + +<P> +"If that is so," answered the little Cadi, "examine this vase, and tell +me how long the olives have been in it." +</P> + +<P> +The olive merchants pretended to examine the olives and taste them; +then reported to the Cadi that they were fresh and good. +</P> + +<P> +"You are mistaken," said he, "Ali Cogia declares he put them in that +vase seven years ago." +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," returned the olive merchants, "we can assure you that the +olives are those of the present year. And if you consult all the +merchants in Bagdad you will not find one to give a contrary opinion." +</P> + +<P> +The accused merchant opened his mouth as if to protest, but the Cadi +gave him no time. "Be silent," he said, "you are a thief. Take him +away and hang him." So the game ended, the children clapping their +hands in applause, and leading the criminal away to be hanged. +</P> + +<P> +Haroun-al-Raschid was lost in astonishment at the wisdom of the child, +who had given so wise a verdict on the case which he himself was to +hear on the morrow. "Is there any other verdict possible?" he asked +the grand-vizir, who was as much impressed as himself. "I can imagine +no better judgment." +</P> + +<P> +"If the circumstances are really such as we have heard," replied the +grand-vizir, "it seems to me your Highness could only follow the +example of this boy, in the method of reasoning, and also in your +conclusions." +</P> + +<P> +"Then take careful note of this house," said the Caliph, "and bring me +the boy to-morrow, so that the affair may be tried by him in my +presence. Summon also the Cadi, to learn his duty from the mouth of a +child. Bid Ali Cogia bring his vase of olives, and see that two +dealers in olives are present." So saying the Caliph returned to the +palace. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning early, the grand-vizir went back to the house where +they had seen the children playing, and asked for the mistress and her +children. Three boys appeared, and the grand-vizir inquired which had +represented the Cadi in their game of the previous evening. The eldest +and tallest, changing colour, confessed that it was he, and to his +mother's great alarm, the grand-vizir said that he had strict orders to +bring him into the presence of the Caliph. +</P> + +<P> +"Does he want to take my son from me?" cried the poor woman; but the +grand-vizir hastened to calm her, by assuring her that she should have +the boy again in an hour, and she would be quite satisfied when she +knew the reason of the summons. So she dressed the boy in his best +clothes, and the two left the house. +</P> + +<P> +When the grand-vizir presented the child to the Caliph, he was a little +awed and confused, and the Caliph proceeded to explain why he had sent +for him. "Approach, my son," he said kindly. "I think it was you who +judged the case of Ali Cogia and the merchant last night? I overheard +you by chance, and was very pleased with the way you conducted it. +To-day you will see the real Ali Cogia and the real merchant. Seat +yourself at once next to me." +</P> + +<P> +The Caliph being seated on his throne with the boy next him, the +parties to the suit were ushered in. One by one they prostrated +themselves, and touched the carpet at the foot of the throne with their +foreheads. When they rose up, the Caliph said: "Now speak. This +child will give you justice, and if more should be wanted I will see to +it myself." +</P> + +<P> +Ali Cogia and the merchant pleaded one after the other, but when the +merchant offered to swear the same oath that he had taken before the +Cadi, he was stopped by the child, who said that before this was done +he must first see the vase of olives. +</P> + +<P> +At these words, Ali Cogia presented the vase to the Caliph, and +uncovered it. The Caliph took one of the olives, tasted it, and +ordered the expert merchants to do the same. They pronounced the +olives good, and fresh that year. The boy informed them that Ali Cogia +declared it was seven years since he had placed them in the vase; to +which they returned the same answer as the children had done. +</P> + +<P> +The accused merchant saw by this time that his condemnation was +certain, and tried to allege something in his defence. The boy had too +much sense to order him to be hanged, and looked at the Caliph, saying, +"Commander of the Faithful, this is not a game now; it is for your +Highness to condemn him to death and not for me." +</P> + +<P> +Then the Caliph, convinced that the man was a thief, bade them take him +away and hang him, which was done, but not before he had confessed his +guilt and the place in which he had hidden Ali Cogia's money. The +Caliph ordered the Cadi to learn how to deal out justice from the mouth +of a child, and sent the boy home, with a purse containing a hundred +pieces of gold as a mark of his favour. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap33"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Enchanted Horse +</H3> + +<P> +It was the Feast of the New Year, the oldest and most splendid of all +the feasts in the Kingdom of Persia, and the day had been spent by the +king in the city of Schiraz, taking part in the magnificent spectacles +prepared by his subjects to do honour to the festival. The sun was +setting, and the monarch was about to give his court the signal to +retire, when suddenly an Indian appeared before his throne, leading a +horse richly harnessed, and looking in every respect exactly like a +real one. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," said he, prostrating himself as he spoke, "although I make my +appearance so late before your Highness, I can confidently assure you +that none of the wonders you have seen during the day can be compared +to this horse, if you will deign to cast your eyes upon him." +</P> + +<P> +"I see nothing in it," replied the king, "except a clever imitation of +a real one; and any skilled workman might do as much." +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," returned the Indian, "it is not of his outward form that I +would speak, but of the use that I can make of him. I have only to +mount him, and to wish myself in some special place, and no matter how +distant it may be, in a very few moments I shall find myself there. It +is this, Sire, that makes the horse so marvellous, and if your Highness +will allow me, you can prove it for yourself." +</P> + +<P> +The King of Persia, who was interested in every thing out of the +common, and had never before come across a horse with such qualities, +bade the Indian mount the animal, and show what he could do. In an +instant the man had vaulted on his back, and inquired where the monarch +wished to send him. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you see that mountain?" asked the king, pointing to a huge mass +that towered into the sky about three leagues from Schiraz; "go and +bring me the leaf of a palm that grows at the foot." +</P> + +<P> +The words were hardly out of the king's mouth when the Indian turned a +screw placed in the horse's neck, close to the saddle, and the animal +bounded like lightning up into the air, and was soon beyond the sight +even of the sharpest eyes. In a quarter of an hour the Indian was seen +returning, bearing in his hand the palm, and, guiding his horse to the +foot of the throne, he dismounted, and laid the leaf before the king. +</P> + +<P> +Now the monarch had no sooner proved the astonishing speed of which the +horse was capable than he longed to possess it himself, and indeed, so +sure was he that the Indian would be quite ready to sell it, that he +looked upon it as his own already. +</P> + +<P> +"I never guessed from his mere outside how valuable an animal he was," +he remarked to the Indian, "and I am grateful to you for having shown +me my error," said he. "If you will sell it, name your own price." +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied the Indian, "I never doubted that a sovereign so wise +and accomplished as your Highness would do justice to my horse, when he +once knew its power; and I even went so far as to think it probable +that you might wish to possess it. Greatly as I prize it, I will yield +it up to your Highness on one condition. The horse was not constructed +by me, but it was given me by the inventor, in exchange for my only +daughter, who made me take a solemn oath that I would never part with +it, except for some object of equal value." +</P> + +<P> +"Name anything you like," cried the monarch, interrupting him. "My +kingdom is large, and filled with fair cities. You have only to choose +which you would prefer, to become its ruler to the end of your life." +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," answered the Indian, to whom the proposal did not seem nearly +so generous as it appeared to the king, "I am most grateful to your +Highness for your princely offer, and beseech you not to be offended +with me if I say that I can only deliver up my horse in exchange for +the hand of the princess your daughter." +</P> + +<P> +A shout of laughter burst from the courtiers as they heard these words, +and Prince Firouz Schah, the heir apparent, was filled with anger at +the Indian's presumption. The king, however, thought that it would not +cost him much to part from the princess in order to gain such a +delightful toy, and while he was hesitating as to his answer the prince +broke in. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," he said, "it is not possible that you can doubt for an instant +what reply you should give to such an insolent bargain. Consider what +you owe to yourself, and to the blood of your ancestors." +</P> + +<P> +"My son," replied the king, "you speak nobly, but you do not realise +either the value of the horse, or the fact that if I reject the +proposal of the Indian, he will only make the same to some other +monarch, and I should be filled with despair at the thought that anyone +but myself should own this Seventh Wonder of the World. Of course I do +not say that I shall accept his conditions, and perhaps he may be +brought to reason, but meanwhile I should like you to examine the +horse, and, with the owner's permission, to make trial of its powers." +</P> + +<P> +The Indian, who had overheard the king's speech, thought that he saw in +it signs of yielding to his proposal, so he joyfully agreed to the +monarch's wishes, and came forward to help the prince to mount the +horse, and show him how to guide it: but, before he had finished, the +young man turned the screw, and was soon out of sight. +</P> + +<P> +They waited some time, expecting that every moment he might be seen +returning in the distance, but at length the Indian grew frightened, +and prostrating himself before the throne, he said to the king, "Sire, +your Highness must have noticed that the prince, in his impatience, did +not allow me to tell him what it was necessary to do in order to return +to the place from which he started. I implore you not to punish me for +what was not my fault, and not to visit on me any misfortune that may +occur." +</P> + +<P> +"But why," cried the king in a burst of fear and anger, "why did you +not call him back when you saw him disappearing?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied the Indian, "the rapidity of his movements took me so +by surprise that he was out of hearing before I recovered my speech. +But we must hope that he will perceive and turn a second screw, which +will have the effect of bringing the horse back to earth." +</P> + +<P> +"But supposing he does!" answered the king, "what is to hinder the +horse from descending straight into the sea, or dashing him to pieces +on the rocks?" +</P> + +<P> +"Have no fears, your Highness," said the Indian; "the horse has the +gift of passing over seas, and of carrying his rider wherever he wishes +to go." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, your head shall answer for it," returned the monarch, "and if in +three months he is not safe back with me, or at any rate does not send +me news of his safety, your life shall pay the penalty." So saying, he +ordered his guards to seize the Indian and throw him into prison. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile, Prince Firouz Schah had gone gaily up into the air, and for +the space of an hour continued to ascend higher and higher, till the +very mountains were not distinguishable from the plains. Then he began +to think it was time to come down, and took for granted that, in order +to do this, it was only needful to turn the screw the reverse way; but, +to his surprise and horror, he found that, turn as he might, he did not +make the smallest impression. He then remembered that he had never +waited to ask how he was to get back to earth again, and understood the +danger in which he stood. Luckily, he did not lose his head, and set +about examining the horse's neck with great care, till at last, to his +intense joy, he discovered a tiny little peg, much smaller than the +other, close to the right ear. This he turned, and found him-self +dropping to the earth, though more slowly than he had left it. +</P> + +<P> +It was now dark, and as the prince could see nothing, he was obliged, +not without some feeling of disquiet, to allow the horse to direct his +own course, and midnight was already passed before Prince Firouz Schah +again touched the ground, faint and weary from his long ride, and from +the fact that he had eaten nothing since early morning. +</P> + +<P> +The first thing he did on dismounting was to try to find out where he +was, and, as far as he could discover in the thick darkness, he found +himself on the terraced roof of a huge palace, with a balustrade of +marble running round. In one corner of the terrace stood a small door, +opening on to a staircase which led down into the palace. +</P> + +<P> +Some people might have hesitated before exploring further, but not so +the prince. "I am doing no harm," he said, "and whoever the owner may +be, he will not touch me when he sees I am unarmed," and in dread of +making a false step, he went cautiously down the staircase. On a +landing, he noticed an open door, beyond which was a faintly lighted +hall. +</P> + +<P> +Before entering, the prince paused and listened, but he heard nothing +except the sound of men snoring. By the light of a lantern suspended +from the roof, he perceived a row of black guards sleeping, each with a +naked sword lying by him, and he understood that the hall must form the +ante-room to the chamber of some queen or princess. +</P> + +<P> +Standing quite still, Prince Firouz Schah looked about him, till his +eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, and he noticed a bright light +shining through a curtain in one corner. He then made his way softly +towards it, and, drawing aside its folds, passed into a magnificent +chamber full of sleeping women, all lying on low couches, except one, +who was on a sofa; and this one, he knew, must be the princess. +</P> + +<P> +Gently stealing up to the side of her bed he looked at her, and saw +that she was more beautiful than any woman he had ever beheld. But, +fascinated though he was, he was well aware of the danger of his +position, as one cry of surprise would awake the guards, and cause his +certain death. +</P> + +<P> +So sinking quietly on his knees, he took hold of the sleeve of the +princess and drew her arm lightly towards him. The princess opened her +eyes, and seeing before her a handsome well-dressed man, she remained +speechless with astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +This favourable moment was seized by the prince, who bowing low while +he knelt, thus addressed her: +</P> + +<P> +"You behold, madame, a prince in distress, son to the King of Persia, +who, owing to an adventure so strange that you will scarcely believe +it, finds himself here, a suppliant for your protection. But +yesterday, I was in my father's court, engaged in the celebration of +our most solemn festival; to-day, I am in an unknown land, in danger of +my life." +</P> + +<P> +Now the princess whose mercy Prince Firouz Schah implored was the +eldest daughter of the King of Bengal, who was enjoying rest and change +in the palace her father had built her, at a little distance from the +capital. She listened kindly to what he had to say, and then answered: +</P> + +<P> +"Prince, be not uneasy; hospitality and humanity are practised as +widely in Bengal as they are in Persia. The protection you ask will be +given you by all. You have my word for it." And as the prince was +about to thank her for her goodness, she added quickly, "However great +may be my curiosity to learn by what means you have travelled here so +speedily, I know that you must be faint for want of food, so I shall +give orders to my women to take you to one of my chambers, where you +will be provided with supper, and left to repose." +</P> + +<P> +By this time the princess's attendants were all awake, and listening to +the conversation. At a sign from their mistress they rose, dressed +themselves hastily, and snatching up some of the tapers which lighted +the room, conducted the prince to a large and lofty room, where two of +the number prepared his bed, and the rest went down to the kitchen, +from which they soon returned with all sorts of dishes. Then, showing +him cupboards filled with dresses and linen, they quitted the room. +</P> + +<P> +During their absence the Princess of Bengal, who had been greatly +struck by the beauty of the prince, tried in vain to go to sleep again. +It was of no use: she felt broad awake, and when her women entered the +room, she inquired eagerly if the prince had all he wanted, and what +they thought of him. +</P> + +<P> +"Madame," they replied, "it is of course impossible for us to tell what +impression this young man has made on you. For ourselves, we think you +would be fortunate if the king your father should allow you to marry +anyone so amiable. Certainly there is no one in the Court of Bengal +who can be compared with him." +</P> + +<P> +These flattering observations were by no means displeasing to the +princess, but as she did not wish to betray her own feelings she merely +said, "You are all a set of chatterboxes; go back to bed, and let me +sleep." +</P> + +<P> +When she dressed the following morning, her maids noticed that, +contrary to her usual habit, the princess was very particular about her +toilette, and insisted on her hair being dressed two or three times +over. "For," she said to herself, "if my appearance was not +displeasing to the prince when he saw me in the condition I was, how +much more will he be struck with me when he beholds me with all my +charms." +</P> + +<P> +Then she placed in her hair the largest and most brilliant diamonds she +could find, with a necklace, bracelets and girdle, all of precious +stones. And over her shoulders her ladies put a robe of the richest +stuff in all the Indies, that no one was allowed to wear except members +of the royal family. When she was fully dressed according to her +wishes, she sent to know if the Prince of Persia was awake and ready to +receive her, as she desired to present herself before him. +</P> + +<P> +When the princess's messenger entered his room, Prince Firouz Schah was +in the act of leaving it, to inquire if he might be allowed to pay his +homage to her mistress: but on hearing the princess's wishes, he at +once gave way. "Her will is my law," he said, "I am only here to obey +her orders." +</P> + +<P> +In a few moments the princess herself appeared, and after the usual +compliments had passed between them, the princess sat down on a sofa, +and began to explain to the prince her reasons for not giving him an +audience in her own apartments. "Had I done so," she said, "we might +have been interrupted at any hour by the chief of the eunuchs, who has +the right to enter whenever it pleases him, whereas this is forbidden +ground. I am all impatience to learn the wonderful accident which has +procured the pleasure of your arrival, and that is why I have come to +you here, where no one can intrude upon us. Begin then, I entreat you, +without delay." +</P> + +<P> +So the prince began at the beginning, and told all the story of the +festival of Nedrouz held yearly in Persia, and of the splendid +spectacles celebrated in its honour. But when he came to the enchanted +horse, the princess declared that she could never have imagined +anything half so surprising. "Well then," continued the prince, "you +can easily understand how the King my father, who has a passion for all +curious things, was seized with a violent desire to possess this horse, +and asked the Indian what sum he would take for it. +</P> + +<P> +"The man's answer was absolutely absurd, as you will agree, when I tell +you that it was nothing less than the hand of the princess my sister; +but though all the bystanders laughed and mocked, and I was beside +myself with rage, I saw to my despair that my father could not make up +his mind to treat the insolent proposal as it deserved. I tried to +argue with him, but in vain. He only begged me to examine the horse +with a view (as I quite understood) of making me more sensible of its +value." +</P> + +<P> +"To please my father, I mounted the horse, and, without waiting for any +instructions from the Indian, turned the peg as I had seen him do. In +an instant I was soaring upwards, much quicker than an arrow could fly, +and I felt as if I must be getting so near the sky that I should soon +hit my head against it! I could see nothing beneath me, and for some +time was so confused that I did not even know in what direction I was +travelling. At last, when it was growing dark, I found another screw, +and on turning it, the horse began slowly to sink towards the earth. I +was forced to trust to chance, and to see what fate had in store, and +it was already past midnight when I found myself on the roof of this +palace. I crept down the little staircase, and made directly for a +light which I perceived through an open door--I peeped cautiously in, +and saw, as you will guess, the eunuchs lying asleep on the floor. I +knew the risks I ran, but my need was so great that I paid no attention +to them, and stole safely past your guards, to the curtain which +concealed your doorway. +</P> + +<P> +"The rest, Princess, you know; and it only remains for me to thank you +for the kindness you have shown me, and to assure you of my gratitude. +By the law of nations, I am already your slave, and I have only my +heart, that is my own, to offer you. But what am I saying? My own? +Alas, madame, it was yours from the first moment I beheld you!" +</P> + +<P> +The air with which he said these words could have left no doubt on the +mind of the princess as to the effect of her charms, and the blush +which mounted to her face only increased her beauty. +</P> + +<P> +"Prince," returned she as soon as her confusion permitted her to speak, +"you have given me the greatest pleasure, and I have followed you +closely in all your adventures, and though you are positively sitting +before me, I even trembled at your danger in the upper regions of the +air! Let me say what a debt I owe to the chance that has led you to my +house; you could have entered none which would have given you a warmer +welcome. As to your being a slave, of course that is merely a joke, +and my reception must itself have assured you that you are as free here +as at your father's court. As to your heart," continued she in tones +of encouragement, "I am quite sure that must have been disposed of long +ago, to some princess who is well worthy of it, and I could not think +of being the cause of your unfaithfulness to her." +</P> + +<P> +Prince Firouz Schah was about to protest that there was no lady with +any prior claims, but he was stopped by the entrance of one of the +princess's attendants, who announced that dinner was served, and, after +all, neither was sorry for the interruption. +</P> + +<P> +Dinner was laid in a magnificent apartment, and the table was covered +with delicious fruits; while during the repast richly dressed girls +sang softly and sweetly to stringed instruments. After the prince and +princess had finished, they passed into a small room hung with blue and +gold, looking out into a garden stocked with flowers and arbutus trees, +quite different from any that were to be found in Persia. +</P> + +<P> +"Princess," observed the young man, "till now I had always believed +that Persia could boast finer palaces and more lovely gardens than any +kingdom upon earth. But my eyes have been opened, and I begin to +perceive that, wherever there is a great king he will surround himself +with buildings worthy of him." +</P> + +<P> +"Prince," replied the Princess of Bengal, "I have no idea what a +Persian palace is like, so I am unable to make comparisons. I do not +wish to depreciate my own palace, but I can assure you that it is very +poor beside that of the King my father, as you will agree when you have +been there to greet him, as I hope you will shortly do." +</P> + +<P> +Now the princess hoped that, by bringing about a meeting between the +prince and her father, the King would be so struck with the young man's +distinguished air and fine manners, that he would offer him his +daughter to wife. But the reply of the Prince of Persia to her +suggestion was not quite what she wished. +</P> + +<P> +"Madame," he said, "by taking advantage of your proposal to visit the +palace of the King of Bengal, I should satisfy not merely my curiosity, +but also the sentiments of respect with which I regard him. But, +Princess, I am persuaded that you will feel with me, that I cannot +possibly present myself before so great a sovereign without the +attendants suitable to my rank. He would think me an adventurer." +</P> + +<P> +"If that is all," she answered, "you can get as many attendants here as +you please. There are plenty of Persian merchants, and as for money, +my treasury is always open to you. Take what you please." +</P> + +<P> +Prince Firouz Schah guessed what prompted so much kindness on the part +of the princess, and was much touched by it. Still his passion, which +increased every moment, did not make him forget his duty. So he +replied without hesitation: +</P> + +<P> +"I do not know, Princess, how to express my gratitude for your obliging +offer, which I would accept at once if it were not for the recollection +of all the uneasiness the King my father must be suffering on my +account. I should be unworthy indeed of all the love he showers upon +me, if I did not return to him at the first possible moment. For, +while I am enjoying the society of the most amiable of all princesses, +he is, I am quite convinced, plunged in the deepest grief, having lost +all hope of seeing me again. I am sure you will understand my +position, and will feel that to remain away one instant longer than is +necessary would not only be ungrateful on my part, but perhaps even a +crime, for how do I know if my absence may not break his heart? +</P> + +<P> +"But," continued the prince, "having obeyed the voice of my conscience, +I shall count the moments when, with your gracious permission, I may +present myself before the King of Bengal, not as a wanderer, but as a +prince, to implore the favour of your hand. My father has always +informed me that in my marriage I shall be left quite free, but I am +persuaded that I have only to describe your generosity, for my wishes +to become his own." +</P> + +<P> +The Princess of Bengal was too reasonable not to accept the explanation +offered by Prince Firouz Schah, but she was much disturbed at his +intention of departing at once, for she feared that, no sooner had he +left her, than the impression she had made on him would fade away. So +she made one more effort to keep him, and after assuring him that she +entirely approved of his anxiety to see his father, begged him to give +her a day or two more of his company. +</P> + +<P> +In common politeness the prince could hardly refuse this request, and +the princess set about inventing every kind of amusement for him, and +succeeded so well that two months slipped by almost unnoticed, in +balls, spectacles and in hunting, of which, when unattended by danger, +the princess was passionately fond. But at last, one day, he declared +seriously that he could neglect his duty no longer, and entreated her +to put no further obstacles in his way, promising at the same time to +return, as soon as he could, with all the magnificence due both to her +and to himself. +</P> + +<P> +"Princess," he added, "it may be that in your heart you class me with +those false lovers whose devotion cannot stand the test of absence. If +you do, you wrong me; and were it not for fear of offending you, I +would beseech you to come with me, for my life can only be happy when +passed with you. As for your reception at the Persian Court, it will +be as warm as your merits deserve; and as for what concerns the King of +Bengal, he must be much more indifferent to your welfare than you have +led me to believe if he does not give his consent to our marriage." +</P> + +<P> +The princess could not find words in which to reply to the arguments of +the Prince of Persia, but her silence and her downcast eyes spoke for +her, and declared that she had no objection to accompanying him on his +travels. +</P> + +<P> +The only difficulty that occurred to her was that Prince Firouz Schah +did not know how to manage the horse, and she dreaded lest they might +find themselves in the same plight as before. But the prince soothed +her fears so successfully, that she soon had no other thought than to +arrange for their flight so secretly, that no one in the palace should +suspect it. +</P> + +<P> +This was done, and early the following morning, when the whole palace +was wrapped in sleep, she stole up on to the roof, where the prince was +already awaiting her, with his horse's head towards Persia. He mounted +first and helped the princess up behind; then, when she was firmly +seated, with her hands holding tightly to his belt, he touched the +screw, and the horse began to leave the earth quickly behind him. +</P> + +<P> +He travelled with his accustomed speed, and Prince Firouz Schah guided +him so well that in two hours and a half from the time of starting, he +saw the capital of Persia lying beneath him. He determined to alight +neither in the great square from which he had started, nor in the +Sultan's palace, but in a country house at a little distance from the +town. Here he showed the princess a beautiful suite of rooms, and +begged her to rest, while he informed his father of their arrival, and +prepared a public reception worthy of her rank. Then he ordered a +horse to be saddled, and set out. +</P> + +<P> +All the way through the streets he was welcomed with shouts of joy by +the people, who had long lost all hope of seeing him again. On +reaching the palace, he found the Sultan surrounded by his ministers, +all clad in the deepest mourning, and his father almost went out of his +mind with surprise and delight at the mere sound of his son's voice. +When he had calmed down a little, he begged the prince to relate his +adventures. +</P> + +<P> +The prince at once seized the opening thus given him, and told the +whole story of his treatment by the Princess of Bengal, not even +concealing the fact that she had fallen in love with him. "And, Sire," +ended the prince, "having given my royal word that you would not refuse +your consent to our marriage, I persuaded her to return with me on the +Indian's horse. I have left her in one of your Highness's country +houses, where she is waiting anxiously to be assured that I have not +promised in vain." +</P> + +<P> +As he said this the prince was about to throw himself at the feet of +the Sultan, but his father prevented him, and embracing him again, said +eagerly: +</P> + +<P> +"My son, not only do I gladly consent to your marriage with the +Princess of Bengal, but I will hasten to pay my respects to her, and to +thank her in my own person for the benefits she has conferred on you. +I will then bring her back with me, and make all arrangements for the +wedding to be celebrated to-day." +</P> + +<P> +So the Sultan gave orders that the habits of mourning worn by the +people should be thrown off and that there should be a concert of +drums, trumpets and cymbals. Also that the Indian should be taken from +prison, and brought before him. +</P> + +<P> +His commands were obeyed, and the Indian was led into his presence, +surrounded by guards. "I have kept you locked up," said the Sultan, +"so that in case my son was lost, your life should pay the penalty. He +has now returned; so take your horse, and begone for ever." +</P> + +<P> +The Indian hastily quitted the presence of the Sultan, and when he was +outside, he inquired of the man who had taken him out of prison where +the prince had really been all this time, and what he had been doing. +They told him the whole story, and how the Princess of Bengal was even +then awaiting in the country palace the consent of the Sultan, which at +once put into the Indian's head a plan of revenge for the treatment he +had experienced. Going straight to the country house, he informed the +doorkeeper who was left in charge that he had been sent by the Sultan +and by the Prince of Persia to fetch the princess on the enchanted +horse, and to bring her to the palace. +</P> + +<P> +The doorkeeper knew the Indian by sight, and was of course aware that +nearly three months before he had been thrown into prison by the +Sultan; and seeing him at liberty, the man took for granted that he was +speaking the truth, and made no difficulty about leading him before the +Princess of Bengal; while on her side, hearing that he had come from +the prince, the lady gladly consented to do what he wished. +</P> + +<P> +The Indian, delighted with the success of his scheme, mounted the +horse, assisted the princess to mount behind him, and turned the peg at +the very moment that the prince was leaving the palace in Schiraz for +the country house, followed closely by the Sultan and all the court. +Knowing this, the Indian deliberately steered the horse right above the +city, in order that his revenge for his unjust imprisonment might be +all the quicker and sweeter. +</P> + +<P> +When the Sultan of Persia saw the horse and its riders, he stopped +short with astonishment and horror, and broke out into oaths and +curses, which the Indian heard quite unmoved, knowing that he was +perfectly safe from pursuit. But mortified and furious as the Sultan +was, his feelings were nothing to those of Prince Firouz Schah, when he +saw the object of his passionate devotion being borne rapidly away. +And while he was struck speechless with grief and remorse at not having +guarded her better, she vanished swiftly out of his sight. What was he +to do? Should he follow his father into the palace, and there give +reins to his despair? Both his love and his courage alike forbade it; +and he continued his way to the palace. +</P> + +<P> +The sight of the prince showed the doorkeeper of what folly he had been +guilty, and flinging himself at his master's feet, implored his pardon. +"Rise," said the prince, "I am the cause of this misfortune, and not +you. Go and find me the dress of a dervish, but beware of saying it is +for me." +</P> + +<P> +At a short distance from the country house, a convent of dervishes was +situated, and the superior, or scheih, was the doorkeeper's friend. So +by means of a false story made up on the spur of the moment, it was +easy enough to get hold of a dervish's dress, which the prince at once +put on, instead of his own. Disguised like this and concealing about +him a box of pearls and diamonds he had intended as a present to the +princess, he left the house at nightfall, uncertain where he should go, +but firmly resolved not to return without her. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile the Indian had turned the horse in such a direction that, +before many hours had passed, it had entered a wood close to the +capital of the kingdom of Cashmere. Feeling very hungry, and supposing +that the princess also might be in want of food, he brought his steed +down to the earth, and left the princess in a shady place, on the banks +of a clear stream. +</P> + +<P> +At first, when the princess had found herself alone, the idea had +occurred to her of trying to escape and hide herself. But as she had +eaten scarcely anything since she had left Bengal, she felt she was too +weak to venture far, and was obliged to abandon her design. On the +return of the Indian with meats of various kinds, she began to eat +voraciously, and soon had regained sufficient courage to reply with +spirit to his insolent remarks. Goaded by his threats she sprang to +her feet, calling loudly for help, and luckily her cries were heard by +a troop of horsemen, who rode up to inquire what was the matter. +</P> + +<P> +Now the leader of these horsemen was the Sultan of Cashmere, returning +from the chase, and he instantly turned to the Indian to inquire who he +was, and whom he had with him. The Indian rudely answered that it was +his wife, and there was no occasion for anyone else to interfere +between them. +</P> + +<P> +The princess, who, of course, was ignorant of the rank of her +deliverer, denied altogether the Indian's story. "My lord," she cried, +"whoever you may be, put no faith in this impostor. He is an +abominable magician, who has this day torn me from the Prince of +Persia, my destined husband, and has brought me here on this enchanted +horse." She would have continued, but her tears choked her, and the +Sultan of Cashmere, convinced by her beauty and her distinguished air +of the truth of her tale, ordered his followers to cut off the Indian's +head, which was done immediately. +</P> + +<P> +But rescued though she was from one peril, it seemed as if she had only +fallen into another. The Sultan commanded a horse to be given her, and +conducted her to his own palace, where he led her to a beautiful +apartment, and selected female slaves to wait on her, and eunuchs to be +her guard. Then, without allowing her time to thank him for all he had +done, he bade her repose, saying she should tell him her adventures on +the following day. +</P> + +<P> +The princess fell asleep, flattering herself that she had only to +relate her story for the Sultan to be touched by compassion, and to +restore her to the prince without delay. But a few hours were to +undeceive her. +</P> + +<P> +When the King of Cashmere had quitted her presence the evening before, +he had resolved that the sun should not set again without the princess +becoming his wife, and at daybreak proclamation of his intention was +made throughout the town, by the sound of drums, trumpets, cymbals, and +other instruments calculated to fill the heart with joy. The Princess +of Bengal was early awakened by the noise, but she did not for one +moment imagine that it had anything to do with her, till the Sultan, +arriving as soon as she was dressed to inquire after her health, +informed her that the trumpet blasts she heard were part of the solemn +marriage ceremonies, for which he begged her to prepare. This +unexpected announcement caused the princess such terror that she sank +down in a dead faint. +</P> + +<P> +The slaves that were in waiting ran to her aid, and the Sultan himself +did his best to bring her back to consciousness, but for a long while +it was all to no purpose. At length her senses began slowly to come +back to her, and then, rather than break faith with the Prince of +Persia by consenting to such a marriage, she determined to feign +madness. So she began by saying all sorts of absurdities, and using +all kinds of strange gestures, while the Sultan stood watching her with +sorrow and surprise. But as this sudden seizure showed no sign of +abating, he left her to her women, ordering them to take the greatest +care of her. Still, as the day went on, the malady seemed to become +worse, and by night it was almost violent. +</P> + +<P> +Days passed in this manner, till at last the Sultan of Cashmere decided +to summon all the doctors of his court to consult together over her sad +state. Their answer was that madness is of so many different kinds +that it was impossible to give an opinion on the case without seeing +the princess, so the Sultan gave orders that they were to be introduced +into her chamber, one by one, every man according to his rank. +</P> + +<P> +This decision had been foreseen by the princess, who knew quite well +that if once she allowed the physicians to feel her pulse, the most +ignorant of them would discover that she was in perfectly good health, +and that her madness was feigned, so as each man approached, she broke +out into such violent paroxysms, that not one dared to lay a finger on +her. A few, who pretended to be cleverer than the rest, declared that +they could diagnose sick people only from sight, ordered her certain +potions, which she made no difficulty about taking, as she was +persuaded they were all harmless. +</P> + +<P> +When the Sultan of Cashmere saw that the court doctors could do nothing +towards curing the princess, he called in those of the city, who fared +no better. Then he had recourse to the most celebrated physicians in +the other large towns, but finding that the task was beyond their +science, he finally sent messengers into the other neighbouring states, +with a memorandum containing full particulars of the princess's +madness, offering at the same time to pay the expenses of any physician +who would come and see for himself, and a handsome reward to the one +who should cure her. In answer to this proclamation many foreign +professors flocked into Cashmere, but they naturally were not more +successful than the rest had been, as the cure depended neither on them +nor their skill, but only on the princess herself. +</P> + +<P> +It was during this time that Prince Firouz Schah, wandering sadly and +hopelessly from place to place, arrived in a large city of India, where +he heard a great deal of talk about the Princess of Bengal who had gone +out of her senses, on the very day that she was to have been married to +the Sultan of Cashmere. This was quite enough to induce him to take +the road to Cashmere, and to inquire at the first inn at which he +lodged in the capital the full particulars of the story. When he knew +that he had at last found the princess whom he had so long lost, he set +about devising a plan for her rescue. +</P> + +<P> +The first thing he did was to procure a doctor's robe, so that his +dress, added to the long beard he had allowed to grow on his travels, +might unmistakably proclaim his profession. He then lost no time in +going to the palace, where he obtained an audience of the chief usher, +and while apologising for his boldness in presuming to think that he +could cure the princess, where so many others had failed, declared that +he had the secret of certain remedies, which had hitherto never failed +of their effect. +</P> + +<P> +The chief usher assured him that he was heartily welcome, and that the +Sultan would receive him with pleasure; and in case of success, he +would gain a magnificent reward. +</P> + +<P> +When the Prince of Persia, in the disguise of a physician, was brought +before him, the Sultan wasted no time in talking, beyond remarking that +the mere sight of a doctor threw the princess into transports of rage. +He then led the prince up to a room under the roof, which had an +opening through which he might observe the princess, without himself +being seen. +</P> + +<P> +The prince looked, and beheld the princess reclining on a sofa with +tears in her eyes, singing softly to herself a song bewailing her sad +destiny, which had deprived her, perhaps for ever, of a being she so +tenderly loved. The young man's heart beat fast as he listened, for he +needed no further proof that her madness was feigned, and that it was +love of him which had caused her to resort to this species of trick. +He softly left his hiding-place, and returned to the Sultan, to whom he +reported that he was sure from certain signs that the princess's malady +was not incurable, but that he must see her and speak with her alone. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan made no difficulty in consenting to this, and commanded that +he should be ushered in to the princess's apartment. The moment she +caught sight of his physician's robe, she sprang from her seat in a +fury, and heaped insults upon him. The prince took no notice of her +behaviour, and approaching quite close, so that his words might be +heard by her alone, he said in a low whisper, "Look at me, princess, +and you will see that I am no doctor, but the Prince of Persia, who has +come to set you free." +</P> + +<P> +At the sound of his voice, the Princess of Bengal suddenly grew calm, +and an expression of joy overspread her face, such as only comes when +what we wish for most and expect the least suddenly happens to us. For +some time she was too enchanted to speak, and Prince Firouz Schah took +advantage of her silence to explain to her all that had occurred, his +despair at watching her disappear before his very eyes, the oath he had +sworn to follow her over the world, and his rapture at finally +discovering her in the palace at Cashmere. When he had finished, he +begged in his turn that the princess would tell him how she had come +there, so that he might the better devise some means of rescuing her +from the tyranny of the Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +It needed but a few words from the princess to make him acquainted with +the whole situation, and how she had been forced to play the part of a +mad woman in order to escape from a marriage with the Sultan, who had +not had sufficient politeness even to ask her consent. If necessary, +she added, she had resolved to die sooner than permit herself to be +forced into such a union, and break faith with a prince whom she loved. +</P> + +<P> +The prince then inquired if she knew what had become of the enchanted +horse since the Indian's death, but the princess could only reply that +she had heard nothing about it. Still she did not suppose that the +horse could have been forgotten by the Sultan, after all she had told +him of its value. +</P> + +<P> +To this the prince agreed, and they consulted together over a plan by +which she might be able to make her escape and return with him into +Persia. And as the first step, she was to dress herself with care, and +receive the Sultan with civility when he visited her next morning. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan was transported with delight on learning the result of the +interview, and his opinion of the doctor's skill was raised still +higher when, on the following day, the princess behaved towards him in +such a way as to persuade him that her complete cure would not be long +delayed. However he contented himself with assuring her how happy he +was to see her health so much improved, and exhorted her to make every +use of so clever a physician, and to repose entire confidence in him. +Then he retired, without awaiting any reply from the princess. +</P> + +<P> +The Prince of Persia left the room at the same time, and asked if he +might be allowed humbly to inquire by what means the Princess of Bengal +had reached Cashmere, which was so far distant from her father's +kingdom, and how she came to be there alone. The Sultan thought the +question very natural, and told him the same story that the Princess of +Bengal had done, adding that he had ordered the enchanted horse to be +taken to his treasury as a curiosity, though he was quite ignorant how +it could be used. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied the physician, "your Highness's tale has supplied me +with the clue I needed to complete the recovery of the princess. +During her voyage hither on an enchanted horse, a portion of its +enchantment has by some means been communicated to her person, and it +can only be dissipated by certain perfumes of which I possess the +secret. If your Highness will deign to consent, and to give the court +and the people one of the most astonishing spectacles they have ever +witnessed, command the horse to be brought into the big square outside +the palace, and leave the rest to me. I promise that in a very few +moments, in presence of all the assembled multitude, you shall see the +princess as healthy both in mind and body as ever she was in her life. +And in order to make the spectacle as impressive as possible, I would +suggest that she should be richly dressed and covered with the noblest +jewels of the crown." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan readily agreed to all that the prince proposed, and the +following morning he desired that the enchanted horse should be taken +from the treasury, and brought into the great square of the palace. +Soon the rumour began to spread through the town, that something +extraordinary was about to happen, and such a crowd began to collect +that the guards had to be called out to keep order, and to make a way +for the enchanted horse. +</P> + +<P> +When all was ready, the Sultan appeared, and took his place on a +platform, surrounded by the chief nobles and officers of his court. +When they were seated, the Princess of Bengal was seen leaving the +palace, accompanied by the ladies who had been assigned to her by the +Sultan. She slowly approached the enchanted horse, and with the help +of her ladies, she mounted on its back. Directly she was in the +saddle, with her feet in the stirrups and the bridle in her hand, the +physician placed around the horse some large braziers full of burning +coals, into each of which he threw a perfume composed of all sorts of +delicious scents. Then he crossed his hands over his breast, and with +lowered eyes walked three times round the horse, muttering the while +certain words. Soon there arose from the burning braziers a thick +smoke which almost concealed both the horse and princess, and this was +the moment for which he had been waiting. Springing lightly up behind +the lady, he leaned forward and turned the peg, and as the horse darted +up into the air, he cried aloud so that his words were heard by all +present, "Sultan of Cashmere, when you wish to marry princesses who +have sought your protection, learn first to gain their consent." +</P> + +<P> +It was in this way that the Prince of Persia rescued the Princess of +Bengal, and returned with her to Persia, where they descended this time +before the palace of the King himself. The marriage was only delayed +just long enough to make the ceremony as brilliant as possible, and, as +soon as the rejoicings were over, an ambassador was sent to the King of +Bengal, to inform him of what had passed, and to ask his approbation of +the alliance between the two countries, which he heartily gave. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap34"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Story of Two Sisters Who Were Jealous of Their Younger Sister +</H3> + +<P> +Once upon a time there reigned over Persia a Sultan named Kosrouschah, +who from his boyhood had been fond of putting on a disguise and seeking +adventures in all parts of the city, accompanied by one of his +officers, disguised like himself. And no sooner was his father buried +and the ceremonies over that marked his accession to the throne, than +the young man hastened to throw off his robes of state, and calling to +his vizir to make ready likewise, stole out in the simple dress of a +private citizen into the less known streets of the capital. +</P> + +<P> +Passing down a lonely street, the Sultan heard women's voices in loud +discussion; and peeping through a crack in the door, he saw three +sisters, sitting on a sofa in a large hall, talking in a very lively +and earnest manner. Judging from the few words that reached his ear, +they were each explaining what sort of men they wished to marry. +</P> + +<P> +"I ask nothing better," cried the eldest, "than to have the Sultan's +baker for a husband. Think of being able to eat as much as one wanted, +of that delicious bread that is baked for his Highness alone! Let us +see if your wish is as good as mine." +</P> + +<P> +"I," replied the second sister, "should be quite content with the +Sultan's head cook. What delicate stews I should feast upon! And, as +I am persuaded that the Sultan's bread is used all through the palace, +I should have that into the bargain. You see, my dear sister, my taste +is as good as yours." +</P> + +<P> +It was now the turn of the youngest sister, who was by far the most +beautiful of the three, and had, besides, more sense than the other +two. "As for me," she said, "I should take a higher flight; and if we +are to wish for husbands, nothing less than the Sultan himself will do +for me." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan was so much amused by the conversation he had overheard, +that he made up his mind to gratify their wishes, and turning to the +grand-vizir, he bade him note the house, and on the following morning +to bring the ladies into his presence. +</P> + +<P> +The grand-vizir fulfilled his commission, and hardly giving them time +to change their dresses, desired the three sisters to follow him to the +palace. Here they were presented one by one, and when they had bowed +before the Sultan, the sovereign abruptly put the question to them: +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me, do you remember what you wished for last night, when you were +making merry? Fear nothing, but answer me the truth." +</P> + +<P> +These words, which were so unexpected, threw the sisters into great +confusion, their eyes fell, and the blushes of the youngest did not +fail to make an impression on the heart of the Sultan. All three +remained silent, and he hastened to continue: "Do not be afraid, I +have not the slightest intention of giving you pain, and let me tell +you at once, that I know the wishes formed by each one. You," he said, +turning to the youngest, "who desired to have me for an husband, shall +be satisfied this very day. And you," he added, addressing himself to +the other two, "shall be married at the same moment to my baker and to +my chief cook." +</P> + +<P> +When the Sultan had finished speaking the three sisters flung +themselves at his feet, and the youngest faltered out, "Oh, sire, since +you know my foolish words, believe, I pray you, that they were only +said in joke. I am unworthy of the honour you propose to do me, and I +can only ask pardon for my boldness." +</P> + +<P> +The other sisters also tried to excuse themselves, but the Sultan would +hear nothing. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no," he said, "my mind is made up. Your wishes shall be +accomplished." +</P> + +<P> +So the three weddings were celebrated that same day, but with a great +difference. That of the youngest was marked by all the magnificence +that was customary at the marriage of the Shah of Persia, while the +festivities attending the nuptials of the Sultan's baker and his chief +cook were only such as were suitable to their conditions. +</P> + +<P> +This, though quite natural, was highly displeasing to the elder +sisters, who fell into a passion of jealousy, which in the end caused a +great deal of trouble and pain to several people. And the first time +that they had the opportunity of speaking to each other, which was not +till several days later at a public bath, they did not attempt to +disguise their feelings. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you possibly understand what the Sultan saw in that little cat," +said one to the other, "for him to be so fascinated by her?" +</P> + +<P> +"He must be quite blind," returned the wife of the chief cook. "As for +her looking a little younger than we do, what does that matter? You +would have made a far better Sultana than she." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I say nothing of myself," replied the elder, "and if the Sultan +had chosen you it would have been all very well; but it really grieves +me that he should have selected a wretched little creature like that. +However, I will be revenged on her somehow, and I beg you will give me +your help in the matter, and to tell me anything that you can think of +that is likely to mortify her." +</P> + +<P> +In order to carry out their wicked scheme the two sisters met +constantly to talk over their ideas, though all the while they +pretended to be as friendly as ever towards the Sultana, who, on her +part, invariably treated them with kindness. For a long time no plan +occurred to the two plotters that seemed in the least likely to meet +with success, but at length the expected birth of an heir gave them the +chance for which they had been hoping. +</P> + +<P> +They obtained permission of the Sultan to take up their abode in the +palace for some weeks, and never left their sister night or day. When +at last a little boy, beautiful as the sun, was born, they laid him in +his cradle and carried it down to a canal which passed through the +grounds of the palace. Then, leaving it to its fate, they informed the +Sultan that instead of the son he had so fondly desired the Sultana had +given birth to a puppy. At this dreadful news the Sultan was so +overcome with rage and grief that it was with great difficulty that the +grand-vizir managed to save the Sultana from his wrath. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile the cradle continued to float peacefully along the canal +till, on the outskirts of the royal gardens, it was suddenly perceived +by the intendant, one of the highest and most respected officials in +the kingdom. +</P> + +<P> +"Go," he said to a gardener who was working near, "and get that cradle +out for me." +</P> + +<P> +The gardener did as he was bid, and soon placed the cradle in the hands +of the intendant. +</P> + +<P> +The official was much astonished to see that the cradle, which he had +supposed to be empty, contained a baby, which, young though it was, +already gave promise of great beauty. Having no children himself, +although he had been married some years, it at once occurred to him +that here was a child which he could take and bring up as his own. +And, bidding the man pick up the cradle and follow him, he turned +towards home. +</P> + +<P> +"My wife," he exclaimed as he entered the room, "heaven has denied us +any children, but here is one that has been sent in their place. Send +for a nurse, and I will do what is needful publicly to recognise it as +my son." +</P> + +<P> +The wife accepted the baby with joy, and though the intendant saw quite +well that it must have come from the royal palace, he did not think it +was his business to inquire further into the mystery. +</P> + +<P> +The following year another prince was born and sent adrift, but happily +for the baby, the intendant of the gardens again was walking by the +canal, and carried it home as before. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan, naturally enough, was still more furious the second time +than the first, but when the same curious accident was repeated in the +third year he could control himself no longer, and, to the great joy of +the jealous sisters, commanded that the Sultana should be executed. +But the poor lady was so much beloved at Court that not even the dread +of sharing her fate could prevent the grand-vizir and the courtiers +from throwing themselves at the Sultan's feet and imploring him not to +inflict so cruel a punishment for what, after all, was not her fault. +</P> + +<P> +"Let her live," entreated the grand-vizir, "and banish her from your +presence for the rest of her days. That in itself will be punishment +enough." +</P> + +<P> +His first passion spent, the Sultan had regained his self-command. +"Let her live then," he said, "since you have it so much at heart. But +if I grant her life it shall only be on one condition, which shall make +her daily pray for death. Let a box be built for her at the door of +the principal mosque, and let the window of the box be always open. +There she shall sit, in the coarsest clothes, and every Mussulman who +enters the mosque shall spit in her face in passing. Anyone that +refuses to obey shall be exposed to the same punishment himself. You, +vizir, will see that my orders are carried out." +</P> + +<P> +The grand-vizir saw that it was useless to say more, and, full of +triumph, the sisters watched the building of the box, and then listened +to the jeers of the people at the helpless Sultana sitting inside. But +the poor lady bore herself with so much dignity and meekness that it +was not long before she had won the sympathy of those that were best +among the crowd. +</P> + +<P> +But it is now time to return to the fate of the third baby, this time a +princess. Like its brothers, it was found by the intendant of the +gardens, and adopted by him and his wife, and all three were brought up +with the greatest care and tenderness. +</P> + +<P> +As the children grew older their beauty and air of distinction became +more and more marked, and their manners had all the grace and ease that +is proper to people of high birth. The princes had been named by their +foster-father Bahman and Perviz, after two of the ancient kings of +Persia, while the princess was called Parizade, or the child of the +genii. +</P> + +<P> +The intendant was careful to bring them up as befitted their real rank, +and soon appointed a tutor to teach the young princes how to read and +write. And the princess, determined not to be left behind, showed +herself so anxious to learn with her brothers, that the intendant +consented to her joining in their lessons, and it was not long before +she knew as much as they did. +</P> + +<P> +From that time all their studies were done in common. They had the +best masters for the fine arts, geography, poetry, history and science, +and even for sciences which are learned by few, and every branch seemed +so easy to them, that their teachers were astonished at the progress +they made. The princess had a passion for music, and could sing and +play upon all sorts of instruments she could also ride and drive as +well as her brothers, shoot with a bow and arrow, and throw a javelin +with the same skill as they, and sometimes even better. +</P> + +<P> +In order to set off these accomplishments, the intendant resolved that +his foster children should not be pent up any longer in the narrow +borders of the palace gardens, where he had always lived, so he bought +a splendid country house a few miles from the capital, surrounded by an +immense park. This park he filled with wild beasts of various sorts, +so that the princes and princess might hunt as much as they pleased. +</P> + +<P> +When everything was ready, the intendant threw himself at the Sultan's +feet, and after referring to his age and his long services, begged his +Highness's permission to resign his post. This was granted by the +Sultan in a few gracious words, and he then inquired what reward he +could give to his faithful servant. But the intendant declared that he +wished for nothing except the continuance of his Highness's favour, and +prostrating himself once more, he retired from the Sultan's presence. +</P> + +<P> +Five or six months passed away in the pleasures of the country, when +death attacked the intendant so suddenly that he had no time to reveal +the secret of their birth to his adopted children, and as his wife had +long been dead also, it seemed as if the princes and the princess would +never know that they had been born to a higher station than the one +they filled. Their sorrow for their father was very deep, and they +lived quietly on in their new home, without feeling any desire to leave +it for court gaieties or intrigues. +</P> + +<P> +One day the princes as usual went out to hunt, but their sister +remained alone in her apartments. While they were gone an old +Mussulman devotee appeared at the door, and asked leave to enter, as it +was the hour of prayer. The princess sent orders at once that the old +woman was to be taken to the private oratory in the grounds, and when +she had finished her prayers was to be shown the house and gardens, and +then to be brought before her. +</P> + +<P> +Although the old woman was very pious, she was not at all indifferent +to the magnificence of all around her, which she seemed to understand +as well as to admire, and when she had seen it all she was led by the +servants before the princess, who was seated in a room which surpassed +in splendour all the rest. +</P> + +<P> +"My good woman," said the princess pointing to a sofa, "come and sit +beside me. I am delighted at the opportunity of speaking for a few +moments with so holy a person." The old woman made some objections to +so much honour being done her, but the princess refused to listen, and +insisted that her guest should take the best seat, and as she thought +she must be tired ordered refreshments. +</P> + +<P> +While the old woman was eating, the princess put several questions to +her as to her mode of life, and the pious exercises she practiced, and +then inquired what she thought of the house now that she had seen it. +</P> + +<P> +"Madam," replied the pilgrim, "one must be hard indeed to please to +find any fault. It is beautiful, comfortable and well ordered, and it +is impossible to imagine anything more lovely than the garden. But +since you ask me, I must confess that it lacks three things to make it +absolutely perfect." +</P> + +<P> +"And what can they be?" cried the princess. "Only tell me, and I will +lose no time in getting them." +</P> + +<P> +"The three things, madam," replied the old woman, "are, first, the +Talking Bird, whose voice draws all other singing birds to it, to join +in chorus. And second, the Singing Tree, where every leaf is a song +that is never silent. And lastly the Golden Water, of which it is only +needful to pour a single drop into a basin for it to shoot up into a +fountain, which will never be exhausted, nor will the basin ever +overflow." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, how can I thank you," cried the princess, "for telling me of such +treasures! But add, I pray you, to your goodness by further informing +me where I can find them." +</P> + +<P> +"Madam," replied the pilgrim, "I should ill repay the hospitality you +have shown me if I refused to answer your question. The three things +of which I have spoken are all to be found in one place, on the borders +of this kingdom, towards India. Your messenger has only to follow the +road that passes by your house, for twenty days, and at the end of that +time, he is to ask the first person he meets for the Talking Bird, the +Singing Tree, and the Golden Water." She then rose, and bidding +farewell to the princess, went her way. +</P> + +<P> +The old woman had taken her departure so abruptly that the Princess +Parizade did not perceive till she was really gone that the directions +were hardly clear enough to enable the search to be successful. And +she was still thinking of the subject, and how delightful it would be +to possess such rarities, when the princes, her brothers, returned from +the chase. +</P> + +<P> +"What is the matter, my sister?" asked Prince Bahman; "why are you so +grave? Are you ill? Or has anything happened?" +</P> + +<P> +Princess Parizade did not answer directly, but at length she raised her +eyes, and replied that there was nothing wrong. +</P> + +<P> +"But there must be something," persisted Prince Bahman, "for you to +have changed so much during the short time we have been absent. Hide +nothing from us, I beseech you, unless you wish us to believe that the +confidence we have always had in one another is now to cease." +</P> + +<P> +"When I said that it was nothing," said the princess, moved by his +words, "I meant that it was nothing that affected you, although I admit +that it is certainly of some importance to me. Like myself, you have +always thought this house that our father built for us was perfect in +every respect, but only to-day I have learned that three things are +still lacking to complete it. These are the Talking Bird, the Singing +Tree, and the Golden Water." After explaining the peculiar qualities +of each, the princess continued: "It was a Mussulman devotee who told +me all this, and where they might all be found. Perhaps you will think +that the house is beautiful enough as it is, and that we can do quite +well without them; but in this I cannot agree with you, and I shall +never be content until I have got them. So counsel me, I pray, whom to +send on the undertaking." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear sister," replied Prince Bahman, "that you should care about +the matter is quite enough, even if we took no interest in it +ourselves. But we both feel with you, and I claim, as the elder, the +right to make the first attempt, if you will tell me where I am to go, +and what steps I am to take." +</P> + +<P> +Prince Perviz at first objected that, being the head of the family, his +brother ought not to be allowed to expose himself to danger; but Prince +Bahman would hear nothing, and retired to make the needful preparations +for his journey. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning Prince Bahman got up very early, and after bidding +farewell to his brother and sister, mounted his horse. But just as he +was about to touch it with his whip, he was stopped by a cry from the +princess. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, perhaps after all you may never come back; one never can tell what +accidents may happen. Give it up, I implore you, for I would a +thousand times rather lose the Talking Bird, and the Singing Tree and +the Golden Water, than that you should run into danger." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear sister," answered the prince, "accidents only happen to +unlucky people, and I hope that I am not one of them. But as +everything is uncertain, I promise you to be very careful. Take this +knife," he continued, handing her one that hung sheathed from his belt, +"and every now and then draw it out and look at it. As long as it +keeps bright and clean as it is to-day, you will know that I am living; +but if the blade is spotted with blood, it will be a sign that I am +dead, and you shall weep for me." +</P> + +<P> +So saying, Prince Bahman bade them farewell once more, and started on +the high road, well mounted and fully armed. For twenty days he rode +straight on, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, till he +found himself drawing near the frontiers of Persia. Seated under a +tree by the wayside he noticed a hideous old man, with a long white +moustache, and beard that almost fell to his feet. His nails had grown +to an enormous length, and on his head he wore a huge hat, which served +him for an umbrella. +</P> + +<P> +Prince Bahman, who, remembering the directions of the old woman, had +been since sunrise on the look-out for some one, recognised the old man +at once to be a dervish. He dismounted from his horse, and bowed low +before the holy man, saying by way of greeting, "My father, may your +days be long in the land, and may all your wishes be fulfilled!" +</P> + +<P> +The dervish did his best to reply, but his moustache was so thick that +his words were hardly intelligible, and the prince, perceiving what was +the matter, took a pair of scissors from his saddle pockets, and +requested permission to cut off some of the moustache, as he had a +question of great importance to ask the dervish. The dervish made a +sign that he might do as he liked, and when a few inches of his hair +and beard had been pruned all round the prince assured the holy man +that he would hardly believe how much younger he looked. The dervish +smiled at his compliments, and thanked him for what he had done. +</P> + +<P> +"Let me," he said, "show you my gratitude for making me more +comfortable by telling me what I can do for you." +</P> + +<P> +"Gentle dervish," replied Prince Bahman, "I come from far, and I seek +the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water. I know that +they are to be found somewhere in these parts, but I am ignorant of the +exact spot. Tell me, I pray you, if you can, so that I may not have +travelled on a useless quest." While he was speaking, the prince +observed a change in the countenance of the dervish, who waited for +some time before he made reply. +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," he said at last, "I do know the road for which you ask, but +your kindness and the friendship I have conceived for you make me loth +to point it out." +</P> + +<P> +"But why not?" inquired the prince. "What danger can there be?" +</P> + +<P> +"The very greatest danger," answered the dervish. "Other men, as brave +as you, have ridden down this road, and have put me that question. I +did my best to turn them also from their purpose, but it was of no use. +Not one of them would listen to my words, and not one of them came +back. Be warned in time, and seek to go no further." +</P> + +<P> +"I am grateful to you for your interest in me," said Prince Bahman, +"and for the advice you have given, though I cannot follow it. But +what dangers can there be in the adventure which courage and a good +sword cannot meet?" +</P> + +<P> +"And suppose," answered the dervish, "that your enemies are invisible, +how then?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing will make me give it up," replied the prince, "and for the +last time I ask you to tell me where I am to go." +</P> + +<P> +When the dervish saw that the prince's mind was made up, he drew a ball +from a bag that lay near him, and held it out. "If it must be so," he +said, with a sigh, "take this, and when you have mounted your horse +throw the ball in front of you. It will roll on till it reaches the +foot of a mountain, and when it stops you will stop also. You will +then throw the bridle on your horse's neck without any fear of his +straying, and will dismount. On each side you will see vast heaps of +big black stones, and will hear a multitude of insulting voices, but +pay no heed to them, and, above all, beware of ever turning your head. +If you do, you will instantly become a black stone like the rest. For +those stones are in reality men like yourself, who have been on the +same quest, and have failed, as I fear that you may fail also. If you +manage to avoid this pitfall, and to reach the top of the mountain, you +will find there the Talking Bird in a splendid cage, and you can ask of +him where you are to seek the Singing Tree and the Golden Water. That +is all I have to say. You know what you have to do, and what to avoid, +but if you are wise you will think of it no more, but return whence you +have come." +</P> + +<P> +The prince smilingly shook his head, and thanking the dervish once +more, he sprang on his horse and threw the ball before him. +</P> + +<P> +The ball rolled along the road so fast that Prince Bahman had much +difficulty in keeping up with it, and it never relaxed its speed till +the foot of the mountain was reached. Then it came to a sudden halt, +and the prince at once got down and flung the bridle on his horse's +neck. He paused for a moment and looked round him at the masses of +black stones with which the sides of the mountain were covered, and +then began resolutely to ascend. He had hardly gone four steps when he +heard the sound of voices around him, although not another creature was +in sight. +</P> + +<P> +"Who is this imbecile?" cried some, "stop him at once." "Kill him," +shrieked others, "Help! robbers! murderers! help! help!" "Oh, let him +alone," sneered another, and this was the most trying of all, "he is +such a beautiful young man; I am sure the bird and the cage must have +been kept for him." +</P> + +<P> +At first the prince took no heed to all this clamour, but continued to +press forward on his way. Unfortunately this conduct, instead of +silencing the voices, only seemed to irritate them the more, and they +arose with redoubled fury, in front as well as behind. After some time +he grew bewildered, his knees began to tremble, and finding himself in +the act of falling, he forgot altogether the advice of the dervish. He +turned to fly down the mountain, and in one moment became a black stone. +</P> + +<P> +As may be imagined, Prince Perviz and his sister were all this time in +the greatest anxiety, and consulted the magic knife, not once but many +times a day. Hitherto the blade had remained bright and spotless, but +on the fatal hour on which Prince Bahman and his horse were changed +into black stones, large drops of blood appeared on the surface. "Ah! +my beloved brother," cried the princess in horror, throwing the knife +from her, "I shall never see you again, and it is I who have killed +you. Fool that I was to listen to the voice of that temptress, who +probably was not speaking the truth. What are the Talking Bird and the +Singing Tree to me in comparison with you, passionately though I long +for them!" +</P> + +<P> +Prince Perviz's grief at his brother's loss was not less than that of +Princess Parizade, but he did not waste his time on useless +lamentations. +</P> + +<P> +"My sister," he said, "why should you think the old woman was deceiving +you about these treasures, and what would have been her object in doing +so! No, no, our brother must have met his death by some accident, or +want of precaution, and to-morrow I will start on the same quest." +</P> + +<P> +Terrified at the thought that she might lose her only remaining +brother, the princess entreated him to give up his project, but he +remained firm. Before setting out, however, he gave her a chaplet of a +hundred pearls, and said, "When I am absent, tell this over daily for +me. But if you should find that the beads stick, so that they will not +slip one after the other, you will know that my brother's fate has +befallen me. Still, we must hope for better luck." +</P> + +<P> +Then he departed, and on the twentieth day of his journey fell in with +the dervish on the same spot as Prince Bahman had met him, and began to +question him as to the place where the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree +and the Golden Water were to be found. As in the case of his brother, +the dervish tried to make him give up his project, and even told him +that only a few weeks since a young man, bearing a strong resemblance +to himself, had passed that way, but had never come back again. +</P> + +<P> +"That, holy dervish," replied Prince Perviz, "was my elder brother, who +is now dead, though how he died I cannot say." +</P> + +<P> +"He is changed into a black stone," answered the dervish, "like all the +rest who have gone on the same errand, and you will become one likewise +if you are not more careful in following my directions." Then he +charged the prince, as he valued his life, to take no heed of the +clamour of voices that would pursue him up the mountain, and handing +him a ball from the bag, which still seemed to be half full, he sent +him on his way. +</P> + +<P> +When Prince Perviz reached the foot of the mountain he jumped from his +horse, and paused for a moment to recall the instructions the dervish +had given him. Then he strode boldly on, but had scarcely gone five or +six paces when he was startled by a man's voice that seemed close to +his ear, exclaiming: "Stop, rash fellow, and let me punish your +audacity." This outrage entirely put the dervish's advice out of the +prince's head. He drew his sword, and turned to avenge himself, but +almost before he had realised that there was nobody there, he and his +horse were two black stones. +</P> + +<P> +Not a morning had passed since Prince Perviz had ridden away without +Princess Parizade telling her beads, and at night she even hung them +round her neck, so that if she woke she could assure herself at once of +her brother's safety. She was in the very act of moving them through +her fingers at the moment that the prince fell a victim to his +impatience, and her heart sank when the first pearl remained fixed in +its place. However she had long made up her mind what she would do in +such a case, and the following morning the princess, disguised as a +man, set out for the mountain. +</P> + +<P> +As she had been accustomed to riding from her childhood, she managed to +travel as many miles daily as her brothers had done, and it was, as +before, on the twentieth day that she arrived at the place where the +dervish was sitting. "Good dervish," she said politely, "will you +allow me to rest by you for a few moments, and perhaps you will be so +kind as to tell me if you have ever heard of a Talking Bird, a Singing +Tree, and some Golden Water that are to be found somewhere near this?" +</P> + +<P> +"Madam," replied the dervish, "for in spite of your manly dress your +voice betrays you, I shall be proud to serve you in any way I can. But +may I ask the purpose of your question?" +</P> + +<P> +"Good dervish," answered the princess, "I have heard such glowing +descriptions of these three things, that I cannot rest till I possess +them." +</P> + +<P> +"Madam," said the dervish, "they are far more beautiful than any +description, but you seem ignorant of all the difficulties that stand +in your way, or you would hardly have undertaken such an adventure. +Give it up, I pray you, and return home, and do not ask me to help you +to a cruel death." +</P> + +<P> +"Holy father," answered the princess, "I come from far, and I should be +in despair if I turned back without having attained my object. You +have spoken of difficulties; tell me, I entreat you, what they are, so +that I may know if I can overcome them, or see if they are beyond my +strength." +</P> + +<P> +So the dervish repeated his tale, and dwelt more firmly than before on +the clamour of the voices, the horrors of the black stones, which were +once living men, and the difficulties of climbing the mountain; and +pointed out that the chief means of success was never to look behind +till you had the cage in your grasp. +</P> + +<P> +"As far as I can see," said the princess, "the first thing is not to +mind the tumult of the voices that follow you till you reach the cage, +and then never to look behind. As to this, I think I have enough +self-control to look straight before me; but as it is quite possible +that I might be frightened by the voices, as even the boldest men have +been, I will stop up my ears with cotton, so that, let them make as +much noise as they like, I shall hear nothing." +</P> + +<P> +"Madam," cried the dervish, "out of all the number who have asked me +the way to the mountain, you are the first who has ever suggested such +a means of escaping the danger! It is possible that you may succeed, +but all the same, the risk is great." +</P> + +<P> +"Good dervish," answered the princess, "I feel in my heart that I shall +succeed, and it only remains for me to ask you the way I am to go." +</P> + +<P> +Then the dervish said that it was useless to say more, and he gave her +the ball, which she flung before her. +</P> + +<P> +The first thing the princess did on arriving at the mountain was to +stop her ears with cotton, and then, making up her mind which was the +best way to go, she began her ascent. In spite of the cotton, some +echoes of the voices reached her ears, but not so as to trouble her. +Indeed, though they grew louder and more insulting the higher she +climbed, the princess only laughed, and said to herself that she +certainly would not let a few rough words stand between her and the +goal. At last she perceived in the distance the cage and the bird, +whose voice joined itself in tones of thunder to those of the rest: +"Return, return! never dare to come near me." +</P> + +<P> +At the sight of the bird, the princess hastened her steps, and without +vexing herself at the noise which by this time had grown deafening, she +walked straight up to the cage, and seizing it, she said: "Now, my +bird, I have got you, and I shall take good care that you do not +escape." As she spoke she took the cotton from her ears, for it was +needed no longer. +</P> + +<P> +"Brave lady," answered the bird, "do not blame me for having joined my +voice to those who did their best to preserve my freedom. Although +confined in a cage, I was content with my lot, but if I must become a +slave, I could not wish for a nobler mistress than one who has shown so +much constancy, and from this moment I swear to serve you faithfully. +Some day you will put me to the proof, for I know who you are better +than you do yourself. Meanwhile, tell me what I can do, and I will +obey you." +</P> + +<P> +"Bird," replied the princess, who was filled with a joy that seemed +strange to herself when she thought that the bird had cost her the +lives of both her brothers, "bird, let me first thank you for your good +will, and then let me ask you where the Golden Water is to be found." +</P> + +<P> +The bird described the place, which was not far distant, and the +princess filled a small silver flask that she had brought with her for +the purpose. She then returned to the cage, and said: "Bird, there is +still something else, where shall I find the Singing Tree?" +</P> + +<P> +"Behind you, in that wood," replied the bird, and the princess wandered +through the wood, till a sound of the sweetest voices told her she had +found what she sought. But the tree was tall and strong, and it was +hopeless to think of uprooting it. +</P> + +<P> +"You need not do that," said the bird, when she had returned to ask +counsel. "Break off a twig, and plant it in your garden, and it will +take root, and grow into a magnificent tree." +</P> + +<P> +When the Princess Parizade held in her hands the three wonders promised +her by the old woman, she said to the bird: "All that is not enough. +It was owing to you that my brothers became black stones. I cannot +tell them from the mass of others, but you must know, and point them +out to me, I beg you, for I wish to carry them away." +</P> + +<P> +For some reason that the princess could not guess these words seemed to +displease the bird, and he did not answer. The princess waited a +moment, and then continued in severe tones, "Have you forgotten that +you yourself said that you are my slave to do my bidding, and also that +your life is in my power?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I have not forgotten," replied the bird, "but what you ask is very +difficult. However, I will do my best. If you look round," he went +on, "you will see a pitcher standing near. Take it, and, as you go +down the mountain, scatter a little of the water it contains over every +black stone and you will soon find your two brothers." +</P> + +<P> +Princess Parizade took the pitcher, and, carrying with her besides the +cage the twig and the flask, returned down the mountain side. At every +black stone she stopped and sprinkled it with water, and as the water +touched it the stone instantly became a man. When she suddenly saw her +brothers before her her delight was mixed with astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what are you doing here?" she cried. +</P> + +<P> +"We have been asleep," they said. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," returned the princess, "but without me your sleep would probably +have lasted till the day of judgment. Have you forgotten that you came +here in search of the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden +Water, and the black stones that were heaped up along the road? Look +round and see if there is one left. These gentlemen, and yourselves, +and all your horses were changed into these stones, and I have +delivered you by sprinkling you with the water from this pitcher. As I +could not return home without you, even though I had gained the prizes +on which I had set my heart, I forced the Talking Bird to tell me how +to break the spell." +</P> + +<P> +On hearing these words Prince Bahman and Prince Perviz understood all +they owed their sister, and the knights who stood by declared +themselves her slaves and ready to carry out her wishes. But the +princess, while thanking them for their politeness, explained that she +wished for no company but that of her brothers, and that the rest were +free to go where they would. +</P> + +<P> +So saying the princess mounted her horse, and, declining to allow even +Prince Bahman to carry the cage with the Talking Bird, she entrusted +him with the branch of the Singing Tree, while Prince Perviz took care +of the flask containing the Golden Water. +</P> + +<P> +Then they rode away, followed by the knights and gentlemen, who begged +to be permitted to escort them. +</P> + +<P> +It had been the intention of the party to stop and tell their +adventures to the dervish, but they found to their sorrow that he was +dead, whether from old age, or whether from the feeling that his task +was done, they never knew. +</P> + +<P> +As they continued their road their numbers grew daily smaller, for the +knights turned off one by one to their own homes, and only the brothers +and sister finally drew up at the gate of the palace. +</P> + +<P> +The princess carried the cage straight into the garden, and, as soon as +the bird began to sing, nightingales, larks, thrushes, finches, and all +sorts of other birds mingled their voices in chorus. The branch she +planted in a corner near the house, and in a few days it had grown into +a great tree. As for the Golden Water it was poured into a great +marble basin specially prepared for it, and it swelled and bubbled and +then shot up into the air in a fountain twenty feet high. +</P> + +<P> +The fame of these wonders soon spread abroad, and people came from far +and near to see and admire. +</P> + +<P> +After a few days Prince Bahman and Prince Perviz fell back into their +ordinary way of life, and passed most of their time hunting. One day +it happened that the Sultan of Persia was also hunting in the same +direction, and, not wishing to interfere with his sport, the young men, +on hearing the noise of the hunt approaching, prepared to retire, but, +as luck would have it, they turned into the very path down which the +Sultan was coming. They threw themselves from their horses and +prostrated themselves to the earth, but the Sultan was curious to see +their faces, and commanded them to rise. +</P> + +<P> +The princes stood up respectfully, but quite at their ease, and the +Sultan looked at them for a few moments without speaking, then he asked +who they were and where they lived. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied Prince Bahman, "we are sons of your Highness's late +intendant of the gardens, and we live in a house that he built a short +time before his death, waiting till an occasion should offer itself to +serve your Highness." +</P> + +<P> +"You seem fond of hunting," answered the Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied Prince Bahman, "it is our usual exercise, and one that +should be neglected by no man who expects to comply with the ancient +customs of the kingdom and bear arms." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan was delighted with this remark, and said at once, "In that +case I shall take great pleasure in watching you. Come, choose what +sort of beasts you would like to hunt." +</P> + +<P> +The princes jumped on their horses and followed the Sultan at a little +distance. They had not gone very far before they saw a number of wild +animals appear at once, and Prince Bahman started to give chase to a +lion and Prince Perviz to a bear. Both used their javelins with such +skill that, directly they arrived within striking range, the lion and +the bear fell, pierced through and through. Then Prince Perviz pursued +a lion and Prince Bahman a bear, and in a very few minutes they, too, +lay dead. As they were making ready for a third assault the Sultan +interfered, and, sending one of his officials to summon them, he said +smiling, "If I let you go on, there will soon be no beasts left to +hunt. Besides, your courage and manners have so won my heart that I +will not have you expose yourselves to further danger. I am convinced +that some day or other I shall find you useful as well as agreeable." +</P> + +<P> +He then gave them a warm invitation to stay with him altogether, but +with many thanks for the honour done them, they begged to be excused, +and to be suffered to remain at home. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan who was not accustomed to see his offers rejected inquired +their reasons, and Prince Bahman explained that they did not wish to +leave their sister, and were accustomed to do nothing without +consulting all three together. +</P> + +<P> +"Ask her advice, then," replied the Sultan, "and to-morrow come and +hunt with me, and give me your answer." +</P> + +<P> +The two princes returned home, but their adventure made so little +impression on them that they quite forgot to speak to their sister on +the subject. The next morning when they went to hunt they met the +Sultan in the same place, and he inquired what advice their sister had +given. The young men looked at each other and blushed. At last Prince +Bahman said, "Sire, we must throw ourselves on your Highness's mercy. +Neither my brother nor myself remembered anything about it." +</P> + +<P> +"Then be sure you do not forget to-day," answered the Sultan, "and +bring me back your reply to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +When, however, the same thing happened a second time, they feared that +the Sultan might be angry with them for their carelessness. But he +took it in good part, and, drawing three little golden balls from his +purse, he held them out to Prince Bahman, saying, "Put these in your +bosom and you will not forget a third time, for when you remove your +girdle to-night the noise they will make in falling will remind you of +my wishes." +</P> + +<P> +It all happened as the Sultan had foreseen, and the two brothers +appeared in their sister's apartments just as she was in the act of +stepping into bed, and told their tale. +</P> + +<P> +The Princess Parizade was much disturbed at the news, and did not +conceal her feelings. "Your meeting with the Sultan is very honourable +to you," she said, "and will, I dare say, be of service to you, but it +places me in a very awkward position. It is on my account, I know, +that you have resisted the Sultan's wishes, and I am very grateful to +you for it. But kings do not like to have their offers refused, and in +time he would bear a grudge against you, which would render me very +unhappy. Consult the Talking Bird, who is wise and far-seeing, and let +me hear what he says." +</P> + +<P> +So the bird was sent for and the case laid before him. +</P> + +<P> +"The princes must on no account refuse the Sultan's proposal," said he, +"and they must even invite him to come and see your house." +</P> + +<P> +"But, bird," objected the princess, "you know how dearly we love each +other; will not all this spoil our friendship?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not at all," replied the bird, "it will make it all the closer." +</P> + +<P> +"Then the Sultan will have to see me," said the princess. +</P> + +<P> +The bird answered that it was necessary that he should see her, and +everything would turn out for the best. +</P> + +<P> +The following morning, when the Sultan inquired if they had spoken to +their sister and what advice she had given them, Prince Bahman replied +that they were ready to agree to his Highness's wishes, and that their +sister had reproved them for their hesitation about the matter. The +Sultan received their excuses with great kindness, and told them that +he was sure they would be equally faithful to him, and kept them by his +side for the rest of the day, to the vexation of the grand-vizir and +the rest of the court. +</P> + +<P> +When the procession entered in this order the gates of the capital, the +eyes of the people who crowded the streets were fixed on the two young +men, strangers to every one. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, if only the Sultan had had sons like that!" they murmured, "they +look so distinguished and are about the same age that his sons would +have been!" +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan commanded that splendid apartments should be prepared for +the two brothers, and even insisted that they should sit at table with +him. During dinner he led the conversation to various scientific +subjects, and also to history, of which he was especially fond, but +whatever topic they might be discussing he found that the views of the +young men were always worth listening to. "If they were my own sons," +he said to himself, "they could not be better educated!" and aloud he +complimented them on their learning and taste for knowledge. +</P> + +<P> +At the end of the evening the princes once more prostrated themselves +before the throne and asked leave to return home; and then, encouraged +by the gracious words of farewell uttered by the Sultan, Prince Bahman +said: "Sire, may we dare to take the liberty of asking whether you +would do us and our sister the honour of resting for a few minutes at +our house the first time the hunt passes that way?" +</P> + +<P> +"With the utmost pleasure," replied the Sultan; "and as I am all +impatience to see the sister of such accomplished young men you may +expect me the day after to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +The princess was of course most anxious to entertain the Sultan in a +fitting way, but as she had no experience in court customs she ran to +the Talking Bird, and begged he would advise her as to what dishes +should be served. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear mistress," replied the bird, "your cooks are very good and you +can safely leave all to them, except that you must be careful to have a +dish of cucumbers, stuffed with pearl sauce, served with the first +course." +</P> + +<P> +"Cucumbers stuffed with pearls!" exclaimed the princess. "Why, bird, +who ever heard of such a dish? The Sultan will expect a dinner he can +eat, and not one he can only admire! Besides, if I were to use all the +pearls I possess, they would not be half enough." +</P> + +<P> +"Mistress," replied the bird, "do what I tell you and nothing but good +will come of it. And as to the pearls, if you go at dawn to-morrow and +dig at the foot of the first tree in the park, on the right hand, you +will find as many as you want." +</P> + +<P> +The princess had faith in the bird, who generally proved to be right, +and taking the gardener with her early next morning followed out his +directions carefully. After digging for some time they came upon a +golden box fastened with little clasps. +</P> + +<P> +These were easily undone, and the box was found to be full of pearls, +not very large ones, but well-shaped and of a good colour. So leaving +the gardener to fill up the hole he had made under the tree, the +princess took up the box and returned to the house. +</P> + +<P> +The two princes had seen her go out, and had wondered what could have +made her rise so early. Full of curiosity they got up and dressed, and +met their sister as she was returning with the box under her arm. +</P> + +<P> +"What have you been doing?" they asked, "and did the gardener come to +tell you he had found a treasure?" +</P> + +<P> +"On the contrary," replied the princess, "it is I who have found one," +and opening the box she showed her astonished brothers the pearls +inside. Then, on the way back to the palace, she told them of her +consultation with the bird, and the advice it had given her. All three +tried to guess the meaning of the singular counsel, but they were +forced at last to admit the explanation was beyond them, and they must +be content blindly to obey. +</P> + +<P> +The first thing the princess did on entering the palace was to send for +the head cook and to order the repast for the Sultan When she had +finished she suddenly added, "Besides the dishes I have mentioned there +is one that you must prepare expressly for the Sultan, and that no one +must touch but yourself. It consists of a stuffed cucumber, and the +stuffing is to be made of these pearls." +</P> + +<P> +The head cook, who had never in all his experience heard of such a +dish, stepped back in amazement. +</P> + +<P> +"You think I am mad," answered the princess, who perceived what was in +his mind. "But I know quite well what I am doing. Go, and do your +best, and take the pearls with you." +</P> + +<P> +The next morning the princes started for the forest, and were soon +joined by the Sultan. The hunt began and continued till mid-day, when +the heat became so great that they were obliged to leave off. Then, as +arranged, they turned their horses' heads towards the palace, and while +Prince Bahman remained by the side of the Sultan, Prince Perviz rode on +to warn his sister of their approach. +</P> + +<P> +The moment his Highness entered the courtyard, the princess flung +herself at his feet, but he bent and raised her, and gazed at her for +some time, struck with her grace and beauty, and also with the +indefinable air of courts that seemed to hang round this country girl. +"They are all worthy one of the other," he said to himself, "and I am +not surprised that they think so much of her opinions. I must know +more of them." +</P> + +<P> +By this time the princess had recovered from the first embarrassment of +meeting, and proceeded to make her speech of welcome. +</P> + +<P> +"This is only a simple country house, sire," she said, "suitable to +people like ourselves, who live a quiet life. It cannot compare with +the great city mansions, much less, of course, with the smallest of the +Sultan's palaces." +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot quite agree with you," he replied; "even the little that I +have seen I admire greatly, and I will reserve my judgment until you +have shown me the whole." +</P> + +<P> +The princess then led the way from room to room, and the Sultan +examined everything carefully. "Do you call this a simple country +house?" he said at last. "Why, if every country house was like this, +the towns would soon be deserted. I am no longer astonished that you +do not wish to leave it. Let us go into the gardens, which I am sure +are no less beautiful than the rooms." +</P> + +<P> +A small door opened straight into the garden, and the first object that +met the Sultan's eyes was the Golden Water. +</P> + +<P> +"What lovely coloured water!" he exclaimed; "where is the spring, and +how do you make the fountain rise so high? I do not believe there is +anything like it in the world." He went forward to examine it, and +when he had satisfied his curiosity, the princess conducted him towards +the Singing Tree. +</P> + +<P> +As they drew near, the Sultan was startled by the sound of strange +voices, but could see nothing. "Where have you hidden your musicians?" +he asked the princess; "are they up in the air, or under the earth? +Surely the owners of such charming voices ought not to conceal +themselves!" +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," answered the princess, "the voices all come from the tree which +is straight in front of us; and if you will deign to advance a few +steps, you will see that they become clearer." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan did as he was told, and was so wrapt in delight at what he +heard that he stood some time in silence. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me, madam, I pray you," he said at last, "how this marvellous +tree came into your garden? It must have been brought from a great +distance, or else, fond as I am of all curiosities, I could not have +missed hearing of it! What is its name?" +</P> + +<P> +"The only name it has, sire," replied she, "is the Singing Tree, and it +is not a native of this country. Its history is mixed up with those of +the Golden Water and the Talking Bird, which you have not yet seen. If +your Highness wishes I will tell you the whole story, when you have +recovered from your fatigue." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed, madam," returned he, "you show me so many wonders that it is +impossible to feel any fatigue. Let us go once more and look at the +Golden Water; and I am dying to see the Talking Bird." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan could hardly tear himself away from the Golden Water, which +puzzled him more and more. "You say," he observed to the princess, +"that this water does not come from any spring, neither is brought by +pipes. All I understand is, that neither it nor the Singing Tree is a +native of this country." +</P> + +<P> +"It is as you say, sire," answered the princess, "and if you examine +the basin, you will see that it is all in one piece, and therefore the +water could not have been brought through it. What is more astonishing +is, that I only emptied a small flaskful into the basin, and it +increased to the quantity you now see." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I will look at it no more to-day," said the Sultan. "Take me to +the Talking Bird." +</P> + +<P> +On approaching the house, the Sultan noticed a vast quantity of birds, +whose voices filled the air, and he inquired why they were so much more +numerous here than in any other part of the garden. +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," answered the princess, "do you see that cage hanging in one of +the windows of the saloon? that is the Talking Bird, whose voice you +can hear above them all, even above that of the nightingale. And the +birds crowd to this spot, to add their songs to his." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan stepped through the window, but the bird took no notice, +continuing his song as before. +</P> + +<P> +"My slave," said the princess, "this is the Sultan; make him a pretty +speech." +</P> + +<P> +The bird stopped singing at once, and all the other birds stopped too. +</P> + +<P> +"The Sultan is welcome," he said. "I wish him long life and all +prosperity." +</P> + +<P> +"I thank you, good bird," answered the Sultan, seating himself before +the repast, which was spread at a table near the window, "and I am +enchanted to see in you the Sultan and King of the Birds." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan, noticing that his favourite dish of cucumber was placed +before him, proceeded to help himself to it, and was amazed to and that +the stuffing was of pearls. "A novelty, indeed!" cried he, "but I do +not understand the reason of it; one cannot eat pearls!" +</P> + +<P> +"Sire," replied the bird, before either the princes or the princess +could speak, "surely your Highness cannot be so surprised at beholding +a cucumber stuffed with pearls, when you believed without any +difficulty that the Sultana had presented you, instead of children, +with a dog, a cat, and a log of wood." +</P> + +<P> +"I believed it," answered the Sultan, "because the women attending on +her told me so." +</P> + +<P> +"The women, sire," said the bird, "were the sisters of the Sultana, who +were devoured with jealousy at the honour you had done her, and in +order to revenge themselves invented this story. Have them examined, +and they will confess their crime. These are your children, who were +saved from death by the intendant of your gardens, and brought up by +him as if they were his own." +</P> + +<P> +Like a flash the truth came to the mind of the Sultan. "Bird," he +cried, "my heart tells me that what you say is true. My children," he +added, "let me embrace you, and embrace each other, not only as +brothers and sister, but as having in you the blood royal of Persia +which could flow in no nobler veins." +</P> + +<P> +When the first moments of emotion were over, the Sultan hastened to +finish his repast, and then turning to his children he exclaimed: +"To-day you have made acquaintance with your father. To-morrow I will +bring you the Sultana your mother. Be ready to receive her." +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan then mounted his horse and rode quickly back to the capital. +Without an instant's delay he sent for the grand-vizir, and ordered him +to seize and question the Sultana's sisters that very day. This was +done. They were confronted with each other and proved guilty, and were +executed in less than an hour. +</P> + +<P> +But the Sultan did not wait to hear that his orders had been carried +out before going on foot, followed by his whole court to the door of +the great mosque, and drawing the Sultana with his own hand out of the +narrow prison where she had spent so many years, "Madam," he cried, +embracing her with tears in his eyes, "I have come to ask your pardon +for the injustice I have done you, and to repair it as far as I may. I +have already begun by punishing the authors of this abominable crime, +and I hope you will forgive me when I introduce you to our children, +who are the most charming and accomplished creatures in the whole +world. Come with me, and take back your position and all the honour +that is due to you." +</P> + +<P> +This speech was delivered in the presence of a vast multitude of +people, who had gathered from all parts on the first hint of what was +happening, and the news was passed from mouth to mouth in a few seconds. +</P> + +<P> +Early next day the Sultan and Sultana, dressed in robes of state and +followed by all the court, set out for the country house of their +children. Here the Sultan presented them to the Sultana one by one, +and for some time there was nothing but embraces and tears and tender +words. Then they ate of the magnificent dinner which had been prepared +for them, and after they were all refreshed they went into the garden, +where the Sultan pointed out to his wife the Golden Water and the +Singing Tree. As to the Talking Bird, she had already made +acquaintance with him. +</P> + +<P> +In the evening they rode together back to the capital, the princes on +each side of their father, and the princess with her mother. Long +before they reached the gates the way was lined with people, and the +air filled with shouts of welcome, with which were mingled the songs of +the Talking Bird, sitting in its cage on the lap of the princess, and +of the birds who followed it. +</P> + +<P> +And in this manner they came back to their father's palace. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Arabian Nights Entertainments, by Andrew Lang. + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS *** + +***** This file should be named 128-h.htm or 128-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/128/ + +Produced by Christy Phillips and John Hamm. 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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: The Arabian Nights Entertainments + +Author: Andrew Lang. + +Release Date: June 9, 2008 [EBook #128] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS *** + + + + +Produced by Christy Phillips and John Hamm. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + + +The Arabian Nights Entertainments, + + +Selected and Edited + +by + +Andrew Lang + + + +after the edition of + +Longmans, Green and Co, 1918 (1898) + + + +Contents + + Preface + The Arabian Nights + The Story of the Merchant and the Genius + The Story of the First Old Man and of the Hind + The Story of the Second Old Man, and of the Two Black Dogs + The Story of the Fisherman + The Story of the Greek King and the Physician Douban + The Story of the Husband and the Parrot + The Story of the Vizir Who Was Punished + The Story of the Young King of the Black Isles + The Story of the Three Calenders, Sons of Kings, + and of Five Ladies of Bagdad + The Story of the First Calender, Son of a King + The Story of the Envious Man and of Him Who Was Envied + The Story of the Second Calendar, Son of a King + The Story of the Third Calendar, Son of a King + The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor + First Voyage + Second Voyage + Third Voyage + Fourth Voyage + Fifth Voyage + Sixth Voyage + Seventh and Last Voyage + The Little Hunchback + The Story of the Barber's Fifth Brother + The Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother + The Adventures of Prince Camaralzaman and the Princess Badoura + Noureddin and the Fair Persian + Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp + The Adventures of Haroun-al-Raschid, Caliph of Bagdad + The Story of the Blind Baba-Abdalla + The Story of Sidi-Nouman + The Story of Ali Colia, Merchant of Bagdad + The Enchanted Horse + The Story of Two Sisters Who Were Jealous of Their Younger Sister + + + + +Preface + + +The stories in the Fairy Books have generally been such as old women in +country places tell to their grandchildren. Nobody knows how old they +are, or who told them first. The children of Ham, Shem and Japhet may +have listened to them in the Ark, on wet days. Hector's little boy may +have heard them in Troy Town, for it is certain that Homer knew them, +and that some of them were written down in Egypt about the time of +Moses. + +People in different countries tell them differently, but they are +always the same stories, really, whether among little Zulus, at the +Cape, or little Eskimo, near the North Pole. The changes are only in +matters of manners and customs; such as wearing clothes or not, meeting +lions who talk in the warm countries, or talking bears in the cold +countries. There are plenty of kings and queens in the fairy tales, +just because long ago there were plenty of kings in the country. A +gentleman who would be a squire now was a kind of king in Scotland in +very old times, and the same in other places. These old stories, never +forgotten, were taken down in writing in different ages, but mostly in +this century, in all sorts of languages. These ancient stories are the +contents of the Fairy books. + +Now "The Arabian Nights," some of which, but not nearly all, are given +in this volume, are only fairy tales of the East. The people of Asia, +Arabia, and Persia told them in their own way, not for children, but +for grown-up people. There were no novels then, nor any printed books, +of course; but there were people whose profession it was to amuse men +and women by telling tales. They dressed the fairy stories up, and +made the characters good Mahommedans, living in Bagdad or India. The +events were often supposed to happen in the reign of the great Caliph, +or ruler of the Faithful, Haroun al Raschid, who lived in Bagdad in +786-808 A.D. The vizir who accompanies the Caliph was also a real +person of the great family of the Barmecides. He was put to death by +the Caliph in a very cruel way, nobody ever knew why. The stories must +have been told in their present shape a good long while after the +Caliph died, when nobody knew very exactly what had really happened. +At last some storyteller thought of writing down the tales, and fixing +them into a kind of framework, as if they had all been narrated to a +cruel Sultan by his wife. Probably the tales were written down about +the time when Edward I. was fighting Robert Bruce. But changes were +made in them at different times, and a great deal that is very dull and +stupid was put in, and plenty of verses. Neither the verses nor the +dull pieces are given in this book. + +People in France and England knew almost nothing about "The Arabian +Nights" till the reigns of Queen Anne and George I., when they were +translated into French by Monsieur Galland. Grown-up people were then +very fond of fairy tales, and they thought these Arab stories the best +that they had ever read. They were delighted with Ghouls (who lived +among the tombs) and Geni, who seemed to be a kind of ogres, and with +Princesses who work magic spells, and with Peris, who are Arab fairies. +Sindbad had adventures which perhaps came out of the Odyssey of Homer; +in fact, all the East had contributed its wonders, and sent them to +Europe in one parcel. Young men once made a noise at Monsieur +Galland's windows in the dead of night, and asked him to tell them one +of his marvellous tales. Nobody talked of anything but dervishes and +vizirs, rocs and peris. The stories were translated from French into +all languages, and only Bishop Atterbury complained that the tales were +not likely to be true, and had no moral. The bishop was presently +banished for being on the side of Prince Charlie's father, and had +leisure to repent of being so solemn. + +In this book "The Arabian Nights" are translated from the French +version of Monsieur Galland, who dropped out the poetry and a great +deal of what the Arabian authors thought funny, though it seems +wearisome to us. In this book the stories are shortened here and +there, and omissions are made of pieces only suitable for Arabs and old +gentlemen. The translations are by the writers of the tales in the +Fairy Books, and the pictures are by Mr. Ford. + +I can remember reading "The Arabian Nights" when I was six years old, +in dirty yellow old volumes of small type with no pictures, and I hope +children who read them with Mr. Ford's pictures will be as happy as I +was then in the company of Aladdin and Sindbad the Sailor. + + + +The Arabian Nights + + +In the chronicles of the ancient dynasty of the Sassanidae, who reigned +for about four hundred years, from Persia to the borders of China, +beyond the great river Ganges itself, we read the praises of one of the +kings of this race, who was said to be the best monarch of his time. +His subjects loved him, and his neighbors feared him, and when he died +he left his kingdom in a more prosperous and powerful condition than +any king had done before him. + +The two sons who survived him loved each other tenderly, and it was a +real grief to the elder, Schahriar, that the laws of the empire forbade +him to share his dominions with his brother Schahzeman. Indeed, after +ten years, during which this state of things had not ceased to trouble +him, Schahriar cut off the country of Great Tartary from the Persian +Empire and made his brother king. + +Now the Sultan Schahriar had a wife whom he loved more than all the +world, and his greatest happiness was to surround her with splendour, +and to give her the finest dresses and the most beautiful jewels. It +was therefore with the deepest shame and sorrow that he accidentally +discovered, after several years, that she had deceived him completely, +and her whole conduct turned out to have been so bad, that he felt +himself obliged to carry out the law of the land, and order the +grand-vizir to put her to death. The blow was so heavy that his mind +almost gave way, and he declared that he was quite sure that at bottom +all women were as wicked as the sultana, if you could only find them +out, and that the fewer the world contained the better. So every +evening he married a fresh wife and had her strangled the following +morning before the grand-vizir, whose duty it was to provide these +unhappy brides for the Sultan. The poor man fulfilled his task with +reluctance, but there was no escape, and every day saw a girl married +and a wife dead. + +This behaviour caused the greatest horror in the town, where nothing +was heard but cries and lamentations. In one house was a father +weeping for the loss of his daughter, in another perhaps a mother +trembling for the fate of her child; and instead of the blessings that +had formerly been heaped on the Sultan's head, the air was now full of +curses. + +The grand-vizir himself was the father of two daughters, of whom the +elder was called Scheherazade, and the younger Dinarzade. Dinarzade +had no particular gifts to distinguish her from other girls, but her +sister was clever and courageous in the highest degree. Her father had +given her the best masters in philosophy, medicine, history and the +fine arts, and besides all this, her beauty excelled that of any girl +in the kingdom of Persia. + +One day, when the grand-vizir was talking to his eldest daughter, who +was his delight and pride, Scheherazade said to him, "Father, I have a +favour to ask of you. Will you grant it to me?" + +"I can refuse you nothing," replied he, "that is just and reasonable." + +"Then listen," said Scheherazade. "I am determined to stop this +barbarous practice of the Sultan's, and to deliver the girls and +mothers from the awful fate that hangs over them." + +"It would be an excellent thing to do," returned the grand-vizir, "but +how do you propose to accomplish it?" + +"My father," answered Scheherazade, "it is you who have to provide the +Sultan daily with a fresh wife, and I implore you, by all the affection +you bear me, to allow the honour to fall upon me." + +"Have you lost your senses?" cried the grand-vizir, starting back in +horror. "What has put such a thing into your head? You ought to know +by this time what it means to be the sultan's bride!" + +"Yes, my father, I know it well," replied she, "and I am not afraid to +think of it. If I fail, my death will be a glorious one, and if I +succeed I shall have done a great service to my country." + +"It is of no use," said the grand-vizir, "I shall never consent. If +the Sultan was to order me to plunge a dagger in your heart, I should +have to obey. What a task for a father! Ah, if you do not fear death, +fear at any rate the anguish you would cause me." + +"Once again, my father," said Scheherazade, "will you grant me what I +ask?" + +"What, are you still so obstinate?" exclaimed the grand-vizir. "Why are +you so resolved upon your own ruin?" + +But the maiden absolutely refused to attend to her father's words, and +at length, in despair, the grand-vizir was obliged to give way, and +went sadly to the palace to tell the Sultan that the following evening +he would bring him Scheherazade. + +The Sultan received this news with the greatest astonishment. + +"How have you made up your mind," he asked, "to sacrifice your own +daughter to me?" + +"Sire," answered the grand-vizir, "it is her own wish. Even the sad +fate that awaits her could not hold her back." + +"Let there be no mistake, vizir," said the Sultan. "Remember you will +have to take her life yourself. If you refuse, I swear that your head +shall pay forfeit." + +"Sire," returned the vizir. "Whatever the cost, I will obey you. +Though a father, I am also your subject." So the Sultan told the +grand-vizir he might bring his daughter as soon as he liked. + +The vizir took back this news to Scheherazade, who received it as if it +had been the most pleasant thing in the world. She thanked her father +warmly for yielding to her wishes, and, seeing him still bowed down +with grief, told him that she hoped he would never repent having +allowed her to marry the Sultan. Then she went to prepare herself for +the marriage, and begged that her sister Dinarzade should be sent for +to speak to her. + +When they were alone, Scheherazade addressed her thus: + +"My dear sister; I want your help in a very important affair. My +father is going to take me to the palace to celebrate my marriage with +the Sultan. When his Highness receives me, I shall beg him, as a last +favour, to let you sleep in our chamber, so that I may have your +company during the last night I am alive. If, as I hope, he grants me +my wish, be sure that you wake me an hour before the dawn, and speak to +me in these words: 'My sister, if you are not asleep, I beg you, +before the sun rises, to tell me one of your charming stories.' Then I +shall begin, and I hope by this means to deliver the people from the +terror that reigns over them." Dinarzade replied that she would do with +pleasure what her sister wished. + +When the usual hour arrived the grand-vizir conducted Scheherazade to +the palace, and left her alone with the Sultan, who bade her raise her +veil and was amazed at her beauty. But seeing her eyes full of tears, +he asked what was the matter. "Sire," replied Scheherazade, "I have a +sister who loves me as tenderly as I love her. Grant me the favour of +allowing her to sleep this night in the same room, as it is the last we +shall be together." Schahriar consented to Scheherazade's petition and +Dinarzade was sent for. + +An hour before daybreak Dinarzade awoke, and exclaimed, as she had +promised, "My dear sister, if you are not asleep, tell me I pray you, +before the sun rises, one of your charming stories. It is the last +time that I shall have the pleasure of hearing you." + +Scheherazade did not answer her sister, but turned to the Sultan. +"Will your highness permit me to do as my sister asks?" said she. + +"Willingly," he answered. So Scheherazade began. + + + +The Story of the Merchant and the Genius + + +Sire, there was once upon a time a merchant who possessed great wealth, +in land and merchandise, as well as in ready money. He was obliged +from time to time to take journeys to arrange his affairs. One day, +having to go a long way from home, he mounted his horse, taking with +him a small wallet in which he had put a few biscuits and dates, +because he had to pass through the desert where no food was to be got. +He arrived without any mishap, and, having finished his business, set +out on his return. On the fourth day of his journey, the heat of the +sun being very great, he turned out of his road to rest under some +trees. He found at the foot of a large walnut-tree a fountain of clear +and running water. He dismounted, fastened his horse to a branch of +the tree, and sat by the fountain, after having taken from his wallet +some of his dates and biscuits. When he had finished this frugal meal +he washed his face and hands in the fountain. + +When he was thus employed he saw an enormous genius, white with rage, +coming towards him, with a scimitar in his hand. + +"Arise," he cried in a terrible voice, "and let me kill you as you have +killed my son!" + +As he uttered these words he gave a frightful yell. The merchant, +quite as much terrified at the hideous face of the monster as at his +words, answered him tremblingly, "Alas, good sir, what can I have done +to you to deserve death?" + +"I shall kill you," repeated the genius, "as you have killed my son." + +"But," said the merchant, "how can I have killed your son? I do not +know him, and I have never even seen him." + +"When you arrived here did you not sit down on the ground?" asked the +genius, "and did you not take some dates from your wallet, and whilst +eating them did not you throw the stones about?" + +"Yes," said the merchant, "I certainly did so." + +"Then," said the genius, "I tell you you have killed my son, for whilst +you were throwing about the stones, my son passed by, and one of them +struck him in the eye and killed him. So I shall kill you." + +"Ah, sir, forgive me!" cried the merchant. + +"I will have no mercy on you," answered the genius. + +"But I killed your son quite unintentionally, so I implore you to spare +my life." + +"No," said the genius, "I shall kill you as you killed my son," and so +saying, he seized the merchant by the arm, threw him on the ground, and +lifted his sabre to cut off his head. + +The merchant, protesting his innocence, bewailed his wife and children, +and tried pitifully to avert his fate. The genius, with his raised +scimitar, waited till he had finished, but was not in the least touched. + +Scheherazade, at this point, seeing that it was day, and knowing that +the Sultan always rose very early to attend the council, stopped +speaking. + +"Indeed, sister," said Dinarzade, "this is a wonderful story." + +"The rest is still more wonderful," replied Scheherazade, "and you +would say so, if the sultan would allow me to live another day, and +would give me leave to tell it to you the next night." + +Schahriar, who had been listening to Scheherazade with pleasure, said +to himself, "I will wait till to-morrow; I can always have her killed +when I have heard the end of her story." + +All this time the grand-vizir was in a terrible state of anxiety. But +he was much delighted when he saw the Sultan enter the council-chamber +without giving the terrible command that he was expecting. + +The next morning, before the day broke, Dinarzade said to her sister, +"Dear sister, if you are awake I pray you to go on with your story." + +The Sultan did not wait for Scheherazade to ask his leave. "Finish," +said he, "the story of the genius and the merchant. I am curious to +hear the end." + +So Scheherazade went on with the story. This happened every morning. +The Sultana told a story, and the Sultan let her live to finish it. + +When the merchant saw that the genius was determined to cut off his +head, he said: "One word more, I entreat you. Grant me a little +delay; just a short time to go home and bid my wife and children +farewell, and to make my will. When I have done this I will come back +here, and you shall kill me." + +"But," said the genius, "if I grant you the delay you ask, I am afraid +that you will not come back." + +"I give you my word of honour," answered the merchant, "that I will +come back without fail." + +"How long do you require?" asked the genius. + +"I ask you for a year's grace," replied the merchant. "I promise you +that to-morrow twelvemonth, I shall be waiting under these trees to +give myself up to you." + +On this the genius left him near the fountain and disappeared. + +The merchant, having recovered from his fright, mounted his horse and +went on his road. + +When he arrived home his wife and children received him with the +greatest joy. But instead of embracing them he began to weep so +bitterly that they soon guessed that something terrible was the matter. + +"Tell us, I pray you," said his wife, "what has happened." + +"Alas!" answered her husband, "I have only a year to live." + +Then he told them what had passed between him and the genius, and how +he had given his word to return at the end of a year to be killed. +When they heard this sad news they were in despair, and wept much. + +The next day the merchant began to settle his affairs, and first of all +to pay his debts. He gave presents to his friends, and large alms to +the poor. He set his slaves at liberty, and provided for his wife and +children. The year soon passed away, and he was obliged to depart. +When he tried to say good-bye he was quite overcome with grief, and +with difficulty tore himself away. At length he reached the place +where he had first seen the genius, on the very day that he had +appointed. He dismounted, and sat down at the edge of the fountain, +where he awaited the genius in terrible suspense. + +Whilst he was thus waiting an old man leading a hind came towards him. +They greeted one another, and then the old man said to him, "May I ask, +brother, what brought you to this desert place, where there are so many +evil genii about? To see these beautiful trees one would imagine it +was inhabited, but it is a dangerous place to stop long in." + +The merchant told the old man why he was obliged to come there. He +listened in astonishment. + +"This is a most marvellous affair. I should like to be a witness of +your interview with the genius." So saying he sat down by the merchant. + +While they were talking another old man came up, followed by two black +dogs. He greeted them, and asked what they were doing in this place. +The old man who was leading the hind told him the adventure of the +merchant and the genius. The second old man had not sooner heard the +story than he, too, decided to stay there to see what would happen. He +sat down by the others, and was talking, when a third old man arrived. +He asked why the merchant who was with them looked so sad. They told +him the story, and he also resolved to see what would pass between the +genius and the merchant, so waited with the rest. + +They soon saw in the distance a thick smoke, like a cloud of dust. +This smoke came nearer and nearer, and then, all at once, it vanished, +and they saw the genius, who, without speaking to them, approached the +merchant, sword in hand, and, taking him by the arm, said, "Get up and +let me kill you as you killed my son." + +The merchant and the three old men began to weep and groan. + +Then the old man leading the hind threw himself at the monster's feet +and said, "O Prince of the Genii, I beg of you to stay your fury and to +listen to me. I am going to tell you my story and that of the hind I +have with me, and if you find it more marvellous than that of the +merchant whom you are about to kill, I hope that you will do away with +a third part of his punishment?" + +The genius considered some time, and then he said, "Very well, I agree +to this." + + + +The Story of the First Old Man and of the Hind + + +I am now going to begin my story (said the old man), so please attend. + +This hind that you see with me is my wife. We have no children of our +own, therefore I adopted the son of a favorite slave, and determined to +make him my heir. + +My wife, however, took a great dislike to both mother and child, which +she concealed from me till too late. When my adopted son was about ten +years old I was obliged to go on a journey. Before I went I entrusted +to my wife's keeping both the mother and child, and begged her to take +care of them during my absence, which lasted a whole year. During this +time she studied magic in order to carry out her wicked scheme. When +she had learnt enough she took my son into a distant place and changed +him into a calf. Then she gave him to my steward, and told him to look +after a calf she had bought. She also changed the slave into a cow, +which she sent to my steward. + +When I returned I inquired after my slave and the child. "Your slave +is dead," she said, "and as for your son, I have not seen him for two +months, and I do not know where he is." + +I was grieved to hear of my slave's death, but as my son had only +disappeared, I thought I should soon find him. Eight months, however, +passed, and still no tidings of him; then the feast of Bairam came. + +To celebrate it I ordered my steward to bring me a very fat cow to +sacrifice. He did so. The cow that he brought was my unfortunate +slave. I bound her, but just as I was about to kill her she began to +low most piteously, and I saw that her eyes were streaming with tears. +It seemed to me most extraordinary, and, feeling a movement of pity, I +ordered the steward to lead her away and bring another. My wife, who +was present, scoffed at my compassion, which made her malice of no +avail. "What are you doing?" she cried. "Kill this cow. It is the +best we have to sacrifice." + +To please her, I tried again, but again the animal's lows and tears +disarmed me. + +"Take her away," I said to the steward, "and kill her; I cannot." + +The steward killed her, but on skinning her found that she was nothing +but bones, although she appeared so fat. I was vexed. + +"Keep her for yourself," I said to the steward, "and if you have a fat +calf, bring that in her stead." + +In a short time he brought a very fat calf, which, although I did not +know it, was my son. It tried hard to break its cord and come to me. +It threw itself at my feet, with its head on the ground, as if it +wished to excite my pity, and to beg me not to take away its life. + +I was even more surprised and touched at this action than I had been at +the tears of the cow. + +"Go," I said to the steward, "take back this calf, take great care of +it, and bring me another in its place instantly." + +As soon as my wife heard me speak this she at once cried out, "What are +you doing, husband? Do not sacrifice any calf but this." + +"Wife," I answered, "I will not sacrifice this calf," and in spite of +all her remonstrances, I remained firm. + +I had another calf killed; this one was led away. The next day the +steward asked to speak to me in private. + +"I have come," he said, "to tell you some news which I think you will +like to hear. I have a daughter who knows magic. Yesterday, when I +was leading back the calf which you refused to sacrifice, I noticed +that she smiled, and then directly afterwards began to cry. I asked +her why she did so." + +"Father," she answered, "this calf is the son of our master. I smile +with joy at seeing him still alive, and I weep to think of his mother, +who was sacrificed yesterday as a cow. These changes have been wrought +by our master's wife, who hated the mother and son." + +"At these words, of Genius," continued the old man, "I leave you to +imagine my astonishment. I went immediately with the steward to speak +with his daughter myself. First of all I went to the stable to see my +son, and he replied in his dumb way to all my caresses. When the +steward's daughter came I asked her if she could change my son back to +his proper shape." + +"Yes, I can," she replied, "on two conditions. One is that you will +give him to me for a husband, and the other is that you will let me +punish the woman who changed him into a calf." + +"To the first condition," I answered, "I agree with all my heart, and I +will give you an ample dowry. To the second I also agree, I only beg +you to spare her life." + +"That I will do," she replied; "I will treat her as she treated your +son." + +Then she took a vessel of water and pronounced over it some words I did +not understand; then, on throwing the water over him, he became +immediately a young man once more. + +"My son, my dear son," I exclaimed, kissing him in a transport of joy. +"This kind maiden has rescued you from a terrible enchantment, and I am +sure that out of gratitude you will marry her." + +He consented joyfully, but before they were married, the young girl +changed my wife into a hind, and it is she whom you see before you. I +wished her to have this form rather than a stranger one, so that we +could see her in the family without repugnance. + +Since then my son has become a widower and has gone travelling. I am +now going in search of him, and not wishing to confide my wife to the +care of other people, I am taking her with me. Is this not a most +marvellous tale? + +"It is indeed," said the genius, "and because of it I grant to you the +third part of the punishment of this merchant." + +When the first old man had finished his story, the second, who was +leading the two black dogs, said to the genius, "I am going to tell you +what happened to me, and I am sure that you will find my story even +more astonishing than the one to which you have just been listening. +But when I have related it, will you grant me also the third part of +the merchant's punishment?" + +"Yes," replied the genius, "provided that your story surpasses that of +the hind." + +With this agreement the second old man began in this way. + + + +The Story of the Second Old Man, and of the Two Black Dogs + + +Great prince of the genii, you must know that we are three +brothers--these two black dogs and myself. Our father died, leaving us +each a thousand sequins. With this sum we all three took up the same +profession, and became merchants. A short time after we had opened our +shops, my eldest brother, one of these two dogs, resolved to travel in +foreign countries for the sake of merchandise. With this intention he +sold all he had and bought merchandise suitable to the voyages he was +about to make. He set out, and was away a whole year. At the end of +this time a beggar came to my shop. "Good-day," I said. "Good-day," +he answered; "is it possible that you do not recognise me?" Then I +looked at him closely and saw he was my brother. I made him come into +my house, and asked him how he had fared in his enterprise. + +"Do not question me," he replied, "see me, you see all I have. It +would but renew my trouble to tell of all the misfortunes that have +befallen me in a year, and have brought me to this state." + +I shut up my shop, paid him every attention, taking him to the bath, +giving him my most beautiful robes. I examined my accounts, and found +that I had doubled my capital--that is, that I now possessed two +thousand sequins. I gave my brother half, saying: "Now, brother, you +can forget your losses." He accepted them with joy, and we lived +together as we had before. + +Some time afterwards my second brother wished also to sell his business +and travel. My eldest brother and I did all we could to dissuade him, +but it was of no use. He joined a caravan and set out. He came back +at the end of a year in the same state as his elder brother. I took +care of him, and as I had a thousand sequins to spare I gave them to +him, and he re-opened his shop. + +One day, my two brothers came to me to propose that we should make a +journey and trade. At first I refused to go. "You travelled," I said, +"and what did you gain?" But they came to me repeatedly, and after +having held out for five years I at last gave way. But when they had +made their preparation, and they began to buy the merchandise we +needed, they found they had spent every piece of the thousand sequins I +had given them. I did not reproach them. I divided my six thousand +sequins with them, giving a thousand to each and keeping one for +myself, and the other three I buried in a corner of my house. We +bought merchandise, loaded a vessel with it, and set forth with a +favorable wind. + +After two months' sailing we arrived at a seaport, where we disembarked +and did a great trade. Then we bought the merchandise of the country, +and were just going to sail once more, when I was stopped on the shore +by a beautiful though poorly dressed woman. She came up to me, kissed +my hand, and implored me to marry her, and take her on board. At first +I refused, but she begged so hard and promised to be such a good wife +to me, that at last I consented. I got her some beautiful dresses, and +after having married her, we embarked and set sail. During the voyage, +I discovered so many good qualities in my wife that I began to love her +more and more. But my brothers began to be jealous of my prosperity, +and set to work to plot against my life. One night when we were +sleeping they threw my wife and myself into the sea. My wife, however, +was a fairy, and so she did not let me drown, but transported me to an +island. When the day dawned, she said to me, + +"When I saw you on the sea-shore I took a great fancy to you, and +wished to try your good nature, so I presented myself in the disguise +you saw. Now I have rewarded you by saving your life. But I am very +angry with your brothers, and I shall not rest till I have taken their +lives." + +I thanked the fairy for all that she had done for me, but I begged her +not to kill my brothers. + +I appeased her wrath, and in a moment she transported me from the +island where we were to the roof of my house, and she disappeared a +moment afterwards. I went down, and opened the doors, and dug up the +three thousand sequins which I had buried. I went to the place where +my shop was, opened it, and received from my fellow-merchants +congratulations on my return. When I went home, I saw two black dogs +who came to meet me with sorrowful faces. I was much astonished, but +the fairy who reappeared said to me, + +"Do not be surprised to see these dogs; they are your two brothers. I +have condemned them to remain for ten years in these shapes." Then +having told me where I could hear news of her, she vanished. + +The ten years are nearly passed, and I am on the road to find her. As +in passing I met this merchant and the old man with the hind, I stayed +with them. + +This is my history, O prince of genii! Do you not think it is a most +marvellous one? + +"Yes, indeed," replied the genius, "and I will give up to you the third +of the merchant's punishment." + +Then the third old man made the genius the same request as the other +two had done, and the genius promised him the last third of the +merchant's punishment if his story surpassed both the others. + +So he told his story to the genius, but I cannot tell you what it was, +as I do not know. + +But I do know that it was even more marvellous than either of the +others, so that the genius was astonished, and said to the third old +man, "I will give up to you the third part of the merchant's +punishment. He ought to thank all three of you for having interested +yourselves in his favour. But for you, he would be here no longer." + +So saying, he disappeared, to the great joy of the company. The +merchant did not fail to thank his friends, and then each went on his +way. The merchant returned to his wife and children, and passed the +rest of his days happily with them. + +"But, sire," added Scheherazade, "however beautiful are the stories I +have just told you, they cannot compare with the story of the +Fisherman." + + + +The Story of the Fisherman + + +Sire, there was once upon a time a fisherman so old and so poor that he +could scarcely manage to support his wife and three children. He went +every day to fish very early, and each day he made a rule not to throw +his nets more than four times. He started out one morning by moonlight +and came to the sea-shore. He undressed and threw his nets, and as he +was drawing them towards the bank he felt a great weight. He though he +had caught a large fish, and he felt very pleased. But a moment +afterwards, seeing that instead of a fish he only had in his nets the +carcase of an ass, he was much disappointed. + +Vexed with having such a bad haul, when he had mended his nets, which +the carcase of the ass had broken in several places, he threw them a +second time. In drawing them in he again felt a great weight, so that +he thought they were full of fish. But he only found a large basket +full of rubbish. He was much annoyed. + +"O Fortune," he cried, "do not trifle thus with me, a poor fisherman, +who can hardly support his family!" + +So saying, he threw away the rubbish, and after having washed his nets +clean of the dirt, he threw them for the third time. But he only drew +in stones, shells, and mud. He was almost in despair. + +Then he threw his nets for the fourth time. When he thought he had a +fish he drew them in with a great deal of trouble. There was no fish +however, but he found a yellow pot, which by its weight seemed full of +something, and he noticed that it was fastened and sealed with lead, +with the impression of a seal. He was delighted. "I will sell it to +the founder," he said; "with the money I shall get for it I shall buy a +measure of wheat." + +He examined the jar on all sides; he shook it to see if it would +rattle. But he heard nothing, and so, judging from the impression of +the seal and the lid, he thought there must be something precious +inside. To find out, he took his knife, and with a little trouble he +opened it. He turned it upside down, but nothing came out, which +surprised him very much. He set it in front of him, and whilst he was +looking at it attentively, such a thick smoke came out that he had to +step back a pace or two. This smoke rose up to the clouds, and +stretching over the sea and the shore, formed a thick mist, which +caused the fisherman much astonishment. When all the smoke was out of +the jar it gathered itself together, and became a thick mass in which +appeared a genius, twice as large as the largest giant. When he saw +such a terrible-looking monster, the fisherman would like to have run +away, but he trembled so with fright that he could not move a step. + +"Great king of the genii," cried the monster, "I will never again +disobey you!" + +At these words the fisherman took courage. + +"What is this you are saying, great genius? Tell me your history and +how you came to be shut up in that vase." + +At this, the genius looked at the fisherman haughtily. "Speak to me +more civilly," he said, "before I kill you." + +"Alas! why should you kill me?" cried the fisherman. "I have just +freed you; have you already forgotten that?" + +"No," answered the genius; "but that will not prevent me from killing +you; and I am only going to grant you one favour, and that is to choose +the manner of your death." + +"But what have I done to you?" asked the fisherman. + +"I cannot treat you in any other way," said the genius, "and if you +would know why, listen to my story. + +"I rebelled against the king of the genii. To punish me, he shut me up +in this vase of copper, and he put on the leaden cover his seal, which +is enchantment enough to prevent my coming out. Then he had the vase +thrown into the sea. During the first period of my captivity I vowed +that if anyone should free me before a hundred years were passed, I +would make him rich even after his death. But that century passed, and +no one freed me. In the second century I vowed that I would give all +the treasures in the world to my deliverer; but he never came. + +"In the third, I promised to make him a king, to be always near him, +and to grant him three wishes every day; but that century passed away +as the other two had done, and I remained in the same plight. At last +I grew angry at being captive for so long, and I vowed that if anyone +would release me I would kill him at once, and would only allow him to +choose in what manner he should die. So you see, as you have freed me +to-day, choose in what way you will die." + +The fisherman was very unhappy. "What an unlucky man I am to have +freed you! I implore you to spare my life." + +"I have told you," said the genius, "that it is impossible. Choose +quickly; you are wasting time." + +The fisherman began to devise a plot. + +"Since I must die," he said, "before I choose the manner of my death, I +conjure you on your honour to tell me if you really were in that vase?" + +"Yes, I was," answered the genius. + +"I really cannot believe it," said the fisherman. "That vase could not +contain one of your feet even, and how could your whole body go in? I +cannot believe it unless I see you do the thing." + +Then the genius began to change himself into smoke, which, as before, +spread over the sea and the shore, and which, then collecting itself +together, began to go back into the vase slowly and evenly till there +was nothing left outside. Then a voice came from the vase which said +to the fisherman, "Well, unbelieving fisherman, here I am in the vase; +do you believe me now?" + +The fisherman instead of answering took the lid of lead and shut it +down quickly on the vase. + +"Now, O genius," he cried, "ask pardon of me, and choose by what death +you will die! But no, it will be better if I throw you into the sea +whence I drew you out, and I will build a house on the shore to warn +fishermen who come to cast their nets here, against fishing up such a +wicked genius as you are, who vows to kill the man who frees you." + +At these words the genius did all he could to get out, but he could +not, because of the enchantment of the lid. + +Then he tried to get out by cunning. + +"If you will take off the cover," he said, "I will repay you." + +"No," answered the fisherman, "if I trust myself to you I am afraid you +will treat me as a certain Greek king treated the physician Douban. +Listen, and I will tell you." + + + +The Story of the Greek King and the Physician Douban + + +In the country of Zouman, in Persia, there lived a Greek king. This +king was a leper, and all his doctors had been unable to cure him, when +a very clever physician came to his court. + +He was very learned in all languages, and knew a great deal about herbs +and medicines. + +As soon as he was told of the king's illness he put on his best robe +and presented himself before the king. "Sire," said he, "I know that +no physician has been able to cure your majesty, but if you will follow +my instructions, I will promise to cure you without any medicines or +outward application." + +The king listened to this proposal. + +"If you are clever enough to do this," he said, "I promise to make you +and your descendants rich for ever." + +The physician went to his house and made a polo club, the handle of +which he hollowed out, and put in it the drug he wished to use. Then +he made a ball, and with these things he went the next day to the king. + +He told him that he wished him to play at polo. Accordingly the king +mounted his horse and went into the place where he played. There the +physician approached him with the bat he had made, saying, "Take this, +sire, and strike the ball till you feel your hand and whole body in a +glow. When the remedy that is in the handle of the club is warmed by +your hand it will penetrate throughout your body. The you must return +to your palace, bathe, and go to sleep, and when you awake to-morrow +morning you will be cured." + +The king took the club and urged his horse after the ball which he had +thrown. He struck it, and then it was hit back by the courtiers who +were playing with him. When he felt very hot he stopped playing, and +went back to the palace, went into the bath, and did all that the +physician had said. The next day when he arose he found, to his great +joy and astonishment, that he was completely cured. When he entered +his audience-chamber all his courtiers, who were eager to see if the +wonderful cure had been effected, were overwhelmed with joy. + +The physician Douban entered the hall and bowed low to the ground. The +king, seeing him, called him, made him sit by his side, and showed him +every mark of honour. + +That evening he gave him a long and rich robe of state, and presented +him with two thousand sequins. The following day he continued to load +him with favours. + +Now the king had a grand-vizir who was avaricious, and envious, and a +very bad man. He grew extremely jealous of the physician, and +determined to bring about his ruin. + +In order to do this he asked to speak in private with the king, saying +that he had a most important communication to make. + +"What is it?" asked the king. + +"Sire," answered the grand-vizir, "it is most dangerous for a monarch +to confide in a man whose faithfulness is not proved, You do not know +that this physician is not a traitor come here to assassinate you." + +"I am sure," said the king, "that this man is the most faithful and +virtuous of men. If he wished to take my life, why did he cure me? +Cease to speak against him. I see what it is, you are jealous of him; +but do not think that I can be turned against him. I remember well +what a vizir said to King Sindbad, his master, to prevent him from +putting the prince, his son, to death." + +What the Greek king said excited the vizir's curiosity, and he said to +him, "Sire, I beg your majesty to have the condescension to tell me +what the vizir said to King Sindbad." + +"This vizir," he replied, "told King Sindbad that one ought not believe +everything that a mother-in-law says, and told him this story." + + + +The Story of the Husband and the Parrot + + +A good man had a beautiful wife, whom he loved passionately, and never +left if possible. One day, when he was obliged by important business +to go away from her, he went to a place where all kinds of birds are +sold and bought a parrot. This parrot not only spoke well, but it had +the gift of telling all that had been done before it. He brought it +home in a cage, and asked his wife to put it in her room, and take +great care of it while he was away. Then he departed. On his return +he asked the parrot what had happened during his absence, and the +parrot told him some things which made him scold his wife. + +She thought that one of her slaves must have been telling tales of her, +but they told her it was the parrot, and she resolved to revenge +herself on him. + +When her husband next went away for one day, she told on slave to turn +under the bird's cage a hand-mill; another to throw water down from +above the cage, and a third to take a mirror and turn it in front of +its eyes, from left to right by the light of a candle. The slaves did +this for part of the night, and did it very well. + +The next day when the husband came back he asked the parrot what he had +seen. The bird replied, "My good master, the lightning, thunder and +rain disturbed me so much all night long, that I cannot tell you what I +have suffered." + +The husband, who knew that it had neither rained nor thundered in the +night, was convinced that the parrot was not speaking the truth, so he +took him out of the cage and threw him so roughly on the ground that he +killed him. Nevertheless he was sorry afterwards, for he found that +the parrot had spoken the truth. + +"When the Greek king," said the fisherman to the genius, "had finished +the story of the parrot, he added to the vizir, "And so, vizir, I shall +not listen to you, and I shall take care of the physician, in case I +repent as the husband did when he had killed the parrot." But the +vizir was determined. "Sire," he replied, "the death of the parrot was +nothing. But when it is a question of the life of a king it is better +to sacrifice the innocent than save the guilty. It is no uncertain +thing, however. The physician, Douban, wishes to assassinate you. My +zeal prompts me to disclose this to your Majesty. If I am wrong, I +deserve to be punished as a vizir was once punished." "What had the +vizir done," said the Greek king, "to merit the punishment?" "I will +tell your Majesty, if you will do me the honour to listen," answered +the vizir." + + + +The Story of the Vizir Who Was Punished + + +There was once upon a time a king who had a son who was very fond of +hunting. He often allowed him to indulge in this pastime, but he had +ordered his grand-vizir always to go with him, and never to lose sight +of him. One day the huntsman roused a stag, and the prince, thinking +that the vizir was behind, gave chase, and rode so hard that he found +himself alone. He stopped, and having lost sight of it, he turned to +rejoin the vizir, who had not been careful enough to follow him. But +he lost his way. Whilst he was trying to find it, he saw on the side +of the road a beautiful lady who was crying bitterly. He drew his +horse's rein, and asked her who she was and what she was doing in this +place, and if she needed help. "I am the daughter of an Indian king," +she answered, "and whilst riding in the country I fell asleep and +tumbled off. My horse has run away, and I do not know what has become +of him." + +The young prince had pity on her, and offered to take her behind him, +which he did. As they passed by a ruined building the lady dismounted +and went in. The prince also dismounted and followed her. To his +great surprise, he heard her saying to some one inside, "Rejoice my +children; I am bringing you a nice fat youth." And other voices +replied, "Where is he, mamma, that we may eat him at once, as we are +very hungry?" + +The prince at once saw the danger he was in. He now knew that the lady +who said she was the daughter of an Indian king was an ogress, who +lived in desolate places, and who by a thousand wiles surprised and +devoured passers-by. He was terrified, and threw himself on his horse. +The pretended princess appeared at this moment, and seeing that she had +lost her prey, she said to him, "Do not be afraid. What do you want?" + +"I am lost," he answered, "and I am looking for the road." + +"Keep straight on," said the ogress, "and you will find it." + +The prince could hardly believe his ears, and rode off as hard as he +could. He found his way, and arrived safe and sound at his father's +house, where he told him of the danger he had run because of the +grand-vizir's carelessness. The king was very angry, and had him +strangled immediately. + +"Sire," went on the vizir to the Greek king, "to return to the +physician, Douban. If you do not take care, you will repent of having +trusted him. Who knows what this remedy, with which he has cured you, +may not in time have a bad effect on you?" + +The Greek king was naturally very weak, and did not perceive the wicked +intention of his vizir, nor was he firm enough to keep to his first +resolution. + +"Well, vizir," he said, "you are right. Perhaps he did come to take my +life. He might do it by the mere smell of one of his drugs. I must +see what can be done." + +"The best means, sire, to put your life in security, is to send for him +at once, and to cut off his head directly he comes," said the vizir. + +"I really think," replied the king, "that will be the best way." + +He then ordered one of his ministers to fetch the physician, who came +at once. + +"I have had you sent for," said the king, "in order to free myself from +you by taking your life." + +The physician was beyond measure astonished when he heard he was to die. + +"What crimes have I committed, your majesty?" + +"I have learnt," replied the king, "that you are a spy, and intend to +kill me. But I will be first, and kill you. Strike," he added to an +executioner who was by, "and rid me of this assassin." + +At this cruel order the physician threw himself on his knees. "Spare +my life," he cried, "and yours will be spared." + +The fisherman stopped here to say to the genius: "You see what passed +between the Greek king and the physician has just passed between us +two. The Greek king," he went on, "had no mercy on him, and the +executioner bound his eyes." + +All those present begged for his life, but in vain. + +The physician on his knees, and bound, said to the king: "At least let +me put my affairs in order, and leave my books to persons who will make +good use of them. There is one which I should like to present to your +majesty. It is very precious, and ought to be kept carefully in your +treasury. It contains many curious things the chief being that when +you cut off my head, if your majesty will turn to the sixth leaf, and +read the third line of the left-hand page, my head will answer all the +questions you like to ask it." + +The king, eager to see such a wonderful thing, put off his execution to +the next day, and sent him under a strong guard to his house. There +the physician put his affairs in order, and the next day there was a +great crowd assembled in the hall to see his death, and the doings +after it. The physician went up to the foot of the throne with a large +book in his hand. He carried a basin, on which he spread the covering +of the book, and presenting it to the king, said: "Sire, take this +book, and when my head is cut off, let it be placed in the basin on the +covering of this book; as soon as it is there, the blood will cease to +flow. Then open the book, and my head will answer your questions. +But, sire, I implore your mercy, for I am innocent." + +"Your prayers are useless, and if it were only to hear your head speak +when you are dead, you should die." + +So saying, he took the book from the physician's hands, and ordered the +executioner to do his duty. + +The head was so cleverly cut off that it fell into the basin, and +directly the blood ceased to flow. Then, to the great astonishment of +the king, the eyes opened, and the head said, "Your majesty, open the +book." The king did so, and finding that the first leaf stuck against +the second, he put his finger in his mouth, to turn it more easily. He +did the same thing till he reached the sixth page, and not seeing any +writing on it, "Physician," he said, "there is no writing." + +"Turn over a few more pages," answered the head. The king went on +turning, still putting his finger in his mouth, till the poison in +which each page was dipped took effect. His sight failed him, and he +fell at the foot of his throne. + +When the physician's head saw that the poison had taken effect, and +that the king had only a few more minutes to live, "Tyrant," it cried, +"see how cruelty and injustice are punished." + +Scarcely had it uttered these words than the king died, and the head +lost also the little life that had remained in it. + +That is the end of the story of the Greek king, and now let us return +to the fisherman and the genius. + +"If the Greek king," said the fisherman, "had spared the physician, he +would not have thus died. The same thing applies to you. Now I am +going to throw you into the sea." + +"My friend," said the genius, "do not do such a cruel thing. Do not +treat me as Imma treated Ateca." + +"What did Imma do to Ateca?" asked the fisherman. + +"Do you think I can tell you while I am shut up in here?" replied the +genius. "Let me out, and I will make you rich." + +The hope of being no longer poor made the fisherman give way. + +"If you will give me your promise to do this, I will open the lid. I +do not think you will dare to break your word." + +The genius promised, and the fisherman lifted the lid. He came out at +once in smoke, and then, having resumed his proper form, the first +thing he did was to kick the vase into the sea. This frightened the +fisherman, but the genius laughed and said, "Do not be afraid; I only +did it to frighten you, and to show you that I intend to keep my word; +take your nets and follow me." + +He began to walk in front of the fisherman, who followed him with some +misgivings. They passed in front of the town, and went up a mountain +and then down into a great plain, where there was a large lake lying +between four hills. + +When they reached the lake the genius said to the fisherman, "Throw +your nets and catch fish." + +The fisherman did as he was told, hoping for a good catch, as he saw +plenty of fish. What was his astonishment at seeing that there were +four quite different kinds, some white, some red, some blue, and some +yellow. He caught four, one of each colour. As he had never seen any +like them he admired them very much, and he was very pleased to think +how much money he would get for them. + +"Take these fish and carry them to the Sultan, who will give you more +money for them than you have ever had in your life. You can come every +day to fish in this lake, but be careful not to throw your nets more +than once every day, otherwise some harm will happen to you. If you +follow my advice carefully you will find it good." + +Saying these words, he struck his foot against the ground, which +opened, and when he had disappeared, it closed immediately. + +The fisherman resolved to obey the genius exactly, so he did not cast +his nets a second time, but walked into the town to sell his fish at +the palace. + +When the Sultan saw the fish he was much astonished. He looked at them +one after the other, and when he had admired them long enough, "Take +these fish," he said to his first vizir, "and given them to the clever +cook the Emperor of the Greeks sent me. I think they must be as good +as they are beautiful." + +The vizir took them himself to the cook, saying, "Here are four fish +that have been brought to the Sultan. He wants you to cook them." + +Then he went back to the Sultan, who told him to give the fisherman +four hundred gold pieces. The fisherman, who had never before +possessed such a large sum of money at once, could hardly believe his +good fortune. He at once relieved the needs of his family, and made +good use of it. + +But now we must return to the kitchen, which we shall find in great +confusion. The cook, when she had cleaned the fish, put them in a pan +with some oil to fry them. When she thought them cooked enough on one +side she turned them on the other. But scarcely had she done so when +the walls of the kitchen opened, and there came out a young and +beautiful damsel. She was dressed in an Egyptian dress of flowered +satin, and she wore earrings, and a necklace of white pearls, and +bracelets of gold set with rubies, and she held a wand of myrtle in her +hand. + +She went up to the pan, to the great astonishment of the cook, who +stood motionless at the sight of her. She struck one of the fish with +her rod, "Fish, fish," said she, "are you doing your duty?" The fish +answered nothing, and then she repeated her question, whereupon they +all raised their heads together and answered very distinctly, "Yes, +yes. If you reckon, we reckon. If you pay your debts, we pay ours. +If you fly, we conquer, and we are content." + +When they had spoken the girl upset the pan, and entered the opening in +the wall, which at once closed, and appeared the same as before. + +When the cook had recovered from her fright she lifted up the fish +which had fallen into the ashes, but she found them as black as +cinders, and not fit to serve up to the Sultan. She began to cry. + +"Alas! what shall I say to the Sultan? He will be so angry with me, +and I know he will not believe me!" + +Whilst she was crying the grand-vizir came in and asked if the fish +were ready. She told him all that had happened, and he was much +surprised. He sent at once for the fisherman, and when he came said to +him, "Fisherman, bring me four more fish like you have brought already, +for an accident has happened to them so that they cannot be served up +to the Sultan." + +The fisherman did not say what the genius had told him, but he excused +himself from bringing them that day on account of the length of the +way, and he promised to bring them next day. + +In the night he went to the lake, cast his nets, and on drawing them in +found four fish, which were like the others, each of a different colour. + +He went back at once and carried them to the grand-vizir as he had +promised. + +He then took them to the kitchen and shut himself up with the cook, who +began to cook them as she had done the four others on the previous day. +When she was about to turn them on the other side, the wall opened, the +damsel appeared, addressed the same words to the fish, received the +same answer, and then overturned the pan and disappeared. + +The grand-vizir was filled with astonishment. "I shall tell the Sultan +all that has happened," said he. And he did so. + +The Sultan was very much astounded, and wished to see this marvel for +himself. So he sent for the fisherman, and asked him to procure four +more fish. The fisherman asked for three days, which were granted, and +he then cast his nets in the lake, and again caught four different +coloured fish. The sultan was delighted to see he had got them, and +gave him again four hundred gold pieces. + +As soon as the Sultan had the fish he had them carried to his room with +all that was needed to cook them. + +Then he shut himself up with the grand-vizir, who began to prepare them +and cook them. When they were done on one side he turned them over on +the other. Then the wall of the room opened, but instead of the maiden +a black slave came out. He was enormously tall, and carried a large +green stick with which he touched the fish, saying in a terrible voice, +"Fish, fish, are you doing your duty?" To these words the fish lifting +up their heads replied, "Yes, yes. If you reckon, we reckon. If you +pay your debts, we pay ours. If you fly, we conquer, and are content." + +The black slave overturned the pan in the middle of the room, and the +fish were turned to cinders. Then he stepped proudly back into the +wall, which closed round him. + +"After having seen this," said the Sultan, "I cannot rest. These fish +signify some mystery I must clear up." + +He sent for the fisherman. "Fisherman," he said, "the fish you have +brought us have caused me some anxiety. Where did you get them from?" + +"Sire," he answered, "I got them from a lake which lies in the middle +of four hills beyond yonder mountains." + +"Do you know this lake?" asked the Sultan of the grand-vizir. + +"No; though I have hunted many times round that mountain, I have never +heard of it," said the vizir. + +As the fisherman said it was only three hours' journey away, the sultan +ordered his whole court to mount and ride thither, and the fisherman +led them. + +They climbed the mountain, and then, on the other side, saw the lake as +the fisherman had described. The water was so clear that they could +see the four kinds of fish swimming about in it. They looked at them +for some time, and then the Sultan ordered them to make a camp by the +edge of the water. + +When night came the Sultan called his vizir, and said to him, "I have +resolved to clear up this mystery. I am going out alone, and do you +stay here in my tent, and when my ministers come to-morrow, say I am +not well, and cannot see them. Do this each day till I return." + +The grand-vizir tried to persuade the Sultan not to go, but in vain. +The Sultan took off his state robe and put on his sword, and when he +saw all was quiet in the camp he set forth alone. + +He climbed one of the hills, and then crossed the great plain, till, +just as the sun rose, he beheld far in front of him a large building. +When he came near to it he saw it was a splendid palace of beautiful +black polished marble, covered with steel as smooth as a mirror. + +He went to the gate, which stood half open, and went in, as nobody came +when he knocked. He passed through a magnificent courtyard and still +saw no one, though he called aloud several times. + +He entered large halls where the carpets were of silk, the lounges and +sofas covered with tapestry from Mecca, and the hangings of the most +beautiful Indian stuffs of gold and silver. Then he found himself in a +splendid room, with a fountain supported by golden lions. The water +out of the lions' mouths turned into diamonds and pearls, and the +leaping water almost touched a most beautifully-painted dome. The +palace was surrounded on three sides by magnificent gardens, little +lakes, and woods. Birds sang in the trees, which were netted over to +keep them always there. + +Still the Sultan saw no one, till he heard a plaintive cry, and a voice +which said, "Oh that I could die, for I am too unhappy to wish to live +any longer!" + +The Sultan looked round to discover who it was who thus bemoaned his +fate, and at last saw a handsome young man, richly clothed, who was +sitting on a throne raised slightly from the ground. His face was very +sad. + +The sultan approached him and bowed to him. The young man bent his +head very low, but did not rise. + +"Sire," he said to the Sultan, "I cannot rise and do you the reverence +that I am sure should be paid to your rank." + +"Sir," answered the Sultan, "I am sure you have a good reason for not +doing so, and having heard your cry of distress, I am come to offer you +my help. Whose is this palace, and why is it thus empty?" + +Instead of answering the young man lifted up his robe, and showed the +Sultan that, from the waist downwards, he was a block of black marble. + +The Sultan was horrified, and begged the young man to tell him his +story. + +"Willingly I will tell you my sad history," said the young man. + + + +The Story of the Young King of the Black Isles + + +You must know, sire, that my father was Mahmoud, the king of this +country, the Black Isles, so called from the four little mountains +which were once islands, while the capital was the place where now the +great lake lies. My story will tell you how these changes came about. + +My father died when he was sixty-six, and I succeeded him. I married +my cousin, whom I loved tenderly, and I thought she loved me too. + +But one afternoon, when I was half asleep, and was being fanned by two +of her maids, I heard one say to the other, "What a pity it is that our +mistress no longer loves our master! I believe she would like to kill +him if she could, for she is an enchantress." + +I soon found by watching that they were right, and when I mortally +wounded a favourite slave of hers for a great crime, she begged that +she might build a palace in the garden, where she wept and bewailed him +for two years. + +At last I begged her to cease grieving for him, for although he could +not speak or move, by her enchantments she just kept him alive. She +turned upon me in a rage, and said over me some magic words, and I +instantly became as you see me now, half man and half marble. + +Then this wicked enchantress changed the capital, which was a very +populous and flourishing city, into the lake and desert plain you saw. +The fish of four colours which are in it are the different races who +lived in the town; the four hills are the four islands which give the +name to my kingdom. All this the enchantress told me to add to my +troubles. And this is not all. Every day she comes and beats me with +a whip of buffalo hide. + +When the young king had finished his sad story he burst once more into +tears, and the Sultan was much moved. + +"Tell me," he cried, "where is this wicked woman, and where is the +miserable object of her affection, whom she just manages to keep alive?" + +"Where she lives I do not know," answered the unhappy prince, "but she +goes every day at sunrise to see if the slave can yet speak to her, +after she has beaten me." + +"Unfortunate king," said the Sultan, "I will do what I can to avenge +you." + +So he consulted with the young king over the best way to bring this +about, and they agreed their plan should be put in effect the next day. +The Sultan then rested, and the young king gave himself up to happy +hopes of release. The next day the Sultan arose, and then went to the +palace in the garden where the black slave was. He drew his sword and +destroyed the little life that remained in him, and then threw the body +down a well. He then lay down on the couch where the slave had been, +and waited for the enchantress. + +She went first to the young king, whom she beat with a hundred blows. + +Then she came to the room where she thought her wounded slave was, but +where the Sultan really lay. + +She came near his couch and said, "Are you better to-day, my dear +slave? Speak but one word to me." + +"How can I be better," answered the Sultan, imitating the language of +the Ethiopians, "when I can never sleep for the cries and groans of +your husband?" + +"What joy to hear you speak!" answered the queen. "Do you wish him to +regain his proper shape?" + +"Yes," said the Sultan; "hasten to set him at liberty, so that I may no +longer hear his cries." + +The queen at once went out and took a cup of water, and said over it +some words that made it boil as if it were on the fire. Then she threw +it over the prince, who at once regained his own form. He was filled +with joy, but the enchantress said, "Hasten away from this place and +never come back, lest I kill you." + +So he hid himself to see the end of the Sultan's plan. + +The enchantress went back to the Palace of Tears and said, "Now I have +done what you wished." + +"What you have done," said the Sultan, "is not enough to cure me. +Every day at midnight all the people whom you have changed into fish +lift their heads out of the lake and cry for vengeance. Go quickly, +and give them their proper shape." + +The enchantress hurried away and said some words over the lake. + +The fish then became men, women, and children, and the houses and shops +were once more filled. The Sultan's suite, who had encamped by the +lake, were not a little astonished to see themselves in the middle of a +large and beautiful town. + +As soon as she had disenchanted it the queen went back to the palace. + +"Are you quite well now?" she said. + +"Come near," said the Sultan. "Nearer still." + +She obeyed. Then he sprang up, and with one blow of his sword he cut +her in two. + +Then he went and found the prince. + +"Rejoice," he said, "your cruel enemy is dead." + +The prince thanked him again and again. + +"And now," said the Sultan. "I will go back to my capital, which I am +glad to find is so near yours." + +"So near mine!" said the King of the Black Isles. + +"Do you know it is a whole year's journey from here? You came here in +a few hours because it was enchanted. But I will accompany you on your +journey." + +"It will give me much pleasure if you will escort me," said the Sultan, +"and as I have no children, I will make you my heir." + +The Sultan and the prince set out together, the Sultan laden with rich +presents from the King of the Black Isles. + +The day after he reached his capital the Sultan assembled his court and +told them all that had befallen him, and told them how he intended to +adopt the young king as his heir. + +Then he gave each man presents in proportion to his rank. + +As for the fisherman, as he was the first cause of the deliverance of +the young prince, the Sultan gave him much money, and made him and his +family happy for the rest of their days. + + + +The Story of the Three Calenders, Sons of Kings, + and of Five Ladies of Bagdad + + +In the reign of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid, there lived at Bagdad a +porter who, in spite of his humble calling, was an intelligent and +sensible man. One morning he was sitting in his usual place with his +basket before him, waiting to be hired, when a tall young lady, covered +with a long muslin veil, came up to him and said, "Pick up your basket +and follow me." The porter, who was greatly pleased by her appearance +and voice, jumped up at once, poised his basket on his head, and +accompanied the lady, saying to himself as he went, "Oh, happy day! +Oh, lucky meeting!" + +The lady soon stopped before a closed door, at which she knocked. It +was opened by an old man with a long white beard, to whom the lady held +out money without speaking. The old man, who seemed to understand what +she wanted, vanished into the house, and returned bringing a large jar +of wine, which the porter placed in his basket. Then the lady signed +to him to follow, and they went their way. + +The next place she stopped at was a fruit and flower shop, and here she +bought a large quantity of apples, apricots, peaches, and other things, +with lilies, jasmine, and all sorts of sweet-smelling plants. From +this shop she went to a butcher's, a grocer's, and a poulterer's, till +at last the porter exclaimed in despair, "My good lady, if you had only +told me you were going to buy enough provisions to stock a town, I +would have brought a horse, or rather a camel." The lady laughed, and +told him she had not finished yet, but after choosing various kinds of +scents and spices from a druggist's store, she halted before a +magnificent palace, at the door of which she knocked gently. The +porteress who opened it was of such beauty that the eyes of the man +were quite dazzled, and he was the more astonished as he saw clearly +that she was no slave. The lady who had led him hither stood watching +him with amusement, till the porteress exclaimed, "Why don't you come +in, my sister? This poor man is so heavily weighed down that he is +ready to drop." + +When they were both inside the door was fastened, and they all three +entered a large court, surrounded by an open-work gallery. At one end +of the court was a platform, and on the platform stood an amber throne +supported by four ebony columns, garnished with pearls and diamonds. +In the middle of the court stood a marble basin filled with water from +the mouth of a golden lion. + +The porter looked about him, noticing and admiring everything; but his +attention was specially attracted by a third lady sitting on the +throne, who was even more beautiful than the other two. By the respect +shown to her by the others, he judged that she must be the eldest, and +in this he was right. This lady's name was Zobeida, the porteress was +Sadie, and the housekeeper was Amina. At a word from Zobeida, Sadie +and Amina took the basket from the porter, who was glad enough to be +relieved from its weight; and when it was emptied, paid him handsomely +for its use. But instead of taking up his basket and going away, the +man still lingered, till Zobeida inquired what he was waiting for, and +if he expected more money. "Oh, madam," returned he, "you have already +given me too much, and I fear I may have been guilty of rudeness in not +taking my departure at once. But, if you will pardon my saying so, I +was lost in astonishment at seeing such beautiful ladies by themselves. +A company of women without men is, however, as dull as a company of men +without women." And after telling some stories to prove his point, he +ended by entreating them to let him stay and make a fourth at their +dinner. + +The ladies were rather amused at the man's assurances and after some +discussion it was agreed that he should be allowed to stay, as his +society might prove entertaining. "But listen, friend," said Zobeida, +"if we grant your request, it is only on condition that you behave with +the utmost politeness, and that you keep the secret of our way of +living, which chance has revealed to you." Then they all sat down to +table, which had been covered by Amina with the dishes she had bought. + +After the first few mouthfuls Amina poured some wine into a golden cup. +She first drank herself, according to the Arab custom, and then filled +it for her sisters. When it came to the porter's turn he kissed +Amina's hand, and sang a song, which he composed at the moment in +praise of the wine. The three ladies were pleased with the song, and +then sang themselves, so that the repast was a merry one, and lasted +much longer than usual. + +At length, seeing that the sun was about to set, Sadia said to the +porter, "Rise and go; it is now time for us to separate." + +"Oh, madam," replied he, "how can you desire me to quit you in the +state in which I am? Between the wine I have drunk, and the pleasure +of seeing you, I should never find the way to my house. Let me remain +here till morning, and when I have recovered my senses I will go when +you like." + +"Let him stay," said Amina, who had before proved herself his friend. +"It is only just, as he has given us so much amusement." + +"If you wish it, my sister," replied Zobeida; "but if he does, I must +make a new condition. Porter," she continued, turning to him, "if you +remain, you must promise to ask no questions about anything you may +see. If you do, you may perhaps hear what you don't like." + +This being settled, Amina brought in supper, and lit up the hall with a +number of sweet smelling tapers. They then sat down again at the +table, and began with fresh appetites to eat, drink, sing, and recite +verses. In fact, they were all enjoying themselves mightily when they +heard a knock at the outer door, which Sadie rose to open. She soon +returned saying that three Calenders, all blind in the right eye, and +all with their heads, faces, and eyebrows clean shaved, begged for +admittance, as they were newly arrived in Bagdad, and night had already +fallen. "They seem to have pleasant manners," she added, "but you have +no idea how funny they look. I am sure we should find their company +diverting." + +Zobeida and Amina made some difficulty about admitting the new comers, +and Sadie knew the reason of their hesitation. But she urged the +matter so strongly that Zobeida was at last forced to consent. "Bring +them in, then," said she, "but make them understand that they are not +to make remarks about what does not concern them, and be sure to make +them read the inscription over the door." For on the door was written +in letters of gold, "Whoso meddles in affairs that are no business of +his, will hear truths that will not please him." + +The three Calenders bowed low on entering, and thanked the ladies for +their kindness and hospitality. The ladies replied with words of +welcome, and they were all about to seat themselves when the eyes of +the Calenders fell on the porter, whose dress was not so very unlike +their own, though he still wore all the hair that nature had given him. +"This," said one of them, "is apparently one of our Arab brothers, who +has rebelled against our ruler." + +The porter, although half asleep from the wine he had drunk, heard the +words, and without moving cried angrily to the Calender, "Sit down and +mind your own business. Did you not read the inscription over the +door? Everybody is not obliged to live in the same way." + +"Do not be so angry, my good man," replied the Calender; "we should be +very sorry to displease you;" so the quarrel was smoothed over, and +supper began in good earnest. When the Calenders had satisfied their +hunger, they offered to play to their hostesses, if there were any +instruments in the house. The ladies were delighted at the idea, and +Sadie went to see what she could find, returning in a few moments laden +with two different kinds of flutes and a tambourine. Each Calender +took the one he preferred, and began to play a well-known air, while +the ladies sang the words of the song. These words were the gayest and +liveliest possible, and every now and then the singers had to stop to +indulge the laughter which almost choked them. In the midst of all +their noise, a knock was heard at the door. + +Now early that evening the Caliph secretly left the palace, accompanied +by his grand-vizir, Giafar, and Mesrour, chief of the eunuchs, all +three wearing the dresses of merchants. Passing down the street, the +Caliph had been attracted by the music of instruments and the sound of +laughter, and had ordered his vizir to go and knock at the door of the +house, as he wished to enter. The vizir replied that the ladies who +lived there seemed to be entertaining their friends, and he thought his +master would do well not to intrude on them; but the Caliph had taken +it into his head to see for himself, and insisted on being obeyed. + +The knock was answered by Sadie, with a taper in her hand, and the +vizir, who was surprised at her beauty, bowed low before her, and said +respectfully, "Madam, we are three merchants who have lately arrived +from Moussoul, and, owing to a misadventure which befel us this very +night, only reached our inn to find that the doors were closed to us +till to-morrow morning. Not knowing what to do, we wandered in the +streets till we happened to pass your house, when, seeing lights and +hearing the sound of voices, we resolved to ask you to give us shelter +till the dawn. If you will grant us this favour, we will, with your +permission, do all in our power to help you spend the time pleasantly." + +Sadie answered the merchant that she must first consult her sisters; +and after having talked over the matter with them, she returned to tell +him that he and his two friends would be welcome to join their company. +They entered and bowed politely to the ladies and their guests. Then +Zobeida, as the mistress, came forward and said gravely, "You are +welcome here, but I hope you will allow me to beg one thing of +you--have as many eyes as you like, but no tongues; and ask no +questions about anything you see, however strange it may appear to you." + +"Madam," returned the vizir, "you shall be obeyed. We have quite +enough to please and interest us without troubling ourselves about that +with which we have no concern." Then they all sat down, and drank to +the health of the new comers. + +While the vizir, Giafar, was talking to the ladies the Caliph was +occupied in wondering who they could be, and why the three Calenders +had each lost his right eye. He was burning to inquire the reason of +it all, but was silenced by Zobeida's request, so he tried to rouse +himself and to take his part in the conversation, which was very +lively, the subject of discussion being the many different sorts of +pleasures that there were in the world. After some time the Calenders +got up and performed some curious dances, which delighted the rest of +the company. + +When they had finished Zobeida rose from her seat, and, taking Amina by +the hand, she said to her, "My sister, our friends will excuse us if we +seem to forget their presence and fulfil our nightly task." Amina +understood her sister's meaning, and collecting the dishes, glasses, +and musical instruments, she carried them away, while Sadie swept the +hall and put everything in order. Having done this she begged the +Calenders to sit on a sofa on one side of the room, and the Caliph and +his friends to place themselves opposite. As to the porter, she +requested him to come and help her and her sister. + +Shortly after Amina entered carrying a seat, which she put down in the +middle of the empty space. She next went over to the door of a closet +and signed to the porter to follow her. He did so, and soon reappeared +leading two black dogs by a chain, which he brought into the centre of +the hall. Zobeida then got up from her seat between the Calenders and +the Caliph and walked slowly across to where the porter stood with the +dogs. "We must do our duty," she said with a deep sigh, pushing back +her sleeves, and, taking a whip from Sadie, she said to the man, "Take +one of those dogs to my sister Amina and give me the other." + +The porter did as he was bid, but as he led the dog to Zobeida it +uttered piercing howls, and gazed up at her with looks of entreaty. +But Zobeida took no notice, and whipped the dog till she was out of +breath. She then took the chain from the porter, and, raising the dog +on its hind legs, they looked into each other's eyes sorrowfully till +tears began to fall from both. Then Zobeida took her handkerchief and +wiped the dog's eyes tenderly, after which she kissed it, then, putting +the chain into the porter's hand she said, "Take it back to the closet +and bring me the other." + +The same ceremony was gone through with the second dog, and all the +while the whole company looked on with astonishment. The Caliph in +particular could hardly contain himself, and made signs to the vizir to +ask what it all meant. But the vizir pretended not to see, and turned +his head away. + +Zobeida remained for some time in the middle of the room, till at last +Sadie went up to her and begged her to sit down, as she also had her +part to play. At these words Amina fetched a lute from a case of +yellow satin and gave it to Sadie, who sang several songs to its +accompaniment. When she was tired she said to Amina, "My sister, I can +do no more; come, I pray you, and take my place." + +Amina struck a few chords and then broke into a song, which she sang +with so much ardour that she was quite overcome, and sank gasping on a +pile of cushions, tearing open her dress as she did so to give herself +some air. To the amazement of all present, her neck, instead of being +as smooth and white as her face, was a mass of scars. + +The Calenders and the Caliph looked at each other, and whispered +together, unheard by Zobeida and Sadie, who were tending their fainting +sister. + +"What does it all mean?' asked the Caliph. + +"We know no more than you," said the Calender to whom he had spoken. + +"What! You do not belong to the house?" + +"My lord," answered all the Calenders together, "we came here for the +first time an hour before you." + +They then turned to the porter to see if he could explain the mystery, +but the porter was no wiser than they were themselves. At length the +Caliph could contain his curiosity no longer, and declared that he +would compel the ladies to tell them the meaning of their strange +conduct. The vizir, foreseeing what would happen, implored him to +remember the condition their hostesses had imposed, and added in a +whisper that if his Highness would only wait till morning he could as +Caliph summon the ladies to appear before him. But the Caliph, who was +not accustomed to be contradicted, rejected this advice, and it was +resolved after a little more talking that the question should be put by +the porter. Suddenly Zobeida turned round, and seeing their excitement +she said, "What is the matter--what are you all discussing so +earnestly?" + +"Madam," answered the porter, "these gentlemen entreat you to explain +to them why you should first whip the dogs and then cry over them, and +also how it happens that the fainting lady is covered with scars. They +have requested me, Madam, to be their mouthpiece." + + +"Is it true, gentlemen," asked Zobeida, drawing herself up, "that you +have charged this man to put me that question?" + +"It is," they all replied, except Giafar, who was silent. + +"Is this," continued Zobeida, growing more angry every moment, "is this +the return you make for the hospitality I have shown you? Have you +forgotten the one condition on which you were allowed to enter the +house? Come quickly," she added, clapping her hands three times, and +the words were hardly uttered when seven black slaves, each armed with +a sabre, burst in and stood over the seven men, throwing them on the +ground, and preparing themselves, on a sign from their mistress, to cut +off their heads. + +The seven culprits all thought their last hour had come, and the Caliph +repented bitterly that he had not taken the vizir's advice. But they +made up their minds to die bravely, all except the porter, who loudly +inquired of Zobeida why he was to suffer for other people's faults, and +declared that these misfortunes would never have happened if it had not +been for the Calenders, who always brought ill-luck. He ended by +imploring Zobeida not to confound the innocent with the guilty and to +spare his life. + +In spite of her anger, there was something so comic in the groans of +the porter that Zobeida could not refrain from laughing. But putting +him aside she addressed the others a second time, saying, "Answer me; +who are you? Unless you tell me truly you have not another moment to +live. I can hardly think you are men of any position, whatever country +you belong to. If you were, you would have had more consideration for +us." + +The Caliph, who was naturally very impatient, suffered far more than +either of the others at feeling that his life was at the mercy of a +justly offended lady, but when he heard her question he began to +breathe more freely, for he was convinced that she had only to learn +his name and rank for all danger to be over. So he whispered hastily +to the vizir, who was next to him, to reveal their secret. But the +vizir, wiser than his master, wished to conceal from the public the +affront they had received, and merely answered, "After all, we have +only got what we deserved." + +Meanwhile Zobeida had turned to the three Calenders and inquired if, as +they were all blind, they were brothers. + +"No, madam," replied one, "we are no blood relations at all, only +brothers by our mode of life." + +"And you," she asked, addressing another, "were you born blind of one +eye?" + +"No, madam," returned he, "I became blind through a most surprising +adventure, such as probably has never happened to anybody. After that +I shaved my head and eyebrows and put on the dress in which you see me +now." + +Zobeida put the same question to the other two Calenders, and received +the same answer. + +"But," added the third, "it may interest you, madam, to know that we +are not men of low birth, but are all three sons of kings, and of +kings, too, whom the world holds in high esteem." + +At these words Zobeida's anger cooled down, and she turned to her +slaves and said, "You can give them a little more liberty, but do not +leave the hall. Those that will tell us their histories and their +reasons for coming here shall be allowed to leave unhurt; those who +refuse--" And she paused, but in a moment the porter, who understood +that he had only to relate his story to set himself free from this +terrible danger, immediately broke in, + +"Madam, you know already how I came here, and what I have to say will +soon be told. Your sister found me this morning in the place where I +always stand waiting to be hired. She bade me follow her to various +shops, and when my basket was quite full we returned to this house, +when you had the goodness to permit me to remain, for which I shall be +eternally grateful. That is my story." + +He looked anxiously to Zobeida, who nodded her head and said, "You can +go; and take care we never meet again." + +"Oh, madam," cried the porter, "let me stay yet a little while. It is +not just that the others should have heard my story and that I should +not hear theirs," and without waiting for permission he seated himself +on the end of the sofa occupied by the ladies, whilst the rest crouched +on the carpet, and the slaves stood against the wall. + +Then one of the Calenders, addressing himself to Zobeida as the +principal lady, began his story. + + + +The Story of the First Calender, Son of a King + + +In order, madam, to explain how I came to lose my right eye, and to +wear the dress of a Calender, you must first know that I am the son of +a king. My father's only brother reigned over the neighbouring +country, and had two children, a daughter and a son, who were of the +same age as myself. + +As I grew up, and was allowed more liberty, I went every year to pay a +visit to my uncle's court, and usually stayed there about two months. +In this way my cousin and I became very intimate, and were much +attached to each other. The very last time I saw him he seemed more +delighted to see me than ever, and gave a great feast in my honour. +When we had finished eating, he said to me, "My cousin, you would never +guess what I have been doing since your last visit to us! Directly +after your departure I set a number of men to work on a building after +my own design. It is now completed, and ready to be lived in. I +should like to show it to you, but you must first swear two things: to +be faithful to me, and to keep my secret." + +Of course I did not dream of refusing him anything he asked, and gave +the promise without the least hesitation. He then bade me wait an +instant, and vanished, returning in a few moments with a richly dressed +lady of great beauty, but as he did not tell me her name, I thought it +was better not to inquire. We all three sat down to table and amused +ourselves with talking of all sorts of indifferent things, and with +drinking each other's health. Suddenly the prince said to me, "Cousin, +we have no time to lose; be so kind as to conduct this lady to a +certain spot, where you will find a dome-like tomb, newly built. You +cannot mistake it. Go in, both of you, and wait till I come. I shall +not be long." + +As I had promised I prepared to do as I was told, and giving my hand to +the lady, I escorted her, by the light of the moon, to the place of +which the prince had spoken. We had barely reached it when he joined +us himself, carrying a small vessel of water, a pickaxe, and a little +bag containing plaster. + +With the pickaxe he at once began to destroy the empty sepulchre in the +middle of the tomb. One by one he took the stones and piled them up in +a corner. When he had knocked down the whole sepulchre he proceeded to +dig at the earth, and beneath where the sepulchre had been I saw a +trap-door. He raised the door and I caught sight of the top of a spiral +staircase; then he said, turning to the lady, "Madam, this is the way +that will lead you down to the spot which I told you of." + +The lady did not answer, but silently descended the staircase, the +prince following her. At the top, however, he looked at me. "My +cousin," he exclaimed, "I do not know how to thank you for your +kindness. Farewell." + +"What do you mean?" I cried. "I don't understand." + +"No matter," he replied, "go back by the path that you came." + +He would say no more, and, greatly puzzled, I returned to my room in +the palace and went to bed. When I woke, and considered my adventure, +I thought that I must have been dreaming, and sent a servant to ask if +the prince was dressed and could see me. But on hearing that he had +not slept at home I was much alarmed, and hastened to the cemetery, +where, unluckily, the tombs were all so alike that I could not discover +which was the one I was in search of, though I spent four days in +looking for it. + +You must know that all this time the king, my uncle, was absent on a +hunting expedition, and as no one knew when he would be back, I at last +decided to return home, leaving the ministers to make my excuses. I +longed to tell them what had become of the prince, about whose fate +they felt the most dreadful anxiety, but the oath I had sworn kept me +silent. + +On my arrival at my father's capital, I was astonished to find a large +detachment of guards drawn up before the gate of the palace; they +surrounded me directly I entered. I asked the officers in command the +reason of this strange behaviour, and was horrified to learn that the +army had mutinied and put to death the king, my father, and had placed +the grand-vizir on the throne. Further, that by his orders I was +placed under arrest. + +Now this rebel vizir had hated me from my boy-hood, because once, when +shooting at a bird with a bow, I had shot out his eye by accident. Of +course I not only sent a servant at once to offer him my regrets and +apologies, but I made them in person. It was all of no use. He +cherished an undying hatred towards me, and lost no occasion of showing +it. Having once got me in his power I felt he could show no mercy, and +I was right. Mad with triumph and fury he came to me in my prison and +tore out my right eye. That is how I lost it. + +My persecutor, however, did not stop here. He shut me up in a large +case and ordered his executioner to carry me into a desert place, to +cut off my head, and then to abandon my body to the birds of prey. The +case, with me inside it, was accordingly placed on a horse, and the +executioner, accompanied by another man, rode into the country until +they found a spot suitable for the purpose. But their hearts were not +so hard as they seemed, and my tears and prayers made them waver. + +"Forsake the kingdom instantly," said the executioner at last, "and +take care never to come back, for you will not only lose your head, but +make us lose ours." I thanked him gratefully, and tried to console +myself for the loss of my eye by thinking of the other misfortunes I +had escaped. + + +After all I had gone through, and my fear of being recognised by some +enemy, I could only travel very slowly and cautiously, generally +resting in some out-of-the-way place by day, and walking as far as I +was able by night, but at length I arrived in the kingdom of my uncle, +of whose protection I was sure. + +I found him in great trouble about the disappearance of his son, who +had, he said, vanished without leaving a trace; but his own grief did +not prevent him sharing mine. We mingled our tears, for the loss of +one was the loss of the other, and then I made up my mind that it was +my duty to break the solemn oath I had sworn to the prince. I +therefore lost no time in telling my uncle everything I knew, and I +observed that even before I had ended his sorrow appeared to be +lightened a little. + +"My dear nephew," he said, "your story gives me some hope. I was aware +that my son was building a tomb, and I think I can find the spot. But +as he wished to keep the matter secret, let us go alone and seek the +place ourselves." + +He then bade me disguise myself, and we both slipped out of a garden +door which opened on to the cemetery. It did not take long for us to +arrive at the scene of the prince's disappearance, or to discover the +tomb I had sought so vainly before. We entered it, and found the +trap-door which led to the staircase, but we had great difficulty in +raising it, because the prince had fastened it down underneath with the +plaster he had brought with him. + +My uncle went first, and I followed him. When we reached the bottom of +the stairs we stepped into a sort of ante-room, filled with such a +dense smoke that it was hardly possible to see anything. However, we +passed through the smoke into a large chamber, which at first seemed +quite empty. The room was brilliantly lighted, and in another moment +we perceived a sort of platform at one end, on which were the bodies of +the prince and a lady, both half-burned, as if they had been dragged +out of a fire before it had quite consumed them. + +This horrible sight turned me faint, but, to my surprise, my uncle did +not show so much surprise as anger. + +"I knew," he said, "that my son was tenderly attached to this lady, +whom it was impossible he should ever marry. I tried to turn his +thoughts, and presented to him the most beautiful princesses, but he +cared for none of them, and, as you see, they have now been united by a +horrible death in an underground tomb." But, as he spoke, his anger +melted into tears, and again I wept with him. + +When he recovered himself he drew me to him. "My dear nephew," he +said, embracing me, "you have come to me to take his place, and I will +do my best to forget that I ever had a son who could act in so wicked a +manner." Then he turned and went up the stairs. + +We reached the palace without anyone having noticed our absence, when, +shortly after, a clashing of drums, and cymbals, and the blare of +trumpets burst upon our astonished ears. At the same time a thick +cloud of dust on the horizon told of the approach of a great army. My +heart sank when I perceived that the commander was the vizir who had +dethroned my father, and was come to seize the kingdom of my uncle. + +The capital was utterly unprepared to stand a siege, and seeing that +resistance was useless, at once opened its gates. My uncle fought hard +for his life, but was soon overpowered, and when he fell I managed to +escape through a secret passage, and took refuge with an officer whom I +knew I could trust. + +Persecuted by ill-fortune, and stricken with grief, there seemed to be +only one means of safety left to me. I shaved my beard and my +eyebrows, and put on the dress of a calender, in which it was easy for +me to travel without being known. I avoided the towns till I reached +the kingdom of the famous and powerful Caliph, Haroun-al-Raschid, when +I had no further reason to fear my enemies. It was my intention to +come to Bagdad and to throw myself at the feet of his Highness, who +would, I felt certain, be touched by my sad story, and would grant me, +besides, his help and protection. + +After a journey which lasted some months I arrived at length at the +gates of this city. It was sunset, and I paused for a little to look +about me, and to decide which way to turn my steps. I was still +debating on this subject when I was joined by this other calender, who +stopped to greet me. "You, like me, appear to be a stranger," I said. +He replied that I was right, and before he could say more the third +calender came up. He, also, was newly arrived in Bagdad, and being +brothers in misfortune, we resolved to cast in our lots together, and +to share whatever fate might have in store. + +By this time it had grown late, and we did not know where to spend the +night. But our lucky star having guided us to this door, we took the +liberty of knocking and of asking for shelter, which was given to us at +once with the best grace in the world. + +This, madam, is my story. + +"I am satisfied," replied Zobeida; "you can go when you like." + +The calender, however, begged leave to stay and to hear the histories +of his two friends and of the three other persons of the company, which +he was allowed to do. + + + +The Story of the Second Calendar, Son of a King + + +"Madam," said the young man, addressing Zobeida, "if you wish to know +how I lost my right eye, I shall have to tell you the story of my whole +life." + +I was scarcely more than a baby, when the king my father, finding me +unusually quick and clever for my age, turned his thoughts to my +education. I was taught first to read and write, and then to learn the +Koran, which is the basis of our holy religion, and the better to +understand it, I read with my tutors the ablest commentators on its +teaching, and committed to memory all the traditions respecting the +Prophet, which have been gathered from the mouth of those who were his +friends. I also learnt history, and was instructed in poetry, +versification, geography, chronology, and in all the outdoor exercises +in which every prince should excel. But what I liked best of all was +writing Arabic characters, and in this I soon surpassed my masters, and +gained a reputation in this branch of knowledge that reached as far as +India itself. + +Now the Sultan of the Indies, curious to see a young prince with such +strange tastes, sent an ambassador to my father, laden with rich +presents, and a warm invitation to visit his court. My father, who was +deeply anxious to secure the friendship of so powerful a monarch, and +held besides that a little travel would greatly improve my manners and +open my mind, accepted gladly, and in a short time I had set out for +India with the ambassador, attended only by a small suite on account of +the length of the journey, and the badness of the roads. However, as +was my duty, I took with me ten camels, laden with rich presents for +the Sultan. + +We had been travelling for about a month, when one day we saw a cloud +of dust moving swiftly towards us; and as soon as it came near, we +found that the dust concealed a band of fifty robbers. Our men barely +numbered half, and as we were also hampered by the camels, there was no +use in fighting, so we tried to overawe them by informing them who we +were, and whither we were going. The robbers, however, only laughed, +and declared that was none of their business, and, without more words, +attacked us brutally. I defended myself to the last, wounded though I +was, but at length, seeing that resistance was hopeless, and that the +ambassador and all our followers were made prisoners, I put spurs to my +horse and rode away as fast as I could, till the poor beast fell dead +from a wound in his side. I managed to jump off without any injury, +and looked about to see if I was pursued. But for the moment I was +safe, for, as I imagined, the robbers were all engaged in quarrelling +over their booty. + +I found myself in a country that was quite new to me, and dared not +return to the main road lest I should again fall into the hands of the +robbers. Luckily my wound was only a slight one, and after binding it +up as well as I could, I walked on for the rest of the day, till I +reached a cave at the foot of a mountain, where I passed the night in +peace, making my supper off some fruits I had gathered on the way. + +I wandered about for a whole month without knowing where I was going, +till at length I found myself on the outskirts of a beautiful city, +watered by winding streams, which enjoyed an eternal spring. My +delight at the prospect of mixing once more with human beings was +somewhat damped at the thought of the miserable object I must seem. My +face and hands had been burned nearly black; my clothes were all in +rags, and my shoes were in such a state that I had been forced to +abandon them altogether. + +I entered the town, and stopped at a tailor's shop to inquire where I +was. The man saw I was better than my condition, and begged me to sit +down, and in return I told him my whole story. The tailor listened +with attention, but his reply, instead of giving me consolation, only +increased my trouble. + +"Beware," he said, "of telling any one what you have told me, for the +prince who governs the kingdom is your father's greatest enemy, and he +will be rejoiced to find you in his power." + +I thanked the tailor for his counsel, and said I would do whatever he +advised; then, being very hungry, I gladly ate of the food he put +before me, and accepted his offer of a lodging in his house. + +In a few days I had quite recovered from the hardships I had undergone, +and then the tailor, knowing that it was the custom for the princes of +our religion to learn a trade or profession so as to provide for +themselves in times of ill-fortune, inquired if there was anything I +could do for my living. I replied that I had been educated as a +grammarian and a poet, but that my great gift was writing. + +"All that is of no use here," said the tailor. "Take my advice, put on +a short coat, and as you seem hardy and strong, go into the woods and +cut firewood, which you will sell in the streets. By this means you +will earn your living, and be able to wait till better times come. The +hatchet and the cord shall be my present." + +This counsel was very distasteful to me, but I thought I could not do +otherwise than adopt it. So the next morning I set out with a company +of poor wood-cutters, to whom the tailor had introduced me. Even on +the first day I cut enough wood to sell for a tolerable sum, and very +soon I became more expert, and had made enough money to repay the +tailor all he had lent me. + +I had been a wood-cutter for more than a year, when one day I wandered +further into the forest than I had ever done before, and reached a +delicious green glade, where I began to cut wood. I was hacking at the +root of a tree, when I beheld an iron ring fastened to a trapdoor of +the same metal. I soon cleared away the earth, and pulling up the +door, found a staircase, which I hastily made up my mind to go down, +carrying my hatchet with me by way of protection. When I reached the +bottom I discovered that I was in a huge palace, as brilliantly lighted +as any palace above ground that I had ever seen, with a long gallery +supported by pillars of jasper, ornamented with capitals of gold. Down +this gallery a lady came to meet me, of such beauty that I forgot +everything else, and thought only of her. + +To save her all the trouble possible, I hastened towards her, and bowed +low. + +"Who are you? Who are you?" she said. "A man or a genius?" + +"A man, madam," I replied; "I have nothing to do with genii." + +"By what accident do you come here?" she asked again with a sigh. "I +have been in this place now for five and twenty years, and you are the +first man who has visited me." + +Emboldened by her beauty and gentleness, I ventured to reply, "Before, +madam, I answer your question, allow me to say how grateful I am for +this meeting, which is not only a consolation to me in my own heavy +sorrow, but may perhaps enable me to render your lot happier," and then +I told her who I was, and how I had come there. + +"Alas, prince," she said, with a deeper sigh than before, "you have +guessed rightly in supposing me an unwilling prisoner in this gorgeous +place. I am the daughter of the king of the Ebony Isle, of whose fame +you surely must have heard. At my father's desire I was married to a +prince who was my own cousin; but on my very wedding day, I was +snatched up by a genius, and brought here in a faint. For a long while +I did nothing but weep, and would not suffer the genius to come near +me; but time teaches us submission, and I have now got accustomed to +his presence, and if clothes and jewels could content me, I have them +in plenty. Every tenth day, for five and twenty years, I have received +a visit from him, but in case I should need his help at any other time, +I have only to touch a talisman that stands at the entrance of my +chamber. It wants still five days to his next visit, and I hope that +during that time you will do me the honour to be my guest." + +I was too much dazzled by her beauty to dream of refusing her offer, +and accordingly the princess had me conducted to the bath, and a rich +dress befitting my rank was provided for me. Then a feast of the most +delicate dishes was served in a room hung with embroidered Indian +fabrics. + +Next day, when we were at dinner, I could maintain my patience no +longer, and implored the princess to break her bonds, and return with +me to the world which was lighted by the sun. + +"What you ask is impossible," she answered; "but stay here with me +instead, and we can be happy, and all you will have to do is to betake +yourself to the forest every tenth day, when I am expecting my master +the genius. He is very jealous, as you know, and will not suffer a man +to come near me." + +"Princess," I replied, "I see it is only fear of the genius that makes +you act like this. For myself, I dread him so little that I mean to +break his talisman in pieces! Awful though you think him, he shall +feel the weight of my arm, and I herewith take a solemn vow to stamp +out the whole race." + +The princess, who realized the consequences of such audacity, entreated +me not to touch the talisman. "If you do, it will be the ruin of both +of us," said she; "I know genii much better than you." But the wine I +had drunk had confused my brain; I gave one kick to the talisman, and +it fell into a thousand pieces. + +Hardly had my foot touched the talisman when the air became as dark as +night, a fearful noise was heard, and the palace shook to its very +foundations. In an instant I was sobered, and understood what I had +done. "Princess!" I cried, "what is happening?" + +"Alas!" she exclaimed, forgetting all her own terrors in anxiety for +me, "fly, or you are lost." + +I followed her advice and dashed up the staircase, leaving my hatchet +behind me. But I was too late. The palace opened and the genius +appeared, who, turning angrily to the princess, asked indignantly, + +"What is the matter, that you have sent for me like this?" + +"A pain in my heart," she replied hastily, "obliged me to seek the aid +of this little bottle. Feeling faint, I slipped and fell against the +talisman, which broke. That is really all." + +"You are an impudent liar!" cried the genius. "How did this hatchet +and those shoes get here?" + +"I never saw them before," she answered, "and you came in such a hurry +that you may have picked them up on the road without knowing it." To +this the genius only replied by insults and blows. I could hear the +shrieks and groans of the princess, and having by this time taken off +my rich garments and put on those in which I had arrived the previous +day, I lifted the trap, found myself once more in the forest, and +returned to my friend the tailor, with a light load of wood and a heart +full of shame and sorrow. + +The tailor, who had been uneasy at my long absence, was, delighted to +see me; but I kept silence about my adventure, and as soon as possible +retired to my room to lament in secret over my folly. While I was thus +indulging my grief my host entered, and said, "There is an old man +downstairs who has brought your hatchet and slippers, which he picked +up on the road, and now restores to you, as he found out from one of +your comrades where you lived. You had better come down and speak to +him yourself." At this speech I changed colour, and my legs trembled +under me. The tailor noticed my confusion, and was just going to +inquire the reason when the door of the room opened, and the old man +appeared, carrying with him my hatchet and shoes. + +"I am a genius," he said, "the son of the daughter of Eblis, prince of +the genii. Is not this hatchet yours, and these shoes?" Without +waiting for an answer--which, indeed, I could hardly have given him, so +great was my fright--he seized hold of me, and darted up into the air +with the quickness of lightning, and then, with equal swiftness, +dropped down towards the earth. When he touched the ground, he rapped +it with his foot; it opened, and we found ourselves in the enchanted +palace, in the presence of the beautiful princess of the Ebony Isle. +But how different she looked from what she was when I had last seen +her, for she was lying stretched on the ground covered with blood, and +weeping bitterly. + +"Traitress!" cried the genius, "is not this man your lover?" + +She lifted up her eyes slowly, and looked sadly at me. "I never saw +him before," she answered slowly. "I do not know who he is." + +"What!" exclaimed the genius, "you owe all your sufferings to him, and +yet you dare to say he is a stranger to you!" + +"But if he really is a stranger to me," she replied, "why should I tell +a lie and cause his death?" + +"Very well," said the genius, drawing his sword, "take this, and cut +off his head." + +"Alas," answered the princess, "I am too weak even to hold the sabre. +And supposing that I had the strength, why should I put an innocent man +to death?" + +"You condemn yourself by your refusal," said the genius; then turning +to me, he added, "and you, do you not know her?" + +"How should I?" I replied, resolved to imitate the princess in her +fidelity. "How should I, when I never saw her before?" + +"Cut her head off," then, "if she is a stranger to you, and I shall +believe you are speaking the truth, and will set you at liberty." + +"Certainly," I answered, taking the sabre in my hands, and making a +sign to the princess to fear nothing, as it was my own life that I was +about to sacrifice, and not hers. But the look of gratitude she gave +me shook my courage, and I flung the sabre to the earth. + +"I should not deserve to live," I said to the genius, "if I were such a +coward as to slay a lady who is not only unknown to me, but who is at +this moment half dead herself. Do with me as you will--I am in your +power--but I refuse to obey your cruel command." + +"I see," said the genius, "that you have both made up your minds to +brave me, but I will give you a sample of what you may expect." So +saying, with one sweep of his sabre he cut off a hand of the princess, +who was just able to lift the other to wave me an eternal farewell. +Then I lost consciousness for several minutes. + +When I came to myself I implored the genius to keep me no longer in +this state of suspense, but to lose no time in putting an end to my +sufferings. The genius, however, paid no attention to my prayers, but +said sternly, "That is the way in which a genius treats the woman who +has betrayed him. If I chose, I could kill you also; but I will be +merciful, and content myself with changing you into a dog, an ass, a +lion, or a bird--whichever you prefer." + +I caught eagerly at these words, as giving me a faint hope of softening +his wrath. "O genius!" I cried, "as you wish to spare my life, be +generous, and spare it altogether. Grant my prayer, and pardon my +crime, as the best man in the whole world forgave his neighbour who was +eaten up with envy of him." Contrary to my hopes, the genius seemed +interested in my words, and said he would like to hear the story of the +two neighbours; and as I think, madam, it may please you, I will tell +it to you also. + + + +The Story of the Envious Man and of Him Who Was Envied + + +In a town of moderate size, two men lived in neighbouring houses; but +they had not been there very long before one man took such a hatred of +the other, and envied him so bitterly, that the poor man determined to +find another home, hoping that when they no longer met every day his +enemy would forget all about him. So he sold his house and the little +furniture it contained, and moved into the capital of the country, +which was luckily at no great distance. About half a mile from this +city he bought a nice little place, with a large garden and a +fair-sized court, in the centre of which stood an old well. + +In order to live a quieter life, the good man put on the robe of a +dervish, and divided his house into a quantity of small cells, where he +soon established a number of other dervishes. The fame of his virtue +gradually spread abroad, and many people, including several of the +highest quality, came to visit him and ask his prayers. + +Of course it was not long before his reputation reached the ears of the +man who envied him, and this wicked wretch resolved never to rest till +he had in some way worked ill to the dervish whom he hated. So he left +his house and his business to look after themselves, and betook himself +to the new dervish monastery, where he was welcomed by the founder with +all the warmth imaginable. The excuse he gave for his appearance was +that he had come to consult the chief of the dervishes on a private +matter of great importance. "What I have to say must not be +overheard," he whispered; "command, I beg of you, that your dervishes +retire into their cells, as night is approaching, and meet me in the +court." + +The dervish did as he was asked without delay, and directly they were +alone together the envious man began to tell a long story, edging, as +they walked to and fro, always nearer to the well, and when they were +quite close, he seized the dervish and dropped him in. He then ran off +triumphantly, without having been seen by anyone, and congratulating +himself that the object of his hatred was dead, and would trouble him +no more. + +But in this he was mistaken! The old well had long been inhabited +(unknown to mere human beings) by a set of fairies and genii, who +caught the dervish as he fell, so that he received no hurt. The +dervish himself could see nothing, but he took for granted that +something strange had happened, or he must certainly have been dashed +against the side of the well and been killed. He lay quite still, and +in a moment he heard a voice saying, "Can you guess whom this man is +that we have saved from death?" + +"No," replied several other voices. + +And the first speaker answered, "I will tell you. This man, from pure +goodness of heart, forsook the town where he lived and came to dwell +here, in the hope of curing one of his neighbours of the envy he felt +towards him. But his character soon won him the esteem of all, and the +envious man's hatred grew, till he came here with the deliberate +intention of causing his death. And this he would have done, without +our help, the very day before the Sultan has arranged to visit this +holy dervish, and to entreat his prayers for the princess, his +daughter." + +"But what is the matter with the princess that she needs the dervish's +prayers?" asked another voice. + +"She has fallen into the power of the genius Maimoum, the son of +Dimdim," replied the first voice. "But it would be quite simple for +this holy chief of the dervishes to cure her if he only knew! In his +convent there is a black cat which has a tiny white tip to its tail. +Now to cure the princess the dervish must pull out seven of these white +hairs, burn three, and with their smoke perfume the head of the +princess. This will deliver her so completely that Maimoum, the son of +Dimdim, will never dare to approach her again." + +The fairies and genii ceased talking, but the dervish did not forget a +word of all they had said; and when morning came he perceived a place +in the side of the well which was broken, and where he could easily +climb out. + +The dervishes, who could not imagine what had become of him, were +enchanted at his reappearance. He told them of the attempt on his life +made by his guest of the previous day, and then retired into his cell. +He was soon joined here by the black cat of which the voice had spoken, +who came as usual to say good-morning to his master. He took him on +his knee and seized the opportunity to pull seven white hairs out of +his tail, and put them on one side till they were needed. + +The sun had not long risen before the Sultan, who was anxious to leave +nothing undone that might deliver the princess, arrived with a large +suite at the gate of the monastery, and was received by the dervishes +with profound respect. The Sultan lost no time in declaring the object +of his visit, and leading the chief of the dervishes aside, he said to +him, "Noble scheik, you have guessed perhaps what I have come to ask +you?" + +"Yes, sire," answered the dervish; "if I am not mistaken, it is the +illness of the princess which has procured me this honour." + +"You are right," returned the Sultan, "and you will give me fresh life +if you can by your prayers deliver my daughter from the strange malady +that has taken possession of her." + +"Let your highness command her to come here, and I will see what I can +do." + +The Sultan, full of hope, sent orders at once that the princess was to +set out as soon as possible, accompanied by her usual staff of +attendants. When she arrived, she was so thickly veiled that the +dervish could not see her face, but he desired a brazier to be held +over her head, and laid the seven hairs on the burning coals. The +instant they were consumed, terrific cries were heard, but no one could +tell from whom they proceeded. Only the dervish guessed that they were +uttered by Maimoum the son of Dimdim, who felt the princess escaping +him. + +All this time she had seemed unconscious of what she was doing, but now +she raised her hand to her veil and uncovered her face. "Where am I?" +she said in a bewildered manner; "and how did I get here?" + +The Sultan was so delighted to hear these words that he not only +embraced his daughter, but kissed the hand of the dervish. Then, +turning to his attendants who stood round, he said to them, "What +reward shall I give to the man who has restored me my daughter?" + +They all replied with one accord that he deserved the hand of the +princess. + +"That is my own opinion," said he, "and from this moment I declare him +to be my son-in-law." + +Shortly after these events, the grand-vizir died, and his post was +given to the dervish. But he did not hold it for long, for the Sultan +fell a victim to an attack of illness, and as he had no sons, the +soldiers and priests declared the dervish heir to the throne, to the +great joy of all the people. + +One day, when the dervish, who had now become Sultan, was making a +royal progress with his court, he perceived the envious man standing in +the crowd. He made a sign to one of his vizirs, and whispered in his +ear, "Fetch me that man who is standing out there, but take great care +not to frighten him." The vizir obeyed, and when the envious man was +brought before the Sultan, the monarch said to him, "My friend, I am +delighted to see you again." Then turning to an officer, he added, +"Give him a thousand pieces of gold out of my treasury, and twenty +waggon-loads of merchandise out of my private stores, and let an escort +of soldiers accompany him home." He then took leave of the envious +man, and went on his way. + +Now when I had ended my story, I proceeded to show the genius how to +apply it to himself. "O genius," I said, "you see that this Sultan was +not content with merely forgiving the envious man for the attempt on +his life; he heaped rewards and riches upon him." + +But the genius had made up his mind, and could not be softened. "Do +not imagine that you are going to escape so easily," he said. "All I +can do is to give you bare life; you will have to learn what happens to +people who interfere with me." + +As he spoke he seized me violently by the arm; the roof of the palace +opened to make way for us, and we mounted up so high into the air that +the earth looked like a little cloud. Then, as before, he came down +with the swiftness of lightning, and we touched the ground on a +mountain top. + +Then he stooped and gathered a handful of earth, and murmured some +words over it, after which he threw the earth in my face, saying as he +did so, "Quit the form of a man, and assume that of a monkey." This +done, he vanished, and I was in the likeness of an ape, and in a +country I had never seen before. + +However there was no use in stopping where I was, so I came down the +mountain and found myself in a flat plain which was bounded by the sea. +I travelled towards it, and was pleased to see a vessel moored about +half a mile from shore. There were no waves, so I broke off the branch +of a tree, and dragging it down to the water's edge, sat across it, +while, using two sticks for oars, I rowed myself towards the ship. + +The deck was full of people, who watched my progress with interest, but +when I seized a rope and swung myself on board, I found that I had only +escaped death at the hands of the genius to perish by those of the +sailors, lest I should bring ill-luck to the vessel and the merchants. +"Throw him into the sea!" cried one. "Knock him on the head with a +hammer," exclaimed another. "Let me shoot him with an arrow," said a +third; and certainly somebody would have had his way if I had not flung +myself at the captain's feet and grasped tight hold of his dress. He +appeared touched by my action and patted my head, and declared that he +would take me under his protection, and that no one should do me any +harm. + +At the end of about fifty days we cast anchor before a large town, and +the ship was immediately surrounded by a multitude of small boats +filled with people, who had come either to meet their friends or from +simple curiosity. Among others, one boat contained several officials, +who asked to see the merchants on board, and informed them that they +had been sent by the Sultan in token of welcome, and to beg them each +to write a few lines on a roll of paper. "In order to explain this +strange request," continued the officers, "it is necessary that you +should know that the grand-vizir, lately dead, was celebrated for his +beautiful handwriting, and the Sultan is anxious to find a similar +talent in his successor. Hitherto the search has been a failure, but +his Highness has not yet given up hope." + +One after another the merchants set down a few lines upon the roll, and +when they had all finished, I came forward, and snatched the paper from +the man who held it. At first they all thought I was going to throw it +into the sea, but they were quieted when they saw I held it with great +care, and great was their surprise when I made signs that I too wished +to write something. + +"Let him do it if he wants to," said the captain. "If he only makes a +mess of the paper, you may be sure I will punish him for it. But if, +as I hope, he really can write, for he is the cleverest monkey I ever +saw, I will adopt him as my son. The one I lost had not nearly so much +sense!" + +No more was said, and I took the pen and wrote the six sorts of writing +in use among the Arabs, and each sort contained an original verse or +couplet, in praise of the Sultan. And not only did my handwriting +completely eclipse that of the merchants, but it is hardly too much to +say that none so beautiful had ever before been seen in that country. +When I had ended the officials took the roll and returned to the Sultan. + +As soon as the monarch saw my writing he did not so much as look at the +samples of the merchants, but desired his officials to take the finest +and most richly caparisoned horse in his stables, together with the +most magnificent dress they could procure, and to put it on the person +who had written those lines, and bring him to court. + +The officials began to laugh when they heard the Sultan's command, but +as soon as they could speak they said, "Deign, your highness, to excuse +our mirth, but those lines were not written by a man but by a monkey." + +"A monkey!" exclaimed the Sultan. + +"Yes, sire," answered the officials. "They were written by a monkey in +our presence." + +"Then bring me the monkey," he replied, "as fast as you can." + +The Sultan's officials returned to the ship and showed the royal order +to the captain. + +"He is the master," said the good man, and desired that I should be +sent for. + +Then they put on me the gorgeous robe and rowed me to land, where I was +placed on the horse and led to the palace. Here the Sultan was +awaiting me in great state surrounded by his court. + +All the way along the streets I had been the object of curiosity to a +vast crowd, which had filled every doorway and every window, and it was +amidst their shouts and cheers that I was ushered into the presence of +the Sultan. + +I approached the throne on which he was seated and made him three low +bows, then prostrated myself at his feet to the surprise of everyone, +who could not understand how it was possible that a monkey should be +able to distinguish a Sultan from other people, and to pay him the +respect due to his rank. However, excepting the usual speech, I +omitted none of the common forms attending a royal audience. + +When it was over the Sultan dismissed all the court, keeping with him +only the chief of the eunuchs and a little slave. He then passed into +another room and ordered food to be brought, making signs to me to sit +at table with him and eat. I rose from my seat, kissed the ground, and +took my place at the table, eating, as you may suppose, with care and +in moderation. + +Before the dishes were removed I made signs that writing materials, +which stood in one corner of the room, should be laid in front of me. +I then took a peach and wrote on it some verses in praise of the +Sultan, who was speechless with astonishment; but when I did the same +thing on a glass from which I had drunk he murmured to himself, "Why, a +man who could do as much would be cleverer than any other man, and this +is only a monkey!" + +Supper being over chessmen were brought, and the Sultan signed to me to +know if I would play with him. I kissed the ground and laid my hand on +my head to show that I was ready to show myself worthy of the honour. +He beat me the first game, but I won the second and third, and seeing +that this did not quite please I dashed off a verse by way of +consolation. + +The Sultan was so enchanted with all the talents of which I had given +proof that he wished me to exhibit some of them to other people. So +turning to the chief of the eunuchs he said, "Go and beg my daughter, +Queen of Beauty, to come here. I will show her something she has never +seen before." + +The chief of the eunuchs bowed and left the room, ushering in a few +moments later the princess, Queen of Beauty. Her face was uncovered, +but the moment she set foot in the room she threw her veil over her +head. "Sire," she said to her father, "what can you be thinking of to +summon me like this into the presence of a man?" + +"I do not understand you," replied the Sultan. "There is nobody here +but the eunuch, who is your own servant, the little slave, and myself, +yet you cover yourself with your veil and reproach me for having sent +for you, as if I had committed a crime." + +"Sire," answered the princess, "I am right and you are wrong. This +monkey is really no monkey at all, but a young prince who has been +turned into a monkey by the wicked spells of a genius, son of the +daughter of Eblis." + +As will be imagined, these words took the Sultan by surprise, and he +looked at me to see how I should take the statement of the princess. +As I was unable to speak, I placed my hand on my head to show that it +was true. + +"But how do you know this, my daughter?" asked he. + +"Sire," replied Queen of Beauty, "the old lady who took care of me in +my childhood was an accomplished magician, and she taught me seventy +rules of her art, by means of which I could, in the twinkling of an +eye, transplant your capital into the middle of the ocean. Her art +likewise teaches me to recognise at first sight all persons who are +enchanted, and tells me by whom the spell was wrought." + +"My daughter," said the Sultan, "I really had no idea you were so +clever." + +"Sire," replied the princess, "there are many out-of-the-way things it +is as well to know, but one should never boast of them." + +"Well," asked the Sultan, "can you tell me what must be done to +disenchant the young prince?" + +"Certainly; and I can do it." + +"Then restore him to his former shape," cried the Sultan. "You could +give me no greater pleasure, for I wish to make him my grand-vizir, and +to give him to you for your husband." + +"As your Highness pleases," replied the princess. + +Queen of Beauty rose and went to her chamber, from which she fetched a +knife with some Hebrew words engraven on the blade. She then desired +the Sultan, the chief of the eunuchs, the little slave, and myself to +descend into a secret court of the palace, and placed us beneath a +gallery which ran all round, she herself standing in the centre of the +court. Here she traced a large circle and in it wrote several words in +Arab characters. + +When the circle and the writing were finished she stood in the middle +of it and repeated some verses from the Koran. Slowly the air grew +dark, and we felt as if the earth was about to crumble away, and our +fright was by no means diminished at seeing the genius, son of the +daughter of Eblis, suddenly appear under the form of a colossal lion. + +"Dog," cried the princess when she first caught sight of him, "you +think to strike terror into me by daring to present yourself before me +in this hideous shape." + +"And you," retorted the lion, "have not feared to break our treaty that +engaged solemnly we should never interfere with each other." + +"Accursed genius!" exclaimed the princess, "it is you by whom that +treaty was first broken." + +"I will teach you how to give me so much trouble," said the lion, and +opening his huge mouth he advanced to swallow her. But the princess +expected something of the sort and was on her guard. She bounded on +one side, and seizing one of the hairs of his mane repeated two or +three words over it. In an instant it became a sword, and with a sharp +blow she cut the lion's body into two pieces. These pieces vanished no +one knew where, and only the lion's head remained, which was at once +changed into a scorpion. Quick as thought the princess assumed the +form of a serpent and gave battle to the scorpion, who, finding he was +getting the worst of it, turned himself into an eagle and took flight. +But in a moment the serpent had become an eagle more powerful still, +who soared up in the air and after him, and then we lost sight of them +both. + +We all remained where we were quaking with anxiety, when the ground +opened in front of us and a black and white cat leapt out, its hair +standing on end, and miauing frightfully. At its heels was a wolf, who +had almost seized it, when the cat changed itself into a worm, and, +piercing the skin of a pomegranate which had tumbled from a tree, hid +itself in the fruit. The pomegranate swelled till it grew as large as +a pumpkin, and raised itself on to the roof of the gallery, from which +it fell into the court and was broken into bits. While this was taking +place the wolf, who had transformed himself into a cock, began to +swallow the seed of the pomegranate as fast as he could. When all were +gone he flew towards us, flapping his wings as if to ask if we saw any +more, when suddenly his eye fell on one which lay on the bank of the +little canal that flowed through the court; he hastened towards it, but +before he could touch it the seed rolled into the canal and became a +fish. The cock flung himself in after the fish and took the shape of a +pike, and for two hours they chased each other up and down under the +water, uttering horrible cries, but we could see nothing. At length +they rose from the water in their proper forms, but darting such flames +of fire from their mouths that we dreaded lest the palace should catch +fire. Soon, however, we had much greater cause for alarm, as the +genius, having shaken off the princess, flew towards us. Our fate +would have been sealed if the princess, seeing our danger, had not +attracted the attention of the genius to herself. As it was, the +Sultan's beard was singed and his face scorched, the chief of the +eunuchs was burned to a cinder, while a spark deprived me of the sight +of one eye. Both I and the Sultan had given up all hope of a rescue, +when there was a shout of "Victory, victory!" from the princess, and +the genius lay at her feet a great heap of ashes. + +Exhausted though she was, the princess at once ordered the little +slave, who alone was uninjured, to bring her a cup of water, which she +took in her hand. First repeating some magic words over it, she dashed +it into my face saying, "If you are only a monkey by enchantment, +resume the form of the man you were before." In an instant I stood +before her the same man I had formerly been, though having lost the +sight of one eye. + +I was about to fall on my knees and thank the princess but she did not +give me time. Turning to the Sultan, her father, she said, "Sire, I +have gained the battle, but it has cost me dear. The fire has +penetrated to my heart, and I have only a few moments to live. This +would not have happened if I had only noticed the last pomegranate seed +and eaten it like the rest. It was the last struggle of the genius, +and up to that time I was quite safe. But having let this chance slip +I was forced to resort to fire, and in spite of all his experience I +showed the genius that I knew more than he did. He is dead and in +ashes, but my own death is approaching fast." "My daughter," cried the +Sultan, "how sad is my condition! I am only surprised I am alive at +all! The eunuch is consumed by the flames, and the prince whom you +have delivered has lost the sight of one eye." He could say no more, +for sobs choked his voice, and we all wept together. + +Suddenly the princess shrieked, "I burn, I burn!" and death came to +free her from her torments. + +I have no words, madam, to tell you of my feelings at this terrible +sight. I would rather have remained a monkey all my life than let my +benefactress perish in this shocking manner. As for the Sultan, he was +quite inconsolable, and his subjects, who had dearly loved the +princess, shared his grief. For seven days the whole nation mourned, +and then the ashes of the princess were buried with great pomp, and a +superb tomb was raised over her. + +As soon as the Sultan recovered from the severe illness which had +seized him after the death of the princess he sent for me and plainly, +though politely, informed me that my presence would always remind him +of his loss, and he begged that I would instantly quit his kingdom, and +on pain of death never return to it. I was, of course, bound to obey, +and not knowing what was to become of me I shaved my beard and eyebrows +and put on the dress of a calender. After wandering aimlessly through +several countries, I resolved to come to Bagdad and request an audience +of the Commander of the Faithful. + +And that, madam, is my story. + +The other Calender then told his story. + + + +The Story of the Third Calendar, Son of a King + + +My story, said the Third Calender, is quite different from those of my +two friends. It was fate that deprived them of the sight of their +right eyes, but mine was lost by my own folly. + +My name is Agib, and I am the son of a king called Cassib, who reigned +over a large kingdom, which had for its capital one of the finest +seaport towns in the world. + +When I succeeded to my father's throne my first care was to visit the +provinces on the mainland, and then to sail to the numerous islands +which lay off the shore, in order to gain the hearts of my subjects. +These voyages gave me such a taste for sailing that I soon determined +to explore more distant seas, and commanded a fleet of large ships to +be got ready without delay. When they were properly fitted out I +embarked on my expedition. + +For forty days wind and weather were all in our favour, but the next +night a terrific storm arose, which blew us hither and thither for ten +days, till the pilot confessed that he had quite lost his bearings. +Accordingly a sailor was sent up to the masthead to try to catch a +sight of land, and reported that nothing was to be seen but the sea and +sky, except a huge mass of blackness that lay astern. + +On hearing this the pilot grew white, and, beating his breast, he +cried, "Oh, sir, we are lost, lost!" till the ship's crew trembled at +they knew not what. When he had recovered himself a little, and was +able to explain the cause of his terror, he replied, in answer to my +question, that we had drifted far out of our course, and that the +following day about noon we should come near that mass of darkness, +which, said he, is nothing but the famous Black Mountain. This +mountain is composed of adamant, which attracts to itself all the iron +and nails in your ship; and as we are helplessly drawn nearer, the +force of attraction will become so great that the iron and nails will +fall out of the ships and cling to the mountain, and the ships will +sink to the bottom with all that are in them. This it is that causes +the side of the mountain towards the sea to appear of such a dense +blackness. + +As may be supposed--continued the pilot--the mountain sides are very +rugged, but on the summit stands a brass dome supported on pillars, and +bearing on top the figure of a brass horse, with a rider on his back. +This rider wears a breastplate of lead, on which strange signs and +figures are engraved, and it is said that as long as this statue +remains on the dome, vessels will never cease to perish at the foot of +the mountain. + +So saying, the pilot began to weep afresh, and the crew, fearing their +last hour had come, made their wills, each one in favour of his fellow. + +At noon next day, as the pilot had foretold, we were so near to the +Black Mountain that we saw all the nails and iron fly out of the ships +and dash themselves against the mountain with a horrible noise. A +moment after the vessels fell asunder and sank, the crews with them. I +alone managed to grasp a floating plank, and was driven ashore by the +wind, without even a scratch. What was my joy on finding myself at the +bottom of some steps which led straight up the mountain, for there was +not another inch to the right or the left where a man could set his +foot. And, indeed, even the steps themselves were so narrow and so +steep that, if the lightest breeze had arisen, I should certainly have +been blown into the sea. + +When I reached the top I found the brass dome and the statue exactly as +the pilot had described, but was too wearied with all I had gone +through to do more than glance at them, and, flinging myself under the +dome, was asleep in an instant. In my dreams an old man appeared to me +and said, "Hearken, Agib! As soon as thou art awake dig up the ground +underfoot, and thou shalt find a bow of brass and three arrows of lead. +Shoot the arrows at the statue, and the rider shall tumble into the +sea, but the horse will fall down by thy side, and thou shalt bury him +in the place from which thou tookest the bow and arrows. This being +done the sea will rise and cover the mountain, and on it thou wilt +perceive the figure of a metal man seated in a boat, having an oar in +each hand. Step on board and let him conduct thee; but if thou +wouldest behold thy kingdom again, see that thou takest not the name of +Allah into thy mouth." + +Having uttered these words the vision left me, and I woke, much +comforted. I sprang up and drew the bow and arrows out of the ground, +and with the third shot the horseman fell with a great crash into the +sea, which instantly began to rise, so rapidly, that I had hardly time +to bury the horse before the boat approached me. I stepped silently in +and sat down, and the metal man pushed off, and rowed without stopping +for nine days, after which land appeared on the horizon. I was so +overcome with joy at this sight that I forgot all the old man had told +me, and cried out, "Allah be praised! Allah be praised!" + +The words were scarcely out of my mouth when the boat and man sank from +beneath me, and left me floating on the surface. All that day and the +next night I swam and floated alternately, making as well as I could +for the land which was nearest to me. At last my strength began to +fail, and I gave myself up for lost, when the wind suddenly rose, and a +huge wave cast me on a flat shore. Then, placing myself in safety, I +hastily spread my clothes out to dry in the sun, and flung myself on +the warm ground to rest. + +Next morning I dressed myself and began to look about me. There seemed +to be no one but myself on the island, which was covered with fruit +trees and watered with streams, but seemed a long distance from the +mainland which I hoped to reach. Before, however, I had time to feel +cast down, I saw a ship making directly for the island, and not knowing +whether it would contain friends or foes, I hid myself in the thick +branches of a tree. + +The sailors ran the ship into a creek, where ten slaves landed, +carrying spades and pickaxes. In the middle of the island they +stopped, and after digging some time, lifted up what seemed to be a +trapdoor. They then returned to the vessel two or three times for +furniture and provisions, and finally were accompanied by an old man, +leading a handsome boy of fourteen or fifteen years of age. They all +disappeared down the trapdoor, and after remaining below for a few +minutes came up again, but without the boy, and let down the trapdoor, +covering it with earth as before. This done, they entered the ship and +set sail. + +As soon as they were out of sight, I came down from my tree, and went +to the place where the boy had been buried. I dug up the earth till I +reached a large stone with a ring in the centre. This, when removed, +disclosed a flight of stone steps which led to a large room richly +furnished and lighted by tapers. On a pile of cushions, covered with +tapestry, sat the boy. He looked up, startled and frightened at the +sight of a stranger in such a place, and to soothe his fears, I at once +spoke: "Be not alarmed, sir, whoever you may be. I am a king, and the +son of a king, and will do you no hurt. On the contrary, perhaps I +have been sent here to deliver you out of this tomb, where you have +been buried alive." + +Hearing my words, the young man recovered himself, and when I had +ended, he said, "The reasons, Prince, that have caused me to be buried +in this place are so strange that they cannot but surprise you. My +father is a rich merchant, owning much land and many ships, and has +great dealings in precious stones, but he never ceased mourning that he +had no child to inherit his wealth. + +"At length one day he dreamed that the following year a son would be +born to him, and when this actually happened, he consulted all the wise +men in the kingdom as to the future of the infant. One and all they +said the same thing. I was to live happily till I was fifteen, when a +terrible danger awaited me, which I should hardly escape. If, however, +I should succeed in doing so, I should live to a great old age. And, +they added, when the statue of the brass horse on the top of the +mountain of adamant is thrown into the sea by Agib, the son of Cassib, +then beware, for fifty days later your son shall fall by his hand! + +"This prophecy struck the heart of my father with such woe, that he +never got over it, but that did not prevent him from attending +carefully to my education till I attained, a short time ago, my +fifteenth birthday. It was only yesterday that the news reached him +that ten days previously the statue of brass had been thrown into the +sea, and he at once set about hiding me in this underground chamber, +which was built for the purpose, promising to fetch me out when the +forty days have passed. For myself, I have no fears, as Prince Agib is +not likely to come here to look for me." + +I listened to his story with an inward laugh as to the absurdity of my +ever wishing to cause the death of this harmless boy, whom I hastened +to assure of my friendship and even of my protection; begging him, in +return, to convey me in his father's ship to my own country. I need +hardly say that I took special care not to inform him that I was the +Agib whom he dreaded. + +The day passed in conversation on various subjects, and I found him a +youth of ready wit and of some learning. I took on myself the duties +of a servant, held the basin and water for him when he washed, prepared +the dinner and set it on the table. He soon grew to love me, and for +thirty-nine days we spent as pleasant an existence as could be expected +underground. + +The morning of the fortieth dawned, and the young man when he woke gave +thanks in an outburst of joy that the danger was passed. "My father +may be here at any moment," said he, "so make me, I pray you, a bath of +hot water, that I may bathe, and change my clothes, and be ready to +receive him." + +So I fetched the water as he asked, and washed and rubbed him, after +which he lay down again and slept a little. When he opened his eyes +for the second time, he begged me to bring him a melon and some sugar, +that he might eat and refresh himself. + +I soon chose a fine melon out of those which remained, but could find +no knife to cut it with. "Look in the cornice over my head," said he, +"and I think you will see one." It was so high above me, that I had +some difficulty in reaching it, and catching my foot in the covering of +the bed, I slipped, and fell right upon the young man, the knife going +straight into his heart. + +At this awful sight I shrieked aloud in my grief and pain. I threw +myself on the ground and rent my clothes and tore my hair with sorrow. +Then, fearing to be punished as his murderer by the unhappy father, I +raised the great stone which blocked the staircase, and quitting the +underground chamber, made everything fast as before. + +Scarcely had I finished when, looking out to sea, I saw the vessel +heading for the island, and, feeling that it would be useless for me to +protest my innocence, I again concealed myself among the branches of a +tree that grew near by. + +The old man and his slaves pushed off in a boat directly the ship +touched land, and walked quickly towards the entrance to the +underground chamber; but when they were near enough to see that the +earth had been disturbed, they paused and changed colour. In silence +they all went down and called to the youth by name; then for a moment I +heard no more. Suddenly a fearful scream rent the air, and the next +instant the slaves came up the steps, carrying with them the body of +the old man, who had fainted from sorrow! Laying him down at the foot +of the tree in which I had taken shelter, they did their best to +recover him, but it took a long while. When at last he revived, they +left him to dig a grave, and then laying the young man's body in it, +they threw in the earth. + +This ended, the slaves brought up all the furniture that remained +below, and put it on the vessel, and breaking some boughs to weave a +litter, they laid the old man on it, and carried him to the ship, which +spread its sails and stood out to sea. + +So once more I was quite alone, and for a whole month I walked daily +over the island, seeking for some chance of escape. At length one day +it struck me that my prison had grown much larger, and that the +mainland seemed to be nearer. My heart beat at this thought, which was +almost too good to be true. I watched a little longer: there was no +doubt about it, and soon there was only a tiny stream for me to cross. + +Even when I was safe on the other side I had a long distance to go on +the mud and sand before I reached dry ground, and very tired I was, +when far in front of me I caught sight of a castle of red copper, +which, at first sight, I took to be a fire. I made all the haste I +could, and after some miles of hard walking stood before it, and gazed +at it in astonishment, for it seemed to me the most wonderful building +I had ever beheld. While I was still staring at it, there came towards +me a tall old man, accompanied by ten young men, all handsome, and all +blind of the right eye. + +Now in its way, the spectacle of ten men walking together, all blind of +the right eye, is as uncommon as that of a copper castle, and I was +turning over in my mind what could be the meaning of this strange fact, +when they greeted me warmly, and inquired what had brought me there. I +replied that my story was somewhat long, but that if they would take +the trouble to sit down, I should be happy to tell it them. When I had +finished, the young men begged that I would go with them to the castle, +and I joyfully accepted their offer. We passed through what seemed to +me an endless number of rooms, and came at length into a large hall, +furnished with ten small blue sofas for the ten young men, which served +as beds as well as chairs, and with another sofa in the middle for the +old man. As none of the sofas could hold more than one person, they +bade me place myself on the carpet, and to ask no questions about +anything I should see. + +After a little while the old man rose and brought in supper, which I +ate heartily, for I was very hungry. Then one of the young men begged +me to repeat my story, which had struck them all with astonishment, and +when I had ended, the old man was bidden to "do his duty," as it was +late, and they wished to go to bed. At these words he rose, and went +to a closet, from which he brought out ten basins, all covered with +blue stuff. He set one before each of the young men, together with a +lighted taper. + +When the covers were taken off the basins, I saw they were filled with +ashes, coal-dust, and lamp-black. The young men mixed these all +together, and smeared the whole over their heads and faces. They then +wept and beat their breasts, crying, "This is the fruit of idleness, +and of our wicked lives." + +This ceremony lasted nearly the whole night, and when it stopped they +washed themselves carefully, and put on fresh clothes, and lay down to +sleep. + +All this while I had refrained from questions, though my curiosity +almost seemed to burn a hole in me, but the following day, when we went +out to walk, I said to them, "Gentlemen, I must disobey your wishes, +for I can keep silence no more. You do not appear to lack wit, yet you +do such actions as none but madmen could be capable of. Whatever +befalls me I cannot forbear asking, `Why you daub your faces with +black, and how it is you are all blind of one eye?'" But they only +answered that such questions were none of my business, and that I +should do well to hold my peace. + +During that day we spoke of other things, but when night came, and the +same ceremony was repeated, I implored them most earnestly to let me +know the meaning of it all. + +"It is for your own sake," replied one of the young men, "that we have +not granted your request, and to preserve you from our unfortunate +fate. If, however, you wish to share our destiny we will delay no +longer." + +I answered that whatever might be the consequence I wished to have my +curiosity satisfied, and that I would take the result on my own head. +He then assured me that, even when I had lost my eye, I should be +unable to remain with them, as their number was complete, and could not +be added to. But to this I replied that, though I should be grieved to +part company with such honest gentlemen, I would not be turned from my +resolution on that account. + +On hearing my determination my ten hosts then took a sheep and killed +it, and handed me a knife, which they said I should by-and-by find +useful. "We must sew you into this sheep-skin," said they, "and then +leave you. A fowl of monstrous size, called a roc, will appear in the +air, taking you to be a sheep. He will snatch you up and carry you +into the sky, but be not alarmed, for he will bring you safely down and +lay you on the top of a mountain. When you are on the ground cut the +skin with the knife and throw it off. As soon as the roc sees you he +will fly away from fear, but you must walk on till you come to a castle +covered with plates of gold, studded with jewels. Enter boldly at the +gate, which always stands open, but do not ask us to tell you what we +saw or what befel us there, for that you will learn for yourself. This +only we may say, that it cost us each our right eye, and has imposed +upon us our nightly penance." + +After the young gentlemen had been at the trouble of sewing the +sheep-skin on me they left me, and retired to the hall. In a few +minutes the roc appeared, and bore me off to the top of the mountain in +his huge claws as lightly as if I had been a feather, for this great +white bird is so strong that he has been known to carry even an +elephant to his nest in the hills. + +The moment my feet touched the ground I took out my knife and cut the +threads that bound me, and the sight of me in my proper clothes so +alarmed the roc that he spread his wings and flew away. Then I set out +to seek the castle. + +I found it after wandering about for half a day, and never could I have +imagined anything so glorious. The gate led into a square court, into +which opened a hundred doors, ninety-nine of them being of rare woods +and one of gold. Through each of these doors I caught glimpses of +splendid gardens or of rich storehouses. + +Entering one of the doors which was standing open I found myself in a +vast hall where forty young ladies, magnificently dressed, and of +perfect beauty, were reclining. As soon as they saw me they rose and +uttered words of welcome, and even forced me to take possession of a +seat that was higher than their own, though my proper place was at +their feet. Not content with this, one brought me splendid garments, +while another filled a basin with scented water and poured it over my +hands, and the rest busied themselves with preparing refreshments. +After I had eaten and drunk of the most delicate food and rarest wines, +the ladies crowded round me and begged me to tell them all my +adventures. + +By the time I had finished night had fallen, and the ladies lighted up +the castle with such a prodigious quantity of tapers that even day +could hardly have been brighter. We then sat down to a supper of dried +fruits and sweetmeats, after which some sang and others danced. I was +so well amused that I did not notice how the time was passing, but at +length one of the ladies approached and informed me it was midnight, +and that, as I must be tired, she would conduct me to the room that had +been prepared for me. Then, bidding me good-night, I was left to sleep. + +I spent the next thirty-nine days in much the same way as the first, +but at the close of that time the ladies appeared (as was their custom) +in my room one morning to inquire how I had slept, and instead of +looking cheerful and smiling they were in floods of tears. "Prince," +said they, "we must leave you, and never was it so hard to part from +any of our friends. Most likely we shall never see you again, but if +you have sufficient self-command perhaps we may yet look forward to a +meeting." + +"Ladies," I replied, "what is the meaning of these strange words--I +pray you to tell me?" + +"Know then," answered one of them, "that we are all princesses--each a +king's daughter. We live in this castle together, in the way that you +have seen, but at the end of every year secret duties call us away for +the space of forty days. The time has now come; but before we depart, +we will leave you our keys, so that you may not lack entertainment +during our absence. But one thing we would ask of you. The Golden +Door, alone, forbear to open, as you value your own peace, and the +happiness of your life. That door once unlocked, we must bid you +farewell for ever." + +Weeping, I assured them of my prudence, and after embracing me +tenderly, they went their ways. + +Every day I opened two or three fresh doors, each of which contained +behind it so many curious things that I had no chance of feeling dull, +much as I regretted the absence of the ladies. Sometimes it was an +orchard, whose fruit far exceeded in bigness any that grew in my +father's garden. Sometimes it was a court planted with roses, +jessamine, dafeodils, hyacinths and anemones, and a thousand other +flowers of which I did not know the names. Or again, it would be an +aviary, fitted with all kinds of singing birds, or a treasury heaped up +with precious stones; but whatever I might see, all was perfect of its +own sort. + +Thirty-nine days passed away more rapidly than I could have conceived +possible, and the following morning the princesses were to return to +the castle. But alas! I had explored every corner, save only the room +that was shut in by the Golden Door, and I had no longer anything to +amuse myself with. I stood before the forbidden place for some time, +gazing at its beauty; then a happy inspiration struck me, that because +I unlocked the door it was not necessary that I should enter the +chamber. It would be enough for me to stand outside and view whatever +hidden wonders might be therein. + +Thus arguing against my own conscience, I turned the key, when a smell +rushed out that, pleasant though it was, overcame me completely, and I +fell fainting across the threshold. Instead of being warned by this +accident, directly I came to myself I went for a few moments into the +air to shake of the effects of the perfume, and then entered boldly. I +found myself in a large, vaulted room, lighted by tapers, scented with +aloes and ambergris, standing in golden candle-sticks, whilst gold and +silver lamps hung from the ceiling. + +Though objects of rare workmanship lay heaped around me, I paid them +scant attention, so much was I struck by a great black horse which +stood in one corner, the handsomest and best-shaped animal I had ever +seen. His saddle and bridle were of massive gold, curiously wrought; +one side of his trough was filled with clean barley and sesame, and the +other with rose water. I led the animal into the open air, and then +jumped on his back, shaking the reins as I did so, but as he never +stirred, I touched him lightly with a switch I had picked up in his +stable. No sooner did he feel the stroke, than he spread his wings +(which I had not perceived before), and flew up with me straight into +the sky. When he had reached a prodigious height, he next darted back +to earth, and alighted on the terrace belonging to a castle, shaking me +violently out of the saddle as he did so, and giving me such a blow +with his tail, that he knocked out my right eye. + +Half-stunned as I was with all that had happened to me, I rose to my +feet, thinking as I did so of what had befallen the ten young men, and +watching the horse which was soaring into the clouds. I left the +terrace and wandered on till I came to a hall, which I knew to have +been the one from which the roc had taken me, by the ten blue sofas +against the wall. + +The ten young men were not present when I first entered, but came in +soon after, accompanied by the old man. They greeted me kindly, and +bewailed my misfortune, though, indeed, they had expected nothing less. +"All that has happened to you," they said, "we also have undergone, and +we should be enjoying the same happiness still, had we not opened the +Golden Door while the princesses were absent. You have been no wiser +than we, and have suffered the same punishment. We would gladly +receive you among us, to perform such penance as we do, but we have +already told you that this is impossible. Depart, therefore, from +hence and go to the Court of Bagdad, where you shall meet with him that +can decide your destiny." They told me the way I was to travel, and I +left them. + +On the road I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved, and put on a +Calender's habit. I have had a long journey, but arrived this evening +in the city, where I met my brother Calenders at the gate, being +strangers like myself. We wondered much at one another, to see we were +all blind of the same eye, but we had no leisure to discourse at length +of our common calamities. We had only so much time as to come hither +to implore those favours which you have been generously pleased to +grant us. + +He finished, and it was Zobeida's turn to speak: "Go wherever you +please," she said, addressing all three. "I pardon you all, but you +must depart immediately out of this house." + + + +The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor + + +In the times of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid 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 appetising 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 differences 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 entrusted 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 honour 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-humour, 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 recognised 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 favour to hear my story," said I. + +"Speak then," replied the captain, "I'm 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 recognised 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 honourable 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 foot-hold--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 up rose 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 damped 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 round 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 Rohat 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 Rohat 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 harbour 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 over-taken 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 faggots, 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 faggots, 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 favour 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 +recognised 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 recognised 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 colour. 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 seashore 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 favour, 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 lock-smith 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 +favour 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 neighbours, 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 realised 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 favourable 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 cosy 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 ship-wrecked 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 a while +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 cocoanuts, 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 +labour 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 labours 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 minute 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, and +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 come 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 +seashore 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 entrusted 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 Haroun al Raschid, 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 +colour, 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 Haroun al +Raschid 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 favourites, 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, Sindbad thus began. + + + +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 follow him into the presence of Haroun al Raschid, +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 +honour 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 honour 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 toward 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 ware-houses 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 honours and rewards he +bestowed upon me; and since that time I have rested from my labours, +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 in it." + +Sindbad then gave him a hundred sequins, and hence-forward 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. + + + +The Little Hunchback + + +In the kingdom of Kashgar, which is, as everybody knows, situated on +the frontiers of Great Tartary, there lived long ago a tailor and his +wife who loved each other very much. One day, when the tailor was hard +at work, a little hunchback came and sat at the entrance of the shop, +and began to sing and play his tambourine. The tailor was amused with +the antics of the fellow, and thought he would take him home to divert +his wife. The hunchback having agreed to his proposal, the tailor +closed his shop and they set off together. + +When they reached the house they found the table ready laid for supper, +and in a very few minutes all three were sitting before a beautiful +fish which the tailor's wife had cooked with her own hands. But +unluckily, the hunchback happened to swallow a large bone, and, in +spite of all the tailor and his wife could do to help him, died of +suffocation in an instant. Besides being very sorry for the poor man, +the tailor and his wife were very much frightened on their own account, +for if the police came to hear of it the worthy couple ran the risk of +being thrown into prison for wilful murder. In order to prevent this +dreadful calamity they both set about inventing some plan which would +throw suspicion on some one else, and at last they made up their minds +that they could do no better than select a Jewish doctor who lived +close by as the author of the crime. So the tailor picked up the +hunchback by his head while his wife took his feet and carried him to +the doctor's house. Then they knocked at the door, which opened +straight on to a steep staircase. A servant soon appeared, feeling her +way down the dark staircase and inquired what they wanted. + +"Tell your master," said the tailor, "that we have brought a very sick +man for him to cure; and," he added, holding out some money, "give him +this in advance, so that he may not feel he is wasting his time." The +servant remounted the stairs to give the message to the doctor, and the +moment she was out of sight the tailor and his wife carried the body +swiftly after her, propped it up at the top of the staircase, and ran +home as fast as their legs could carry them. + +Now the doctor was so delighted at the news of a patient (for he was +young, and had not many of them), that he was transported with joy. + +"Get a light," he called to the servant, "and follow me as fast as you +can!" and rushing out of his room he ran towards the staircase. There +he nearly fell over the body of the hunchback, and without knowing what +it was gave it such a kick that it rolled right to the bottom, and very +nearly dragged the doctor after it. "A light! a light!" he cried +again, and when it was brought and he saw what he had done he was +almost beside himself with terror. + +"Holy Moses!" he exclaimed, "why did I not wait for the light? I have +killed the sick man whom they brought me; and if the sacred Ass of +Esdras does not come to my aid I am lost! It will not be long before I +am led to jail as a murderer." + +Agitated though he was, and with reason, the doctor did not forget to +shut the house door, lest some passers-by might chance to see what had +happened. He then took up the corpse and carried it into his wife's +room, nearly driving her crazy with fright. + +"It is all over with us!" she wailed, "if we cannot find some means of +getting the body out of the house. Once let the sun rise and we can +hide it no longer! How were you driven to commit such a terrible +crime?" + +"Never mind that," returned the doctor, "the thing is to find a way out +of it." + +For a long while the doctor and his wife continued to turn over in +their minds a way of escape, but could not find any that seemed good +enough. At last the doctor gave it up altogether and resigned himself +to bear the penalty of his misfortune. + +But his wife, who had twice his brains, suddenly exclaimed, "I have +thought of something! Let us carry the body on the roof of the house +and lower it down the chimney of our neighbour the Mussulman." Now this +Mussulman was employed by the Sultan, and furnished his table with oil +and butter. Part of his house was occupied by a great storeroom, where +rats and mice held high revel. + +The doctor jumped at his wife's plan, and they took up the hunchback, +and passing cords under his armpits they let him down into the +purveyor's bed-room so gently that he really seemed to be leaning +against the wall. When they felt he was touching the ground they drew +up the cords and left him. + +Scarcely had they got back to their own house when the purveyor entered +his room. He had spent the evening at a wedding feast, and had a +lantern in his hand. In the dim light it cast he was astonished to see +a man standing in his chimney, but being naturally courageous he seized +a stick and made straight for the supposed thief. "Ah!" he cried, "so +it is you, and not the rats and mice, who steal my butter. I'll take +care that you don't want to come back!" + +So saying he struck him several hard blows. The corpse fell on the +floor, but the man only redoubled his blows, till at length it occurred +to him it was odd that the thief should lie so still and make no +resistance. Then, finding he was quite dead, a cold fear took +possession of him. "Wretch that I am," said he, "I have murdered a +man. Ah, my revenge has gone too far. Without the help of Allah I am +undone! Cursed be the goods which have led me to my ruin." And already +he felt the rope round his neck. + +But when he had got over the first shock he began to think of some way +out of the difficulty, and seizing the hunchback in his arms he carried +him out into the street, and leaning him against the wall of a shop he +stole back to his own house, without once looking behind him. + +A few minutes before the sun rose, a rich Christian merchant, who +supplied the palace with all sorts of necessaries, left his house, +after a night of feasting, to go to the bath. Though he was very +drunk, he was yet sober enough to know that the dawn was at hand, and +that all good Mussulmen would shortly be going to prayer. So he +hastened his steps lest he should meet some one on his way to the +mosque, who, seeing his condition, would send him to prison as a +drunkard. In his haste he jostled against the hunchback, who fell +heavily upon him, and the merchant, thinking he was being attacked by a +thief, knocked him down with one blow of his fist. He then called +loudly for help, beating the fallen man all the while. + +The chief policeman of the quarter came running up, and found a +Christian ill-treating a Mussulman. "What are you doing?" he asked +indignantly. + +"He tried to rob me," replied the merchant, "and very nearly choked me." + +"Well, you have had your revenge," said the man, catching hold of his +arm. "Come, be off with you!" + +As he spoke he held out his hand to the hunchback to help him up, but +the hunchback never moved. "Oho!" he went on, looking closer, "so this +is the way a Christian has the impudence to treat a Mussulman!" and +seizing the merchant in a firm grasp he took him to the inspector of +police, who threw him into prison till the judge should be out of bed +and ready to attend to his case. All this brought the merchant to his +senses, but the more he thought of it the less he could understand how +the hunchback could have died merely from the blows he had received. + +The merchant was still pondering on this subject when he was summoned +before the chief of police and questioned about his crime, which he +could not deny. As the hunchback was one of the Sultan's private +jesters, the chief of police resolved to defer sentence of death until +he had consulted his master. He went to the palace to demand an +audience, and told his story to the Sultan, who only answered, + +"There is no pardon for a Christian who kills a Mussulman. Do your +duty." + +So the chief of police ordered a gallows to be erected, and sent criers +to proclaim in every street in the city that a Christian was to be +hanged that day for having killed a Mussulman. + +When all was ready the merchant was brought from prison and led to the +foot of the gallows. The executioner knotted the cord firmly round the +unfortunate man's neck and was just about to swing him into the air, +when the Sultan's purveyor dashed through the crowd, and cried, +panting, to the hangman, + +"Stop, stop, don't be in such a hurry. It was not he who did the +murder, it was I." + +The chief of police, who was present to see that everything was in +order, put several questions to the purveyor, who told him the whole +story of the death of the hunchback, and how he had carried the body to +the place where it had been found by the Christian merchant. + +"You are going," he said to the chief of police, "to kill an innocent +man, for it is impossible that he should have murdered a creature who +was dead already. It is bad enough for me to have slain a Mussulman +without having it on my conscience that a Christian who is guiltless +should suffer through my fault." + +Now the purveyor's speech had been made in a loud voice, and was heard +by all the crowd, and even if he had wished it, the chief of police +could not have escaped setting the merchant free. + +"Loose the cords from the Christian's neck," he commanded, turning to +the executioner, "and hang this man in his place, seeing that by his +own confession he is the murderer." + +The hangman did as he was bid, and was tying the cord firmly, when he +was stopped by the voice of the Jewish doctor beseeching him to pause, +for he had something very important to say. When he had fought his way +through the crowd and reached the chief of police, + +"Worshipful sir," he began, "this Mussulman whom you desire to hang is +unworthy of death; I alone am guilty. Last night a man and a woman who +were strangers to me knocked at my door, bringing with them a patient +for me to cure. The servant opened it, but having no light was hardly +able to make out their faces, though she readily agreed to wake me and +to hand me the fee for my services. While she was telling me her story +they seem to have carried the sick man to the top of the staircase and +then left him there. I jumped up in a hurry without waiting for a +lantern, and in the darkness I fell against something, which tumbled +headlong down the stairs and never stopped till it reached the bottom. +When I examined the body I found it was quite dead, and the corpse was +that of a hunchback Mussulman. Terrified at what we had done, my wife +and I took the body on the roof and let it down the chimney of our +neighbour the purveyor, whom you were just about to hang. The +purveyor, finding him in his room, naturally thought he was a thief, +and struck him such a blow that the man fell down and lay motionless on +the floor. Stooping to examine him, and finding him stone dead, the +purveyor supposed that the man had died from the blow he had received; +but of course this was a mistake, as you will see from my account, and +I only am the murderer; and although I am innocent of any wish to +commit a crime, I must suffer for it all the same, or else have the +blood of two Musselmans on my conscience. Therefore send away this +man, I pray you, and let me take his place, as it is I who am guilty." + +On hearing the declaration of the Jewish doctor, the chief of police +commanded that he should be led to the gallows, and the Sultan's +purveyor go free. The cord was placed round the Jew's neck, and his +feet had already ceased to touch the ground when the voice of the +tailor was heard beseeching the executioner to pause one moment and to +listen to what he had to say. + +"Oh, my lord," he cried, turning to the chief of police, "how nearly +have you caused the death of three innocent people! But if you will +only have the patience to listen to my tale, you shall know who is the +real culprit. If some one has to suffer, it must be me! Yesterday, at +dusk, I was working in my shop with a light heart when the little +hunchback, who was more than half drunk, came and sat in the doorway. +He sang me several songs, and then I invited him to finish the evening +at my house. He accepted my invitation, and we went away together. At +supper I helped him to a slice of fish, but in eating it a bone stuck +in his throat, and in spite of all we could do he died in a few +minutes. We felt deeply sorry for his death, but fearing lest we +should be held responsible, we carried the corpse to the house of the +Jewish doctor. I knocked, and desired the servant to beg her master to +come down as fast as possible and see a sick man whom we had brought +for him to cure; and in order to hasten his movements I placed a piece +of money in her hand as the doctor's fee. Directly she had disappeared +I dragged the body to the top of the stairs, and then hurried away with +my wife back to our house. In descending the stairs the doctor +accidentally knocked over the corpse, and finding him dead believed +that he himself was the murderer. But now you know the truth set him +free, and let me die in his stead." + +The chief of police and the crowd of spectators were lost in +astonishment at the strange events to which the death of the hunchback +had given rise. + +"Loosen the Jewish doctor," said he to the hangman, "and string up the +tailor instead, since he has made confession of his crime. Really, one +cannot deny that this is a very singular story, and it deserves to be +written in letters of gold." + +The executioner speedily untied the knots which confined the doctor, +and was passing the cord round the neck of the tailor, when the Sultan +of Kashgar, who had missed his jester, happened to make inquiry of his +officers as to what had become of him. + +"Sire," replied they, "the hunchback having drunk more than was good +for him, escaped from the palace and was seen wandering about the town, +where this morning he was found dead. A man was arrested for having +caused his death, and held in custody till a gallows was erected. At +the moment that he was about to suffer punishment, first one man +arrived, and then another, each accusing themselves of the murder, and +this went on for a long time, and at the present instant the chief of +police is engaged in questioning a man who declares that he alone is +the true assassin." + +The Sultan of Kashgar no sooner heard these words than he ordered an +usher to go to the chief of police and to bring all the persons +concerned in the hunchback's death, together with the corpse, that he +wished to see once again. The usher hastened on his errand, but was +only just in time, for the tailor was positively swinging in the air, +when his voice fell upon the silence of the crowd, commanding the +hangman to cut down the body. The hangman, recognising the usher as +one of the king's servants, cut down the tailor, and the usher, seeing +the man was safe, sought the chief of police and gave him the Sultan's +message. Accordingly, the chief of police at once set out for the +palace, taking with him the tailor, the doctor, the purveyor, and the +merchant, who bore the dead hunchback on their shoulders. + +When the procession reached the palace the chief of police prostrated +himself at the feet of the Sultan, and related all that he knew of the +matter. The Sultan was so much struck by the circumstances that he +ordered his private historian to write down an exact account of what +had passed, so that in the years to come the miraculous escape of the +four men who had thought themselves murderers might never be forgotten. + +The Sultan asked everybody concerned in the hunchback's affair to tell +him their stories. Among others was a prating barber, whose tale of +one of his brothers follows. + + + +The Story of the Barber's Fifth Brother + + +As long as our father lived Alnaschar was very idle. Instead of +working for his bread he was not ashamed to ask for it every evening, +and to support himself next day on what he had received the night +before. When our father died, worn out by age, he only left seven +hundred silver drachmas to be divided amongst us, which made one +hundred for each son. Alnaschar, who had never possessed so much money +in his life, was quite puzzled to know what to do with it. After +reflecting upon the matter for some time he decided to lay it out on +glasses, bottles, and things of that sort, which he would buy from a +wholesale merchant. Having bought his stock he next proceeded to look +out for a small shop in a good position, where he sat down at the open +door, his wares being piled up in an uncovered basket in front of him, +waiting for a customer among the passers-by. + +In this attitude he remained seated, his eyes fixed on the basket, but +his thoughts far away. Unknown to himself he began to talk out loud, +and a tailor, whose shop was next door to his, heard quite plainly what +he was saying. + +"This basket," said Alnaschar to himself, "has cost me a hundred +drachmas--all that I possess in the world. Now in selling the +contents piece by piece I shall turn two hundred, and these hundreds I +shall again lay out in glass, which will produce four hundred. By this +means I shall in course of time make four thousand drachmas, which will +easily double themselves. When I have got ten thousand I will give up +the glass trade and become a jeweller, and devote all my time to +trading in pearls, diamonds, and other precious stones. At last, +having all the wealth that heart can desire, I will buy a beautiful +country house, with horses and slaves, and then I will lead a merry +life and entertain my friends. At my feasts I will send for musicians +and dancers from the neighbouring town to amuse my guests. In spite of +my riches I shall not, however, give up trade till I have amassed a +capital of a hundred thousand drachmas, when, having become a man of +much consideration, I shall request the hand of the grand-vizir's +daughter, taking care to inform the worthy father that I have heard +favourable reports of her beauty and wit, and that I will pay down on +our wedding day 3 thousand gold pieces. Should the vizir refuse my +proposal, which after all is hardly to be expected, I will seize him by +the beard and drag him to my house." + +When I shall have married his daughter I will give her ten of the best +eunuchs that can be found for her service. Then I shall put on my most +gorgeous robes, and mounted on a horse with a saddle of fine gold, and +its trappings blazing with diamonds, followed by a train of slaves, I +shall present myself at the house of the grand-vizir, the people +casting down their eyes and bowing low as I pass along. At the foot of +the grand-vizir's staircase I shall dismount, and while my servants +stand in a row to right and left I shall ascend the stairs, at the head +of which the grand-vizir will be waiting to receive me. He will then +embrace me as his son-in-law, and giving me his seat will place himself +below me. This being done (as I have every reason to expect), two of +my servants will enter, each bearing a purse containing a thousand +pieces of gold. One of these I shall present to him saying, "Here are +the thousand gold pieces that I offered for your daughter's hand, and +here," I shall continue, holding out the second purse, "are another +thousand to show you that I am a man who is better than his word." +After hearing of such generosity the world will talk of nothing else. + +I shall return home with the same pomp as I set out, and my wife will +send an officer to compliment me on my visit to her father, and I shall +confer on the officer the honour of a rich dress and a handsome gift. +Should she send one to me I shall refuse it and dismiss the bearer. I +shall never allow my wife to leave her rooms on any pretext whatever +without my permission, and my visits to her will be marked by all the +ceremony calculated to inspire respect. No establishment will be +better ordered than mine, and I shall take care always to be dressed in +a manner suitable to my position. In the evening, when we retire to +our apartments, I shall sit in the place of honour, where I shall +assume a grand demeanour and speak little, gazing straight before me, +and when my wife, lovely as the full moon, stands humbly in front of my +chair I shall pretend not to see her. Then her women will say to me, +"Respected lord and master, your wife and slave is before you waiting +to be noticed. She is mortified that you never deign to look her way; +she is tired of standing so long. Beg her, we pray you, to be seated." +Of course I shall give no signs of even hearing this speech, which will +vex them mightily. They will throw themselves at my feet with +lamentations, and at length I will raise my head and throw a careless +glance at her, then I shall go back to my former attitude. The women +will think that I am displeased at my wife's dress and will lead her +away to put on a finer one, and I on my side shall replace the one I am +wearing with another yet more splendid. They will then return to the +charge, but this time it will take much longer before they persuade me +even to look at my wife. It is as well to begin on my wedding-day as I +mean to go on for the rest of our lives. + +The next day she will complain to her mother of the way she has been +treated, which will fill my heart with joy. Her mother will come to +seek me, and, kissing my hands with respect, will say, "My lord" (for +she could not dare to risk my anger by using the familiar title of +"son-in-law"), "My lord, do not, I implore you, refuse to look upon my +daughter or to approach her. She only lives to please you, and loves +you with all her soul." But I shall pay no more heed to my +mother-in-law's words than I did to those of the women. Again she will +beseech me to listen to her entreaties, throwing herself this time at +my feet, but all to no purpose. Then, putting a glass of wine into my +wife's hand, she will say to her, "There, present that to him yourself, +he cannot have the cruelty to reject anything offered by so beautiful a +hand," and my wife will take it and offer it to me tremblingly with +tears in her eyes, but I shall look in the other direction. This will +cause her to weep still more, and she will hold out the glass crying, +"Adorable husband, never shall I cease my prayers till you have done me +the favour to drink." Sick of her importunities, these words will goad +me to fury. I shall dart an angry look at her and give her a sharp +blow on the cheek, at the same time giving her a kick so violent that +she will stagger across the room and fall on to the sofa. + +"My brother," pursued the barber, "was so much absorbed in his dreams +that he actually did give a kick with his foot, which unluckily hit the +basket of glass. It fell into the street and was instantly broken into +a thousand pieces." + +His neighbour the tailor, who had been listening to his visions, broke +into a loud fit of laughter as he saw this sight. + +"Wretched man!" he cried, "you ought to die of shame at behaving so to +a young wife who has done nothing to you. You must be a brute for her +tears and prayers not to touch your heart. If I were the grand-vizir I +would order you a hundred blows from a bullock whip, and would have you +led round the town accompanied by a herald who should proclaim your +crimes." + +The accident, so fatal to all his profits, had restored my brother to +his senses, and seeing that the mischief had been caused by his own +insufferable pride, he rent his clothes and tore his hair, and lamented +himself so loudly that the passers-by stopped to listen. It was a +Friday, so these were more numerous than usual. Some pitied Alnaschar, +others only laughed at him, but the vanity which had gone to his head +had disappeared with his basket of glass, and he was loudly bewailing +his folly when a lady, evidently a person of consideration, rode by on +a mule. She stopped and inquired what was the matter, and why the man +wept. They told her that he was a poor man who had laid out all his +money on this basket of glass, which was now broken. On hearing the +cause of these loud wails the lady turned to her attendant and said to +him, "Give him whatever you have got with you." The man obeyed, and +placed in my brother's hands a purse containing five hundred pieces of +gold. Alnaschar almost died of joy on receiving it. He blessed the +lady a thousand times, and, shutting up his shop where he had no longer +anything to do, he returned home. + +He was still absorbed in contemplating his good fortune, when a knock +came to his door, and on opening it he found an old woman standing +outside. + +"My son," she said, "I have a favour to ask of you. It is the hour of +prayer and I have not yet washed myself. Let me, I beg you, enter your +house, and give me water." + +My brother, although the old woman was a stranger to him, did not +hesitate to do as she wished. He gave her a vessel of water and then +went back to his place and his thoughts, and with his mind busy over +his last adventure, he put his gold into a long and narrow purse, which +he could easily carry in his belt. During this time the old woman was +busy over her prayers, and when she had finished she came and +prostrated herself twice before my brother, and then rising called down +endless blessings on his head. Observing her shabby clothes, my +brother thought that her gratitude was in reality a hint that he should +give her some money to buy some new ones, so he held out two pieces of +gold. The old woman started back in surprise as if she had received an +insult. "Good heavens!" she exclaimed, "what is the meaning of this? +Is it possible that you take me, my lord, for one of those miserable +creatures who force their way into houses to beg for alms? Take back +your money. I am thankful to say I do not need it, for I belong to a +beautiful lady who is very rich and gives me everything I want." + +My brother was not clever enough to detect that the old woman had +merely refused the two pieces of money he had offered her in order to +get more, but he inquired if she could procure him the pleasure of +seeing this lady. + +"Willingly," she replied; "and she will be charmed to marry you, and to +make you the master of all her wealth. So pick up your money and +follow me." + +Delighted at the thought that he had found so easily both a fortune and +a beautiful wife, my brother asked no more questions, but concealing +his purse, with the money the lady had given him, in the folds of his +dress, he set out joyfully with his guide. + +They walked for some distance till the old woman stopped at a large +house, where she knocked. The door was opened by a young Greek slave, +and the old woman led my brother across a well-paved court into a +well-furnished hall. Here she left him to inform her mistress of his +presence, and as the day was hot he flung himself on a pile of cushions +and took off his heavy turban. In a few minutes there entered a lady, +and my brother perceived at the first glance that she was even more +beautiful and more richly dressed than he had expected. He rose from +his seat, but the lady signed to him to sit down again and placed +herself beside him. After the usual compliments had passed between +them she said, "We are not comfortable here, let us go into another +room," and passing into a smaller chamber, apparently communicating +with no other, she continued to talk to him for some time. Then rising +hastily she left him, saying, "Stay where you are, I will come back in +a moment." + +He waited as he was told, but instead of the lady there entered a huge +black slave with a sword in his hand. Approaching my brother with an +angry countenance he exclaimed, "What business have you here?" His +voice and manner were so terrific that Alnaschar had not strength to +reply, and allowed his gold to be taken from him, and even sabre cuts +to be inflicted on him without making any resistance. As soon as he +was let go, he sank on the ground powerless to move, though he still +had possession of his senses. Thinking he was dead, the black ordered +the Greek slave to bring him some salt, and between them they rubbed it +into his wounds, thus giving him acute agony, though he had the +presence of mind to give no sign of life. They then left him, and +their place was taken by the old woman, who dragged him to a trapdoor +and threw him down into a vault filled with the bodies of murdered men. + +At first the violence of his fall caused him to lose consciousness, but +luckily the salt which had been rubbed into his wounds had by its +smarting preserved his life, and little by little he regained his +strength. At the end of two days he lifted the trapdoor during the +night and hid himself in the courtyard till daybreak, when he saw the +old woman leave the house in search of more prey. Luckily she did not +observe him, and when she was out of sight he stole from this nest of +assassins and took refuge in my house. + +I dressed his wounds and tended him carefully, and when a month had +passed he was as well as ever. His one thought was how to be revenged +on that wicked old hag, and for this purpose he had a purse made large +enough to contain five hundred gold pieces, but filled it instead with +bits of glass. This he tied round him with his sash, and, disguising +himself as an old woman, he took a sabre, which he hid under his dress. + +One morning as he was hobbling through the streets he met his old enemy +prowling to see if she could find anyone to decoy. He went up to her +and, imitating the voice of a woman, he said, "Do you happen to have a +pair of scales you could lend me? I have just come from Persia and +have brought with me five hundred gold pieces, and I am anxious to see +if they are the proper weight." + +"Good woman," replied the old hag, "you could not have asked anyone +better. My son is a money-changer, and if you will follow me he will +weigh them for you himself. Only we must be quick or he will have gone +to his shop." So saying she led the way to the same house as before, +and the door was opened by the same Greek slave. + +Again my brother was left in the hall, and the pretended son appeared +under the form of the black slave. "Miserable crone," he said to my +brother, "get up and come with me," and turned to lead the way to the +place of murder. Alnaschar rose too, and drawing the sabre from under +his dress dealt the black such a blow on his neck that his head was +severed from his body. My brother picked up the head with one hand, +and seizing the body with the other dragged it to the vault, when he +threw it in and sent the head after it. The Greek slave, supposing +that all had passed as usual, shortly arrived with the basin of salt, +but when she beheld Alnaschar with the sabre in his hand she let the +basin fall and turned to fly. My brother, however, was too quick for +her, and in another instant her head was rolling from her shoulders. +The noise brought the old woman running to see what was the matter, and +he seized her before she had time to escape. "Wretch!" he cried, "do +you know me?" + +"Who are you, my lord?" she replied trembling all over. "I have never +seen you before." + +"I am he whose house you entered to offer your hypocritical prayers. +Don't you remember now?" + +She flung herself on her knees to implore mercy, but he cut her in four +pieces. + +There remained only the lady, who was quite ignorant of all that was +taking place around her. He sought her through the house, and when at +last he found her, she nearly fainted with terror at the sight of him. +She begged hard for life, which he was generous enough to give her, but +he bade her to tell him how she had got into partnership with the +abominable creatures he had just put to death. + +"I was once," replied she, "the wife of an honest merchant, and that +old woman, whose wickedness I did not know, used occasionally to visit +me. 'Madam,' she said to me one day, 'we have a grand wedding at our +house to-day. If you would do us the honour to be present, I am sure +you would enjoy yourself.' I allowed myself to be persuaded, put on my +richest dress, and took a purse with a hundred pieces of gold. Once +inside the doors I was kept by force by that dreadful black, and it is +now three years that I have been here, to my great grief." + +"That horrible black must have amassed great wealth," remarked my +brother. + +"Such wealth," returned she, "that if you succeed in carrying it all +away it will make you rich for ever. Come and let us see how much +there is." + +She led Alnaschar into a chamber filled with coffers packed with gold, +which he gazed at with an admiration he was powerless to conceal. +"Go," she said, "and bring men to carry them away." + +My brother did not wait to be told twice, and hurried out into the +streets, where he soon collected ten men. They all came back to the +house, but what was his surprise to find the door open, and the room +with the chests of gold quite empty. The lady had been cleverer than +himself, and had made the best use of her time. However, he tried to +console himself by removing all the beautiful furniture, which more +than made up for the five hundred gold pieces he had lost. + +Unluckily, on leaving the house, he forgot to lock the door, and the +neighbours, finding the place empty, informed the police, who next +morning arrested Alnaschar as a thief. My brother tried to bribe them +to let him off, but far from listening to him they tied his hands, and +forced him to walk between them to the presence of the judge. When +they had explained to the official the cause of complaint, he asked +Alnaschar where he had obtained all the furniture that he had taken to +his house the day before. + +"Sir," replied Alnaschar, "I am ready to tell you the whole story, but +give, I pray you, your word, that I shall run no risk of punishment." + +"That I promise," said the judge. So my brother began at the beginning +and related all his adventures, and how he had avenged himself on those +who had betrayed him. As to the furniture, he entreated the judge at +least to allow him to keep part to make up for the five hundred pieces +of gold which had been stolen from him. + +The judge, however, would say nothing about this, and lost no time in +sending men to fetch away all that Alnaschar had taken from the house. +When everything had been moved and placed under his roof he ordered my +brother to leave the town and never more to enter it on peril of his +life, fearing that if he returned he might seek justice from the +Caliph. Alnaschar obeyed, and was on his way to a neighbouring city +when he fell in with a band of robbers, who stripped him of his clothes +and left him naked by the roadside. Hearing of his plight, I hurried +after him to console him for his misfortunes, and to dress him in my +best robe. I then brought him back disguised, under cover of night, to +my house, where I have since given him all the care I bestow on my +other brothers. + + + +The Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother + + +There now remains for me to relate to you the story of my sixth +brother, whose name was Schacabac. Like the rest of us, he inherited a +hundred silver drachmas from our father, which he thought was a large +fortune, but through ill-luck, he soon lost it all, and was driven to +beg. As he had a smooth tongue and good manners, he really did very +well in his new profession, and he devoted himself specially to making +friends with the servants in big houses, so as to gain access to their +masters. + +One day he was passing a splendid mansion, with a crowd of servants +lounging in the courtyard. He thought that from the appearance of the +house it might yield him a rich harvest, so he entered and inquired to +whom it belonged. + +"My good man, where do you come from?" replied the servant. "Can't you +see for yourself that it can belong to nobody but a Barmecide?" for the +Barmecides were famed for their liberality and generosity. My brother, +hearing this, asked the porters, of whom there were several, if they +would give him alms. They did not refuse, but told him politely to go +in, and speak to the master himself. + +My brother thanked them for their courtesy and entered the building, +which was so large that it took him some time to reach the apartments +of the Barmecide. At last, in a room richly decorated with paintings, +he saw an old man with a long white beard, sitting on a sofa, who +received him with such kindness that my brother was emboldened to make +his petition. + +"My lord," he said, "you behold in me a poor man who only lives by the +help of persons as rich and as generous as you." + +Before he could proceed further, he was stopped by the astonishment +shown by the Barmecide. "Is it possible," he cried, "that while I am +in Bagdad, a man like you should be starving? That is a state of +things that must at once be put an end to! Never shall it be said that +I have abandoned you, and I am sure that you, on your part, will never +abandon me." + +"My lord," answered my brother, "I swear that I have not broken my fast +this whole day." + +"What, you are dying of hunger?" exclaimed the Barmecide. "Here, +slave; bring water, that we may wash our hands before meat!" No slave +appeared, but my brother remarked that the Barmecide did not fail to +rub his hands as if the water had been poured over them. + +Then he said to my brother, "Why don't you wash your hands too?" and +Schacabac, supposing that it was a joke on the part of the Barmecide +(though he could see none himself), drew near, and imitated his motion. + +When the Barmecide had done rubbing his hands, he raised his voice, and +cried, "Set food before us at once, we are very hungry." No food was +brought, but the Barmecide pretended to help himself from a dish, and +carry a morsel to his mouth, saying as he did so, "Eat, my friend, eat, +I entreat. Help yourself as freely as if you were at home! For a +starving man, you seem to have a very small appetite." + +"Excuse me, my lord," replied Schacabac, imitating his gestures as +before, "I really am not losing time, and I do full justice to the +repast." + +"How do you like this bread?" asked the Barmecide. "I find it +particularly good myself." + +"Oh, my lord," answered my brother, who beheld neither meat nor bread, +"never have I tasted anything so delicious." + +"Eat as much as you want," said the Barmecide. "I bought the woman who +makes it for five hundred pieces of gold, so that I might never be +without it." + +After ordering a variety of dishes (which never came) to be placed on +the table, and discussing the merits of each one, the Barmecide +declared that having dined so well, they would now proceed to take +their wine. To this my brother at first objected, declaring that it +was forbidden; but on the Barmecide insisting that it was out of the +question that he should drink by himself, he consented to take a +little. The Barmecide, however, pretended to fill their glasses so +often, that my brother feigned that the wine had gone into his head, +and struck the Barmecide such a blow on the head, that he fell to the +ground. Indeed, he raised his hand to strike him a second time, when +the Barmecide cried out that he was mad, upon which my brother +controlled himself, and apologised and protested that it was all the +fault of the wine he had drunk. At this the Barmecide, instead of +being angry, began to laugh, and embraced him heartily. "I have long +been seeking," he exclaimed, "a man of your description, and henceforth +my house shall be yours. You have had the good grace to fall in with +my humour, and to pretend to eat and to drink when nothing was there. +Now you shall be rewarded by a really good supper." + +Then he clapped his hands, and all the dishes were brought that they +had tasted in imagination before and during the repast, slaves sang and +played on various instruments. All the while Schacabac was treated by +the Barmecide as a familiar friend, and dressed in a garment out of his +own wardrobe. + +Twenty years passed by, and my brother was still living with the +Barmecide, looking after his house, and managing his affairs. At the +end of that time his generous benefactor died without heirs, so all his +possessions went to the prince. They even despoiled my brother of +those that rightly belonged to him, and he, now as poor as he had ever +been in his life, decided to cast in his lot with a caravan of pilgrims +who were on their way to Mecca. Unluckily, the caravan was attacked +and pillaged by the Bedouins, and the pilgrims were taken prisoners. +My brother became the slave of a man who beat him daily, hoping to +drive him to offer a ransom, although, as Schacabac pointed out, it was +quite useless trouble, as his relations were as poor as himself. At +length the Bedouin grew tired of tormenting, and sent him on a camel to +the top of a high barren mountain, where he left him to take his +chance. A passing caravan, on its way to Bagdad, told me where he was +to be found, and I hurried to his rescue, and brought him in a +deplorable condition back to the town. + +"This,"--continued the barber,--"is the tale I related to the Caliph, +who, when I had finished, burst into fits of laughter. + +"Well were you called `the Silent,'" said he; "no name was ever better +deserved. But for reasons of my own, which it is not necessary to +mention, I desire you to leave the town, and never to come back." + +"I had of course no choice but to obey, and travelled about for several +years until I heard of the death of the Caliph, when I hastily returned +to Bagdad, only to find that all my brothers were dead. It was at this +time that I rendered to the young cripple the important service of +which you have heard, and for which, as you know, he showed such +profound ingratitude, that he preferred rather to leave Bagdad than to +run the risk of seeing me. I sought him long from place to place, but +it was only to-day, when I expected it least, that I came across him, +as much irritated with me as ever"-- So saying the tailor went on to +relate the story of the lame man and the barber, which has already been +told. + +"When the barber," he continued, "had finished his tale, we came to the +conclusion that the young man had been right, when he had accused him +of being a great chatter-box. However, we wished to keep him with us, +and share our feast, and we remained at table till the hour of +afternoon prayer. Then the company broke up, and I went back to work +in my shop. + +"It was during this interval that the little hunchback, half drunk +already, presented himself before me, singing and playing on his drum. +I took him home, to amuse my wife, and she invited him to supper. +While eating some fish, a bone got into his throat, and in spite of all +we could do, he died shortly. It was all so sudden that we lost our +heads, and in order to divert suspicion from ourselves, we carried the +body to the house of a Jewish physician. He placed it in the chamber +of the purveyor, and the purveyor propped it up in the street, where it +was thought to have been killed by the merchant. + +"This, Sire, is the story which I was obliged to tell to satisfy your +highness. It is now for you to say if we deserve mercy or punishment; +life or death?" + +The Sultan of Kashgar listened with an air of pleasure which filled the +tailor and his friends with hope. "I must confess," he exclaimed, +"that I am much more interested in the stories of the barber and his +brothers, and of the lame man, than in that of my own jester. But +before I allow you all four to return to your own homes, and have the +corpse of the hunchback properly buried, I should like to see this +barber who has earned your pardon. And as he is in this town, let an +usher go with you at once in search of him." + +The usher and the tailor soon returned, bringing with them an old man +who must have been at least ninety years of age. "O Silent One," said +the Sultan, "I am told that you know many strange stories. Will you +tell some of them to me?" + +"Never mind my stories for the present," replied the barber, "but will +your Highness graciously be pleased to explain why this Jew, this +Christian, and this Mussulman, as well as this dead body, are all here?" + +"What business is that of yours?" asked the Sultan with a smile; but +seeing that the barber had some reasons for his question, he commanded +that the tale of the hunchback should be told him. + +"It is certainly most surprising," cried he, when he had heard it all, +"but I should like to examine the body." He then knelt down, and took +the head on his knees, looking at it attentively. Suddenly he burst +into such loud laughter that he fell right backwards, and when he had +recovered himself enough to speak, he turned to the Sultan. "The man +is no more dead than I am," he said; "watch me." As he spoke he drew a +small case of medicines from his pocket and rubbed the neck of the +hunchback with some ointment made of balsam. Next he opened the dead +man's mouth, and by the help of a pair of pincers drew the bone from +his throat. At this the hunchback sneezed, stretched himself and +opened his eyes. + +The Sultan and all those who saw this operation did not know which to +admire most, the constitution of the hunchback who had apparently been +dead for a whole night and most of one day, or the skill of the barber, +whom everyone now began to look upon as a great man. His Highness +desired that the history of the hunchback should be written down, and +placed in the archives beside that of the barber, so that they might be +associated in people's minds to the end of time. And he did not stop +there; for in order to wipe out the memory of what they had undergone, +he commanded that the tailor, the doctor, the purveyor and the +merchant, should each be clothed in his presence with a robe from his +own wardrobe before they returned home. As for the barber, he bestowed +on him a large pension, and kept him near his own person. + + + +The Adventures of Prince Camaralzaman and the Princess Badoura + + +Some twenty days' sail from the coast of Persia lies the isle of the +children of Khaledan. The island is divided into several provinces, in +each of which are large flourishing towns, and the whole forms an +important kingdom. It was governed in former days by a king named +Schahzaman, who, with good right, considered himself one of the most +peaceful, prosperous, and fortunate monarchs on the earth. In fact, he +had but one grievance, which was that none of his four wives had given +him an heir. + +This distressed him so greatly that one day he confided his grief to +the grand-vizir, who, being a wise counsellor, said: "Such matters are +indeed beyond human aid. Allah alone can grant your desire, and I +should advise you, sire, to send large gifts to those holy men who +spend their lives in prayer, and to beg for their intercessions. Who +knows whether their petitions may not be answered!" + +The king took his vizir's advice, and the result of so many prayers for +an heir to the throne was that a son was born to him the following year. + +Schahzaman sent noble gifts as thank offerings to all the mosques and +religious houses, and great rejoicings were celebrated in honour of the +birth of the little prince, who was so beautiful that he was named +Camaralzaman, or "Moon of the Century." + +Prince Camaralzaman was brought up with extreme care by an excellent +governor and all the cleverest teachers, and he did such credit to them +that when he was grown up, a more charming and accomplished young man +was not to be found. Whilst he was still a youth the king, his father, +who loved him dearly, had some thoughts of abdicating in his favour. +As usual he talked over his plans with his grand-vizir, who, though he +did not approve the idea, would not state all his objections. + +"Sire," he replied, "the prince is still very young for the cares of +state. Your Majesty fears his growing idle and careless, and doubtless +you are right. But how would it be if he were first to marry? This +would attach him to his home, and your Majesty might give him a share +in your counsels, so that he might gradually learn how to wear a crown, +which you can give up to him whenever you find him capable of wearing +it." + +The vizir's advice once more struck the king as being good, and he sent +for his son, who lost no time in obeying the summons, and standing +respectfully with downcast eyes before the king asked for his commands. + +"I have sent for you," said the king, "to say that I wish you to marry. +What do you think about it?" + +The prince was so much overcome by these words that he remained silent +for some time. At length he said: "Sire, I beg you to pardon me if I +am unable to reply as you might wish. I certainly did not expect such +a proposal as I am still so young, and I confess that the idea of +marrying is very distasteful to me. Possibly I may not always be in +this mind, but I certainly feel that it will require some time to +induce me to take the step which your Majesty desires." + +This answer greatly distressed the king, who was sincerely grieved by +his objection to marriage. However he would not have recourse to +extreme measures, so he said: "I do not wish to force you; I will give +you time to reflect, but remember that such a step is necessary, for a +prince such as you who will some day be called to rule over a great +kingdom." + +From this time Prince Camaralzaman was admitted to the royal council, +and the king showed him every mark of favour. + +At the end of a year the king took his son aside, and said: "Well, my +son, have you changed your mind on the subject of marriage, or do you +still refuse to obey my wish?" + +The prince was less surprised but no less firm than on the former +occasion, and begged his father not to press the subject, adding that +it was quite useless to urge him any longer. + +This answer much distressed the king, who again confided his trouble to +his vizir. + +"I have followed your advice," he said; "but Camaralzaman declines to +marry, and is more obstinate than ever." + +"Sire," replied the vizir, "much is gained by patience, and your +Majesty might regret any violence. Why not wait another year and then +inform the Prince in the midst of the assembled council that the good +of the state demands his marriage? He cannot possibly refuse again +before so distinguished an assemblage, and in our immediate presence." + +The Sultan ardently desired to see his son married at once, but he +yielded to the vizir's arguments and decided to wait. He then visited +the prince's mother, and after telling her of his disappointment and of +the further respite he had given his son, he added: "I know that +Camaralzaman confides more in you than he does in me. Pray speak very +seriously to him on this subject, and make him realize that he will +most seriously displease me if he remains obstinate, and that he will +certainly regret the measures I shall be obliged to take to enforce my +will." + +So the first time the Sultana Fatima saw her son she told him she had +heard of his refusal to marry, adding how distressed she felt that he +should have vexed his father so much. She asked what reasons he could +have for his objections to obey. + +"Madam," replied the prince, "I make no doubt that there are as many +good, virtuous, sweet, and amiable women as there are others very much +the reverse. Would that all were like you! But what revolts me is the +idea of marrying a woman without knowing anything at all about her. My +father will ask the hand of the daughter of some neighbouring +sovereign, who will give his consent to our union. Be she fair or +frightful, clever or stupid, good or bad, I must marry her, and am left +no choice in the matter. How am I to know that she will not be proud, +passionate, contemptuous, and recklessly extravagant, or that her +disposition will in any way suit mine?" + +"But, my son," urged Fatima, "you surely do not wish to be the last of +a race which has reigned so long and so gloriously over this kingdom?" + +"Madam," said the prince, "I have no wish to survive the king, my +father, but should I do so I will try to reign in such a manner as may +be considered worthy of my predecessors." + +These and similar conversations proved to the Sultan how useless it was +to argue with his son, and the year elapsed without bringing any change +in the prince's ideas. + +At length a day came when the Sultan summoned him before the council, +and there informed him that not only his own wishes but the good of the +empire demanded his marriage, and desired him to give his answer before +the assembled ministers. + +At this Camaralzaman grew so angry and spoke with so much heat that the +king, naturally irritated at being opposed by his son in full council, +ordered the prince to be arrested and locked up in an old tower, where +he had nothing but a very little furniture, a few books, and a single +slave to wait on him. + +Camaralzaman, pleased to be free to enjoy his books, showed himself +very indifferent to his sentence. + +When night came he washed himself, performed his devotions, and, having +read some pages of the Koran, lay down on a couch, without putting out +the light near him, and was soon asleep. + +Now there was a deep well in the tower in which Prince Camaralzaman was +imprisoned, and this well was a favourite resort of the fairy Maimoune, +daughter of Damriat, chief of a legion of genii. Towards midnight +Maimoune floated lightly up from the well, intending, according to her +usual habit, to roam about the upper world as curiosity or accident +might prompt. + +The light in the prince's room surprised her, and without disturbing +the slave, who slept across the threshold, she entered the room, and +approaching the bed was still more astonished to find it occupied. + +The prince lay with his face half hidden by the coverlet. Maimoune +lifted it a little and beheld the most beautiful youth she had ever +seen. + +"What a marvel of beauty he must be when his eyes are open!" she +thought. "What can he have done to deserve to be treated like this?" + +She could not weary gazing at Camaralzaman, but at length, having +softly kissed his brow and each cheek, she replaced the coverlet and +resumed her flight through the air. + +As she entered the middle region she heard the sound of great wings +coming towards her, and shortly met one of the race of bad genii. This +genie, whose name was Danhasch, recognised Maimoune with terror, for he +knew the supremacy which her goodness gave her over him. He would +gladly have avoided her altogether, but they were so near that he must +either be prepared to fight or yield to her, so he at once addressed +her in a conciliatory tone: + +"Good Maimoune, swear to me by Allah to do me no harm, and on my side I +will promise not to injure you." + +"Accursed genie!" replied Maimoune, "what harm can you do me? But I +will grant your power and give the promise you ask. And now tell me +what you have seen and done to-night." + +"Fair lady," said Danhasch, "you meet me at the right moment to hear +something really interesting. I must tell you that I come from the +furthest end of China, which is one of the largest and most powerful +kingdoms in the world. The present king has one only daughter, who is +so perfectly lovely that neither you, nor I, nor any other creature +could find adequate terms in which to describe her marvellous charms. +You must therefore picture to yourself the most perfect features, +joined to a brilliant and delicate complexion, and an enchanting +expression, and even then imagination will fall short of the reality. + +"The king, her father, has carefully shielded this treasure from the +vulgar gaze, and has taken every precaution to keep her from the sight +of everyone except the happy mortal he may choose to be her husband. +But in order to give her variety in her confinement he has built her +seven palaces such as have never been seen before. The first palace is +entirely composed of rock crystal, the second of bronze, the third of +fine steel, the fourth of another and more precious species of bronze, +the fifth of touchstone, the sixth of silver, and the seventh of solid +gold. They are all most sumptuously furnished, whilst the gardens +surrounding them are laid out with exquisite taste. In fact, neither +trouble nor cost has been spared to make this retreat agreeable to the +princess. The report of her wonderful beauty has spread far and wide, +and many powerful kings have sent embassies to ask her hand in +marriage. The king has always received these embassies graciously, but +says that he will never oblige the princess to marry against her will, +and as she regularly declines each fresh proposal, the envoys have had +to leave as disappointed in the result of their missions as they were +gratified by their magnificent receptions." + +"Sire," said the princess to her father, "you wish me to marry, and I +know you desire to please me, for which I am very grateful. But, +indeed, I have no inclination to change my state, for where could I +find so happy a life amidst so many beautiful and delightful +surroundings? I feel that I could never be as happy with any husband +as I am here, and I beg you not to press one on me." + +"At last an embassy came from a king so rich and powerful that the King +of China felt constrained to urge this suit on his daughter. He told +her how important such an alliance would be, and pressed her to +consent. In fact, he pressed her so persistingly that the princess at +length lost her temper and quite forgot the respect due to her father. +"Sire," cried she angrily, "do not speak further of this or any other +marriage or I will plunge this dagger in my breast and so escape from +all these importunities." + +"The king of China was extremely indignant with his daughter and +replied: "You have lost your senses and you must be treated +accordingly." So he had her shut in one set of rooms in one of her +palaces, and only allowed her ten old women, of whom her nurse was the +head, to wait on her and keep her company. He next sent letters to all +the kings who had sued for the princess's hand, begging they would +think of her no longer, as she was quite insane, and he desired his +various envoys to make it known that anyone who could cure her should +have her to wife. + +"Fair Maimoune," continued Danhasch, "this is the present state of +affairs. I never pass a day without going to gaze on this incomparable +beauty, and I am sure that if you would only accompany me you would +think the sight well worth the trouble, and own that you never saw such +loveliness before." + +The fairy only answered with a peal of laughter, and when at length she +had control of her voice she cried, "Oh, come, you are making game of +me! I thought you had something really interesting to tell me instead +of raving about some unknown damsel. What would you say if you could +see the prince I have just been looking at and whose beauty is really +transcendent? That is something worth talking about, you would +certainly quite lose your head." + +"Charming Maimoune," asked Danhasch, "may I inquire who and what is the +prince of whom you speak?" + +"Know," replied Maimoune, "that he is in much the same case as your +princess. The king, his father, wanted to force him to marry, and on +the prince's refusal to obey he has been imprisoned in an old tower +where I have just seen him." + +"I don't like to contradict a lady," said Danhasch, "but you must +really permit me to doubt any mortal being as beautiful as my princess." + +"Hold your tongue," cried Maimoune. "I repeat that is impossible." + +"Well, I don't wish to seem obstinate," replied Danhasch, "the best +plan to test the truth of what I say will be for you to let me take you +to see the princess for yourself." + +"There is no need for that," retorted Maimoune; "we can satisfy +ourselves in another way. Bring your princess here and lay her down +beside my prince. We can then compare them at leisure, and decide +which is in the right." + +Danhasch readily consented, and after having the tower where the prince +was confined pointed out to him, and making a wager with Maimoune as to +the result of the comparison, he flew off to China to fetch the +princess. + +In an incredibly short time Danhasch returned, bearing the sleeping +princess. Maimoune led him to the prince's room, and the rival beauty +was placed beside him. + +When the prince and princess lay thus side by side, an animated dispute +as to their respective charms arose between the fairy and the genius. +Danhasch began by saying: + +"Now you see that my princess is more beautiful than your prince. Can +you doubt any longer?" + +"Doubt! Of course I do!" exclaimed Maimoune. "Why, you must be blind +not to see how much my prince excels your princess. I do not deny that +your princess is very handsome, but only look and you must own that I +am in the right." + +"There is no need for me to look longer," said Danhasch, "my first +impression will remain the same; but of course, charming Maimoune, I am +ready to yield to you if you insist on it." + +"By no means," replied Maimoune. "I have no idea of being under any +obligation to an accursed genius like you. I refer the matter to an +umpire, and shall expect you to submit to his verdict." + +Danhasch readily agreed, and on Maimoune striking the floor with her +foot it opened, and a hideous, hump-backed, lame, squinting genius, +with six horns on his head, hands like claws, emerged. As soon as he +beheld Maimoune he threw himself at her feet and asked her commands. + +"Rise, Caschcasch," said she. "I summoned you to judge between me and +Danhasch. Glance at that couch, and say without any partiality whether +you think the youth or the maiden lying there the more beautiful." + +Caschcasch looked at the prince and princess with every token of +surprise and admiration. At length, having gazed long without being +able to come to a decision, he said + +"Madam, I must confess that I should deceive you were I to declare one +to be handsomer than the other. There seems to me only one way in +which to decide the matter, and that is to wake one after the other and +judge which of them expresses the greater admiration for the other." + +This advice pleased Maimoune and Danhasch, and the fairy at once +transformed herself into the shape of a gnat and settling on +Camaralzaman's throat stung him so sharply that he awoke. As he did so +his eyes fell on the Princess of China. Surprised at finding a lady so +near him, he raised himself on one arm to look at her. The youth and +beauty of the princess at once awoke a feeling to which his heart had +as yet been a stranger, and he could not restrain his delight. + +"What loveliness! What charms! Oh, my heart, my soul!" he exclaimed, +as he kissed her forehead, her eyes and mouth in a way which would +certainly have roused her had not the genie's enchantments kept her +asleep. + +"How, fair lady!" he cried, "you do not wake at the signs of +Camaralzaman's love? Be you who you may, he is not unworthy of you." + +It then suddenly occurred to him, that perhaps this was the bride his +father had destined for him, and that the King had probably had her +placed in this room in order to see how far Camaralzaman's aversion to +marriage would withstand her charms. + +"At all events," he thought, "I will take this ring as a remembrance of +her." + +So saying he drew off a fine ring which the princess wore on her +finger, and replaced it by one of his own. After which he lay down +again and was soon fast asleep. + +Then Danhasch, in his turn, took the form of a gnat and bit the +princess on her lip. + +She started up, and was not a little amazed at seeing a young man +beside her. From surprise she soon passed to admiration, and then to +delight on perceiving how handsome and fascinating he was. + +"Why," cried she, "was it you my father wished me to marry? How +unlucky that I did not know sooner! I should not have made him so +angry. But wake up! wake up! for I know I shall love you with all my +heart." + +So saying she shook Camaralzaman so violently that nothing but the +spells of Maimoune could have prevented his waking. + +"Oh!" cried the princess. "Why are you so drowsy?" So saying she took +his hand and noticed her own ring on his finger, which made her wonder +still more. But as he still remained in a profound slumber she pressed +a kiss on his cheek and soon fell fast asleep too. + +Then Maimoune turning to the genie said: "Well, are you satisfied that +my prince surpasses your princess? Another time pray believe me when I +assert anything." + +Then turning to Caschcasch: "My thanks to you, and now do you and +Danhasch bear the princess back to her own home." + +The two genii hastened to obey, and Maimoune returned to her well. + +On waking next morning the first thing Prince Camaralzaman did was to +look round for the lovely lady he had seen at night, and the next to +question the slave who waited on him about her. But the slave +persisted so strongly that he knew nothing of any lady, and still less +of how she got into the tower, that the prince lost all patience, and +after giving him a good beating tied a rope round him and ducked him in +the well till the unfortunate man cried out that he would tell +everything. Then the prince drew him up all dripping wet, but the +slave begged leave to change his clothes first, and as soon as the +prince consented hurried off just as he was to the palace. Here he +found the king talking to the grand-vizir of all the anxiety his son +had caused him. The slave was admitted at once and cried: + +"Alas, Sire! I bring sad news to your Majesty. There can be no doubt +that the prince has completely lost his senses. He declares that he +saw a lady sleeping on his couch last night, and the state you see me +in proves how violent contradiction makes him." He then gave a minute +account of all the prince had said and done. + +The king, much moved, begged the vizir to examine into this new +misfortune, and the latter at once went to the tower, where he found +the prince quietly reading a book. After the first exchange of +greetings the vizir said: + +"I feel really very angry with your slave for alarming his Majesty by +the news he brought him." + +"What news?" asked the prince. + +"Ah!" replied the vizir, "something absurd, I feel sure, seeing how I +find you." + +"Most likely," said the prince; "but now that you are here I am glad of +the opportunity to ask you where is the lady who slept in this room +last night?" + +The grand-vizir felt beside himself at this question. + +"Prince!" he exclaimed, "how would it be possible for any man, much +less a woman, to enter this room at night without walking over your +slave on the threshold? Pray consider the matter, and you will realise +that you have been deeply impressed by some dream." + +But the prince angrily insisted on knowing who and where the lady was, +and was not to be persuaded by all the vizir's protestations to the +contrary that the plot had not been one of his making. At last, losing +patience, he seized the vizir by the beard and loaded him with blows. + +"Stop, Prince," cried the unhappy vizir, "stay and hear what I have to +say." + +The prince, whose arm was getting tired, paused. + +"I confess, Prince," said the vizir, "that there is some foundation for +what you say. But you know well that a minister has to carry out his +master's orders. Allow me to go and to take to the king any message +you may choose to send." + +"Very well," said the prince; "then go and tell him that I consent to +marry the lady whom he sent or brought here last night. Be quick and +bring me back his answer." + +The vizir bowed to the ground and hastened to leave the room and tower. + +"Well," asked the king as soon as he appeared, "and how did you find my +son?" + +"Alas, sire," was the reply, "the slave's report is only too true!" + +He then gave an exact account of his interview with Camaralzaman and of +the prince's fury when told that it was not possible for any lady to +have entered his room, and of the treatment he himself had received. +The king, much distressed, determined to clear up the matter himself, +and, ordering the vizir to follow him, set out to visit his son. + +The prince received his father with profound respect, and the king, +making him sit beside him, asked him several questions, to which +Camaralzaman replied with much good sense. At last the king said: "My +son, pray tell me about the lady who, it is said, was in your room last +night." + +"Sire," replied the prince, "pray do not increase my distress in this +matter, but rather make me happy by giving her to me in marriage. +However much I may have objected to matrimony formerly, the sight of +this lovely girl has overcome all my prejudices, and I will gratefully +receive her from your hands." + +The king was almost speechless on hearing his son, but after a time +assured him most solemnly that he knew nothing whatever about the lady +in question, and had not connived at her appearance. He then desired +the prince to relate the whole story to him. + +Camaralzaman did so at great length, showed the ring, and implored his +father to help to find the bride he so ardently desired. + +"After all you tell me," remarked the king, "I can no longer doubt your +word; but how and whence the lady came, or why she should have stayed +so short a time I cannot imagine. The whole affair is indeed +mysterious. Come, my dear son, let us wait together for happier days." + +So saying the king took Camaralzaman by the hand and led him back to +the palace, where the prince took to his bed and gave himself up to +despair, and the king shutting himself up with his son entirely +neglected the affairs of state. + +The prime minister, who was the only person admitted, felt it his duty +at last to tell the king how much the court and all the people +complained of his seclusion, and how bad it was for the nation. He +urged the sultan to remove with the prince to a lovely little island +close by, whence he could easily attend public audiences, and where the +charming scenery and fine air would do the invalid so much good as to +enable him to bear his father's occasional absence. + +The king approved the plan, and as soon as the castle on the island +could be prepared for their reception he and the prince arrived there, +Schahzaman never leaving his son except for the prescribed public +audiences twice a week. + +Whilst all this was happening in the capital of Schahzaman the two +genii had carefully borne the Princess of China back to her own palace +and replaced her in bed. On waking next morning she first turned from +one side to another and then, finding herself alone, called loudly for +her women. + +"Tell me," she cried, "where is the young man I love so dearly, and who +slept near me last night?" + +"Princess," exclaimed the nurse, "we cannot tell what you allude to +without more explanation." + +"Why," continued the princess, "the most charming and beautiful young +man lay sleeping beside me last night. I did my utmost to wake him, +but in vain." + +"Your Royal Highness wishes to make game of us," said the nurse. "Is +it your pleasure to rise?" + +"I am quite in earnest," persisted the princess, "and I want to know +where he is." + +"But, Princess," expostulated the nurse, "we left you quite alone last +night, and we have seen no one enter your room since then." + +At this the princess lost all patience, and taking the nurse by her +hair she boxed her ears soundly, crying out: "You shall tell me, you +old witch, or I'll kill you." + +The nurse had no little trouble in escaping, and hurried off to the +queen, to whom she related the whole story with tears in her eyes. + +"You see, madam," she concluded, "that the princess must be out of her +mind. If only you will come and see her, you will be able to judge for +yourself." + +The queen hurried to her daughter's apartments, and after tenderly +embracing her, asked her why she had treated her nurse so badly. + +"Madam," said the princess, "I perceive that your Majesty wishes to +make game of me, but I can assure you that I will never marry anyone +except the charming young man whom I saw last night. You must know +where he is, so pray send for him." + +The queen was much surprised by these words, but when she declared that +she knew nothing whatever of the matter the princess lost all respect, +and answered that if she were not allowed to marry as she wished she +should kill herself, and it was in vain that the queen tried to pacify +her and bring her to reason. + +The king himself came to hear the rights of the matter, but the +princess only persisted in her story, and as a proof showed the ring on +her finger. The king hardly knew what to make of it all, but ended by +thinking that his daughter was more crazy than ever, and without +further argument he had her placed in still closer confinement, with +only her nurse to wait on her and a powerful guard to keep the door. + +Then he assembled his council, and having told them the sad state of +things, added: "If any of you can succeed in curing the princess, I +will give her to him in marriage, and he shall be my heir." + +An elderly emir present, fired with the desire to possess a young and +lovely wife and to rule over a great kingdom, offered to try the magic +arts with which he was acquainted. + +"You are welcome to try," said the king, "but I make one condition, +which is, that should you fail you will lose your life." + +The emir accepted the condition, and the king led him to the princess, +who, veiling her face, remarked, "I am surprised, sire, that you should +bring an unknown man into my presence." + +"You need not be shocked," said the king; "this is one of my emirs who +asks your hand in marriage." + +"Sire," replied the princess, "this is not the one you gave me before +and whose ring I wear. Permit me to say that I can accept no other." + +The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, finding +how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he could not +venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his Majesty's +disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly had it cut off. + +This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability to +cure her cost them their lives. + +Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for +some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels. He had +been in many countries and learnt many things, including astrology. +Needless to say that one of the first things his mother told him was +the sad condition of the princess, his foster-sister. Marzavan asked if +she could not manage to let him see the princess without the king's +knowledge. + +After some consideration his mother consented, and even persuaded the +eunuch on guard to make no objection to Marzavan's entering the royal +apartment. + +The princess was delighted to see her foster-brother again, and after +some conversation she confided to him all her history and the cause of +her imprisonment. + +Marzavan listened with downcast eyes and the utmost attention. When +she had finished speaking he said, + +"If what you tell me, Princess, is indeed the case, I do not despair of +finding comfort for you. Take patience yet a little longer. I will +set out at once to explore other countries, and when you hear of my +return be sure that he for whom you sigh is not far off." So saying, he +took his leave and started next morning on his travels. + +Marzavan journeyed from city to city and from one island and province +to another, and wherever he went he heard people talk of the strange +story of the Princess Badoura, as the Princess of China was named. + +After four months he reached a large populous seaport town named Torf, +and here he heard no more of the Princess Badoura but a great deal of +Prince Camaralzaman, who was reported ill, and whose story sounded very +similar to that of the Princess Badoura. + +Marzavan was rejoiced, and set out at once for Prince Camaralzaman's +residence. The ship on which he embarked had a prosperous voyage till +she got within sight of the capital of King Schahzaman, but when just +about to enter the harbour she suddenly struck on a rock, and foundered +within sight of the palace where the prince was living with his father +and the grand-vizir. + +Marzavan, who swam well, threw himself into the sea and managed to land +close to the palace, where he was kindly received, and after having a +change of clothing given him was brought before the grand-vizir. The +vizir was at once attracted by the young man's superior air and +intelligent conversation, and perceiving that he had gained much +experience in the course of his travels, he said, "Ah, how I wish you +had learnt some secret which might enable you to cure a malady which +has plunged this court into affliction for some time past!" + +Marzavan replied that if he knew what the illness was he might possibly +be able to suggest a remedy, on which the vizir related to him the +whole history of Prince Camaralzaman. + +On hearing this Marzavan rejoiced inwardly, for he felt sure that he +had at last discovered the object of the Princess Badoura's +infatuation. However, he said nothing, but begged to be allowed to see +the prince. + +On entering the royal apartment the first thing which struck him was +the prince himself, who lay stretched out on his bed with his eyes +closed. The king sat near him, but, without paying any regard to his +presence, Marzavan exclaimed, "Heavens! what a striking likeness!" +And, indeed, there was a good deal of resemblance between the features +of Camaralzaman and those of the Princess of China. + +These words caused the prince to open his eyes with languid curiosity, +and Marzavan seized this moment to pay him his compliments, contriving +at the same time to express the condition of the Princess of China in +terms unintelligible, indeed, to the Sultan and his vizir, but which +left the prince in no doubt that his visitor could give him some +welcome information. + +The prince begged his father to allow him the favour of a private +interview with Marzavan, and the king was only too pleased to find his +son taking an interest in anyone or anything. As soon as they were +left alone Marzavan told the prince the story of the Princess Badoura +and her sufferings, adding, "I am convinced that you alone can cure +her; but before starting on so long a journey you must be well and +strong, so do your best to recover as quickly as may be." + +These words produced a great effect on the prince, who was so much +cheered by the hopes held out that he declared he felt able to get up +and be dressed. The king was overjoyed at the result of Marzavan's +interview, and ordered public rejoicings in honour of the prince's +recovery. + +Before long the prince was quite restored to his original state of +health, and as soon as he felt himself really strong he took Marzavan +aside and said: + +"Now is the time to perform your promise. I am so impatient to see my +beloved princess once more that I am sure I shall fall ill again if we +do not start soon. The one obstacle is my father's tender care of me, +for, as you may have noticed, he cannot bear me out of his sight." + +"Prince," replied Marzavan, "I have already thought over the matter, +and this is what seems to me the best plan. You have not been out of +doors since my arrival. Ask the king's permission to go with me for +two or three days' hunting, and when he has given leave order two good +horses to be held ready for each of us. Leave all the rest to me." + +Next day the prince seized a favourable opportunity for making his +request, and the king gladly granted it on condition that only one +night should be spent out for fear of too great fatigue after such a +long illness. + +Next morning Prince Camaralzaman and Marzavan were off betimes, +attended by two grooms leading the two extra horses. They hunted a +little by the way, but took care to get as far from the towns as +possible. At night-fall they reached an inn, where they supped and +slept till midnight. Then Marzavan awoke and roused the prince without +disturbing anyone else. He begged the prince to give him the coat he +had been wearing and to put on another which they had brought with +them. They mounted their second horses, and Marzavan led one of the +grooms' horses by the bridle. + +By daybreak our travellers found themselves where four cross roads met +in the middle of the forest. Here Marzavan begged the prince to wait +for him, and leading the groom's horse into a dense part of the wood he +cut its throat, dipped the prince's coat in its blood, and having +rejoined the prince threw the coat on the ground where the roads parted. + +In answer to Camaralzaman's inquiries as to the reason for this, +Marzavan replied that the only chance they had of continuing their +journey was to divert attention by creating the idea of the prince's +death. "Your father will doubtless be plunged in the deepest grief," +he went on, "but his joy at your return will be all the greater." + +The prince and his companion now continued their journey by land and +sea, and as they had brought plenty of money to defray their expenses +they met with no needless delays. At length they reached the capital +of China, where they spent three days in a suitable lodging to recover +from their fatigues. + +During this time Marzavan had an astrologer's dress prepared for the +prince. They then went to the baths, after which the prince put on the +astrologer's robe and was conducted within sight of the king's palace +by Marzavan, who left him there and went to consult his mother, the +princess's nurse. + +Meantime the prince, according to Marzavan's instructions, advanced +close to the palace gates and there proclaimed aloud: + +"I am an astrologer and I come to restore health to the Princess +Badoura, daughter of the high and mighty King of China, on the +conditions laid down by His Majesty of marrying her should I succeed, +or of losing my life if I fail." + +It was some little time since anyone had presented himself to run the +terrible risk involved in attempting to cure the princess, and a crowd +soon gathered round the prince. On perceiving his youth, good looks, +and distinguished bearing, everyone felt pity for him. + +"What are you thinking of, sir," exclaimed some; "why expose yourself +to certain death? Are not the heads you see exposed on the town wall +sufficient warning? For mercy's sake give up this mad idea and retire +whilst you can." + +But the prince remained firm, and only repeated his cry with greater +assurance, to the horror of the crowd. + +"He is resolved to die!" they cried; "may heaven have pity on him!" + +Camaralzaman now called out for the third time, and at last the +grand-vizir himself came out and fetched him in. + +The prime minister led the prince to the king, who was much struck by +the noble air of this new adventurer, and felt such pity for the fate +so evidently in store for him, that he tried to persuade the young man +to renounce his project. + +But Camaralzaman politely yet firmly persisted in his intentions, and +at length the king desired the eunuch who had the guard of the +princess's apartments to conduct the astrologer to her presence. + +The eunuch led the way through long passages, and Camaralzaman followed +rapidly, in haste to reach the object of his desires. At last they +came to a large hall which was the ante-room to the princess's chamber, +and here Camaralzaman said to the eunuch: + +"Now you shall choose. Shall I cure the princess in her own presence, +or shall I do it from here without seeing her?" + +The eunuch, who had expressed many contemptuous doubts as they came +along of the newcomer's powers, was much surprised and said: + +"If you really can cure, it is immaterial when you do it. Your fame +will be equally great." + +"Very well," replied the prince: "then, impatient though I am to see +the princess, I will effect the cure where I stand, the better to +convince you of my power." He accordingly drew out his writing case +and wrote as follows--"Adorable princess! The enamoured Camaralzaman +has never forgotten the moment when, contemplating your sleeping +beauty, he gave you his heart. As he was at that time deprived of the +happiness of conversing with you, he ventured to give you his ring as a +token of his love, and to take yours in exchange, which he now encloses +in this letter. Should you deign to return it to him he will be the +happiest of mortals, if not he will cheerfully resign himself to death, +seeing he does so for love of you. He awaits your reply in your +ante-room." + +Having finished this note the prince carefully enclosed the ring in it +without letting the eunuch see it, and gave him the letter, saying: + +"Take this to your mistress, my friend, and if on reading it and seeing +its contents she is not instantly cured, you may call me an impudent +impostor." + +The eunuch at once passed into the princess's room, and handing her the +letter said: + +"Madam, a new astrologer has arrived, who declares that you will be +cured as soon as you have read this letter and seen what it contains." + +The princess took the note and opened it with languid indifference. +But no sooner did she see her ring than, barely glancing at the +writing, she rose hastily and with one bound reached the doorway and +pushed back the hangings. Here she and the prince recognised each +other, and in a moment they were locked in each other's arms, where +they tenderly embraced, wondering how they came to meet at last after +so long a separation. The nurse, who had hastened after her charge, +drew them back to the inner room, where the princess restored her ring +to Camaralzaman. + +"Take it back," she said, "I could not keep it without returning yours +to you, and I am resolved to wear that as long as I live." + +Meantime the eunuch had hastened back to the king. "Sire," he cried, +"all the former doctors and astrologers were mere quacks. This man has +cured the princess without even seeing her." He then told all to the +king, who, overjoyed, hastened to his daughter's apartments, where, +after embracing her, he placed her hand in that of the prince, saying: + +"Happy stranger, I keep my promise, and give you my daughter to wife, +be you who you may. But, if I am not much mistaken, your condition is +above what you appear to be." + +The prince thanked the king in the warmest and most respectful terms, +and added: "As regards my person, your Majesty has rightly guessed +that I am not an astrologer. It is but a disguise which I assumed in +order to merit your illustrious alliance. I am myself a prince, my +name is Camaralzaman, and my father is Schahzaman, King of the Isles of +the Children of Khaledan." He then told his whole history, including +the extraordinary manner of his first seeing and loving the Princess +Badoura. + +When he had finished the king exclaimed: "So remarkable a story must +not be lost to posterity. It shall be inscribed in the archives of my +kingdom and published everywhere abroad." + +The wedding took place next day amidst great pomp and rejoicings. +Marzavan was not forgotten, but was given a lucrative post at court, +with a promise of further advancement. + +The prince and princess were now entirely happy, and months slipped by +unconsciously in the enjoyment of each other's society. + +One night, however, Prince Camaralzaman dreamt that he saw his father +lying at the point of death, and saying: "Alas! my son whom I loved so +tenderly, has deserted me and is now causing my death." + +The prince woke with such a groan as to startle the princess, who asked +what was the matter. + +"Ah!" cried the prince, "at this very moment my father is perhaps no +more!" and he told his dream. + +The princess said but little at the time, but next morning she went to +the king, and kissing his hand said: + +"I have a favour to ask of your Majesty, and I beg you to believe that +it is in no way prompted by my husband. It is that you will allow us +both to visit my father-in-law King Schahzaman." + +Sorry though the king felt at the idea of parting with his daughter, he +felt her request to be so reasonable that he could not refuse it, and +made but one condition, which was that she should only spend one year +at the court of King Schahzaman, suggesting that in future the young +couple should visit their respective parents alternately. + +The princess brought this good news to her husband, who thanked her +tenderly for this fresh proof of her affection. + +All preparations for the journey were now pressed forwards, and when +all was ready the king accompanied the travellers for some days, after +which he took an affectionate leave of his daughter, and charging the +prince to take every care of her, returned to his capital. + +The prince and princess journeyed on, and at the end of a month reached +a huge meadow interspersed with clumps of big trees which cast a most +pleasant shade. As the heat was great, Camaralzaman thought it well to +encamp in this cool spot. Accordingly the tents were pitched, and the +princess entering hers whilst the prince was giving his further orders, +removed her girdle, which she placed beside her, and desiring her women +to leave her, lay down and was soon asleep. + +When the camp was all in order the prince entered the tent and, seeing +the princess asleep, he sat down near her without speaking. His eyes +fell on the girdle which, he took up, and whilst inspecting the +precious stones set in it he noticed a little pouch sewn to the girdle +and fastened by a loop. He touched it and felt something hard within. +Curious as to what this might be, he opened the pouch and found a +cornelian engraved with various figures and strange characters. + +"This cornelian must be something very precious," thought he, "or my +wife would not wear it on her person with so much care." + +In truth it was a talisman which the Queen of China had given her +daughter, telling her it would ensure her happiness as long as she +carried it about her. + +The better to examine the stone the prince stepped to the open doorway +of the tent. As he stood there holding it in the open palm of his +hand, a bird suddenly swooped down, picked the stone up in its beak and +flew away with it. + +Imagine the prince's dismay at losing a thing by which his wife +evidently set such store! + +The bird having secured its prey flew off some yards and alighted on +the ground, holding the talisman it its beak. Prince Camaralzaman +advanced, hoping the bird would drop it, but as soon as he approached +the thief fluttered on a little further still. He continued his +pursuit till the bird suddenly swallowed the stone and took a longer +flight than before. The prince then hoped to kill it with a stone, but +the more hotly he pursued the further flew the bird. + +In this fashion he was led on by hill and dale through the entire day, +and when night came the tiresome creature roosted on the top of a very +high tree where it could rest in safety. + +The prince in despair at all his useless trouble began to think whether +he had better return to the camp. "But," thought he, "how shall I find +my way back? Must I go up hill or down? I should certainly lose my +way in the dark, even if my strength held out." Overwhelmed by hunger, +thirst, fatigue and sleep, he ended by spending the night at the foot +of the tree. + +Next morning Camaralzaman woke up before the bird left its perch, and +no sooner did it take flight than he followed it again with as little +success as the previous day, only stopping to eat some herbs and fruit +he found by the way. In this fashion he spent ten days, following the +bird all day and spending the night at the foot of a tree, whilst it +roosted on the topmost bough. On the eleventh day the bird and the +prince reached a large town, and as soon as they were close to its +walls the bird took a sudden and higher flight and was shortly +completely out of sight, whilst Camaralzaman felt in despair at having +to give up all hopes of ever recovering the talisman of the Princess +Badoura. + +Much cast down, he entered the town, which was built near the sea and +had a fine harbour. He walked about the streets for a long time, not +knowing where to go, but at length as he walked near the seashore he +found a garden door open and walked in. + +The gardener, a good old man, who was at work, happened to look up, +and, seeing a stranger, whom he recognised by his dress as a Mussulman, +he told him to come in at once and to shut the door. + +Camaralzaman did as he was bid, and inquired why this precaution was +taken. + +"Because," said the gardener, "I see that you are a stranger and a +Mussulman, and this town is almost entirely inhabited by idolaters, who +hate and persecute all of our faith. It seems almost a miracle that +has led you to this house, and I am indeed glad that you have found a +place of safety." + +Camaralzaman warmly thanked the kind old man for offering him shelter, +and was about to say more, but the gardener interrupted him with: + +"Leave compliments alone. You are weary and must be hungry. Come in, +eat, and rest." So saying he led the prince into his cottage, and +after satisfying his hunger begged to learn the cause of his arrival. + +Camaralzaman told him all without disguise, and ended by inquiring the +shortest way to his father's capital. "For," added he, "if I tried to +rejoin the princess, how should I find her after eleven days' +separation. Perhaps, indeed, she may be no longer alive!" At this +terrible thought he burst into tears. + +The gardener informed Camaralzaman that they were quite a year's land +journey to any Mahomedan country, but that there was a much shorter +route by sea to the Ebony Island, from whence the Isles of the Children +of Khaledan could be easily reached, and that a ship sailed once a year +for the Ebony Island by which he might get so far as his very home. + +"If only you had arrived a few days sooner," he said, "you might have +embarked at once. As it is you must now wait till next year, but if +you care to stay with me I offer you my house, such as it is, with all +my heart." + +Prince Camaralzaman thought himself lucky to find some place of refuge, +and gladly accepted the gardener's offer. He spent his days working in +the garden, and his nights thinking of and sighing for his beloved wife. + +Let us now see what had become during this time of the Princess Badoura. + +On first waking she was much surprised not to find the prince near her. +She called her women and asked if they knew where he was, and whilst +they were telling her that they had seen him enter the tent, but had +not noticed his leaving it, she took up her belt and perceived that the +little pouch was open and the talisman gone. + +She at once concluded that her husband had taken it and would shortly +bring it back. She waited for him till evening rather impatiently, and +wondering what could have kept him from her so long. When night came +without him she felt in despair and abused the talisman and its maker +roundly. In spite of her grief and anxiety however, she did not lose +her presence of mind, but decided on a courageous, though very unusual +step. + +Only the princess and her women knew of Camaralzaman's disappearance, +for the rest of the party were sleeping or resting in their tents. +Fearing some treason should the truth be known, she ordered her women +not to say a word which would give rise to any suspicion, and proceeded +to change her dress for one of her husband's, to whom, as has been +already said, she bore a strong likeness. + +In this disguise she looked so like the prince that when she gave +orders next morning to break up the camp and continue the journey no +one suspected the change. She made one of her women enter her litter, +whilst she herself mounted on horseback and the march began. + +After a protracted journey by land and sea the princess, still under +the name and disguise of Prince Camaralzaman, arrived at the capital of +the Ebony Island whose king was named Armanos. + +No sooner did the king hear that the ship which was just in port had on +board the son of his old friend and ally than he hurried to meet the +supposed prince, and had him and his retinue brought to the palace, +where they were lodged and entertained sumptuously. + +After three days, finding that his guest, to whom he had taken a great +fancy, talked of continuing his journey, King Armanos said to him: + +"Prince, I am now an old man, and unfortunately I have no son to whom +to leave my kingdom. It has pleased Heaven to give me only one +daughter, who possesses such great beauty and charm that I could only +give her to a prince as highly born and as accomplished as yourself. +Instead, therefore, of returning to your own country, take my daughter +and my crown and stay with us. I shall feel that I have a worthy +successor, and shall cheerfully retire from the fatigues of government." + +The king's offer was naturally rather embarrassing to the Princess +Badoura. She felt that it was equally impossible to confess that she +had deceived him, or to refuse the marriage on which he had set his +heart; a refusal which might turn all his kindness to hatred and +persecution. + +All things considered, she decided to accept, and after a few moments +silence said with a blush, which the king attributed to modesty: + +"Sire, I feel so great an obligation for the good opinion your Majesty +has expressed for my person and of the honour you do me, that, though I +am quite unworthy of it, I dare not refuse. But, sire, I can only +accept such an alliance if you give me your promise to assist me with +your counsels." + +The marriage being thus arranged, the ceremony was fixed for the +following day, and the princess employed the intervening time in +informing the officers of her suite of what had happened, assuring them +that the Princess Badoura had given her full consent to the marriage. +She also told her women, and bade them keep her secret well. + +King Armanos, delighted with the success of his plans, lost no time in +assembling his court and council, to whom he presented his successor, +and placing his future son-in-law on the throne made everyone do homage +and take oaths of allegiance to the new king. + +At night the whole town was filled with rejoicings, and with much pomp +the Princess Haiatelnefous (this was the name of the king's daughter) +was conducted to the palace of the Princess Badoura. + +Now Badoura had thought much of the difficulties of her first interview +with King Armanos' daughter, and she felt the only thing to do was at +once to take her into her confidence. + +Accordingly, as soon as they were alone she took Haiatelnefous by the +hand and said: + +"Princess, I have a secret to tell you, and must throw myself on your +mercy. I am not Prince Camaralzaman, but a princess like yourself and +his wife, and I beg you to listen to my story, then I am sure you will +forgive my imposture, in consideration of my sufferings." + +She then related her whole history, and at its close Haiatelnefous +embraced her warmly, and assured her of her entire sympathy and +affection. + +The two princesses now planned out their future action, and agreed to +combine to keep up the deception and to let Badoura continue to play a +man's part until such time as there might be news of the real +Camaralzaman. + +Whilst these things were passing in the Ebony Island Prince +Camaralzaman continued to find shelter in the gardeners cottage in the +town of the idolaters. + +Early one morning the gardener said to the prince: + +"To-day is a public holiday, and the people of the town not only do not +work themselves but forbid others to do so. You had better therefore +take a good rest whilst I go to see some friends, and as the time is +near for the arrival of the ship of which I told you I will make +inquiries about it, and try to bespeak a passage for you." He then put +on his best clothes and went out, leaving the prince, who strolled into +the garden and was soon lost in thoughts of his dear wife and their sad +separation. + +As he walked up and down he was suddenly disturbed in his reverie by +the noise two large birds were making in a tree. + +Camaralzaman stood still and looked up, and saw that the birds were +fighting so savagely with beaks and claws that before long one fell +dead to the ground, whilst the conqueror spread his wings and flew +away. Almost immediately two other larger birds, who had been watching +the duel, flew up and alighted, one at the head and the other at the +feet of the dead bird. They stood there some time sadly shaking their +heads, and then dug up a grave with their claws in which they buried +him. + +As soon as they had filled in the grave the two flew off, and ere long +returned, bringing with them the murderer, whom they held, one by a +wing and the other by a leg, with their beaks, screaming and struggling +with rage and terror. But they held tight, and having brought him to +his victim's grave, they proceeded to kill him, after which they tore +open his body, scattered the inside and once more flew away. + +The prince, who had watched the whole scene with much interest, now +drew near the spot where it happened, and glancing at the dead bird he +noticed something red lying near which had evidently fallen out of its +inside. He picked it up, and what was his surprise when he recognised +the Princess Badoura's talisman which had been the cause of many +misfortunes. It would be impossible to describe his joy; he kissed the +talisman repeatedly, wrapped it up, and carefully tied it round his +arm. For the first time since his separation from the princess he had +a good night, and next morning he was up at day-break and went +cheerfully to ask what work he should do. + +The gardener told him to cut down an old fruit tree which had quite +died away, and Camaralzaman took an axe and fell to vigorously. As he +was hacking at one of the roots the axe struck on something hard. On +pushing away the earth he discovered a large slab of bronze, under +which was disclosed a staircase with ten steps. He went down them and +found himself in a roomy kind of cave in which stood fifty large bronze +jars, each with a cover on it. The prince uncovered one after another, +and found them all filled with gold dust. Delighted with his discovery +he left the cave, replaced the slab, and having finished cutting down +the tree waited for the gardener's return. + +The gardener had heard the night before that the ship about which he +was inquiring would start ere long, but the exact date not being yet +known he had been told to return next day for further information. He +had gone therefore to inquire, and came back with good news beaming in +his face. + +"My son," said he, "rejoice and hold yourself ready to start in three +days' time. The ship is to set sail, and I have arranged all about +your passage with the captain. + +"You could not bring me better news," replied Camaralzaman, "and in +return I have something pleasant to tell you. Follow me and see the +good fortune which has befallen you." + +He then led the gardener to the cave, and having shown him the treasure +stored up there, said how happy it made him that Heaven should in this +way reward his kind host's many virtues and compensate him for the +privations of many years. + +"What do you mean?" asked the gardener. "Do you imagine that I should +appropriate this treasure? It is yours, and I have no right whatever +to it. For the last eighty years I have dug up the ground here without +discovering anything. It is clear that these riches are intended for +you, and they are much more needed by a prince like yourself than by an +old man like me, who am near my end and require nothing. This treasure +comes just at the right time, when you are about to return to your own +country, where you will make good use of it." + +But the prince would not hear of this suggestion, and finally after +much discussion they agreed to divide the gold. When this was done the +gardener said: + +"My son, the great thing now is to arrange how you can best carry off +this treasure as secretly as possible for fear of losing it. There are +no olives in the Ebony Island, and those imported from here fetch a +high price. As you know, I have a good stock of the olives which grew +in this garden. Now you must take fifty jars, fill each half full of +gold dust and fill them up with the olives. We will then have them +taken on board ship when you embark." + +The prince took this advice, and spent the rest of the day filling the +fifty jars, and fearing lest the precious talisman might slip from his +arm and be lost again, he took the precaution of putting it in one of +the jars, on which he made a mark so as to be able to recognise it. +When night came the jars were all ready, and the prince and his host +went to bed. + +Whether in consequence of his great age, or of the fatigues and +excitement of the previous day, I do not know, but the gardener passed +a very bad night. He was worse next day, and by the morning of the +third day was dangerously ill. At daybreak the ship's captain and some +of his sailors knocked at the garden door and asked for the passenger +who was to embark. + +"I am he," said Camaralzaman, who had opened the door. "The gardener +who took my passage is ill and cannot see you, but please come in and +take these jars of olives and my bag, and I will follow as soon as I +have taken leave of him." + +The sailors did as he asked, and the captain before leaving charged +Camaralzaman to lose no time, as the wind was fair, and he wished to +set sail at once. + +As soon as they were gone the prince returned to the cottage to bid +farewell to his old friend, and to thank him once more for all his +kindness. But the old man was at his last gasp, and had barely +murmured his confession of faith when he expired. + +Camaralzaman was obliged to stay and pay him the last offices, so +having dug a grave in the garden he wrapped the kind old man up and +buried him. He then locked the door, gave up the key to the owner of +the garden, and hurried to the quay only to hear that the ship had +sailed long ago, after waiting three hours for him. + +It may well be believed that the prince felt in despair at this fresh +misfortune, which obliged him to spend another year in a strange and +distasteful country. Moreover, he had once more lost the Princess +Badoura's talisman, which he feared he might never see again. There +was nothing left for him but to hire the garden as the old man had +done, and to live on in the cottage. As he could not well cultivate +the garden by himself, he engaged a lad to help him, and to secure the +rest of the treasure he put the remaining gold dust into fifty more +jars, filling them up with olives so as to have them ready for +transport. + +Whilst the prince was settling down to this second year of toil and +privation, the ship made a rapid voyage and arrived safely at the Ebony +Island. + +As the palace of the new king, or rather of the Princess Badoura, +overlooked the harbour, she saw the ship entering it and asked what +vessel it was coming in so gaily decked with flags, and was told that +it was a ship from the Island of the Idolaters which yearly brought +rich merchandise. + +The princess, ever on the look out for any chance of news of her +beloved husband, went down to the harbour attended by some officers of +the court, and arrived just as the captain was landing. She sent for +him and asked many questions as to his country, voyage, what passengers +he had, and what his vessel was laden with. The captain answered all +her questions, and said that his passengers consisted entirely of +traders who brought rich stuffs from various countries, fine muslins, +precious stones, musk, amber, spices, drugs, olives, and many other +things. + +As soon as he mentioned olives, the princess, who was very partial to +them, exclaimed: + +"I will take all you have on board. Have them unloaded and we will +make our bargain at once, and tell the other merchants to let me see +all their best wares before showing them to other people." + +"Sire," replied the captain, "I have on board fifty very large pots of +olives. They belong to a merchant who was left behind, as in spite of +waiting for him he delayed so long that I was obliged to set sail +without him." + +"Never mind," said the princess, "unload them all the same, and we will +arrange the price." + +The captain accordingly sent his boat off to the ship and it soon +returned laden with the fifty pots of olives. The princess asked what +they might be worth. + +"Sire," replied the captain, "the merchant is very poor. Your Majesty +will not overpay him if you give him a thousand pieces of silver." + +"In order to satisfy him and as he is so poor," said the princess, "I +will order a thousand pieces of gold to be given you, which you will be +sure to remit to him." + +So saying she gave orders for the payment and returned to the palace, +having the jars carried before her. When evening came the Princess +Badoura retired to the inner part of the palace, and going to the +apartments of the Princess Haiatelnefous she had the fifty jars of +olives brought to her. She opened one to let her friend taste the +olives and to taste them herself, but great was her surprise when, on +pouring some into a dish, she found them all powdered with gold dust. +"What an adventure! how extraordinary!" she cried. Then she had the +other jars opened, and was more and more surprised to find the olives +in each jar mixed with gold dust. + +But when at length her talisman was discovered in one of the jars her +emotion was so great that she fainted away. The Princess Haiatelnefous +and her women hastened to restore her, and as soon as she recovered +consciousness she covered the precious talisman with kisses. + +Then, dismissing the attendants, she said to her friend: + +"You will have guessed, my dear, that it was the sight of this talisman +which has moved me so deeply. This was the cause of my separation from +my dear husband, and now, I am convinced, it will be the means of our +reunion." + +As soon as it was light next day the Princess Badoura sent for the +captain, and made further inquiries about the merchant who owned the +olive jars she had bought. + +In reply the captain told her all he knew of the place where the young +man lived, and how, after engaging his passage, he came to be left +behind. + +"If that is the case," said the princess, "you must set sail at once +and go back for him. He is a debtor of mine and must be brought here +at once, or I will confiscate all your merchandise. I shall now give +orders to have all the warehouses where your cargo is placed under the +royal seal, and they will only be opened when you have brought me the +man I ask for. Go at once and obey my orders." + +The captain had no choice but to do as he was bid, so hastily +provisioning his ship he started that same evening on his return voyage. + +When, after a rapid passage, he gained sight of the Island of +Idolaters, he judged it better not to enter the harbour, but casting +anchor at some distance he embarked at night in a small boat with six +active sailors and landed near Camaralzaman's cottage. + +The prince was not asleep, and as he lay awake moaning over all the sad +events which had separated him from his wife, he thought he heard a +knock at the garden door. He went to open it, and was immediately +seized by the captain and sailors, who without a word of explanation +forcibly bore him off to the boat, which took them back to the ship +without loss of time. No sooner were they on board than they weighed +anchor and set sail. + +Camaralzaman, who had kept silence till then, now asked the captain +(whom he had recognised) the reason for this abduction. + +"Are you not a debtor of the King of the Ebony Island?" asked the +captain. + +"I? Why, I never even heard of him before, and never set foot in his +kingdom!" was the answer. + +"Well, you must know better than I," said the captain. "You will soon +see him now, and meantime be content where you are and have patience." + +The return voyage was as prosperous as the former one, and though it +was night when the ship entered the harbour, the captain lost no time +in landing with his passenger, whom he conducted to the palace, where +he begged an audience with the king. + +Directly the Princess Badoura saw the prince she recognised him in +spite of his shabby clothes. She longed to throw herself on his neck, +but restrained herself, feeling it was better for them both that she +should play her part a little longer. She therefore desired one of her +officers to take care of him and to treat him well. Next she ordered +another officer to remove the seals from the warehouse, whilst she +presented the captain with a costly diamond, and told him to keep the +thousand pieces of gold paid for the olives, as she would arrange +matters with the merchant himself. + +She then returned to her private apartments, where she told the +Princess Haiatelnefous all that had happened, as well as her plans for +the future, and begged her assistance, which her friend readily +promised. + +Next morning she ordered the prince to be taken to the bath and clothed +in a manner suitable to an emir or governor of a province. He was then +introduced to the council, where his good looks and grand air drew the +attention of all on him. + +Princess Badoura, delighted to see him looking himself once more, +turned to the other emirs, saying: + +"My lords, I introduce to you a new colleague, Camaralzaman, whom I +have known on my travels and who, I can assure you, you will find well +deserves your regard and admiration." + +Camaralzaman was much surprised at hearing the king--whom he never +suspected of being a woman in disguise--asserting their acquaintance, +for he felt sure he had never seen her before. However he received all +the praises bestowed on him with becoming modesty, and prostrating +himself, said: + +"Sire, I cannot find words in which to thank your Majesty for the great +honour conferred on me. I can but assure you that I will do all in my +power to prove myself worthy of it." + +On leaving the council the prince was conducted to a splendid house +which had been prepared for him, where he found a full establishment +and well-filled stables at his orders. On entering his study his +steward presented him with a coffer filled with gold pieces for his +current expenses. He felt more and more puzzled by such good fortune, +and little guessed that the Princess of China was the cause of it. + +After a few days the Princess Badoura promoted Camaralzaman to the post +of grand treasurer, an office which he filled with so much integrity +and benevolence as to win universal esteem. + +He would now have thought himself the happiest of men had it not been +for that separation which he never ceased to bewail. He had no clue to +the mystery of his present position, for the princess, out of +compliment to the old king, had taken his name, and was generally known +as King Armanos the younger, few people remembering that on her first +arrival she went by another name. + +At length the princess felt that the time had come to put an end to her +own and the prince's suspense, and having arranged all her plans with +the Princess Haiatelnefous, she informed Camaralzaman that she wished +his advice on some important business, and, to avoid being disturbed, +desired him to come to the palace that evening. + +The prince was punctual, and was received in the private apartment, +when, having ordered her attendants to withdraw, the princess took from +a small box the talisman, and, handing it to Camaralzaman, said: "Not +long ago an astrologer gave me this talisman. As you are universally +well informed, you can perhaps tell me what is its use." + +Camaralzaman took the talisman and, holding it to the light, cried with +surprise, "Sire, you ask me the use of this talisman. Alas! hitherto +it has been only a source of misfortune to me, being the cause of my +separation from the one I love best on earth. The story is so sad and +strange that I am sure your Majesty will be touched by it if you will +permit me to tell it you." + +"I will hear it some other time," replied the princess. "Meanwhile I +fancy it is not quite unknown to me. Wait here for me. I will return +shortly." + +So saying she retired to another room, where she hastily changed her +masculine attire for that of a woman, and, after putting on the girdle +she wore the day they parted, returned to Camaralzaman. + +The prince recognised her at once, and, embracing her with the utmost +tenderness, cried, "Ah, how can I thank the king for this delightful +surprise?" + +"Do not expect ever to see the king again," said the princess, as she +wiped the tears of joy from her eyes, "in me you see the king. Let us +sit down, and I will tell you all about it." + +She then gave a full account of all her adventures since their parting, +and dwelt much on the charms and noble disposition of the Princess +Haiatelnefous, to whose friendly assistance she owed so much. When she +had done she asked to hear the prince's story, and in this manner they +spent most of the night. + +Next morning the princess resumed her woman's clothes, and as soon as +she was ready she desired the chief eunuch to beg King Armanos to come +to her apartments. + +When the king arrived great was his surprise at finding a strange lady +in company of the grand treasurer who had no actual right to enter the +private apartment. Seating himself he asked for the king. + +"Sire," said the princess, "yesterday I was the king, to-day I am only +the Princess of China and wife to the real Prince Camaralzaman, son of +King Schahzaman, and I trust that when your Majesty shall have heard +our story you will not condemn the innocent deception I have been +obliged to practise." + +The king consented to listen, and did so with marked surprise. + +At the close of her narrative the princess said, "Sire, as our religion +allows a man to have more than one wife, I would beg your Majesty to +give your daughter, the Princess Haiatelnefous, in marriage to Prince +Camaralzaman. I gladly yield to her the precedence and title of Queen +in recognition of the debt of gratitude which I owe her." + +King Armanos heard the princess with surprise and admiration, then, +turning to Camaralzaman, he said, "My son, as your wife, the Princess +Badoura (whom I have hitherto looked on as my son-in-law), consents to +share your hand and affections with my daughter, I have only to ask if +this marriage is agreeable to you, and if you will consent to accept +the crown which the Princess Badoura deserves to wear all her life, but +which she prefers to resign for love of you." + +"Sire," replied Camaralzaman, "I can refuse your Majesty nothing." + +Accordingly Camaralzaman was duly proclaimed king, and as duly married +with all pomp to the Princess Haiatelnefous, with whose beauty, +talents, and affections he had every reason to be pleased. + +The two queens lived in true sisterly harmony together, and after a +time each presented King Camaralzaman with a son, whose births were +celebrated throughout the kingdom with the utmost rejoicing. + + + +Noureddin and the Fair Persian + + +Balsora was the capital of a kingdom long tributary to the caliph. +During the time of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid the king of Balsora, +who was his cousin, was called Zinebi. Not thinking one vizir enough +for the administration of his estates he had two, named Khacan and +Saouy. + +Khacan was kind, generous, and liberal, and took pleasure in obliging, +as far as in him lay, those who had business with him. Throughout the +entire kingdom there was no one who did not esteem and praise him as he +deserved. + +Saouy was quite a different character, and repelled everyone with whom +he came in contact; he was always gloomy, and, in spite of his great +riches, so miserly that he denied himself even the necessaries of life. +What made him particularly detested was the great aversion he had to +Khacan, of whom he never ceased to speak evil to the king. + +One day, while the king amused himself talking with his two vizirs and +other members of the council, the conversation turned on female slaves. +While some declared that it sufficed for a slave to be beautiful, +others, and Khacan was among the number, maintained that beauty alone +was not enough, but that it must be accompanied by wit, wisdom, +modesty, and, if possible, knowledge. + +The king not only declared himself to be of this opinion, but charged +Khacan to procure him a slave who should fulfil all these conditions. +Saouy, who had been of the opposite side, and was jealous of the honour +done to Khacan, said, "Sire, it will be very difficult to find a slave +as accomplished as your Majesty desires, and, if she is to be found, +she will be cheap if she cost less than 10,000 gold pieces." + +"Saouy," answered the king, "you seem to find that a very great sum. +For you it may be so, but not for me." + +And forthwith he ordered his grand treasurer, who was present, to send +10,000 gold pieces to Khacan for the purchase of the slave. + +As soon, then, as Khacan returned home he sent for the dealers in +female slaves, and charged them directly they had found such a one as +he described to inform him. They promised to do their utmost, and no +day passed that they did not bring a slave for his inspection but none +was found without some defect. + +At length, early one morning, while Khacan was on his way to the king's +palace, a dealer, throwing himself in his way, announced eagerly that a +Persian merchant, arrived late the previous evening, had a slave to +sell whose wit and wisdom were equal to her incomparable beauty. + +Khacan, overjoyed at this news, gave orders that the slave should be +brought for his inspection on his return from the palace. The dealer +appearing at the appointed hour, Khacan found the slave beautiful +beyond his expectations, and immediately gave her the name of "The Fair +Persian." + +Being a man of great wisdom and learning, he perceived in the short +conversation he had with her that he would seek in vain another slave +to surpass her in any of the qualities required by the king, and +therefore asked the dealer what price the merchant put upon her. + +"Sir," was the answer, "for less than 10,000 gold pieces he will not +let her go; he declares that, what with masters for her instruction, +and for bodily exercises, not to speak of clothing and nourishment, he +has already spent that sum upon her. She is in every way fit to be the +slave of a king; she plays every musical instrument, she sings, she +dances, she makes verses, in fact there is no accomplishment in which +she does not excel." + +Khacan, who was better able to judge of her merits than the dealer, +wishing to bring the matter to a conclusion, sent for the merchant, and +said to him, "It is not for myself that I wish to buy your slave, but +for the king. Her price, however, is too high." + +"Sir," replied the merchant, "I should esteem it an honour to present +her to his Majesty, did it become a merchant to do such a thing. I ask +no more than the sum it has cost me to make her such as she is." + +Khacan, not wishing to bargain, immediately had the sum counted out, +and given to the merchant, who before withdrawing said: + +"Sir, as she is destined for the king, I would have you observe that +she is extremely tired with the long journey, and before presenting her +to his Majesty you would do well to keep her a fortnight in your own +house, and to see that a little care is bestowed upon her. The sun has +tanned her complexion, but when she has been two or three times to the +bath, and is fittingly dressed, you will see how much her beauty will +be increased." + +Khacan thanked the merchant for his advice, and determined to follow +it. He gave the beautiful Persian an apartment near to that of his +wife, whom he charged to treat her as befitting a lady destined for the +king, and to order for her the most magnificent garments. + +Before bidding adieu to the fair Persian, he said to her: "No happiness +can be greater than what I have procured for you; judge for yourself, +you now belong to the king. I have, however, to warn you of one thing. +I have a son, who, though not wanting in sense, is young, foolish, and +headstrong, and I charge you to keep him at a distance." + +The Persian thanked him for his advice, and promised to profit by it. + +Noureddin--for so the vizir's son was named--went freely in and out of +his mother's apartments. He was young, well-made and agreeable, and +had the gift of charming all with whom he came in contact. As soon as +he saw the beautiful Persian, though aware that she was destined for +the king, he let himself be carried away by her charms, and determined +at once to use every means in his power to retain her for himself. The +Persian was equally captivated by Noureddin, and said to herself: "The +vizir does me too great honour in buying me for the king. I should +esteem myself very happy if he would give me to his son." + +Noureddin availed himself of every opportunity to gaze upon her beauty, +to talk and laugh with her, and never would have left her side if his +mother had not forced him. + +Some time having elapsed, on account of the long journey, since the +beautiful Persian had been to the bath, five or six days after her +purchase the vizir's wife gave orders that the bath should be heated +for her, and that her own female slaves should attend her there, and +after-wards should array her in a magnificent dress that had been +prepared for her. + +Her toilet completed, the beautiful Persian came to present herself to +the vizir's wife, who hardly recognised her, so greatly was her beauty +increased. Kissing her hand, the beautiful slave said: "Madam, I do +not know how you find me in this dress that you have had prepared for +me; your women assure me that it suits me so well that they hardly knew +me. If it is the truth they tell me, and not flattery, it is to you I +owe the transformation." + +"My daughter," answered the vizir's wife, "they do not flatter you. I +myself hardly recognised you. The improvement is not due to the dress +alone, but largely to the beautifying effects of the bath. I am so +struck by its results, that I would try it on myself." + +Acting forthwith on this decision she ordered two little slaves during +her absence to watch over the beautiful Persian, and not to allow +Noureddin to enter should he come. + +She had no sooner gone than he arrived, and not finding his mother in +her apartment, would have sought her in that of the Persian. The two +little slaves barred the entrance, saying that his mother had given +orders that he was not to be admitted. Taking each by an arm, he put +them out of the anteroom, and shut the door. Then they rushed to the +bath, informing their mistress with shrieks and tears that Noureddin +had driven them away by force and gone in. + +This news caused great consternation to the lady, who, dressing herself +as quickly as possible, hastened to the apartment of the fair Persian, +to find that Noureddin had already gone out. Much astonished to see +the vizir's wife enter in tears, the Persian asked what misfortune had +happened. + +"What!" exclaimed the lady, "you ask me that, knowing that my son +Noureddin has been alone with you?" + +"But, madam," inquired the Persian, "what harm is there in that?" + +"How! Has my husband not told you that you are destined for the king?" + +"Certainly, but Noureddin has just been to tell me that his father has +changed his mind and has bestowed me upon him. I believed him, and so +great is my affection for Noureddin that I would willingly pass my life +with him." + +"Would to heaven," exclaimed the wife of the vizir, "that what you say +were true; but Noureddin has deceived you, and his father will +sacrifice him in vengeance for the wrong he has done." + +So saying, she wept bitterly, and all her slaves wept with her. + +Khacan, entering shortly after this, was much astonished to find his +wife and her slaves in tears, and the beautiful Persian greatly +perturbed. He inquired the cause, but for some time no answer was +forthcoming. When his wife was at length sufficiently calm to inform +him of what had happened, his rage and mortification knew no bounds. +Wringing his hands and rending his beard, he exclaimed: + +"Wretched son! thou destroyest not only thyself but thy father. The +king will shed not only thy blood but mine." His wife tried to console +him, saying: "Do not torment thyself. With the sale of my jewels I +will obtain 10,000 gold pieces, and with this sum you will buy another +slave." + +"Do not suppose," replied her husband, "that it is the loss of the +money that affects me. My honour is at stake, and that is more +precious to me than all my wealth. You know that Saouy is my mortal +enemy. He will relate all this to the king, and you will see the +consequences that will ensue." + +"My lord," said his wife, "I am quite aware of Saouy's baseness, and +that he is capable of playing you this malicious trick. But how can he +or any one else know what takes place in this house? Even if you are +suspected and the king accuses you, you have only to say that, after +examining the slave, you did not find her worthy of his Majesty. +Reassure yourself, and send to the dealers, saying that you are not +satisfied, and wish them to find you another slave." + +This advice appearing reasonable, Khacan decided to follow it, but his +wrath against his son did not abate. Noureddin dared not appear all +that day, and fearing to take refuge with his usual associates in case +his father should seek him there, he spent the day in a secluded garden +where he was not known. He did not return home till after his father +had gone to bed, and went out early next morning before the vizir +awoke, and these precautions he kept up during an entire month. + +His mother, though knowing very well that he returned to the house +every evening, dare not ask her husband to pardon him. At length she +took courage and said: + +"My lord, I know that a son could not act more basely towards his +father than Noureddin has done towards you, but after all will you now +pardon him? Do you not consider the harm you may be doing yourself, +and fear that malicious people, seeking the cause of your estrangement, +may guess the real one?" + +"Madam," replied the vizir, "what you say is very just, but I cannot +pardon Noureddin before I have mortified him as he deserves." + +"He will be sufficiently punished," answered the lady, "if you do as I +suggest. In the evening, when he returns home, lie in wait for him and +pretend that you will slay him. I will come to his aid, and while +pointing out that you only yield his life at my supplications, you can +force him to take the beautiful Persian on any conditions you please." +Khacan agreed to follow this plan, and everything took place as +arranged. On Noureddin's return Khacan pretended to be about to slay +him, but yielding to his wife's intercession, said to his son: + +"You owe your life to your mother. I pardon you on her intercession, +and on the conditions that you take the beautiful Persian for your +wife, and not your slave, that you never sell her, nor put her away." + +Noureddin, not hoping for so great indulgence, thanked his father, and +vowed to do as he desired. Khacan was at great pains frequently to +speak to the king of the difficulties attending the commission he had +given him, but some whispers of what had actually taken place did reach +Saouy's ears. + +More than a year after these events the minister took a chill, leaving +the bath while still heated to go out on important business. This +resulted in inflammation of the lungs, which rapidly increased. The +vizir, feeling that his end was at hand, sent for Noureddin, and +charged him with his dying breath never to part with the beautiful +Persian. + +Shortly afterwards he expired, leaving universal regret throughout the +kingdom; rich and poor alike followed him to the grave. Noureddin +showed every mark of the deepest grief at his father's death, and for +long refused to see any one. At length a day came when, one of his +friends being admitted, urged him strongly to be consoled, and to +resume his former place in society. This advice Noureddin was not slow +to follow, and soon he formed little society of ten young men all about +his own age, with whom he spent all his time in continual feasting and +merry-making. + +Sometimes the fair Persian consented to appear at these festivities, +but she disapproved of this lavish expenditure, and did not scruple to +warn Noureddin of the probable consequences. He, however, only laughed +at her advice, saying, that his father had always kept him in too great +constraint, and that now he rejoiced at his new-found liberty. + +What added to the confusion in his affairs was that he refused to look +into his accounts with his steward, sending him away every time he +appeared with his book. + +"See only that I live well," he said, "and do not disturb me about +anything else." + +Not only did Noureddin's friends constantly partake of his hospitality, +but in every way they took advantage of his generosity; everything of +his that they admired, whether land, houses, baths, or any other source +of his revenue, he immediately bestowed on them. In vain the Persian +protested against the wrong he did himself; he continued to scatter +with the same lavish hand. + +Throughout one entire year Noureddin did nothing but amuse himself, and +dissipate the wealth his father had taken such pains to acquire. The +year had barely elapsed, when one day, as they sat at table, there came +a knock at the door. The slaves having been sent away, Noureddin went +to open it himself. One of his friends had risen at the same time, but +Noureddin was before him, and finding the intruder to be the steward, +he went out and closed the door. The friend, curious to hear what +passed between them, hid himself behind the hangings, and heard the +following words: + +"My lord," said the steward, "I beg a thousand pardons for interrupting +you, but what I have long foreseen has taken place. Nothing remains of +the sums you gave me for your expenses, and all other sources of income +are also at end, having been transferred by you to others. If you wish +me to remain in your service, furnish me with the necessary funds, else +I must withdraw." + +So great was Noureddin's consternation that he had not a word to say in +reply. + +The friend, who had been listening behind the curtain, immediately +hastened to communicate the news to the rest of the company. + +"If this is so," they said, "we must cease to come here." + +Noureddin re-entering at that moment, they plainly saw, in spite of his +efforts to dissemble, that what they had heard was the truth. One by +one they rose, and each with a different excuse left the room, till +presently he found himself alone, though little suspecting the +resolution his friends had taken. Then, seeing the beautiful Persian, +he confided to her the statement of the steward, with many expressions +of regret for his own carelessness. + +"Had I but followed your advice, beautiful Persian," he said, "all this +would not have happened, but at least I have this consolation, that I +have spent my fortune in the company of friends who will not desert me +in an hour of need. To-morrow I will go to them, and amongst them they +will lend me a sum sufficient to start in some business." + +Accordingly next morning early Noureddin went to seek his ten friends, +who all lived in the same street. Knocking at the door of the first +and chief, the slave who opened it left him to wait in a hall while he +announced his visit to his master. "Noureddin!" he heard him exclaim +quite audibly. "Tell him, every time he calls, that I am not at home." +The same thing happened at the second door, and also at the third, and +so on with all the ten. Noureddin, much mortified, recognised too late +that he had confided in false friends, who abandoned him in his hour of +need. Overwhelmed with grief, he sought consolation from the beautiful +Persian. + +"Alas, my lord," she said, "at last you are convinced of the truth of +what I foretold. There is now no other resource left but to sell your +slaves and your furniture." + +First then he sold the slaves, and subsisted for a time on the +proceeds, after that the furniture was sold, and as much of it was +valuable it sufficed for some time. Finally this resource also came to +an end, and again he sought counsel from the beautiful Persian. + +"My lord," she said, "I know that the late vizir, your father, bought +me for 10,000 gold pieces, and though I have diminished in value since, +I should still fetch a large sum. Do not therefore hesitate to sell +me, and with the money you obtain go and establish yourself in business +in some distant town." + +"Charming Persian," answered Noureddin, "how could I be guilty of such +baseness? I would die rather than part from you whom I love better +than my life." + +"My lord," she replied, "I am well aware of your love for me, which is +only equalled by mine for you, but a cruel necessity obliges us to seek +the only remedy." + +Noureddin, convinced at length of the truth of her words, yielded, and +reluctantly led her to the slave market, where, showing her to a dealer +named Hagi Hassan, he inquired her value. + +Taking them into a room apart, Hagi Hassan exclaimed as soon as she had +unveiled, "My lord, is not this the slave your father bought for 10,000 +pieces?" + +On learning that it was so, he promised to obtain the highest possible +price for her. Leaving the beautiful Persian shut up in the room +alone, he went out to seek the slave merchants, announcing to them that +he had found the pearl among slaves, and asking them to come and put a +value upon her. As soon as they saw her they agreed that less than +4,000 gold pieces could not be asked. Hagi Hassan, then closing the +door upon her, began to offer her for sale--calling out: "Who will bid +4,000 gold pieces for the Persian slave?" + +Before any of the merchants had bid, Saouy happened to pass that way, +and judging that it must be a slave of extraordinary beauty, rode up to +Hagi Hassan and desired to see her. Now it was not the custom to show +a slave to a private bidder, but as no one dared to disobey the vizir +his request was granted. + +As soon as Saouy saw the Persian he was so struck by her beauty, that +he immediately wished to possess her, and not knowing that she belonged +to Noureddin, he desired Hagi Hassan to send for the owner and to +conclude the bargain at once. + +Hagi Hassan then sought Noureddin, and told him that his slave was +going far below her value, and that if Saouy bought her he was capable +of not paying the money. "What you must do," he said, "is to pretend +that you had no real intention of selling your slave, and only swore +you would in a fit of anger against her. When I present her to Saouy +as if with your consent you must step in, and with blows begin to lead +her away." + +Noureddin did as Hagi Hassan advised, to the great wrath of Saouy, who +riding straight at him endeavoured to take the beautiful Persian from +him by force. Noureddin letting her go, seized Saouy's horse by the +bridle, and, encouraged by the applause of the bystanders, dragged him +to the ground, beat him severely, and left him in the gutter streaming +with blood. Then, taking the beautiful Persian, he returned home +amidst the acclamations of the people, who detested Saouy so much that +they would neither interfere in his behalf nor allow his slaves to +protect him. + +Covered from head to foot with mire and streaming with blood he rose, +and leaning on two of his slaves went straight to the palace, where he +demanded an audience of the king, to whom he related what had taken +place in these words: + +"May it please your Majesty, I had gone to the slave market to buy +myself a cook. While there I heard a slave being offered for 4,000 +pieces. Asking to see her, I found she was of incomparable beauty, and +was being sold by Noureddin, the son of your late vizir, to whom your +Majesty will remember giving a sum of 10,000 gold pieces for the +purchase of a slave. This is the identical slave, whom instead of +bringing to your Majesty he gave to his own son. Since the death of +his father this Noureddin has run through his entire fortune, has sold +all his possessions, and is now reduced to selling the slave. Calling +him to me, I said: "Noureddin, I will give you 10,000 gold pieces for +your slave, whom I will present to the king. I will interest him at +the same time in your behalf, and this will be worth much more to you +than what extra money you might obtain from the merchants." "Bad old +man," he exclaimed, "rather than sell my slave to you I would give her +to a Jew." "But, Noureddin," I remonstrated, "you do not consider that +in speaking thus you wrong the king, to whom your father owed +everything." This remonstrance only irritated him the more. Throwing +himself on me like a madman, he tore me from my horse, beat me to his +heart's content, and left me in the state your Majesty sees." + +So saying Saouy turned aside his head and wept bitterly. + +The king's wrath was kindled against Noureddin. He ordered the captain +of the guard to take with him forty men, to pillage Noureddin's house, +to rase it to the ground, and to bring Noureddin and the slave to him. +A doorkeeper, named Sangiar, who had been a slave of Khacan's, hearing +this order given, slipped out of the king's apartment, and hastened to +warn Noureddin to take flight instantly with the beautiful Persian. +Then, presenting him with forty gold pieces, he disappeared before +Noureddin had time to thank him. + +As soon, then, as the fair Persian had put on her veil they fled +together, and had the good fortune to get out of the town without being +observed. At the mouth of the Euphrates they found a ship just about +to start for Bagdad. They embarked, and immediately the anchor was +raised and they set sail. + +When the captain of the guard reached Noureddin's house he caused his +soldiers to burst open the door and to enter by force, but no trace was +to be found of Noureddin and his slave, nor could the neighbours give +any information about them. When the king heard that they had escaped, +he issued a proclamation that a reward of 1,000 gold pieces would be +given to whoever would bring him Noureddin and the slave, but that, on +the contrary, whoever hid them would be severely punished. Meanwhile +Noureddin and the fair Persian had safely reached Bagdad. When the +vessel had come to an anchor they paid five gold pieces for their +passage and went ashore. Never having been in Bagdad before, they did +not know where to seek a lodging. Wandering along the banks of the +Tigris, they skirted a garden enclosed by a high wall. The gate was +shut, but in front of it was an open vestibule with a sofa on either +side. "Here," said Noureddin, "let us pass the night," and reclining +on the sofas they soon fell asleep. + +Now this garden belonged to the Caliph. In the middle of it was a vast +pavilion, whose superb saloon had eighty windows, each window having a +lustre, lit solely when the Caliph spent the evening there. Only the +door-keeper lived there, an old soldier named Scheih Ibrahim, who had +strict orders to be very careful whom he admitted, and never to allow +any one to sit on the sofas by the door. It happened that evening that +he had gone out on an errand. When he came back and saw two persons +asleep on the sofas he was about to drive them out with blows, but +drawing nearer he perceived that they were a handsome young man and +beautiful young woman, and decided to awake them by gentler means. +Noureddin, on being awoke, told the old man that they were strangers, +and merely wished to pass the night there. "Come with me," said Scheih +Ibrahim, "I will lodge you better, and will show you a magnificent +garden belonging to me." So saying the doorkeeper led the way into the +Caliph's garden, the beauties of which filled them with wonder and +amazement. Noureddin took out two gold pieces, and giving them to +Scheih Ibrahim said, + +"I beg you to get us something to eat that we may make merry together." +Being very avaricious, Scheih Ibrahim determined to spend only the +tenth part of the money and to keep the rest to himself. While he was +gone Noureddin and the Persian wandered through the gardens and went up +the white marble staircase of the pavilion as far as the locked door of +the saloon. On the return of Scheih Ibrahim they begged him to open +it, and to allow them to enter and admire the magnificence within. +Consenting, he brought not only the key, but a light, and immediately +unlocked the door. Noureddin and the Persian entering, were dazzled +with the magnificence they beheld. The paintings and furniture were of +astonishing beauty, and between each window was a silver arm holding a +candle. + +Scheih Ibrahim spread the table in front of a sofa, and all three ate +together. When they had finished eating Noureddin asked the old man to +bring them a bottle of wine. + +"Heaven forbid," said Scheih Ibrahim, "that I should come in contact +with wine! I who have four times made the pilgrimage to Mecca, and +have renounced wine for ever." + +"You would, however, do us a great service in procuring us some," said +Noureddin. "You need not touch it yourself. Take the ass which is +tied to the gate, lead it to the nearest wine-shop, and ask some +passer-by to order two jars of wine; have them put in the ass's +panniers, and drive him before you. Here are two pieces of gold for +the expenses." + +At sight of the gold, Scheih Ibrahim set off at once to execute the +commission. On his return, Noureddin said: "We have still need of +cups to drink from, and of fruit, if you can procure us some." Scheih +Ibrahim disappeared again, and soon returned with a table spread with +cups of gold and silver, and every sort of beautiful fruit. Then he +withdrew, in spite of repeated invitations to remain. + +Noureddin and the beautiful Persian, finding the wine excellent, drank +of it freely, and while drinking they sang. Both had fine voices, and +Scheih Ibrahim listened to them with great pleasure--first from a +distance, then he drew nearer, and finally put his head in at the door. +Noureddin, seeing him, called to him to come in and keep them company. +At first the old man declined, but was persuaded to enter the room, to +sit down on the edge of the sofa nearest the door, and at last to draw +closer and to seat himself by the beautiful Persian, who urged him so +persistently to drink her health that at length he yielded, and took +the cup she offered. + +Now the old man only made a pretence of renouncing wine; he frequented +wine-shops like other people, and had taken none of the precautions +Noureddin had proposed. Having once yielded, he was easily persuaded +to take a second cup, and a third, and so on till he no longer knew +what he was doing. Till near midnight they continued drinking, +laughing, and singing together. + +About that time the Persian, perceiving that the room was lit by only +one miserable tallow candle, asked Scheih Ibrahim to light some of the +beautiful candles in the silver arms. + +"Light them yourself," answered the old man; "you are younger than I, +but let five or six be enough." + +She did not stop, however, till she had lit all the eighty, but Scheih +Ibrahim was not conscious of this, and when, soon after that, Noureddin +proposed to have some of the lustres lit, he answered: + +"You are more capable of lighting them than I, but not more than three." + +Noureddin, far from contenting himself with three, lit all, and opened +all the eighty windows. + +The Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid, chancing at that moment to open a window +in the saloon of his palace looking on the garden, was surprised to see +the pavilion brilliantly illuminated. Calling the grand-vizir, Giafar, +he said to him: + +"Negligent vizir, look at the pavilion, and tell me why it is lit up +when I am not there." + +When the vizir saw that it was as the Caliph said, he trembled with +fear, and immediately invented an excuse. + +"Commander of the Faithful," he said, "I must tell you that four or +five days ago Scheih Ibrahim told me that he wished to have an assembly +of the ministers of his mosque, and asked permission to hold it in the +pavilion. I granted his request, but forgot since to mention it to +your Majesty." + +"Giafar," replied the Caliph, "you have committed three faults--first, +in giving the permission; second, in not mentioning it to me; and +third, in not investigating the matter more closely. For punishment I +condemn you to spend the rest of the night with me in company of these +worthy people. While I dress myself as a citizen, go and disguise +yourself, and then come with me." + +When they reached the garden gate they found it open, to the great +indignation of the Caliph. The door of the pavilion being also open, +he went softly upstairs, and looked in at the half-closed door of the +saloon. Great was his surprise to see Scheih Ibrahim, whose sobriety +he had never doubted, drinking and singing with a young man and a +beautiful lady. The Caliph, before giving way to his anger, determined +to watch and see who the people were and what they did. + +Presently Scheih Ibrahim asked the beautiful Persian if anything were +wanting to complete her enjoyment of the evening. + +"If only," she said, "I had an instrument upon which I might play." + +Scheih Ibrahim immediately took a lute from a cup-board and gave it to +the Persian, who began to play on it, singing the while with such skill +and taste that the Caliph was enchanted. When she ceased he went +softly downstairs and said to the vizir: + +"Never have I heard a finer voice, nor the lute better played. I am +determined to go in and make her play to me." + +"Commander of the Faithful," said the vizir, "if Scheih Ibrahim +recognises you he will die of fright." + +"I should be sorry for that," answered the Caliph, "and I am going to +take steps to prevent it. Wait here till I return." + +Now the Caliph had caused a bend in the river to form a lake in his +garden. There the finest fish in the Tigris were to be found, but +fishing was strictly forbidden. It happened that night, however, that +a fisherman had taken advantage of the gate being open to go in and +cast his nets. He was just about to draw them when he saw the Caliph +approaching. Recognising him at once in spite of his disguise, he +threw himself at his feet imploring forgiveness. + +"Fear nothing," said the Caliph, "only rise up and draw thy nets." + +The fisherman did as he was told, and produced five or six fine fish, +of which the Caliph took the two largest. Then he desired the +fisherman to change clothes with him, and in a few minutes the Caliph +was transformed into a fisherman, even to the shoes and the turban. +Taking the two fish in his hand, he returned to the vizir, who, not +recognising him, would have sent him about his business. Leaving the +vizir at the foot of the stairs, the Caliph went up and knocked at the +door of the saloon. Noureddin opened it, and the Caliph, standing on +the threshold, said: + +"Scheih Ibrahim, I am the fisher Kerim. Seeing that you are feasting +with your friends, I bring you these fish." + +Noureddin and the Persian said that when the fishes were properly +cooked and dressed they would gladly eat of them. The Caliph then +returned to the vizir, and they set to work in Scheih Ibrahim's house +to cook the fish, of which they made so tempting a dish that Noureddin +and the fair Persian ate of it with great relish. When they had +finished Noureddin took thirty gold pieces (all that remained of what +Sangiar had given him) and presented them to the Caliph, who, thanking +him, asked as a further favour if the lady would play him one piece on +the lute. The Persian gladly consented, and sang and played so as to +delight the Caliph. + +Noureddin, in the habit of giving to others whatever they admired, +said, "Fisherman, as she pleases you so much, take her; she is yours." + +The fair Persian, astounded that he should wish to part from her, took +her lute, and with tears in her eyes sang her reproaches to its music. + +The Caliph (still in the character of fisherman) said to him, "Sir, I +perceive that this fair lady is your slave. Oblige me, I beg you, by +relating your history." + +Noureddin willingly granted this request, and recounted everything from +the purchase of the slave down to the present moment. + +"And where do you go now?" asked the Caliph. + +"Wherever the hand of Allah leads me," said Noureddin. + +"Then, if you will listen to me," said the Caliph, "you will +immediately return to Balsora. I will give you a letter to the king, +which will ensure you a good reception from him." + +"It is an unheard-of thing," said Noureddin, "that a fisherman should +be in correspondence with a king." + +"Let not that astonish you," answered the Caliph; "we studied together, +and have always remained the best of friends, though fortune, while +making him a king, left me a humble fisherman." + +The Caliph then took a sheet of paper, and wrote the following letter, +at the top of which he put in very small characters this formula to +show that he must be implicitly obeyed:--"In the name of the Most +Merciful God. + +"Letter of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid to the King of Balsora. + +"Haroun-al-Raschid, son of Mahdi, sends this letter to Mohammed Zinebi, +his cousin. As soon as Noureddin, son of the Vizir Khacan, bearer of +this letter, has given it to thee, and thou hast read it, take off thy +royal mantle, put it on his shoulders, and seat him in thy place +without fail. Farewell." + +The Caliph then gave this letter to Noureddin, who immediately set off, +with only what little money he possessed when Sangiar came to his +assistance. The beautiful Persian, inconsolable at his departure, sank +on a sofa bathed in tears. + +When Noureddin had left the room, Scheih Ibrahim, who had hitherto kept +silence, said: "Kerim, for two miserable fish thou hast received a +purse and a slave. I tell thee I will take the slave, and as to the +purse, if it contains silver thou mayst keep one piece, if gold then I +will take all and give thee what copper pieces I have in my purse." + +Now here it must be related that when the Caliph went upstairs with the +plate of fish he ordered the vizir to hasten to the palace and bring +back four slaves bearing a change of raiment, who should wait outside +the pavilion till the Caliph should clap his hands. + +Still personating the fisherman, the Caliph answered: "Scheih Ibrahim, +whatever is in the purse I will share equally with you, but as to the +slave I will keep her for myself. If you do not agree to these +conditions you shall have nothing." + +The old man, furious at this insolence as he considered it, took a cup +and threw it at the Caliph, who easily avoided a missile from the hand +of a drunken man. It hit against the wall, and broke into a thousand +pieces. Scheih Ibrahim, still more enraged, then went out to fetch a +stick. The Caliph at that moment clapped his hands, and the vizir and +the four slaves entering took off the fisherman's dress and put on him +that which they had brought. + +When Scheih Ibrahim returned, a thick stick in his hand, the Caliph was +seated on his throne, and nothing remained of the fisherman but his +clothes in the middle of the room. Throwing himself on the ground at +the Caliph's feet, he said: "Commander of the Faithful, your miserable +slave has offended you, and craves forgiveness." + +The Caliph came down from his throne, and said: "Rise, I forgive +thee." Then turning to the Persian he said: "Fair lady, now you know +who I am; learn also that I have sent Noureddin to Balsora to be king, +and as soon as all necessary preparations are made I will send you +there to be queen. Meanwhile I will give you an apartment in my +palace, where you will be treated with all honour." + +At this the beautiful Persian took courage, and the Caliph was as good +as his word, recommending her to the care of his wife Zobeida. + +Noureddin made all haste on his journey to Balsora, and on his arrival +there went straight to the palace of the king, of whom he demanded an +audience. It was immediately granted, and holding the letter high +above his head he forced his way through the crowd. While the king +read the letter he changed colour. He would instantly have executed +the Caliph's order, but first he showed the letter to Saouy, whose +interests were equally at stake with his own. Pretending that he +wished to read it a second time, Saouy turned aside as if to seek a +better light; unperceived by anyone he tore off the formula from the +top of the letter, put it to his mouth, and swallowed it. Then, +turning to the king, he said: + +"Your majesty has no need to obey this letter. The writing is indeed +that of the Caliph, but the formula is absent. Besides, he has not +sent an express with the patent, without which the letter is useless. +Leave all to me, and I will take the consequences." + +The king not only listened to the persuasions of Saouy, but gave +Noureddin into his hands. Such a severe bastinado was first +administered to him, that he was left more dead than alive; then Saouy +threw him into the darkest and deepest dungeon, and fed him only on +bread and water. After ten days Saouy determined to put an end to +Noureddin's life, but dared not without the king's authority. To gain +this end, he loaded several of his own slaves with rich gifts, and +presented himself at their head to the king, saying that they were from +the new king on his coronation. + +"What!" said the king; "is that wretch still alive? Go and behead him +at once. I authorise you." + +"Sire," said Saouy, "I thank your Majesty for the justice you do me. I +would further beg, as Noureddin publicly affronted me, that the +execution might be in front of the palace, and that it might be +proclaimed throughout the city, so that no one may be ignorant of it." + +The king granted these requests, and the announcement caused universal +grief, for the memory of Noureddin's father was still fresh in the +hearts of his people. Saouy, accompanied by twenty of his own slaves, +went to the prison to fetch Noureddin, whom he mounted on a wretched +horse without a saddle. Arrived at the palace, Saouy went in to the +king, leaving Noureddin in the square, hemmed in not only by Saouy's +slaves but by the royal guard, who had great difficulty in preventing +the people from rushing in and rescuing Noureddin. So great was the +indignation against Saouy that if anyone had set the example he would +have been stoned on his way through the streets. Saouy, who witnessed +the agitation of the people from the windows of the king's privy +chambers, called to the executioner to strike at once. The king, +however, ordered him to delay; not only was he jealous of Saouy's +interference, but he had another reason. A troop of horsemen was seen +at that moment riding at full gallop towards the square. Saouy +suspected who they might be, and urged the king to give the signal for +the execution without delay, but this the king refused to do till he +knew who the horsemen were. + +Now, they were the vizir Giafar and his suite arriving at full speed +from Bagdad. For several days after Noureddin's departure with the +letter the Caliph had forgotten to send the express with the patent, +without which the letter was useless. Hearing a beautiful voice one +day in the women's part of the palace uttering lamentations, he was +informed that it was the voice of the fair Persian, and suddenly +calling to mind the patent, he sent for Giafar, and ordered him to make +for Balsora with the utmost speed--if Noureddin were dead, to hang +Saouy; if he were still alive, to bring him at once to Bagdad along +with the king and Saouy. + +Giafar rode at full speed through the square, and alighted at the steps +of the palace, where the king came to greet him. The vizir's first +question was whether Noureddin were still alive. The king replied that +he was, and he was immediately led forth, though bound hand and foot. +By the vizir's orders his bonds were immediately undone, and Saouy was +tied with the same cords. Next day Giafar returned to Bagdad, bearing +with him the king, Saouy, and Noureddin. + +When the Caliph heard what treatment Noureddin had received, he +authorised him to behead Saouy with his own hands, but he declined to +shed the blood of his enemy, who was forthwith handed over to the +executioner. The Caliph also desired Noureddin to reign over Balsora, +but this, too, he declined, saying that after what had passed there he +preferred never to return, but to enter the service of the Caliph. He +became one of his most intimate courtiers, and lived long in great +happiness with the fair Persian. As to the king, the Caliph contented +himself with sending him back to Balsora, with the recommendation to be +more careful in future in the choice of his vizir. + + + +Aladdin and the 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 for ever, 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 were 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 honour. At night the princess +said good-bye 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 jewelers 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 honour 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 a while. 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 +gaily 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, coloured his face like hers, put +on her veil and murdered her, 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 humour. +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. + +"It 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 cried, "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. + + + +The Adventures of Haroun-al-Raschid, Caliph of Bagdad + + +The Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid sat in his palace, wondering if there was +anything left in the world that could possibly give him a few hours' +amusement, when Giafar the grand-vizir, his old and tried friend, +suddenly appeared before him. Bowing low, he waited, as was his duty, +till his master spoke, but Haroun-al-Raschid merely turned his head and +looked at him, and sank back into his former weary posture. + +Now Giafar had something of importance to say to the Caliph, and had no +intention of being put off by mere silence, so with another low bow in +front of the throne, he began to speak. + +"Commander of the Faithful," said he, "I have taken on myself to remind +your Highness that you have undertaken secretly to observe for yourself +the manner in which justice is done and order is kept throughout the +city. This is the day you have set apart to devote to this object, and +perhaps in fulfilling this duty you may find some distraction from the +melancholy to which, as I see to my sorrow, you are a prey." + +"You are right," returned the Caliph, "I had forgotten all about it. +Go and change your coat, and I will change mine." + +A few moments later they both re-entered the hall, disguised as foreign +merchants, and passed through a secret door, out into the open country. +Here they turned towards the Euphrates, and crossing the river in a +small boat, walked through that part of the town which lay along the +further bank, without seeing anything to call for their interference. +Much pleased with the peace and good order of the city, the Caliph and +his vizir made their way to a bridge, which led straight back to the +palace, and had already crossed it, when they were stopped by an old +and blind man, who begged for alms. + +The Caliph gave him a piece of money, and was passing on, but the blind +man seized his hand, and held him fast. + +"Charitable person," he said, "whoever you may be grant me yet another +prayer. Strike me, I beg of you, one blow. I have deserved it richly, +and even a more severe penalty." + +The Caliph, much surprised at this request, replied gently: "My good +man, that which you ask is impossible. Of what use would my alms be if +I treated you so ill?" And as he spoke he tried to loosen the grasp of +the blind beggar. + +"My lord," answered the man, "pardon my boldness and my persistence. +Take back your money, or give me the blow which I crave. I have sworn +a solemn oath that I will receive nothing without receiving +chastisement, and if you knew all, you would feel that the punishment +is not a tenth part of what I deserve." + +Moved by these words, and perhaps still more by the fact that he had +other business to attend to, the Caliph yielded, and struck him lightly +on the shoulder. Then he continued his road, followed by the blessing +of the blind man. When they were out of earshot, he said to the vizir, +"There must be something very odd to make that man act so--I should +like to find out what is the reason. Go back to him; tell him who I +am, and order him to come without fail to the palace to-morrow, after +the hour of evening prayer." + +So the grand-vizir went back to the bridge; gave the blind beggar first +a piece of money and then a blow, delivered the Caliph's message, and +rejoined his master. + +They passed on towards the palace, but walking through a square, they +came upon a crowd watching a young and well-dressed man who was urging +a horse at full speed round the open space, using at the same time his +spurs and whip so unmercifully that the animal was all covered with +foam and blood. The Caliph, astonished at this proceeding, inquired of +a passer-by what it all meant, but no one could tell him anything, +except that every day at the same hour the same thing took place. + +Still wondering, he passed on, and for the moment had to content +himself with telling the vizir to command the horseman also to appear +before him at the same time as the blind man. + +The next day, after evening prayer, the Caliph entered the hall, and +was followed by the vizir bringing with him the two men of whom we have +spoken, and a third, with whom we have nothing to do. They all bowed +themselves low before the throne and then the Caliph bade them rise, +and ask the blind man his name. + +"Baba-Abdalla, your Highness," said he. + +"Baba-Abdalla," returned the Caliph, "your way of asking alms yesterday +seemed to me so strange, that I almost commanded you then and there to +cease from causing such a public scandal. But I have sent for you to +inquire what was your motive in making such a curious vow. When I know +the reason I shall be able to judge whether you can be permitted to +continue to practise it, for I cannot help thinking that it sets a very +bad example to others. Tell me therefore the whole truth, and conceal +nothing." + +These words troubled the heart of Baba-Abdalla, who prostrated himself +at the feet of the Caliph. Then rising, he answered: "Commander of the +Faithful, I crave your pardon humbly, for my persistence in beseeching +your Highness to do an action which appears on the face of it to be +without any meaning. No doubt, in the eyes of men, it has none; but I +look on it as a slight expiation for a fearful sin of which I have been +guilty, and if your Highness will deign to listen to my tale, you will +see that no punishment could atone for the crime." + + + +The Story of the Blind Baba-Abdalla + + +I was born, Commander of the Faithful, in Bagdad, and was left an +orphan while I was yet a very young man, for my parents died within a +few days of each other. I had inherited from them a small fortune, +which I worked hard night and day to increase, till at last I found +myself the owner of eighty camels. These I hired out to travelling +merchants, whom I frequently accompanied on their various journeys, and +always returned with large profits. + +One day I was coming back from Balsora, whither I had taken a supply of +goods, intended for India, and halted at noon in a lonely place, which +promised rich pasture for my camels. I was resting in the shade under +a tree, when a dervish, going on foot towards Balsora, sat down by my +side, and I inquired whence he had come and to what place he was going. +We soon made friends, and after we had asked each other the usual +questions, we produced the food we had with us, and satisfied our +hunger. + +While we were eating, the dervish happened to mention that in a spot +only a little way off from where we were sitting, there was hidden a +treasure so great that if my eighty camels were loaded till they could +carry no more, the hiding place would seem as full as if it had never +been touched. + +At this news I became almost beside myself with joy and greed, and I +flung my arms round the neck of the dervish, exclaiming: "Good +dervish, I see plainly that the riches of this world are nothing to +you, therefore of what use is the knowledge of this treasure to you? +Alone and on foot, you could carry away a mere handful. But tell me +where it is, and I will load my eighty camels with it, and give you one +of them as a token of my gratitude." + +Certainly my offer does not sound very magnificent, but it was great to +me, for at his words a wave of covetousness had swept over my heart, +and I almost felt as if the seventy-nine camels that were left were +nothing in comparison. + +The dervish saw quite well what was passing in my mind, but he did not +show what he thought of my proposal. + +"My brother," he answered quietly, "you know as well as I do, that you +are behaving unjustly. It was open to me to keep my secret, and to +reserve the treasure for myself. But the fact that I have told you of +its existence shows that I had confidence in you, and that I hoped to +earn your gratitude for ever, by making your fortune as well as mine. +But before I reveal to you the secret of the treasure, you must swear +that, after we have loaded the camels with as much as they can carry, +you will give half to me, and let us go our own ways. I think you will +see that this is fair, for if you present me with forty camels, I on my +side will give you the means of buying a thousand more." + +I could not of course deny that what the dervish said was perfectly +reasonable, but, in spite of that, the thought that the dervish would +be as rich as I was unbearable to me. Still there was no use in +discussing the matter, and I had to accept his conditions or bewail to +the end of my life the loss of immense wealth. So I collected my +camels and we set out together under the guidance of the dervish. +After walking some time, we reached what looked like a valley, but with +such a narrow entrance that my camels could only pass one by one. The +little valley, or open space, was shut up by two mountains, whose sides +were formed of straight cliffs, which no human being could climb. + +When we were exactly between these mountains the dervish stopped. + +"Make your camels lie down in this open space," he said, "so that we +can easily load them; then we will go to the treasure." + +I did what I was bid, and rejoined the dervish, whom I found trying to +kindle a fire out of some dry wood. As soon as it was alight, he threw +on it a handful of perfumes, and pronounced a few words that I did not +understand, and immediately a thick column of smoke rose high into the +air. He separated the smoke into two columns, and then I saw a rock, +which stood like a pillar between the two mountains, slowly open, and a +splendid palace appear within. + +But, Commander of the Faithful, the love of gold had taken such +possession of my heart, that I could not even stop to examine the +riches, but fell upon the first pile of gold within my reach and began +to heap it into a sack that I had brought with me. + +The dervish likewise set to work, but I soon noticed that he confined +himself to collecting precious stones, and I felt I should be wise to +follow his example. At length the camels were loaded with as much as +they could carry, and nothing remained but to seal up the treasure, and +go our ways. + +Before, however, this was done, the dervish went up to a great golden +vase, beautifully chased, and took from it a small wooden box, which he +hid in the bosom of his dress, merely saying that it contained a +special kind of ointment. Then he once more kindled the fire, threw on +the perfume, and murmured the unknown spell, and the rock closed, and +stood whole as before. + +The next thing was to divide the camels, and to charge them with the +treasure, after which we each took command of our own and marched out +of the valley, till we reached the place in the high road where the +routes diverge, and then we parted, the dervish going towards Balsora, +and I to Bagdad. We embraced each other tenderly, and I poured out my +gratitude for the honour he had done me, in singling me out for this +great wealth, and having said a hearty farewell we turned our backs, +and hastened after our camels. + +I had hardly come up with mine when the demon of envy filled my soul. +"What does a dervish want with riches like that?" I said to myself. +"He alone has the secret of the treasure, and can always get as much as +he wants," and I halted my camels by the roadside, and ran back after +him. + +I was a quick runner, and it did not take me very long to come up with +him. "My brother," I exclaimed, as soon as I could speak, "almost at +the moment of our leave-taking, a reflection occurred to me, which is +perhaps new to you. You are a dervish by profession, and live a very +quiet life, only caring to do good, and careless of the things of this +world. You do not realise the burden that you lay upon yourself, when +you gather into your hands such great wealth, besides the fact that no +one, who is not accustomed to camels from his birth, can ever manage +the stubborn beasts. If you are wise, you will not encumber yourself +with more than thirty, and you will find those trouble enough." + +"You are right," replied the dervish, who understood me quite well, but +did not wish to fight the matter. "I confess I had not thought about +it. Choose any ten you like, and drive them before you." + +I selected ten of the best camels, and we proceeded along the road, to +rejoin those I had left behind. I had got what I wanted, but I had +found the dervish so easy to deal with, that I rather regretted I had +not asked for ten more. I looked back. He had only gone a few paces, +and I called after him. + +"My brother," I said, "I am unwilling to part from you without pointing +out what I think you scarcely grasp, that large experience of +camel-driving is necessary to anybody who intends to keep together a +troop of thirty. In your own interest, I feel sure you would be much +happier if you entrusted ten more of them to me, for with my practice +it is all one to me if I take two or a hundred." + +As before, the dervish made no difficulties, and I drove off my ten +camels in triumph, only leaving him with twenty for his share. I had +now sixty, and anyone might have imagined that I should be content. + +But, Commander of the Faithful, there is a proverb that says, "the more +one has, the more one wants." So it was with me. I could not rest as +long as one solitary camel remained to the dervish; and returning to +him I redoubled my prayers and embraces, and promises of eternal +gratitude, till the last twenty were in my hands. + +"Make a good use of them, my brother," said the holy man. "Remember +riches sometimes have wings if we keep them for ourselves, and the poor +are at our gates expressly that we may help them." + +My eyes were so blinded by gold, that I paid no heed to his wise +counsel, and only looked about for something else to grasp. Suddenly I +remembered the little box of ointment that the dervish had hidden, and +which most likely contained a treasure more precious than all the rest. +Giving him one last embrace, I observed accidentally, "What are you +going to do with that little box of ointment? It seems hardly worth +taking with you; you might as well let me have it. And really, a +dervish who has given up the world has no need of ointment!" + +Oh, if he had only refused my request! But then, supposing he had, I +should have got possession of it by force, so great was the madness +that had laid hold upon me. However, far from refusing it, the dervish +at once held it out, saying gracefully, "Take it, my friend, and if +there is anything else I can do to make you happy you must let me know." + +Directly the box was in my hands I wrenched off the cover. "As you are +so kind," I said, "tell me, I pray you, what are the virtues of this +ointment?" + +"They are most curious and interesting," replied the dervish. "If you +apply a little of it to your left eye you will behold in an instant all +the treasures hidden in the bowels of the earth. But beware lest you +touch your right eye with it, or your sight will be destroyed for ever." + +His words excited my curiosity to the highest pitch. "Make trial on +me, I implore you," I cried, holding out the box to the dervish. "You +will know how to do it better than I! I am burning with impatience to +test its charms." + +The dervish took the box I had extended to him, and, bidding me shut my +left eye, touched it gently with the ointment. When I opened it again +I saw spread out, as it were before me, treasures of every kind and +without number. But as all this time I had been obliged to keep my +right eye closed, which was very fatiguing, I begged the dervish to +apply the ointment to that eye also. + +"If you insist upon it I will do it," answered the dervish, "but you +must remember what I told you just now--that if it touches your right +eye you will become blind on the spot." + +Unluckily, in spite of my having proved the truth of the dervish's +words in so many instances, I was firmly convinced that he was now +keeping concealed from me some hidden and precious virtue of the +ointment. So I turned a deaf ear to all he said. + +"My brother," I replied smiling, "I see you are joking. It is not +natural that the same ointment should have two such exactly opposite +effects." + +"It is true all the same," answered the dervish, "and it would be well +for you if you believed my word." + +But I would not believe, and, dazzled by the greed of avarice, I +thought that if one eye could show me riches, the other might teach me +how to get possession of them. And I continued to press the dervish to +anoint my right eye, but this he resolutely declined to do. + +"After having conferred such benefits on you," said he, "I am loth +indeed to work you such evil. Think what it is to be blind, and do not +force me to do what you will repent as long as you live." + +It was of no use. "My brother," I said firmly, "pray say no more, but +do what I ask. You have most generously responded to my wishes up to +this time, do not spoil my recollection of you for a thing of such +little consequence. Let what will happen I take it on my own head, and +will never reproach you." + +"Since you are determined upon it," he answered with a sigh, "there is +no use talking," and taking the ointment he laid some on my right eye, +which was tight shut. When I tried to open it heavy clouds of darkness +floated before me. I was as blind as you see me now! + +"Miserable dervish!" I shrieked, "so it is true after all! Into what +a bottomless pit has my lust after gold plunged me. Ah, now that my +eyes are closed they are really opened. I know that all my sufferings +are caused by myself alone! But, good brother, you, who are so kind +and charitable, and know the secrets of such vast learning, have you +nothing that will give me back my sight?" + +"Unhappy man," replied the dervish, "it is not my fault that this has +befallen you, but it is a just chastisement. The blindness of your +heart has wrought the blindness of your body. Yes, I have secrets; +that you have seen in the short time that we have known each other. +But I have none that will give you back your sight. You have proved +yourself unworthy of the riches that were given you. Now they have +passed into my hands, whence they will flow into the hands of others +less greedy and ungrateful than you." + +The dervish said no more and left me, speechless with shame and +confusion, and so wretched that I stood rooted to the spot, while he +collected the eighty camels and proceeded on his way to Balsora. It +was in vain that I entreated him not to leave me, but at least to take +me within reach of the first passing caravan. He was deaf to my +prayers and cries, and I should soon have been dead of hunger and +misery if some merchants had not come along the track the following day +and kindly brought me back to Bagdad. + +From a rich man I had in one moment become a beggar; and up to this +time I have lived solely on the alms that have been bestowed on me. +But, in order to expiate the sin of avarice, which was my undoing, I +oblige each passer-by to give me a blow. + +This, Commander of the Faithful, is my story. + +When the blind man had ended the Caliph addressed him: "Baba-Abdalla, +truly your sin is great, but you have suffered enough. Henceforth +repent in private, for I will see that enough money is given you day by +day for all your wants." + +At these words Baba-Abdalla flung himself at the Caliph's feet, and +prayed that honour and happiness might be his portion for ever. + + + +The Story of Sidi-Nouman + + +The Caliph, Haroun-al-Raschid, was much pleased with the tale of the +blind man and the dervish, and when it was finished he turned to the +young man who had ill-treated his horse, and inquired his name also. +The young man replied that he was called Sidi-Nouman. + +"Sidi-Nouman," observed the Caliph, "I have seen horses broken all my +life long, and have even broken them myself, but I have never seen any +horse broken in such a barbarous manner as by you yesterday. Every one +who looked on was indignant, and blamed you loudly. As for myself, I +was so angry that I was very nearly disclosing who I was, and putting a +stop to it at once. Still, you have not the air of a cruel man, and I +would gladly believe that you did not act in this way without some +reason. As I am told that it was not the first time, and indeed that +every day you are to be seen flogging and spurring your horse, I wish +to come to the bottom of the matter. But tell me the whole truth, and +conceal nothing." + +Sidi-Nouman changed colour as he heard these words, and his manner grew +confused; but he saw plainly that there was no help for it. So he +prostrated himself before the throne of the Caliph and tried to obey, +but the words stuck in his throat, and he remained silent. + +The Caliph, accustomed though he was to instant obedience, guessed +something of what was passing in the young man's mind, and sought to +put him at his ease. "Sidi-Nouman," he said, "do not think of me as +the Caliph, but merely as a friend who would like to hear your story. +If there is anything in it that you are afraid may offend me, take +courage, for I pardon you beforehand. Speak then openly and without +fear, as to one who knows and loves you." + +Reassured by the kindness of the Caliph, Sidi-Nouman at length began +his tale. + +"Commander of the Faithful," said he, "dazzled though I am by the +lustre of your Highness' presence, I will do my best to satisfy your +wishes. I am by no means perfect, but I am not naturally cruel, +neither do I take pleasure in breaking the law. I admit that the +treatment of my horse is calculated to give your Highness a bad opinion +of me, and to set an evil example to others; yet I have not chastised +it without reason, and I have hopes that I shall be judged more worthy +of pity than punishment." + +Commander of the Faithful, I will not trouble to describe my birth; it +is not of sufficient distinction to deserve your Highness' attention. +My ancestors were careful people, and I inherited enough money to +enable me to live comfortably, though without show. + +Having therefore a modest fortune, the only thing wanting to my +happiness was a wife who could return my affection, but this blessing I +was not destined to get; for on the very day after my marriage, my +bride began to try my patience in every way that was most hard to bear. + +Now, seeing that the customs of our land oblige us to marry without +ever beholding the person with whom we are to pass our lives, a man has +of course no right to complain as long as his wife is not absolutely +repulsive, or is not positively deformed. And whatever defects her +body may have, pleasant ways and good behaviour will go far to remedy +them. + +The first time I saw my wife unveiled, when she had been brought to my +house with the usual ceremonies, I was enchanted to find that I had not +been deceived in regard to the account that had been given me of her +beauty. I began my married life in high spirits, and the best hopes of +happiness. + +The following day a grand dinner was served to us but as my wife did +not appear, I ordered a servant to call her. Still she did not come, +and I waited impatiently for some time. At last she entered the room, +and she took our places at the table, and plates of rice were set +before us. + +I ate mine, as was natural, with a spoon, but great was my surprise to +notice that my wife, instead of doing the same, drew from her pocket a +little case, from which she selected a long pin, and by the help of +this pin conveyed her rice grain by grain to her mouth. + +"Amina," I exclaimed in astonishment, "is that the way you eat rice at +home? And did you do it because your appetite was so small, or did you +wish to count the grains so that you might never eat more than a +certain number? If it was from economy, and you are anxious to teach +me not to be wasteful, you have no cause for alarm. We shall never +ruin ourselves in that way! Our fortune is large enough for all our +needs, therefore, dear Amina, do not seek to check yourself, but eat as +much as you desire, as I do!" + +In reply to my affectionate words, I expected a cheerful answer; yet +Amina said nothing at all, but continued to pick her rice as before, +only at longer and longer intervals. And, instead of trying the other +dishes, all she did was to put every now and then a crumb, of bread +into her mouth, that would not have made a meal for a sparrow. + +I felt provoked by her obstinacy, but to excuse her to myself as far as +I could, I suggested that perhaps she had never been used to eat in the +company of men, and that her family might have taught her that she +ought to behave prudently and discreetly in the presence of her +husband. Likewise that she might either have dined already or intend +to do so in her own apartments. So I took no further notice, and when +I had finished left the room, secretly much vexed at her strange +conduct. + +The same thing occurred at supper, and all through the next day, +whenever we ate together. It was quite clear that no woman could live +upon two or three bread-crumbs and a few grains of rice, and I +determined to find out how and when she got food. I pretended not to +pay attention to anything she did, in the hope that little by little +she would get accustomed to me, and become more friendly; but I soon +saw that my expectations were quite vain. + +One night I was lying with my eyes closed, and to, all appearance sound +asleep, when Amina arose softly, and dressed herself without making the +slightest sound. I could not imagine what she was going to do, and as +my curiosity was great I made up my mind to follow her. When she was +fully dressed, she stole quietly from the room. + +The instant she had let the curtain fall behind her, I flung a garment +on my shoulders and a pair of slippers on my feet. Looking from a +lattice which opened into the court, I saw her in the act of passing +through the street door, which she carefully left open. + +It was bright moonlight, so I easily managed to keep her in sight, till +she entered a cemetery not far from the house. There I hid myself +under the shadow of the wall, and crouched down cautiously; and hardly +was I concealed, when I saw my wife approaching in company with a +ghoul--one of those demons which, as your Highness is aware, wander +about the country making their lairs in deserted buildings and +springing out upon unwary travellers whose flesh they eat. If no live +being goes their way, they then betake themselves to the cemeteries, +and feed upon the dead bodies. + +I was nearly struck dumb with horror on seeing my wife with this +hideous female ghoul. They passed by me without noticing me, began to +dig up a corpse which had been buried that day, and then sat down on +the edge of the grave, to enjoy their frightful repast, talking quietly +and cheerfully all the while, though I was too far off to hear what +they said. When they had finished, they threw back the body into the +grave, and heaped back the earth upon it. I made no effort to disturb +them, and returned quickly to the house, when I took care to leave the +door open, as I had previously found it. Then I got back into bed, and +pretended to sleep soundly. + +A short time after Amina entered as quietly as she had gone out. She +undressed and stole into bed, congratulating herself apparently on the +cleverness with which she had managed her expedition. + +As may be guessed, after such a scene it was long before I could close +my eyes, and at the first sound which called the faithful to prayer, I +put on my clothes and went to the mosque. But even prayer did not +restore peace to my troubled spirit, and I could not face my wife until +I had made up my mind what future course I should pursue in regard to +her. I therefore spent the morning roaming about from one garden to +another, turning over various plans for compelling my wife to give up +her horrible ways; I thought of using violence to make her submit, but +felt reluctant to be unkind to her. Besides, I had an instinct that +gentle means had the best chance of success; so, a little soothed, I +turned towards home, which I reached about the hour of dinner. + +As soon as I appeared, Amina ordered dinner to be served, and we sat +down together. As usual, she persisted in only picking a few grains of +rice, and I resolved to speak to her at once of what lay so heavily on +my heart. + +"Amina," I said, as quietly as possible, "you must have guessed the +surprise I felt, when the day after our marriage you declined to eat +anything but a few morsels of rice, and altogether behaved in such a +manner that most husbands would have been deeply wounded. However I +had patience with you, and only tried to tempt your appetite by the +choicest dishes I could invent, but all to no purpose. Still, Amina, +it seems to me that there be some among them as sweet to the taste as +the flesh of a corpse?" + +I had no sooner uttered these words than Amina, who instantly +understood that I had followed her to the grave-yard, was seized with a +passion beyond any that I have ever witnessed. Her face became purple, +her eyes looked as if they would start from her head, and she +positively foamed with rage. + +I watched her with terror, wondering what would happen next, but little +thinking what would be the end of her fury. She seized a vessel of +water that stood at hand, and plunging her hand in it, murmured some +words I failed to catch. Then, sprinkling it on my face, she cried +madly: + +"Wretch, receive the reward of your prying, and become a dog." + +The words were not out of her mouth when, without feeling conscious +that any change was passing over me, I suddenly knew that I had ceased +to be a man. In the greatness of the shock and surprise--for I had no +idea that Amina was a magician--I never dreamed of running away, and +stood rooted to the spot, while Amina grasped a stick and began to beat +me. Indeed her blows were so heavy, that I only wonder they did not +kill me at once. However they succeeded in rousing me from my stupor, +and I dashed into the court-yard, followed closely by Amina, who made +frantic dives at me, which I was not quick enough to dodge. At last +she got tired of pursuing me, or else a new trick entered into her +head, which would give me speedy and painful death; she opened the gate +leading into the street, intending to crush me as I passed through. +Dog though I was, I saw through her design, and stung into presence of +mind by the greatness of the danger, I timed my movements so well that +I contrived to rush through, and only the tip of my tail received a +squeeze as she banged the gate. + +I was safe, but my tail hurt me horribly, and I yelped and howled so +loud all along the streets, that the other dogs came and attacked me, +which made matters no better. In order to avoid them, I took refuge in +a cookshop, where tongues and sheep's heads were sold. + +At first the owner showed me great kindness, and drove away the other +dogs that were still at my heels, while I crept into the darkest +corner. But though I was safe for the moment, I was not destined to +remain long under his protection, for he was one of those who hold all +dogs to be unclean, and that all the washing in the world will hardly +purify you from their contact. So after my enemies had gone to seek +other prey, he tried to lure me from my corner in order to force me +into the street. But I refused to come out of my hole, and spent the +night in sleep, which I sorely needed, after the pain inflicted on me +by Amina. + +I have no wish to weary your Highness by dwelling on the sad thoughts +which accompanied my change of shape, but it may interest you to hear +that the next morning my host went out early to do his marketing, and +returned laden with the sheep's heads, and tongues and trotters that +formed his stock in trade for the day. The smell of meat attracted +various hungry dogs in the neighbourhood, and they gathered round the +door begging for some bits. I stole out of my corner, and stood with +them. + +In spite of his objection to dogs, as unclean animals, my protector was +a kind-hearted man, and knowing I had eaten nothing since yesterday, he +threw me bigger and better bits than those which fell to the share of +the other dogs. When I had finished, I tried to go back into the shop, +but this he would not allow, and stood so firmly at the entrance with a +stout stick, that I was forced to give it up, and seek some other home. + +A few paces further on was a baker's shop, which seemed to have a gay +and merry man for a master. At that moment he was having his +breakfast, and though I gave no signs of hunger, he at once threw me a +piece of bread. Before gobbling it up, as most dogs are in the habit +of doing, I bowed my head and wagged my tail, in token of thanks, and +he understood, and smiled pleasantly. I really did not want the bread +at all, but felt it would be ungracious to refuse, so I ate it slowly, +in order that he might see that I only did it out of politeness. He +understood this also, and seemed quite willing to let me stay in his +shop, so I sat down, with my face to the door, to show that I only +asked his protection. This he gave me, and indeed encouraged me to +come into the house itself, giving me a corner where I might sleep, +without being in anybody's way. + +The kindness heaped on me by this excellent man was far greater than I +could ever have expected. He was always affectionate in his manner of +treating me, and I shared his breakfast, dinner and supper, while, on +my side, I gave him all the gratitude and attachment to which he had a +right. + +I sat with my eyes fixed on him, and he never left the house without +having me at his heels; and if it ever happened that when he was +preparing to go out I was asleep, and did not notice, he would call +"Rufus, Rufus," for that was the name he gave me. + +Some weeks passed in this way, when one day a woman came in to buy +bread. In paying for it, she laid down several pieces of money, one of +which was bad. The baker perceived this, and declined to take it, +demanding another in its place. The woman, for her part, refused to +take it back, declaring it was perfectly good, but the baker would have +nothing to do with it. "It is really such a bad imitation," he +exclaimed at last, "that even my dog would not be taken in. Here +Rufus! Rufus!" and hearing his voice, I jumped on to the counter. The +baker threw down the money before me, and said, "Find out if there is a +bad coin." I looked at each in turn, and then laid my paw on the false +one, glancing at the same time at my master, so as to point it out. + +The baker, who had of course been only in joke, was exceedingly +surprised at my cleverness, and the woman, who was at last convinced +that the man spoke the truth, produced another piece of money in its +place. When she had gone, my master was so pleased that he told all +the neighbours what I had done, and made a great deal more of it than +there really was. + +The neighbours, very naturally, declined to believe his story, and +tried me several times with all the bad money they could collect +together, but I never failed to stand the test triumphantly. + +Soon, the shop was filled from morning till night, with people who on +the pretence of buying bread came to see if I was as clever as I was +reported to be. The baker drove a roaring trade, and admitted that I +was worth my weight in gold to him. + +Of course there were plenty who envied him his large custom, and many +was the pitfall set for me, so that he never dared to let me out of his +sight. One day a woman, who had not been in the shop before, came to +ask for bread, like the rest. As usual, I was lying on the counter, +and she threw down six coins before me, one of which was false. I +detected it at once, and put my paw on it, looking as I did so at the +woman. "Yes," she said, nodding her head. "You are quite right, that +is the one." She stood gazing at me attentively for some time, then +paid for the bread, and left the shop, making a sign for me to follow +her secretly. + +Now my thoughts were always running on some means of shaking off the +spell laid on me, and noticing the way in which this woman had looked +at me, the idea entered my head that perhaps she might have guessed +what had happened, and in this I was not deceived. However I let her +go on a little way, and merely stood at the door watching her. She +turned, and seeing that I was quite still, she again beckoned to me. + +The baker all this while was busy with his oven, and had forgotten all +about me, so I stole out softly, and ran after the woman. + +When we came to her house, which was some distance off, she opened the +door and then said to me, "Come in, come in; you will never be sorry +that you followed me." When I had entered she fastened the door, and +took me into a large room, where a beautiful girl was working at a +piece of embroidery. "My daughter," exclaimed my guide, "I have +brought you the famous dog belonging to the baker which can tell good +money from bad. You know that when I first heard of him, I told you I +was sure he must be really a man, changed into a dog by magic. To-day +I went to the baker's, to prove for myself the truth of the story, and +persuaded the dog to follow me here. Now what do you say?" + +"You are right, mother," replied the girl, and rising she dipped her +hand into a vessel of water. Then sprinkling it over me she said, "If +you were born dog, remain dog; but if you were born man, by virtue of +this water resume your proper form." In one moment the spell was +broken. The dog's shape vanished as if it had never been, and it was a +man who stood before her. + +Overcome with gratitude at my deliverance, I flung myself at her feet, +and kissed the hem of her garment. "How can I thank you for your +goodness towards a stranger, and for what you have done? Henceforth I +am your slave. Deal with me as you will!" + +Then, in order to explain how I came to be changed into a dog, I told +her my whole story, and finished with rendering the mother the thanks +due to her for the happiness she had brought me. + +"Sidi-Nouman," returned the daughter, "say no more about the obligation +you are under to us. The knowledge that we have been of service to you +is ample payment. Let us speak of Amina, your wife, with whom I was +acquainted before her marriage. I was aware that she was a magician, +and she knew too that I had studied the same art, under the same +mistress. We met often going to the same baths, but we did not like +each other, and never sought to become friends. As to what concerns +you, it is not enough to have broken your spell, she must be punished +for her wickedness. Remain for a moment with my mother, I beg," she +added hastily, "I will return shortly." + +Left alone with the mother, I again expressed the gratitude I felt, to +her as well as to her daughter. + +"My daughter," she answered, "is, as you see, as accomplished a +magician as Amina herself, but you would be astonished at the amount of +good she does by her knowledge. That is why I have never interfered, +otherwise I should have put a stop to it long ago." As she spoke, her +daughter entered with a small bottle in her hand. + +"Sidi-Nouman," she said, "the books I have just consulted tell me that +Amina is not home at present, but she should return at any moment. I +have likewise found out by their means, that she pretends before the +servants great uneasiness as to your absence. She has circulated a +story that, while at dinner with her, you remembered some important +business that had to be done at once, and left the house without +shutting the door. By this means a dog had strayed in, which she was +forced to get rid of by a stick. Go home then without delay, and await +Amina's return in your room. When she comes in, go down to meet her, +and in her surprise, she will try to run away. Then have this bottle +ready, and dash the water it contains over her, saying boldly, "Receive +the reward of your crimes." That is all I have to tell you." + +Everything happened exactly as the young magician had foretold. I had +not been in my house many minutes before Amina returned, and as she +approached I stepped in front of her, with the water in my hand. She +gave one loud cry, and turned to the door, but she was too late. I had +already dashed the water in her face and spoken the magic words. Amina +disappeared, and in her place stood the horse you saw me beating +yesterday. + +This, Commander of the Faithful, is my story, and may I venture to hope +that, now you have heard the reason of my conduct, your Highness will +not think this wicked woman too harshly treated? + +"Sidi-Nouman," replied the Caliph, "your story is indeed a strange one, +and there is no excuse to be offered for your wife. But, without +condemning your treatment of her, I wish you to reflect how much she +must suffer from being changed into an animal, and I hope you will let +that punishment be enough. I do not order you to insist upon the young +magician finding the means to restore your wife to her human shape, +because I know that when once women such as she begin to work evil they +never leave off, and I should only bring down on your head a vengeance +far worse than the one you have undergone already." + + + +The Story of Ali Colia, Merchant of Bagdad + + +In the reign of Haroun-al-Raschid, there lived in Bagdad a merchant +named Ali Cogia, who, having neither wife nor child, contented himself +with the modest profits produced by his trade. He had spent some years +quite happily in the house his father had left him, when three nights +running he dreamed that an old man had appeared to him, and reproached +him for having neglected the duty of a good Mussulman, in delaying so +long his pilgrimage to Mecca. + +Ali Cogia was much troubled by this dream, as he was unwilling to give +up his shop, and lose all his customers. He had shut his eyes for some +time to the necessity of performing this pilgrimage, and tried to atone +to his conscience by an extra number of good works, but the dream +seemed to him a direct warning, and he resolved to put the journey off +no longer. + +The first thing he did was to sell his furniture and the wares he had +in his shop, only reserving to himself such goods as he might trade +with on the road. The shop itself he sold also, and easily found a +tenant for his private house. The only matter he could not settle +satisfactorily was the safe custody of a thousand pieces of gold which +he wished to leave behind him. + +After some thought, Ali Cogia hit upon a plan which seemed a safe one. +He took a large vase, and placing the money in the bottom of it, filled +up the rest with olives. After corking the vase tightly down, he +carried it to one of his friends, a merchant like himself, and said to +him: + +"My brother, you have probably heard that I am staffing with a caravan +in a few days for Mecca. I have come to ask whether you would do me +the favour to keep this vase of olives for me till I come back?" + +The merchant replied readily, "Look, this is the key of my shop: take +it, and put the vase wherever you like. I promise that you shall find +it in the same place on your return." + +A few days later, Ali Cogia mounted the camel that he had laden with +merchandise, joined the caravan, and arrived in due time at Mecca. +Like the other pilgrims he visited the sacred Mosque, and after all his +religious duties were performed, he set out his goods to the best +advantage, hoping to gain some customers among the passers-by. + +Very soon two merchants stopped before the pile, and when they had +turned it over, one said to the other: + +"If this man was wise he would take these things to Cairo, where he +would get a much better price than he is likely to do here." + +Ali Cogia heard the words, and lost no time in following the advice. +He packed up his wares, and instead of returning to Bagdad, joined a +caravan that was going to Cairo. The results of the journey gladdened +his heart. He sold off everything almost directly, and bought a stock +of Egyptian curiosities, which he intended selling at Damascus; but as +the caravan with which he would have to travel would not be starting +for another six weeks, he took advantage of the delay to visit the +Pyramids, and some of the cities along the banks of the Nile. + +Now the attractions of Damascus so fascinated the worthy Ali, that he +could hardly tear himself away, but at length he remembered that he had +a home in Bagdad, meaning to return by way of Aleppo, and after he had +crossed the Euphrates, to follow the course of the Tigris. + +But when he reached Mossoul, Ali had made such friends with some +Persian merchants, that they persuaded him to accompany them to their +native land, and even as far as India, and so it came to pass that +seven years had slipped by since he had left Bagdad, and during all +that time the friend with whom he had left the vase of olives had never +once thought of him or of it. In fact, it was only a month before Ali +Cogia's actual return that the affair came into his head at all, owing +to his wife's remarking one day, that it was a long time since she had +eaten any olives, and would like some. + +"That reminds me," said the husband, "that before Ali Cogia went to +Mecca seven years ago, he left a vase of olives in my care. But really +by this time he must be dead, and there is no reason we should not eat +the olives if we like. Give me a light, and I will fetch them and see +how they taste." + +"My husband," answered the wife, "beware, I pray, of your doing +anything so base! Supposing seven years have passed without news of +Ali Cogia, he need not be dead for all that, and may come back any day. +How shameful it would be to have to confess that you had betrayed your +trust and broken the seal of the vase! Pay no attention to my idle +words, I really have no desire for olives now. And probably after all +this while they are no longer good. I have a presentiment that Ali +Cogia will return, and what will he think of you? Give it up, I +entreat." + +The merchant, however, refused to listen to her advice, sensible though +it was. He took a light and a dish and went into his shop. + +"If you will be so obstinate," said his wife, "I cannot help it; but do +not blame me if it turns out ill." + +When the merchant opened the vase he found the topmost olives were +rotten, and in order to see if the under ones were in better condition +he shook some out into the dish. As they fell out a few of the gold +pieces fell out too. + +The sight of the money roused all the merchant's greed. He looked into +the vase, and saw that all the bottom was filled with gold. He then +replaced the olives and returned to his wife. + +"My wife," he said, as he entered the room, "you were quite right; the +olives are rotten, and I have recorked the vase so well that Ali Cogia +will never know it has been touched." + +"You would have done better to believe me," replied the wife. "I trust +that no harm will come of it." + +These words made no more impression on the merchant than the others had +done; and he spent the whole night in wondering how he could manage to +keep the gold if Ali Cogia should come back and claim his vase. Very +early next morning he went out and bought fresh new olives; he then +threw away the old ones, took out the gold and hid it, and filled up +the vase with the olives he had bought. This done he recorked the vase +and put it in the same place where it had been left by Ali Cogia. + +A month later Ali Cogia re-entered Bagdad, and as his house was still +let he went to an inn; and the following day set out to see his friend +the merchant, who received him with open arms and many expressions of +surprise. After a few moments given to inquiries Ali Cogia begged the +merchant to hand him over the vase that he had taken care of for so +long. + +"Oh certainly," said he, "I am only glad I could be of use to you in +the matter. Here is the key of my shop; you will find the vase in the +place where you put it." + +Ali Cogia fetched his vase and carried it to his room at the inn, where +he opened it. He thrust down his hand but could feel no money, but +still was persuaded it must be there. So he got some plates and +vessels from his travelling kit and emptied out the olives. To no +purpose. The gold was not there. The poor man was dumb with horror, +then, lifting up his hands, he exclaimed, "Can my old friend really +have committed such a crime?" + +In great haste he went back to the house of the merchant. "My friend," +he cried, "you will be astonished to see me again, but I can find +nowhere in this vase a thousand pieces of gold that I placed in the +bottom under the olives. Perhaps you may have taken a loan of them for +your business purposes; if that is so you are most welcome. I will +only ask you to give me a receipt, and you can pay the money at your +leisure." + +The merchant, who had expected something of the sort, had his reply all +ready. "Ali Cogia," he said, "when you brought me the vase of olives +did I ever touch it?" + +"I gave you the key of my shop and you put it yourself where you liked, +and did you not find it in exactly the same spot and in the same state? +If you placed any gold in it, it must be there still. I know nothing +about that; you only told me there were olives. You can believe me or +not, but I have not laid a finger on the vase." + +Ali Cogia still tried every means to persuade the merchant to admit the +truth. "I love peace," he said, "and shall deeply regret having to +resort to harsh measures. Once more, think of your reputation. I +shall be in despair if you oblige me to call in the aid of the law." + +"Ali Cogia," answered the merchant, "you allow that it was a vase of +olives you placed in my charge. You fetched it and removed it +yourself, and now you tell me it contained a thousand pieces of gold, +and that I must restore them to you! Did you ever say anything about +them before? Why, I did not even know that the vase had olives in it! +You never showed them to me. I wonder you have not demanded pearls or +diamonds. Retire, I pray you, lest a crowd should gather in front of +my shop." + +By this time not only the casual passers-by, but also the neighbouring +merchants, were standing round, listening to the dispute, and trying +every now and then to smooth matters between them. But at the +merchant's last words Ali Cogia resolved to lay the cause of the +quarrel before them, and told them the whole story. They heard him to +the end, and inquired of the merchant what he had to say. + +The accused man admitted that he had kept Ali Cogia's vase in his shop; +but he denied having touched it, and swore that as to what it contained +he only knew what Ali Cogia had told him, and called them all to +witness the insult that had been put upon him. + +"You have brought it on yourself," said Ali Cogia, taking him by the +arm, "and as you appeal to the law, the law you shall have! Let us see +if you will dare to repeat your story before the Cadi." + +Now as a good Mussulman the merchant was forbidden to refuse this +choice of a judge, so he accepted the test, and said to Ali Cogia, +"Very well; I should like nothing better. We shall soon see which of +us is in the right." + +So the two men presented themselves before the Cadi, and Ali Cogia +again repeated his tale. The Cadi asked what witnesses he had. Ali +Cogia replied that he had not taken this precaution, as he had +considered the man his friend, and up to that time had always found him +honest. + +The merchant, on his side, stuck to his story, and offered to swear +solemnly that not only had he never stolen the thousand gold pieces, +but that he did not even know they were there. The Cadi allowed him to +take the oath, and pronounced him innocent. + +Ali Cogia, furious at having to suffer such a loss, protested against +the verdict, declaring that he would appeal to the Caliph, +Haroun-al-Raschid, himself. But the Cadi paid no attention to his +threats, and was quite satisfied that he had done what was right. + +Judgment being given the merchant returned home triumphant, and Ali +Cogia went back to his inn to draw up a petition to the Caliph. The +next morning he placed himself on the road along which the Caliph must +pass after mid-day prayer, and stretched out his petition to the +officer who walked before the Caliph, whose duty it was to collect such +things, and on entering the palace to hand them to his master. There +Haroun-al-Raschid studied them carefully. + +Knowing this custom, Ali Cogia followed the Caliph into the public hall +of the palace, and waited the result. After some time the officer +appeared, and told him that the Caliph had read his petition, and had +appointed an hour the next morning to give him audience. He then +inquired the merchant's address, so that he might be summoned to attend +also. + +That very evening, the Caliph, with his grand-vizir Giafar, and +Mesrour, chief of the eunuchs, all three disguised, as was their habit, +went out to take a stroll through the town. + +Going down one street, the Caliph's attention was attracted by a noise, +and looking through a door which opened into a court he perceived ten +or twelve children playing in the moonlight. He hid himself in a dark +corner, and watched them. + +"Let us play at being the Cadi," said the brightest and quickest of +them all; "I will be the Cadi. Bring before me Ali Cogia, and the +merchant who robbed him of the thousand pieces of gold." + +The boy's words recalled to the Caliph the petition he had read that +morning, and he waited with interest to see what the children would do. + +The proposal was hailed with joy by the other children, who had heard a +great deal of talk about the matter, and they quickly settled the part +each one was to play. The Cadi took his seat gravely, and an officer +introduced first Ali Cogia, the plaintiff, and then the merchant who +was the defendant. + +Ali Cogia made a low bow, and pleaded his cause point by point; +concluding by imploring the Cadi not to inflict on him such a heavy +loss. + +The Cadi having heard his case, turned to the merchant, and inquired +why he had not repaid Ali Cogia the sum in question. + +The false merchant repeated the reasons that the real merchant had +given to the Cadi of Bagdad, and also offered to swear that he had told +the truth. + +"Stop a moment!" said the little Cadi, "before we come to oaths, I +should like to examine the vase with the olives. Ali Cogia," he added, +"have you got the vase with you?" and finding he had not, the Cadi +continued, "Go and get it, and bring it to me." + +So Ali Cogia disappeared for an instant, and then pretended to lay a +vase at the feet of the Cadi, declaring it was his vase, which he had +given to the accused for safe custody; and in order to be quite +correct, the Cadi asked the merchant if he recognised it as the same +vase. By his silence the merchant admitted the fact, and the Cadi then +commanded to have the vase opened. Ali Cogia made a movement as if he +was taking off the lid, and the little Cadi on his part made a pretence +of peering into a vase. + +"What beautiful olives!" he said, "I should like to taste one," and +pretending to put one in his mouth, he added, "they are really +excellent! + +"But," he went on, "it seems to me odd that olives seven years old +should be as good as that! Send for some dealers in olives, and let us +hear what they say!" + +Two children were presented to him as olive merchants, and the Cadi +addressed them. "Tell me," he said, "how long can olives be kept so as +to be pleasant eating?" + +"My lord," replied the merchants, "however much care is taken to +preserve them, they never last beyond the third year. They lose both +taste and colour, and are only fit to be thrown away." + +"If that is so," answered the little Cadi, "examine this vase, and tell +me how long the olives have been in it." + +The olive merchants pretended to examine the olives and taste them; +then reported to the Cadi that they were fresh and good. + +"You are mistaken," said he, "Ali Cogia declares he put them in that +vase seven years ago." + +"My lord," returned the olive merchants, "we can assure you that the +olives are those of the present year. And if you consult all the +merchants in Bagdad you will not find one to give a contrary opinion." + +The accused merchant opened his mouth as if to protest, but the Cadi +gave him no time. "Be silent," he said, "you are a thief. Take him +away and hang him." So the game ended, the children clapping their +hands in applause, and leading the criminal away to be hanged. + +Haroun-al-Raschid was lost in astonishment at the wisdom of the child, +who had given so wise a verdict on the case which he himself was to +hear on the morrow. "Is there any other verdict possible?" he asked +the grand-vizir, who was as much impressed as himself. "I can imagine +no better judgment." + +"If the circumstances are really such as we have heard," replied the +grand-vizir, "it seems to me your Highness could only follow the +example of this boy, in the method of reasoning, and also in your +conclusions." + +"Then take careful note of this house," said the Caliph, "and bring me +the boy to-morrow, so that the affair may be tried by him in my +presence. Summon also the Cadi, to learn his duty from the mouth of a +child. Bid Ali Cogia bring his vase of olives, and see that two +dealers in olives are present." So saying the Caliph returned to the +palace. + +The next morning early, the grand-vizir went back to the house where +they had seen the children playing, and asked for the mistress and her +children. Three boys appeared, and the grand-vizir inquired which had +represented the Cadi in their game of the previous evening. The eldest +and tallest, changing colour, confessed that it was he, and to his +mother's great alarm, the grand-vizir said that he had strict orders to +bring him into the presence of the Caliph. + +"Does he want to take my son from me?" cried the poor woman; but the +grand-vizir hastened to calm her, by assuring her that she should have +the boy again in an hour, and she would be quite satisfied when she +knew the reason of the summons. So she dressed the boy in his best +clothes, and the two left the house. + +When the grand-vizir presented the child to the Caliph, he was a little +awed and confused, and the Caliph proceeded to explain why he had sent +for him. "Approach, my son," he said kindly. "I think it was you who +judged the case of Ali Cogia and the merchant last night? I overheard +you by chance, and was very pleased with the way you conducted it. +To-day you will see the real Ali Cogia and the real merchant. Seat +yourself at once next to me." + +The Caliph being seated on his throne with the boy next him, the +parties to the suit were ushered in. One by one they prostrated +themselves, and touched the carpet at the foot of the throne with their +foreheads. When they rose up, the Caliph said: "Now speak. This +child will give you justice, and if more should be wanted I will see to +it myself." + +Ali Cogia and the merchant pleaded one after the other, but when the +merchant offered to swear the same oath that he had taken before the +Cadi, he was stopped by the child, who said that before this was done +he must first see the vase of olives. + +At these words, Ali Cogia presented the vase to the Caliph, and +uncovered it. The Caliph took one of the olives, tasted it, and +ordered the expert merchants to do the same. They pronounced the +olives good, and fresh that year. The boy informed them that Ali Cogia +declared it was seven years since he had placed them in the vase; to +which they returned the same answer as the children had done. + +The accused merchant saw by this time that his condemnation was +certain, and tried to allege something in his defence. The boy had too +much sense to order him to be hanged, and looked at the Caliph, saying, +"Commander of the Faithful, this is not a game now; it is for your +Highness to condemn him to death and not for me." + +Then the Caliph, convinced that the man was a thief, bade them take him +away and hang him, which was done, but not before he had confessed his +guilt and the place in which he had hidden Ali Cogia's money. The +Caliph ordered the Cadi to learn how to deal out justice from the mouth +of a child, and sent the boy home, with a purse containing a hundred +pieces of gold as a mark of his favour. + + + +The Enchanted Horse + + +It was the Feast of the New Year, the oldest and most splendid of all +the feasts in the Kingdom of Persia, and the day had been spent by the +king in the city of Schiraz, taking part in the magnificent spectacles +prepared by his subjects to do honour to the festival. The sun was +setting, and the monarch was about to give his court the signal to +retire, when suddenly an Indian appeared before his throne, leading a +horse richly harnessed, and looking in every respect exactly like a +real one. + +"Sire," said he, prostrating himself as he spoke, "although I make my +appearance so late before your Highness, I can confidently assure you +that none of the wonders you have seen during the day can be compared +to this horse, if you will deign to cast your eyes upon him." + +"I see nothing in it," replied the king, "except a clever imitation of +a real one; and any skilled workman might do as much." + +"Sire," returned the Indian, "it is not of his outward form that I +would speak, but of the use that I can make of him. I have only to +mount him, and to wish myself in some special place, and no matter how +distant it may be, in a very few moments I shall find myself there. It +is this, Sire, that makes the horse so marvellous, and if your Highness +will allow me, you can prove it for yourself." + +The King of Persia, who was interested in every thing out of the +common, and had never before come across a horse with such qualities, +bade the Indian mount the animal, and show what he could do. In an +instant the man had vaulted on his back, and inquired where the monarch +wished to send him. + +"Do you see that mountain?" asked the king, pointing to a huge mass +that towered into the sky about three leagues from Schiraz; "go and +bring me the leaf of a palm that grows at the foot." + +The words were hardly out of the king's mouth when the Indian turned a +screw placed in the horse's neck, close to the saddle, and the animal +bounded like lightning up into the air, and was soon beyond the sight +even of the sharpest eyes. In a quarter of an hour the Indian was seen +returning, bearing in his hand the palm, and, guiding his horse to the +foot of the throne, he dismounted, and laid the leaf before the king. + +Now the monarch had no sooner proved the astonishing speed of which the +horse was capable than he longed to possess it himself, and indeed, so +sure was he that the Indian would be quite ready to sell it, that he +looked upon it as his own already. + +"I never guessed from his mere outside how valuable an animal he was," +he remarked to the Indian, "and I am grateful to you for having shown +me my error," said he. "If you will sell it, name your own price." + +"Sire," replied the Indian, "I never doubted that a sovereign so wise +and accomplished as your Highness would do justice to my horse, when he +once knew its power; and I even went so far as to think it probable +that you might wish to possess it. Greatly as I prize it, I will yield +it up to your Highness on one condition. The horse was not constructed +by me, but it was given me by the inventor, in exchange for my only +daughter, who made me take a solemn oath that I would never part with +it, except for some object of equal value." + +"Name anything you like," cried the monarch, interrupting him. "My +kingdom is large, and filled with fair cities. You have only to choose +which you would prefer, to become its ruler to the end of your life." + +"Sire," answered the Indian, to whom the proposal did not seem nearly +so generous as it appeared to the king, "I am most grateful to your +Highness for your princely offer, and beseech you not to be offended +with me if I say that I can only deliver up my horse in exchange for +the hand of the princess your daughter." + +A shout of laughter burst from the courtiers as they heard these words, +and Prince Firouz Schah, the heir apparent, was filled with anger at +the Indian's presumption. The king, however, thought that it would not +cost him much to part from the princess in order to gain such a +delightful toy, and while he was hesitating as to his answer the prince +broke in. + +"Sire," he said, "it is not possible that you can doubt for an instant +what reply you should give to such an insolent bargain. Consider what +you owe to yourself, and to the blood of your ancestors." + +"My son," replied the king, "you speak nobly, but you do not realise +either the value of the horse, or the fact that if I reject the +proposal of the Indian, he will only make the same to some other +monarch, and I should be filled with despair at the thought that anyone +but myself should own this Seventh Wonder of the World. Of course I do +not say that I shall accept his conditions, and perhaps he may be +brought to reason, but meanwhile I should like you to examine the +horse, and, with the owner's permission, to make trial of its powers." + +The Indian, who had overheard the king's speech, thought that he saw in +it signs of yielding to his proposal, so he joyfully agreed to the +monarch's wishes, and came forward to help the prince to mount the +horse, and show him how to guide it: but, before he had finished, the +young man turned the screw, and was soon out of sight. + +They waited some time, expecting that every moment he might be seen +returning in the distance, but at length the Indian grew frightened, +and prostrating himself before the throne, he said to the king, "Sire, +your Highness must have noticed that the prince, in his impatience, did +not allow me to tell him what it was necessary to do in order to return +to the place from which he started. I implore you not to punish me for +what was not my fault, and not to visit on me any misfortune that may +occur." + +"But why," cried the king in a burst of fear and anger, "why did you +not call him back when you saw him disappearing?" + +"Sire," replied the Indian, "the rapidity of his movements took me so +by surprise that he was out of hearing before I recovered my speech. +But we must hope that he will perceive and turn a second screw, which +will have the effect of bringing the horse back to earth." + +"But supposing he does!" answered the king, "what is to hinder the +horse from descending straight into the sea, or dashing him to pieces +on the rocks?" + +"Have no fears, your Highness," said the Indian; "the horse has the +gift of passing over seas, and of carrying his rider wherever he wishes +to go." + +"Well, your head shall answer for it," returned the monarch, "and if in +three months he is not safe back with me, or at any rate does not send +me news of his safety, your life shall pay the penalty." So saying, he +ordered his guards to seize the Indian and throw him into prison. + +Meanwhile, Prince Firouz Schah had gone gaily up into the air, and for +the space of an hour continued to ascend higher and higher, till the +very mountains were not distinguishable from the plains. Then he began +to think it was time to come down, and took for granted that, in order +to do this, it was only needful to turn the screw the reverse way; but, +to his surprise and horror, he found that, turn as he might, he did not +make the smallest impression. He then remembered that he had never +waited to ask how he was to get back to earth again, and understood the +danger in which he stood. Luckily, he did not lose his head, and set +about examining the horse's neck with great care, till at last, to his +intense joy, he discovered a tiny little peg, much smaller than the +other, close to the right ear. This he turned, and found him-self +dropping to the earth, though more slowly than he had left it. + +It was now dark, and as the prince could see nothing, he was obliged, +not without some feeling of disquiet, to allow the horse to direct his +own course, and midnight was already passed before Prince Firouz Schah +again touched the ground, faint and weary from his long ride, and from +the fact that he had eaten nothing since early morning. + +The first thing he did on dismounting was to try to find out where he +was, and, as far as he could discover in the thick darkness, he found +himself on the terraced roof of a huge palace, with a balustrade of +marble running round. In one corner of the terrace stood a small door, +opening on to a staircase which led down into the palace. + +Some people might have hesitated before exploring further, but not so +the prince. "I am doing no harm," he said, "and whoever the owner may +be, he will not touch me when he sees I am unarmed," and in dread of +making a false step, he went cautiously down the staircase. On a +landing, he noticed an open door, beyond which was a faintly lighted +hall. + +Before entering, the prince paused and listened, but he heard nothing +except the sound of men snoring. By the light of a lantern suspended +from the roof, he perceived a row of black guards sleeping, each with a +naked sword lying by him, and he understood that the hall must form the +ante-room to the chamber of some queen or princess. + +Standing quite still, Prince Firouz Schah looked about him, till his +eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, and he noticed a bright light +shining through a curtain in one corner. He then made his way softly +towards it, and, drawing aside its folds, passed into a magnificent +chamber full of sleeping women, all lying on low couches, except one, +who was on a sofa; and this one, he knew, must be the princess. + +Gently stealing up to the side of her bed he looked at her, and saw +that she was more beautiful than any woman he had ever beheld. But, +fascinated though he was, he was well aware of the danger of his +position, as one cry of surprise would awake the guards, and cause his +certain death. + +So sinking quietly on his knees, he took hold of the sleeve of the +princess and drew her arm lightly towards him. The princess opened her +eyes, and seeing before her a handsome well-dressed man, she remained +speechless with astonishment. + +This favourable moment was seized by the prince, who bowing low while +he knelt, thus addressed her: + +"You behold, madame, a prince in distress, son to the King of Persia, +who, owing to an adventure so strange that you will scarcely believe +it, finds himself here, a suppliant for your protection. But +yesterday, I was in my father's court, engaged in the celebration of +our most solemn festival; to-day, I am in an unknown land, in danger of +my life." + +Now the princess whose mercy Prince Firouz Schah implored was the +eldest daughter of the King of Bengal, who was enjoying rest and change +in the palace her father had built her, at a little distance from the +capital. She listened kindly to what he had to say, and then answered: + +"Prince, be not uneasy; hospitality and humanity are practised as +widely in Bengal as they are in Persia. The protection you ask will be +given you by all. You have my word for it." And as the prince was +about to thank her for her goodness, she added quickly, "However great +may be my curiosity to learn by what means you have travelled here so +speedily, I know that you must be faint for want of food, so I shall +give orders to my women to take you to one of my chambers, where you +will be provided with supper, and left to repose." + +By this time the princess's attendants were all awake, and listening to +the conversation. At a sign from their mistress they rose, dressed +themselves hastily, and snatching up some of the tapers which lighted +the room, conducted the prince to a large and lofty room, where two of +the number prepared his bed, and the rest went down to the kitchen, +from which they soon returned with all sorts of dishes. Then, showing +him cupboards filled with dresses and linen, they quitted the room. + +During their absence the Princess of Bengal, who had been greatly +struck by the beauty of the prince, tried in vain to go to sleep again. +It was of no use: she felt broad awake, and when her women entered the +room, she inquired eagerly if the prince had all he wanted, and what +they thought of him. + +"Madame," they replied, "it is of course impossible for us to tell what +impression this young man has made on you. For ourselves, we think you +would be fortunate if the king your father should allow you to marry +anyone so amiable. Certainly there is no one in the Court of Bengal +who can be compared with him." + +These flattering observations were by no means displeasing to the +princess, but as she did not wish to betray her own feelings she merely +said, "You are all a set of chatterboxes; go back to bed, and let me +sleep." + +When she dressed the following morning, her maids noticed that, +contrary to her usual habit, the princess was very particular about her +toilette, and insisted on her hair being dressed two or three times +over. "For," she said to herself, "if my appearance was not +displeasing to the prince when he saw me in the condition I was, how +much more will he be struck with me when he beholds me with all my +charms." + +Then she placed in her hair the largest and most brilliant diamonds she +could find, with a necklace, bracelets and girdle, all of precious +stones. And over her shoulders her ladies put a robe of the richest +stuff in all the Indies, that no one was allowed to wear except members +of the royal family. When she was fully dressed according to her +wishes, she sent to know if the Prince of Persia was awake and ready to +receive her, as she desired to present herself before him. + +When the princess's messenger entered his room, Prince Firouz Schah was +in the act of leaving it, to inquire if he might be allowed to pay his +homage to her mistress: but on hearing the princess's wishes, he at +once gave way. "Her will is my law," he said, "I am only here to obey +her orders." + +In a few moments the princess herself appeared, and after the usual +compliments had passed between them, the princess sat down on a sofa, +and began to explain to the prince her reasons for not giving him an +audience in her own apartments. "Had I done so," she said, "we might +have been interrupted at any hour by the chief of the eunuchs, who has +the right to enter whenever it pleases him, whereas this is forbidden +ground. I am all impatience to learn the wonderful accident which has +procured the pleasure of your arrival, and that is why I have come to +you here, where no one can intrude upon us. Begin then, I entreat you, +without delay." + +So the prince began at the beginning, and told all the story of the +festival of Nedrouz held yearly in Persia, and of the splendid +spectacles celebrated in its honour. But when he came to the enchanted +horse, the princess declared that she could never have imagined +anything half so surprising. "Well then," continued the prince, "you +can easily understand how the King my father, who has a passion for all +curious things, was seized with a violent desire to possess this horse, +and asked the Indian what sum he would take for it. + +"The man's answer was absolutely absurd, as you will agree, when I tell +you that it was nothing less than the hand of the princess my sister; +but though all the bystanders laughed and mocked, and I was beside +myself with rage, I saw to my despair that my father could not make up +his mind to treat the insolent proposal as it deserved. I tried to +argue with him, but in vain. He only begged me to examine the horse +with a view (as I quite understood) of making me more sensible of its +value." + +"To please my father, I mounted the horse, and, without waiting for any +instructions from the Indian, turned the peg as I had seen him do. In +an instant I was soaring upwards, much quicker than an arrow could fly, +and I felt as if I must be getting so near the sky that I should soon +hit my head against it! I could see nothing beneath me, and for some +time was so confused that I did not even know in what direction I was +travelling. At last, when it was growing dark, I found another screw, +and on turning it, the horse began slowly to sink towards the earth. I +was forced to trust to chance, and to see what fate had in store, and +it was already past midnight when I found myself on the roof of this +palace. I crept down the little staircase, and made directly for a +light which I perceived through an open door--I peeped cautiously in, +and saw, as you will guess, the eunuchs lying asleep on the floor. I +knew the risks I ran, but my need was so great that I paid no attention +to them, and stole safely past your guards, to the curtain which +concealed your doorway. + +"The rest, Princess, you know; and it only remains for me to thank you +for the kindness you have shown me, and to assure you of my gratitude. +By the law of nations, I am already your slave, and I have only my +heart, that is my own, to offer you. But what am I saying? My own? +Alas, madame, it was yours from the first moment I beheld you!" + +The air with which he said these words could have left no doubt on the +mind of the princess as to the effect of her charms, and the blush +which mounted to her face only increased her beauty. + +"Prince," returned she as soon as her confusion permitted her to speak, +"you have given me the greatest pleasure, and I have followed you +closely in all your adventures, and though you are positively sitting +before me, I even trembled at your danger in the upper regions of the +air! Let me say what a debt I owe to the chance that has led you to my +house; you could have entered none which would have given you a warmer +welcome. As to your being a slave, of course that is merely a joke, +and my reception must itself have assured you that you are as free here +as at your father's court. As to your heart," continued she in tones +of encouragement, "I am quite sure that must have been disposed of long +ago, to some princess who is well worthy of it, and I could not think +of being the cause of your unfaithfulness to her." + +Prince Firouz Schah was about to protest that there was no lady with +any prior claims, but he was stopped by the entrance of one of the +princess's attendants, who announced that dinner was served, and, after +all, neither was sorry for the interruption. + +Dinner was laid in a magnificent apartment, and the table was covered +with delicious fruits; while during the repast richly dressed girls +sang softly and sweetly to stringed instruments. After the prince and +princess had finished, they passed into a small room hung with blue and +gold, looking out into a garden stocked with flowers and arbutus trees, +quite different from any that were to be found in Persia. + +"Princess," observed the young man, "till now I had always believed +that Persia could boast finer palaces and more lovely gardens than any +kingdom upon earth. But my eyes have been opened, and I begin to +perceive that, wherever there is a great king he will surround himself +with buildings worthy of him." + +"Prince," replied the Princess of Bengal, "I have no idea what a +Persian palace is like, so I am unable to make comparisons. I do not +wish to depreciate my own palace, but I can assure you that it is very +poor beside that of the King my father, as you will agree when you have +been there to greet him, as I hope you will shortly do." + +Now the princess hoped that, by bringing about a meeting between the +prince and her father, the King would be so struck with the young man's +distinguished air and fine manners, that he would offer him his +daughter to wife. But the reply of the Prince of Persia to her +suggestion was not quite what she wished. + +"Madame," he said, "by taking advantage of your proposal to visit the +palace of the King of Bengal, I should satisfy not merely my curiosity, +but also the sentiments of respect with which I regard him. But, +Princess, I am persuaded that you will feel with me, that I cannot +possibly present myself before so great a sovereign without the +attendants suitable to my rank. He would think me an adventurer." + +"If that is all," she answered, "you can get as many attendants here as +you please. There are plenty of Persian merchants, and as for money, +my treasury is always open to you. Take what you please." + +Prince Firouz Schah guessed what prompted so much kindness on the part +of the princess, and was much touched by it. Still his passion, which +increased every moment, did not make him forget his duty. So he +replied without hesitation: + +"I do not know, Princess, how to express my gratitude for your obliging +offer, which I would accept at once if it were not for the recollection +of all the uneasiness the King my father must be suffering on my +account. I should be unworthy indeed of all the love he showers upon +me, if I did not return to him at the first possible moment. For, +while I am enjoying the society of the most amiable of all princesses, +he is, I am quite convinced, plunged in the deepest grief, having lost +all hope of seeing me again. I am sure you will understand my +position, and will feel that to remain away one instant longer than is +necessary would not only be ungrateful on my part, but perhaps even a +crime, for how do I know if my absence may not break his heart? + +"But," continued the prince, "having obeyed the voice of my conscience, +I shall count the moments when, with your gracious permission, I may +present myself before the King of Bengal, not as a wanderer, but as a +prince, to implore the favour of your hand. My father has always +informed me that in my marriage I shall be left quite free, but I am +persuaded that I have only to describe your generosity, for my wishes +to become his own." + +The Princess of Bengal was too reasonable not to accept the explanation +offered by Prince Firouz Schah, but she was much disturbed at his +intention of departing at once, for she feared that, no sooner had he +left her, than the impression she had made on him would fade away. So +she made one more effort to keep him, and after assuring him that she +entirely approved of his anxiety to see his father, begged him to give +her a day or two more of his company. + +In common politeness the prince could hardly refuse this request, and +the princess set about inventing every kind of amusement for him, and +succeeded so well that two months slipped by almost unnoticed, in +balls, spectacles and in hunting, of which, when unattended by danger, +the princess was passionately fond. But at last, one day, he declared +seriously that he could neglect his duty no longer, and entreated her +to put no further obstacles in his way, promising at the same time to +return, as soon as he could, with all the magnificence due both to her +and to himself. + +"Princess," he added, "it may be that in your heart you class me with +those false lovers whose devotion cannot stand the test of absence. If +you do, you wrong me; and were it not for fear of offending you, I +would beseech you to come with me, for my life can only be happy when +passed with you. As for your reception at the Persian Court, it will +be as warm as your merits deserve; and as for what concerns the King of +Bengal, he must be much more indifferent to your welfare than you have +led me to believe if he does not give his consent to our marriage." + +The princess could not find words in which to reply to the arguments of +the Prince of Persia, but her silence and her downcast eyes spoke for +her, and declared that she had no objection to accompanying him on his +travels. + +The only difficulty that occurred to her was that Prince Firouz Schah +did not know how to manage the horse, and she dreaded lest they might +find themselves in the same plight as before. But the prince soothed +her fears so successfully, that she soon had no other thought than to +arrange for their flight so secretly, that no one in the palace should +suspect it. + +This was done, and early the following morning, when the whole palace +was wrapped in sleep, she stole up on to the roof, where the prince was +already awaiting her, with his horse's head towards Persia. He mounted +first and helped the princess up behind; then, when she was firmly +seated, with her hands holding tightly to his belt, he touched the +screw, and the horse began to leave the earth quickly behind him. + +He travelled with his accustomed speed, and Prince Firouz Schah guided +him so well that in two hours and a half from the time of starting, he +saw the capital of Persia lying beneath him. He determined to alight +neither in the great square from which he had started, nor in the +Sultan's palace, but in a country house at a little distance from the +town. Here he showed the princess a beautiful suite of rooms, and +begged her to rest, while he informed his father of their arrival, and +prepared a public reception worthy of her rank. Then he ordered a +horse to be saddled, and set out. + +All the way through the streets he was welcomed with shouts of joy by +the people, who had long lost all hope of seeing him again. On +reaching the palace, he found the Sultan surrounded by his ministers, +all clad in the deepest mourning, and his father almost went out of his +mind with surprise and delight at the mere sound of his son's voice. +When he had calmed down a little, he begged the prince to relate his +adventures. + +The prince at once seized the opening thus given him, and told the +whole story of his treatment by the Princess of Bengal, not even +concealing the fact that she had fallen in love with him. "And, Sire," +ended the prince, "having given my royal word that you would not refuse +your consent to our marriage, I persuaded her to return with me on the +Indian's horse. I have left her in one of your Highness's country +houses, where she is waiting anxiously to be assured that I have not +promised in vain." + +As he said this the prince was about to throw himself at the feet of +the Sultan, but his father prevented him, and embracing him again, said +eagerly: + +"My son, not only do I gladly consent to your marriage with the +Princess of Bengal, but I will hasten to pay my respects to her, and to +thank her in my own person for the benefits she has conferred on you. +I will then bring her back with me, and make all arrangements for the +wedding to be celebrated to-day." + +So the Sultan gave orders that the habits of mourning worn by the +people should be thrown off and that there should be a concert of +drums, trumpets and cymbals. Also that the Indian should be taken from +prison, and brought before him. + +His commands were obeyed, and the Indian was led into his presence, +surrounded by guards. "I have kept you locked up," said the Sultan, +"so that in case my son was lost, your life should pay the penalty. He +has now returned; so take your horse, and begone for ever." + +The Indian hastily quitted the presence of the Sultan, and when he was +outside, he inquired of the man who had taken him out of prison where +the prince had really been all this time, and what he had been doing. +They told him the whole story, and how the Princess of Bengal was even +then awaiting in the country palace the consent of the Sultan, which at +once put into the Indian's head a plan of revenge for the treatment he +had experienced. Going straight to the country house, he informed the +doorkeeper who was left in charge that he had been sent by the Sultan +and by the Prince of Persia to fetch the princess on the enchanted +horse, and to bring her to the palace. + +The doorkeeper knew the Indian by sight, and was of course aware that +nearly three months before he had been thrown into prison by the +Sultan; and seeing him at liberty, the man took for granted that he was +speaking the truth, and made no difficulty about leading him before the +Princess of Bengal; while on her side, hearing that he had come from +the prince, the lady gladly consented to do what he wished. + +The Indian, delighted with the success of his scheme, mounted the +horse, assisted the princess to mount behind him, and turned the peg at +the very moment that the prince was leaving the palace in Schiraz for +the country house, followed closely by the Sultan and all the court. +Knowing this, the Indian deliberately steered the horse right above the +city, in order that his revenge for his unjust imprisonment might be +all the quicker and sweeter. + +When the Sultan of Persia saw the horse and its riders, he stopped +short with astonishment and horror, and broke out into oaths and +curses, which the Indian heard quite unmoved, knowing that he was +perfectly safe from pursuit. But mortified and furious as the Sultan +was, his feelings were nothing to those of Prince Firouz Schah, when he +saw the object of his passionate devotion being borne rapidly away. +And while he was struck speechless with grief and remorse at not having +guarded her better, she vanished swiftly out of his sight. What was he +to do? Should he follow his father into the palace, and there give +reins to his despair? Both his love and his courage alike forbade it; +and he continued his way to the palace. + +The sight of the prince showed the doorkeeper of what folly he had been +guilty, and flinging himself at his master's feet, implored his pardon. +"Rise," said the prince, "I am the cause of this misfortune, and not +you. Go and find me the dress of a dervish, but beware of saying it is +for me." + +At a short distance from the country house, a convent of dervishes was +situated, and the superior, or scheih, was the doorkeeper's friend. So +by means of a false story made up on the spur of the moment, it was +easy enough to get hold of a dervish's dress, which the prince at once +put on, instead of his own. Disguised like this and concealing about +him a box of pearls and diamonds he had intended as a present to the +princess, he left the house at nightfall, uncertain where he should go, +but firmly resolved not to return without her. + +Meanwhile the Indian had turned the horse in such a direction that, +before many hours had passed, it had entered a wood close to the +capital of the kingdom of Cashmere. Feeling very hungry, and supposing +that the princess also might be in want of food, he brought his steed +down to the earth, and left the princess in a shady place, on the banks +of a clear stream. + +At first, when the princess had found herself alone, the idea had +occurred to her of trying to escape and hide herself. But as she had +eaten scarcely anything since she had left Bengal, she felt she was too +weak to venture far, and was obliged to abandon her design. On the +return of the Indian with meats of various kinds, she began to eat +voraciously, and soon had regained sufficient courage to reply with +spirit to his insolent remarks. Goaded by his threats she sprang to +her feet, calling loudly for help, and luckily her cries were heard by +a troop of horsemen, who rode up to inquire what was the matter. + +Now the leader of these horsemen was the Sultan of Cashmere, returning +from the chase, and he instantly turned to the Indian to inquire who he +was, and whom he had with him. The Indian rudely answered that it was +his wife, and there was no occasion for anyone else to interfere +between them. + +The princess, who, of course, was ignorant of the rank of her +deliverer, denied altogether the Indian's story. "My lord," she cried, +"whoever you may be, put no faith in this impostor. He is an +abominable magician, who has this day torn me from the Prince of +Persia, my destined husband, and has brought me here on this enchanted +horse." She would have continued, but her tears choked her, and the +Sultan of Cashmere, convinced by her beauty and her distinguished air +of the truth of her tale, ordered his followers to cut off the Indian's +head, which was done immediately. + +But rescued though she was from one peril, it seemed as if she had only +fallen into another. The Sultan commanded a horse to be given her, and +conducted her to his own palace, where he led her to a beautiful +apartment, and selected female slaves to wait on her, and eunuchs to be +her guard. Then, without allowing her time to thank him for all he had +done, he bade her repose, saying she should tell him her adventures on +the following day. + +The princess fell asleep, flattering herself that she had only to +relate her story for the Sultan to be touched by compassion, and to +restore her to the prince without delay. But a few hours were to +undeceive her. + +When the King of Cashmere had quitted her presence the evening before, +he had resolved that the sun should not set again without the princess +becoming his wife, and at daybreak proclamation of his intention was +made throughout the town, by the sound of drums, trumpets, cymbals, and +other instruments calculated to fill the heart with joy. The Princess +of Bengal was early awakened by the noise, but she did not for one +moment imagine that it had anything to do with her, till the Sultan, +arriving as soon as she was dressed to inquire after her health, +informed her that the trumpet blasts she heard were part of the solemn +marriage ceremonies, for which he begged her to prepare. This +unexpected announcement caused the princess such terror that she sank +down in a dead faint. + +The slaves that were in waiting ran to her aid, and the Sultan himself +did his best to bring her back to consciousness, but for a long while +it was all to no purpose. At length her senses began slowly to come +back to her, and then, rather than break faith with the Prince of +Persia by consenting to such a marriage, she determined to feign +madness. So she began by saying all sorts of absurdities, and using +all kinds of strange gestures, while the Sultan stood watching her with +sorrow and surprise. But as this sudden seizure showed no sign of +abating, he left her to her women, ordering them to take the greatest +care of her. Still, as the day went on, the malady seemed to become +worse, and by night it was almost violent. + +Days passed in this manner, till at last the Sultan of Cashmere decided +to summon all the doctors of his court to consult together over her sad +state. Their answer was that madness is of so many different kinds +that it was impossible to give an opinion on the case without seeing +the princess, so the Sultan gave orders that they were to be introduced +into her chamber, one by one, every man according to his rank. + +This decision had been foreseen by the princess, who knew quite well +that if once she allowed the physicians to feel her pulse, the most +ignorant of them would discover that she was in perfectly good health, +and that her madness was feigned, so as each man approached, she broke +out into such violent paroxysms, that not one dared to lay a finger on +her. A few, who pretended to be cleverer than the rest, declared that +they could diagnose sick people only from sight, ordered her certain +potions, which she made no difficulty about taking, as she was +persuaded they were all harmless. + +When the Sultan of Cashmere saw that the court doctors could do nothing +towards curing the princess, he called in those of the city, who fared +no better. Then he had recourse to the most celebrated physicians in +the other large towns, but finding that the task was beyond their +science, he finally sent messengers into the other neighbouring states, +with a memorandum containing full particulars of the princess's +madness, offering at the same time to pay the expenses of any physician +who would come and see for himself, and a handsome reward to the one +who should cure her. In answer to this proclamation many foreign +professors flocked into Cashmere, but they naturally were not more +successful than the rest had been, as the cure depended neither on them +nor their skill, but only on the princess herself. + +It was during this time that Prince Firouz Schah, wandering sadly and +hopelessly from place to place, arrived in a large city of India, where +he heard a great deal of talk about the Princess of Bengal who had gone +out of her senses, on the very day that she was to have been married to +the Sultan of Cashmere. This was quite enough to induce him to take +the road to Cashmere, and to inquire at the first inn at which he +lodged in the capital the full particulars of the story. When he knew +that he had at last found the princess whom he had so long lost, he set +about devising a plan for her rescue. + +The first thing he did was to procure a doctor's robe, so that his +dress, added to the long beard he had allowed to grow on his travels, +might unmistakably proclaim his profession. He then lost no time in +going to the palace, where he obtained an audience of the chief usher, +and while apologising for his boldness in presuming to think that he +could cure the princess, where so many others had failed, declared that +he had the secret of certain remedies, which had hitherto never failed +of their effect. + +The chief usher assured him that he was heartily welcome, and that the +Sultan would receive him with pleasure; and in case of success, he +would gain a magnificent reward. + +When the Prince of Persia, in the disguise of a physician, was brought +before him, the Sultan wasted no time in talking, beyond remarking that +the mere sight of a doctor threw the princess into transports of rage. +He then led the prince up to a room under the roof, which had an +opening through which he might observe the princess, without himself +being seen. + +The prince looked, and beheld the princess reclining on a sofa with +tears in her eyes, singing softly to herself a song bewailing her sad +destiny, which had deprived her, perhaps for ever, of a being she so +tenderly loved. The young man's heart beat fast as he listened, for he +needed no further proof that her madness was feigned, and that it was +love of him which had caused her to resort to this species of trick. +He softly left his hiding-place, and returned to the Sultan, to whom he +reported that he was sure from certain signs that the princess's malady +was not incurable, but that he must see her and speak with her alone. + +The Sultan made no difficulty in consenting to this, and commanded that +he should be ushered in to the princess's apartment. The moment she +caught sight of his physician's robe, she sprang from her seat in a +fury, and heaped insults upon him. The prince took no notice of her +behaviour, and approaching quite close, so that his words might be +heard by her alone, he said in a low whisper, "Look at me, princess, +and you will see that I am no doctor, but the Prince of Persia, who has +come to set you free." + +At the sound of his voice, the Princess of Bengal suddenly grew calm, +and an expression of joy overspread her face, such as only comes when +what we wish for most and expect the least suddenly happens to us. For +some time she was too enchanted to speak, and Prince Firouz Schah took +advantage of her silence to explain to her all that had occurred, his +despair at watching her disappear before his very eyes, the oath he had +sworn to follow her over the world, and his rapture at finally +discovering her in the palace at Cashmere. When he had finished, he +begged in his turn that the princess would tell him how she had come +there, so that he might the better devise some means of rescuing her +from the tyranny of the Sultan. + +It needed but a few words from the princess to make him acquainted with +the whole situation, and how she had been forced to play the part of a +mad woman in order to escape from a marriage with the Sultan, who had +not had sufficient politeness even to ask her consent. If necessary, +she added, she had resolved to die sooner than permit herself to be +forced into such a union, and break faith with a prince whom she loved. + +The prince then inquired if she knew what had become of the enchanted +horse since the Indian's death, but the princess could only reply that +she had heard nothing about it. Still she did not suppose that the +horse could have been forgotten by the Sultan, after all she had told +him of its value. + +To this the prince agreed, and they consulted together over a plan by +which she might be able to make her escape and return with him into +Persia. And as the first step, she was to dress herself with care, and +receive the Sultan with civility when he visited her next morning. + +The Sultan was transported with delight on learning the result of the +interview, and his opinion of the doctor's skill was raised still +higher when, on the following day, the princess behaved towards him in +such a way as to persuade him that her complete cure would not be long +delayed. However he contented himself with assuring her how happy he +was to see her health so much improved, and exhorted her to make every +use of so clever a physician, and to repose entire confidence in him. +Then he retired, without awaiting any reply from the princess. + +The Prince of Persia left the room at the same time, and asked if he +might be allowed humbly to inquire by what means the Princess of Bengal +had reached Cashmere, which was so far distant from her father's +kingdom, and how she came to be there alone. The Sultan thought the +question very natural, and told him the same story that the Princess of +Bengal had done, adding that he had ordered the enchanted horse to be +taken to his treasury as a curiosity, though he was quite ignorant how +it could be used. + +"Sire," replied the physician, "your Highness's tale has supplied me +with the clue I needed to complete the recovery of the princess. +During her voyage hither on an enchanted horse, a portion of its +enchantment has by some means been communicated to her person, and it +can only be dissipated by certain perfumes of which I possess the +secret. If your Highness will deign to consent, and to give the court +and the people one of the most astonishing spectacles they have ever +witnessed, command the horse to be brought into the big square outside +the palace, and leave the rest to me. I promise that in a very few +moments, in presence of all the assembled multitude, you shall see the +princess as healthy both in mind and body as ever she was in her life. +And in order to make the spectacle as impressive as possible, I would +suggest that she should be richly dressed and covered with the noblest +jewels of the crown." + +The Sultan readily agreed to all that the prince proposed, and the +following morning he desired that the enchanted horse should be taken +from the treasury, and brought into the great square of the palace. +Soon the rumour began to spread through the town, that something +extraordinary was about to happen, and such a crowd began to collect +that the guards had to be called out to keep order, and to make a way +for the enchanted horse. + +When all was ready, the Sultan appeared, and took his place on a +platform, surrounded by the chief nobles and officers of his court. +When they were seated, the Princess of Bengal was seen leaving the +palace, accompanied by the ladies who had been assigned to her by the +Sultan. She slowly approached the enchanted horse, and with the help +of her ladies, she mounted on its back. Directly she was in the +saddle, with her feet in the stirrups and the bridle in her hand, the +physician placed around the horse some large braziers full of burning +coals, into each of which he threw a perfume composed of all sorts of +delicious scents. Then he crossed his hands over his breast, and with +lowered eyes walked three times round the horse, muttering the while +certain words. Soon there arose from the burning braziers a thick +smoke which almost concealed both the horse and princess, and this was +the moment for which he had been waiting. Springing lightly up behind +the lady, he leaned forward and turned the peg, and as the horse darted +up into the air, he cried aloud so that his words were heard by all +present, "Sultan of Cashmere, when you wish to marry princesses who +have sought your protection, learn first to gain their consent." + +It was in this way that the Prince of Persia rescued the Princess of +Bengal, and returned with her to Persia, where they descended this time +before the palace of the King himself. The marriage was only delayed +just long enough to make the ceremony as brilliant as possible, and, as +soon as the rejoicings were over, an ambassador was sent to the King of +Bengal, to inform him of what had passed, and to ask his approbation of +the alliance between the two countries, which he heartily gave. + + + +The Story of Two Sisters Who Were Jealous of Their Younger Sister + + +Once upon a time there reigned over Persia a Sultan named Kosrouschah, +who from his boyhood had been fond of putting on a disguise and seeking +adventures in all parts of the city, accompanied by one of his +officers, disguised like himself. And no sooner was his father buried +and the ceremonies over that marked his accession to the throne, than +the young man hastened to throw off his robes of state, and calling to +his vizir to make ready likewise, stole out in the simple dress of a +private citizen into the less known streets of the capital. + +Passing down a lonely street, the Sultan heard women's voices in loud +discussion; and peeping through a crack in the door, he saw three +sisters, sitting on a sofa in a large hall, talking in a very lively +and earnest manner. Judging from the few words that reached his ear, +they were each explaining what sort of men they wished to marry. + +"I ask nothing better," cried the eldest, "than to have the Sultan's +baker for a husband. Think of being able to eat as much as one wanted, +of that delicious bread that is baked for his Highness alone! Let us +see if your wish is as good as mine." + +"I," replied the second sister, "should be quite content with the +Sultan's head cook. What delicate stews I should feast upon! And, as +I am persuaded that the Sultan's bread is used all through the palace, +I should have that into the bargain. You see, my dear sister, my taste +is as good as yours." + +It was now the turn of the youngest sister, who was by far the most +beautiful of the three, and had, besides, more sense than the other +two. "As for me," she said, "I should take a higher flight; and if we +are to wish for husbands, nothing less than the Sultan himself will do +for me." + +The Sultan was so much amused by the conversation he had overheard, +that he made up his mind to gratify their wishes, and turning to the +grand-vizir, he bade him note the house, and on the following morning +to bring the ladies into his presence. + +The grand-vizir fulfilled his commission, and hardly giving them time +to change their dresses, desired the three sisters to follow him to the +palace. Here they were presented one by one, and when they had bowed +before the Sultan, the sovereign abruptly put the question to them: + +"Tell me, do you remember what you wished for last night, when you were +making merry? Fear nothing, but answer me the truth." + +These words, which were so unexpected, threw the sisters into great +confusion, their eyes fell, and the blushes of the youngest did not +fail to make an impression on the heart of the Sultan. All three +remained silent, and he hastened to continue: "Do not be afraid, I +have not the slightest intention of giving you pain, and let me tell +you at once, that I know the wishes formed by each one. You," he said, +turning to the youngest, "who desired to have me for an husband, shall +be satisfied this very day. And you," he added, addressing himself to +the other two, "shall be married at the same moment to my baker and to +my chief cook." + +When the Sultan had finished speaking the three sisters flung +themselves at his feet, and the youngest faltered out, "Oh, sire, since +you know my foolish words, believe, I pray you, that they were only +said in joke. I am unworthy of the honour you propose to do me, and I +can only ask pardon for my boldness." + +The other sisters also tried to excuse themselves, but the Sultan would +hear nothing. + +"No, no," he said, "my mind is made up. Your wishes shall be +accomplished." + +So the three weddings were celebrated that same day, but with a great +difference. That of the youngest was marked by all the magnificence +that was customary at the marriage of the Shah of Persia, while the +festivities attending the nuptials of the Sultan's baker and his chief +cook were only such as were suitable to their conditions. + +This, though quite natural, was highly displeasing to the elder +sisters, who fell into a passion of jealousy, which in the end caused a +great deal of trouble and pain to several people. And the first time +that they had the opportunity of speaking to each other, which was not +till several days later at a public bath, they did not attempt to +disguise their feelings. + +"Can you possibly understand what the Sultan saw in that little cat," +said one to the other, "for him to be so fascinated by her?" + +"He must be quite blind," returned the wife of the chief cook. "As for +her looking a little younger than we do, what does that matter? You +would have made a far better Sultana than she." + +"Oh, I say nothing of myself," replied the elder, "and if the Sultan +had chosen you it would have been all very well; but it really grieves +me that he should have selected a wretched little creature like that. +However, I will be revenged on her somehow, and I beg you will give me +your help in the matter, and to tell me anything that you can think of +that is likely to mortify her." + +In order to carry out their wicked scheme the two sisters met +constantly to talk over their ideas, though all the while they +pretended to be as friendly as ever towards the Sultana, who, on her +part, invariably treated them with kindness. For a long time no plan +occurred to the two plotters that seemed in the least likely to meet +with success, but at length the expected birth of an heir gave them the +chance for which they had been hoping. + +They obtained permission of the Sultan to take up their abode in the +palace for some weeks, and never left their sister night or day. When +at last a little boy, beautiful as the sun, was born, they laid him in +his cradle and carried it down to a canal which passed through the +grounds of the palace. Then, leaving it to its fate, they informed the +Sultan that instead of the son he had so fondly desired the Sultana had +given birth to a puppy. At this dreadful news the Sultan was so +overcome with rage and grief that it was with great difficulty that the +grand-vizir managed to save the Sultana from his wrath. + +Meanwhile the cradle continued to float peacefully along the canal +till, on the outskirts of the royal gardens, it was suddenly perceived +by the intendant, one of the highest and most respected officials in +the kingdom. + +"Go," he said to a gardener who was working near, "and get that cradle +out for me." + +The gardener did as he was bid, and soon placed the cradle in the hands +of the intendant. + +The official was much astonished to see that the cradle, which he had +supposed to be empty, contained a baby, which, young though it was, +already gave promise of great beauty. Having no children himself, +although he had been married some years, it at once occurred to him +that here was a child which he could take and bring up as his own. +And, bidding the man pick up the cradle and follow him, he turned +towards home. + +"My wife," he exclaimed as he entered the room, "heaven has denied us +any children, but here is one that has been sent in their place. Send +for a nurse, and I will do what is needful publicly to recognise it as +my son." + +The wife accepted the baby with joy, and though the intendant saw quite +well that it must have come from the royal palace, he did not think it +was his business to inquire further into the mystery. + +The following year another prince was born and sent adrift, but happily +for the baby, the intendant of the gardens again was walking by the +canal, and carried it home as before. + +The Sultan, naturally enough, was still more furious the second time +than the first, but when the same curious accident was repeated in the +third year he could control himself no longer, and, to the great joy of +the jealous sisters, commanded that the Sultana should be executed. +But the poor lady was so much beloved at Court that not even the dread +of sharing her fate could prevent the grand-vizir and the courtiers +from throwing themselves at the Sultan's feet and imploring him not to +inflict so cruel a punishment for what, after all, was not her fault. + +"Let her live," entreated the grand-vizir, "and banish her from your +presence for the rest of her days. That in itself will be punishment +enough." + +His first passion spent, the Sultan had regained his self-command. +"Let her live then," he said, "since you have it so much at heart. But +if I grant her life it shall only be on one condition, which shall make +her daily pray for death. Let a box be built for her at the door of +the principal mosque, and let the window of the box be always open. +There she shall sit, in the coarsest clothes, and every Mussulman who +enters the mosque shall spit in her face in passing. Anyone that +refuses to obey shall be exposed to the same punishment himself. You, +vizir, will see that my orders are carried out." + +The grand-vizir saw that it was useless to say more, and, full of +triumph, the sisters watched the building of the box, and then listened +to the jeers of the people at the helpless Sultana sitting inside. But +the poor lady bore herself with so much dignity and meekness that it +was not long before she had won the sympathy of those that were best +among the crowd. + +But it is now time to return to the fate of the third baby, this time a +princess. Like its brothers, it was found by the intendant of the +gardens, and adopted by him and his wife, and all three were brought up +with the greatest care and tenderness. + +As the children grew older their beauty and air of distinction became +more and more marked, and their manners had all the grace and ease that +is proper to people of high birth. The princes had been named by their +foster-father Bahman and Perviz, after two of the ancient kings of +Persia, while the princess was called Parizade, or the child of the +genii. + +The intendant was careful to bring them up as befitted their real rank, +and soon appointed a tutor to teach the young princes how to read and +write. And the princess, determined not to be left behind, showed +herself so anxious to learn with her brothers, that the intendant +consented to her joining in their lessons, and it was not long before +she knew as much as they did. + +From that time all their studies were done in common. They had the +best masters for the fine arts, geography, poetry, history and science, +and even for sciences which are learned by few, and every branch seemed +so easy to them, that their teachers were astonished at the progress +they made. The princess had a passion for music, and could sing and +play upon all sorts of instruments she could also ride and drive as +well as her brothers, shoot with a bow and arrow, and throw a javelin +with the same skill as they, and sometimes even better. + +In order to set off these accomplishments, the intendant resolved that +his foster children should not be pent up any longer in the narrow +borders of the palace gardens, where he had always lived, so he bought +a splendid country house a few miles from the capital, surrounded by an +immense park. This park he filled with wild beasts of various sorts, +so that the princes and princess might hunt as much as they pleased. + +When everything was ready, the intendant threw himself at the Sultan's +feet, and after referring to his age and his long services, begged his +Highness's permission to resign his post. This was granted by the +Sultan in a few gracious words, and he then inquired what reward he +could give to his faithful servant. But the intendant declared that he +wished for nothing except the continuance of his Highness's favour, and +prostrating himself once more, he retired from the Sultan's presence. + +Five or six months passed away in the pleasures of the country, when +death attacked the intendant so suddenly that he had no time to reveal +the secret of their birth to his adopted children, and as his wife had +long been dead also, it seemed as if the princes and the princess would +never know that they had been born to a higher station than the one +they filled. Their sorrow for their father was very deep, and they +lived quietly on in their new home, without feeling any desire to leave +it for court gaieties or intrigues. + +One day the princes as usual went out to hunt, but their sister +remained alone in her apartments. While they were gone an old +Mussulman devotee appeared at the door, and asked leave to enter, as it +was the hour of prayer. The princess sent orders at once that the old +woman was to be taken to the private oratory in the grounds, and when +she had finished her prayers was to be shown the house and gardens, and +then to be brought before her. + +Although the old woman was very pious, she was not at all indifferent +to the magnificence of all around her, which she seemed to understand +as well as to admire, and when she had seen it all she was led by the +servants before the princess, who was seated in a room which surpassed +in splendour all the rest. + +"My good woman," said the princess pointing to a sofa, "come and sit +beside me. I am delighted at the opportunity of speaking for a few +moments with so holy a person." The old woman made some objections to +so much honour being done her, but the princess refused to listen, and +insisted that her guest should take the best seat, and as she thought +she must be tired ordered refreshments. + +While the old woman was eating, the princess put several questions to +her as to her mode of life, and the pious exercises she practiced, and +then inquired what she thought of the house now that she had seen it. + +"Madam," replied the pilgrim, "one must be hard indeed to please to +find any fault. It is beautiful, comfortable and well ordered, and it +is impossible to imagine anything more lovely than the garden. But +since you ask me, I must confess that it lacks three things to make it +absolutely perfect." + +"And what can they be?" cried the princess. "Only tell me, and I will +lose no time in getting them." + +"The three things, madam," replied the old woman, "are, first, the +Talking Bird, whose voice draws all other singing birds to it, to join +in chorus. And second, the Singing Tree, where every leaf is a song +that is never silent. And lastly the Golden Water, of which it is only +needful to pour a single drop into a basin for it to shoot up into a +fountain, which will never be exhausted, nor will the basin ever +overflow." + +"Oh, how can I thank you," cried the princess, "for telling me of such +treasures! But add, I pray you, to your goodness by further informing +me where I can find them." + +"Madam," replied the pilgrim, "I should ill repay the hospitality you +have shown me if I refused to answer your question. The three things +of which I have spoken are all to be found in one place, on the borders +of this kingdom, towards India. Your messenger has only to follow the +road that passes by your house, for twenty days, and at the end of that +time, he is to ask the first person he meets for the Talking Bird, the +Singing Tree, and the Golden Water." She then rose, and bidding +farewell to the princess, went her way. + +The old woman had taken her departure so abruptly that the Princess +Parizade did not perceive till she was really gone that the directions +were hardly clear enough to enable the search to be successful. And +she was still thinking of the subject, and how delightful it would be +to possess such rarities, when the princes, her brothers, returned from +the chase. + +"What is the matter, my sister?" asked Prince Bahman; "why are you so +grave? Are you ill? Or has anything happened?" + +Princess Parizade did not answer directly, but at length she raised her +eyes, and replied that there was nothing wrong. + +"But there must be something," persisted Prince Bahman, "for you to +have changed so much during the short time we have been absent. Hide +nothing from us, I beseech you, unless you wish us to believe that the +confidence we have always had in one another is now to cease." + +"When I said that it was nothing," said the princess, moved by his +words, "I meant that it was nothing that affected you, although I admit +that it is certainly of some importance to me. Like myself, you have +always thought this house that our father built for us was perfect in +every respect, but only to-day I have learned that three things are +still lacking to complete it. These are the Talking Bird, the Singing +Tree, and the Golden Water." After explaining the peculiar qualities +of each, the princess continued: "It was a Mussulman devotee who told +me all this, and where they might all be found. Perhaps you will think +that the house is beautiful enough as it is, and that we can do quite +well without them; but in this I cannot agree with you, and I shall +never be content until I have got them. So counsel me, I pray, whom to +send on the undertaking." + +"My dear sister," replied Prince Bahman, "that you should care about +the matter is quite enough, even if we took no interest in it +ourselves. But we both feel with you, and I claim, as the elder, the +right to make the first attempt, if you will tell me where I am to go, +and what steps I am to take." + +Prince Perviz at first objected that, being the head of the family, his +brother ought not to be allowed to expose himself to danger; but Prince +Bahman would hear nothing, and retired to make the needful preparations +for his journey. + +The next morning Prince Bahman got up very early, and after bidding +farewell to his brother and sister, mounted his horse. But just as he +was about to touch it with his whip, he was stopped by a cry from the +princess. + +"Oh, perhaps after all you may never come back; one never can tell what +accidents may happen. Give it up, I implore you, for I would a +thousand times rather lose the Talking Bird, and the Singing Tree and +the Golden Water, than that you should run into danger." + +"My dear sister," answered the prince, "accidents only happen to +unlucky people, and I hope that I am not one of them. But as +everything is uncertain, I promise you to be very careful. Take this +knife," he continued, handing her one that hung sheathed from his belt, +"and every now and then draw it out and look at it. As long as it +keeps bright and clean as it is to-day, you will know that I am living; +but if the blade is spotted with blood, it will be a sign that I am +dead, and you shall weep for me." + +So saying, Prince Bahman bade them farewell once more, and started on +the high road, well mounted and fully armed. For twenty days he rode +straight on, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, till he +found himself drawing near the frontiers of Persia. Seated under a +tree by the wayside he noticed a hideous old man, with a long white +moustache, and beard that almost fell to his feet. His nails had grown +to an enormous length, and on his head he wore a huge hat, which served +him for an umbrella. + +Prince Bahman, who, remembering the directions of the old woman, had +been since sunrise on the look-out for some one, recognised the old man +at once to be a dervish. He dismounted from his horse, and bowed low +before the holy man, saying by way of greeting, "My father, may your +days be long in the land, and may all your wishes be fulfilled!" + +The dervish did his best to reply, but his moustache was so thick that +his words were hardly intelligible, and the prince, perceiving what was +the matter, took a pair of scissors from his saddle pockets, and +requested permission to cut off some of the moustache, as he had a +question of great importance to ask the dervish. The dervish made a +sign that he might do as he liked, and when a few inches of his hair +and beard had been pruned all round the prince assured the holy man +that he would hardly believe how much younger he looked. The dervish +smiled at his compliments, and thanked him for what he had done. + +"Let me," he said, "show you my gratitude for making me more +comfortable by telling me what I can do for you." + +"Gentle dervish," replied Prince Bahman, "I come from far, and I seek +the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water. I know that +they are to be found somewhere in these parts, but I am ignorant of the +exact spot. Tell me, I pray you, if you can, so that I may not have +travelled on a useless quest." While he was speaking, the prince +observed a change in the countenance of the dervish, who waited for +some time before he made reply. + +"My lord," he said at last, "I do know the road for which you ask, but +your kindness and the friendship I have conceived for you make me loth +to point it out." + +"But why not?" inquired the prince. "What danger can there be?" + +"The very greatest danger," answered the dervish. "Other men, as brave +as you, have ridden down this road, and have put me that question. I +did my best to turn them also from their purpose, but it was of no use. +Not one of them would listen to my words, and not one of them came +back. Be warned in time, and seek to go no further." + +"I am grateful to you for your interest in me," said Prince Bahman, +"and for the advice you have given, though I cannot follow it. But +what dangers can there be in the adventure which courage and a good +sword cannot meet?" + +"And suppose," answered the dervish, "that your enemies are invisible, +how then?" + +"Nothing will make me give it up," replied the prince, "and for the +last time I ask you to tell me where I am to go." + +When the dervish saw that the prince's mind was made up, he drew a ball +from a bag that lay near him, and held it out. "If it must be so," he +said, with a sigh, "take this, and when you have mounted your horse +throw the ball in front of you. It will roll on till it reaches the +foot of a mountain, and when it stops you will stop also. You will +then throw the bridle on your horse's neck without any fear of his +straying, and will dismount. On each side you will see vast heaps of +big black stones, and will hear a multitude of insulting voices, but +pay no heed to them, and, above all, beware of ever turning your head. +If you do, you will instantly become a black stone like the rest. For +those stones are in reality men like yourself, who have been on the +same quest, and have failed, as I fear that you may fail also. If you +manage to avoid this pitfall, and to reach the top of the mountain, you +will find there the Talking Bird in a splendid cage, and you can ask of +him where you are to seek the Singing Tree and the Golden Water. That +is all I have to say. You know what you have to do, and what to avoid, +but if you are wise you will think of it no more, but return whence you +have come." + +The prince smilingly shook his head, and thanking the dervish once +more, he sprang on his horse and threw the ball before him. + +The ball rolled along the road so fast that Prince Bahman had much +difficulty in keeping up with it, and it never relaxed its speed till +the foot of the mountain was reached. Then it came to a sudden halt, +and the prince at once got down and flung the bridle on his horse's +neck. He paused for a moment and looked round him at the masses of +black stones with which the sides of the mountain were covered, and +then began resolutely to ascend. He had hardly gone four steps when he +heard the sound of voices around him, although not another creature was +in sight. + +"Who is this imbecile?" cried some, "stop him at once." "Kill him," +shrieked others, "Help! robbers! murderers! help! help!" "Oh, let him +alone," sneered another, and this was the most trying of all, "he is +such a beautiful young man; I am sure the bird and the cage must have +been kept for him." + +At first the prince took no heed to all this clamour, but continued to +press forward on his way. Unfortunately this conduct, instead of +silencing the voices, only seemed to irritate them the more, and they +arose with redoubled fury, in front as well as behind. After some time +he grew bewildered, his knees began to tremble, and finding himself in +the act of falling, he forgot altogether the advice of the dervish. He +turned to fly down the mountain, and in one moment became a black stone. + +As may be imagined, Prince Perviz and his sister were all this time in +the greatest anxiety, and consulted the magic knife, not once but many +times a day. Hitherto the blade had remained bright and spotless, but +on the fatal hour on which Prince Bahman and his horse were changed +into black stones, large drops of blood appeared on the surface. "Ah! +my beloved brother," cried the princess in horror, throwing the knife +from her, "I shall never see you again, and it is I who have killed +you. Fool that I was to listen to the voice of that temptress, who +probably was not speaking the truth. What are the Talking Bird and the +Singing Tree to me in comparison with you, passionately though I long +for them!" + +Prince Perviz's grief at his brother's loss was not less than that of +Princess Parizade, but he did not waste his time on useless +lamentations. + +"My sister," he said, "why should you think the old woman was deceiving +you about these treasures, and what would have been her object in doing +so! No, no, our brother must have met his death by some accident, or +want of precaution, and to-morrow I will start on the same quest." + +Terrified at the thought that she might lose her only remaining +brother, the princess entreated him to give up his project, but he +remained firm. Before setting out, however, he gave her a chaplet of a +hundred pearls, and said, "When I am absent, tell this over daily for +me. But if you should find that the beads stick, so that they will not +slip one after the other, you will know that my brother's fate has +befallen me. Still, we must hope for better luck." + +Then he departed, and on the twentieth day of his journey fell in with +the dervish on the same spot as Prince Bahman had met him, and began to +question him as to the place where the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree +and the Golden Water were to be found. As in the case of his brother, +the dervish tried to make him give up his project, and even told him +that only a few weeks since a young man, bearing a strong resemblance +to himself, had passed that way, but had never come back again. + +"That, holy dervish," replied Prince Perviz, "was my elder brother, who +is now dead, though how he died I cannot say." + +"He is changed into a black stone," answered the dervish, "like all the +rest who have gone on the same errand, and you will become one likewise +if you are not more careful in following my directions." Then he +charged the prince, as he valued his life, to take no heed of the +clamour of voices that would pursue him up the mountain, and handing +him a ball from the bag, which still seemed to be half full, he sent +him on his way. + +When Prince Perviz reached the foot of the mountain he jumped from his +horse, and paused for a moment to recall the instructions the dervish +had given him. Then he strode boldly on, but had scarcely gone five or +six paces when he was startled by a man's voice that seemed close to +his ear, exclaiming: "Stop, rash fellow, and let me punish your +audacity." This outrage entirely put the dervish's advice out of the +prince's head. He drew his sword, and turned to avenge himself, but +almost before he had realised that there was nobody there, he and his +horse were two black stones. + +Not a morning had passed since Prince Perviz had ridden away without +Princess Parizade telling her beads, and at night she even hung them +round her neck, so that if she woke she could assure herself at once of +her brother's safety. She was in the very act of moving them through +her fingers at the moment that the prince fell a victim to his +impatience, and her heart sank when the first pearl remained fixed in +its place. However she had long made up her mind what she would do in +such a case, and the following morning the princess, disguised as a +man, set out for the mountain. + +As she had been accustomed to riding from her childhood, she managed to +travel as many miles daily as her brothers had done, and it was, as +before, on the twentieth day that she arrived at the place where the +dervish was sitting. "Good dervish," she said politely, "will you +allow me to rest by you for a few moments, and perhaps you will be so +kind as to tell me if you have ever heard of a Talking Bird, a Singing +Tree, and some Golden Water that are to be found somewhere near this?" + +"Madam," replied the dervish, "for in spite of your manly dress your +voice betrays you, I shall be proud to serve you in any way I can. But +may I ask the purpose of your question?" + +"Good dervish," answered the princess, "I have heard such glowing +descriptions of these three things, that I cannot rest till I possess +them." + +"Madam," said the dervish, "they are far more beautiful than any +description, but you seem ignorant of all the difficulties that stand +in your way, or you would hardly have undertaken such an adventure. +Give it up, I pray you, and return home, and do not ask me to help you +to a cruel death." + +"Holy father," answered the princess, "I come from far, and I should be +in despair if I turned back without having attained my object. You +have spoken of difficulties; tell me, I entreat you, what they are, so +that I may know if I can overcome them, or see if they are beyond my +strength." + +So the dervish repeated his tale, and dwelt more firmly than before on +the clamour of the voices, the horrors of the black stones, which were +once living men, and the difficulties of climbing the mountain; and +pointed out that the chief means of success was never to look behind +till you had the cage in your grasp. + +"As far as I can see," said the princess, "the first thing is not to +mind the tumult of the voices that follow you till you reach the cage, +and then never to look behind. As to this, I think I have enough +self-control to look straight before me; but as it is quite possible +that I might be frightened by the voices, as even the boldest men have +been, I will stop up my ears with cotton, so that, let them make as +much noise as they like, I shall hear nothing." + +"Madam," cried the dervish, "out of all the number who have asked me +the way to the mountain, you are the first who has ever suggested such +a means of escaping the danger! It is possible that you may succeed, +but all the same, the risk is great." + +"Good dervish," answered the princess, "I feel in my heart that I shall +succeed, and it only remains for me to ask you the way I am to go." + +Then the dervish said that it was useless to say more, and he gave her +the ball, which she flung before her. + +The first thing the princess did on arriving at the mountain was to +stop her ears with cotton, and then, making up her mind which was the +best way to go, she began her ascent. In spite of the cotton, some +echoes of the voices reached her ears, but not so as to trouble her. +Indeed, though they grew louder and more insulting the higher she +climbed, the princess only laughed, and said to herself that she +certainly would not let a few rough words stand between her and the +goal. At last she perceived in the distance the cage and the bird, +whose voice joined itself in tones of thunder to those of the rest: +"Return, return! never dare to come near me." + +At the sight of the bird, the princess hastened her steps, and without +vexing herself at the noise which by this time had grown deafening, she +walked straight up to the cage, and seizing it, she said: "Now, my +bird, I have got you, and I shall take good care that you do not +escape." As she spoke she took the cotton from her ears, for it was +needed no longer. + +"Brave lady," answered the bird, "do not blame me for having joined my +voice to those who did their best to preserve my freedom. Although +confined in a cage, I was content with my lot, but if I must become a +slave, I could not wish for a nobler mistress than one who has shown so +much constancy, and from this moment I swear to serve you faithfully. +Some day you will put me to the proof, for I know who you are better +than you do yourself. Meanwhile, tell me what I can do, and I will +obey you." + +"Bird," replied the princess, who was filled with a joy that seemed +strange to herself when she thought that the bird had cost her the +lives of both her brothers, "bird, let me first thank you for your good +will, and then let me ask you where the Golden Water is to be found." + +The bird described the place, which was not far distant, and the +princess filled a small silver flask that she had brought with her for +the purpose. She then returned to the cage, and said: "Bird, there is +still something else, where shall I find the Singing Tree?" + +"Behind you, in that wood," replied the bird, and the princess wandered +through the wood, till a sound of the sweetest voices told her she had +found what she sought. But the tree was tall and strong, and it was +hopeless to think of uprooting it. + +"You need not do that," said the bird, when she had returned to ask +counsel. "Break off a twig, and plant it in your garden, and it will +take root, and grow into a magnificent tree." + +When the Princess Parizade held in her hands the three wonders promised +her by the old woman, she said to the bird: "All that is not enough. +It was owing to you that my brothers became black stones. I cannot +tell them from the mass of others, but you must know, and point them +out to me, I beg you, for I wish to carry them away." + +For some reason that the princess could not guess these words seemed to +displease the bird, and he did not answer. The princess waited a +moment, and then continued in severe tones, "Have you forgotten that +you yourself said that you are my slave to do my bidding, and also that +your life is in my power?" + +"No, I have not forgotten," replied the bird, "but what you ask is very +difficult. However, I will do my best. If you look round," he went +on, "you will see a pitcher standing near. Take it, and, as you go +down the mountain, scatter a little of the water it contains over every +black stone and you will soon find your two brothers." + +Princess Parizade took the pitcher, and, carrying with her besides the +cage the twig and the flask, returned down the mountain side. At every +black stone she stopped and sprinkled it with water, and as the water +touched it the stone instantly became a man. When she suddenly saw her +brothers before her her delight was mixed with astonishment. + +"Why, what are you doing here?" she cried. + +"We have been asleep," they said. + +"Yes," returned the princess, "but without me your sleep would probably +have lasted till the day of judgment. Have you forgotten that you came +here in search of the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden +Water, and the black stones that were heaped up along the road? Look +round and see if there is one left. These gentlemen, and yourselves, +and all your horses were changed into these stones, and I have +delivered you by sprinkling you with the water from this pitcher. As I +could not return home without you, even though I had gained the prizes +on which I had set my heart, I forced the Talking Bird to tell me how +to break the spell." + +On hearing these words Prince Bahman and Prince Perviz understood all +they owed their sister, and the knights who stood by declared +themselves her slaves and ready to carry out her wishes. But the +princess, while thanking them for their politeness, explained that she +wished for no company but that of her brothers, and that the rest were +free to go where they would. + +So saying the princess mounted her horse, and, declining to allow even +Prince Bahman to carry the cage with the Talking Bird, she entrusted +him with the branch of the Singing Tree, while Prince Perviz took care +of the flask containing the Golden Water. + +Then they rode away, followed by the knights and gentlemen, who begged +to be permitted to escort them. + +It had been the intention of the party to stop and tell their +adventures to the dervish, but they found to their sorrow that he was +dead, whether from old age, or whether from the feeling that his task +was done, they never knew. + +As they continued their road their numbers grew daily smaller, for the +knights turned off one by one to their own homes, and only the brothers +and sister finally drew up at the gate of the palace. + +The princess carried the cage straight into the garden, and, as soon as +the bird began to sing, nightingales, larks, thrushes, finches, and all +sorts of other birds mingled their voices in chorus. The branch she +planted in a corner near the house, and in a few days it had grown into +a great tree. As for the Golden Water it was poured into a great +marble basin specially prepared for it, and it swelled and bubbled and +then shot up into the air in a fountain twenty feet high. + +The fame of these wonders soon spread abroad, and people came from far +and near to see and admire. + +After a few days Prince Bahman and Prince Perviz fell back into their +ordinary way of life, and passed most of their time hunting. One day +it happened that the Sultan of Persia was also hunting in the same +direction, and, not wishing to interfere with his sport, the young men, +on hearing the noise of the hunt approaching, prepared to retire, but, +as luck would have it, they turned into the very path down which the +Sultan was coming. They threw themselves from their horses and +prostrated themselves to the earth, but the Sultan was curious to see +their faces, and commanded them to rise. + +The princes stood up respectfully, but quite at their ease, and the +Sultan looked at them for a few moments without speaking, then he asked +who they were and where they lived. + +"Sire," replied Prince Bahman, "we are sons of your Highness's late +intendant of the gardens, and we live in a house that he built a short +time before his death, waiting till an occasion should offer itself to +serve your Highness." + +"You seem fond of hunting," answered the Sultan. + +"Sire," replied Prince Bahman, "it is our usual exercise, and one that +should be neglected by no man who expects to comply with the ancient +customs of the kingdom and bear arms." + +The Sultan was delighted with this remark, and said at once, "In that +case I shall take great pleasure in watching you. Come, choose what +sort of beasts you would like to hunt." + +The princes jumped on their horses and followed the Sultan at a little +distance. They had not gone very far before they saw a number of wild +animals appear at once, and Prince Bahman started to give chase to a +lion and Prince Perviz to a bear. Both used their javelins with such +skill that, directly they arrived within striking range, the lion and +the bear fell, pierced through and through. Then Prince Perviz pursued +a lion and Prince Bahman a bear, and in a very few minutes they, too, +lay dead. As they were making ready for a third assault the Sultan +interfered, and, sending one of his officials to summon them, he said +smiling, "If I let you go on, there will soon be no beasts left to +hunt. Besides, your courage and manners have so won my heart that I +will not have you expose yourselves to further danger. I am convinced +that some day or other I shall find you useful as well as agreeable." + +He then gave them a warm invitation to stay with him altogether, but +with many thanks for the honour done them, they begged to be excused, +and to be suffered to remain at home. + +The Sultan who was not accustomed to see his offers rejected inquired +their reasons, and Prince Bahman explained that they did not wish to +leave their sister, and were accustomed to do nothing without +consulting all three together. + +"Ask her advice, then," replied the Sultan, "and to-morrow come and +hunt with me, and give me your answer." + +The two princes returned home, but their adventure made so little +impression on them that they quite forgot to speak to their sister on +the subject. The next morning when they went to hunt they met the +Sultan in the same place, and he inquired what advice their sister had +given. The young men looked at each other and blushed. At last Prince +Bahman said, "Sire, we must throw ourselves on your Highness's mercy. +Neither my brother nor myself remembered anything about it." + +"Then be sure you do not forget to-day," answered the Sultan, "and +bring me back your reply to-morrow." + +When, however, the same thing happened a second time, they feared that +the Sultan might be angry with them for their carelessness. But he +took it in good part, and, drawing three little golden balls from his +purse, he held them out to Prince Bahman, saying, "Put these in your +bosom and you will not forget a third time, for when you remove your +girdle to-night the noise they will make in falling will remind you of +my wishes." + +It all happened as the Sultan had foreseen, and the two brothers +appeared in their sister's apartments just as she was in the act of +stepping into bed, and told their tale. + +The Princess Parizade was much disturbed at the news, and did not +conceal her feelings. "Your meeting with the Sultan is very honourable +to you," she said, "and will, I dare say, be of service to you, but it +places me in a very awkward position. It is on my account, I know, +that you have resisted the Sultan's wishes, and I am very grateful to +you for it. But kings do not like to have their offers refused, and in +time he would bear a grudge against you, which would render me very +unhappy. Consult the Talking Bird, who is wise and far-seeing, and let +me hear what he says." + +So the bird was sent for and the case laid before him. + +"The princes must on no account refuse the Sultan's proposal," said he, +"and they must even invite him to come and see your house." + +"But, bird," objected the princess, "you know how dearly we love each +other; will not all this spoil our friendship?" + +"Not at all," replied the bird, "it will make it all the closer." + +"Then the Sultan will have to see me," said the princess. + +The bird answered that it was necessary that he should see her, and +everything would turn out for the best. + +The following morning, when the Sultan inquired if they had spoken to +their sister and what advice she had given them, Prince Bahman replied +that they were ready to agree to his Highness's wishes, and that their +sister had reproved them for their hesitation about the matter. The +Sultan received their excuses with great kindness, and told them that +he was sure they would be equally faithful to him, and kept them by his +side for the rest of the day, to the vexation of the grand-vizir and +the rest of the court. + +When the procession entered in this order the gates of the capital, the +eyes of the people who crowded the streets were fixed on the two young +men, strangers to every one. + +"Oh, if only the Sultan had had sons like that!" they murmured, "they +look so distinguished and are about the same age that his sons would +have been!" + +The Sultan commanded that splendid apartments should be prepared for +the two brothers, and even insisted that they should sit at table with +him. During dinner he led the conversation to various scientific +subjects, and also to history, of which he was especially fond, but +whatever topic they might be discussing he found that the views of the +young men were always worth listening to. "If they were my own sons," +he said to himself, "they could not be better educated!" and aloud he +complimented them on their learning and taste for knowledge. + +At the end of the evening the princes once more prostrated themselves +before the throne and asked leave to return home; and then, encouraged +by the gracious words of farewell uttered by the Sultan, Prince Bahman +said: "Sire, may we dare to take the liberty of asking whether you +would do us and our sister the honour of resting for a few minutes at +our house the first time the hunt passes that way?" + +"With the utmost pleasure," replied the Sultan; "and as I am all +impatience to see the sister of such accomplished young men you may +expect me the day after to-morrow." + +The princess was of course most anxious to entertain the Sultan in a +fitting way, but as she had no experience in court customs she ran to +the Talking Bird, and begged he would advise her as to what dishes +should be served. + +"My dear mistress," replied the bird, "your cooks are very good and you +can safely leave all to them, except that you must be careful to have a +dish of cucumbers, stuffed with pearl sauce, served with the first +course." + +"Cucumbers stuffed with pearls!" exclaimed the princess. "Why, bird, +who ever heard of such a dish? The Sultan will expect a dinner he can +eat, and not one he can only admire! Besides, if I were to use all the +pearls I possess, they would not be half enough." + +"Mistress," replied the bird, "do what I tell you and nothing but good +will come of it. And as to the pearls, if you go at dawn to-morrow and +dig at the foot of the first tree in the park, on the right hand, you +will find as many as you want." + +The princess had faith in the bird, who generally proved to be right, +and taking the gardener with her early next morning followed out his +directions carefully. After digging for some time they came upon a +golden box fastened with little clasps. + +These were easily undone, and the box was found to be full of pearls, +not very large ones, but well-shaped and of a good colour. So leaving +the gardener to fill up the hole he had made under the tree, the +princess took up the box and returned to the house. + +The two princes had seen her go out, and had wondered what could have +made her rise so early. Full of curiosity they got up and dressed, and +met their sister as she was returning with the box under her arm. + +"What have you been doing?" they asked, "and did the gardener come to +tell you he had found a treasure?" + +"On the contrary," replied the princess, "it is I who have found one," +and opening the box she showed her astonished brothers the pearls +inside. Then, on the way back to the palace, she told them of her +consultation with the bird, and the advice it had given her. All three +tried to guess the meaning of the singular counsel, but they were +forced at last to admit the explanation was beyond them, and they must +be content blindly to obey. + +The first thing the princess did on entering the palace was to send for +the head cook and to order the repast for the Sultan When she had +finished she suddenly added, "Besides the dishes I have mentioned there +is one that you must prepare expressly for the Sultan, and that no one +must touch but yourself. It consists of a stuffed cucumber, and the +stuffing is to be made of these pearls." + +The head cook, who had never in all his experience heard of such a +dish, stepped back in amazement. + +"You think I am mad," answered the princess, who perceived what was in +his mind. "But I know quite well what I am doing. Go, and do your +best, and take the pearls with you." + +The next morning the princes started for the forest, and were soon +joined by the Sultan. The hunt began and continued till mid-day, when +the heat became so great that they were obliged to leave off. Then, as +arranged, they turned their horses' heads towards the palace, and while +Prince Bahman remained by the side of the Sultan, Prince Perviz rode on +to warn his sister of their approach. + +The moment his Highness entered the courtyard, the princess flung +herself at his feet, but he bent and raised her, and gazed at her for +some time, struck with her grace and beauty, and also with the +indefinable air of courts that seemed to hang round this country girl. +"They are all worthy one of the other," he said to himself, "and I am +not surprised that they think so much of her opinions. I must know +more of them." + +By this time the princess had recovered from the first embarrassment of +meeting, and proceeded to make her speech of welcome. + +"This is only a simple country house, sire," she said, "suitable to +people like ourselves, who live a quiet life. It cannot compare with +the great city mansions, much less, of course, with the smallest of the +Sultan's palaces." + +"I cannot quite agree with you," he replied; "even the little that I +have seen I admire greatly, and I will reserve my judgment until you +have shown me the whole." + +The princess then led the way from room to room, and the Sultan +examined everything carefully. "Do you call this a simple country +house?" he said at last. "Why, if every country house was like this, +the towns would soon be deserted. I am no longer astonished that you +do not wish to leave it. Let us go into the gardens, which I am sure +are no less beautiful than the rooms." + +A small door opened straight into the garden, and the first object that +met the Sultan's eyes was the Golden Water. + +"What lovely coloured water!" he exclaimed; "where is the spring, and +how do you make the fountain rise so high? I do not believe there is +anything like it in the world." He went forward to examine it, and +when he had satisfied his curiosity, the princess conducted him towards +the Singing Tree. + +As they drew near, the Sultan was startled by the sound of strange +voices, but could see nothing. "Where have you hidden your musicians?" +he asked the princess; "are they up in the air, or under the earth? +Surely the owners of such charming voices ought not to conceal +themselves!" + +"Sire," answered the princess, "the voices all come from the tree which +is straight in front of us; and if you will deign to advance a few +steps, you will see that they become clearer." + +The Sultan did as he was told, and was so wrapt in delight at what he +heard that he stood some time in silence. + +"Tell me, madam, I pray you," he said at last, "how this marvellous +tree came into your garden? It must have been brought from a great +distance, or else, fond as I am of all curiosities, I could not have +missed hearing of it! What is its name?" + +"The only name it has, sire," replied she, "is the Singing Tree, and it +is not a native of this country. Its history is mixed up with those of +the Golden Water and the Talking Bird, which you have not yet seen. If +your Highness wishes I will tell you the whole story, when you have +recovered from your fatigue." + +"Indeed, madam," returned he, "you show me so many wonders that it is +impossible to feel any fatigue. Let us go once more and look at the +Golden Water; and I am dying to see the Talking Bird." + +The Sultan could hardly tear himself away from the Golden Water, which +puzzled him more and more. "You say," he observed to the princess, +"that this water does not come from any spring, neither is brought by +pipes. All I understand is, that neither it nor the Singing Tree is a +native of this country." + +"It is as you say, sire," answered the princess, "and if you examine +the basin, you will see that it is all in one piece, and therefore the +water could not have been brought through it. What is more astonishing +is, that I only emptied a small flaskful into the basin, and it +increased to the quantity you now see." + +"Well, I will look at it no more to-day," said the Sultan. "Take me to +the Talking Bird." + +On approaching the house, the Sultan noticed a vast quantity of birds, +whose voices filled the air, and he inquired why they were so much more +numerous here than in any other part of the garden. + +"Sire," answered the princess, "do you see that cage hanging in one of +the windows of the saloon? that is the Talking Bird, whose voice you +can hear above them all, even above that of the nightingale. And the +birds crowd to this spot, to add their songs to his." + +The Sultan stepped through the window, but the bird took no notice, +continuing his song as before. + +"My slave," said the princess, "this is the Sultan; make him a pretty +speech." + +The bird stopped singing at once, and all the other birds stopped too. + +"The Sultan is welcome," he said. "I wish him long life and all +prosperity." + +"I thank you, good bird," answered the Sultan, seating himself before +the repast, which was spread at a table near the window, "and I am +enchanted to see in you the Sultan and King of the Birds." + +The Sultan, noticing that his favourite dish of cucumber was placed +before him, proceeded to help himself to it, and was amazed to and that +the stuffing was of pearls. "A novelty, indeed!" cried he, "but I do +not understand the reason of it; one cannot eat pearls!" + +"Sire," replied the bird, before either the princes or the princess +could speak, "surely your Highness cannot be so surprised at beholding +a cucumber stuffed with pearls, when you believed without any +difficulty that the Sultana had presented you, instead of children, +with a dog, a cat, and a log of wood." + +"I believed it," answered the Sultan, "because the women attending on +her told me so." + +"The women, sire," said the bird, "were the sisters of the Sultana, who +were devoured with jealousy at the honour you had done her, and in +order to revenge themselves invented this story. Have them examined, +and they will confess their crime. These are your children, who were +saved from death by the intendant of your gardens, and brought up by +him as if they were his own." + +Like a flash the truth came to the mind of the Sultan. "Bird," he +cried, "my heart tells me that what you say is true. My children," he +added, "let me embrace you, and embrace each other, not only as +brothers and sister, but as having in you the blood royal of Persia +which could flow in no nobler veins." + +When the first moments of emotion were over, the Sultan hastened to +finish his repast, and then turning to his children he exclaimed: +"To-day you have made acquaintance with your father. To-morrow I will +bring you the Sultana your mother. Be ready to receive her." + +The Sultan then mounted his horse and rode quickly back to the capital. +Without an instant's delay he sent for the grand-vizir, and ordered him +to seize and question the Sultana's sisters that very day. This was +done. They were confronted with each other and proved guilty, and were +executed in less than an hour. + +But the Sultan did not wait to hear that his orders had been carried +out before going on foot, followed by his whole court to the door of +the great mosque, and drawing the Sultana with his own hand out of the +narrow prison where she had spent so many years, "Madam," he cried, +embracing her with tears in his eyes, "I have come to ask your pardon +for the injustice I have done you, and to repair it as far as I may. I +have already begun by punishing the authors of this abominable crime, +and I hope you will forgive me when I introduce you to our children, +who are the most charming and accomplished creatures in the whole +world. Come with me, and take back your position and all the honour +that is due to you." + +This speech was delivered in the presence of a vast multitude of +people, who had gathered from all parts on the first hint of what was +happening, and the news was passed from mouth to mouth in a few seconds. + +Early next day the Sultan and Sultana, dressed in robes of state and +followed by all the court, set out for the country house of their +children. Here the Sultan presented them to the Sultana one by one, +and for some time there was nothing but embraces and tears and tender +words. Then they ate of the magnificent dinner which had been prepared +for them, and after they were all refreshed they went into the garden, +where the Sultan pointed out to his wife the Golden Water and the +Singing Tree. As to the Talking Bird, she had already made +acquaintance with him. + +In the evening they rode together back to the capital, the princes on +each side of their father, and the princess with her mother. Long +before they reached the gates the way was lined with people, and the +air filled with shouts of welcome, with which were mingled the songs of +the Talking Bird, sitting in its cage on the lap of the princess, and +of the birds who followed it. + +And in this manner they came back to their father's palace. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Arabian Nights Entertainments, by Andrew Lang. + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS *** + +***** This file should be named 128.txt or 128.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/128/ + +Produced by Christy Phillips and John Hamm. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + + +The Arabian Nights Entertainments, +Selected and Edited by Andrew Lang + +after the edition of +Longmans, Green and Co, 1918 (1898) + + + + + + +Preface + + +The stories in the Fairy Books have generally been such as old +women in country places tell to their grandchildren. Nobody knows +how old they are, or who told them first. The children of Ham, +Shem and Japhet may have listened to them in the Ark, on wet days. +Hector's little boy may have heard them in Troy Town, for it is +certain that Homer knew them, and that some of them were written +down in Egypt about the time of Moses. + +People in different countries tell them differently, but they +are always the same stories, really, whether among little Zulus, +at the Cape, or little Eskimo, near the North Pole. The changes +are only in matters of manners and customs; such as wearing clothes +or not, meeting lions who talk in the warm countries, or talking +bears in the cold countries. There are plenty of kings and queens +in the fairy tales, just because long ago there were plenty of kings +in the country. A gentleman who would be a squire now was a kind +of king in Scotland in very old times, and the same in other places. +These old stories, never forgotten, were taken down in writing in +different ages, but mostly in this century, in all sorts of languages. +These ancient stories are the contents of the Fairy books. + +Now "The Arabian Nights," some of which, but not nearly all, +are given in this volume, are only fairy tales of the East. +The people of Asia, Arabia, and Persia told them in their own way, +not for children, but for grown-up people. There were no novels then, +nor any printed books, of course; but there were people whose profession +it was to amuse men and women by telling tales. They dressed +the fairy stories up, and made the characters good Mahommedans, +living in Bagdad or India. The events were often supposed to +happen in the reign of the great Caliph, or ruler of the Faithful, +Haroun al Raschid, who lived in Bagdad in 786-808 A.D. The vizir +who accompanies the Caliph was also a real person of the great family +of the Barmecides. He was put to death by the Caliph in a very +cruel way, nobody ever knew why. The stories must have been told +in their present shape a good long while after the Caliph died, +when nobody knew very exactly what had really happened. At last +some storyteller thought of writing down the tales, and fixing +them into a kind of framework, as if they had all been narrated +to a cruel Sultan by his wife. Probably the tales were written +down about the time when Edward I. was fighting Robert Bruce. +But changes were made in them at different times, and a great deal +that is very dull and stupid was put in, and plenty of verses. +Neither the verses nor the dull pieces are given in this book. + +People in France and England knew almost nothing about "The +Arabian Nights" till the reigns of Queen Anne and George I., +when they were translated into French by Monsieur Galland. +Grown-up people were then very fond of fairy tales, and they thought +these Arab stories the best that they had ever read. They were +delighted with Ghouls (who lived among the tombs) and Geni, who seemed +to be a kind of ogres, and with Princesses who work magic spells, +and with Peris, who are Arab fairies. Sindbad had adventures which +perhaps came out of the Odyssey of Homer; in fact, all the East +had contributed its wonders, and sent them to Europe in one parcel. +Young men once made a noise at Monsieur Galland's windows in the dead +of night, and asked him to tell them one of his marvellous tales. +Nobody talked of anything but dervishes and vizirs, rocs and peris. +The stories were translated from French into all languages, +and only Bishop Atterbury complained that the tales were not likely +to be true, and had no moral. The bishop was presently banished +for being on the side of Prince Charlie's father, and had leisure +to repent of being so solemn. + +In this book "The Arabian Nights" are translated from the French version +of Monsieur Galland, who dropped out the poetry and a great deal of what +the Arabian authors thought funny, though it seems wearisome to us. +In this book the stories are shortened here and there, and omissions +are made of pieces only suitable for Arabs and old gentlemen. +The translations are by the writers of the tales in the Fairy Books, +and the pictures are by Mr. Ford. + +I can remember reading "The Arabian Nights" when I was six years old, +in dirty yellow old volumes of small type with no pictures, and I +hope children who read them with Mr. Ford's pictures will be as happy +as I was then in the company of Aladdin and Sindbad the Sailor. + + + +The Arabian Nights + + +In the chronicles of the ancient dynasty of the Sassanidae, +who reigned for about four hundred years, from Persia to the borders +of China, beyond the great river Ganges itself, we read the praises +of one of the kings of this race, who was said to be the best +monarch of his time. His subjects loved him, and his neighbors +feared him, and when he died he left his kingdom in a more prosperous +and powerful condition than any king had done before him. + +The two sons who survived him loved each other tenderly, and it was +a real grief to the elder, Schahriar, that the laws of the empire +forbade him to share his dominions with his brother Schahzeman. +Indeed, after ten years, during which this state of things had +not ceased to trouble him, Schahriar cut off the country of Great +Tartary from the Persian Empire and made his brother king. + +Now the Sultan Schahriar had a wife whom he loved more than all the world, +and his greatest happiness was to surround her with splendour, +and to give her the finest dresses and the most beautiful jewels. +It was therefore with the deepest shame and sorrow that he +accidentally discovered, after several years, that she had deceived +him completely, and her whole conduct turned out to have been so bad, +that he felt himself obliged to carry out the law of the land, +and order the grand-vizir to put her to death. The blow was so +heavy that his mind almost gave way, and he declared that he was +quite sure that at bottom all women were as wicked as the sultana, +if you could only find them out, and that the fewer the world +contained the better. So every evening he married a fresh wife +and had her strangled the following morning before the grand-vizir, +whose duty it was to provide these unhappy brides for the Sultan. +The poor man fulfilled his task with reluctance, but there was +no escape, and every day saw a girl married and a wife dead. + +This behaviour caused the greatest horror in the town, where nothing +was heard but cries and lamentations. In one house was a father weeping +for the loss of his daughter, in another perhaps a mother trembling +for the fate of her child; and instead of the blessings that had +formerly been heaped on the Sultan's head, the air was now full of curses. + +The grand-vizir himself was the father of two daughters, of whom +the elder was called Scheherazade, and the younger Dinarzade. +Dinarzade had no particular gifts to distinguish her from other girls, +but her sister was clever and courageous in the highest degree. +Her father had given her the best masters in philosophy, medicine, +history and the fine arts, and besides all this, her beauty excelled +that of any girl in the kingdom of Persia. + +One day, when the grand-vizir was talking to his eldest daughter, +who was his delight and pride, Scheherazade said to him, "Father, I +have a favour to ask of you. Will you grant it to me?" + +"I can refuse you nothing," replied he, "that is just and reasonable." + +"Then listen," said Scheherazade. "I am determined to stop this +barbarous practice of the Sultan's, and to deliver the girls +and mothers from the awful fate that hangs over them." + +"It would be an excellent thing to do," returned the grand-vizir, +"but how do you propose to accomplish it?" + +"My father," answered Scheherazade, "it is you who have to provide +the Sultan daily with a fresh wife, and I implore you, by all +the affection you bear me, to allow the honour to fall upon me." + +"Have you lost your senses?" cried the grand-vizir, starting back +in horror. "What has put such a thing into your head? You ought +to know by this time what it means to be the sultan's bride!" + +"Yes, my father, I know it well," replied she, "and I am not afraid +to think of it. If I fail, my death will be a glorious one, +and if I succeed I shall have done a great service to my country." + +"It is of no use," said the grand-vizir, "I shall never consent. +If the Sultan was to order me to plunge a dagger in your heart, +I should have to obey. What a task for a father! Ah, if you do not +fear death, fear at any rate the anguish you would cause me." + +"Once again, my father," said Scheherazade, "will you grant me +what I ask?" + +"What, are you still so obstinate?" exclaimed the grand-vizir. "Why +are you so resolved upon your own ruin?" + +But the maiden absolutely refused to attend to her father's words, +and at length, in despair, the grand-vizir was obliged to give way, +and went sadly to the palace to tell the Sultan that the following +evening he would bring him Scheherazade. + +The Sultan received this news with the greatest astonishment. + +"How have you made up your mind," he asked, "to sacrifice your own +daughter to me?" + +"Sire," answered the grand-vizir, "it is her own wish. Even the sad +fate that awaits her could not hold her back." + +"Let there be no mistake, vizir," said the Sultan. "Remember you +will have to take her life yourself. If you refuse, I swear +that your head shall pay forfeit." + +"Sire," returned the vizir. "Whatever the cost, I will obey you. +Though a father, I am also your subject." So the Sultan told the +grand-vizir he might bring his daughter as soon as he liked. + +The vizir took back this news to Scheherazade, who received +it as if it had been the most pleasant thing in the world. +She thanked her father warmly for yielding to her wishes, and, +seeing him still bowed down with grief, told him that she hoped +he would never repent having allowed her to marry the Sultan. +Then she went to prepare herself for the marriage, and begged +that her sister Dinarzade should be sent for to speak to her. + +When they were alone, Scheherazade addressed her thus: + +"My dear sister; I want your help in a very important affair. +My father is going to take me to the palace to celebrate my marriage +with the Sultan. When his Highness receives me, I shall beg him, +as a last favour, to let you sleep in our chamber, so that I may +have your company during the last night I am alive. If, as I hope, +he grants me my wish, be sure that you wake me an hour before +the dawn, and speak to me in these words: 'My sister, if you are +not asleep, I beg you, before the sun rises, to tell me one of your +charming stories.' Then I shall begin, and I hope by this means +to deliver the people from the terror that reigns over them." +Dinarzade replied that she would do with pleasure what her +sister wished. + +When the usual hour arrived the grand-vizir conducted Scheherazade +to the palace, and left her alone with the Sultan, who bade her raise +her veil and was amazed at her beauty. But seeing her eyes full +of tears, he asked what was the matter. "Sire," replied Scheherazade, +"I have a sister who loves me as tenderly as I love her. Grant me +the favour of allowing her to sleep this night in the same room, +as it is the last we shall be together." Schahriar consented +to Scheherazade's petition and Dinarzade was sent for. + +An hour before daybreak Dinarzade awoke, and exclaimed, as she +had promised, "My dear sister, if you are not asleep, tell me I +pray you, before the sun rises, one of your charming stories. +It is the last time that I shall have the pleasure of hearing you." + +Scheherazade did not answer her sister, but turned to the Sultan. +"Will your highness permit me to do as my sister asks?" said she. + +"Willingly," he answered. So Scheherazade began. + + + +The Story of the Merchant and the Genius + + +Sire, there was once upon a time a merchant who possessed great wealth, +in land and merchandise, as well as in ready money. He was obliged +from time to time to take journeys to arrange his affairs. +One day, having to go a long way from home, he mounted his horse, +taking with him a small wallet in which he had put a few biscuits +and dates, because he had to pass through the desert where no food +was to be got. He arrived without any mishap, and, having finished +his business, set out on his return. On the fourth day of his journey, +the heat of the sun being very great, he turned out of his road +to rest under some trees. He found at the foot of a large +walnut-tree a fountain of clear and running water. He dismounted, +fastened his horse to a branch of the tree, and sat by the fountain, +after having taken from his wallet some of his dates and biscuits. +When he had finished this frugal meal he washed his face and hands +in the fountain. + +When he was thus employed he saw an enormous genius, white with rage, +coming towards him, with a scimitar in his hand. + +"Arise," he cried in a terrible voice, "and let me kill you as you +have killed my son!" + +As he uttered these words he gave a frightful yell. The merchant, +quite as much terrified at the hideous face of the monster as at +his words, answered him tremblingly, "Alas, good sir, what can I +have done to you to deserve death?" + +"I shall kill you," repeated the genius, "as you have killed my son." + +"But," said the merchant, "how can I have killed your son? +I do not know him, and I have never even seen him." + +"When you arrived here did you not sit down on the ground?" +asked the genius, "and did you not take some dates from your wallet, +and whilst eating them did not you throw the stones about?" + +"Yes," said the merchant, "I certainly did so." + +"Then," said the genius, "I tell you you have killed my son, +for whilst you were throwing about the stones, my son passed by, +and one of them struck him in the eye and killed him. So I shall +kill you." + +"Ah, sir, forgive me!" cried the merchant. + +"I will have no mercy on you," answered the genius. + +"But I killed your son quite unintentionally, so I implore you +to spare my life." + +"No," said the genius, "I shall kill you as you killed my son," +and so saying, he seized the merchant by the arm, threw him on +the ground, and lifted his sabre to cut off his head. + +The merchant, protesting his innocence, bewailed his wife +and children, and tried pitifully to avert his fate. The genius, +with his raised scimitar, waited till he had finished, but was +not in the least touched. + +Scheherazade, at this point, seeing that it was day, and knowing +that the Sultan always rose very early to attend the council, +stopped speaking. + +"Indeed, sister," said Dinarzade, "this is a wonderful story." + +"The rest is still more wonderful," replied Scheherazade, "and you +would say so, if the sultan would allow me to live another day, +and would give me leave to tell it to you the next night." + +Schahriar, who had been listening to Scheherazade with pleasure, +said to himself, "I will wait till to-morrow; I can always have her +killed when I have heard the end of her story." + +All this time the grand-vizir was in a terrible state of anxiety. +But he was much delighted when he saw the Sultan enter the council-chamber +without giving the terrible command that he was expecting. + +The next morning, before the day broke, Dinarzade said to her sister, +"Dear sister, if you are awake I pray you to go on with your story." + +The Sultan did not wait for Scheherazade to ask his leave. +"Finish," said he, "the story of the genius and the merchant. +I am curious to hear the end." + +So Scheherazade went on with the story. This happened every morning. +The Sultana told a story, and the Sultan let her live to finish it. + +When the merchant saw that the genius was determined to cut off his head, +he said: "One word more, I entreat you. Grant me a little delay; +just a short time to go home and bid my wife and children farewell, +and to make my will. When I have done this I will come back here, +and you shall kill me." + +"But," said the genius, "if I grant you the delay you ask, I am +afraid that you will not come back." + +"I give you my word of honour," answered the merchant, "that I +will come back without fail." + +"How long do you require?" asked the genius. + +"I ask you for a year's grace," replied the merchant. "I promise +you that to-morrow twelvemonth, I shall be waiting under these trees +to give myself up to you." + +On this the genius left him near the fountain and disappeared. + +The merchant, having recovered from his fright, mounted his horse +and went on his road. + +When he arrived home his wife and children received him with the +greatest joy. But instead of embracing them he began to weep so +bitterly that they soon guessed that something terrible was the matter. + +"Tell us, I pray you," said his wife, "what has happened." + +"Alas!" answered her husband, "I have only a year to live." + +Then he told them what had passed between him and the genius, +and how he had given his word to return at the end of a year +to be killed. When they heard this sad news they were in despair, +and wept much. + +The next day the merchant began to settle his affairs, and first +of all to pay his debts. He gave presents to his friends, +and large alms to the poor. He set his slaves at liberty, +and provided for his wife and children. The year soon passed away, +and he was obliged to depart. When he tried to say good-bye he was +quite overcome with grief, and with difficulty tore himself away. +At length he reached the place where he had first seen the genius, +on the very day that he had appointed. He dismounted, and sat +down at the edge of the fountain, where he awaited the genius in +terrible suspense. + +Whilst he was thus waiting an old man leading a hind came towards him. +They greeted one another, and then the old man said to him, +"May I ask, brother, what brought you to this desert place, +where there are so many evil genii about? To see these beautiful +trees one would imagine it was inhabited, but it is a dangerous +place to stop long in." + +The merchant told the old man why he was obliged to come there. +He listened in astonishment. + +"This is a most marvellous affair. I should like to be a witness of +your interview with the genius." So saying he sat down by the merchant. + +While they were talking another old man came up, followed by two black +dogs. He greeted them, and asked what they were doing in this place. +The old man who was leading the hind told him the adventure of the +merchant and the genius. The second old man had not sooner heard +the story than he, too, decided to stay there to see what would happen. +He sat down by the others, and was talking, when a third old +man arrived. He asked why the merchant who was with them looked +so sad. They told him the story, and he also resolved to see what +would pass between the genius and the merchant, so waited with the rest. + +They soon saw in the distance a thick smoke, like a cloud of dust. +This smoke came nearer and nearer, and then, all at once, +it vanished, and they saw the genius, who, without speaking to them, +approached the merchant, sword in hand, and, taking him by the arm, +said, "Get up and let me kill you as you killed my son." + +The merchant and the three old men began to weep and groan. + +Then the old man leading the hind threw himself at the monster's +feet and said, "O Prince of the Genii, I beg of you to stay +your fury and to listen to me. I am going to tell you my story +and that of the hind I have with me, and if you find it more +marvellous than that of the merchant whom you are about to kill, +I hope that you will do away with a third part of his punishment?" + +The genius considered some time, and then he said, "Very well, +I agree to this." + + + +The Story of the First Old Man and of the Hind + + +I am now going to begin my story (said the old man), so please attend. + +This hind that you see with me is my wife. We have no children +of our own, therefore I adopted the son of a favorite slave, +and determined to make him my heir. + +My wife, however, took a great dislike to both mother and child, +which she concealed from me till too late. When my adopted +son was about ten years old I was obliged to go on a journey. +Before I went I entrusted to my wife's keeping both the mother +and child, and begged her to take care of them during my absence, +which lasted a whole year. During this time she studied magic +in order to carry out her wicked scheme. When she had learnt enough +she took my son into a distant place and changed him into a calf. +Then she gave him to my steward, and told him to look after a calf she +had bought. She also changed the slave into a cow, which she sent +to my steward. + +When I returned I inquired after my slave and the child. +"Your slave is dead," she said, "and as for your son, I have +not seen him for two months, and I do not know where he is." + +I was grieved to hear of my slave's death, but as my son had only +disappeared, I thought I should soon find him. Eight months, however, +passed, and still no tidings of him; then the feast of Bairam came. + +To celebrate it I ordered my steward to bring me a very fat cow to +sacrifice. He did so. The cow that he brought was my unfortunate slave. +I bound her, but just as I was about to kill her she began to low +most piteously, and I saw that her eyes were streaming with tears. +It seemed to me most extraordinary, and, feeling a movement of pity, +I ordered the steward to lead her away and bring another. My wife, +who was present, scoffed at my compassion, which made her malice +of no avail. "What are you doing?" she cried. "Kill this cow. +It is the best we have to sacrifice." + +To please her, I tried again, but again the animal's lows and tears +disarmed me. + +"Take her away," I said to the steward, "and kill her; I cannot." + +The steward killed her, but on skinning her found that she was +nothing but bones, although she appeared so fat. I was vexed. + +"Keep her for yourself," I said to the steward, "and if you have +a fat calf, bring that in her stead." + +In a short time he brought a very fat calf, which, although I did +not know it, was my son. It tried hard to break its cord and come +to me. It threw itself at my feet, with its head on the ground, +as if it wished to excite my pity, and to beg me not to take away +its life. + +I was even more surprised and touched at this action than I had +been at the tears of the cow. + +"Go," I said to the steward, "take back this calf, take great care +of it, and bring me another in its place instantly." + +As soon as my wife heard me speak this she at once cried out, +"What are you doing, husband? Do not sacrifice any calf but this." + +"Wife," I answered, "I will not sacrifice this calf," and in spite +of all her remonstrances, I remained firm. + +I had another calf killed; this one was led away. The next day +the steward asked to speak to me in private. + +"I have come," he said, "to tell you some news which I think you will +like to hear. I have a daughter who knows magic. Yesterday, when I +was leading back the calf which you refused to sacrifice, I noticed +that she smiled, and then directly afterwards began to cry. +I asked her why she did so." + +"Father," she answered, "this calf is the son of our master. +I smile with joy at seeing him still alive, and I weep to think +of his mother, who was sacrificed yesterday as a cow. These changes +have been wrought by our master's wife, who hated the mother +and son." + +"At these words, of Genius," continued the old man, "I leave you +to imagine my astonishment. I went immediately with the steward +to speak with his daughter myself. First of all I went to the stable +to see my son, and he replied in his dumb way to all my caresses. +When the steward's daughter came I asked her if she could change my +son back to his proper shape." + +"Yes, I can," she replied, "on two conditions. One is that you +will give him to me for a husband, and the other is that you will let +me punish the woman who changed him into a calf." + +"To the first condition," I answered, "I agree with all my heart, +and I will give you an ample dowry. To the second I also agree, +I only beg you to spare her life." + +"That I will do," she replied; "I will treat her as she treated +your son." + +Then she took a vessel of water and pronounced over it some words +I did not understand; then, on throwing the water over him, +he became immediately a young man once more. + +"My son, my dear son," I exclaimed, kissing him in a transport of joy. +"This kind maiden has rescued you from a terrible enchantment, +and I am sure that out of gratitude you will marry her." + +He consented joyfully, but before they were married, the young girl +changed my wife into a hind, and it is she whom you see before you. +I wished her to have this form rather than a stranger one, so that we +could see her in the family without repugnance. + +Since then my son has become a widower and has gone travelling. +I am now going in search of him, and not wishing to confide my wife +to the care of other people, I am taking her with me. Is this not +a most marvellous tale? + +"It is indeed," said the genius, "and because of it I grant to you +the third part of the punishment of this merchant." + +When the first old man had finished his story, the second, +who was leading the two black dogs, said to the genius, "I am +going to tell you what happened to me, and I am sure that you +will find my story even more astonishing than the one to which you +have just been listening. But when I have related it, will you +grant me also the third part of the merchant's punishment?" + +"Yes," replied the genius, "provided that your story surpasses +that of the hind." + +With this agreement the second old man began in this way. + + + +The Story of the Second Old Man, and of the Two Black Dogs + + +Great prince of the genii, you must know that we are three brothers-- +these two black dogs and myself. Our father died, leaving us +each a thousand sequins. With this sum we all three took up +the same profession, and became merchants. A short time after we +had opened our shops, my eldest brother, one of these two dogs, +resolved to travel in foreign countries for the sake of merchandise. +With this intention he sold all he had and bought merchandise suitable +to the voyages he was about to make. He set out, and was away +a whole year. At the end of this time a beggar came to my shop. +"Good-day," I said. "Good-day," he answered; "is it possible that +you do not recognise me?" Then I looked at him closely and saw he +was my brother. I made him come into my house, and asked him how he +had fared in his enterprise. + +"Do not question me," he replied, "see me, you see all I have. +It would but renew my trouble to tell of all the misfortunes that +have befallen me in a year, and have brought me to this state." + +I shut up my shop, paid him every attention, taking him to the bath, +giving him my most beautiful robes. I examined my accounts, and found +that I had doubled my capital--that is, that I now possessed two +thousand sequins. I gave my brother half, saying: "Now, brother, +you can forget your losses." He accepted them with joy, and we +lived together as we had before. + +Some time afterwards my second brother wished also to sell his business +and travel. My eldest brother and I did all we could to dissuade him, +but it was of no use. He joined a caravan and set out. He came +back at the end of a year in the same state as his elder brother. +I took care of him, and as I had a thousand sequins to spare I gave +them to him, and he re-opened his shop. + +One day, my two brothers came to me to propose that we should make +a journey and trade. At first I refused to go. "You travelled," +I said, "and what did you gain?" But they came to me repeatedly, +and after having held out for five years I at last gave way. +But when they had made their preparation, and they began to buy +the merchandise we needed, they found they had spent every piece +of the thousand sequins I had given them. I did not reproach them. +I divided my six thousand sequins with them, giving a thousand to each +and keeping one for myself, and the other three I buried in a corner +of my house. We bought merchandise, loaded a vessel with it, and set +forth with a favorable wind. + +After two months' sailing we arrived at a seaport, where we +disembarked and did a great trade. Then we bought the merchandise +of the country, and were just going to sail once more, when I was +stopped on the shore by a beautiful though poorly dressed woman. +She came up to me, kissed my hand, and implored me to marry her, +and take her on board. At first I refused, but she begged so hard +and promised to be such a good wife to me, that at last I consented. +I got her some beautiful dresses, and after having married her, +we embarked and set sail. During the voyage, I discovered so many +good qualities in my wife that I began to love her more and more. +But my brothers began to be jealous of my prosperity, and set to work +to plot against my life. One night when we were sleeping they threw +my wife and myself into the sea. My wife, however, was a fairy, +and so she did not let me drown, but transported me to an island. +When the day dawned, she said to me, + +"When I saw you on the sea-shore I took a great fancy to you, +and wished to try your good nature, so I presented myself in the +disguise you saw. Now I have rewarded you by saving your life. +But I am very angry with your brothers, and I shall not rest till I +have taken their lives." + +I thanked the fairy for all that she had done for me, but I begged +her not to kill my brothers. + +I appeased her wrath, and in a moment she transported me from +the island where we were to the roof of my house, and she +disappeared a moment afterwards. I went down, and opened the doors, +and dug up the three thousand sequins which I had buried. I went +to the place where my shop was, opened it, and received from my +fellow-merchants congratulations on my return. When I went home, +I saw two black dogs who came to meet me with sorrowful faces. +I was much astonished, but the fairy who reappeared said to me, + +"Do not be surprised to see these dogs; they are your two brothers. +I have condemned them to remain for ten years in these shapes." +Then having told me where I could hear news of her, she vanished. + +The ten years are nearly passed, and I am on the road to find her. +As in passing I met this merchant and the old man with the hind, +I stayed with them. + +This is my history, O prince of genii! Do you not think it +is a most marvellous one? + +"Yes, indeed," replied the genius, "and I will give up to you +the third of the merchant's punishment." + +Then the third old man made the genius the same request as the +other two had done, and the genius promised him the last third +of the merchant's punishment if his story surpassed both the others. + +So he told his story to the genius, but I cannot tell you what it was, +as I do not know. + +But I do know that it was even more marvellous than either of the others, +so that the genius was astonished, and said to the third old man, +"I will give up to you the third part of the merchant's punishment. +He ought to thank all three of you for having interested yourselves +in his favour. But for you, he would be here no longer." + +So saying, he disappeared, to the great joy of the company. +The merchant did not fail to thank his friends, and then each went +on his way. The merchant returned to his wife and children, +and passed the rest of his days happily with them. + +"But, sire," added Scheherazade, "however beautiful are the stories I +have just told you, they cannot compare with the story of the Fisherman." + + + +The Story of the Fisherman + + +Sire, there was once upon a time a fisherman so old and so poor that +he could scarcely manage to support his wife and three children. +He went every day to fish very early, and each day he made a rule not +to throw his nets more than four times. He started out one morning +by moonlight and came to the sea-shore. He undressed and threw his nets, +and as he was drawing them towards the bank he felt a great weight. +He though he had caught a large fish, and he felt very pleased. +But a moment afterwards, seeing that instead of a fish he only had in +his nets the carcase of an ass, he was much disappointed. + +Vexed with having such a bad haul, when he had mended his nets, +which the carcase of the ass had broken in several places, he threw +them a second time. In drawing them in he again felt a great weight, +so that he thought they were full of fish. But he only found a large +basket full of rubbish. He was much annoyed. + +"O Fortune," he cried, "do not trifle thus with me, a poor fisherman, +who can hardly support his family!" + +So saying, he threw away the rubbish, and after having washed his +nets clean of the dirt, he threw them for the third time. But he +only drew in stones, shells, and mud. He was almost in despair. + +Then he threw his nets for the fourth time. When he thought he had +a fish he drew them in with a great deal of trouble. There was no +fish however, but he found a yellow pot, which by its weight seemed +full of something, and he noticed that it was fastened and sealed +with lead, with the impression of a seal. He was delighted. +"I will sell it to the founder," he said; "with the money I shall +get for it I shall buy a measure of wheat." + +He examined the jar on all sides; he shook it to see if it would rattle. +But he heard nothing, and so, judging from the impression of the seal +and the lid, he thought there must be something precious inside. +To find out, he took his knife, and with a little trouble he opened it. +He turned it upside down, but nothing came out, which surprised +him very much. He set it in front of him, and whilst he was +looking at it attentively, such a thick smoke came out that he +had to step back a pace or two. This smoke rose up to the clouds, +and stretching over the sea and the shore, formed a thick mist, +which caused the fisherman much astonishment. When all the smoke +was out of the jar it gathered itself together, and became a thick +mass in which appeared a genius, twice as large as the largest giant. +When he saw such a terrible-looking monster, the fisherman would +like to have run away, but he trembled so with fright that he could +not move a step. + +"Great king of the genii," cried the monster, "I will never again +disobey you!" + +At these words the fisherman took courage. + +"What is this you are saying, great genius? Tell me your history +and how you came to be shut up in that vase." + +At this, the genius looked at the fisherman haughtily. "Speak to me +more civilly," he said, "before I kill you." + +"Alas! why should you kill me?" cried the fisherman. "I have just +freed you; have you already forgotten that?" + +"No," answered the genius; "but that will not prevent me from +killing you; and I am only going to grant you one favour, +and that is to choose the manner of your death." + +"But what have I done to you?" asked the fisherman. + +"I cannot treat you in any other way," said the genius, "and if you +would know why, listen to my story. + +"I rebelled against the king of the genii. To punish me, he shut +me up in this vase of copper, and he put on the leaden cover +his seal, which is enchantment enough to prevent my coming out. +Then he had the vase thrown into the sea. During the first period +of my captivity I vowed that if anyone should free me before a hundred +years were passed, I would make him rich even after his death. +But that century passed, and no one freed me. In the second century I +vowed that I would give all the treasures in the world to my deliverer; +but he never came. + +"In the third, I promised to make him a king, to be always near him, +and to grant him three wishes every day; but that century passed +away as the other two had done, and I remained in the same plight. +At last I grew angry at being captive for so long, and I vowed +that if anyone would release me I would kill him at once, +and would only allow him to choose in what manner he should die. +So you see, as you have freed me to-day, choose in what way you +will die." + +The fisherman was very unhappy. "What an unlucky man I am to have +freed you! I implore you to spare my life." + +"I have told you," said the genius, "that it is impossible. +Choose quickly; you are wasting time." + +The fisherman began to devise a plot. + +"Since I must die," he said, "before I choose the manner of my death, +I conjure you on your honour to tell me if you really were in +that vase?" + +"Yes, I was" answered the genius. + +"I really cannot believe it," said the fisherman. "That vase could +not contain one of your feet even, and how could your whole body +go in? I cannot believe it unless I see you do the thing." + +Then the genius began to change himself into smoke, which, as before, +spread over the sea and the shore, and which, then collecting +itself together, began to go back into the vase slowly and evenly +till there was nothing left outside. Then a voice came from the +vase which said to the fisherman, "Well, unbelieving fisherman, +here I am in the vase; do you believe me now?" + +The fisherman instead of answering took the lid of lead and shut +it down quickly on the vase. + +"Now, O genius," he cried, "ask pardon of me, and choose by what death +you will die! But no, it will be better if I throw you into the sea +whence I drew you out, and I will build a house on the shore to warn +fishermen who come to cast their nets here, against fishing up such +a wicked genius as you are, who vows to kill the man who frees you." + +At these words the genius did all he could to get out, but he +could not, because of the enchantment of the lid. + +Then he tried to get out by cunning. + +"If you will take off the cover," he said, "I will repay you." + +"No," answered the fisherman, "if I trust myself to you I +am afraid you will treat me as a certain Greek king treated +the physician Douban. Listen, and I will tell you." + + + +The Story of the Greek King and the Physician Douban + + +In the country of Zouman, in Persia, there lived a Greek king. +This king was a leper, and all his doctors had been unable to cure him, +when a very clever physician came to his court. + +He was very learned in all languages, and knew a great deal about +herbs and medicines. + +As soon as he was told of the king's illness he put on his best +robe and presented himself before the king. "Sire," said he, +"I know that no physician has been able to cure your majesty, +but if you will follow my instructions, I will promise to cure you +without any medicines or outward application." + +The king listened to this proposal. + +"If you are clever enough to do this," he said, "I promise to make +you and your descendants rich for ever." + +The physician went to his house and made a polo club, the handle +of which he hollowed out, and put in it the drug he wished to use. +Then he made a ball, and with these things he went the next day to +the king. + +He told him that he wished him to play at polo. Accordingly the +king mounted his horse and went into the place where he played. +There the physician approached him with the bat he had made, saying, +"Take this, sire, and strike the ball till you feel your hand and whole +body in a glow. When the remedy that is in the handle of the club +is warmed by your hand it will penetrate throughout your body. +The you must return to your palace, bathe, and go to sleep, +and when you awake to-morrow morning you will be cured." + +The king took the club and urged his horse after the ball which he +had thrown. He struck it, and then it was hit back by the courtiers +who were playing with him. When he felt very hot he stopped playing, +and went back to the palace, went into the bath, and did all that +the physician had said. The next day when he arose he found, +to his great joy and astonishment, that he was completely cured. +When he entered his audience-chamber all his courtiers, who were +eager to see if the wonderful cure had been effected, were overwhelmed +with joy. + +The physician Douban entered the hall and bowed low to the ground. +The king, seeing him, called him, made him sit by his side, and showed +him every mark of honour. + +That evening he gave him a long and rich robe of state, and presented +him with two thousand sequins. The following day he continued +to load him with favours. + +Now the king had a grand-vizir who was avaricious, and envious, +and a very bad man. He grew extremely jealous of the physician, +and determined to bring about his ruin. + +In order to do this he asked to speak in private with the king, +saying that he had a most important communication to make. + +"What is it?" asked the king. + +"Sire," answered the grand-vizir, "it is most dangerous for a monarch +to confide in a man whose faithfulness is not proved, You do not know +that this physician is not a traitor come here to assassinate you." + +"I am sure," said the king, "that this man is the most faithful and +virtuous of men. If he wished to take my life, why did he cure me? +Cease to speak against him. I see what it is, you are jealous of him; +but do not think that I can be turned against him. I remember well +what a vizir said to King Sindbad, his master, to prevent him from +putting the prince, his son, to death." + +What the Greek king said excited the vizir's curiousity, and he +said to him, "Sire, I beg your majesty to have the condescension +to tell me what the vizir said to King Sindbad." + +"This vizir," he replied, "told King Sindbad that one ought not +believe everything that a mother-in-law says, and told him this story." + + + +The Story of the Husband and the Parrot + + +A good man had a beautiful wife, whom he loved passionately, and never +left if possible. One day, when he was obliged by important business +to go away from her, he went to a place where all kinds of birds +are sold and bought a parrot. This parrot not only spoke well, +but it had the gift of telling all that had been done before it. +He brought it home in a cage, and asked his wife to put it in her room, +and take great care of it while he was away. Then he departed. +On his return he asked the parrot what had happened during his absence, +and the parrot told him some things which made him scold his wife. + +She thought that one of her slaves must have been telling tales of her, +but they told her it was the parrot, and she resolved to revenge +herself on him. + +When her husband next went away for one day, she told on slave +to turn under the bird's cage a hand-mill; another to throw water +down from above the cage, and a third to take a mirror and turn it +in front of its eyes, from left to right by the light of a candle. +The slaves did this for part of the night, and did it very well. + +The next day when the husband came back he asked the parrot what +he had seen. The bird replied, "My good master, the lightning, +thunder and rain disturbed me so much all night long, that I cannot +tell you what I have suffered." + +The husband, who knew that it had neither rained nor thundered in +the night, was convinced that the parrot was not speaking the truth, +so he took him out of the cage and threw him so roughly on the +ground that he killed him. Nevertheless he was sorry afterwards, +for he found that the parrot had spoken the truth. + +"When the Greek king," said the fisherman to the genius, +"had finished the story of the parrot, he added to the vizir, +"And so, vizir, I shall not listen to you, and I shall take +care of the physician, in case I repent as the husband did +when he had killed the parrot." But the vizir was determined. +"Sire," he replied, "the death of the parrot was nothing. +But when it is a question of the life of a king it is better to +sacrifice the innocent than save the guilty. It is no uncertain +thing, however. The physician, Douban, wishes to assassinate you. +My zeal prompts me to disclose this to your Majesty. If I am wrong, +I deserve to be punished as a vizir was once punished." "What had +the vizir done," said the Greek king, "to merit the punishment?" +"I will tell your Majesty, if you will do me the honour to listen," +answered the vizir." + + + +The Story of the Vizir Who Was Punished + + +There was once upon a time a king who had a son who was very fond +of hunting. He often allowed him to indulge in this pastime, +but he had ordered his grand-vizir always to go with him, +and never to lose sight of him. One day the huntsman roused a stag, +and the prince, thinking that the vizir was behind, gave chase, +and rode so hard that he found himself alone. He stopped, +and having lost sight of it, he turned to rejoin the vizir, +who had not been careful enough to follow him. But he lost his way. +Whilst he was trying to find it, he saw on the side of the road +a beautiful lady who was crying bitterly. He drew his horse's rein, +and asked her who she was and what she was doing in this place, +and if she needed help. "I am the daughter of an Indian king," +she answered, "and whilst riding in the country I fell asleep and +tumbled off. My horse has run away, and I do not know what has become +of him." + +The young prince had pity on her, and offered to take her behind him, +which he did. As they passed by a ruined building the lady dismounted +and went in. The prince also dismounted and followed her. +To his great surprise, he heard her saying to some one inside, +"Rejoice my children; I am bringing you a nice fat youth." And other +voices replied, "Where is he, mamma, that we may eat him at once, +as we are very hungry?" + +The prince at once saw the danger he was in. He now knew that the +lady who said she was the daughter of an Indian king was an ogress, +who lived in desolate places, and who by a thousand wiles surprised +and devoured passers-by. He was terrified, and threw himself on +his horse. The pretended princess appeared at this moment, and seeing +that she had lost her prey, she said to him, "Do not be afraid. +What do you want?" + +"I am lost," he answered, "and I am looking for the road." + +"Keep straight on," said the ogress, "and you will find it." + +The prince could hardly believe his ears, and rode off as hard +as he could. He found his way, and arrived safe and sound at +his father's house, where he told him of the danger he had run +because of the grand-vizir's carelessness. The king was very angry, +and had him strangled immediately. + +"Sire," went on the vizir to the Greek king, "to return to +the physician, Douban. If you do not take care, you will repent +of having trusted him. Who knows what this remedy, with which +he has cured you, may not in time have a bad effect on you?" + +The Greek king was naturally very weak, and did not perceive +the wicked intention of his vizir, nor was he firm enough to keep +to his first resolution. + +"Well, vizir," he said, "you are right. Perhaps he did come to take +my life. He might do it by the mere smell of one of his drugs. +I must see what can be done." + +"The best means, sire, to put your life in security, is to send +for him at once, and to cut off his head directly he comes," +said the vizir. + +"I really think," replied the king, "that will be the best way." + +He then ordered one of his ministers to fetch the physician, +who came at once. + +"I have had you sent for," said the king, "in order to free myself +from you by taking your life." + +The physician was beyond measure astonished when he heard he was +to die. + +"What crimes have I committed, your majesty?" + +"I have learnt," replied the king, "that you are a spy, and intend +to kill me. But I will be first, and kill you. Strike," he added +to an executioner who was by, "and rid me of this assassin." + +At this cruel order the physician threw himself on his knees. +"Spare my life," he cried, "and yours will be spared." + +The fisherman stopped here to say to the genius: "You see what +passed between the Greek king and the physician has just passed +between us two. The Greek king," he went on, "had no mercy on him, +and the executioner bound his eyes." + +All those present begged for his life, but in vain. + +The physician on his knees, and bound, said to the king: +"At least let me put my affairs in order, and leave my books +to persons who will make good use of them. There is one which I +should like to present to your majesty. It is very precious, +and ought to be kept carefully in your treasury. It contains +many curious things the chief being that when you cut off my head, +if your majesty will turn to the sixth leaf, and read the third +line of the left-hand page, my head will answer all the questions +you like to ask it." + +The king, eager to see such a wonderful thing, put off his execution +to the next day, and sent him under a strong guard to his house. +There the physician put his affairs in order, and the next day +there was a great crowd assembled in the hall to see his death, +and the doings after it. The physician went up to the foot +of the throne with a large book in his hand. He carried a basin, +on which he spread the covering of the book, and presenting it to +the king, said: "Sire, take this book, and when my head is cut off, +let it be placed in the basin on the covering of this book; as soon +as it is there, the blood will cease to flow. Then open the book, +and my head will answer your questions. But, sire, I implore your mercy, +for I am innocent." + +"Your prayers are useless, and if it were only to hear your head +speak when you are dead, you should die." + +So saying, he took the book from the physician's hands, and ordered +the executioner to do his duty. + +The head was so cleverly cut off that it fell into the basin, +and directly the blood ceased to flow. Then, to the great astonishment +of the king, the eyes opened, and the head said, "Your majesty, +open the book." The king did so, and finding that the first leaf +stuck against the second, he put his finger in his mouth, to turn it +more easily. He did the same thing till he reached the sixth page, +and not seeing any writing on it, "Physician," he said, "there is +no writing." + +"Turn over a few more pages," answered the head. The king went +on turning, still putting his finger in his mouth, till the poison +in which each page was dipped took effect. His sight failed him, +and he fell at the foot of his throne. + +When the physician's head saw that the poison had taken effect, +and that the king had only a few more minutes to live, +"Tyrant," it cried, "see how cruelty and injustice are punished." + +Scarcely had it uttered these words than the king died, and the head +lost also the little life that had remained in it. + +That is the end of the story of the Greek king, and now let us +return to the fisherman and the genius. + +"If the Greek king," said the fisherman, "had spared the physician, +he would not have thus died. The same thing applies to you. +Now I am going to throw you into the sea." + +"My friend," said the genius, "do not do such a cruel thing. +Do not treat me as Imma treated Ateca." + +"What did Imma do to Ateca?" asked the fisherman. + +"Do you think I can tell you while I am shut up in here?" +replied the genius. "Let me out, and I will make you rich." + +The hope of being no longer poor made the fisherman give way. + +"If you will give me your promise to do this, I will open the lid. +I do not think you will dare to break your word." + +The genius promised, and the fisherman lifted the lid. He came +out at once in smoke, and then, having resumed his proper form, +the first thing he did was to kick the vase into the sea. +This frightened the fisherman, but the genius laughed and said, +"Do not be afraid; I only did it to frighten you, and to show you +that I intend to keep my word; take your nets and follow me." + +He began to walk in front of the fisherman, who followed him +with some misgivings. They passed in front of the town, and went +up a mountain and then down into a great plain, where there +was a large lake lying between four hills. + +When they reached the lake the genius said to the fisherman, +"Throw your nets and catch fish." + +The fisherman did as he was told, hoping for a good catch, +as he saw plenty of fish. What was his astonishment at seeing +that there were four quite different kinds, some white, some red, +some blue, and some yellow. He caught four, one of each colour. +As he had never seen any like them he admired them very much, +and he was very pleased to think how much money he would get +for them. + +"Take these fish and carry them to the Sultan, who will give you more +money for them than you have ever had in your life. You can come +every day to fish in this lake, but be careful not to throw your nets +more than once every day, otherwise some harm will happen to you. +If you follow my advice carefully you will find it good." + +Saying these words, he struck his foot against the ground, +which opened, and when he had disappeared, it closed immediately. + +The fisherman resolved to obey the genius exactly, so he did +not cast his nets a second time, but walked into the town to sell +his fish at the palace. + +When the Sultan saw the fish he was much astonished. He looked at +them one after the other, and when he had admired them long enough, +"Take these fish," he said to his first vizir, "and given them +to the clever cook the Emperor of the Greeks sent me. I think they +must be as good as they are beautiful." + +The vizir took them himself to the cook, saying, "Here are four fish +that have been brought to the Sultan. He wants you to cook them." + +Then he went back to the Sultan, who told him to give the fisherman +four hundred gold pieces. The fisherman, who had never before +possessed such a large sum of money at once, could hardly believe +his good fortune. He at once relieved the needs of his family, +and made good use of it. + +But now we must return to the kitchen, which we shall find +in great confusion. The cook, when she had cleaned the fish, +put them in a pan with some oil to fry them. When she thought +them cooked enough on one side she turned them on the other. +But scarcely had she done so when the walls of the kitchen opened, +and there came out a young and beautiful damsel. She was dressed +in an Egyptian dress of flowered satin, and she wore earrings, +and a necklace of white pearls, and bracelets of gold set with rubies, +and she held a wand of myrtle in her hand. + +She went up to the pan, to the great astonishment of the cook, +who stood motionless at the sight of her. She struck one of the fish +with her rod, "Fish, fish," said she, "are you doing your duty?" +The fish answered nothing, and then she repeated her question, +whereupon they all raised their heads together and answered +very distinctly, "Yes, yes. If you reckon, we reckon. If you +pay your debts, we pay ours. If you fly, we conquer, and we +are content." + +When they had spoken the girl upset the pan, and entered the opening +in the wall, which at once closed, and appeared the same as before. + +When the cook had recovered from her fright she lifted up the fish +which had fallen into the ashes, but she found them as black as cinders, +and not fit to serve up to the Sultan. She began to cry. + +"Alas! what shall I say to the Sultan? He will be so angry with me, +and I know he will not believe me!" + +Whilst she was crying the grand-vizir came in and asked +if the fish were ready. She told him all that had happened, +and he was much surprised. He sent at once for the fisherman, +and when he came said to him, "Fisherman, bring me four +more fish like you have brought already, for an accident +has happened to them so that they cannot be served up to the Sultan." + +The fisherman did not say what the genius had told him, but he +excused himself from bringing them that day on account of the length +of the way, and he promised to bring them next day. + +In the night he went to the lake, cast his nets, and on drawing +them in found four fish, which were like the others, each of +a different colour. + +He went back at once and carried them to the grand-vizir as he +had promised. + +He then took them to the kitchen and shut himself up with the cook, +who began to cook them as she had done the four others on the +previous day. When she was about to turn them on the other side, +the wall opened, the damsel appeared, addressed the same words +to the fish, received the same answer, and then overturned the pan +and disappeared. + +The grand-vizir was filled with astonishment. "I shall tell +the Sultan all that has happened," said he. And he did so. + +The Sultan was very much astounded, and wished to see this marvel +for himself. So he sent for the fisherman, and asked him to procure +four more fish. The fisherman asked for three days, which were granted, +and he then cast his nets in the lake, and again caught four different +coloured fish. The sultan was delighted to see he had got them, +and gave him again four hundred gold pieces. + +As soon as the Sultan had the fish he had them carried to his room +with all that was needed to cook them. + +Then he shut himself up with the grand-vizir, who began to prepare +them and cook them. When they were done on one side he turned them +over on the other. Then the wall of the room opened, but instead +of the maiden a black slave came out. He was enormously tall, +and carried a large green stick with which he touched the fish, +saying in a terrible voice, "Fish, fish, are you doing your duty?" +To these words the fish lifting up their heads replied, "Yes, yes. +If you reckon, we reckon. If you pay your debts, we pay ours. +If you fly, we conquer, and are content." + +The black slave overturned the pan in the middle of the room, +and the fish were turned to cinders. Then he stepped proudly back +into the wall, which closed round him. + +"After having seen this," said the Sultan, "I cannot rest. +These fish signify some mystery I must clear up." + +He sent for the fisherman. "Fisherman," he said, "the fish you +have brought us have caused me some anxiety. Where did you get +them from?" + +"Sire," he answered, "I got them from a lake which lies in the +middle of four hills beyond yonder mountains." + +"Do you know this lake?" asked the Sultan of the grand-vizir. + +"No; though I have hunted many times round that mountain, I have +never heard of it," said the vizir. + +As the fisherman said it was only three hours' journey away, +the sultan ordered his whole court to mount and ride thither, +and the fisherman led them. + +They climbed the mountain, and then, on the other side, saw the +lake as the fisherman had described. The water was so clear +that they could see the four kinds of fish swimming about in it. +They looked at them for some time, and then the Sultan ordered them +to make a camp by the edge of the water. + +When night came the Sultan called his vizir, and said to him, +"I have resolved to clear up this mystery. I am going out alone, +and do you stay here in my tent, and when my ministers come to-morrow, +say I am not well, and cannot see them. Do this each day till +I return." + +The grand-vizir tried to persuade the Sultan not to go, but in vain. +The Sultan took off his state robe and put on his sword, and when he +saw all was quiet in the camp he set forth alone. + +He climbed one of the hills, and then crossed the great plain, till, +just as the sun rose, he beheld far in front of him a large building. +When he came near to it he saw it was a splendid palace of beautiful +black polished marble, covered with steel as smooth as a mirror. + +He went to the gate, which stood half open, and went in, as nobody +came when he knocked. He passed through a magnificent courtyard +and still saw no one, though he called aloud several times. + +He entered large halls where the carpets were of silk, the lounges +and sofas covered with tapestry from Mecca, and the hangings of the most +beautiful Indian stuffs of gold and silver. Then he found himself +in a splendid room, with a fountain supported by golden lions. +The water out of the lions' mouths turned into diamonds and pearls, +and the leaping water almost touched a most beautifully-painted dome. +The palace was surrounded on three sides by magnificent gardens, +little lakes, and woods. Birds sang in the trees, which were netted +over to keep them always there. + +Still the Sultan saw no one, till he heard a plaintive cry, +and a voice which said, "Oh that I could die, for I am too unhappy +to wish to live any longer!" + +The Sultan looked round to discover who it was who thus bemoaned +his fate, and at last saw a handsome young man, richly clothed, +who was sitting on a throne raised slightly from the ground. +His face was very sad. + +The sultan approached him and bowed to him. The young man bent +his head very low, but did not rise. + +"Sire," he said to the Sultan, "I cannot rise and do you +the reverence that I am sure should be paid to your rank." + +"Sir," answered the Sultan, "I am sure you have a good reason +for not doing so, and having heard your cry of distress, I am come +to offer you my help. Whose is this palace, and why is it thus empty?" + +Instead of answering the young man lifted up his robe, and showed +the Sultan that, from the waist downwards, he was a block of black marble. + +The Sultan was horrified, and begged the young man to tell him +his story. + +"Willingly I will tell you my sad history," said the young man. + + + +The Story of the Young King of the Black Isles + + +You must know, sire, that my father was Mahmoud, the king of this +country, the Black Isles, so called from the four little mountains +which were once islands, while the capital was the place where now +the great lake lies. My story will tell you how these changes came about. + +My father died when he was sixty-six, and I succeeded him. +I married my cousin, whom I loved tenderly, and I thought she loved +me too. + +But one afternoon, when I was half asleep, and was being fanned +by two of her maids, I heard one say to the other, "What a pity it +is that our mistress no longer loves our master! I believe she +would like to kill him if she could, for she is an enchantress." + +I soon found by watching that they were right, and when I +mortally wounded a favourite slave of hers for a great crime, +she begged that she might build a palace in the garden, where she +wept and bewailed him for two years. + +At last I begged her to cease grieving for him, for although he could +not speak or move, by her enchantments she just kept him alive. +She turned upon me in a rage, and said over me some magic words, +and I instantly became as you see me now, half man and half marble. + +Then this wicked enchantress changed the capital, which was +a very populous and flourishing city, into the lake and desert +plain you saw. The fish of four colours which are in it are +the different races who lived in the town; the four hills are +the four islands which give the name to my kingdom. All this the +enchantress told me to add to my troubles. And this is not all. +Every day she comes and beats me with a whip of buffalo hide. + +When the young king had finished his sad story he burst once more +into tears, and the Sultan was much moved. + +"Tell me," he cried, "where is this wicked woman, and where is +the miserable object of her affection, whom she just manages +to keep alive?" + +"Where she lives I do not know," answered the unhappy prince, +"but she goes every day at sunrise to see if the slave can yet speak +to her, after she has beaten me." + +"Unfortunate king," said the Sultan, "I will do what I can +to avenge you." + +So he consulted with the young king over the best way to bring +this about, and they agreed their plan should be put in effect +the next day. The Sultan then rested, and the young king gave +himself up to happy hopes of release. The next day the Sultan arose, +and then went to the palace in the garden where the black slave was. +He drew his sword and destroyed the little life that remained in him, +and then threw the body down a well. He then lay down on the couch +where the slave had been, and waited for the enchantress. + +She went first to the young king, whom she beat with a hundred blows. + +Then she came to the room where she thought her wounded slave was, +but where the Sultan really lay. + +She came near his couch and said, "Are you better to-day, +my dear slave? Speak but one word to me." + +"How can I be better," answered the Sultan, imitating the language +of the Ethiopians, "when I can never sleep for the cries and groans +of your husband?" + +"What joy to hear you speak!" answered the queen. "Do you wish +him to regain his proper shape?" + +"Yes," said the Sultan; "hasten to set him at liberty, so that I +may no longer hear his cries." + +The queen at once went out and took a cup of water, and said +over it some words that made it boil as if it were on the fire. +Then she threw it over the prince, who at once regained his own form. +He was filled with joy, but the enchantress said, "Hasten away from +this place and never come back, lest I kill you." + +So he hid himself to see the end of the Sultan's plan. + +The enchantress went back to the Palace of Tears and said, +"Now I have done what you wished." + +"What you have done," said the Sultan, "is not enough to cure me. +Every day at midnight all the people whom you have changed into fish +lift their heads out of the lake and cry for vengeance. Go quickly, +and give them their proper shape." + +The enchantress hurried away and said some words over the lake. + +The fish then became men, women, and children, and the houses +and shops were once more filled. The Sultan's suite, who had +encamped by the lake, were not a little astonished to see themselves +in the middle of a large and beautiful town. + +As soon as she had disenchanted it the queen went back to the palace. + +"Are you quite well now?" she said. + +"Come near," said the Sultan. "Nearer still." + +She obeyed. Then he sprang up, and with one blow of his sword he +cut her in two. + +Then he went and found the prince. + +"Rejoice," he said, "your cruel enemy is dead." + +The prince thanked him again and again. + +"And now," said the Sultan. "I will go back to my capital, +which I am glad to find is so near yours." + +"So near mine!" said the King of the Black Isles. + +"Do you know it is a whole year's journey from here? You came +here in a few hours because it was enchanted. But I will accompany +you on your journey." + +"It will give me much pleasure if you will escort me," said the Sultan, +"and as I have no children, I will make you my heir." + +The Sultan and the prince set out together, the Sultan laden +with rich presents from the King of the Black Isles. + +The day after he reached his capital the Sultan assembled his court +and told them all that had befallen him, and told them how he +intended to adopt the young king as his heir. + +Then he gave each man presents in proportion to his rank. + +As for the fisherman, as he was the first cause of the deliverance +of the young prince, the Sultan gave him much money, and made him +and his family happy for the rest of their days. + + + +Story of the Three Calenders, Sons of Kings, and of Five Ladies +of Bagdad + + +In the reign of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid, there lived at Bagdad +a porter who, in spite of his humble calling, was an intelligent +and sensible man. One morning he was sitting in his usual place with +his basket before him, waiting to be hired, when a tall young lady, +covered with a long muslin veil, came up to him and said, "Pick up +your basket and follow me." The porter, who was greatly pleased +by her appearance and voice, jumped up at once, poised his basket +on his head, and accompanied the lady, saying to himself as he went, +"Oh, happy day! Oh, lucky meeting!" + +The lady soon stopped before a closed door, at which she knocked. +It was opened by an old man with a long white beard, to whom +the lady held out money without speaking. The old man, who seemed +to understand what she wanted, vanished into the house, and returned +bringing a large jar of wine, which the porter placed in his basket. +Then the lady signed to him to follow, and they went their way. + +The next place she stopped at was a fruit and flower shop, and here she +bought a large quantity of apples, apricots, peaches, and other things, +with lilies, jasmine, and all sorts of sweet-smelling plants. +From this shop she went to a butcher's, a grocer's, and a poulterer's, +till at last the porter exclaimed in despair, "My good lady, +if you had only told me you were going to buy enough provisions +to stock a town, I would have brought a horse, or rather a camel." +The lady laughed, and told him she had not finished yet, but after +choosing various kinds of scents and spices from a druggist's store, +she halted before a magnificent palace, at the door of which +she knocked gently. The porteress who opened it was of such +beauty that the eyes of the man were quite dazzled, and he was +the more astonished as he saw clearly that she was no slave. +The lady who had led him hither stood watching him with amusement, +till the porteress exclaimed, "Why don't you come in, my sister? +This poor man is so heavily weighed down that he is ready to drop." + +When they were both inside the door was fastened, and they all +three entered a large court, surrounded by an open-work gallery. +At one end of the court was a platform, and on the platform stood +an amber throne supported by four ebony columns, garnished with +pearls and diamonds. In the middle of the court stood a marble +basin filled with water from the mouth of a golden lion. + +The porter looked about him, noticing and admiring everything; +but his attention was specially attracted by a third lady sitting +on the throne, who was even more beautiful than the other two. +By the respect shown to her by the others, he judged that she must be +the eldest, and in this he was right. This lady's name was Zobeida, +the porteress was Sadie, and the housekeeper was Amina. At a word +from Zobeida, Sadie and Amina took the basket from the porter, +who was glad enough to be relieved from its weight; and when it +was emptied, paid him handsomely for its use. But instead of taking +up his basket and going away, the man still lingered, till Zobeida +inquired what he was waiting for, and if he expected more money. +"Oh, madam," returned he, "you have already given me too much, +and I fear I may have been guilty of rudeness in not taking my +departure at once. But, if you will pardon my saying so, I was lost +in astonishment at seeing such beautiful ladies by themselves. A +company of women without men is, however, as dull as a company of men +without women." And after telling some stories to prove his point, +he ended by entreating them to let him stay and make a fourth at +their dinner. + +The ladies were rather amused at the man's assurances and after +some discussion it was agreed that he should be allowed to stay, +as his society might prove entertaining. "But listen, friend," +said Zobeida, "if we grant your request, it is only on condition +that you behave with the utmost politeness, and that you keep the +secret of our way of living, which chance has revealed to you." +Then they all sat down to table, which had been covered by Amina +with the dishes she had bought. + +After the first few mouthfuls Amina poured some wine into a golden cup. +She first drank herself, according to the Arab custom, and then +filled it for her sisters. When it came to the porter's turn he +kissed Amina's hand, and sang a song, which he composed at the moment +in praise of the wine. The three ladies were pleased with the song, +and then sang themselves, so that the repast was a merry one, +and lasted much longer than usual. + +At length, seeing that the sun was about to set, Sadia said +to the porter, "Rise and go; it is now time for us to separate." + +"Oh, madam," replied he, "how can you desire me to quit you in +the state in which I am? Between the wine I have drunk, and the +pleasure of seeing you, I should never find the way to my house. +Let me remain here till morning, and when I have recovered my senses +I will go when you like." + +"Let him stay," said Amina, who had before proved herself his friend. +"It is only just, as he has given us so much amusement." + +"If you wish it, my sister," replied Zobeida; "but if he does, +I must make a new condition. Porter," she continued, turning to him, +"if you remain, you must promise to ask no questions about anything +you may see. If you do, you may perhaps hear what you don't like." + +This being settled, Amina brought in supper, and lit up the hall with a +number of sweet smelling tapers. They then sat down again at the table, +and began with fresh appetites to eat, drink, sing, and recite verses. +In fact, they were all enjoying themselves mightily when they heard +a knock at the outer door, which Sadie rose to open. She soon +returned saying that three Calenders, all blind in the right eye, +and all with their heads, faces, and eyebrows clean shaved, +begged for admittance, as they were newly arrived in Bagdad, +and night had already fallen. "They seem to have pleasant manners," +she added, "but you have no idea how funny they look. I am sure +we should find their company diverting." + +Zobeida and Amina made some difficulty about admitting the new comers, +and Sadie knew the reason of their hesitation. But she urged +the matter so strongly that Zobeida was at last forced to consent. +"Bring them in, then," said she, "but make them understand that +they are not to make remarks about what does not concern them, +and be sure to make them read the inscription over the door." +For on the door was written in letters of gold, "Whoso meddles in +affairs that are no business of his, will hear truths that will not +please him." + +The three Calenders bowed low on entering, and thanked the ladies +for their kindness and hospitality. The ladies replied with words +of welcome, and they were all about to seat themselves when the eyes +of the Calenders fell on the porter, whose dress was not so very unlike +their own, though he still wore all the hair that nature had given him. +"This," said one of them, "is apparently one of our Arab brothers, +who has rebelled against our ruler." + +The porter, although half asleep from the wine he had drunk, +heard the words, and without moving cried angrily to the Calender, +"Sit down and mind your own business. Did you not read the inscription +over the door? Everybody is not obliged to live in the same way." + +"Do not be so angry, my good man," replied the Calender; "we should +be very sorry to displease you;" so the quarrel was smoothed over, +and supper began in good earnest. When the Calenders had satisfied +their hunger, they offered to play to their hostesses, if there were +any instruments in the house. The ladies were delighted at the idea, +and Sadie went to see what she could find, returning in a few +moments laden with two different kinds of flutes and a tambourine. +Each Calender took the one he preferred, and began to play +a well-known air, while the ladies sang the words of the song. +These words were the gayest and liveliest possible, and every now +and then the singers had to stop to indulge the laughter which almost +choked them. In the midst of all their noise, a knock was heard +at the door. + +Now early that evening the Caliph secretly left the palace, +accompanied by his grand-vizir, Giafar, and Mesrour, chief of the eunuchs, +all three wearing the dresses of merchants. Passing down the street, +the Caliph had been attracted by the music of instruments and the sound +of laughter, and had ordered his vizir to go and knock at the door +of the house, as he wished to enter. The vizir replied that the ladies +who lived there seemed to be entertaining their friends, and he thought +his master would do well not to intrude on them; but the Caliph had +taken it into his head to see for himself, and insisted on being obeyed. + +The knock was answered by Sadie, with a taper in her hand, +and the vizir, who was surprised at her beauty, bowed low before her, +and said respectfully, "Madam, we are three merchants who have +lately arrived from Moussoul, and, owing to a misadventure which +befel us this very night, only reached our inn to find that the +doors were closed to us till to-morrow morning. Not knowing +what to do, we wandered in the streets till we happened to pass +your house, when, seeing lights and hearing the sound of voices, +we resolved to ask you to give us shelter till the dawn. +If you will grant us this favour, we will, with your permission, +do all in our power to help you spend the time pleasantly." + +Sadie answered the merchant that she must first consult her sisters; +and after having talked over the matter with them, she returned to tell +him that he and his two friends would be welcome to join their company. +They entered and bowed politely to the ladies and their guests. +Then Zobeida, as the mistress, came forward and said gravely, +"You are welcome here, but I hope you will allow me to beg one thing +of you--have as many eyes as you like, but no tongues; and ask +no questions about anything you see, however strange it may appear +to you." + +"Madam," returned the vizir, "you shall be obeyed. We have quite +enough to please and interest us without troubling ourselves about +that with which we have no concern." Then they all sat down, +and drank to the health of the new comers. + +While the vizir, Giafar, was talking to the ladies the Caliph +was occupied in wondering who they could be, and why the three +Calenders had each lost his right eye. He was burning to inquire +the reason of it all, but was silenced by Zobeida's request, so he +tried to rouse himself and to take his part in the conversation, +which was very lively, the subject of discussion being the many +different sorts of pleasures that there were in the world. +After some time the Calenders got up and performed some curious dances, +which delighted the rest of the company. + +When they had finished Zobeida rose from her seat, and, taking Amina +by the hand, she said to her, "My sister, our friends will excuse us +if we seem to forget their presence and fulfil our nightly task." +Amina understood her sister's meaning, and collecting the dishes, +glasses, and musical instruments, she carried them away, while Sadie +swept the hall and put everything in order. Having done this she +begged the Calenders to sit on a sofa on one side of the room, +and the Caliph and his friends to place themselves opposite. +As to the porter, she requested him to come and help her and +her sister. + +Shortly after Amina entered carrying a seat, which she put down +in the middle of the empty space. She next went over to the door +of a closet and signed to the porter to follow her. He did so, +and soon reappeared leading two black dogs by a chain, which he +brought into the centre of the hall. Zobeida then got up from her +seat between the Calenders and the Caliph and walked slowly across +to where the porter stood with the dogs. "We must do our duty," +she said with a deep sigh, pushing back her sleeves, and, taking a +whip from Sadie, she said to the man, "Take one of those dogs to my +sister Amina and give me the other." + +The porter did as he was bid, but as he led the dog to Zobeida it +uttered piercing howls, and gazed up at her with looks of entreaty. +But Zobeida took no notice, and whipped the dog till she was +out of breath. She then took the chain from the porter, and, +raising the dog on its hind legs, they looked into each other's eyes +sorrowfully till tears began to fall from both. Then Zobeida took +her handkerchief and wiped the dog's eyes tenderly, after which she +kissed it, then, putting the chain into the porter's hand she said, +"Take it back to the closet and bring me the other." + +The same ceremony was gone through with the second dog, +and all the while the whole company looked on with astonishment. +The Caliph in particular could hardly contain himself, and made +signs to the vizir to ask what it all meant. But the vizir +pretended not to see, and turned his head away. + +Zobeida remained for some time in the middle of the room, till at +last Sadie went up to her and begged her to sit down, as she +also had her part to play. At these words Amina fetched a lute +from a case of yellow satin and gave it to Sadie, who sang several +songs to its accompaniment. When she was tired she said to Amina, +"My sister, I can do no more; come, I pray you, and take my place." + +Amina struck a few chords and then broke into a song, which she +sang with so much ardour that she was quite overcome, and sank +gasping on a pile of cushions, tearing open her dress as she did +so to give herself some air. To the amazement of all present, +her neck, instead of being as smooth and white as her face, +was a mass of scars. + +The Calenders and the Caliph looked at each other, and whispered together, +unheard by Zobeida and Sadie, who were tending their fainting sister. + +"What does it all mean?' asked the Caliph. + +"We know no more than you," said the Calender to whom he had spoken. + +"What! You do not belong to the house?" + +"My lord," answered all the Calenders together, "we came here +for the first time an hour before you." + +They then turned to the porter to see if he could explain +the mystery, but the porter was no wiser than they were themselves. +At length the Caliph could contain his curiosity no longer, +and declared that he would compel the ladies to tell them the meaning +of their strange conduct. The vizir, foreseeing what would happen, +implored him to remember the condition their hostesses had imposed, +and added in a whisper that if his Highness would only wait till +morning he could as Caliph summon the ladies to appear before him. +But the Caliph, who was not accustomed to be contradicted, +rejected this advice, and it was resolved after a little more talking +that the question should be put by the porter. Suddenly Zobeida +turned round, and seeing their excitement she said, "What is the matter-- +what are you all discussing so earnestly?" + +"Madam," answered the porter, "these gentlemen entreat you to explain +to them why you should first whip the dogs and then cry over them, +and also how it happens that the fainting lady is covered with scars. +They have requested me, Madam, to be their mouthpiece." + + +"Is it true, gentlemen," asked Zobeida, drawing herself up, +"that you have charged this man to put me that question?" + +"It is," they all replied, except Giafar, who was silent. + +"Is this," continued Zobeida, growing more angry every moment, +"is this the return you make for the hospitality I have shown you? +Have you forgotten the one condition on which you were allowed +to enter the house? Come quickly," she added, clapping her hands +three times, and the words were hardly uttered when seven black slaves, +each armed with a sabre, burst in and stood over the seven men, +throwing them on the ground, and preparing themselves, on a sign from +their mistress, to cut off their heads. + +The seven culprits all thought their last hour had come, and the +Caliph repented bitterly that he had not taken the vizir's advice. +But they made up their minds to die bravely, all except the porter, +who loudly inquired of Zobeida why he was to suffer for other +people's faults, and declared that these misfortunes would never +have happened if it had not been for the Calenders, who always +brought ill-luck. He ended by imploring Zobeida not to confound +the innocent with the guilty and to spare his life. + +In spite of her anger, there was something so comic in the groans +of the porter that Zobeida could not refrain from laughing. +But putting him aside she addressed the others a second time, +saying, "Answer me; who are you? Unless you tell me truly you +have not another moment to live. I can hardly think you are men +of any position, whatever country you belong to. If you were, +you would have had more consideration for us." + +The Caliph, who was naturally very impatient, suffered far more +than either of the others at feeling that his life was at the +mercy of a justly offended lady, but when he heard her question +he began to breathe more freely, for he was convinced that she +had only to learn his name and rank for all danger to be over. +So he whispered hastily to the vizir, who was next to him, +to reveal their secret. But the vizir, wiser than his master, +wished to conceal from the public the affront they had received, +and merely answered, "After all, we have only got what we deserved." + +Meanwhile Zobeida had turned to the three Calenders and inquired if, +as they were all blind, they were brothers. + +"No, madam," replied one, "we are no blood relations at all, +only brothers by our mode of life." + +"And you," she asked, addressing another, "were you born blind +of one eye?" + +"No, madam," returned he, "I became blind through a most surprising +adventure, such as probably has never happened to anybody. +After that I shaved my head and eyebrows and put on the dress +in which you see me now." + +Zobeida put the same question to the other two Calenders, +and received the same answer. + +"But," added the third, "it may interest you, madam, to know +that we are not men of low birth, but are all three sons of kings, +and of kings, too, whom the world holds in high esteem." + +At these words Zobeida's anger cooled down, and she turned to +her slaves and said, "You can give them a little more liberty, +but do not leave the hall. Those that will tell us their histories +and their reasons for coming here shall be allowed to leave unhurt; +those who refuse--" And she paused, but in a moment the porter, +who understood that he had only to relate his story to set himself +free from this terrible danger, immediately broke in, + +"Madam, you know already how I came here, and what I have to say +will soon be told. Your sister found me this morning in the place +where I always stand waiting to be hired. She bade me follow her +to various shops, and when my basket was quite full we returned +to this house, when you had the goodness to permit me to remain, +for which I shall be eternally grateful. That is my story." + +He looked anxiously to Zobeida, who nodded her head and said, +"You can go; and take care we never meet again." + +"Oh, madam," cried the porter, "let me stay yet a little while. +It is not just that the others should have heard my story and that I +should not hear theirs," and without waiting for permission he +seated himself on the end of the sofa occupied by the ladies, +whilst the rest crouched on the carpet, and the slaves stood against +the wall. + +Then one of the Calenders, addressing himself to Zobeida as the +principal lady, began his story. + + + +The Story of the First Calender, Son of a King + + +In order, madam, to explain how I came to lose my right eye, +and to wear the dress of a Calender, you must first know that I +am the son of a king. My father's only brother reigned over the +neighbouring country, and had two children, a daughter and a son, +who were of the same age as myself. + +As I grew up, and was allowed more liberty, I went every year to pay +a visit to my uncle's court, and usually stayed there about two months. +In this way my cousin and I became very intimate, and were much +attached to each other. The very last time I saw him he seemed more +delighted to see me than ever, and gave a great feast in my honour. +When we had finished eating, he said to me, "My cousin, you would +never guess what I have been doing since your last visit to us! +Directly after your departure I set a number of men to work on a building +after my own design. It is now completed, and ready to be lived in. +I should like to show it to you, but you must first swear two things: +to be faithful to me, and to keep my secret." + +Of course I did not dream of refusing him anything he asked, and gave +the promise without the least hesitation. He then bade me wait +an instant, and vanished, returning in a few moments with a richly +dressed lady of great beauty, but as he did not tell me her name, +I thought it was better not to inquire. We all three sat down to table +and amused ourselves with talking of all sorts of indifferent things, +and with drinking each other's health. Suddenly the prince said to me, +"Cousin, we have no time to lose; be so kind as to conduct this lady +to a certain spot, where you will find a dome-like tomb, newly built. +You cannot mistake it. Go in, both of you, and wait till I come. +I shall not be long." + +As I had promised I prepared to do as I was told, and giving my hand +to the lady, I escorted her, by the light of the moon, to the place +of which the prince had spoken. We had barely reached it when he +joined us himself, carrying a small vessel of water, a pickaxe, +and a little bag containing plaster. + +With the pickaxe he at once began to destroy the empty sepulchre +in the middle of the tomb. One by one he took the stones and piled +them up in a corner. When he had knocked down the whole sepulchre +he proceeded to dig at the earth, and beneath where the sepulchre +had been I saw a trap-door. He raised the door and I caught sight +of the top of a spiral staircase; then he said, turning to the lady, +"Madam, this is the way that will lead you down to the spot which I +told you of." + +The lady did not answer, but silently descended the staircase, +the prince following her. At the top, however, he looked at me. +"My cousin," he exclaimed, "I do not know how to thank you for +your kindness. Farewell." + +"What do you mean?" I cried. "I don't understand." + +"No matter," he replied, "go back by the path that you came." + +He would say no more, and, greatly puzzled, I returned to my room +in the palace and went to bed. When I woke, and considered +my adventure, I thought that I must have been dreaming, and sent +a servant to ask if the prince was dressed and could see me. +But on hearing that he had not slept at home I was much alarmed, +and hastened to the cemetery, where, unluckily, the tombs were all so +alike that I could not discover which was the one I was in search of, +though I spent four days in looking for it. + +You must know that all this time the king, my uncle, was absent +on a hunting expedition, and as no one knew when he would be back, +I at last decided to return home, leaving the ministers to make +my excuses. I longed to tell them what had become of the prince, +about whose fate they felt the most dreadful anxiety, but the oath I +had sworn kept me silent. + +On my arrival at my father's capital, I was astonished to find +a large detachment of guards drawn up before the gate of the palace; +they surrounded me directly I entered. I asked the officers in command +the reason of this strange behaviour, and was horrified to learn +that the army had mutinied and put to death the king, my father, +and had placed the grand-vizir on the throne. Further, that by his +orders I was placed under arrest. + +Now this rebel vizir had hated me from my boy-hood, because once, +when shooting at a bird with a bow, I had shot out his eye by accident. +Of course I not only sent a servant at once to offer him my regrets +and apologies, but I made them in person. It was all of no use. +He cherished an undying hatred towards me, and lost no occasion +of showing it. Having once got me in his power I felt he could +show no mercy, and I was right. Mad with triumph and fury he +came to me in my prison and tore out my right eye. That is how I +lost it. + +My persecutor, however, did not stop here. He shut me up in a large +case and ordered his executioner to carry me into a desert place, +to cut off my head, and then to abandon my body to the birds of prey. +The case, with me inside it, was accordingly placed on a horse, +and the executioner, accompanied by another man, rode into the country +until they found a spot suitable for the purpose. But their hearts +were not so hard as they seemed, and my tears and prayers made +them waver. + +"Forsake the kingdom instantly," said the executioner at last, +"and take care never to come back, for you will not only lose +your head, but make us lose ours." I thanked him gratefully, +and tried to console myself for the loss of my eye by thinking +of the other misfortunes I had escaped. + + +After all I had gone through, and my fear of being recognised +by some enemy, I could only travel very slowly and cautiously, +generally resting in some out-of-the-way place by day, and walking +as far as I was able by night, but at length I arrived in the kingdom +of my uncle, of whose protection I was sure. + +I found him in great trouble about the disappearance of his son, +who had, he said, vanished without leaving a trace; but his own grief +did not prevent him sharing mine. We mingled our tears, for the loss +of one was the loss of the other, and then I made up my mind that it +was my duty to break the solemn oath I had sworn to the prince. +I therefore lost no time in telling my uncle everything I knew, +and I observed that even before I had ended his sorrow appeared to be +lightened a little. + +"My dear nephew," he said, "your story gives me some hope. +I was aware that my son was building a tomb, and I think I can find +the spot. But as he wished to keep the matter secret, let us go +alone and seek the place ourselves." + +He then bade me disguise myself, and we both slipped out of a +garden door which opened on to the cemetery. It did not take +long for us to arrive at the scene of the prince's disappearance, +or to discover the tomb I had sought so vainly before. +We entered it, and found the trap-door which led to the staircase, +but we had great difficulty in raising it, because the prince had +fastened it down underneath with the plaster he had brought with him. + +My uncle went first, and I followed him. When we reached the bottom +of the stairs we stepped into a sort of ante-room, filled with +such a dense smoke that it was hardly possible to see anything. +However, we passed through the smoke into a large chamber, +which at first seemed quite empty. The room was brilliantly lighted, +and in another moment we perceived a sort of platform at one end, +on which were the bodies of the prince and a lady, both half-burned, +as if they had been dragged out of a fire before it had quite +consumed them. + +This horrible sight turned me faint, but, to my surprise, my uncle +did not show so much surprise as anger. + +"I knew," he said, "that my son was tenderly attached to this lady, +whom it was impossible he should ever marry. I tried to turn +his thoughts, and presented to him the most beautiful princesses, +but he cared for none of them, and, as you see, they have now been +united by a horrible death in an underground tomb." But, as he spoke, +his anger melted into tears, and again I wept with him. + +When he recovered himself he drew me to him. "My dear nephew," +he said, embracing me, "you have come to me to take his place, +and I will do my best to forget that I ever had a son who could act +in so wicked a manner." Then he turned and went up the stairs. + +We reached the palace without anyone having noticed our absence, +when, shortly after, a clashing of drums, and cymbals, and the blare +of trumpets burst upon our astonished ears. At the same time a thick +cloud of dust on the horizon told of the approach of a great army. +My heart sank when I perceived that the commander was the vizir +who had dethroned my father, and was come to seize the kingdom +of my uncle. + +The capital was utterly unprepared to stand a siege, and seeing +that resistance was useless, at once opened its gates. My uncle +fought hard for his life, but was soon overpowered, and when he +fell I managed to escape through a secret passage, and took refuge +with an officer whom I knew I could trust. + +Persecuted by ill-fortune, and stricken with grief, there seemed +to be only one means of safety left to me. I shaved my beard +and my eyebrows, and put on the dress of a calender, in which it +was easy for me to travel without being known. I avoided the towns +till I reached the kingdom of the famous and powerful Caliph, +Haroun-al-Raschid, when I had no further reason to fear my enemies. +It was my intention to come to Bagdad and to throw myself at the feet +of his Highness, who would, I felt certain, be touched by my sad story, +and would grant me, besides, his help and protection. + +After a journey which lasted some months I arrived at length at the +gates of this city. It was sunset, and I paused for a little to look +about me, and to decide which way to turn my steps. I was still +debating on this subject when I was joined by this other calender, +who stopped to greet me. "You, like me, appear to be a stranger," +I said. He replied that I was right, and before he could say more +the third calender came up. He, also, was newly arrived in Bagdad, +and being brothers in misfortune, we resolved to cast in our +lots together, and to share whatever fate might have in store. + +By this time it had grown late, and we did not know where to spend +the night. But our lucky star having guided us to this door, +we took the liberty of knocking and of asking for shelter, +which was given to us at once with the best grace in the world. + +This, madam, is my story. + +"I am satisfied," replied Zobeida; "you can go when you like." + +The calender, however, begged leave to stay and to hear the histories +of his two friends and of the three other persons of the company, +which he was allowed to do. + + + +The Story of the Second Calendar, Son of a King + + +"Madam," said the young man, addressing Zobeida, "if you wish +to know how I lost my right eye, I shall have to tell you the story +of my whole life." + +I was scarcely more than a baby, when the king my father, +finding me unusually quick and clever for my age, turned his +thoughts to my education. I was taught first to read and write, +and then to learn the Koran, which is the basis of our holy religion, +and the better to understand it, I read with my tutors the ablest +commentators on its teaching, and committed to memory all the +traditions respecting the Prophet, which have been gathered from +the mouth of those who were his friends. I also learnt history, +and was instructed in poetry, versification, geography, chronology, +and in all the outdoor exercises in which every prince should excel. +But what I liked best of all was writing Arabic characters, +and in this I soon surpassed my masters, and gained a reputation +in this branch of knowledge that reached as far as India itself. + +Now the Sultan of the Indies, curious to see a young prince +with such strange tastes, sent an ambassador to my father, +laden with rich presents, and a warm invitation to visit his court. +My father, who was deeply anxious to secure the friendship of so +powerful a monarch, and held besides that a little travel would +greatly improve my manners and open my mind, accepted gladly, +and in a short time I had set out for India with the ambassador, +attended only by a small suite on account of the length of the journey, +and the badness of the roads. However, as was my duty, I took +with me ten camels, laden with rich presents for the Sultan. + +We had been travelling for about a month, when one day we saw a cloud +of dust moving swiftly towards us; and as soon as it came near, +we found that the dust concealed a band of fifty robbers. +Our men barely numbered half, and as we were also hampered by +the camels, there was no use in fighting, so we tried to overawe +them by informing them who we were, and whither we were going. +The robbers, however, only laughed, and declared that was none +of their business, and, without more words, attacked us brutally. +I defended myself to the last, wounded though I was, but at length, +seeing that resistance was hopeless, and that the ambassador +and all our followers were made prisoners, I put spurs to my horse +and rode away as fast as I could, till the poor beast fell dead +from a wound in his side. I managed to jump off without any injury, +and looked about to see if I was pursued. But for the moment I +was safe, for, as I imagined, the robbers were all engaged in +quarrelling over their booty. + +I found myself in a country that was quite new to me, and dared +not return to the main road lest I should again fall into the +hands of the robbers. Luckily my wound was only a slight one, +and after binding it up as well as I could, I walked on for the +rest of the day, till I reached a cave at the foot of a mountain, +where I passed the night in peace, making my supper off some fruits +I had gathered on the way. + +I wandered about for a whole month without knowing where I was going, +till at length I found myself on the outskirts of a beautiful city, +watered by winding streams, which enjoyed an eternal spring. +My delight at the prospect of mixing once more with human beings was +somewhat damped at the thought of the miserable object I must seem. +My face and hands had been burned nearly black; my clothes were all +in rags, and my shoes were in such a state that I had been forced to +abandon them altogether. + +I entered the town, and stopped at a tailor's shop to inquire +where I was. The man saw I was better than my condition, +and begged me to sit down, and in return I told him my whole story. +The tailor listened with attention, but his reply, instead of giving +me consolation, only increased my trouble. + +"Beware," he said, "of telling any one what you have told me, +for the prince who governs the kingdom is your father's greatest enemy, +and he will be rejoiced to find you in his power." + +I thanked the tailor for his counsel, and said I would do whatever +he advised; then, being very hungry, I gladly ate of the food he +put before me, and accepted his offer of a lodging in his house. + +In a few days I had quite recovered from the hardships I had undergone, +and then the tailor, knowing that it was the custom for the princes +of our religion to learn a trade or profession so as to provide for +themselves in times of ill-fortune, inquired if there was anything +I could do for my living. I replied that I had been educated +as a grammarian and a poet, but that my great gift was writing. + +"All that is of no use here," said the tailor. "Take my advice, +put on a short coat, and as you seem hardy and strong, go into +the woods and cut firewood, which you will sell in the streets. +By this means you will earn your living, and be able to wait till +better times come. The hatchet and the cord shall be my present." + +This counsel was very distasteful to me, but I thought I could not +do otherwise than adopt it. So the next morning I set out with a +company of poor wood-cutters, to whom the tailor had introduced me. +Even on the first day I cut enough wood to sell for a tolerable sum, +and very soon I became more expert, and had made enough money +to repay the tailor all he had lent me. + +I had been a wood-cutter for more than a year, when one day I +wandered further into the forest than I had ever done before, +and reached a delicious green glade, where I began to cut wood. +I was hacking at the root of a tree, when I beheld an iron ring fastened +to a trapdoor of the same metal. I soon cleared away the earth, +and pulling up the door, found a staircase, which I hastily made up +my mind to go down, carrying my hatchet with me by way of protection. +When I reached the bottom I discovered that I was in a huge palace, +as brilliantly lighted as any palace above ground that I had ever seen, +with a long gallery supported by pillars of jasper, ornamented with +capitals of gold. Down this gallery a lady came to meet me, +of such beauty that I forgot everything else, and thought only +of her. + +To save her all the trouble possible, I hastened towards her, +and bowed low. + +"Who are you? Who are you?" she said. "A man or a genius?" + +"A man, madam," I replied; "I have nothing to do with genii." + +"By what accident do you come here?" she asked again with a sigh. +"I have been in this place now for five and twenty years, and you are +the first man who has visited me." + +Emboldened by her beauty and gentleness, I ventured to reply, +"Before, madam, I answer your question, allow me to say how grateful I +am for this meeting, which is not only a consolation to me in my own +heavy sorrow, but may perhaps enable me to render your lot happier," +and then I told her who I was, and how I had come there. + +"Alas, prince," she said, with a deeper sigh than before, "you have +guessed rightly in supposing me an unwilling prisoner in this +gorgeous place. I am the daughter of the king of the Ebony Isle, +of whose fame you surely must have heard. At my father's desire I was +married to a prince who was my own cousin; but on my very wedding day, +I was snatched up by a genius, and brought here in a faint. +For a long while I did nothing but weep, and would not suffer +the genius to come near me; but time teaches us submission, +and I have now got accustomed to his presence, and if clothes and +jewels could content me, I have them in plenty. Every tenth day, +for five and twenty years, I have received a visit from him, +but in case I should need his help at any other time, I have only +to touch a talisman that stands at the entrance of my chamber. +It wants still five days to his next visit, and I hope that during +that time you will do me the honour to be my guest." + +I was too much dazzled by her beauty to dream of refusing her offer, +and accordingly the princess had me conducted to the bath, +and a rich dress befitting my rank was provided for me. +Then a feast of the most delicate dishes was served in a room +hung with embroidered Indian fabrics. + +Next day, when we were at dinner, I could maintain my patience +no longer, and implored the princess to break her bonds, and return +with me to the world which was lighted by the sun. + +"What you ask is impossible," she answered; "but stay here with +me instead, and we can be happy, and all you will have to do +is to betake yourself to the forest every tenth day, when I am +expecting my master the genius. He is very jealous, as you know, +and will not suffer a man to come near me." + +"Princess," I replied, "I see it is only fear of the genius that +makes you act like this. For myself, I dread him so little that I +mean to break his talisman in pieces! Awful though you think him, +he shall feel the weight of my arm, and I herewith take a solemn +vow to stamp out the whole race." + +The princess, who realized the consequences of such audacity, +entreated me not to touch the talisman. "If you do, it will be the +ruin of both of us," said she; "I know genii much better than you." +But the wine I had drunk had confused my brain; I gave one kick +to the talisman, and it fell into a thousand pieces. + +Hardly had my foot touched the talisman when the air became as dark +as night, a fearful noise was heard, and the palace shook to its +very foundations. In an instant I was sobered, and understood +what I had done. "Princess!" I cried, "what is happening?" + +"Alas!" she exclaimed, forgetting all her own terrors in anxiety +for me, "fly, or you are lost." + +I followed her advice and dashed up the staircase, leaving my +hatchet behind me. But I was too late. The palace opened and the +genius appeared, who, turning angrily to the princess, asked indignantly, + +"What is the matter, that you have sent for me like this?" + +"A pain in my heart," she replied hastily, "obliged me to seek +the aid of this little bottle. Feeling faint, I slipped and fell +against the talisman, which broke. That is really all." + +"You are an impudent liar!" cried the genius. "How did this hatchet +and those shoes get here?" + +"I never saw them before," she answered, "and you came in such +a hurry that you may have picked them up on the road without +knowing it." To this the genius only replied by insults and blows. +I could hear the shrieks and groans of the princess, and having +by this time taken off my rich garments and put on those in which I +had arrived the previous day, I lifted the trap, found myself +once more in the forest, and returned to my friend the tailor, +with a light load of wood and a heart full of shame and sorrow. + +The tailor, who had been uneasy at my long absence, was, delighted to +see me; but I kept silence about my adventure, and as soon as +possible retired to my room to lament in secret over my folly. +While I was thus indulging my grief my host entered, and said, +"There is an old man downstairs who has brought your hatchet +and slippers, which he picked up on the road, and now restores +to you, as he found out from one of your comrades where you lived. +You had better come down and speak to him yourself." At this +speech I changed colour, and my legs trembled under me. The tailor +noticed my confusion, and was just going to inquire the reason +when the door of the room opened, and the old man appeared, +carrying with him my hatchet and shoes. + +"I am a genius," he said, "the son of the daughter of Eblis, +prince of the genii. Is not this hatchet yours, and these shoes?" +Without waiting for an answer--which, indeed, I could hardly +have given him, so great was my fright--he seized hold of me, +and darted up into the air with the quickness of lightning, +and then, with equal swiftness, dropped down towards the earth. +When he touched the ground, he rapped it with his foot; it opened, +and we found ourselves in the enchanted palace, in the presence +of the beautiful princess of the Ebony Isle. But how different she +looked from what she was when I had last seen her, for she was lying +stretched on the ground covered with blood, and weeping bitterly. + +"Traitress!" cried the genius, "is not this man your lover?" + +She lifted up her eyes slowly, and looked sadly at me. "I never +saw him before," she answered slowly. "I do not know who he is." + +"What!" exclaimed the genius, "you owe all your sufferings to him, +and yet you dare to say he is a stranger to you!" + +"But if he really is a stranger to me," she replied, "why should I +tell a lie and cause his death?" + +"Very well," said the genius, drawing his sword, "take this, +and cut off his head." + +"Alas," answered the princess, "I am too weak even to hold the sabre. +And supposing that I had the strength, why should I put an innocent +man to death?" + +"You condemn yourself by your refusal," said the genius; then turning +to me, he added, "and you, do you not know her?" + +"How should I?" I replied, resolved to imitate the princess +in her fidelity. "How should I, when I never saw her before?" + +"Cut her head off," then, "if she is a stranger to you, and I shall +believe you are speaking the truth, and will set you at liberty." + +"Certainly," I answered, taking the sabre in my hands, and making +a sign to the princess to fear nothing, as it was my own life that I +was about to sacrifice, and not hers. But the look of gratitude +she gave me shook my courage, and I flung the sabre to the earth. + +"I should not deserve to live," I said to the genius, "if I were +such a coward as to slay a lady who is not only unknown to me, +but who is at this moment half dead herself. Do with me as you will-- +I am in your power--but I refuse to obey your cruel command." + +"I see," said the genius, "that you have both made up your minds +to brave me, but I will give you a sample of what you may expect." +So saying, with one sweep of his sabre he cut off a hand of the princess, +who was just able to lift the other to wave me an eternal farewell. +Then I lost consciousness for several minutes. + +When I came to myself I implored the genius to keep me no longer +in this state of suspense, but to lose no time in putting an end to +my sufferings. The genius, however, paid no attention to my prayers, +but said sternly, "That is the way in which a genius treats the woman +who has betrayed him. If I chose, I could kill you also; but I +will be merciful, and content myself with changing you into a dog, +an ass, a lion, or a bird--whichever you prefer." + +I caught eagerly at these words, as giving me a faint hope +of softening his wrath. "O genius!" I cried, "as you wish +to spare my life, be generous, and spare it altogether. +Grant my prayer, and pardon my crime, as the best man in the whole +world forgave his neighbour who was eaten up with envy of him." +Contrary to my hopes, the genius seemed interested in my words, +and said he would like to hear the story of the two neighbours; +and as I think, madam, it may please you, I will tell it to you also. + + + +The Story of the Envious Man and of Him Who Was Envied + + +In a town of moderate size, two men lived in neighbouring houses; +but they had not been there very long before one man took such a +hatred of the other, and envied him so bitterly, that the poor man +determined to find another home, hoping that when they no longer +met every day his enemy would forget all about him. So he sold +his house and the little furniture it contained, and moved into +the capital of the country, which was luckily at no great distance. +About half a mile from this city he bought a nice little place, +with a large garden and a fair-sized court, in the centre of which +stood an old well. + +In order to live a quieter life, the good man put on the robe +of a dervish, and divided his house into a quantity of small cells, +where he soon established a number of other dervishes. +The fame of his virtue gradually spread abroad, and many people, +including several of the highest quality, came to visit him and ask +his prayers. + +Of course it was not long before his reputation reached the ears of +the man who envied him, and this wicked wretch resolved never to rest +till he had in some way worked ill to the dervish whom he hated. +So he left his house and his business to look after themselves, +and betook himself to the new dervish monastery, where he was +welcomed by the founder with all the warmth imaginable. The excuse +he gave for his appearance was that he had come to consult the +chief of the dervishes on a private matter of great importance. +"What I have to say must not be overheard," he whispered; +"command, I beg of you, that your dervishes retire into their cells, +as night is approaching, and meet me in the court." + +The dervish did as he was asked without delay, and directly they +were alone together the envious man began to tell a long story, +edging, as they walked to and fro, always nearer to the well, and when +they were quite close, he seized the dervish and dropped him in. +He then ran off triumphantly, without having been seen by anyone, +and congratulating himself that the object of his hatred was dead, +and would trouble him no more. + +But in this he was mistaken! The old well had long been inhabited +(unknown to mere human beings) by a set of fairies and genii, +who caught the dervish as he fell, so that he received no hurt. +The dervish himself could see nothing, but he took for granted that +something strange had happened, or he must certainly have been dashed +against the side of the well and been killed. He lay quite still, +and in a moment he heard a voice saying, "Can you guess whom this man +is that we have saved from death?" + +"No," replied several other voices. + +And the first speaker answered, "I will tell you. This man, +from pure goodness of heart, forsook the town where he lived and +came to dwell here, in the hope of curing one of his neighbours +of the envy he felt towards him. But his character soon won him +the esteem of all, and the envious man's hatred grew, till he +came here with the deliberate intention of causing his death. +And this he would have done, without our help, the very day before +the Sultan has arranged to visit this holy dervish, and to entreat +his prayers for the princess, his daughter." + +"But what is the matter with the princess that she needs +the dervish's prayers?" asked another voice. + +"She has fallen into the power of the genius Maimoum, the son of Dimdim," +replied the first voice. "But it would be quite simple for this +holy chief of the dervishes to cure her if he only knew! In his +convent there is a black cat which has a tiny white tip to its tail. +Now to cure the princess the dervish must pull out seven of these +white hairs, burn three, and with their smoke perfume the head +of the princess. This will deliver her so completely that Maimoum, +the son of Dimdim, will never dare to approach her again." + +The fairies and genii ceased talking, but the dervish did not forget +a word of all they had said; and when morning came he perceived +a place in the side of the well which was broken, and where he +could easily climb out. + +The dervishes, who could not imagine what had become of him, +were enchanted at his reappearance. He told them of the attempt on +his life made by his guest of the previous day, and then retired into +his cell. He was soon joined here by the black cat of which the voice +had spoken, who came as usual to say good-morning to his master. +He took him on his knee and seized the opportunity to pull seven +white hairs out of his tail, and put them on one side till they +were needed. + +The sun had not long risen before the Sultan, who was anxious +to leave nothing undone that might deliver the princess, +arrived with a large suite at the gate of the monastery, +and was received by the dervishes with profound respect. +The Sultan lost no time in declaring the object of his visit, +and leading the chief of the dervishes aside, he said to him, +"Noble scheik, you have guessed perhaps what I have come to ask you?" + +"Yes, sire," answered the dervish; "if I am not mistaken, it is +the illness of the princess which has procured me this honour." + +"You are right," returned the Sultan, "and you will give me fresh +life if you can by your prayers deliver my daughter from the strange +malady that has taken possession of her." + +"Let your highness command her to come here, and I will see what I +can do." + +The Sultan, full of hope, sent orders at once that the princess +was to set out as soon as possible, accompanied by her usual staff +of attendants. When she arrived, she was so thickly veiled that +the dervish could not see her face, but he desired a brazier to be +held over her head, and laid the seven hairs on the burning coals. +The instant they were consumed, terrific cries were heard, +but no one could tell from whom they proceeded. Only the dervish +guessed that they were uttered by Maimoum the son of Dimdim, +who felt the princess escaping him. + +All this time she had seemed unconscious of what she was doing, +but now she raised her hand to her veil and uncovered her face. +"Where am I?" she said in a bewildered manner; "and how did I +get here?" + +The Sultan was so delighted to hear these words that he not only +embraced his daughter, but kissed the hand of the dervish. +Then, turning to his attendants who stood round, he said to them, +"What reward shall I give to the man who has restored me my daughter?" + +They all replied with one accord that he deserved the hand +of the princess. + +"That is my own opinion," said he, "and from this moment I declare +him to be my son-in-law." + +Shortly after these events, the grand-vizir died, and his post +was given to the dervish. But he did not hold it for long, for the +Sultan fell a victim to an attack of illness, and as he had no sons, +the soldiers and priests declared the dervish heir to the throne, +to the great joy of all the people. + +One day, when the dervish, who had now become Sultan, was making +a royal progress with his court, he perceived the envious man standing +in the crowd. He made a sign to one of his vizirs, and whispered in +his ear, "Fetch me that man who is standing out there, but take great +care not to frighten him." The vizir obeyed, and when the envious man +was brought before the Sultan, the monarch said to him, "My friend, +I am delighted to see you again." Then turning to an officer, +he added, "Give him a thousand pieces of gold out of my treasury, +and twenty waggon-loads of merchandise out of my private stores, +and let an escort of soldiers accompany him home." He then took +leave of the envious man, and went on his way. + +Now when I had ended my story, I proceeded to show the genius +how to apply it to himself. "O genius," I said, "you see that this +Sultan was not content with merely forgiving the envious man +for the attempt on his life; he heaped rewards and riches upon him." + +But the genius had made up his mind, and could not be softened. +"Do not imagine that you are going to escape so easily," he said. +"All I can do is to give you bare life; you will have to learn what +happens to people who interfere with me." + +As he spoke he seized me violently by the arm; the roof of the palace +opened to make way for us, and we mounted up so high into the air +that the earth looked like a little cloud. Then, as before, +he came down with the swiftness of lightning, and we touched +the ground on a mountain top. + +Then he stooped and gathered a handful of earth, and murmured some +words over it, after which he threw the earth in my face, saying as +he did so, "Quit the form of a man, and assume that of a monkey." +This done, he vanished, and I was in the likeness of an ape, +and in a country I had never seen before. + +However there was no use in stopping where I was, so I came down +the mountain and found myself in a flat plain which was bounded +by the sea. I travelled towards it, and was pleased to see a +vessel moored about half a mile from shore. There were no waves, +so I broke off the branch of a tree, and dragging it down to the +water's edge, sat across it, while, using two sticks for oars, +I rowed myself towards the ship. + +The deck was full of people, who watched my progress with interest, +but when I seized a rope and swung myself on board, I found that I +had only escaped death at the hands of the genius to perish +by those of the sailors, lest I should bring ill-luck to the +vessel and the merchants. "Throw him into the sea!" cried one. +"Knock him on the head with a hammer," exclaimed another. "Let me +shoot him with an arrow," said a third; and certainly somebody +would have had his way if I had not flung myself at the captain's +feet and grasped tight hold of his dress. He appeared touched +by my action and patted my head, and declared that he would take +me under his protection, and that no one should do me any harm. + +At the end of about fifty days we cast anchor before a large town, +and the ship was immediately surrounded by a multitude of small +boats filled with people, who had come either to meet their friends +or from simple curiosity. Among others, one boat contained several +officials, who asked to see the merchants on board, and informed +them that they had been sent by the Sultan in token of welcome, +and to beg them each to write a few lines on a roll of paper. +"In order to explain this strange request," continued the officers, +"it is necessary that you should know that the grand-vizir, +lately dead, was celebrated for his beautiful handwriting, +and the Sultan is anxious to find a similar talent in his successor. +Hitherto the search has been a failure, but his Highness has not yet +given up hope." + +One after another the merchants set down a few lines upon the roll, +and when they had all finished, I came forward, and snatched +the paper from the man who held it. At first they all thought I +was going to throw it into the sea, but they were quieted when they +saw I held it with great care, and great was their surprise when I +made signs that I too wished to write something. + +"Let him do it if he wants to," said the captain. "If he only makes +a mess of the paper, you may be sure I will punish him for it. +But if, as I hope, he really can write, for he is the cleverest +monkey I ever saw, I will adopt him as my son. The one I lost had +not nearly so much sense!" + +No more was said, and I took the pen and wrote the six sorts +of writing in use among the Arabs, and each sort contained +an original verse or couplet, in praise of the Sultan. And not +only did my handwriting completely eclipse that of the merchants, +but it is hardly too much to say that none so beautiful had ever +before been seen in that country. When I had ended the officials +took the roll and returned to the Sultan. + +As soon as the monarch saw my writing he did not so much as look +at the samples of the merchants, but desired his officials to take +the finest and most richly caparisoned horse in his stables, +together with the most magnificent dress they could procure, +and to put it on the person who had written those lines, and bring +him to court. + +The officials began to laugh when they heard the Sultan's command, +but as soon as they could speak they said, "Deign, your highness, +to excuse our mirth, but those lines were not written by a man +but by a monkey." + +"A monkey!" exclaimed the Sultan. + +"Yes, sire," answered the officials. "They were written by a monkey +in our presence." + +"Then bring me the monkey," he replied, "as fast as you can." + +The Sultan's officials returned to the ship and showed the royal +order to the captain. + +"He is the master," said the good man, and desired that I should +be sent for. + +Then they put on me the gorgeous robe and rowed me to land, where I +was placed on the horse and led to the palace. Here the Sultan +was awaiting me in great state surrounded by his court. + +All the way along the streets I had been the object of curiosity +to a vast crowd, which had filled every doorway and every window, +and it was amidst their shouts and cheers that I was ushered into +the presence of the Sultan. + +I approached the throne on which he was seated and made him three +low bows, then prostrated myself at his feet to the surprise of everyone, +who could not understand how it was possible that a monkey should +be able to distinguish a Sultan from other people, and to pay him +the respect due to his rank. However, excepting the usual speech, +I omitted none of the common forms attending a royal audience. + +When it was over the Sultan dismissed all the court, keeping with him +only the chief of the eunuchs and a little slave. He then passed +into another room and ordered food to be brought, making signs +to me to sit at table with him and eat. I rose from my seat, +kissed the ground, and took my place at the table, eating, as you +may suppose, with care and in moderation. + +Before the dishes were removed I made signs that writing materials, +which stood in one corner of the room, should be laid in front of me. +I then took a peach and wrote on it some verses in praise of the Sultan, +who was speechless with astonishment; but when I did the same +thing on a glass from which I had drunk he murmured to himself, +"Why, a man who could do as much would be cleverer than any other man, +and this is only a monkey!" + +Supper being over chessmen were brought, and the Sultan signed to me +to know if I would play with him. I kissed the ground and laid my hand +on my head to show that I was ready to show myself worthy of the honour. +He beat me the first game, but I won the second and third, and seeing +that this did not quite please I dashed off a verse by way of consolation. + +The Sultan was so enchanted with all the talents of which I had given +proof that he wished me to exhibit some of them to other people. +So turning to the chief of the eunuchs he said, "Go and beg my daughter, +Queen of Beauty, to come here. I will show her something she has +never seen before." + +The chief of the eunuchs bowed and left the room, ushering in a few +moments later the princess, Queen of Beauty. Her face was uncovered, +but the moment she set foot in the room she threw her veil over +her head. "Sire," she said to her father, "what can you be thinking +of to summon me like this into the presence of a man?" + +"I do not understand you," replied the Sultan. "There is nobody +here but the eunuch, who is your own servant, the little slave, +and myself, yet you cover yourself with your veil and reproach me +for having sent for you, as if I had committed a crime." + +"Sire," answered the princess, "I am right and you are wrong. +This monkey is really no monkey at all, but a young prince who has +been turned into a monkey by the wicked spells of a genius, son of +the daughter of Eblis." + +As will be imagined, these words took the Sultan by surprise, and he +looked at me to see how I should take the statement of the princess. +As I was unable to speak, I placed my hand on my head to show that it +was true. + +"But how do you know this, my daughter?" asked he. + +"Sire," replied Queen of Beauty, "the old lady who took care of me +in my childhood was an accomplished magician, and she taught me +seventy rules of her art, by means of which I could, in the twinkling +of an eye, transplant your capital into the middle of the ocean. +Her art likewise teaches me to recognise at first sight all persons +who are enchanted, and tells me by whom the spell was wrought." + +"My daughter," said the Sultan, "I really had no idea you were +so clever." + +"Sire," replied the princess, "there are many out-of-the-way things +it is as well to know, but one should never boast of them." + +"Well," asked the Sultan, "can you tell me what must be done +to disenchant the young prince?" + +"Certainly; and I can do it." + +"Then restore him to his former shape," cried the Sultan. +"You could give me no greater pleasure, for I wish to make him +my grand-vizir, and to give him to you for your husband." + +"As your Highness pleases," replied the princess. + +Queen of Beauty rose and went to her chamber, from which she +fetched a knife with some Hebrew words engraven on the blade. +She then desired the Sultan, the chief of the eunuchs, the little +slave, and myself to descend into a secret court of the palace, +and placed us beneath a gallery which ran all round, she herself +standing in the centre of the court. Here she traced a large +circle and in it wrote several words in Arab characters. + +When the circle and the writing were finished she stood in the middle +of it and repeated some verses from the Koran. Slowly the air +grew dark, and we felt as if the earth was about to crumble away, +and our fright was by no means diminished at seeing the genius, +son of the daughter of Eblis, suddenly appear under the form of a +colossal lion. + +"Dog," cried the princess when she first caught sight of him, +"you think to strike terror into me by daring to present yourself +before me in this hideous shape." + +"And you," retorted the lion, "have not feared to break our treaty +that engaged solemnly we should never interfere with each other." + +"Accursed genius!" exclaimed the princess, "it is you by whom +that treaty was first broken." + +"I will teach you how to give me so much trouble," said the lion, +and opening his huge mouth he advanced to swallow her. But the +princess expected something of the sort and was on her guard. +She bounded on one side, and seizing one of the hairs of his mane +repeated two or three words over it. In an instant it became a sword, +and with a sharp blow she cut the lion's body into two pieces. +These pieces vanished no one knew where, and only the lion's +head remained, which was at once changed into a scorpion. +Quick as thought the princess assumed the form of a serpent +and gave battle to the scorpion, who, finding he was getting +the worst of it, turned himself into an eagle and took flight. +But in a moment the serpent had become an eagle more powerful still, +who soared up in the air and after him, and then we lost sight of +them both. + +We all remained where we were quaking with anxiety, when the ground +opened in front of us and a black and white cat leapt out, its hair +standing on end, and miauing frightfully. At its heels was a wolf, +who had almost seized it, when the cat changed itself into a worm, +and, piercing the skin of a pomegranate which had tumbled from a tree, +hid itself in the fruit. The pomegranate swelled till it grew as +large as a pumpkin, and raised itself on to the roof of the gallery, +from which it fell into the court and was broken into bits. +While this was taking place the wolf, who had transformed himself +into a cock, began to swallow the seed of the pomegranate as fast +as he could. When all were gone he flew towards us, flapping his +wings as if to ask if we saw any more, when suddenly his eye fell +on one which lay on the bank of the little canal that flowed +through the court; he hastened towards it, but before he could touch +it the seed rolled into the canal and became a fish. The cock +flung himself in after the fish and took the shape of a pike, +and for two hours they chased each other up and down under the water, +uttering horrible cries, but we could see nothing. At length they +rose from the water in their proper forms, but darting such flames +of fire from their mouths that we dreaded lest the palace should +catch fire. Soon, however, we had much greater cause for alarm, +as the genius, having shaken off the princess, flew towards us. +Our fate would have been sealed if the princess, seeing our danger, +had not attracted the attention of the genius to herself. As it was, +the Sultan's beard was singed and his face scorched, the chief +of the eunuchs was burned to a cinder, while a spark deprived me +of the sight of one eye. Both I and the Sultan had given up all +hope of a rescue, when there was a shout of "Victory, victory!" +from the princess, and the genius lay at her feet a great heap +of ashes. + +Exhausted though she was, the princess at once ordered the little slave, +who alone was uninjured, to bring her a cup of water, which she +took in her hand. First repeating some magic words over it, +she dashed it into my face saying, "If you are only a monkey +by enchantment, resume the form of the man you were before." +In an instant I stood before her the same man I had formerly been, +though having lost the sight of one eye. + +I was about to fall on my knees and thank the princess but she did +not give me time. Turning to the Sultan, her father, she said, +"Sire, I have gained the battle, but it has cost me dear. The fire +has penetrated to my heart, and I have only a few moments to live. +This would not have happened if I had only noticed the last +pomegranate seed and eaten it like the rest. It was the last +struggle of the genius, and up to that time I was quite safe. +But having let this chance slip I was forced to resort to fire, +and in spite of all his experience I showed the genius that I +knew more than he did. He is dead and in ashes, but my own +death is approaching fast." "My daughter," cried the Sultan, +"how sad is my condition! I am only surprised I am alive at all! +The eunuch is consumed by the flames, and the prince whom you have +delivered has lost the sight of one eye." He could say no more, +for sobs choked his voice, and we all wept together. + +Suddenly the princess shrieked, "I burn, I burn!" and death came +to free her from her torments. + +I have no words, madam, to tell you of my feelings at this +terrible sight. I would rather have remained a monkey all my +life than let my benefactress perish in this shocking manner. +As for the Sultan, he was quite inconsolable, and his subjects, +who had dearly loved the princess, shared his grief. For seven +days the whole nation mourned, and then the ashes of the princess +were buried with great pomp, and a superb tomb was raised over her. + +As soon as the Sultan recovered from the severe illness which +had seized him after the death of the princess he sent for me +and plainly, though politely, informed me that my presence would +always remind him of his loss, and he begged that I would instantly +quit his kingdom, and on pain of death never return to it. I was, +of course, bound to obey, and not knowing what was to become of me +I shaved my beard and eyebrows and put on the dress of a calender. +After wandering aimlessly through several countries, I resolved to come +to Bagdad and request an audience of the Commander of the Faithful. + +And that, madam, is my story. + +The other Calender then told his story. + + + +Story of the Third Calendar, Son of a King + + +My story, said the Third Calender, is quite different from those +of my two friends. It was fate that deprived them of the sight +of their right eyes, but mine was lost by my own folly. + +My name is Agib, and I am the son of a king called Cassib, +who reigned over a large kingdom, which had for its capital +one of the finest seaport towns in the world. + +When I succeeded to my father's throne my first care was to visit +the provinces on the mainland, and then to sail to the numerous +islands which lay off the shore, in order to gain the hearts +of my subjects. These voyages gave me such a taste for sailing +that I soon determined to explore more distant seas, and commanded +a fleet of large ships to be got ready without delay. When they +were properly fitted out I embarked on my expedition. + +For forty days wind and weather were all in our favour, but the +next night a terrific storm arose, which blew us hither and thither +for ten days, till the pilot confessed that he had quite lost +his bearings. Accordingly a sailor was sent up to the masthead to try +to catch a sight of land, and reported that nothing was to be seen +but the sea and sky, except a huge mass of blackness that lay astern. + +On hearing this the pilot grew white, and, beating his breast, +he cried, "Oh, sir, we are lost, lost!" till the ship's crew trembled +at they knew not what. When he had recovered himself a little, +and was able to explain the cause of his terror, he replied, +in answer to my question, that we had drifted far out of our course, +and that the following day about noon we should come near that mass +of darkness, which, said he, is nothing but the famous Black Mountain. +This mountain is composed of adamant, which attracts to itself +all the iron and nails in your ship; and as we are helplessly +drawn nearer, the force of attraction will become so great that the +iron and nails will fall out of the ships and cling to the mountain, +and the ships will sink to the bottom with all that are in them. +This it is that causes the side of the mountain towards the sea to +appear of such a dense blackness. + +As may be supposed--continued the pilot--the mountain sides +are very rugged, but on the summit stands a brass dome supported +on pillars, and bearing on top the figure of a brass horse, +with a rider on his back. This rider wears a breastplate of lead, +on which strange signs and figures are engraved, and it is said +that as long as this statue remains on the dome, vessels will +never cease to perish at the foot of the mountain. + +So saying, the pilot began to weep afresh, and the crew, fearing their +last hour had come, made their wills, each one in favour of his fellow. + +At noon next day, as the pilot had foretold, we were so near to the +Black Mountain that we saw all the nails and iron fly out of the ships +and dash themselves against the mountain with a horrible noise. +A moment after the vessels fell asunder and sank, the crews with them. +I alone managed to grasp a floating plank, and was driven ashore +by the wind, without even a scratch. What was my joy on finding +myself at the bottom of some steps which led straight up the mountain, +for there was not another inch to the right or the left where a man +could set his foot. And, indeed, even the steps themselves were +so narrow and so steep that, if the lightest breeze had arisen, +I should certainly have been blown into the sea. + +When I reached the top I found the brass dome and the statue exactly +as the pilot had described, but was too wearied with all I had +gone through to do more than glance at them, and, flinging myself +under the dome, was asleep in an instant. In my dreams an old man +appeared to me and said, "Hearken, Agib! As soon as thou art awake +dig up the ground underfoot, and thou shalt find a bow of brass and +three arrows of lead. Shoot the arrows at the statue, and the rider +shall tumble into the sea, but the horse will fall down by thy side, +and thou shalt bury him in the place from which thou tookest the bow +and arrows. This being done the sea will rise and cover the mountain, +and on it thou wilt perceive the figure of a metal man seated +in a boat, having an oar in each hand. Step on board and let +him conduct thee; but if thou wouldest behold thy kingdom again, +see that thou takest not the name of Allah into thy mouth." + +Having uttered these words the vision left me, and I woke, +much comforted. I sprang up and drew the bow and arrows out of +the ground, and with the third shot the horseman fell with a great +crash into the sea, which instantly began to rise, so rapidly, that I +had hardly time to bury the horse before the boat approached me. +I stepped silently in and sat down, and the metal man pushed off, +and rowed without stopping for nine days, after which land appeared +on the horizon. I was so overcome with joy at this sight that I +forgot all the old man had told me, and cried out, "Allah be praised! +Allah be praised!" + +The words were scarcely out of my mouth when the boat and man +sank from beneath me, and left me floating on the surface. +All that day and the next night I swam and floated alternately, +making as well as I could for the land which was nearest to me. +At last my strength began to fail, and I gave myself up for lost, +when the wind suddenly rose, and a huge wave cast me on a flat shore. +Then, placing myself in safety, I hastily spread my clothes out to dry +in the sun, and flung myself on the warm ground to rest. + +Next morning I dressed myself and began to look about me. +There seemed to be no one but myself on the island, which was covered +with fruit trees and watered with streams, but seemed a long distance +from the mainland which I hoped to reach. Before, however, I had +time to feel cast down, I saw a ship making directly for the island, +and not knowing whether it would contain friends or foes, I hid +myself in the thick branches of a tree. + +The sailors ran the ship into a creek, where ten slaves landed, +carrying spades and pickaxes. In the middle of the island they stopped, +and after digging some time, lifted up what seemed to be a trapdoor. +They then returned to the vessel two or three times for furniture +and provisions, and finally were accompanied by an old man, +leading a handsome boy of fourteen or fifteen years of age. +They all disappeared down the trapdoor, and after remaining below +for a few minutes came up again, but without the boy, and let +down the trapdoor, covering it with earth as before. This done, +they entered the ship and set sail. + +As soon as they were out of sight, I came down from my tree, +and went to the place where the boy had been buried. I dug up +the earth till I reached a large stone with a ring in the centre. +This, when removed, disclosed a flight of stone steps which led +to a large room richly furnished and lighted by tapers. On a pile +of cushions, covered with tapestry, sat the boy. He looked up, +startled and frightened at the sight of a stranger in such a place, +and to soothe his fears, I at once spoke: "Be not alarmed, sir, +whoever you may be. I am a king, and the son of a king, and will +do you no hurt. On the contrary, perhaps I have been sent here +to deliver you out of this tomb, where you have been buried alive." + +Hearing my words, the young man recovered himself, and when I had ended, +he said, "The reasons, Prince, that have caused me to be buried +in this place are so strange that they cannot but surprise you. +My father is a rich merchant, owning much land and many ships, +and has great dealings in precious stones, but he never ceased +mourning that he had no child to inherit his wealth. + +"At length one day he dreamed that the following year a son would +be born to him, and when this actually happened, he consulted +all the wise men in the kingdom as to the future of the infant. +One and all they said the same thing. I was to live happily +till I was fifteen, when a terrible danger awaited me, which I +should hardly escape. If, however, I should succeed in doing so, +I should live to a great old age. And, they added, when the statue +of the brass horse on the top of the mountain of adamant is thrown +into the sea by Agib, the son of Cassib, then beware, for fifty days +later your son shall fall by his hand! + +"This prophecy struck the heart of my father with such woe, that he +never got over it, but that did not prevent him from attending +carefully to my education till I attained, a short time ago, +my fifteenth birthday. It was only yesterday that the news +reached him that ten days previously the statue of brass had been +thrown into the sea, and he at once set about hiding me in this +underground chamber, which was built for the purpose, promising to +fetch me out when the forty days have passed. For myself, I have +no fears, as Prince Agib is not likely to come here to look for me." + +I listened to his story with an inward laugh as to the absurdity of my +ever wishing to cause the death of this harmless boy, whom I hastened +to assure of my friendship and even of my protection; begging him, +in return, to convey me in his father's ship to my own country. +I need hardly say that I took special care not to inform him that I +was the Agib whom he dreaded. + +The day passed in conversation on various subjects, and I found him +a youth of ready wit and of some learning. I took on myself the +duties of a servant, held the basin and water for him when he washed, +prepared the dinner and set it on the table. He soon grew to love me, +and for thirty-nine days we spent as pleasant an existence as could +be expected underground. + +The morning of the fortieth dawned, and the young man when he woke +gave thanks in an outburst of joy that the danger was passed. +"My father may be here at any moment," said he, "so make me, I pray you, +a bath of hot water, that I may bathe, and change my clothes, +and be ready to receive him." + +So I fetched the water as he asked, and washed and rubbed him, +after which he lay down again and slept a little. When he opened +his eyes for the second time, he begged me to bring him a melon +and some sugar, that he might eat and refresh himself. + +I soon chose a fine melon out of those which remained, but could +find no knife to cut it with. "Look in the cornice over my head," +said he, "and I think you will see one." It was so high above me, +that I had some difficulty in reaching it, and catching my foot in the +covering of the bed, I slipped, and fell right upon the young man, +the knife going straight into his heart. + +At this awful sight I shrieked aloud in my grief and pain. +I threw myself on the ground and rent my clothes and tore my hair +with sorrow. Then, fearing to be punished as his murderer by the +unhappy father, I raised the great stone which blocked the staircase, +and quitting the underground chamber, made everything fast as before. + +Scarcely had I finished when, looking out to sea, I saw the vessel +heading for the island, and, feeling that it would be useless +for me to protest my innocence, I again concealed myself among +the branches of a tree that grew near by. + +The old man and his slaves pushed off in a boat directly the ship +touched land, and walked quickly towards the entrance to the +underground chamber; but when they were near enough to see that +the earth had been disturbed, they paused and changed colour. +In silence they all went down and called to the youth by name; +then for a moment I heard no more. Suddenly a fearful scream +rent the air, and the next instant the slaves came up the steps, +carrying with them the body of the old man, who had fainted from sorrow! +Laying him down at the foot of the tree in which I had taken shelter, +they did their best to recover him, but it took a long while. +When at last he revived, they left him to dig a grave, and then laying +the young man's body in it, they threw in the earth. + +This ended, the slaves brought up all the furniture that remained below, +and put it on the vessel, and breaking some boughs to weave +a litter, they laid the old man on it, and carried him to the ship, +which spread its sails and stood out to sea. + +So once more I was quite alone, and for a whole month I walked daily +over the island, seeking for some chance of escape. At length +one day it struck me that my prison had grown much larger, and that +the mainland seemed to be nearer. My heart beat at this thought, +which was almost too good to be true. I watched a little longer: +there was no doubt about it, and soon there was only a tiny stream +for me to cross. + +Even when I was safe on the other side I had a long distance to go +on the mud and sand before I reached dry ground, and very tired I was, +when far in front of me I caught sight of a castle of red copper, +which, at first sight, I took to be a fire. I made all the haste +I could, and after some miles of hard walking stood before it, +and gazed at it in astonishment, for it seemed to me the most wonderful +building I had ever beheld. While I was still staring at it, +there came towards me a tall old man, accompanied by ten young men, +all handsome, and all blind of the right eye. + +Now in its way, the spectacle of ten men walking together, all blind +of the right eye, is as uncommon as that of a copper castle, and I was +turning over in my mind what could be the meaning of this strange fact, +when they greeted me warmly, and inquired what had brought me there. +I replied that my story was somewhat long, but that if they would +take the trouble to sit down, I should be happy to tell it them. +When I had finished, the young men begged that I would go +with them to the castle, and I joyfully accepted their offer. +We passed through what seemed to me an endless number of rooms, +and came at length into a large hall, furnished with ten small +blue sofas for the ten young men, which served as beds as well +as chairs, and with another sofa in the middle for the old man. +As none of the sofas could hold more than one person, they bade me +place myself on the carpet, and to ask no questions about anything I +should see. + +After a little while the old man rose and brought in supper, which I +ate heartily, for I was very hungry. Then one of the young men begged +me to repeat my story, which had struck them all with astonishment, +and when I had ended, the old man was bidden to "do his duty," +as it was late, and they wished to go to bed. At these words +he rose, and went to a closet, from which he brought out ten basins, +all covered with blue stuff. He set one before each of the young men, +together with a lighted taper. + +When the covers were taken off the basins, I saw they were filled +with ashes, coal-dust, and lamp-black. The young men mixed these +all together, and smeared the whole over their heads and faces. +They then wept and beat their breasts, crying, "This is the fruit +of idleness, and of our wicked lives." + +This ceremony lasted nearly the whole night, and when it stopped +they washed themselves carefully, and put on fresh clothes, +and lay down to sleep. + +All this while I had refrained from questions, though my curiosity +almost seemed to burn a hole in me, but the following day, when we went +out to walk, I said to them, "Gentlemen, I must disobey your wishes, +for I can keep silence no more. You do not appear to lack wit, +yet you do such actions as none but madmen could be capable of. +Whatever befalls me I cannot forbear asking, `Why you daub your +faces with black, and how it is you are all blind of one eye?'" +But they only answered that such questions were none of my business, +and that I should do well to hold my peace. + +During that day we spoke of other things, but when night came, +and the same ceremony was repeated, I implored them most earnestly +to let me know the meaning of it all. + +"It is for your own sake," replied one of the young men, "that we have +not granted your request, and to preserve you from our unfortunate fate. +If, however, you wish to share our destiny we will delay no longer." + +I answered that whatever might be the consequence I wished to have +my curiosity satisfied, and that I would take the result on my +own head. He then assured me that, even when I had lost my eye, +I should be unable to remain with them, as their number was complete, +and could not be added to. But to this I replied that, though I +should be grieved to part company with such honest gentlemen, +I would not be turned from my resolution on that account. + +On hearing my determination my ten hosts then took a sheep and +killed it, and handed me a knife, which they said I should by-and-by +find useful. "We must sew you into this sheep-skin," said they, +"and then leave you. A fowl of monstrous size, called a roc, +will appear in the air, taking you to be a sheep. He will snatch +you up and carry you into the sky, but be not alarmed, for he +will bring you safely down and lay you on the top of a mountain. +When you are on the ground cut the skin with the knife and throw +it off. As soon as the roc sees you he will fly away from fear, +but you must walk on till you come to a castle covered with +plates of gold, studded with jewels. Enter boldly at the gate, +which always stands open, but do not ask us to tell you what we +saw or what befel us there, for that you will learn for yourself. +This only we may say, that it cost us each our right eye, and has +imposed upon us our nightly penance." + +After the young gentlemen had been at the trouble of sewing +the sheep-skin on me they left me, and retired to the hall. +In a few minutes the roc appeared, and bore me off to the +top of the mountain in his huge claws as lightly as if I +had been a feather, for this great white bird is so strong +that he has been known to carry even an elephant to his nest in the hills. + +The moment my feet touched the ground I took out my knife and cut +the threads that bound me, and the sight of me in my proper clothes +so alarmed the roc that he spread his wings and flew away. +Then I set out to seek the castle. + +I found it after wandering about for half a day, and never could I +have imagined anything so glorious. The gate led into a square court, +into which opened a hundred doors, ninety-nine of them being +of rare woods and one of gold. Through each of these doors +I caught glimpses of splendid gardens or of rich storehouses. + +Entering one of the doors which was standing open I found myself +in a vast hall where forty young ladies, magnificently dressed, +and of perfect beauty, were reclining. As soon as they saw +me they rose and uttered words of welcome, and even forced me +to take possession of a seat that was higher than their own, +though my proper place was at their feet. Not content with this, +one brought me splendid garments, while another filled a basin +with scented water and poured it over my hands, and the rest +busied themselves with preparing refreshments. After I had eaten +and drunk of the most delicate food and rarest wines, the ladies +crowded round me and begged me to tell them all my adventures. + +By the time I had finished night had fallen, and the ladies lighted +up the castle with such a prodigious quantity of tapers that even day +could hardly have been brighter. We then sat down to a supper of dried +fruits and sweetmeats, after which some sang and others danced. +I was so well amused that I did not notice how the time was passing, +but at length one of the ladies approached and informed me it +was midnight, and that, as I must be tired, she would conduct +me to the room that had been prepared for me. Then, bidding me +good-night, I was left to sleep. + +I spent the next thirty-nine days in much the same way as the first, +but at the close of that time the ladies appeared (as was their custom) +in my room one morning to inquire how I had slept, and instead +of looking cheerful and smiling they were in floods of tears. +"Prince," said they, "we must leave you, and never was it so hard +to part from any of our friends. Most likely we shall never see +you again, but if you have sufficient self-command perhaps we may yet +look forward to a meeting." + +"Ladies," I replied, "what is the meaning of these strange words-- +I pray you to tell me?" + +"Know then," answered one of them, "that we are all princesses-- +each a king's daughter. We live in this castle together, in the way +that you have seen, but at the end of every year secret duties +call us away for the space of forty days. The time has now come; +but before we depart, we will leave you our keys, so that you +may not lack entertainment during our absence. But one thing +we would ask of you. The Golden Door, alone, forbear to open, +as you value your own peace, and the happiness of your life. +That door once unlocked, we must bid you farewell for ever." + +Weeping, I assured them of my prudence, and after embracing +me tenderly, they went their ways. + +Every day I opened two or three fresh doors, each of which +contained behind it so many curious things that I had no chance +of feeling dull, much as I regretted the absence of the ladies. +Sometimes it was an orchard, whose fruit far exceeded in bigness +any that grew in my father's garden. Sometimes it was a court +planted with roses, jessamine, dafeodils, hyacinths and anemones, +and a thousand other flowers of which I did not know the names. +Or again, it would be an aviary, fitted with all kinds of singing birds, +or a treasury heaped up with precious stones; but whatever I might see, +all was perfect of its own sort. + +Thirty-nine days passed away more rapidly than I could have +conceived possible, and the following morning the princesses were +to return to the castle. But alas! I had explored every corner, +save only the room that was shut in by the Golden Door, and I +had no longer anything to amuse myself with. I stood before the +forbidden place for some time, gazing at its beauty; then a happy +inspiration struck me, that because I unlocked the door it was not +necessary that I should enter the chamber. It would be enough +for me to stand outside and view whatever hidden wonders might be therein. + +Thus arguing against my own conscience, I turned the key, when a smell +rushed out that, pleasant though it was, overcame me completely, +and I fell fainting across the threshold. Instead of being warned +by this accident, directly I came to myself I went for a few +moments into the air to shake of the effects of the perfume, +and then entered boldly. I found myself in a large, vaulted room, +lighted by tapers, scented with aloes and ambergris, standing in golden +candle-sticks, whilst gold and silver lamps hung from the ceiling. + +Though objects of rare workmanship lay heaped around me, I paid them +scant attention, so much was I struck by a great black horse which stood +in one corner, the handsomest and best-shaped animal I had ever seen. +His saddle and bridle were of massive gold, curiously wrought; +one side of his trough was filled with clean barley and sesame, +and the other with rose water. I led the animal into the open air, +and then jumped on his back, shaking the reins as I did so, but as he +never stirred, I touched him lightly with a switch I had picked up +in his stable. No sooner did he feel the stroke, than he spread +his wings (which I had not perceived before), and flew up with me +straight into the sky. When he had reached a prodigious height, +he next darted back to earth, and alighted on the terrace belonging +to a castle, shaking me violently out of the saddle as he did so, +and giving me such a blow with his tail, that he knocked out my +right eye. + +Half-stunned as I was with all that had happened to me, I rose +to my feet, thinking as I did so of what had befallen the ten +young men, and watching the horse which was soaring into the clouds. +I left the terrace and wandered on till I came to a hall, +which I knew to have been the one from which the roc had taken me, +by the ten blue sofas against the wall. + +The ten young men were not present when I first entered, but came +in soon after, accompanied by the old man. They greeted me kindly, +and bewailed my misfortune, though, indeed, they had expected +nothing less. "All that has happened to you," they said, "we also +have undergone, and we should be enjoying the same happiness still, +had we not opened the Golden Door while the princesses were absent. +You have been no wiser than we, and have suffered the same punishment. +We would gladly receive you among us, to perform such penance +as we do, but we have already told you that this is impossible. +Depart, therefore, from hence and go to the Court of Bagdad, +where you shall meet with him that can decide your destiny." +They told me the way I was to travel, and I left them. + +On the road I caused my beard and eyebrows to be shaved, and put +on a Calender's habit. I have had a long journey, but arrived this +evening in the city, where I met my brother Calenders at the gate, +being strangers like myself. We wondered much at one another, +to see we were all blind of the same eye, but we had no leisure +to discourse at length of our common calamities. We had only so much +time as to come hither to implore those favours which you have been +generously pleased to grant us. + +He finished, and it was Zobeida's turn to speak: "Go wherever +you please," she said, addressing all three. "I pardon you all, +but you must depart immediately out of this house." + + + +The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor + + +IN the times of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid 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 appetising 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 differences 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 entrusted 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 honour 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-humour, 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 recognised 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 favour to hear my story," said I. + +"Speak then," replied the captain, "I'm 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 +recognised 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 honourable 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 foot-hold-- +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 up rose 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 damped 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 round 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 Rohat 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 Rohat 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 harbour 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 over-taken 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 faggots, +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 faggots, 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 favour 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 +recognised 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 +recognised 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 colour. 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 seashore 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 favour, +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 lock-smith 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 favour 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 neighbours, 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 realised 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 favourable 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 cosy 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 ship-wrecked 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 a while 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 cocoanuts, +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 labour 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 labours 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 minute 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, and 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 come 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 seashore 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 entrusted 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 Haroun al Raschid, 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 colour, 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 Haroun al Raschid 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 favourites, +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, Sindbad thus began. + + + +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 follow him into the presence of +Haroun al Raschid, 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 honour 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 honour 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 +toward 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 ware-houses +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 honours and rewards he +bestowed upon me; and since that time I have rested from my labours, +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 +in it." + +Sindbad then gave him a hundred sequins, and hence-forward 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. + + + +The Little Hunchback + + +In the kingdom of Kashgar, which is, as everybody knows, +situated on the frontiers of Great Tartary, there lived long ago +a tailor and his wife who loved each other very much. One day, +when the tailor was hard at work, a little hunchback came and sat at +the entrance of the shop, and began to sing and play his tambourine. +The tailor was amused with the antics of the fellow, and thought +he would take him home to divert his wife. The hunchback having +agreed to his proposal, the tailor closed his shop and they set +off together. + +When they reached the house they found the table ready laid for supper, +and in a very few minutes all three were sitting before a beautiful +fish which the tailor's wife had cooked with her own hands. +But unluckily, the hunchback happened to swallow a large bone, +and, in spite of all the tailor and his wife could do to help him, +died of suffocation in an instant. Besides being very sorry for +the poor man, the tailor and his wife were very much frightened on +their own account, for if the police came to hear of it the worthy +couple ran the risk of being thrown into prison for wilful murder. +In order to prevent this dreadful calamity they both set about +inventing some plan which would throw suspicion on some one else, +and at last they made up their minds that they could do no better than +select a Jewish doctor who lived close by as the author of the crime. +So the tailor picked up the hunchback by his head while his wife +took his feet and carried him to the doctor's house. Then they +knocked at the door, which opened straight on to a steep staircase. +A servant soon appeared, feeling her way down the dark staircase +and inquired what they wanted. + +"Tell your master," said the tailor, "that we have brought a very sick +man for him to cure; and," he added, holding out some money, "give him +this in advance, so that he may not feel he is wasting his time." +The servant remounted the stairs to give the message to the doctor, +and the moment she was out of sight the tailor and his wife carried +the body swiftly after her, propped it up at the top of the staircase, +and ran home as fast as their legs could carry them. + +Now the doctor was so delighted at the news of a patient (for he +was young, and had not many of them), that he was transported +with joy. + +"Get a light," he called to the servant, "and follow me as fast as +you can!" and rushing out of his room he ran towards the staircase. +There he nearly fell over the body of the hunchback, and without knowing +what it was gave it such a kick that it rolled right to the bottom, +and very nearly dragged the doctor after it. "A light! a light!" +he cried again, and when it was brought and he saw what he had done +he was almost beside himself with terror. + +"Holy Moses!" he exclaimed, "why did I not wait for the light? +I have killed the sick man whom they brought me; and if the sacred +Ass of Esdras does not come to my aid I am lost! It will not be long +before I am led to jail as a murderer." + +Agitated though he was, and with reason, the doctor did not forget +to shut the house door, lest some passers-by might chance to see +what had happened. He then took up the corpse and carried it +into his wife's room, nearly driving her crazy with fright. + +"It is all over with us!" she wailed, "if we cannot find some +means of getting the body out of the house. Once let the sun +rise and we can hide it no longer! How were you driven to commit +such a terrible crime?" + +"Never mind that," returned the doctor, "the thing is to find a way +out of it." + +For a long while the doctor and his wife continued to turn over +in their minds a way of escape, but could not find any that seemed +good enough. At last the doctor gave it up altogether and resigned +himself to bear the penalty of his misfortune. + +But his wife, who had twice his brains, suddenly exclaimed, "I have +thought of something! Let us carry the body on the roof of the house +and lower it down the chimney of our neighbour the Mussulman." +Now this Mussulman was employed by the Sultan, and furnished +his table with oil and butter. Part of his house was occupied +by a great storeroom, where rats and mice held high revel. + +The doctor jumped at his wife's plan, and they took up the hunchback, +and passing cords under his armpits they let him down into the +purveyor's bed-room so gently that he really seemed to be leaning +against the wall. When they felt he was touching the ground they +drew up the cords and left him. + +Scarcely had they got back to their own house when the purveyor +entered his room. He had spent the evening at a wedding feast, +and had a lantern in his hand. In the dim light it cast he was +astonished to see a man standing in his chimney, but being naturally +courageous he seized a stick and made straight for the supposed thief. +"Ah!" he cried, "so it is you, and not the rats and mice, who steal +my butter. I'll take care that you don't want to come back!" + +So saying he struck him several hard blows. The corpse fell on +the floor, but the man only redoubled his blows, till at length it +occurred to him it was odd that the thief should lie so still and make +no resistance. Then, finding he was quite dead, a cold fear took +possession of him. "Wretch that I am," said he, "I have murdered +a man. Ah, my revenge has gone too far. Without the help of Allah +I am undone! Cursed be the goods which have led me to my ruin." +And already he felt the rope round his neck. + +But when he had got over the first shock he began to think of some +way out of the difficulty, and seizing the hunchback in his arms he +carried him out into the street, and leaning him against the wall +of a shop he stole back to his own house, without once looking +behind him. + +A few minutes before the sun rose, a rich Christian merchant, +who supplied the palace with all sorts of necessaries, left his house, +after a night of feasting, to go to the bath. Though he was +very drunk, he was yet sober enough to know that the dawn was at hand, +and that all good Mussulmen would shortly be going to prayer. +So he hastened his steps lest he should meet some one on his way +to the mosque, who, seeing his condition, would send him to prison +as a drunkard. In his haste he jostled against the hunchback, +who fell heavily upon him, and the merchant, thinking he was being +attacked by a thief, knocked him down with one blow of his fist. +He then called loudly for help, beating the fallen man all +the while. + +The chief policeman of the quarter came running up, and found +a Christian ill-treating a Mussulman. "What are you doing?" +he asked indignantly. + +"He tried to rob me," replied the merchant, "and very nearly +choked me." + +"Well, you have had your revenge," said the man, catching hold +of his arm. "Come, be off with you!" + +As he spoke he held out his hand to the hunchback to help him up, +but the hunchback never moved. "Oho!" he went on, looking closer, +"so this is the way a Christian has the impudence to treat +a Mussulman!" and seizing the merchant in a firm grasp he took +him to the inspector of police, who threw him into prison till +the judge should be out of bed and ready to attend to his case. +All this brought the merchant to his senses, but the more he thought +of it the less he could understand how the hunchback could have died +merely from the blows he had received. + +The merchant was still pondering on this subject when he was +summoned before the chief of police and questioned about his crime, +which he could not deny. As the hunchback was one of the Sultan's +private jesters, the chief of police resolved to defer sentence +of death until he had consulted his master. He went to the palace +to demand an audience, and told his story to the Sultan, who only answered, + +"There is no pardon for a Christian who kills a Mussulman. +Do your duty." + +So the chief of police ordered a gallows to be erected, and sent +criers to proclaim in every street in the city that a Christian +was to be hanged that day for having killed a Mussulman. + +When all was ready the merchant was brought from prison and led +to the foot of the gallows. The executioner knotted the cord firmly +round the unfortunate man's neck and was just about to swing him +into the air, when the Sultan's purveyor dashed through the crowd, +and cried, panting, to the hangman, + +"Stop, stop, don't be in such a hurry. It was not he who did +the murder, it was I." + +The chief of police, who was present to see that everything was +in order, put several questions to the purveyor, who told him the +whole story of the death of the hunchback, and how he had carried +the body to the place where it had been found by the Christian merchant. + +"You are going," he said to the chief of police, "to kill an +innocent man, for it is impossible that he should have murdered +a creature who was dead already. It is bad enough for me +to have slain a Mussulman without having it on my conscience +that a Christian who is guiltless should suffer through my fault." + +Now the purveyor's speech had been made in a loud voice, and was +heard by all the crowd, and even if he had wished it, the chief +of police could not have escaped setting the merchant free. + +"Loose the cords from the Christian's neck," he commanded, +turning to the executioner, "and hang this man in his place, +seeing that by his own confession he is the murderer." + +The hangman did as he was bid, and was tying the cord firmly, +when he was stopped by the voice of the Jewish doctor beseeching +him to pause, for he had something very important to say. +When he had fought his way through the crowd and reached the chief +of police, + +"Worshipful sir," he began, "this Mussulman whom you desire +to hang is unworthy of death; I alone am guilty. Last night +a man and a woman who were strangers to me knocked at my door, +bringing with them a patient for me to cure. The servant opened it, +but having no light was hardly able to make out their faces, +though she readily agreed to wake me and to hand me the fee for +my services. While she was telling me her story they seem to have +carried the sick man to the top of the staircase and then left +him there. I jumped up in a hurry without waiting for a lantern, +and in the darkness I fell against something, which tumbled headlong +down the stairs and never stopped till it reached the bottom. +When I examined the body I found it was quite dead, and the corpse +was that of a hunchback Mussulman. Terrified at what we had done, +my wife and I took the body on the roof and let it down the chimney +of our neighbour the purveyor, whom you were just about to hang. +The purveyor, finding him in his room, naturally thought he was a thief, +and struck him such a blow that the man fell down and lay motionless +on the floor. Stooping to examine him, and finding him stone dead, +the purveyor supposed that the man had died from the blow he +had received; but of course this was a mistake, as you will see from +my account, and I only am the murderer; and although I am innocent +of any wish to commit a crime, I must suffer for it all the same, +or else have the blood of two Musselmans on my conscience. +Therefore send away this man, I pray you, and let me take his place, +as it is I who am guilty." + +On hearing the declaration of the Jewish doctor, the chief of police +commanded that he should be led to the gallows, and the Sultan's +purveyor go free. The cord was placed round the Jew's neck, +and his feet had already ceased to touch the ground when the voice +of the tailor was heard beseeching the executioner to pause one +moment and to listen to what he had to say. + +"Oh, my lord," he cried, turning to the chief of police, +"how nearly have you caused the death of three innocent people! +But if you will only have the patience to listen to my tale, +you shall know who is the real culprit. If some one has to suffer, +it must be me! Yesterday, at dusk, I was working in my shop with a +light heart when the little hunchback, who was more than half drunk, +came and sat in the doorway. He sang me several songs, and then +I invited him to finish the evening at my house. He accepted +my invitation, and we went away together. At supper I helped him +to a slice of fish, but in eating it a bone stuck in his throat, +and in spite of all we could do he died in a few minutes. We felt deeply +sorry for his death, but fearing lest we should be held responsible, +we carried the corpse to the house of the Jewish doctor. I knocked, +and desired the servant to beg her master to come down as fast +as possible and see a sick man whom we had brought for him to cure; +and in order to hasten his movements I placed a piece of money +in her hand as the doctor's fee. Directly she had disappeared I +dragged the body to the top of the stairs, and then hurried away +with my wife back to our house. In descending the stairs the doctor +accidentally knocked over the corpse, and finding him dead believed +that he himself was the murderer. But now you know the truth set +him free, and let me die in his stead." + +The chief of police and the crowd of spectators were lost in astonishment +at the strange events to which the death of the hunchback had given rise. + +"Loosen the Jewish doctor," said he to the hangman, "and string up +the tailor instead, since he has made confession of his crime. +Really, one cannot deny that this is a very singular story, +and it deserves to be written in letters of gold." + +The executioner speedily untied the knots which confined the doctor, +and was passing the cord round the neck of the tailor, when the +Sultan of Kashgar, who had missed his jester, happened to make +inquiry of his officers as to what had become of him. + +"Sire," replied they, "the hunchback having drunk more than was +good for him, escaped from the palace and was seen wandering about +the town, where this morning he was found dead. A man was arrested +for having caused his death, and held in custody till a gallows +was erected. At the moment that he was about to suffer punishment, +first one man arrived, and then another, each accusing themselves +of the murder, and this went on for a long time, and at the +present instant the chief of police is engaged in questioning +a man who declares that he alone is the true assassin." + +The Sultan of Kashgar no sooner heard these words than he ordered +an usher to go to the chief of police and to bring all the persons +concerned in the hunchback's death, together with the corpse, +that he wished to see once again. The usher hastened on his errand, +but was only just in time, for the tailor was positively swinging +in the air, when his voice fell upon the silence of the crowd, +commanding the hangman to cut down the body. The hangman, +recognising the usher as one of the king's servants, cut down +the tailor, and the usher, seeing the man was safe, sought the chief +of police and gave him the Sultan's message. Accordingly, the chief +of police at once set out for the palace, taking with him the tailor, +the doctor, the purveyor, and the merchant, who bore the dead +hunchback on their shoulders. + +When the procession reached the palace the chief of police prostrated +himself at the feet of the Sultan, and related all that he knew of +the matter. The Sultan was so much struck by the circumstances that he +ordered his private historian to write down an exact account of what +had passed, so that in the years to come the miraculous escape of the +four men who had thought themselves murderers might never be forgotten. + +The Sultan asked everybody concerned in the hunchback's affair +to tell him their stories. Among others was a prating barber, +whose tale of one of his brothers follows. + + + +Story of the Barber's Fifth Brother + + +As long as our father lived Alnaschar was very idle. Instead of working +for his bread he was not ashamed to ask for it every evening, and to +support himself next day on what he had received the night before. +When our father died, worn out by age, he only left seven hundred +silver drachmas to be divided amongst us, which made one hundred +for each son. Alnaschar, who had never possessed so much money +in his life, was quite puzzled to know what to do with it. +After reflecting upon the matter for some time he decided to lay it +out on glasses, bottles, and things of that sort, which he would +buy from a wholesale merchant. Having bought his stock he next +proceeded to look out for a small shop in a good position, where he +sat down at the open door, his wares being piled up in an uncovered +basket in front of him, waiting for a customer among the passers-by. + +In this attitude he remained seated, his eyes fixed on the basket, +but his thoughts far away. Unknown to himself he began to talk +out loud, and a tailor, whose shop was next door to his, heard quite +plainly what he was saying. + +"This basket," said Alnaschar to himself, "has cost me a hundred drachmas-- +all that I possess in the world. Now in selling the contents +piece by piece I shall turn two hundred, and these hundreds I +shall again lay out in glass, which will produce four hundred. +By this means I shall in course of time make four thousand drachmas, +which will easily double themselves. When I have got ten thousand I +will give up the glass trade and become a jeweller, and devote all +my time to trading in pearls, diamonds, and other precious stones. +At last, having all the wealth that heart can desire, I will buy +a beautiful country house, with horses and slaves, and then I will +lead a merry life and entertain my friends. At my feasts I will +send for musicians and dancers from the neighbouring town to amuse +my guests. In spite of my riches I shall not, however, give up trade +till I have amassed a capital of a hundred thousand drachmas, when, +having become a man of much consideration, I shall request the hand +of the grand-vizir's daughter, taking care to inform the worthy +father that I have heard favourable reports of her beauty and wit, +and that I will pay down on our wedding day 3 thousand gold pieces. +Should the vizir refuse my proposal, which after all is hardly to +be expected, I will seize him by the beard and drag him to my house." + +When I shall have married his daughter I will give her ten of the best +eunuchs that can be found for her service. Then I shall put on my most +gorgeous robes, and mounted on a horse with a saddle of fine gold, +and its trappings blazing with diamonds, followed by a train +of slaves, I shall present myself at the house of the grand-vizir, +the people casting down their eyes and bowing low as I pass along. +At the foot of the grand-vizir's staircase I shall dismount, +and while my servants stand in a row to right and left I shall +ascend the stairs, at the head of which the grand-vizir will be +waiting to receive me. He will then embrace me as his son-in-law, +and giving me his seat will place himself below me. This being done +(as I have every reason to expect), two of my servants will enter, +each bearing a purse containing a thousand pieces of gold. +One of these I shall present to him saying, "Here are the thousand +gold pieces that I offered for your daughter's hand, and here," +I shall continue, holding out the second purse, "are another +thousand to show you that I am a man who is better than his word." +After hearing of such generosity the world will talk of nothing else. + +I shall return home with the same pomp as I set out, and my wife +will send an officer to compliment me on my visit to her father, +and I shall confer on the officer the honour of a rich dress and +a handsome gift. Should she send one to me I shall refuse it and +dismiss the bearer. I shall never allow my wife to leave her rooms +on any pretext whatever without my permission, and my visits to her +will be marked by all the ceremony calculated to inspire respect. +No establishment will be better ordered than mine, and I shall take +care always to be dressed in a manner suitable to my position. +In the evening, when we retire to our apartments, I shall sit +in the place of honour, where I shall assume a grand demeanour +and speak little, gazing straight before me, and when my wife, +lovely as the full moon, stands humbly in front of my chair I shall +pretend not to see her. Then her women will say to me, "Respected lord +and master, your wife and slave is before you waiting to be noticed. +She is mortified that you never deign to look her way; she is +tired of standing so long. Beg her, we pray you, to be seated." +Of course I shall give no signs of even hearing this speech, +which will vex them mightily. They will throw themselves at my feet +with lamentations, and at length I will raise my head and throw a +careless glance at her, then I shall go back to my former attitude. +The women will think that I am displeased at my wife's dress and +will lead her away to put on a finer one, and I on my side shall +replace the one I am wearing with another yet more splendid. +They will then return to the charge, but this time it will take +much longer before they persuade me even to look at my wife. +It is as well to begin on my wedding-day as I mean to go on for the +rest of our lives. + +The next day she will complain to her mother of the way she has +been treated, which will fill my heart with joy. Her mother +will come to seek me, and, kissing my hands with respect, +will say, "My lord" (for she could not dare to risk my anger +by using the familiar title of "son-in-law"), "My lord, do not, +I implore you, refuse to look upon my daughter or to approach her. +She only lives to please you, and loves you with all her soul." +But I shall pay no more heed to my mother-in-law's words than I +did to those of the women. Again she will beseech me to listen +to her entreaties, throwing herself this time at my feet, but all +to no purpose. Then, putting a glass of wine into my wife's hand, +she will say to her, "There, present that to him yourself, he cannot +have the cruelty to reject anything offered by so beautiful a hand," +and my wife will take it and offer it to me tremblingly with tears +in her eyes, but I shall look in the other direction. This will +cause her to weep still more, and she will hold out the glass crying, +"Adorable husband, never shall I cease my prayers till you have done +me the favour to drink." Sick of her importunities, these words +will goad me to fury. I shall dart an angry look at her and give +her a sharp blow on the cheek, at the same time giving her a kick +so violent that she will stagger across the room and fall on to +the sofa. + +"My brother," pursued the barber, "was so much absorbed in his dreams +that he actually did give a kick with his foot, which unluckily hit +the basket of glass. It fell into the street and was instantly +broken into a thousand pieces." + +His neighbour the tailor, who had been listening to his visions, +broke into a loud fit of laughter as he saw this sight. + +"Wretched man!" he cried, "you ought to die of shame at behaving +so to a young wife who has done nothing to you. You must be +a brute for her tears and prayers not to touch your heart. +If I were the grand-vizir I would order you a hundred blows from +a bullock whip, and would have you led round the town accompanied +by a herald who should proclaim your crimes." + +The accident, so fatal to all his profits, had restored my brother +to his senses, and seeing that the mischief had been caused by his +own insufferable pride, he rent his clothes and tore his hair, +and lamented himself so loudly that the passers-by stopped to listen. +It was a Friday, so these were more numerous than usual. +Some pitied Alnaschar, others only laughed at him, but the vanity +which had gone to his head had disappeared with his basket of glass, +and he was loudly bewailing his folly when a lady, evidently a person +of consideration, rode by on a mule. She stopped and inquired +what was the matter, and why the man wept. They told her that he +was a poor man who had laid out all his money on this basket +of glass, which was now broken. On hearing the cause of these loud +wails the lady turned to her attendant and said to him, "Give him +whatever you have got with you." The man obeyed, and placed in my +brother's hands a purse containing five hundred pieces of gold. +Alnaschar almost died of joy on receiving it. He blessed the lady +a thousand times, and, shutting up his shop where he had no longer +anything to do, he returned home. + +He was still absorbed in contemplating his good fortune, when a knock came +to his door, and on opening it he found an old woman standing outside. + +"My son," she said, "I have a favour to ask of you. It is the hour +of prayer and I have not yet washed myself. Let me, I beg you, +enter your house, and give me water." + +My brother, although the old woman was a stranger to him, did not +hesitate to do as she wished. He gave her a vessel of water and then +went back to his place and his thoughts, and with his mind busy over +his last adventure, he put his gold into a long and narrow purse, +which he could easily carry in his belt. During this time the old +woman was busy over her prayers, and when she had finished she +came and prostrated herself twice before my brother, and then +rising called down endless blessings on his head. Observing her +shabby clothes, my brother thought that her gratitude was in reality +a hint that he should give her some money to buy some new ones, +so he held out two pieces of gold. The old woman started back +in surprise as if she had received an insult. "Good heavens!" +she exclaimed, "what is the meaning of this? Is it possible that you +take me, my lord, for one of those miserable creatures who force +their way into houses to beg for alms? Take back your money. +I am thankful to say I do not need it, for I belong to a beautiful +lady who is very rich and gives me everything I want." + +My brother was not clever enough to detect that the old woman had +merely refused the two pieces of money he had offered her in order +to get more, but he inquired if she could procure him the pleasure +of seeing this lady. + +"Willingly," she replied; "and she will be charmed to marry you, +and to make you the master of all her wealth. So pick up your money +and follow me." + +Delighted at the thought that he had found so easily both a +fortune and a beautiful wife, my brother asked no more questions, +but concealing his purse, with the money the lady had given him, +in the folds of his dress, he set out joyfully with his guide. + +They walked for some distance till the old woman stopped at a +large house, where she knocked. The door was opened by a young +Greek slave, and the old woman led my brother across a well-paved +court into a well-furnished hall. Here she left him to inform +her mistress of his presence, and as the day was hot he flung +himself on a pile of cushions and took off his heavy turban. +In a few minutes there entered a lady, and my brother perceived at +the first glance that she was even more beautiful and more richly +dressed than he had expected. He rose from his seat, but the lady +signed to him to sit down again and placed herself beside him. +After the usual compliments had passed between them she said, +"We are not comfortable here, let us go into another room," +and passing into a smaller chamber, apparently communicating +with no other, she continued to talk to him for some time. +Then rising hastily she left him, saying, "Stay where you are, +I will come back in a moment." + +He waited as he was told, but instead of the lady there entered a huge +black slave with a sword in his hand. Approaching my brother with +an angry countenance he exclaimed, "What business have you here?" +His voice and manner were so terrific that Alnaschar had not strength +to reply, and allowed his gold to be taken from him, and even +sabre cuts to be inflicted on him without making any resistance. +As soon as he was let go, he sank on the ground powerless to move, +though he still had possession of his senses. Thinking he was dead, +the black ordered the Greek slave to bring him some salt, and between +them they rubbed it into his wounds, thus giving him acute agony, +though he had the presence of mind to give no sign of life. +They then left him, and their place was taken by the old woman, +who dragged him to a trapdoor and threw him down into a vault filled +with the bodies of murdered men. + +At first the violence of his fall caused him to lose consciousness, +but luckily the salt which had been rubbed into his wounds had by +its smarting preserved his life, and little by little he regained +his strength. At the end of two days he lifted the trapdoor +during the night and hid himself in the courtyard till daybreak, +when he saw the old woman leave the house in search of more prey. +Luckily she did not observe him, and when she was out of sight he +stole from this nest of assassins and took refuge in my house. + +I dressed his wounds and tended him carefully, and when a month +had passed he was as well as ever. His one thought was how to +be revenged on that wicked old hag, and for this purpose he had +a purse made large enough to contain five hundred gold pieces, +but filled it instead with bits of glass. This he tied round +him with his sash, and, disguising himself as an old woman, +he took a sabre, which he hid under his dress. + +One morning as he was hobbling through the streets he met his +old enemy prowling to see if she could find anyone to decoy. +He went up to her and, imitating the voice of a woman, he said, +"Do you happen to have a pair of scales you could lend me? +I have just come from Persia and have brought with me five hundred +gold pieces, and I am anxious to see if they are the proper weight." + +"Good woman," replied the old hag, "you could not have asked +anyone better. My son is a money-changer, and if you will follow +me he will weigh them for you himself. Only we must be quick or he +will have gone to his shop." So saying she led the way to the same +house as before, and the door was opened by the same Greek slave. + +Again my brother was left in the hall, and the pretended son +appeared under the form of the black slave. "Miserable crone," +he said to my brother, "get up and come with me," and turned +to lead the way to the place of murder. Alnaschar rose too, +and drawing the sabre from under his dress dealt the black such +a blow on his neck that his head was severed from his body. +My brother picked up the head with one hand, and seizing the body +with the other dragged it to the vault, when he threw it in and sent +the head after it. The Greek slave, supposing that all had passed +as usual, shortly arrived with the basin of salt, but when she +beheld Alnaschar with the sabre in his hand she let the basin fall +and turned to fly. My brother, however, was too quick for her, +and in another instant her head was rolling from her shoulders. +The noise brought the old woman running to see what was the matter, +and he seized her before she had time to escape. "Wretch!" he cried, +"do you know me?" + +"Who are you, my lord?" she replied trembling all over. "I have +never seen you before." + +"I am he whose house you entered to offer your hypocritical prayers. +Don't you remember now?" + +She flung herself on her knees to implore mercy, but he cut her +in four pieces. + +There remained only the lady, who was quite ignorant of all that +was taking place around her. He sought her through the house, +and when at last he found her, she nearly fainted with terror at +the sight of him. She begged hard for life, which he was generous +enough to give her, but he bade her to tell him how she had got into +partnership with the abominable creatures he had just put to death. + +"I was once," replied she, "the wife of an honest merchant, and that +old woman, whose wickedness I did not know, used occasionally to +visit me. "Madam," she said to me one day, "we have a grand wedding +at our house to-day. If you would do us the honour to be present, +I am sure you would enjoy yourself." I allowed myself to be persuaded, +put on my richest dress, and took a purse with a hundred pieces of gold. +Once inside the doors I was kept by force by that dreadful black, +and it is now three years that I have been here, to my great grief." + +"That horrible black must have amassed great wealth," remarked my brother. + +"Such wealth," returned she, "that if you succeed in carrying it +all away it will make you rich for ever. Come and let us see +how much there is." + +She led Alnaschar into a chamber filled with coffers packed with gold, +which he gazed at with an admiration he was powerless to conceal. "Go," +she said, "and bring men to carry them away." + +My brother did not wait to be told twice, and hurried out into +the streets, where he soon collected ten men. They all came back +to the house, but what was his surprise to find the door open, +and the room with the chests of gold quite empty. The lady had been +cleverer than himself, and had made the best use of her time. However, +he tried to console himself by removing all the beautiful furniture, +which more than made up for the five hundred gold pieces he had lost. + +Unluckily, on leaving the house, he forgot to lock the door, +and the neighbours, finding the place empty, informed the police, +who next morning arrested Alnaschar as a thief. My brother tried to bribe +them to let him off, but far from listening to him they tied his hands, +and forced him to walk between them to the presence of the judge. +When they had explained to the official the cause of complaint, +he asked Alnaschar where he had obtained all the furniture that he +had taken to his house the day before. + +"Sir," replied Alnaschar, "I am ready to tell you the whole story, +but give, I pray you, your word, that I shall run no risk of punishment." + +"That I promise," said the judge. So my brother began at the +beginning and related all his adventures, and how he had avenged +himself on those who had betrayed him. As to the furniture, +he entreated the judge at least to allow him to keep part to make +up for the five hundred pieces of gold which had been stolen from him. + +The judge, however, would say nothing about this, and lost no time +in sending men to fetch away all that Alnaschar had taken from +the house. When everything had been moved and placed under his roof +he ordered my brother to leave the town and never more to enter it +on peril of his life, fearing that if he returned he might seek +justice from the Caliph. Alnaschar obeyed, and was on his way +to a neighbouring city when he fell in with a band of robbers, +who stripped him of his clothes and left him naked by the roadside. +Hearing of his plight, I hurried after him to console him for +his misfortunes, and to dress him in my best robe. I then brought +him back disguised, under cover of night, to my house, where I +have since given him all the care I bestow on my other brothers. + + + +The Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother + + +There now remains for me to relate to you the story of my sixth brother, +whose name was Schacabac. Like the rest of us, he inherited +a hundred silver drachmas from our father, which he thought +was a large fortune, but through ill-luck, he soon lost it all, +and was driven to beg. As he had a smooth tongue and good manners, +he really did very well in his new profession, and he devoted +himself specially to making friends with the servants in big houses, +so as to gain access to their masters. + +One day he was passing a splendid mansion, with a crowd of servants +lounging in the courtyard. He thought that from the appearance +of the house it might yield him a rich harvest, so he entered +and inquired to whom it belonged. + +"My good man, where do you come from?" replied the servant. "Can't you +see for yourself that it can belong to nobody but a Barmecide?" +for the Barmecides were famed for their liberality and generosity. +My brother, hearing this, asked the porters, of whom there were several, +if they would give him alms. They did not refuse, but told him +politely to go in, and speak to the master himself. + +My brother thanked them for their courtesy and entered the building, +which was so large that it took him some time to reach the apartments +of the Barmecide. At last, in a room richly decorated with paintings, +he saw an old man with a long white beard, sitting on a sofa, +who received him with such kindness that my brother was emboldened +to make his petition. + +"My lord," he said, "you behold in me a poor man who only lives +by the help of persons as rich and as generous as you." + +Before he could proceed further, he was stopped by the astonishment +shown by the Barmecide. "Is it possible," he cried, "that while I +am in Bagdad, a man like you should be starving? That is a state +of things that must at once be put an end to! Never shall it be said +that I have abandoned you, and I am sure that you, on your part, +will never abandon me." + +"My lord," answered my brother, "I swear that I have not broken +my fast this whole day." + +"What, you are dying of hunger?" exclaimed the Barmecide. +"Here, slave; bring water, that we may wash our hands before meat!" +No slave appeared, but my brother remarked that the Barmecide did +not fail to rub his hands as if the water had been poured over them. + +Then he said to my brother, "Why don't you wash your hands too?" +and Schacabac, supposing that it was a joke on the part of the +Barmecide (though he could see none himself), drew near, and imitated +his motion. + +When the Barmecide had done rubbing his hands, he raised his voice, +and cried, "Set food before us at once, we are very hungry." +No food was brought, but the Barmecide pretended to help himself +from a dish, and carry a morsel to his mouth, saying as he did so, +"Eat, my friend, eat, I entreat. Help yourself as freely as if +you were at home! For a starving man, you seem to have a very +small appetite." + +"Excuse me, my lord," replied Schacabac, imitating his gestures +as before, "I really am not losing time, and I do full justice +to the repast." + +"How do you like this bread?" asked the Barmecide. "I find it +particularly good myself." + +"Oh, my lord," answered my brother, who beheld neither meat nor bread, +"never have I tasted anything so delicious." + +"Eat as much as you want," said the Barmecide. "I bought +the woman who makes it for five hundred pieces of gold, +so that I might never be without it." + +After ordering a variety of dishes (which never came) to be placed on +the table, and discussing the merits of each one, the Barmecide declared +that having dined so well, they would now proceed to take their wine. +To this my brother at first objected, declaring that it was forbidden; +but on the Barmecide insisting that it was out of the question +that he should drink by himself, he consented to take a little. +The Barmecide, however, pretended to fill their glasses so often, +that my brother feigned that the wine had gone into his head, +and struck the Barmecide such a blow on the head, that he fell to +the ground. Indeed, he raised his hand to strike him a second time, +when the Barmecide cried out that he was mad, upon which my brother +controlled himself, and apologised and protested that it was +all the fault of the wine he had drunk. At this the Barmecide, +instead of being angry, began to laugh, and embraced him heartily. +"I have long been seeking," he exclaimed, "a man of your description, +and henceforth my house shall be yours. You have had the good +grace to fall in with my humour, and to pretend to eat and to drink +when nothing was there. Now you shall be rewarded by a really +good supper." + +Then he clapped his hands, and all the dishes were brought that +they had tasted in imagination before and during the repast, +slaves sang and played on various instruments. All the while +Schacabac was treated by the Barmecide as a familiar friend, +and dressed in a garment out of his own wardrobe. + +Twenty years passed by, and my brother was still living with +the Barmecide, looking after his house, and managing his affairs. +At the end of that time his generous benefactor died without heirs, +so all his possessions went to the prince. They even despoiled +my brother of those that rightly belonged to him, and he, +now as poor as he had ever been in his life, decided to cast +in his lot with a caravan of pilgrims who were on their way +to Mecca. Unluckily, the caravan was attacked and pillaged by +the Bedouins, and the pilgrims were taken prisoners. My brother +became the slave of a man who beat him daily, hoping to drive him +to offer a ransom, although, as Schacabac pointed out, it was +quite useless trouble, as his relations were as poor as himself. +At length the Bedouin grew tired of tormenting, and sent him on +a camel to the top of a high barren mountain, where he left him +to take his chance. A passing caravan, on its way to Bagdad, +told me where he was to be found, and I hurried to his rescue, +and brought him in a deplorable condition back to the town. + +"This,"--continued the barber,--"is the tale I related to the +Caliph, who, when I had finished, burst into fits of laughter. + +"Well were you called `the Silent,'" said he; "no name was ever +better deserved. But for reasons of my own, which it is not necessary +to mention, I desire you to leave the town, and never to come back." + +"I had of course no choice but to obey, and travelled about for several +years until I heard of the death of the Caliph, when I hastily +returned to Bagdad, only to find that all my brothers were dead. +It was at this time that I rendered to the young cripple the important +service of which you have heard, and for which, as you know, +he showed such profound ingratitude, that he preferred rather +to leave Bagdad than to run the risk of seeing me. I sought him +long from place to place, but it was only to-day, when I expected +it least, that I came across him, as much irritated with me as ever"-- +So saying the tailor went on to relate the story of the lame man +and the barber, which has already been told. + +"When the barber," he continued, "had finished his tale, we came +to the conclusion that the young man had been right, when he +had accused him of being a great chatter-box. However, we wished +to keep him with us, and share our feast, and we remained at table +till the hour of afternoon prayer. Then the company broke up, +and I went back to work in my shop. + +"It was during this interval that the little hunchback, half drunk +already, presented himself before me, singing and playing on his drum. +I took him home, to amuse my wife, and she invited him to supper. +While eating some fish, a bone got into his throat, and in spite +of all we could do, he died shortly. It was all so sudden that we +lost our heads, and in order to divert suspicion from ourselves, +we carried the body to the house of a Jewish physician. He placed +it in the chamber of the purveyor, and the purveyor propped it up in +the street, where it was thought to have been killed by the merchant. + +"This, Sire, is the story which I was obliged to tell to satisfy +your highness. It is now for you to say if we deserve mercy +or punishment; life or death?" + +The Sultan of Kashgar listened with an air of pleasure which filled +the tailor and his friends with hope. "I must confess," he exclaimed, +"that I am much more interested in the stories of the barber and +his brothers, and of the lame man, than in that of my own jester. +But before I allow you all four to return to your own homes, and have +the corpse of the hunchback properly buried, I should like to see +this barber who has earned your pardon. And as he is in this town, +let an usher go with you at once in search of him." + +The usher and the tailor soon returned, bringing with them an old man +who must have been at least ninety years of age. "O Silent One," +said the Sultan, "I am told that you know many strange stories. +Will you tell some of them to me?" + +"Never mind my stories for the present," replied the barber, +"but will your Highness graciously be pleased to explain why this Jew, +this Christian, and this Mussulman, as well as this dead body, +are all here?" + +"What business is that of yours?" asked the Sultan with a smile; +but seeing that the barber had some reasons for his question, +he commanded that the tale of the hunchback should be told him. + +"It is certainly most surprising," cried he, when he had heard it all, +"but I should like to examine the body." He then knelt down, and took +the head on his knees, looking at it attentively. Suddenly he burst +into such loud laughter that he fell right backwards, and when he +had recovered himself enough to speak, he turned to the Sultan. +"The man is no more dead than I am," he said; "watch me." As he +spoke he drew a small case of medicines from his pocket and rubbed +the neck of the hunchback with some ointment made of balsam. Next he +opened the dead man's mouth, and by the help of a pair of pincers +drew the bone from his throat. At this the hunchback sneezed, +stretched himself and opened his eyes. + +The Sultan and all those who saw this operation did not know which +to admire most, the constitution of the hunchback who had apparently +been dead for a whole night and most of one day, or the skill of +the barber, whom everyone now began to look upon as a great man. +His Highness desired that the history of the hunchback should be +written down, and placed in the archives beside that of the barber, +so that they might be associated in people's minds to the end of time. +And he did not stop there; for in order to wipe out the memory of +what they had undergone, he commanded that the tailor, the doctor, +the purveyor and the merchant, should each be clothed in his presence +with a robe from his own wardrobe before they returned home. +As for the barber, he bestowed on him a large pension, and kept him +near his own person. + + + +The Adventures of Prince Camaralzaman and the Princess Badoura + + +Some twenty days' sail from the coast of Persia lies the isle of the +children of Khaledan. The island is divided into several provinces, +in each of which are large flourishing towns, and the whole forms +an important kingdom. It was governed in former days by a king +named Schahzaman, who, with good right, considered himself one of +the most peaceful, prosperous, and fortunate monarchs on the earth. +In fact, he had but one grievance, which was that none of his four +wives had given him an heir. + +This distressed him so greatly that one day he confided his grief +to the grand-vizir, who, being a wise counsellor, said: "Such matters +are indeed beyond human aid. Allah alone can grant your desire, +and I should advise you, sire, to send large gifts to those holy men +who spend their lives in prayer, and to beg for their intercessions. +Who knows whether their petitions may not be answered!" + +The king took his vizir's advice, and the result of so many prayers for +an heir to the throne was that a son was born to him the following year. + +Schahzaman sent noble gifts as thank offerings to all the mosques +and religious houses, and great rejoicings were celebrated in honour +of the birth of the little prince, who was so beautiful that he +was named Camaralzaman, or "Moon of the Century." + +Prince Camaralzaman was brought up with extreme care by an excellent +governor and all the cleverest teachers, and he did such credit to them +that when he was grown up, a more charming and accomplished young man +was not to be found. Whilst he was still a youth the king, his father, +who loved him dearly, had some thoughts of abdicating in his favour. +As usual he talked over his plans with his grand-vizir, who, +though he did not approve the idea, would not state all his objections. + +"Sire," he replied, "the prince is still very young for the cares +of state. Your Majesty fears his growing idle and careless, +and doubtless you are right. But how would it be if he were first +to marry? This would attach him to his home, and your Majesty +might give him a share in your counsels, so that he might gradually +learn how to wear a crown, which you can give up to him whenever +you find him capable of wearing it." + +The vizir's advice once more struck the king as being good, +and he sent for his son, who lost no time in obeying the summons, +and standing respectfully with downcast eyes before the king asked +for his commands. + +"I have sent for you," said the king, "to say that I wish you to marry. +What do you think about it?" + +The prince was so much overcome by these words that he remained +silent for some time. At length he said: "Sire, I beg you +to pardon me if I am unable to reply as you might wish. +I certainly did not expect such a proposal as I am still so young, +and I confess that the idea of marrying is very distasteful to me. +Possibly I may not always be in this mind, but I certainly feel +that it will require some time to induce me to take the step +which your Majesty desires." + +This answer greatly distressed the king, who was sincerely grieved +by his objection to marriage. However he would not have recourse +to extreme measures, so he said: "I do not wish to force you; +I will give you time to reflect, but remember that such a step +is necessary, for a prince such as you who will some day be called +to rule over a great kingdom." + +From this time Prince Camaralzaman was admitted to the royal council, +and the king showed him every mark of favour. + +At the end of a year the king took his son aside, and said: +"Well, my son, have you changed your mind on the subject of marriage, +or do you still refuse to obey my wish?" + +The prince was less surprised but no less firm than on the +former occasion, and begged his father not to press the subject, +adding that it was quite useless to urge him any longer. + +This answer much distressed the king, who again confided his trouble +to his vizir. + +"I have followed your advice," he said; "but Camaralzaman declines +to marry, and is more obstinate than ever." + +"Sire," replied the vizir, "much is gained by patience, and your +Majesty might regret any violence. Why not wait another year and then +inform the Prince in the midst of the assembled council that the good +of the state demands his marriage? He cannot possibly refuse again +before so distinguished an assemblage, and in our immediate presence." + +The Sultan ardently desired to see his son married at once, but he +yielded to the vizir's arguments and decided to wait. He then visited +the prince's mother, and after telling her of his disappointment +and of the further respite he had given his son, he added: +"I know that Camaralzaman confides more in you than he does in me. +Pray speak very seriously to him on this subject, and make him realize +that he will most seriously displease me if he remains obstinate, +and that he will certainly regret the measures I shall be obliged +to take to enforce my will." + +So the first time the Sultana Fatima saw her son she told him she +had heard of his refusal to marry, adding how distressed she felt +that he should have vexed his father so much. She asked what reasons +he could have for his objections to obey. + +"Madam," replied the prince, "I make no doubt that there are as +many good, virtuous, sweet, and amiable women as there are others +very much the reverse. Would that all were like you! But what revolts +me is the idea of marrying a woman without knowing anything at all +about her. My father will ask the hand of the daughter of some +neighbouring sovereign, who will give his consent to our union. +Be she fair or frightful, clever or stupid, good or bad, I must +marry her, and am left no choice in the matter. How am I to know +that she will not be proud, passionate, contemptuous, and recklessly +extravagant, or that her disposition will in any way suit mine?" + +"But, my son," urged Fatima, "you surely do not wish to be the last +of a race which has reigned so long and so gloriously over this kingdom?" + +"Madam," said the prince, "I have no wish to survive the king, +my father, but should I do so I will try to reign in such a manner +as may be considered worthy of my predecessors." + +These and similar conversations proved to the Sultan how useless it +was to argue with his son, and the year elapsed without bringing +any change in the prince's ideas. + +At length a day came when the Sultan summoned him before the council, +and there informed him that not only his own wishes but the good +of the empire demanded his marriage, and desired him to give his +answer before the assembled ministers. + +At this Camaralzaman grew so angry and spoke with so much heat +that the king, naturally irritated at being opposed by his son +in full council, ordered the prince to be arrested and locked up +in an old tower, where he had nothing but a very little furniture, +a few books, and a single slave to wait on him. + +Camaralzaman, pleased to be free to enjoy his books, showed himself +very indifferent to his sentence. + +When night came he washed himself, performed his devotions, +and, having read some pages of the Koran, lay down on a couch, +without putting out the light near him, and was soon asleep. + +Now there was a deep well in the tower in which Prince +Camaralzaman was imprisoned, and this well was a favourite +resort of the fairy Maimoune, daughter of Damriat, chief of a +legion of genii. Towards midnight Maimoune floated lightly +up from the well, intending, according to her usual habit, +to roam about the upper world as curiosity or accident might prompt. + +The light in the prince's room surprised her, and without disturbing +the slave, who slept across the threshold, she entered the room, +and approaching the bed was still more astonished to find it occupied. + +The prince lay with his face half hidden by the coverlet. +Maimoune lifted it a little and beheld the most beautiful youth +she had ever seen. + +"What a marvel of beauty he must be when his eyes are open!" +she thought. "What can he have done to deserve to be treated +like this?" + +She could not weary gazing at Camaralzaman, but at length, +having softly kissed his brow and each cheek, she replaced +the coverlet and resumed her flight through the air. + +As she entered the middle region she heard the sound of great wings +coming towards her, and shortly met one of the race of bad genii. +This genie, whose name was Danhasch, recognised Maimoune with terror, +for he knew the supremacy which her goodness gave her over him. +He would gladly have avoided her altogether, but they were so near +that he must either be prepared to fight or yield to her, so he at once +addressed her in a conciliatory tone: + +"Good Maimoune, swear to me by Allah to do me no harm, and on my +side I will promise not to injure you." + +"Accursed genie!" replied Maimoune, "what harm can you do me? +But I will grant your power and give the promise you ask. And now +tell me what you have seen and done to-night." + +"Fair lady," said Danhasch, "you meet me at the right moment to hear +something really interesting. I must tell you that I come from the +furthest end of China, which is one of the largest and most powerful +kingdoms in the world. The present king has one only daughter, who is +so perfectly lovely that neither you, nor I, nor any other creature +could find adequate terms in which to describe her marvellous charms. +You must therefore picture to yourself the most perfect features, +joined to a brilliant and delicate complexion, and an enchanting +expression, and even then imagination will fall short of the reality. + +"The king, her father, has carefully shielded this treasure from +the vulgar gaze, and has taken every precaution to keep her from +the sight of everyone except the happy mortal he may choose to be +her husband. But in order to give her variety in her confinement he +has built her seven palaces such as have never been seen before. +The first palace is entirely composed of rock crystal, the second +of bronze, the third of fine steel, the fourth of another and more +precious species of bronze, the fifth of touchstone, the sixth +of silver, and the seventh of solid gold. They are all most +sumptuously furnished, whilst the gardens surrounding them are +laid out with exquisite taste. In fact, neither trouble nor cost +has been spared to make this retreat agreeable to the princess. +The report of her wonderful beauty has spread far and wide, and many +powerful kings have sent embassies to ask her hand in marriage. +The king has always received these embassies graciously, but says +that he will never oblige the princess to marry against her will, +and as she regularly declines each fresh proposal, the envoys have +had to leave as disappointed in the result of their missions as they +were gratified by their magnificent receptions." + +"Sire," said the princess to her father, "you wish me to marry, +and I know you desire to please me, for which I am very grateful. +But, indeed, I have no inclination to change my state, +for where could I find so happy a life amidst so many beautiful +and delightful surroundings? I feel that I could never be as happy +with any husband as I am here, and I beg you not to press one on me." + +"At last an embassy came from a king so rich and powerful that the +King of China felt constrained to urge this suit on his daughter. +He told her how important such an alliance would be, and pressed +her to consent. In fact, he pressed her so persistingly that the +princess at length lost her temper and quite forgot the respect due +to her father. "Sire," cried she angrily, "do not speak further +of this or any other marriage or I will plunge this dagger in my +breast and so escape from all these importunities." + +"The king of China was extremely indignant with his daughter and replied: +"You have lost your senses and you must be treated accordingly." +So he had her shut in one set of rooms in one of her palaces, +and only allowed her ten old women, of whom her nurse was the head, +to wait on her and keep her company. He next sent letters to all +the kings who had sued for the princess's hand, begging they would +think of her no longer, as she was quite insane, and he desired +his various envoys to make it known that anyone who could cure her +should have her to wife. + +"Fair Maimoune," continued Danhasch, "this is the present state +of affairs. I never pass a day without going to gaze on this +incomparable beauty, and I am sure that if you would only +accompany me you would think the sight well worth the trouble, +and own that you never saw such loveliness before." + +The fairy only answered with a peal of laughter, and when at length +she had control of her voice she cried, "Oh, come, you are making +game of me! I thought you had something really interesting to tell +me instead of raving about some unknown damsel. What would you say +if you could see the prince I have just been looking at and whose +beauty is really transcendent? That is something worth talking about, +you would certainly quite lose your head." + +"Charming Maimoune," asked Danhasch, "may I inquire who and what +is the prince of whom you speak?" + +"Know," replied Maimoune, "that he is in much the same case as +your princess. The king, his father, wanted to force him to marry, +and on the prince's refusal to obey he has been imprisoned in an old +tower where I have just seen him." + +"I don't like to contradict a lady," said Danhasch, "but you must +really permit me to doubt any mortal being as beautiful as my princess." + +"Hold your tongue," cried Maimoune. "I repeat that is impossible." + +"Well, I don't wish to seem obstinate," replied Danhasch, "the best +plan to test the truth of what I say will be for you to let me +take you to see the princess for yourself." + +"There is no need for that," retorted Maimoune; "we can satisfy +ourselves in another way. Bring your princess here and lay +her down beside my prince. We can then compare them at leisure, +and decide which is in the right." + +Danhasch readily consented, and after having the tower where the prince +was confined pointed out to him, and making a wager with Maimoune as to +the result of the comparison, he flew off to China to fetch the princess. + +In an incredibly short time Danhasch returned, bearing the +sleeping princess. Maimoune led him to the prince's room, +and the rival beauty was placed beside him. + +When the prince and princess lay thus side by side, an animated +dispute as to their respective charms arose between the fairy +and the genius. Danhasch began by saying: + +"Now you see that my princess is more beautiful than your prince. +Can you doubt any longer?" + +"Doubt! Of course I do!" exclaimed Maimoune. "Why, you must +be blind not to see how much my prince excels your princess. +I do not deny that your princess is very handsome, but only look +and you must own that I am in the right." + +"There is no need for me to look longer," said Danhasch, "my first +impression will remain the same; but of course, charming Maimoune, +I am ready to yield to you if you insist on it." + +"By no means," replied Maimoune. "I have no idea of being under +any obligation to an accursed genius like you. I refer the matter +to an umpire, and shall expect you to submit to his verdict." + +Danhasch readily agreed, and on Maimoune striking the floor with her +foot it opened, and a hideous, hump-backed, lame, squinting genius, +with six horns on his head, hands like claws, emerged. As soon as he +beheld Maimoune he threw himself at her feet and asked her commands. + +"Rise, Caschcasch," said she. "I summoned you to judge between me +and Danhasch. Glance at that couch, and say without any partiality +whether you think the youth or the maiden lying there the more beautiful." + +Caschcasch looked at the prince and princess with every token +of surprise and admiration. At length, having gazed long without +being able to come to a decision, he said + +"Madam, I must confess that I should deceive you were I to declare +one to be handsomer than the other. There seems to me only one +way in which to decide the matter, and that is to wake one after +the other and judge which of them expresses the greater admiration +for the other." + +This advice pleased Maimoune and Danhasch, and the fairy at once +transformed herself into the shape of a gnat and settling on +Camaralzaman's throat stung him so sharply that he awoke. As he did +so his eyes fell on the Princess of China. Surprised at finding +a lady so near him, he raised himself on one arm to look at her. +The youth and beauty of the princess at once awoke a feeling to which his +heart had as yet been a stranger, and he could not restrain his delight. + +"What loveliness! What charms! Oh, my heart, my soul!" he exclaimed, +as he kissed her forehead, her eyes and mouth in a way which would +certainly have roused her had not the genie's enchantments kept +her asleep. + +"How, fair lady!" he cried, "you do not wake at the signs of +Camaralzaman's love? Be you who you may, he is not unworthy of you." + +It then suddenly occurred to him, that perhaps this was the bride +his father had destined for him, and that the King had probably +had her placed in this room in order to see how far Camaralzaman's +aversion to marriage would withstand her charms. + +"At all events," he thought, "I will take this ring as a remembrance +of her." + +So saying he drew off a fine ring which the princess wore on +her finger, and replaced it by one of his own. After which he +lay down again and was soon fast asleep. + +Then Danhasch, in his turn, took the form of a gnat and bit +the princess on her lip. + +She started up, and was not a little amazed at seeing a young man +beside her. From surprise she soon passed to admiration, and then +to delight on perceiving how handsome and fascinating he was. + +"Why," cried she, "was it you my father wished me to marry? +How unlucky that I did not know sooner! I should not have made +him so angry. But wake up! wake up! for I know I shall love you +with all my heart." + +So saying she shook Camaralzaman so violently that nothing +but the spells of Maimoune could have prevented his waking. + +"Oh!" cried the princess. "Why are you so drowsy?" So saying she +took his hand and noticed her own ring on his finger, which made her +wonder still more. But as he still remained in a profound slumber +she pressed a kiss on his cheek and soon fell fast asleep too. + +Then Maimoune turning to the genie said: "Well, are you satisfied +that my prince surpasses your princess? Another time pray believe +me when I assert anything." + +Then turning to Caschcasch: "My thanks to you, and now do you +and Danhasch bear the princess back to her own home." + +The two genii hastened to obey, and Maimoune returned to her well. + +On waking next morning the first thing Prince Camaralzaman did +was to look round for the lovely lady he had seen at night, +and the next to question the slave who waited on him about her. +But the slave persisted so strongly that he knew nothing of any lady, +and still less of how she got into the tower, that the prince lost +all patience, and after giving him a good beating tied a rope round him +and ducked him in the well till the unfortunate man cried out that he +would tell everything. Then the prince drew him up all dripping wet, +but the slave begged leave to change his clothes first, and as soon +as the prince consented hurried off just as he was to the palace. +Here he found the king talking to the grand-vizir of all the anxiety +his son had caused him. The slave was admitted at once and cried: + +"Alas, Sire! I bring sad news to your Majesty. There can be no +doubt that the prince has completely lost his senses. He declares +that he saw a lady sleeping on his couch last night, and the state +you see me in proves how violent contradiction makes him." +He then gave a minute account of all the prince had said and done. + +The king, much moved, begged the vizir to examine into this +new misfortune, and the latter at once went to the tower, where he +found the prince quietly reading a book. After the first exchange +of greetings the vizir said: + +"I feel really very angry with your slave for alarming his Majesty +by the news he brought him." + +"What news?" asked the prince. + +"Ah!" replied the vizir, "something absurd, I feel sure, seeing how +I find you." + +"Most likely," said the prince; "but now that you are here I am +glad of the opportunity to ask you where is the lady who slept +in this room last night?" + +The grand-vizir felt beside himself at this question. + +"Prince!" he exclaimed, "how would it be possible for any man, +much less a woman, to enter this room at night without walking over +your slave on the threshold? Pray consider the matter, and you +will realise that you have been deeply impressed by some dream." + +But the prince angrily insisted on knowing who and where the lady was, +and was not to be persuaded by all the vizir's protestations to the +contrary that the plot had not been one of his making. At last, +losing patience, he seized the vizir by the beard and loaded him +with blows. + +"Stop, Prince," cried the unhappy vizir, "stay and hear what I +have to say." + +The prince, whose arm was getting tired, paused. + +"I confess, Prince," said the vizir, "that there is some foundation +for what you say. But you know well that a minister has to carry +out his master's orders. Allow me to go and to take to the king +any message you may choose to send." + +"Very well," said the prince; "then go and tell him that I consent +to marry the lady whom he sent or brought here last night. +Be quick and bring me back his answer." + +The vizir bowed to the ground and hastened to leave the room and tower. + +"Well," asked the king as soon as he appeared, "and how did you +find my son?" + +"Alas, sire," was the reply, "the slave's report is only too true!" + +He then gave an exact account of his interview with Camaralzaman +and of the prince's fury when told that it was not possible for any +lady to have entered his room, and of the treatment he himself +had received. The king, much distressed, determined to clear +up the matter himself, and, ordering the vizir to follow him, +set out to visit his son. + +The prince received his father with profound respect, and the king, +making him sit beside him, asked him several questions, to which +Camaralzaman replied with much good sense. At last the king said: +"My son, pray tell me about the lady who, it is said, was in your room +last night." + +"Sire," replied the prince, "pray do not increase my distress +in this matter, but rather make me happy by giving her to me +in marriage. However much I may have objected to matrimony formerly, +the sight of this lovely girl has overcome all my prejudices, +and I will gratefully receive her from your hands." + +The king was almost speechless on hearing his son, but after a time +assured him most solemnly that he knew nothing whatever about +the lady in question, and had not connived at her appearance. +He then desired the prince to relate the whole story to him. + +Camaralzaman did so at great length, showed the ring, and implored +his father to help to find the bride he so ardently desired. + +"After all you tell me," remarked the king, "I can no longer doubt +your word; but how and whence the lady came, or why she should +have stayed so short a time I cannot imagine. The whole affair +is indeed mysterious. Come, my dear son, let us wait together +for happier days." + +So saying the king took Camaralzaman by the hand and led him back +to the palace, where the prince took to his bed and gave himself up +to despair, and the king shutting himself up with his son entirely +neglected the affairs of state. + +The prime minister, who was the only person admitted, felt it his +duty at last to tell the king how much the court and all the people +complained of his seclusion, and how bad it was for the nation. +He urged the sultan to remove with the prince to a lovely little +island close by, whence he could easily attend public audiences, +and where the charming scenery and fine air would do the invalid so +much good as to enable him to bear his father's occasional absence. + +The king approved the plan, and as soon as the castle on the island +could be prepared for their reception he and the prince arrived there, +Schahzaman never leaving his son except for the prescribed public +audiences twice a week. + +Whilst all this was happening in the capital of Schahzaman the two +genii had carefully borne the Princess of China back to her own +palace and replaced her in bed. On waking next morning she first +turned from one side to another and then, finding herself alone, +called loudly for her women. + +"Tell me," she cried, "where is the young man I love so dearly, +and who slept near me last night?" + +"Princess," exclaimed the nurse, "we cannot tell what you allude +to without more explanation." + +"Why," continued the princess, "the most charming and beautiful young +man lay sleeping beside me last night. I did my utmost to wake him, +but in vain." + +"Your Royal Highness wishes to make game of us," said the nurse. +"Is it your pleasure to rise?" + +"I am quite in earnest," persisted the princess, "and I want to know +where he is." + +"But, Princess," expostulated the nurse, "we left you quite alone +last night, and we have seen no one enter your room since then." + +At this the princess lost all patience, and taking the nurse by her +hair she boxed her ears soundly, crying out: "You shall tell me, +you old witch, or I'll kill you." + +The nurse had no little trouble in escaping, and hurried off to +the queen, to whom she related the whole story with tears in her eyes. + +"You see, madam," she concluded, "that the princess must be out +of her mind. If only you will come and see her, you will be able +to judge for yourself." + +The queen hurried to her daughter's apartments, and after tenderly +embracing her, asked her why she had treated her nurse so badly. + +"Madam," said the princess, "I perceive that your Majesty wishes +to make game of me, but I can assure you that I will never marry +anyone except the charming young man whom I saw last night. +You must know where he is, so pray send for him." + +The queen was much surprised by these words, but when she +declared that she knew nothing whatever of the matter the +princess lost all respect, and answered that if she were not +allowed to marry as she wished she should kill herself, and +it was in vain that the queen tried to pacify her and bring her to reason. + +The king himself came to hear the rights of the matter, but the +princess only persisted in her story, and as a proof showed the ring +on her finger. The king hardly knew what to make of it all, but ended +by thinking that his daughter was more crazy than ever, and without +further argument he had her placed in still closer confinement, +with only her nurse to wait on her and a powerful guard to keep the door. + +Then he assembled his council, and having told them the sad state +of things, added: "If any of you can succeed in curing the princess, +I will give her to him in marriage, and he shall be my heir." + +An elderly emir present, fired with the desire to possess a young +and lovely wife and to rule over a great kingdom, offered to try +the magic arts with which he was acquainted. + +"You are welcome to try," said the king, "but I make one condition, +which is, that should you fail you will lose your life." + +The emir accepted the condition, and the king led him to the princess, +who, veiling her face, remarked, "I am surprised, sire, that you +should bring an unknown man into my presence." + +"You need not be shocked," said the king; "this is one of my emirs +who asks your hand in marriage." + +"Sire," replied the princess, "this is not the one you gave me +before and whose ring I wear. Permit me to say that I can accept +no other." + +The emir, who had expected to hear the princess talk nonsense, +finding how calm and reasonable she was, assured the king that he +could not venture to undertake a cure, but placed his head at his +Majesty's disposal, on which the justly irritated monarch promptly +had it cut off. + +This was the first of many suitors for the princess whose inability +to cure her cost them their lives. + +Now it happened that after things had been going on in this way for +some time the nurse's son Marzavan returned from his travels. He had +been in many countries and learnt many things, including astrology. +Needless to say that one of the first things his mother told him +was the sad condition of the princess, his foster-sister. Marzavan +asked if she could not manage to let him see the princess without +the king's knowledge. + +After some consideration his mother consented, and even persuaded +the eunuch on guard to make no objection to Marzavan's entering +the royal apartment. + +The princess was delighted to see her foster-brother again, +and after some conversation she confided to him all her history +and the cause of her imprisonment. + +Marzavan listened with downcast eyes and the utmost attention. +When she had finished speaking he said, + +"If what you tell me, Princess, is indeed the case, I do not despair +of finding comfort for you. Take patience yet a little longer. +I will set out at once to explore other countries, and when you hear +of my return be sure that he for whom you sigh is not far off." +So saying, he took his leave and started next morning on his travels. + +Marzavan journeyed from city to city and from one island and province +to another, and wherever he went he heard people talk of the strange +story of the Princess Badoura, as the Princess of China was named. + +After four months he reached a large populous seaport town named Torf, +and here he heard no more of the Princess Badoura but a great deal +of Prince Camaralzaman, who was reported ill, and whose story +sounded very similar to that of the Princess Badoura. + +Marzavan was rejoiced, and set out at once for Prince +Camaralzaman's residence. The ship on which he embarked had +a prosperous voyage till she got within sight of the capital +of King Schahzaman, but when just about to enter the harbour she +suddenly struck on a rock, and foundered within sight of the +palace where the prince was living with his father and the grand-vizir. + +Marzavan, who swam well, threw himself into the sea and managed +to land close to the palace, where he was kindly received, +and after having a change of clothing given him was brought before +the grand-vizir. The vizir was at once attracted by the young man's +superior air and intelligent conversation, and perceiving that he +had gained much experience in the course of his travels, he said, +"Ah, how I wish you had learnt some secret which might enable you +to cure a malady which has plunged this court into affliction +for some time past!" + +Marzavan replied that if he knew what the illness was he might +possibly be able to suggest a remedy, on which the vizir related +to him the whole history of Prince Camaralzaman. + +On hearing this Marzavan rejoiced inwardly, for he felt sure that he +had at last discovered the object of the Princess Badoura's infatuation. +However, he said nothing, but begged to be allowed to see the prince. + +On entering the royal apartment the first thing which struck +him was the prince himself, who lay stretched out on his bed +with his eyes closed. The king sat near him, but, without paying +any regard to his presence, Marzavan exclaimed, "Heavens! what a +striking likeness!" And, indeed, there was a good deal of resemblance +between the features of Camaralzaman and those of the Princess of China. + +These words caused the prince to open his eyes with languid curiosity, +and Marzavan seized this moment to pay him his compliments, +contriving at the same time to express the condition of the Princess +of China in terms unintelligible, indeed, to the Sultan and his vizir, +but which left the prince in no doubt that his visitor could give +him some welcome information. + +The prince begged his father to allow him the favour of a private +interview with Marzavan, and the king was only too pleased to find +his son taking an interest in anyone or anything. As soon as they +were left alone Marzavan told the prince the story of the Princess +Badoura and her sufferings, adding, "I am convinced that you alone +can cure her; but before starting on so long a journey you must +be well and strong, so do your best to recover as quickly as may be." + +These words produced a great effect on the prince, who was so much +cheered by the hopes held out that he declared he felt able +to get up and be dressed. The king was overjoyed at the result +of Marzavan's interview, and ordered public rejoicings in honour +of the prince's recovery. + +Before long the prince was quite restored to his original state +of health, and as soon as he felt himself really strong he took +Marzavan aside and said: + +"Now is the time to perform your promise. I am so impatient to see +my beloved princess once more that I am sure I shall fall ill +again if we do not start soon. The one obstacle is my father's +tender care of me, for, as you may have noticed, he cannot bear +me out of his sight." + +"Prince," replied Marzavan, "I have already thought over the matter, +and this is what seems to me the best plan. You have not been +out of doors since my arrival. Ask the king's permission to go +with me for two or three days' hunting, and when he has given +leave order two good horses to be held ready for each of us. +Leave all the rest to me." + +Next day the prince seized a favourable opportunity for making +his request, and the king gladly granted it on condition that +only one night should be spent out for fear of too great fatigue +after such a long illness. + +Next morning Prince Camaralzaman and Marzavan were off betimes, +attended by two grooms leading the two extra horses. They hunted +a little by the way, but took care to get as far from the towns +as possible. At night-fall they reached an inn, where they supped +and slept till midnight. Then Marzavan awoke and roused the prince +without disturbing anyone else. He begged the prince to give him +the coat he had been wearing and to put on another which they had +brought with them. They mounted their second horses, and Marzavan +led one of the grooms' horses by the bridle. + +By daybreak our travellers found themselves where four cross roads +met in the middle of the forest. Here Marzavan begged the prince +to wait for him, and leading the groom's horse into a dense part +of the wood he cut its throat, dipped the prince's coat in its blood, +and having rejoined the prince threw the coat on the ground where +the roads parted. + +In answer to Camaralzaman's inquiries as to the reason for this, +Marzavan replied that the only chance they had of continuing their journey +was to divert attention by creating the idea of the prince's death. +"Your father will doubtless be plunged in the deepest grief," +he went on, "but his joy at your return will be all the greater." + +The prince and his companion now continued their journey by land +and sea, and as they had brought plenty of money to defray their +expenses they met with no needless delays. At length they reached +the capital of China, where they spent three days in a suitable +lodging to recover from their fatigues. + +During this time Marzavan had an astrologer's dress +prepared for the prince. They then went to the baths, +after which the prince put on the astrologer's robe and was +conducted within sight of the king's palace by Marzavan, +who left him there and went to consult his mother, the princess's nurse. + +Meantime the prince, according to Marzavan's instructions, +advanced close to the palace gates and there proclaimed aloud: + +"I am an astrologer and I come to restore health to +the Princess Badoura, daughter of the high and mighty +King of China, on the conditions laid down by His +Majesty of marrying her should I succeed, or of losing my life if I fail." + +It was some little time since anyone had presented himself to run +the terrible risk involved in attempting to cure the princess, +and a crowd soon gathered round the prince. On perceiving his youth, +good looks, and distinguished bearing, everyone felt pity for him. + +"What are you thinking of, sir," exclaimed some; "why expose yourself +to certain death? Are not the heads you see exposed on the town +wall sufficient warning? For mercy's sake give up this mad idea +and retire whilst you can." + +But the prince remained firm, and only repeated his cry with +greater assurance, to the horror of the crowd. + +"He is resolved to die!" they cried; "may heaven have pity on him!" + +Camaralzaman now called out for the third time, and at last +the grand-vizir himself came out and fetched him in. + +The prime minister led the prince to the king, who was much struck +by the noble air of this new adventurer, and felt such pity for +the fate so evidently in store for him, that he tried to persuade +the young man to renounce his project. + +But Camaralzaman politely yet firmly persisted in his intentions, +and at length the king desired the eunuch who had the guard of the +princess's apartments to conduct the astrologer to her presence. + +The eunuch led the way through long passages, and Camaralzaman +followed rapidly, in haste to reach the object of his desires. +At last they came to a large hall which was the ante-room to the +princess's chamber, and here Camaralzaman said to the eunuch: + +"Now you shall choose. Shall I cure the princess in her own presence, +or shall I do it from here without seeing her?" + +The eunuch, who had expressed many contemptuous doubts as they came +along of the newcomer's powers, was much surprised and said: + +"If you really can cure, it is immaterial when you do it. +Your fame will be equally great." + +"Very well," replied the prince: "then, impatient though I am +to see the princess, I will effect the cure where I stand, +the better to convince you of my power." He accordingly drew +out his writing case and wrote as follows--"Adorable princess! +The enamoured Camaralzaman has never forgotten the moment when, +contemplating your sleeping beauty, he gave you his heart. +As he was at that time deprived of the happiness of conversing +with you, he ventured to give you his ring as a token of his love, +and to take yours in exchange, which he now encloses in this letter. +Should you deign to return it to him he will be the happiest +of mortals, if not he will cheerfully resign himself to death, +seeing he does so for love of you. He awaits your reply in your +ante-room." + +Having finished this note the prince carefully enclosed the ring in it +without letting the eunuch see it, and gave him the letter, saying: + +"Take this to your mistress, my friend, and if on reading it +and seeing its contents she is not instantly cured, you may call +me an impudent impostor." + +The eunuch at once passed into the princess's room, and handing +her the letter said: + +"Madam, a new astrologer has arrived, who declares that you will be +cured as soon as you have read this letter and seen what it contains." + +The princess took the note and opened it with languid indifference. +But no sooner did she see her ring than, barely glancing at the writing, +she rose hastily and with one bound reached the doorway and pushed +back the hangings. Here she and the prince recognised each other, +and in a moment they were locked in each other's arms, where they +tenderly embraced, wondering how they came to meet at last after +so long a separation. The nurse, who had hastened after her charge, +drew them back to the inner room, where the princess restored her ring +to Camaralzaman. + +"Take it back," she said, "I could not keep it without returning +yours to you, and I am resolved to wear that as long as I live." + +Meantime the eunuch had hastened back to the king. "Sire," he cried, +"all the former doctors and astrologers were mere quacks. +This man has cured the princess without even seeing her." +He then told all to the king, who, overjoyed, hastened to his +daughter's apartments, where, after embracing her, he placed +her hand in that of the prince, saying: + +"Happy stranger, I keep my promise, and give you my daughter to wife, +be you who you may. But, if I am not much mistaken, your condition +is above what you appear to be." + +The prince thanked the king in the warmest and most respectful terms, +and added: "As regards my person, your Majesty has rightly guessed +that I am not an astrologer. It is but a disguise which I assumed +in order to merit your illustrious alliance. I am myself a prince, +my name is Camaralzaman, and my father is Schahzaman, King of the +Isles of the Children of Khaledan." He then told his whole history, +including the extraordinary manner of his first seeing and loving +the Princess Badoura. + +When he had finished the king exclaimed: "So remarkable a story must +not be lost to posterity. It shall be inscribed in the archives +of my kingdom and published everywhere abroad." + +The wedding took place next day amidst great pomp and rejoicings. +Marzavan was not forgotten, but was given a lucrative post at court, +with a promise of further advancement. + +The prince and princess were now entirely happy, and months slipped +by unconsciously in the enjoyment of each other's society. + +One night, however, Prince Camaralzaman dreamt that he saw his +father lying at the point of death, and saying: "Alas! my son whom +I loved so tenderly, has deserted me and is now causing my death." + +The prince woke with such a groan as to startle the princess, +who asked what was the matter. + +"Ah!" cried the prince, "at this very moment my father is perhaps +no more!" and he told his dream. + +The princess said but little at the time, but next morning she went +to the king, and kissing his hand said: + +"I have a favour to ask of your Majesty, and I beg you to believe +that it is in no way prompted by my husband. It is that you will +allow us both to visit my father-in-law King Schahzaman." + +Sorry though the king felt at the idea of parting with his daughter, +he felt her request to be so reasonable that he could not refuse it, +and made but one condition, which was that she should only spend +one year at the court of King Schahzaman, suggesting that in future +the young couple should visit their respective parents alternately. + +The princess brought this good news to her husband, who thanked +her tenderly for this fresh proof of her affection. + +All preparations for the journey were now pressed forwards, and when +all was ready the king accompanied the travellers for some days, +after which he took an affectionate leave of his daughter, and charging +the prince to take every care of her, returned to his capital. + +The prince and princess journeyed on, and at the end of a month +reached a huge meadow interspersed with clumps of big trees which cast +a most pleasant shade. As the heat was great, Camaralzaman thought it +well to encamp in this cool spot. Accordingly the tents were pitched, +and the princess entering hers whilst the prince was giving his +further orders, removed her girdle, which she placed beside her, +and desiring her women to leave her, lay down and was soon asleep. + +When the camp was all in order the prince entered the tent and, +seeing the princess asleep, he sat down near her without speaking. +His eyes fell on the girdle which, he took up, and whilst inspecting +the precious stones set in it he noticed a little pouch sewn +to the girdle and fastened by a loop. He touched it and felt +something hard within. Curious as to what this might be, he opened +the pouch and found a cornelian engraved with various figures +and strange characters. + +"This cornelian must be something very precious," thought he, +"or my wife would not wear it on her person with so much care." + +In truth it was a talisman which the Queen of China had given +her daughter, telling her it would ensure her happiness as long +as she carried it about her. + +The better to examine the stone the prince stepped to the open +doorway of the tent. As he stood there holding it in the open +palm of his hand, a bird suddenly swooped down, picked the stone +up in its beak and flew away with it. + +Imagine the prince's dismay at losing a thing by which his wife +evidently set such store! + +The bird having secured its prey flew off some yards and +alighted on the ground, holding the talisman it its beak. +Prince Camaralzaman advanced, hoping the bird would drop it, but as +soon as he approached the thief fluttered on a little further still. +He continued his pursuit till the bird suddenly swallowed the stone +and took a longer flight than before. The prince then hoped to kill +it with a stone, but the more hotly he pursued the further flew the bird. + +In this fashion he was led on by hill and dale through the entire day, +and when night came the tiresome creature roosted on the top +of a very high tree where it could rest in safety. + +The prince in despair at all his useless trouble began to think +whether he had better return to the camp. "But," thought he, +"how shall I find my way back? Must I go up hill or down? +I should certainly lose my way in the dark, even if my strength +held out." Overwhelmed by hunger, thirst, fatigue and sleep, +he ended by spending the night at the foot of the tree. + +Next morning Camaralzaman woke up before the bird left its perch, +and no sooner did it take flight than he followed it again +with as little success as the previous day, only stopping to eat +some herbs and fruit he found by the way. In this fashion he +spent ten days, following the bird all day and spending the night +at the foot of a tree, whilst it roosted on the topmost bough. +On the eleventh day the bird and the prince reached a large town, +and as soon as they were close to its walls the bird took a sudden +and higher flight and was shortly completely out of sight, +whilst Camaralzaman felt in despair at having to give up all hopes +of ever recovering the talisman of the Princess Badoura. + +Much cast down, he entered the town, which was built near the sea +and had a fine harbour. He walked about the streets for a long time, +not knowing where to go, but at length as he walked near the seashore +he found a garden door open and walked in. + +The gardener, a good old man, who was at work, happened to look up, +and, seeing a stranger, whom he recognised by his dress as a Mussulman, +he told him to come in at once and to shut the door. + +Camaralzaman did as he was bid, and inquired why this precaution +was taken. + +"Because," said the gardener, "I see that you are a stranger and +a Mussulman, and this town is almost entirely inhabited by idolaters, +who hate and persecute all of our faith. It seems almost a miracle +that has led you to this house, and I am indeed glad that you +have found a place of safety." + +Camaralzaman warmly thanked the kind old man for offering him shelter, +and was about to say more, but the gardener interrupted him with: + +"Leave compliments alone. You are weary and must be hungry. +Come in, eat, and rest." So saying he led the prince into his cottage, +and after satisfying his hunger begged to learn the cause of +his arrival. + +Camaralzaman told him all without disguise, and ended by inquiring +the shortest way to his father's capital. "For," added he, +"if I tried to rejoin the princess, how should I find her after +eleven days' separation. Perhaps, indeed, she may be no longer alive!" +At this terrible thought he burst into tears. + +The gardener informed Camaralzaman that they were quite a year's land +journey to any Mahomedan country, but that there was a much shorter +route by sea to the Ebony Island, from whence the Isles of the Children +of Khaledan could be easily reached, and that a ship sailed once +a year for the Ebony Island by which he might get so far as his very home. + +"If only you had arrived a few days sooner," he said, "you might +have embarked at once. As it is you must now wait till next year, +but if you care to stay with me I offer you my house, such as it is, +with all my heart." + +Prince Camaralzaman thought himself lucky to find some place of refuge, +and gladly accepted the gardener's offer. He spent his days working in +the garden, and his nights thinking of and sighing for his beloved wife. + +Let us now see what had become during this time of the Princess Badoura. + +On first waking she was much surprised not to find the prince +near her. She called her women and asked if they knew where he was, +and whilst they were telling her that they had seen him enter +the tent, but had not noticed his leaving it, she took up her belt +and perceived that the little pouch was open and the talisman gone. + +She at once concluded that her husband had taken it and would shortly +bring it back. She waited for him till evening rather impatiently, +and wondering what could have kept him from her so long. When night +came without him she felt in despair and abused the talisman +and its maker roundly. In spite of her grief and anxiety however, +she did not lose her presence of mind, but decided on a courageous, +though very unusual step. + +Only the princess and her women knew of Camaralzaman's disappearance, +for the rest of the party were sleeping or resting in their tents. +Fearing some treason should the truth be known, she ordered her +women not to say a word which would give rise to any suspicion, +and proceeded to change her dress for one of her husband's, to whom, +as has been already said, she bore a strong likeness. + +In this disguise she looked so like the prince that when she gave +orders next morning to break up the camp and continue the journey no +one suspected the change. She made one of her women enter her litter, +whilst she herself mounted on horseback and the march began. + +After a protracted journey by land and sea the princess, still under +the name and disguise of Prince Camaralzaman, arrived at the capital +of the Ebony Island whose king was named Armanos. + +No sooner did the king hear that the ship which was just in port +had on board the son of his old friend and ally than he hurried +to meet the supposed prince, and had him and his retinue brought +to the palace, where they were lodged and entertained sumptuously. + +After three days, finding that his guest, to whom he had taken +a great fancy, talked of continuing his journey, King Armanos said +to him: + +"Prince, I am now an old man, and unfortunately I have no son +to whom to leave my kingdom. It has pleased Heaven to give me +only one daughter, who possesses such great beauty and charm +that I could only give her to a prince as highly born and as +accomplished as yourself. Instead, therefore, of returning to your +own country, take my daughter and my crown and stay with us. +I shall feel that I have a worthy successor, and shall cheerfully +retire from the fatigues of government." + +The king's offer was naturally rather embarrassing to the Princess +Badoura. She felt that it was equally impossible to confess that she +had deceived him, or to refuse the marriage on which he had set his heart; +a refusal which might turn all his kindness to hatred and persecution. + +All things considered, she decided to accept, and after a few moments +silence said with a blush, which the king attributed to modesty: + +"Sire, I feel so great an obligation for the good opinion +your Majesty has expressed for my person and of the honour +you do me, that, though I am quite unworthy of it, +I dare not refuse. But, sire, I can only accept such +an alliance if you give me your promise to assist me with your counsels." + +The marriage being thus arranged, the ceremony was fixed for the +following day, and the princess employed the intervening time in +informing the officers of her suite of what had happened, assuring them +that the Princess Badoura had given her full consent to the marriage. +She also told her women, and bade them keep her secret well. + +King Armanos, delighted with the success of his plans, lost no +time in assembling his court and council, to whom he presented +his successor, and placing his future son-in-law on the throne +made everyone do homage and take oaths of allegiance to the new king. + +At night the whole town was filled with rejoicings, and with much pomp +the Princess Haiatelnefous (this was the name of the king's daughter) +was conducted to the palace of the Princess Badoura. + +Now Badoura had thought much of the difficulties of her first +interview with King Armanos' daughter, and she felt the only thing +to do was at once to take her into her confidence. + +Accordingly, as soon as they were alone she took Haiatelnefous +by the hand and said: + +"Princess, I have a secret to tell you, and must throw myself +on your mercy. I am not Prince Camaralzaman, but a princess +like yourself and his wife, and I beg you to listen to my story, +then I am sure you will forgive my imposture, in consideration +of my sufferings." + +She then related her whole history, and at its close Haiatelnefous +embraced her warmly, and assured her of her entire sympathy +and affection. + +The two princesses now planned out their future action, and agreed +to combine to keep up the deception and to let Badoura continue +to play a man's part until such time as there might be news +of the real Camaralzaman. + +Whilst these things were passing in the Ebony Island Prince +Camaralzaman continued to find shelter in the gardeners cottage +in the town of the idolaters. + +Early one morning the gardener said to the prince: + +"To-day is a public holiday, and the people of the town not only +do not work themselves but forbid others to do so. You had better +therefore take a good rest whilst I go to see some friends, and as +the time is near for the arrival of the ship of which I told you I +will make inquiries about it, and try to bespeak a passage for you." +He then put on his best clothes and went out, leaving the prince, +who strolled into the garden and was soon lost in thoughts of his +dear wife and their sad separation. + +As he walked up and down he was suddenly disturbed in his reverie +by the noise two large birds were making in a tree. + +Camaralzaman stood still and looked up, and saw that the birds were +fighting so savagely with beaks and claws that before long one fell dead +to the ground, whilst the conqueror spread his wings and flew away. +Almost immediately two other larger birds, who had been watching the duel, +flew up and alighted, one at the head and the other at the feet of +the dead bird. They stood there some time sadly shaking their heads, +and then dug up a grave with their claws in which they buried him. + +As soon as they had filled in the grave the two flew off, and ere +long returned, bringing with them the murderer, whom they held, +one by a wing and the other by a leg, with their beaks, screaming and +struggling with rage and terror. But they held tight, and having +brought him to his victim's grave, they proceeded to kill him, +after which they tore open his body, scattered the inside and once +more flew away. + +The prince, who had watched the whole scene with much interest, +now drew near the spot where it happened, and glancing at the dead +bird he noticed something red lying near which had evidently fallen +out of its inside. He picked it up, and what was his surprise when he +recognised the Princess Badoura's talisman which had been the cause +of many misfortunes. It would be impossible to describe his joy; +he kissed the talisman repeatedly, wrapped it up, and carefully +tied it round his arm. For the first time since his separation +from the princess he had a good night, and next morning he was up +at day-break and went cheerfully to ask what work he should do. + +The gardener told him to cut down an old fruit tree which had quite +died away, and Camaralzaman took an axe and fell to vigorously. +As he was hacking at one of the roots the axe struck on something hard. +On pushing away the earth he discovered a large slab of bronze, +under which was disclosed a staircase with ten steps. +He went down them and found himself in a roomy kind of cave +in which stood fifty large bronze jars, each with a cover on it. +The prince uncovered one after another, and found them all filled +with gold dust. Delighted with his discovery he left the cave, +replaced the slab, and having finished cutting down the tree waited +for the gardener's return. + +The gardener had heard the night before that the ship about which he +was inquiring would start ere long, but the exact date not being yet +known he had been told to return next day for further information. +He had gone therefore to inquire, and came back with good news +beaming in his face. + +"My son," said he, "rejoice and hold yourself ready to start +in three days' time. The ship is to set sail, and I have arranged +all about your passage with the captain. + +"You could not bring me better news," replied Camaralzaman, +"and in return I have something pleasant to tell you. Follow me +and see the good fortune which has befallen you." + +He then led the gardener to the cave, and having shown him the +treasure stored up there, said how happy it made him that Heaven +should in this way reward his kind host's many virtues and compensate +him for the privations of many years. + +"What do you mean?" asked the gardener. "Do you imagine that I should +appropriate this treasure? It is yours, and I have no right whatever +to it. For the last eighty years I have dug up the ground here without +discovering anything. It is clear that these riches are intended +for you, and they are much more needed by a prince like yourself +than by an old man like me, who am near my end and require nothing. +This treasure comes just at the right time, when you are about +to return to your own country, where you will make good use of it." + +But the prince would not hear of this suggestion, and finally +after much discussion they agreed to divide the gold. When this +was done the gardener said: + +"My son, the great thing now is to arrange how you can best carry +off this treasure as secretly as possible for fear of losing it. +There are no olives in the Ebony Island, and those imported from +here fetch a high price. As you know, I have a good stock of the +olives which grew in this garden. Now you must take fifty jars, +fill each half full of gold dust and fill them up with the olives. +We will then have them taken on board ship when you embark." + +The prince took this advice, and spent the rest of the day filling +the fifty jars, and fearing lest the precious talisman might slip +from his arm and be lost again, he took the precaution of putting +it in one of the jars, on which he made a mark so as to be able +to recognise it. When night came the jars were all ready, +and the prince and his host went to bed. + +Whether in consequence of his great age, or of the fatigues and excitement +of the previous day, I do not know, but the gardener passed a very +bad night. He was worse next day, and by the morning of the third day was +dangerously ill. At daybreak the ship's captain and some of his sailors +knocked at the garden door and asked for the passenger who was to embark. + +"I am he," said Camaralzaman, who had opened the door. +"The gardener who took my passage is ill and cannot see you, +but please come in and take these jars of olives and my bag, +and I will follow as soon as I have taken leave of him." + +The sailors did as he asked, and the captain before leaving charged +Camaralzaman to lose no time, as the wind was fair, and he wished +to set sail at once. + +As soon as they were gone the prince returned to the cottage +to bid farewell to his old friend, and to thank him once more +for all his kindness. But the old man was at his last gasp, +and had barely murmured his confession of faith when he expired. + +Camaralzaman was obliged to stay and pay him the last offices, +so having dug a grave in the garden he wrapped the kind old man up +and buried him. He then locked the door, gave up the key to the owner +of the garden, and hurried to the quay only to hear that the ship +had sailed long ago, after waiting three hours for him. + +It may well be believed that the prince felt in despair at this +fresh misfortune, which obliged him to spend another year in a strange +and distasteful country. Moreover, he had once more lost the Princess +Badoura's talisman, which he feared he might never see again. +There was nothing left for him but to hire the garden as the old man +had done, and to live on in the cottage. As he could not well cultivate +the garden by himself, he engaged a lad to help him, and to secure +the rest of the treasure he put the remaining gold dust into fifty more +jars, filling them up with olives so as to have them ready for transport. + +Whilst the prince was settling down to this second year of toil +and privation, the ship made a rapid voyage and arrived safely +at the Ebony Island. + +As the palace of the new king, or rather of the Princess Badoura, +overlooked the harbour, she saw the ship entering it and asked what +vessel it was coming in so gaily decked with flags, and was told +that it was a ship from the Island of the Idolaters which yearly +brought rich merchandise. + +The princess, ever on the look out for any chance of news of her +beloved husband, went down to the harbour attended by some officers +of the court, and arrived just as the captain was landing. She sent for +him and asked many questions as to his country, voyage, what passengers +he had, and what his vessel was laden with. The captain answered all +her questions, and said that his passengers consisted entirely of traders +who brought rich stuffs from various countries, fine muslins, precious +stones, musk, amber, spices, drugs, olives, and many other things. + +As soon as he mentioned olives, the princess, who was very partial +to them, exclaimed: + +"I will take all you have on board. Have them unloaded and we +will make our bargain at once, and tell the other merchants to let +me see all their best wares before showing them to other people." + +"Sire," replied the captain, "I have on board fifty very large +pots of olives. They belong to a merchant who was left behind, +as in spite of waiting for him he delayed so long that I was obliged +to set sail without him." + +"Never mind," said the princess, "unload them all the same, and we +will arrange the price." + +The captain accordingly sent his boat off to the ship and it soon +returned laden with the fifty pots of olives. The princess asked +what they might be worth. + +"Sire," replied the captain, "the merchant is very poor. Your Majesty +will not overpay him if you give him a thousand pieces of silver." + +"In order to satisfy him and as he is so poor," said the princess, +"I will order a thousand pieces of gold to be given you, which you +will be sure to remit to him." + +So saying she gave orders for the payment and returned to the palace, +having the jars carried before her. When evening came the Princess +Badoura retired to the inner part of the palace, and going to the +apartments of the Princess Haiatelnefous she had the fifty jars +of olives brought to her. She opened one to let her friend taste +the olives and to taste them herself, but great was her surprise when, +on pouring some into a dish, she found them all powdered with +gold dust. "What an adventure! how extraordinary!" she cried. +Then she had the other jars opened, and was more and more surprised +to find the olives in each jar mixed with gold dust. + +But when at length her talisman was discovered in one of the jars +her emotion was so great that she fainted away. The Princess +Haiatelnefous and her women hastened to restore her, and as soon +as she recovered consciousness she covered the precious talisman +with kisses. + +Then, dismissing the attendants, she said to her friend: + +"You will have guessed, my dear, that it was the sight of this +talisman which has moved me so deeply. This was the cause +of my separation from my dear husband, and now, I am convinced, +it will be the means of our reunion." + +As soon as it was light next day the Princess Badoura sent +for the captain, and made further inquiries about the merchant +who owned the olive jars she had bought. + +In reply the captain told her all he knew of the place where the +young man lived, and how, after engaging his passage, he came +to be left behind. + +"If that is the case," said the princess, "you must set sail +at once and go back for him. He is a debtor of mine and must be +brought here at once, or I will confiscate all your merchandise. +I shall now give orders to have all the warehouses where your cargo +is placed under the royal seal, and they will only be opened when you +have brought me the man I ask for. Go at once and obey my orders." + +The captain had no choice but to do as he was bid, so hastily +provisioning his ship he started that same evening on his return voyage. + +When, after a rapid passage, he gained sight of the Island of Idolaters, +he judged it better not to enter the harbour, but casting anchor +at some distance he embarked at night in a small boat with six +active sailors and landed near Camaralzaman's cottage. + +The prince was not asleep, and as he lay awake moaning over +all the sad events which had separated him from his wife, +he thought he heard a knock at the garden door. He went to +open it, and was immediately seized by the captain and sailors, +who without a word of explanation forcibly bore him off to +the boat, which took them back to the ship without loss of time. +No sooner were they on board than they weighed anchor and set sail. + +Camaralzaman, who had kept silence till then, now asked the captain +(whom he had recognised) the reason for this abduction. + +"Are you not a debtor of the King of the Ebony Island?" asked the captain. + +"I? Why, I never even heard of him before, and never set foot +in his kingdom!" was the answer. + +"Well, you must know better than I," said the captain. "You will soon +see him now, and meantime be content where you are and have patience." + +The return voyage was as prosperous as the former one, and though +it was night when the ship entered the harbour, the captain lost no +time in landing with his passenger, whom he conducted to the palace, +where he begged an audience with the king. + +Directly the Princess Badoura saw the prince she recognised him in +spite of his shabby clothes. She longed to throw herself on his neck, +but restrained herself, feeling it was better for them both that +she should play her part a little longer. She therefore desired +one of her officers to take care of him and to treat him well. +Next she ordered another officer to remove the seals from the warehouse, +whilst she presented the captain with a costly diamond, and told +him to keep the thousand pieces of gold paid for the olives, +as she would arrange matters with the merchant himself. + +She then returned to her private apartments, where she told the +Princess Haiatelnefous all that had happened, as well as her plans for +the future, and begged her assistance, which her friend readily promised. + +Next morning she ordered the prince to be taken to the bath and +clothed in a manner suitable to an emir or governor of a province. +He was then introduced to the council, where his good looks and grand +air drew the attention of all on him. + +Princess Badoura, delighted to see him looking himself once more, +turned to the other emirs, saying: + +"My lords, I introduce to you a new colleague, Camaralzaman, whom I +have known on my travels and who, I can assure you, you will find +well deserves your regard and admiration." + +Camaralzaman was much surprised at hearing the king--whom he never +suspected of being a woman in disguise--asserting their acquaintance, +for he felt sure he had never seen her before. However he +received all the praises bestowed on him with becoming modesty, +and prostrating himself, said: + +"Sire, I cannot find words in which to thank your Majesty +for the great honour conferred on me. I can but assure +you that I will do all in my power to prove myself worthy of it." + +On leaving the council the prince was conducted to a splendid house +which had been prepared for him, where he found a full establishment +and well-filled stables at his orders. On entering his study his +steward presented him with a coffer filled with gold pieces for his +current expenses. He felt more and more puzzled by such good fortune, +and little guessed that the Princess of China was the cause of it. + +After a few days the Princess Badoura promoted Camaralzaman to the +post of grand treasurer, an office which he filled with so much +integrity and benevolence as to win universal esteem. + +He would now have thought himself the happiest of men had it not +been for that separation which he never ceased to bewail. He had +no clue to the mystery of his present position, for the princess, +out of compliment to the old king, had taken his name, and was +generally known as King Armanos the younger, few people remembering +that on her first arrival she went by another name. + +At length the princess felt that the time had come to put an end +to her own and the prince's suspense, and having arranged all her +plans with the Princess Haiatelnefous, she informed Camaralzaman +that she wished his advice on some important business, and, to avoid +being disturbed, desired him to come to the palace that evening. + +The prince was punctual, and was received in the private apartment, +when, having ordered her attendants to withdraw, the princess took +from a small box the talisman, and, handing it to Camaralzaman, +said: "Not long ago an astrologer gave me this talisman. As you +are universally well informed, you can perhaps tell me what is its use." + +Camaralzaman took the talisman and, holding it to the light, +cried with surprise, "Sire, you ask me the use of this talisman. +Alas! hitherto it has been only a source of misfortune to me, +being the cause of my separation from the one I love best on earth. +The story is so sad and strange that I am sure your Majesty will be +touched by it if you will permit me to tell it you." + +"I will hear it some other time," replied the princess. +"Meanwhile I fancy it is not quite unknown to me. Wait here for me. +I will return shortly." + +So saying she retired to another room, where she hastily changed +her masculine attire for that of a woman, and, after putting on +the girdle she wore the day they parted, returned to Camaralzaman. + +The prince recognised her at once, and, embracing her with the +utmost tenderness, cried, "Ah, how can I thank the king for this +delightful surprise?" + +"Do not expect ever to see the king again," said the princess, +as she wiped the tears of joy from her eyes, "in me you see the king. +Let us sit down, and I will tell you all about it." + +She then gave a full account of all her adventures since their parting, +and dwelt much on the charms and noble disposition of the +Princess Haiatelnefous, to whose friendly assistance she owed +so much. When she had done she asked to hear the prince's story, +and in this manner they spent most of the night. + +Next morning the princess resumed her woman's clothes, and as soon +as she was ready she desired the chief eunuch to beg King Armanos +to come to her apartments. + +When the king arrived great was his surprise at finding a strange +lady in company of the grand treasurer who had no actual right to +enter the private apartment. Seating himself he asked for the king. + +"Sire," said the princess, "yesterday I was the king, to-day I am +only the Princess of China and wife to the real Prince Camaralzaman, +son of King Schahzaman, and I trust that when your Majesty shall +have heard our story you will not condemn the innocent deception I +have been obliged to practise." + +The king consented to listen, and did so with marked surprise. + +At the close of her narrative the princess said, "Sire, as our religion +allows a man to have more than one wife, I would beg your Majesty +to give your daughter, the Princess Haiatelnefous, in marriage +to Prince Camaralzaman. I gladly yield to her the precedence and +title of Queen in recognition of the debt of gratitude which I owe her." + +King Armanos heard the princess with surprise and admiration, +then, turning to Camaralzaman, he said, "My son, as your wife, +the Princess Badoura (whom I have hitherto looked on as my son-in-law), +consents to share your hand and affections with my daughter, +I have only to ask if this marriage is agreeable to you, and if you +will consent to accept the crown which the Princess Badoura deserves +to wear all her life, but which she prefers to resign for love of you." + +"Sire," replied Camaralzaman, "I can refuse your Majesty nothing." + +Accordingly Camaralzaman was duly proclaimed king, and as duly +married with all pomp to the Princess Haiatelnefous, with whose +beauty, talents, and affections he had every reason to be pleased. + +The two queens lived in true sisterly harmony together, and after +a time each presented King Camaralzaman with a son, whose births +were celebrated throughout the kingdom with the utmost rejoicing. + + + +Noureddin and the Fair Persian + + +Balsora was the capital of a kingdom long tributary to the caliph. +During the time of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid the king of Balsora, +who was his cousin, was called Zinebi. Not thinking one vizir enough +for the administration of his estates he had two, named Khacan +and Saouy. + +Khacan was kind, generous, and liberal, and took pleasure +in obliging, as far as in him lay, those who had business with him. +Throughout the entire kingdom there was no one who did not esteem +and praise him as he deserved. + +Saouy was quite a different character, and repelled everyone with +whom he came in contact; he was always gloomy, and, in spite of his +great riches, so miserly that he denied himself even the necessaries +of life. What made him particularly detested was the great aversion +he had to Khacan, of whom he never ceased to speak evil to the king. + +One day, while the king amused himself talking with his two +vizirs and other members of the council, the conversation turned +on female slaves. While some declared that it sufficed for a +slave to be beautiful, others, and Khacan was among the number, +maintained that beauty alone was not enough, but that it must +be accompanied by wit, wisdom, modesty, and, if possible, knowledge. + +The king not only declared himself to be of this opinion, but charged +Khacan to procure him a slave who should fulfil all these conditions. +Saouy, who had been of the opposite side, and was jealous of the +honour done to Khacan, said, "Sire, it will be very difficult to find +a slave as accomplished as your Majesty desires, and, if she is +to be found, she will be cheap if she cost less than 10,000 gold pieces." + +"Saouy," answered the king, "you seem to find that a very great sum. +For you it may be so, but not for me." + +And forthwith he ordered his grand treasurer, who was present, +to send 10,000 gold pieces to Khacan for the purchase of the slave. + +As soon, then, as Khacan returned home he sent for the dealers in +female slaves, and charged them directly they had found such a one +as he described to inform him. They promised to do their utmost, +and no day passed that they did not bring a slave for his inspection +but none was found without some defect. + +At length, early one morning, while Khacan was on his way to the +king's palace, a dealer, throwing himself in his way, announced eagerly +that a Persian merchant, arrived late the previous evening, had a +slave to sell whose wit and wisdom were equal to her incomparable beauty. + +Khacan, overjoyed at this news, gave orders that the slave should +be brought for his inspection on his return from the palace. +The dealer appearing at the appointed hour, Khacan found the slave +beautiful beyond his expectations, and immediately gave her the name +of "The Fair Persian." + +Being a man of great wisdom and learning, he perceived in the short +conversation he had with her that he would seek in vain another +slave to surpass her in any of the qualities required by the king, +and therefore asked the dealer what price the merchant put upon her. + +"Sir," was the answer, "for less than 10,000 gold pieces he will not +let her go; he declares that, what with masters for her instruction, +and for bodily exercises, not to speak of clothing and nourishment, +he has already spent that sum upon her. She is in every way fit to be +the slave of a king; she plays every musical instrument, she sings, +she dances, she makes verses, in fact there is no accomplishment +in which she does not excel." + +Khacan, who was better able to judge of her merits than the dealer, +wishing to bring the matter to a conclusion, sent for the merchant, +and said to him, "It is not for myself that I wish to buy your slave, +but for the king. Her price, however, is too high." + +"Sir," replied the merchant, "I should esteem it an honour to present +her to his Majesty, did it become a merchant to do such a thing. +I ask no more than the sum it has cost me to make her such as she is." + +Khacan, not wishing to bargain, immediately had the sum counted out, +and given to the merchant, who before withdrawing said: + +"Sir, as she is destined for the king, I would have you observe +that she is extremely tired with the long journey, and before +presenting her to his Majesty you would do well to keep her +a fortnight in your own house, and to see that a little care is +bestowed upon her. The sun has tanned her complexion, but when she +has been two or three times to the bath, and is fittingly dressed, +you will see how much her beauty will be increased." + +Khacan thanked the merchant for his advice, and determined to follow it. +He gave the beautiful Persian an apartment near to that of his wife, +whom he charged to treat her as befitting a lady destined for the king, +and to order for her the most magnificent garments. + +Before bidding adieu to the fair Persian, he said to her: +"No happiness can be greater than what I have procured for you; +judge for yourself, you now belong to the king. I have, however, to warn +you of one thing. I have a son, who, though not wanting in sense, +is young, foolish, and headstrong, and I charge you to keep him +at a distance." + +The Persian thanked him for his advice, and promised to profit +by it. + +Noureddin--for so the vizir's son was named--went freely in and out +of his mother's apartments. He was young, well-made and agreeable, +and had the gift of charming all with whom he came in contact. +As soon as he saw the beautiful Persian, though aware that she was +destined for the king, he let himself be carried away by her charms, +and determined at once to use every means in his power to retain +her for himself. The Persian was equally captivated by Noureddin, +and said to herself: "The vizir does me too great honour in buying me +for the king. I should esteem myself very happy if he would give me +to his son." + +Noureddin availed himself of every opportunity to gaze upon her beauty, +to talk and laugh with her, and never would have left her side +if his mother had not forced him. + +Some time having elapsed, on account of the long journey, since the +beautiful Persian had been to the bath, five or six days after her +purchase the vizir's wife gave orders that the bath should be heated +for her, and that her own female slaves should attend her there, +and after-wards should array her in a magnificent dress that had +been prepared for her. + +Her toilet completed, the beautiful Persian came to present herself +to the vizir's wife, who hardly recognised her, so greatly was her +beauty increased. Kissing her hand, the beautiful slave said: +"Madam, I do not know how you find me in this dress that you +have had prepared for me; your women assure me that it suits me +so well that they hardly knew me. If it is the truth they tell me, +and not flattery, it is to you I owe the transformation." + +"My daughter," answered the vizir's wife, "they do not flatter you. +I myself hardly recognised you. The improvement is not due to the +dress alone, but largely to the beautifying effects of the bath. +I am so struck by its results, that I would try it on myself." + +Acting forthwith on this decision she ordered two little slaves +during her absence to watch over the beautiful Persian, and not +to allow Noureddin to enter should he come. + +She had no sooner gone than he arrived, and not finding his mother +in her apartment, would have sought her in that of the Persian. +The two little slaves barred the entrance, saying that his mother had +given orders that he was not to be admitted. Taking each by an arm, +he put them out of the anteroom, and shut the door. Then they +rushed to the bath, informing their mistress with shrieks and tears +that Noureddin had driven them away by force and gone in. + +This news caused great consternation to the lady, who, dressing +herself as quickly as possible, hastened to the apartment of +the fair Persian, to find that Noureddin had already gone out. +Much astonished to see the vizir's wife enter in tears, +the Persian asked what misfortune had happened. + +"What!" exclaimed the lady, "you ask me that, knowing that my son +Noureddin has been alone with you?" + +"But, madam," inquired the Persian, "what harm is there in that?" + +"How! Has my husband not told you that you are destined for the king?" + +"Certainly, but Noureddin has just been to tell me that his father +has changed his mind and has bestowed me upon him. I believed him, +and so great is my affection for Noureddin that I would willingly +pass my life with him." + +"Would to heaven," exclaimed the wife of the vizir, "that what you +say were true; but Noureddin has deceived you, and his father +will sacrifice him in vengeance for the wrong he has done." + +So saying, she wept bitterly, and all her slaves wept with her. + +Khacan, entering shortly after this, was much astonished to find his wife +and her slaves in tears, and the beautiful Persian greatly perturbed. +He inquired the cause, but for some time no answer was forthcoming. +When his wife was at length sufficiently calm to inform him +of what had happened, his rage and mortification knew no bounds. +Wringing his hands and rending his beard, he exclaimed: + +"Wretched son! thou destroyest not only thyself but thy father. +The king will shed not only thy blood but mine." His wife tried +to console him, saying: "Do not torment thyself. With the sale +of my jewels I will obtain 10,000 gold pieces, and with this sum you +will buy another slave." + +"Do not suppose," replied her husband, "that it is the loss of the money +that affects me. My honour is at stake, and that is more precious +to me than all my wealth. You know that Saouy is my mortal enemy. +He will relate all this to the king, and you will see the consequences +that will ensue." + +"My lord," said his wife, "I am quite aware of Saouy's baseness, +and that he is capable of playing you this malicious trick. +But how can he or any one else know what takes place in this house? +Even if you are suspected and the king accuses you, you have only +to say that, after examining the slave, you did not find her worthy +of his Majesty. Reassure yourself, and send to the dealers, +saying that you are not satisfied, and wish them to find you +another slave." + +This advice appearing reasonable, Khacan decided to follow it, +but his wrath against his son did not abate. Noureddin dared +not appear all that day, and fearing to take refuge with his +usual associates in case his father should seek him there, +he spent the day in a secluded garden where he was not known. +He did not return home till after his father had gone to bed, +and went out early next morning before the vizir awoke, and these +precautions he kept up during an entire month. + +His mother, though knowing very well that he returned to the house +every evening, dare not ask her husband to pardon him. At length +she took courage and said: + +"My lord, I know that a son could not act more basely towards +his father than Noureddin has done towards you, but after +all will you now pardon him? Do you not consider the harm +you may be doing yourself, and fear that malicious people, +seeking the cause of your estrangement, may guess the real one?" + +"Madam," replied the vizir, "what you say is very just, but I cannot +pardon Noureddin before I have mortified him as he deserves." + +"He will be sufficiently punished," answered the lady, "if you do +as I suggest. In the evening, when he returns home, lie in wait +for him and pretend that you will slay him. I will come to his aid, +and while pointing out that you only yield his life at my supplications, +you can force him to take the beautiful Persian on any conditions +you please." Khacan agreed to follow this plan, and everything +took place as arranged. On Noureddin's return Khacan pretended +to be about to slay him, but yielding to his wife's intercession, +said to his son: + +"You owe your life to your mother. I pardon you on her intercession, +and on the conditions that you take the beautiful Persian for your wife, +and not your slave, that you never sell her, nor put her away." + +Noureddin, not hoping for so great indulgence, thanked his father, +and vowed to do as he desired. Khacan was at great pains frequently +to speak to the king of the difficulties attending the commission he +had given him, but some whispers of what had actually taken place +did reach Saouy's ears. + +More than a year after these events the minister took a chill, +leaving the bath while still heated to go out on important business. +This resulted in inflammation of the lungs, which rapidly increased. +The vizir, feeling that his end was at hand, sent for Noureddin, +and charged him with his dying breath never to part with the +beautiful Persian. + +Shortly afterwards he expired, leaving universal regret throughout +the kingdom; rich and poor alike followed him to the grave. +Noureddin showed every mark of the deepest grief at his father's death, +and for long refused to see any one. At length a day came when, +one of his friends being admitted, urged him strongly to be consoled, +and to resume his former place in society. This advice Noureddin +was not slow to follow, and soon he formed little society of ten +young men all about his own age, with whom he spent all his time in +continual feasting and merry-making. + +Sometimes the fair Persian consented to appear at these festivities, +but she disapproved of this lavish expenditure, and did not scruple +to warn Noureddin of the probable consequences. He, however, only +laughed at her advice, saying, that his father had always kept him in +too great constraint, and that now he rejoiced at his new-found liberty. + +What added to the confusion in his affairs was that he refused +to look into his accounts with his steward, sending him away every +time he appeared with his book. + +"See only that I live well," he said, "and do not disturb me about +anything else." + +Not only did Noureddin's friends constantly partake of his hospitality, +but in every way they took advantage of his generosity; everything of +his that they admired, whether land, houses, baths, or any +other source of his revenue, he immediately bestowed on them. +In vain the Persian protested against the wrong he did himself; +he continued to scatter with the same lavish hand. + +Throughout one entire year Noureddin did nothing but amuse himself, +and dissipate the wealth his father had taken such pains to acquire. +The year had barely elapsed, when one day, as they sat at table, +there came a knock at the door. The slaves having been sent away, +Noureddin went to open it himself. One of his friends had risen at +the same time, but Noureddin was before him, and finding the intruder +to be the steward, he went out and closed the door. The friend, +curious to hear what passed between them, hid himself behind the hangings, +and heard the following words: + +"My lord," said the steward, "I beg a thousand pardons for +interrupting you, but what I have long foreseen has taken place. +Nothing remains of the sums you gave me for your expenses, and all +other sources of income are also at end, having been transferred +by you to others. If you wish me to remain in your service, +furnish me with the necessary funds, else I must withdraw." + +So great was Noureddin's consternation that he had not a word +to say in reply. + +The friend, who had been listening behind the curtain, immediately +hastened to communicate the news to the rest of the company. + +"If this is so," they said, "we must cease to come here." + +Noureddin re-entering at that moment, they plainly saw, in spite +of his efforts to dissemble, that what they had heard was the truth. +One by one they rose, and each with a different excuse left the room, +till presently he found himself alone, though little suspecting the +resolution his friends had taken. Then, seeing the beautiful Persian, +he confided to her the statement of the steward, with many expressions +of regret for his own carelessness. + +"Had I but followed your advice, beautiful Persian," he said, +"all this would not have happened, but at least I have this consolation, +that I have spent my fortune in the company of friends who will +not desert me in an hour of need. To-morrow I will go to them, +and amongst them they will lend me a sum sufficient to start +in some business." + +Accordingly next morning early Noureddin went to seek his ten friends, +who all lived in the same street. Knocking at the door of the first +and chief, the slave who opened it left him to wait in a hall while +he announced his visit to his master. "Noureddin!" he heard him +exclaim quite audibly. "Tell him, every time he calls, that I am +not at home." The same thing happened at the second door, and also at +the third, and so on with all the ten. Noureddin, much mortified, +recognised too late that he had confided in false friends, +who abandoned him in his hour of need. Overwhelmed with grief, +he sought consolation from the beautiful Persian. + +"Alas, my lord," she said, "at last you are convinced of the truth +of what I foretold. There is now no other resource left but to sell +your slaves and your furniture." + +First then he sold the slaves, and subsisted for a time on the proceeds, +after that the furniture was sold, and as much of it was valuable it +sufficed for some time. Finally this resource also came to an end, +and again he sought counsel from the beautiful Persian. + +"My lord," she said, "I know that the late vizir, your father, +bought me for 10,000 gold pieces, and though I have diminished +in value since, I should still fetch a large sum. Do not therefore +hesitate to sell me, and with the money you obtain go and establish +yourself in business in some distant town." + +"Charming Persian," answered Noureddin, "how could I be guilty +of such baseness? I would die rather than part from you whom +I love better than my life." + +"My lord," she replied, "I am well aware of your love for me, +which is only equalled by mine for you, but a cruel necessity +obliges us to seek the only remedy." + +Noureddin, convinced at length of the truth of her words, yielded, +and reluctantly led her to the slave market, where, showing her +to a dealer named Hagi Hassan, he inquired her value. + +Taking them into a room apart, Hagi Hassan exclaimed as soon as she +had unveiled, "My lord, is not this the slave your father bought +for 10,000 pieces?" + +On learning that it was so, he promised to obtain the highest possible +price for her. Leaving the beautiful Persian shut up in the room alone, +he went out to seek the slave merchants, announcing to them that he +had found the pearl among slaves, and asking them to come and put +a value upon her. As soon as they saw her they agreed that less +than 4,000 gold pieces could not be asked. Hagi Hassan, then closing +the door upon her, began to offer her for sale--calling out: +"Who will bid 4,000 gold pieces for the Persian slave?" + +Before any of the merchants had bid, Saouy happened to pass that way, +and judging that it must be a slave of extraordinary beauty, rode up +to Hagi Hassan and desired to see her. Now it was not the custom +to show a slave to a private bidder, but as no one dared to disobey +the vizir his request was granted. + +As soon as Saouy saw the Persian he was so struck by her beauty, +that he immediately wished to possess her, and not knowing that she +belonged to Noureddin, he desired Hagi Hassan to send for the owner +and to conclude the bargain at once. + +Hagi Hassan then sought Noureddin, and told him that his slave +was going far below her value, and that if Saouy bought her he +was capable of not paying the money. "What you must do," he said, +"is to pretend that you had no real intention of selling your slave, +and only swore you would in a fit of anger against her. When I +present her to Saouy as if with your consent you must step in, +and with blows begin to lead her away." + +Noureddin did as Hagi Hassan advised, to the great wrath of Saouy, +who riding straight at him endeavoured to take the beautiful Persian +from him by force. Noureddin letting her go, seized Saouy's horse +by the bridle, and, encouraged by the applause of the bystanders, +dragged him to the ground, beat him severely, and left him in the +gutter streaming with blood. Then, taking the beautiful Persian, +he returned home amidst the acclamations of the people, who detested +Saouy so much that they would neither interfere in his behalf nor +allow his slaves to protect him. + +Covered from head to foot with mire and streaming with blood he rose, +and leaning on two of his slaves went straight to the palace, +where he demanded an audience of the king, to whom he related what +had taken place in these words: + +"May it please your Majesty, I had gone to the slave market to buy myself +a cook. While there I heard a slave being offered for 4,000 pieces. +Asking to see her, I found she was of incomparable beauty, +and was being sold by Noureddin, the son of your late vizir, +to whom your Majesty will remember giving a sum of 10,000 gold +pieces for the purchase of a slave. This is the identical slave, +whom instead of bringing to your Majesty he gave to his own son. +Since the death of his father this Noureddin has run through his +entire fortune, has sold all his possessions, and is now reduced +to selling the slave. Calling him to me, I said: "Noureddin, I +will give you 10,000 gold pieces for your slave, whom I will present +to the king. I will interest him at the same time in your behalf, +and this will be worth much more to you than what extra money you +might obtain from the merchants." "Bad old man," he exclaimed, +"rather than sell my slave to you I would give her to a Jew." +"But, Noureddin," I remonstrated, "you do not consider that in speaking +thus you wrong the king, to whom your father owed everything." +This remonstrance only irritated him the more. Throwing himself on me +like a madman, he tore me from my horse, beat me to his heart's content, +and left me in the state your Majesty sees." + +So saying Saouy turned aside his head and wept bitterly. + +The king's wrath was kindled against Noureddin. He ordered the captain +of the guard to take with him forty men, to pillage Noureddin's house, +to rase it to the ground, and to bring Noureddin and the slave to him. +A doorkeeper, named Sangiar, who had been a slave of Khacan's, +hearing this order given, slipped out of the king's apartment, +and hastened to warn Noureddin to take flight instantly with the +beautiful Persian. Then, presenting him with forty gold pieces, +he disappeared before Noureddin had time to thank him. + +As soon, then, as the fair Persian had put on her veil they +fled together, and had the good fortune to get out of the town +without being observed. At the mouth of the Euphrates they +found a ship just about to start for Bagdad. They embarked, +and immediately the anchor was raised and they set sail. + +When the captain of the guard reached Noureddin's house he caused his +soldiers to burst open the door and to enter by force, but no trace was +to be found of Noureddin and his slave, nor could the neighbours give +any information about them. When the king heard that they had escaped, +he issued a proclamation that a reward of 1,000 gold pieces would be +given to whoever would bring him Noureddin and the slave, but that, +on the contrary, whoever hid them would be severely punished. +Meanwhile Noureddin and the fair Persian had safely reached Bagdad. +When the vessel had come to an anchor they paid five gold pieces for +their passage and went ashore. Never having been in Bagdad before, +they did not know where to seek a lodging. Wandering along the banks +of the Tigris, they skirted a garden enclosed by a high wall. +The gate was shut, but in front of it was an open vestibule with a sofa +on either side. "Here," said Noureddin, "let us pass the night," +and reclining on the sofas they soon fell asleep. + +Now this garden belonged to the Caliph. In the middle of it was +a vast pavilion, whose superb saloon had eighty windows, each window +having a lustre, lit solely when the Caliph spent the evening there. +Only the door-keeper lived there, an old soldier named Scheih Ibrahim, +who had strict orders to be very careful whom he admitted, +and never to allow any one to sit on the sofas by the door. +It happened that evening that he had gone out on an errand. +When he came back and saw two persons asleep on the sofas he was +about to drive them out with blows, but drawing nearer he perceived +that they were a handsome young man and beautiful young woman, +and decided to awake them by gentler means. Noureddin, on being awoke, +told the old man that they were strangers, and merely wished to pass +the night there. "Come with me," said Scheih Ibrahim, "I will lodge +you better, and will show you a magnificent garden belonging to me." +So saying the doorkeeper led the way into the Caliph's garden, +the beauties of which filled them with wonder and amazement. +Noureddin took out two gold pieces, and giving them to Scheih Ibrahim +said + +"I beg you to get us something to eat that we may make merry together." +Being very avaricious, Scheih Ibrahim determined to spend only +the tenth part of the money and to keep the rest to himself. +While he was gone Noureddin and the Persian wandered through the +gardens and went up the white marble staircase of the pavilion as far +as the locked door of the saloon. On the return of Scheih Ibrahim +they begged him to open it, and to allow them to enter and admire +the magnificence within. Consenting, he brought not only the key, +but a light, and immediately unlocked the door. Noureddin and the +Persian entering, were dazzled with the magnificence they beheld. +The paintings and furniture were of astonishing beauty, and between +each window was a silver arm holding a candle. + +Scheih Ibrahim spread the table in front of a sofa, and all +three ate together. When they had finished eating Noureddin +asked the old man to bring them a bottle of wine. + +"Heaven forbid," said Scheih Ibrahim, "that I should come in contact +with wine! I who have four times made the pilgrimage to Mecca, +and have renounced wine for ever." + +"You would, however, do us a great service in procuring +us some," said Noureddin. "You need not touch it yourself. +Take the ass which is tied to the gate, lead it to the nearest +wine-shop, and ask some passer-by to order two jars of wine; +have them put in the ass's panniers, and drive him before you. +Here are two pieces of gold for the expenses." + +At sight of the gold, Scheih Ibrahim set off at once to execute +the commission. On his return, Noureddin said: "We have still need +of cups to drink from, and of fruit, if you can procure us some." +Scheih Ibrahim disappeared again, and soon returned with a table spread +with cups of gold and silver, and every sort of beautiful fruit. +Then he withdrew, in spite of repeated invitations to remain. + +Noureddin and the beautiful Persian, finding the wine excellent, +drank of it freely, and while drinking they sang. Both had fine +voices, and Scheih Ibrahim listened to them with great pleasure-- +first from a distance, then he drew nearer, and finally put his +head in at the door. Noureddin, seeing him, called to him to come +in and keep them company. At first the old man declined, but was +persuaded to enter the room, to sit down on the edge of the sofa +nearest the door, and at last to draw closer and to seat himself +by the beautiful Persian, who urged him so persistently to drink +her health that at length he yielded, and took the cup she offered. + +Now the old man only made a pretence of renouncing wine; +he frequented wine-shops like other people, and had taken none +of the precautions Noureddin had proposed. Having once yielded, +he was easily persuaded to take a second cup, and a third, +and so on till he no longer knew what he was doing. Till near +midnight they continued drinking, laughing, and singing together. + +About that time the Persian, perceiving that the room was lit +by only one miserable tallow candle, asked Scheih Ibrahim to light +some of the beautiful candles in the silver arms. + +"Light them yourself," answered the old man; "you are younger than I, +but let five or six be enough." + +She did not stop, however, till she had lit all the eighty, but Scheih +Ibrahim was not conscious of this, and when, soon after that, +Noureddin proposed to have some of the lustres lit, he answered: + +"You are more capable of lighting them than I, but not more than three." + +Noureddin, far from contenting himself with three, lit all, +and opened all the eighty windows. + +The Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid, chancing at that moment to open +a window in the saloon of his palace looking on the garden, +was surprised to see the pavilion brilliantly illuminated. +Calling the grand-vizir, Giafar, he said to him: + +"Negligent vizir, look at the pavilion, and tell me why it is lit +up when I am not there." + +When the vizir saw that it was as the Caliph said, he trembled +with fear, and immediately invented an excuse. + +"Commander of the Faithful," he said, "I must tell you that four +or five days ago Scheih Ibrahim told me that he wished to have +an assembly of the ministers of his mosque, and asked permission +to hold it in the pavilion. I granted his request, but forgot +since to mention it to your Majesty." + +"Giafar," replied the Caliph, "you have committed three faults-- +first, in giving the permission; second, in not mentioning it +to me; and third, in not investigating the matter more closely. +For punishment I condemn you to spend the rest of the night with me +in company of these worthy people. While I dress myself as a citizen, +go and disguise yourself, and then come with me." + +When they reached the garden gate they found it open, to the great +indignation of the Caliph. The door of the pavilion being also open, +he went softly upstairs, and looked in at the half-closed door +of the saloon. Great was his surprise to see Scheih Ibrahim, +whose sobriety he had never doubted, drinking and singing with a young +man and a beautiful lady. The Caliph, before giving way to his anger, +determined to watch and see who the people were and what they did. + +Presently Scheih Ibrahim asked the beautiful Persian if anything +were wanting to complete her enjoyment of the evening. + +"If only," she said, "I had an instrument upon which I might play." + +Scheih Ibrahim immediately took a lute from a cup-board and gave +it to the Persian, who began to play on it, singing the while +with such skill and taste that the Caliph was enchanted. +When she ceased he went softly downstairs and said to the vizir: + +"Never have I heard a finer voice, nor the lute better played. +I am determined to go in and make her play to me." + +"Commander of the Faithful," said the vizir, "if Scheih Ibrahim +recognises you he will die of fright." + +"I should be sorry for that," answered the Caliph, "and I am going +to take steps to prevent it. Wait here till I return." + +Now the Caliph had caused a bend in the river to form a lake in +his garden. There the finest fish in the Tigris were to be found, +but fishing was strictly forbidden. It happened that night, +however, that a fisherman had taken advantage of the gate being +open to go in and cast his nets. He was just about to draw them +when he saw the Caliph approaching. Recognising him at once in spite +of his disguise, he threw himself at his feet imploring forgiveness. + +"Fear nothing," said the Caliph, "only rise up and draw thy nets." + +The fisherman did as he was told, and produced five or six fine fish, +of which the Caliph took the two largest. Then he desired the +fisherman to change clothes with him, and in a few minutes the Caliph +was transformed into a fisherman, even to the shoes and the turban. +Taking the two fish in his hand, he returned to the vizir, who, +not recognising him, would have sent him about his business. +Leaving the vizir at the foot of the stairs, the Caliph went up +and knocked at the door of the saloon. Noureddin opened it, +and the Caliph, standing on the threshold, said: + +"Scheih Ibrahim, I am the fisher Kerim. Seeing that you are feasting +with your friends, I bring you these fish." + +Noureddin and the Persian said that when the fishes were properly +cooked and dressed they would gladly eat of them. The Caliph then +returned to the vizir, and they set to work in Scheih Ibrahim's +house to cook the fish, of which they made so tempting a dish +that Noureddin and the fair Persian ate of it with great relish. +When they had finished Noureddin took thirty gold pieces (all +that remained of what Sangiar had given him) and presented them to +the Caliph, who, thanking him, asked as a further favour if the lady +would play him one piece on the lute. The Persian gladly consented, +and sang and played so as to delight the Caliph. + +Noureddin, in the habit of giving to others whatever they admired, +said, "Fisherman, as she pleases you so much, take her; she is yours." + +The fair Persian, astounded that he should wish to part from her, +took her lute, and with tears in her eyes sang her reproaches to +its music. + +The Caliph (still in the character of fisherman) said to him, +"Sir, I perceive that this fair lady is your slave. Oblige me, +I beg you, by relating your history." + +Noureddin willingly granted this request, and recounted everything +from the purchase of the slave down to the present moment. + +"And where do you go now?" asked the Caliph. + +"Wherever the hand of Allah leads me," said Noureddin. + +"Then, if you will listen to me," said the Caliph, "you will +immediately return to Balsora. I will give you a letter to the king, +which will ensure you a good reception from him." + +"It is an unheard-of thing," said Noureddin, "that a fisherman +should be in correspondence with a king." + +"Let not that astonish you," answered the Caliph; "we studied together, +and have always remained the best of friends, though fortune, +while making him a king, left me a humble fisherman." + +The Caliph then took a sheet of paper, and wrote the following letter, +at the top of which he put in very small characters this formula +to show that he must be implicitly obeyed:--"In the name of the Most +Merciful God. + +"Letter of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid to the King of Balsora. + +"Haroun-al-Raschid, son of Mahdi, sends this letter to Mohammed Zinebi, +his cousin. As soon as Noureddin, son of the Vizir Khacan, +bearer of this letter, has given it to thee, and thou hast read it, +take off thy royal mantle, put it on his shoulders, and seat him +in thy place without fail. Farewell." + +The Caliph then gave this letter to Noureddin, who immediately +set off, with only what little money he possessed when Sangiar +came to his assistance. The beautiful Persian, inconsolable at +his departure, sank on a sofa bathed in tears. + +When Noureddin had left the room, Scheih Ibrahim, who had hitherto +kept silence, said: "Kerim, for two miserable fish thou hast +received a purse and a slave. I tell thee I will take the slave, +and as to the purse, if it contains silver thou mayst keep one piece, +if gold then I will take all and give thee what copper pieces I +have in my purse." + +Now here it must be related that when the Caliph went upstairs +with the plate of fish he ordered the vizir to hasten to the palace +and bring back four slaves bearing a change of raiment, who should +wait outside the pavilion till the Caliph should clap his hands. + +Still personating the fisherman, the Caliph answered: +"Scheih Ibrahim, whatever is in the purse I will share equally +with you, but as to the slave I will keep her for myself. +If you do not agree to these conditions you shall have nothing." + +The old man, furious at this insolence as he considered it, +took a cup and threw it at the Caliph, who easily avoided a missile +from the hand of a drunken man. It hit against the wall, and broke +into a thousand pieces. Scheih Ibrahim, still more enraged, +then went out to fetch a stick. The Caliph at that moment clapped +his hands, and the vizir and the four slaves entering took off +the fisherman's dress and put on him that which they had brought. + +When Scheih Ibrahim returned, a thick stick in his hand, the Caliph +was seated on his throne, and nothing remained of the fisherman +but his clothes in the middle of the room. Throwing himself on the +ground at the Caliph's feet, he said: "Commander of the Faithful, +your miserable slave has offended you, and craves forgiveness." + +The Caliph came down from his throne, and said: "Rise, I forgive thee." +Then turning to the Persian he said: "Fair lady, now you know who +I am; learn also that I have sent Noureddin to Balsora to be king, +and as soon as all necessary preparations are made I will send +you there to be queen. Meanwhile I will give you an apartment +in my palace, where you will be treated with all honour." + +At this the beautiful Persian took courage, and the Caliph was as +good as his word, recommending her to the care of his wife Zobeida. + +Noureddin made all haste on his journey to Balsora, and on his +arrival there went straight to the palace of the king, of whom he +demanded an audience. It was immediately granted, and holding +the letter high above his head he forced his way through the crowd. +While the king read the letter he changed colour. He would instantly +have executed the Caliph's order, but first he showed the letter +to Saouy, whose interests were equally at stake with his own. +Pretending that he wished to read it a second time, Saouy turned +aside as if to seek a better light; unperceived by anyone he tore +off the formula from the top of the letter, put it to his mouth, +and swallowed it. Then, turning to the king, he said: + +"Your majesty has no need to obey this letter. The writing is indeed +that of the Caliph, but the formula is absent. Besides, he has not +sent an express with the patent, without which the letter is useless. +Leave all to me, and I will take the consequences." + +The king not only listened to the persuasions of Saouy, but gave +Noureddin into his hands. Such a severe bastinado was first +administered to him, that he was left more dead than alive; then Saouy +threw him into the darkest and deepest dungeon, and fed him only +on bread and water. After ten days Saouy determined to put an end +to Noureddin's life, but dared not without the king's authority. +To gain this end, he loaded several of his own slaves with rich gifts, +and presented himself at their head to the king, saying that they +were from the new king on his coronation. + +"What!" said the king; "is that wretch still alive? Go and behead +him at once. I authorise you." + +"Sire," said Saouy, "I thank your Majesty for the justice you +do me. I would further beg, as Noureddin publicly affronted me, +that the execution might be in front of the palace, and that it +might be proclaimed throughout the city, so that no one may be +ignorant of it." + +The king granted these requests, and the announcement caused +universal grief, for the memory of Noureddin's father was still fresh +in the hearts of his people. Saouy, accompanied by twenty of his +own slaves, went to the prison to fetch Noureddin, whom he mounted on +a wretched horse without a saddle. Arrived at the palace, Saouy went +in to the king, leaving Noureddin in the square, hemmed in not only +by Saouy's slaves but by the royal guard, who had great difficulty +in preventing the people from rushing in and rescuing Noureddin. +So great was the indignation against Saouy that if anyone had set +the example he would have been stoned on his way through the streets. +Saouy, who witnessed the agitation of the people from the windows +of the king's privy chambers, called to the executioner to strike +at once. The king, however, ordered him to delay; not only was +he jealous of Saouy's interference, but he had another reason. +A troop of horsemen was seen at that moment riding at full gallop +towards the square. Saouy suspected who they might be, and urged +the king to give the signal for the execution without delay, +but this the king refused to do till he knew who the horsemen were. + +Now, they were the vizir Giafar and his suite arriving at full speed +from Bagdad. For several days after Noureddin's departure with the +letter the Caliph had forgotten to send the express with the patent, +without which the letter was useless. Hearing a beautiful voice +one day in the women's part of the palace uttering lamentations, +he was informed that it was the voice of the fair Persian, +and suddenly calling to mind the patent, he sent for Giafar, +and ordered him to make for Balsora with the utmost speed-- +if Noureddin were dead, to hang Saouy; if he were still alive, +to bring him at once to Bagdad along with the king and Saouy. + +Giafar rode at full speed through the square, and alighted +at the steps of the palace, where the king came to greet him. +The vizir's first question was whether Noureddin were still alive. +The king replied that he was, and he was immediately led forth, +though bound hand and foot. By the vizir's orders his bonds +were immediately undone, and Saouy was tied with the same cords. +Next day Giafar returned to Bagdad, bearing with him the king, Saouy, +and Noureddin. + +When the Caliph heard what treatment Noureddin had received, +he authorised him to behead Saouy with his own hands, but he +declined to shed the blood of his enemy, who was forthwith handed +over to the executioner. The Caliph also desired Noureddin to reign +over Balsora, but this, too, he declined, saying that after what had +passed there he preferred never to return, but to enter the service +of the Caliph. He became one of his most intimate courtiers, and lived +long in great happiness with the fair Persian. As to the king, +the Caliph contented himself with sending him back to Balsora, with the +recommendation to be more careful in future in the choice of his vizir. + + + +Aladdin and the 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 for ever, 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 were 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 honour. +At night the princess said good-bye 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 jewelers 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 honour 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 a while. 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 gaily 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, +coloured his face like hers, put on her veil and murdered her, +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 humour. 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. + +"It 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 cried, "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. + + + +The Adventures of Haroun-al-Raschid, Caliph of Bagdad + + +The Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid sat in his palace, wondering if there was +anything left in the world that could possibly give him a few hours' +amusement, when Giafar the grand-vizir, his old and tried friend, +suddenly appeared before him. Bowing low, he waited, as was his duty, +till his master spoke, but Haroun-al-Raschid merely turned his +head and looked at him, and sank back into his former weary posture. + +Now Giafar had something of importance to say to the Caliph, +and had no intention of being put off by mere silence, so with +another low bow in front of the throne, he began to speak. + +"Commander of the Faithful," said he, "I have taken on myself to +remind your Highness that you have undertaken secretly to observe +for yourself the manner in which justice is done and order is kept +throughout the city. This is the day you have set apart to devote +to this object, and perhaps in fulfilling this duty you may find +some distraction from the melancholy to which, as I see to my sorrow, +you are a prey." + +"You are right," returned the Caliph, "I had forgotten all about it. +Go and change your coat, and I will change mine." + +A few moments later they both re-entered the hall, disguised as +foreign merchants, and passed through a secret door, out into the +open country. Here they turned towards the Euphrates, and crossing +the river in a small boat, walked through that part of the town +which lay along the further bank, without seeing anything to call +for their interference. Much pleased with the peace and good order +of the city, the Caliph and his vizir made their way to a bridge, +which led straight back to the palace, and had already crossed it, +when they were stopped by an old and blind man, who begged for alms. + +The Caliph gave him a piece of money, and was passing on, +but the blind man seized his hand, and held him fast. + +"Charitable person," he said, "whoever you may be grant me yet +another prayer. Strike me, I beg of you, one blow. I have deserved +it richly, and even a more severe penalty." + +The Caliph, much surprised at this request, replied gently: +"My good man, that which you ask is impossible. Of what use would +my alms be if I treated you so ill?" And as he spoke he tried +to loosen the grasp of the blind beggar. + +"My lord," answered the man, "pardon my boldness and my persistence. +Take back your money, or give me the blow which I crave. +I have sworn a solemn oath that I will receive nothing without +receiving chastisement, and if you knew all, you would feel that +the punishment is not a tenth part of what I deserve." + +Moved by these words, and perhaps still more by the fact that he +had other business to attend to, the Caliph yielded, and struck him +lightly on the shoulder. Then he continued his road, followed by +the blessing of the blind man. When they were out of earshot, +he said to the vizir, "There must be something very odd to make +that man act so--I should like to find out what is the reason. +Go back to him; tell him who I am, and order him to come without fail +to the palace to-morrow, after the hour of evening prayer." + +So the grand-vizir went back to the bridge; gave the blind beggar +first a piece of money and then a blow, delivered the Caliph's message, +and rejoined his master. + +They passed on towards the palace, but walking through a square, +they came upon a crowd watching a young and well-dressed man +who was urging a horse at full speed round the open space, +using at the same time his spurs and whip so unmercifully that +the animal was all covered with foam and blood. The Caliph, +astonished at this proceeding, inquired of a passer-by what it +all meant, but no one could tell him anything, except that every +day at the same hour the same thing took place. + +Still wondering, he passed on, and for the moment had to +content himself with telling the vizir to command the horseman +also to appear before him at the same time as the blind man. + +The next day, after evening prayer, the Caliph entered the hall, +and was followed by the vizir bringing with him the two men of whom +we have spoken, and a third, with whom we have nothing to do. +They all bowed themselves low before the throne and then the Caliph +bade them rise, and ask the blind man his name. + +"Baba-Abdalla, your Highness," said he. + +"Baba-Abdalla," returned the Caliph, "your way of asking alms +yesterday seemed to me so strange, that I almost commanded you +then and there to cease from causing such a public scandal. +But I have sent for you to inquire what was your motive in making +such a curious vow. When I know the reason I shall be able to judge +whether you can be permitted to continue to practise it, for I +cannot help thinking that it sets a very bad example to others. +Tell me therefore the whole truth, and conceal nothing." + +These words troubled the heart of Baba-Abdalla, who prostrated +himself at the feet of the Caliph. Then rising, he answered: +"Commander of the Faithful, I crave your pardon humbly, +for my persistence in beseeching your Highness to do an action +which appears on the face of it to be without any meaning. +No doubt, in the eyes of men, it has none; but I look on it as a +slight expiation for a fearful sin of which I have been guilty, +and if your Highness will deign to listen to my tale, you will +see that no punishment could atone for the crime." + + + +Story of the Blind Baba-Abdalla + + +I was born, Commander of the Faithful, in Bagdad, and was left +an orphan while I was yet a very young man, for my parents died +within a few days of each other. I had inherited from them +a small fortune, which I worked hard night and day to increase, +till at last I found myself the owner of eighty camels. These I +hired out to travelling merchants, whom I frequently accompanied +on their various journeys, and always returned with large profits. + +One day I was coming back from Balsora, whither I had taken a supply +of goods, intended for India, and halted at noon in a lonely place, +which promised rich pasture for my camels. I was resting in the +shade under a tree, when a dervish, going on foot towards Balsora, +sat down by my side, and I inquired whence he had come and to what +place he was going. We soon made friends, and after we had asked +each other the usual questions, we produced the food we had with us, +and satisfied our hunger. + +While we were eating, the dervish happened to mention that in a spot +only a little way off from where we were sitting, there was hidden +a treasure so great that if my eighty camels were loaded till they +could carry no more, the hiding place would seem as full as if it +had never been touched. + +At this news I became almost beside myself with joy and greed, and I +flung my arms round the neck of the dervish, exclaiming: "Good dervish, +I see plainly that the riches of this world are nothing to you, +therefore of what use is the knowledge of this treasure to you? +Alone and on foot, you could carry away a mere handful. But tell me +where it is, and I will load my eighty camels with it, and give you +one of them as a token of my gratitude." + +Certainly my offer does not sound very magnificent, but it was +great to me, for at his words a wave of covetousness had swept +over my heart, and I almost felt as if the seventy-nine camels +that were left were nothing in comparison. + +The dervish saw quite well what was passing in my mind, but he did +not show what he thought of my proposal. + +"My brother," he answered quietly, "you know as well as I do, +that you are behaving unjustly. It was open to me to keep my secret, +and to reserve the treasure for myself. But the fact that I have +told you of its existence shows that I had confidence in you, +and that I hoped to earn your gratitude for ever, by making your +fortune as well as mine. But before I reveal to you the secret +of the treasure, you must swear that, after we have loaded the +camels with as much as they can carry, you will give half to me, +and let us go our own ways. I think you will see that this is fair, +for if you present me with forty camels, I on my side will give you +the means of buying a thousand more." + +I could not of course deny that what the dervish said was perfectly +reasonable, but, in spite of that, the thought that the dervish +would be as rich as I was unbearable to me. Still there was no +use in discussing the matter, and I had to accept his conditions +or bewail to the end of my life the loss of immense wealth. +So I collected my camels and we set out together under the guidance +of the dervish. After walking some time, we reached what looked +like a valley, but with such a narrow entrance that my camels could +only pass one by one. The little valley, or open space, was shut +up by two mountains, whose sides were formed of straight cliffs, +which no human being could climb. + +When we were exactly between these mountains the dervish stopped. + +"Make your camels lie down in this open space," he said, "so that we +can easily load them; then we will go to the treasure." + +I did what I was bid, and rejoined the dervish, whom I found trying +to kindle a fire out of some dry wood. As soon as it was alight, +he threw on it a handful of perfumes, and pronounced a few words +that I did not understand, and immediately a thick column of smoke +rose high into the air. He separated the smoke into two columns, +and then I saw a rock, which stood like a pillar between the +two mountains, slowly open, and a splendid palace appear within. + +But, Commander of the Faithful, the love of gold had taken such +possession of my heart, that I could not even stop to examine +the riches, but fell upon the first pile of gold within my reach +and began to heap it into a sack that I had brought with me. + +The dervish likewise set to work, but I soon noticed that he +confined himself to collecting precious stones, and I felt I +should be wise to follow his example. At length the camels +were loaded with as much as they could carry, and nothing +remained but to seal up the treasure, and go our ways. + +Before, however, this was done, the dervish went up to a great +golden vase, beautifully chased, and took from it a small wooden box, +which he hid in the bosom of his dress, merely saying that it +contained a special kind of ointment. Then he once more kindled +the fire, threw on the perfume, and murmured the unknown spell, +and the rock closed, and stood whole as before. + +The next thing was to divide the camels, and to charge them with +the treasure, after which we each took command of our own and marched +out of the valley, till we reached the place in the high road +where the routes diverge, and then we parted, the dervish going +towards Balsora, and I to Bagdad. We embraced each other tenderly, +and I poured out my gratitude for the honour he had done me, +in singling me out for this great wealth, and having said a hearty +farewell we turned our backs, and hastened after our camels. + +I had hardly come up with mine when the demon of envy filled my soul. +"What does a dervish want with riches like that?" I said to myself. +"He alone has the secret of the treasure, and can always get as much +as he wants," and I halted my camels by the roadside, and ran back +after him. + +I was a quick runner, and it did not take me very long to come up +with him. "My brother," I exclaimed, as soon as I could speak, +"almost at the moment of our leave-taking, a reflection occurred +to me, which is perhaps new to you. You are a dervish by profession, +and live a very quiet life, only caring to do good, and careless +of the things of this world. You do not realise the burden that you +lay upon yourself, when you gather into your hands such great wealth, +besides the fact that no one, who is not accustomed to camels from +his birth, can ever manage the stubborn beasts. If you are wise, +you will not encumber yourself with more than thirty, and you will find +those trouble enough." + +"You are right," replied the dervish, who understood me quite well, +but did not wish to fight the matter. "I confess I had not thought +about it. Choose any ten you like, and drive them before you." + +I selected ten of the best camels, and we proceeded along the road, +to rejoin those I had left behind. I had got what I wanted, but I +had found the dervish so easy to deal with, that I rather regretted +I had not asked for ten more. I looked back. He had only gone +a few paces, and I called after him. + +"My brother," I said, "I am unwilling to part from you without +pointing out what I think you scarcely grasp, that large experience +of camel-driving is necessary to anybody who intends to keep +together a troop of thirty. In your own interest, I feel sure you +would be much happier if you entrusted ten more of them to me, +for with my practice it is all one to me if I take two or a hundred." + +As before, the dervish made no difficulties, and I drove off my ten +camels in triumph, only leaving him with twenty for his share. +I had now sixty, and anyone might have imagined that I should +be content. + +But, Commander of the Faithful, there is a proverb that says, +"the more one has, the more one wants." So it was with me. +I could not rest as long as one solitary camel remained to the dervish; +and returning to him I redoubled my prayers and embraces, and promises +of eternal gratitude, till the last twenty were in my hands. + +"Make a good use of them, my brother," said the holy man. +"Remember riches sometimes have wings if we keep them for ourselves, +and the poor are at our gates expressly that we may help them." + +My eyes were so blinded by gold, that I paid no heed to his wise counsel, +and only looked about for something else to grasp. Suddenly I +remembered the little box of ointment that the dervish had hidden, +and which most likely contained a treasure more precious than all +the rest. Giving him one last embrace, I observed accidentally, +"What are you going to do with that little box of ointment? It seems +hardly worth taking with you; you might as well let me have it. +And really, a dervish who has given up the world has no need +of ointment!" + +Oh, if he had only refused my request! But then, supposing he had, +I should have got possession of it by force, so great was the +madness that had laid hold upon me. However, far from refusing it, +the dervish at once held it out, saying gracefully, "Take it, +my friend, and if there is anything else I can do to make you happy +you must let me know." + +Directly the box was in my hands I wrenched off the cover. +"As you are so kind," I said, "tell me, I pray you, what are the +virtues of this ointment?" + +"They are most curious and interesting," replied the dervish. +"If you apply a little of it to your left eye you will behold +in an instant all the treasures hidden in the bowels of the earth. +But beware lest you touch your right eye with it, or your sight will +be destroyed for ever." + +His words excited my curiosity to the highest pitch. "Make trial +on me, I implore you," I cried, holding out the box to the dervish. +"You will know how to do it better than I! I am burning with +impatience to test its charms." + +The dervish took the box I had extended to him, and, bidding me +shut my left eye, touched it gently with the ointment. When I +opened it again I saw spread out, as it were before me, treasures of +every kind and without number. But as all this time I had been +obliged to keep my right eye closed, which was very fatiguing, +I begged the dervish to apply the ointment to that eye also. + +"If you insist upon it I will do it," answered the dervish, +"but you must remember what I told you just now--that if it touches +your right eye you will become blind on the spot." + +Unluckily, in spite of my having proved the truth of the dervish's words +in so many instances, I was firmly convinced that he was now keeping +concealed from me some hidden and precious virtue of the ointment. +So I turned a deaf ear to all he said. + +"My brother," I replied smiling, "I see you are joking. It is +not natural that the same ointment should have two such exactly +opposite effects." + +"It is true all the same," answered the dervish, "and it would +be well for you if you believed my word." + +But I would not believe, and, dazzled by the greed of avarice, +I thought that if one eye could show me riches, the other might +teach me how to get possession of them. And I continued to press +the dervish to anoint my right eye, but this he resolutely declined +to do. + +"After having conferred such benefits on you," said he, "I am +loth indeed to work you such evil. Think what it is to be blind, +and do not force me to do what you will repent as long as you live." + +It was of no use. "My brother," I said firmly, "pray say no more, +but do what I ask. You have most generously responded to my wishes +up to this time, do not spoil my recollection of you for a thing +of such little consequence. Let what will happen I take it on my +own head, and will never reproach you." + +"Since you are determined upon it," he answered with a sigh, +"there is no use talking," and taking the ointment he laid some +on my right eye, which was tight shut. When I tried to open it +heavy clouds of darkness floated before me. I was as blind as you +see me now! + +"Miserable dervish!" I shrieked, "so it is true after all! +Into what a bottomless pit has my lust after gold plunged me. +Ah, now that my eyes are closed they are really opened. I know that +all my sufferings are caused by myself alone! But, good brother, +you, who are so kind and charitable, and know the secrets of such +vast learning, have you nothing that will give me back my sight?" + +"Unhappy man," replied the dervish, "it is not my fault that this has +befallen you, but it is a just chastisement. The blindness of your +heart has wrought the blindness of your body. Yes, I have secrets; +that you have seen in the short time that we have known each other. +But I have none that will give you back your sight. You have proved +yourself unworthy of the riches that were given you. Now they have +passed into my hands, whence they will flow into the hands of others +less greedy and ungrateful than you." + +The dervish said no more and left me, speechless with shame +and confusion, and so wretched that I stood rooted to the spot, +while he collected the eighty camels and proceeded on his way +to Balsora. It was in vain that I entreated him not to leave me, +but at least to take me within reach of the first passing caravan. +He was deaf to my prayers and cries, and I should soon have been dead +of hunger and misery if some merchants had not come along the track +the following day and kindly brought me back to Bagdad. + +From a rich man I had in one moment become a beggar; and up to this +time I have lived solely on the alms that have been bestowed on me. +But, in order to expiate the sin of avarice, which was my undoing, +I oblige each passer-by to give me a blow. + +This, Commander of the Faithful, is my story. + +When the blind man had ended the Caliph addressed him: +"Baba-Abdalla, truly your sin is great, but you have suffered enough. +Henceforth repent in private, for I will see that enough money +is given you day by day for all your wants." + +At these words Baba-Abdalla flung himself at the Caliph's feet, +and prayed that honour and happiness might be his portion for ever. + + + +The Story of Sidi-Nouman + + +The Caliph, Haroun-al-Raschid, was much pleased with the tale of +the blind man and the dervish, and when it was finished he turned +to the young man who had ill-treated his horse, and inquired +his name also. The young man replied that he was called Sidi-Nouman. + +"Sidi-Nouman," observed the Caliph, "I have seen horses broken all my +life long, and have even broken them myself, but I have never seen +any horse broken in such a barbarous manner as by you yesterday. +Every one who looked on was indignant, and blamed you loudly. +As for myself, I was so angry that I was very nearly disclosing +who I was, and putting a stop to it at once. Still, you have not +the air of a cruel man, and I would gladly believe that you did not +act in this way without some reason. As I am told that it was not +the first time, and indeed that every day you are to be seen flogging +and spurring your horse, I wish to come to the bottom of the matter. +But tell me the whole truth, and conceal nothing." + +Sidi-Nouman changed colour as he heard these words, and his manner +grew confused; but he saw plainly that there was no help for it. +So he prostrated himself before the throne of the Caliph and tried +to obey, but the words stuck in his throat, and he remained silent. + +The Caliph, accustomed though he was to instant obedience, +guessed something of what was passing in the young man's mind, +and sought to put him at his ease. "Sidi-Nouman," he said, +"do not think of me as the Caliph, but merely as a friend who would +like to hear your story. If there is anything in it that you are +afraid may offend me, take courage, for I pardon you beforehand. +Speak then openly and without fear, as to one who knows and loves you." + +Reassured by the kindness of the Caliph, Sidi-Nouman at length +began his tale. + +"Commander of the Faithful," said he, "dazzled though I am +by the lustre of your Highness' presence, I will do my best +to satisfy your wishes. I am by no means perfect, but I am not +naturally cruel, neither do I take pleasure in breaking the law. +I admit that the treatment of my horse is calculated to give your +Highness a bad opinion of me, and to set an evil example to others; +yet I have not chastised it without reason, and I have hopes +that I shall be judged more worthy of pity than punishment." + +Commander of the Faithful, I will not trouble to describe my birth; +it is not of sufficient distinction to deserve your Highness' +attention. My ancestors were careful people, and I inherited +enough money to enable me to live comfortably, though without show. + +Having therefore a modest fortune, the only thing wanting to my +happiness was a wife who could return my affection, but this blessing +I was not destined to get; for on the very day after my marriage, +my bride began to try my patience in every way that was most hard +to bear. + +Now, seeing that the customs of our land oblige us to marry without +ever beholding the person with whom we are to pass our lives, +a man has of course no right to complain as long as his wife +is not absolutely repulsive, or is not positively deformed. +And whatever defects her body may have, pleasant ways and good +behaviour will go far to remedy them. + +The first time I saw my wife unveiled, when she had been brought +to my house with the usual ceremonies, I was enchanted to find +that I had not been deceived in regard to the account that had been +given me of her beauty. I began my married life in high spirits, +and the best hopes of happiness. + +The following day a grand dinner was served to us but as my wife did +not appear, I ordered a servant to call her. Still she did not come, +and I waited impatiently for some time. At last she entered the room, +and she took our places at the table, and plates of rice were set +before us. + +I ate mine, as was natural, with a spoon, but great was my surprise +to notice that my wife, instead of doing the same, drew from her +pocket a little case, from which she selected a long pin, and by +the help of this pin conveyed her rice grain by grain to her mouth. + +"Amina," I exclaimed in astonishment, "is that the way you eat rice +at home? And did you do it because your appetite was so small, +or did you wish to count the grains so that you might never eat +more than a certain number? If it was from economy, and you are +anxious to teach me not to be wasteful, you have no cause for alarm. +We shall never ruin ourselves in that way! Our fortune is large +enough for all our needs, therefore, dear Amina, do not seek to +check yourself, but eat as much as you desire, as I do!" + +In reply to my affectionate words, I expected a cheerful answer; +yet Amina said nothing at all, but continued to pick her rice +as before, only at longer and longer intervals. And, instead of +trying the other dishes, all she did was to put every now and then +a crumb, of bread into her mouth, that would not have made a meal +for a sparrow. + +I felt provoked by her obstinacy, but to excuse her to myself +as far as I could, I suggested that perhaps she had never been +used to eat in the company of men, and that her family might have +taught her that she ought to behave prudently and discreetly +in the presence of her husband. Likewise that she might either +have dined already or intend to do so in her own apartments. +So I took no further notice, and when I had finished left the room, +secretly much vexed at her strange conduct. + +The same thing occurred at supper, and all through the next day, +whenever we ate together. It was quite clear that no woman could +live upon two or three bread-crumbs and a few grains of rice, +and I determined to find out how and when she got food. I pretended +not to pay attention to anything she did, in the hope that little +by little she would get accustomed to me, and become more friendly; +but I soon saw that my expectations were quite vain. + +One night I was lying with my eyes closed, and to, all appearance +sound asleep, when Amina arose softly, and dressed herself without +making the slightest sound. I could not imagine what she was going +to do, and as my curiosity was great I made up my mind to follow her. +When she was fully dressed, she stole quietly from the room. + +The instant she had let the curtain fall behind her, I flung +a garment on my shoulders and a pair of slippers on my feet. +Looking from a lattice which opened into the court, I saw her in +the act of passing through the street door, which she carefully +left open. + +It was bright moonlight, so I easily managed to keep her in sight, +till she entered a cemetery not far from the house. There I hid +myself under the shadow of the wall, and crouched down cautiously; +and hardly was I concealed, when I saw my wife approaching in company +with a ghoul--one of those demons which, as your Highness is aware, +wander about the country making their lairs in deserted buildings +and springing out upon unwary travellers whose flesh they eat. +If no live being goes their way, they then betake themselves to +the cemeteries, and feed upon the dead bodies. + +I was nearly struck dumb with horror on seeing my wife with this +hideous female ghoul. They passed by me without noticing me, +began to dig up a corpse which had been buried that day, and then +sat down on the edge of the grave, to enjoy their frightful repast, +talking quietly and cheerfully all the while, though I was too far +off to hear what they said. When they had finished, they threw +back the body into the grave, and heaped back the earth upon it. +I made no effort to disturb them, and returned quickly to the house, +when I took care to leave the door open, as I had previously found it. +Then I got back into bed, and pretended to sleep soundly. + +A short time after Amina entered as quietly as she had gone out. +She undressed and stole into bed, congratulating herself apparently +on the cleverness with which she had managed her expedition. + +As may be guessed, after such a scene it was long before I could +close my eyes, and at the first sound which called the faithful +to prayer, I put on my clothes and went to the mosque. But even +prayer did not restore peace to my troubled spirit, and I could +not face my wife until I had made up my mind what future course +I should pursue in regard to her. I therefore spent the morning +roaming about from one garden to another, turning over various +plans for compelling my wife to give up her horrible ways; +I thought of using violence to make her submit, but felt reluctant +to be unkind to her. Besides, I had an instinct that gentle +means had the best chance of success; so, a little soothed, +I turned towards home, which I reached about the hour of dinner. + +As soon as I appeared, Amina ordered dinner to be served, and we +sat down together. As usual, she persisted in only picking a few +grains of rice, and I resolved to speak to her at once of what lay +so heavily on my heart. + +"Amina," I said, as quietly as possible, "you must have guessed +the surprise I felt, when the day after our marriage you declined +to eat anything but a few morsels of rice, and altogether behaved +in such a manner that most husbands would have been deeply wounded. +However I had patience with you, and only tried to tempt your appetite +by the choicest dishes I could invent, but all to no purpose. +Still, Amina, it seems to me that there be some among them as sweet +to the taste as the flesh of a corpse?" + +I had no sooner uttered these words than Amina, who instantly +understood that I had followed her to the grave-yard, was seized +with a passion beyond any that I have ever witnessed. Her face +became purple, her eyes looked as if they would start from her head, +and she positively foamed with rage. + +I watched her with terror, wondering what would happen next, +but little thinking what would be the end of her fury. She seized +a vessel of water that stood at hand, and plunging her hand in it, +murmured some words I failed to catch. Then, sprinkling it on my face, +she cried madly: + +"Wretch, receive the reward of your prying, and become a dog." + +The words were not out of her mouth when, without feeling conscious +that any change was passing over me, I suddenly knew that I had ceased +to be a man. In the greatness of the shock and surprise--for I had +no idea that Amina was a magician--I never dreamed of running away, +and stood rooted to the spot, while Amina grasped a stick and began +to beat me. Indeed her blows were so heavy, that I only wonder they +did not kill me at once. However they succeeded in rousing me from +my stupor, and I dashed into the court-yard, followed closely by Amina, +who made frantic dives at me, which I was not quick enough to dodge. +At last she got tired of pursuing me, or else a new trick entered +into her head, which would give me speedy and painful death; +she opened the gate leading into the street, intending to crush me +as I passed through. Dog though I was, I saw through her design, +and stung into presence of mind by the greatness of the danger, +I timed my movements so well that I contrived to rush through, +and only the tip of my tail received a squeeze as she banged +the gate. + +I was safe, but my tail hurt me horribly, and I yelped and howled so +loud all along the streets, that the other dogs came and attacked me, +which made matters no better. In order to avoid them, I took +refuge in a cookshop, where tongues and sheep's heads were sold. + +At first the owner showed me great kindness, and drove away +the other dogs that were still at my heels, while I crept into +the darkest corner. But though I was safe for the moment, +I was not destined to remain long under his protection, for he +was one of those who hold all dogs to be unclean, and that all the +washing in the world will hardly purify you from their contact. +So after my enemies had gone to seek other prey, he tried to +lure me from my corner in order to force me into the street. +But I refused to come out of my hole, and spent the night in sleep, +which I sorely needed, after the pain inflicted on me by Amina. + +I have no wish to weary your Highness by dwelling on the sad thoughts +which accompanied my change of shape, but it may interest you to hear +that the next morning my host went out early to do his marketing, +and returned laden with the sheep's heads, and tongues and trotters +that formed his stock in trade for the day. The smell of meat +attracted various hungry dogs in the neighbourhood, and they gathered +round the door begging for some bits. I stole out of my corner, +and stood with them. + +In spite of his objection to dogs, as unclean animals, my protector +was a kind-hearted man, and knowing I had eaten nothing since yesterday, +he threw me bigger and better bits than those which fell to the +share of the other dogs. When I had finished, I tried to go back +into the shop, but this he would not allow, and stood so firmly at +the entrance with a stout stick, that I was forced to give it up, +and seek some other home. + +A few paces further on was a baker's shop, which seemed to have +a gay and merry man for a master. At that moment he was having +his breakfast, and though I gave no signs of hunger, he at once +threw me a piece of bread. Before gobbling it up, as most dogs +are in the habit of doing, I bowed my head and wagged my tail, +in token of thanks, and he understood, and smiled pleasantly. +I really did not want the bread at all, but felt it would be +ungracious to refuse, so I ate it slowly, in order that he might see +that I only did it out of politeness. He understood this also, +and seemed quite willing to let me stay in his shop, so I sat down, +with my face to the door, to show that I only asked his protection. +This he gave me, and indeed encouraged me to come into the +house itself, giving me a corner where I might sleep, without being +in anybody's way. + +The kindness heaped on me by this excellent man was far greater +than I could ever have expected. He was always affectionate +in his manner of treating me, and I shared his breakfast, +dinner and supper, while, on my side, I gave him all the gratitude +and attachment to which he had a right. + +I sat with my eyes fixed on him, and he never left the house +without having me at his heels; and if it ever happened that when +he was preparing to go out I was asleep, and did not notice, +he would call "Rufus, Rufus," for that was the name he gave me. + +Some weeks passed in this way, when one day a woman came in to buy bread. +In paying for it, she laid down several pieces of money, one of +which was bad. The baker perceived this, and declined to take it, +demanding another in its place. The woman, for her part, refused to +take it back, declaring it was perfectly good, but the baker would +have nothing to do with it. "It is really such a bad imitation," +he exclaimed at last, "that even my dog would not be taken in. +Here Rufus! Rufus!" and hearing his voice, I jumped on to the counter. +The baker threw down the money before me, and said, "Find out +if there is a bad coin." I looked at each in turn, and then laid +my paw on the false one, glancing at the same time at my master, +so as to point it out. + +The baker, who had of course been only in joke, was exceedingly +surprised at my cleverness, and the woman, who was at last convinced +that the man spoke the truth, produced another piece of money +in its place. When she had gone, my master was so pleased that he +told all the neighbours what I had done, and made a great deal +more of it than there really was. + +The neighbours, very naturally, declined to believe his story, +and tried me several times with all the bad money they could +collect together, but I never failed to stand the test triumphantly. + +Soon, the shop was filled from morning till night, with people +who on the pretence of buying bread came to see if I was as clever +as I was reported to be. The baker drove a roaring trade, +and admitted that I was worth my weight in gold to him. + +Of course there were plenty who envied him his large custom, +and many was the pitfall set for me, so that he never dared to let +me out of his sight. One day a woman, who had not been in the +shop before, came to ask for bread, like the rest. As usual, +I was lying on the counter, and she threw down six coins before me, +one of which was false. I detected it at once, and put my paw on it, +looking as I did so at the woman. "Yes," she said, nodding her head. +"You are quite right, that is the one." She stood gazing at me +attentively for some time, then paid for the bread, and left the shop, +making a sign for me to follow her secretly. + +Now my thoughts were always running on some means of shaking off +the spell laid on me, and noticing the way in which this woman +had looked at me, the idea entered my head that perhaps she might +have guessed what had happened, and in this I was not deceived. +However I let her go on a little way, and merely stood at the door +watching her. She turned, and seeing that I was quite still, +she again beckoned to me. + +The baker all this while was busy with his oven, and had forgotten +all about me, so I stole out softly, and ran after the woman. + +When we came to her house, which was some distance off, she opened +the door and then said to me, "Come in, come in; you will never be +sorry that you followed me." When I had entered she fastened the door, +and took me into a large room, where a beautiful girl was working +at a piece of embroidery. "My daughter," exclaimed my guide, +"I have brought you the famous dog belonging to the baker which can +tell good money from bad. You know that when I first heard of him, +I told you I was sure he must be really a man, changed into a dog +by magic. To-day I went to the baker's, to prove for myself +the truth of the story, and persuaded the dog to follow me here. +Now what do you say?" + +"You are right, mother," replied the girl, and rising she dipped her +hand into a vessel of water. Then sprinkling it over me she said, +"If you were born dog, remain dog; but if you were born man, +by virtue of this water resume your proper form." In one moment the +spell was broken. The dog's shape vanished as if it had never been, +and it was a man who stood before her. + +Overcome with gratitude at my deliverance, I flung myself at +her feet, and kissed the hem of her garment. "How can I thank you +for your goodness towards a stranger, and for what you have done? +Henceforth I am your slave. Deal with me as you will!" + +Then, in order to explain how I came to be changed into a dog, +I told her my whole story, and finished with rendering the mother +the thanks due to her for the happiness she had brought me. + +"Sidi-Nouman," returned the daughter, "say no more about the +obligation you are under to us. The knowledge that we have been +of service to you is ample payment. Let us speak of Amina, your wife, +with whom I was acquainted before her marriage. I was aware that she +was a magician, and she knew too that I had studied the same art, +under the same mistress. We met often going to the same baths, +but we did not like each other, and never sought to become friends. +As to what concerns you, it is not enough to have broken your spell, +she must be punished for her wickedness. Remain for a moment with +my mother, I beg," she added hastily, "I will return shortly." + +Left alone with the mother, I again expressed the gratitude I felt, +to her as well as to her daughter. + +"My daughter," she answered, "is, as you see, as accomplished a magician +as Amina herself, but you would be astonished at the amount of good +she does by her knowledge. That is why I have never interfered, +otherwise I should have put a stop to it long ago." As she spoke, +her daughter entered with a small bottle in her hand. + +"Sidi-Nouman," she said, "the books I have just consulted tell +me that Amina is not home at present, but she should return at +any moment. I have likewise found out by their means, that she +pretends before the servants great uneasiness as to your absence. +She has circulated a story that, while at dinner with her, +you remembered some important business that had to be done at once, +and left the house without shutting the door. By this means a dog +had strayed in, which she was forced to get rid of by a stick. +Go home then without delay, and await Amina's return in your room. +When she comes in, go down to meet her, and in her surprise, she will +try to run away. Then have this bottle ready, and dash the water it +contains over her, saying boldly, "Receive the reward of your crimes." +That is all I have to tell you." + +Everything happened exactly as the young magician had foretold. +I had not been in my house many minutes before Amina returned, and as +she approached I stepped in front of her, with the water in my hand. +She gave one loud cry, and turned to the door, but she was too late. +I had already dashed the water in her face and spoken the magic words. +Amina disappeared, and in her place stood the horse you saw me +beating yesterday. + +This, Commander of the Faithful, is my story, and may I venture +to hope that, now you have heard the reason of my conduct, +your Highness will not think this wicked woman too harshly treated? + +"Sidi-Nouman," replied the Caliph, "your story is indeed a strange one, +and there is no excuse to be offered for your wife. But, without +condemning your treatment of her, I wish you to reflect how much +she must suffer from being changed into an animal, and I hope you +will let that punishment be enough. I do not order you to insist +upon the young magician finding the means to restore your wife to her +human shape, because I know that when once women such as she begin +to work evil they never leave off, and I should only bring down on +your head a vengeance far worse than the one you have undergone already." + + + +Story of Ali Colia, Merchant of Bagdad + + +In the reign of Haroun-al-Raschid, there lived in Bagdad a +merchant named Ali Cogia, who, having neither wife nor child, +contented himself with the modest profits produced by his trade. +He had spent some years quite happily in the house his father had +left him, when three nights running he dreamed that an old man had +appeared to him, and reproached him for having neglected the duty +of a good Mussulman, in delaying so long his pilgrimage to Mecca. + +Ali Cogia was much troubled by this dream, as he was unwilling +to give up his shop, and lose all his customers. He had shut his +eyes for some time to the necessity of performing this pilgrimage, +and tried to atone to his conscience by an extra number of good works, +but the dream seemed to him a direct warning, and he resolved to put +the journey off no longer. + +The first thing he did was to sell his furniture and the wares +he had in his shop, only reserving to himself such goods as he +might trade with on the road. The shop itself he sold also, +and easily found a tenant for his private house. The only matter he +could not settle satisfactorily was the safe custody of a thousand +pieces of gold which he wished to leave behind him. + +After some thought, Ali Cogia hit upon a plan which seemed a safe one. +He took a large vase, and placing the money in the bottom of it, +filled up the rest with olives. After corking the vase tightly down, +he carried it to one of his friends, a merchant like himself, +and said to him: + +"My brother, you have probably heard that I am staffing with a caravan +in a few days for Mecca. I have come to ask whether you would +do me the favour to keep this vase of olives for me till I come back?" + +The merchant replied readily, "Look, this is the key of my shop: +take it, and put the vase wherever you like. I promise that you shall +find it in the same place on your return." + +A few days later, Ali Cogia mounted the camel that he had laden +with merchandise, joined the caravan, and arrived in due time +at Mecca. Like the other pilgrims he visited the sacred Mosque, +and after all his religious duties were performed, he set out his +goods to the best advantage, hoping to gain some customers among +the passers-by. + +Very soon two merchants stopped before the pile, and when they +had turned it over, one said to the other: + +"If this man was wise he would take these things to Cairo, where he +would get a much better price than he is likely to do here." + +Ali Cogia heard the words, and lost no time in following the advice. +He packed up his wares, and instead of returning to Bagdad, +joined a caravan that was going to Cairo. The results of the journey +gladdened his heart. He sold off everything almost directly, +and bought a stock of Egyptian curiosities, which he intended selling +at Damascus; but as the caravan with which he would have to travel +would not be starting for another six weeks, he took advantage +of the delay to visit the Pyramids, and some of the cities along +the banks of the Nile. + +Now the attractions of Damascus so fascinated the worthy Ali, +that he could hardly tear himself away, but at length he remembered +that he had a home in Bagdad, meaning to return by way of Aleppo, +and after he had crossed the Euphrates, to follow the course of +the Tigris. + +But when he reached Mossoul, Ali had made such friends with some +Persian merchants, that they persuaded him to accompany them +to their native land, and even as far as India, and so it came +to pass that seven years had slipped by since he had left Bagdad, +and during all that time the friend with whom he had left the vase +of olives had never once thought of him or of it. In fact, +it was only a month before Ali Cogia's actual return that the affair +came into his head at all, owing to his wife's remarking one day, +that it was a long time since she had eaten any olives, and would +like some. + +"That reminds me," said the husband, "that before Ali Cogia went +to Mecca seven years ago, he left a vase of olives in my care. +But really by this time he must be dead, and there is no reason we +should not eat the olives if we like. Give me a light, and I will +fetch them and see how they taste." + +"My husband," answered the wife, "beware, I pray, of your doing +anything so base! Supposing seven years have passed without news +of Ali Cogia, he need not be dead for all that, and may come back +any day. How shameful it would be to have to confess that you +had betrayed your trust and broken the seal of the vase! Pay no +attention to my idle words, I really have no desire for olives now. +And probably after all this while they are no longer good. +I have a presentiment that Ali Cogia will return, and what will he +think of you? Give it up, I entreat." + +The merchant, however, refused to listen to her advice, sensible +though it was. He took a light and a dish and went into his shop. + +"If you will be so obstinate," said his wife, "I cannot help it; +but do not blame me if it turns out ill." + +When the merchant opened the vase he found the topmost olives +were rotten, and in order to see if the under ones were in better +condition he shook some out into the dish. As they fell out a few +of the gold pieces fell out too. + +The sight of the money roused all the merchant's greed. He looked +into the vase, and saw that all the bottom was filled with gold. +He then replaced the olives and returned to his wife. + +"My wife," he said, as he entered the room, "you were quite right; +the olives are rotten, and I have recorked the vase so well that Ali +Cogia will never know it has been touched." + +"You would have done better to believe me," replied the wife. +"I trust that no harm will come of it." + +These words made no more impression on the merchant than the others +had done; and he spent the whole night in wondering how he could manage +to keep the gold if Ali Cogia should come back and claim his vase. +Very early next morning he went out and bought fresh new olives; +he then threw away the old ones, took out the gold and hid it, +and filled up the vase with the olives he had bought. This done he +recorked the vase and put it in the same place where it had been left +by Ali Cogia. + +A month later Ali Cogia re-entered Bagdad, and as his house was +still let he went to an inn; and the following day set out to see +his friend the merchant, who received him with open arms and many +expressions of surprise. After a few moments given to inquiries +Ali Cogia begged the merchant to hand him over the vase that he +had taken care of for so long. + +"Oh certainly," said he, "I am only glad I could be of use to you +in the matter. Here is the key of my shop; you will find the vase +in the place where you put it." + +Ali Cogia fetched his vase and carried it to his room at the inn, +where he opened it. He thrust down his hand but could feel no money, +but still was persuaded it must be there. So he got some plates +and vessels from his travelling kit and emptied out the olives. +To no purpose. The gold was not there. The poor man was dumb +with horror, then, lifting up his hands, he exclaimed, "Can my old +friend really have committed such a crime?" + +In great haste he went back to the house of the merchant. "My friend," +he cried, "you will be astonished to see me again, but I can find +nowhere in this vase a thousand pieces of gold that I placed in the +bottom under the olives. Perhaps you may have taken a loan of them +for your business purposes; if that is so you are most welcome. +I will only ask you to give me a receipt, and you can pay the money +at your leisure." + +The merchant, who had expected something of the sort, had his reply +all ready. "Ali Cogia," he said, "when you brought me the vase +of olives did I ever touch it?" + +"I gave you the key of my shop and you put it yourself where you liked, +and did you not find it in exactly the same spot and in the +same state? If you placed any gold in it, it must be there still. +I know nothing about that; you only told me there were olives. +You can believe me or not, but I have not laid a finger on the vase." + +Ali Cogia still tried every means to persuade the merchant to admit +the truth. "I love peace," he said, "and shall deeply regret having +to resort to harsh measures. Once more, think of your reputation. +I shall be in despair if you oblige me to call in the aid of the law." + +"Ali Cogia," answered the merchant, "you allow that it was a vase +of olives you placed in my charge. You fetched it and removed +it yourself, and now you tell me it contained a thousand pieces +of gold, and that I must restore them to you! Did you ever say +anything about them before? Why, I did not even know that the +vase had olives in it! You never showed them to me. I wonder +you have not demanded pearls or diamonds. Retire, I pray you, +lest a crowd should gather in front of my shop." + +By this time not only the casual passers-by, but also the +neighbouring merchants, were standing round, listening to the dispute, +and trying every now and then to smooth matters between them. +But at the merchant's last words Ali Cogia resolved to lay the +cause of the quarrel before them, and told them the whole story. +They heard him to the end, and inquired of the merchant what he +had to say. + +The accused man admitted that he had kept Ali Cogia's vase in his shop; +but he denied having touched it, and swore that as to what it +contained he only knew what Ali Cogia had told him, and called +them all to witness the insult that had been put upon him. + +"You have brought it on yourself," said Ali Cogia, taking him +by the arm, "and as you appeal to the law, the law you shall have! +Let us see if you will dare to repeat your story before the Cadi." + +Now as a good Mussulman the merchant was forbidden to refuse this +choice of a judge, so he accepted the test, and said to Ali Cogia, +"Very well; I should like nothing better. We shall soon see which +of us is in the right." + +So the two men presented themselves before the Cadi, and Ali Cogia +again repeated his tale. The Cadi asked what witnesses he had. +Ali Cogia replied that he had not taken this precaution, as he had +considered the man his friend, and up to that time had always found +him honest. + +The merchant, on his side, stuck to his story, and offered to swear +solemnly that not only had he never stolen the thousand gold pieces, +but that he did not even know they were there. The Cadi allowed him +to take the oath, and pronounced him innocent. + +Ali Cogia, furious at having to suffer such a loss, protested against +the verdict, declaring that he would appeal to the Caliph, +Haroun-al-Raschid, himself. But the Cadi paid no attention +to his threats, and was quite satisfied that he had done what was right. + +Judgment being given the merchant returned home triumphant, and Ali +Cogia went back to his inn to draw up a petition to the Caliph. +The next morning he placed himself on the road along which the Caliph +must pass after mid-day prayer, and stretched out his petition to the +officer who walked before the Caliph, whose duty it was to collect +such things, and on entering the palace to hand them to his master. +There Haroun-al-Raschid studied them carefully. + +Knowing this custom, Ali Cogia followed the Caliph into the public +hall of the palace, and waited the result. After some time the +officer appeared, and told him that the Caliph had read his petition, +and had appointed an hour the next morning to give him audience. +He then inquired the merchant's address, so that he might be summoned +to attend also. + +That very evening, the Caliph, with his grand-vizir Giafar, and Mesrour, +chief of the eunuchs, all three disguised, as was their habit, +went out to take a stroll through the town. + +Going down one street, the Caliph's attention was attracted +by a noise, and looking through a door which opened into a court +he perceived ten or twelve children playing in the moonlight. +He hid himself in a dark corner, and watched them. + +"Let us play at being the Cadi," said the brightest and quickest +of them all; "I will be the Cadi. Bring before me Ali Cogia, +and the merchant who robbed him of the thousand pieces of gold." + +The boy's words recalled to the Caliph the petition he had read +that morning, and he waited with interest to see what the children +would do. + +The proposal was hailed with joy by the other children, who had heard +a great deal of talk about the matter, and they quickly settled +the part each one was to play. The Cadi took his seat gravely, +and an officer introduced first Ali Cogia, the plaintiff, and then +the merchant who was the defendant. + +Ali Cogia made a low bow, and pleaded his cause point by point; +concluding by imploring the Cadi not to inflict on him such a +heavy loss. + +The Cadi having heard his case, turned to the merchant, and inquired +why he had not repaid Ali Cogia the sum in question. + +The false merchant repeated the reasons that the real merchant +had given to the Cadi of Bagdad, and also offered to swear that he +had told the truth. + +"Stop a moment!" said the little Cadi, "before we come to oaths, +I should like to examine the vase with the olives. Ali Cogia," +he added, "have you got the vase with you?" and finding he had not, +the Cadi continued, "Go and get it, and bring it to me." + +So Ali Cogia disappeared for an instant, and then pretended +to lay a vase at the feet of the Cadi, declaring it was his vase, +which he had given to the accused for safe custody; and in order +to be quite correct, the Cadi asked the merchant if he recognised it +as the same vase. By his silence the merchant admitted the fact, +and the Cadi then commanded to have the vase opened. Ali Cogia +made a movement as if he was taking off the lid, and the little +Cadi on his part made a pretence of peering into a vase. + +"What beautiful olives!" he said, "I should like to taste one," +and pretending to put one in his mouth, he added, "they are +really excellent! + +"But," he went on, "it seems to me odd that olives seven years +old should be as good as that! Send for some dealers in olives, +and let us hear what they say!" + +Two children were presented to him as olive merchants, and the Cadi +addressed them. "Tell me," he said, "how long can olives be kept +so as to be pleasant eating?" + +"My lord," replied the merchants, "however much care is taken +to preserve them, they never last beyond the third year. They lose +both taste and colour, and are only fit to be thrown away." + +"If that is so," answered the little Cadi, "examine this vase, +and tell me how long the olives have been in it." + +The olive merchants pretended to examine the olives and taste them; +then reported to the Cadi that they were fresh and good. + +"You are mistaken," said he, "Ali Cogia declares he put them +in that vase seven years ago." + +"My lord," returned the olive merchants, "we can assure you that +the olives are those of the present year. And if you consult all +the merchants in Bagdad you will not find one to give a contrary opinion." + +The accused merchant opened his mouth as if to protest, but the +Cadi gave him no time. "Be silent," he said, "you are a thief. +Take him away and hang him." So the game ended, the children +clapping their hands in applause, and leading the criminal away +to be hanged. + +Haroun-al-Raschid was lost in astonishment at the wisdom of the child, +who had given so wise a verdict on the case which he himself was +to hear on the morrow. "Is there any other verdict possible?" +he asked the grand-vizir, who was as much impressed as himself. +"I can imagine no better judgment." + +"If the circumstances are really such as we have heard," +replied the grand-vizir, "it seems to me your Highness could +only follow the example of this boy, in the method of reasoning, +and also in your conclusions." + +"Then take careful note of this house," said the Caliph, "and bring me +the boy to-morrow, so that the affair may be tried by him in my presence. +Summon also the Cadi, to learn his duty from the mouth of a child. +Bid Ali Cogia bring his vase of olives, and see that two dealers +in olives are present." So saying the Caliph returned to the palace. + +The next morning early, the grand-vizir went back to the house +where they had seen the children playing, and asked for the mistress +and her children. Three boys appeared, and the grand-vizir inquired +which had represented the Cadi in their game of the previous evening. +The eldest and tallest, changing colour, confessed that it was he, +and to his mother's great alarm, the grand-vizir said that he had +strict orders to bring him into the presence of the Caliph. + +"Does he want to take my son from me?" cried the poor woman; +but the grand-vizir hastened to calm her, by assuring her that she +should have the boy again in an hour, and she would be quite +satisfied when she knew the reason of the summons. So she dressed +the boy in his best clothes, and the two left the house. + +When the grand-vizir presented the child to the Caliph, he was +a little awed and confused, and the Caliph proceeded to explain +why he had sent for him. "Approach, my son," he said kindly. +"I think it was you who judged the case of Ali Cogia and the merchant +last night? I overheard you by chance, and was very pleased +with the way you conducted it. To-day you will see the real Ali +Cogia and the real merchant. Seat yourself at once next to me." + +The Caliph being seated on his throne with the boy next him, the parties +to the suit were ushered in. One by one they prostrated themselves, +and touched the carpet at the foot of the throne with their foreheads. +When they rose up, the Caliph said: "Now speak. This child will +give you justice, and if more should be wanted I will see to it myself." + +Ali Cogia and the merchant pleaded one after the other, +but when the merchant offered to swear the same oath that he +had taken before the Cadi, he was stopped by the child, who said +that before this was done he must first see the vase of olives. + +At these words, Ali Cogia presented the vase to the Caliph, +and uncovered it. The Caliph took one of the olives, tasted it, +and ordered the expert merchants to do the same. They pronounced +the olives good, and fresh that year. The boy informed them that Ali +Cogia declared it was seven years since he had placed them in the vase; +to which they returned the same answer as the children had done. + +The accused merchant saw by this time that his condemnation +was certain, and tried to allege something in his defence. +The boy had too much sense to order him to be hanged, and looked at +the Caliph, saying, "Commander of the Faithful, this is not a game now; +it is for your Highness to condemn him to death and not for me." + +Then the Caliph, convinced that the man was a thief, bade them take +him away and hang him, which was done, but not before he had confessed +his guilt and the place in which he had hidden Ali Cogia's money. +The Caliph ordered the Cadi to learn how to deal out justice from +the mouth of a child, and sent the boy home, with a purse containing +a hundred pieces of gold as a mark of his favour. + + + +The Enchanted Horse + + +It was the Feast of the New Year, the oldest and most splendid of +all the feasts in the Kingdom of Persia, and the day had been spent +by the king in the city of Schiraz, taking part in the magnificent +spectacles prepared by his subjects to do honour to the festival. +The sun was setting, and the monarch was about to give his court the +signal to retire, when suddenly an Indian appeared before his throne, +leading a horse richly harnessed, and looking in every respect +exactly like a real one. + +"Sire," said he, prostrating himself as he spoke, "although I make +my appearance so late before your Highness, I can confidently +assure you that none of the wonders you have seen during the day +can be compared to this horse, if you will deign to cast your eyes +upon him." + +"I see nothing in it," replied the king, "except a clever imitation +of a real one; and any skilled workman might do as much." + +"Sire," returned the Indian, "it is not of his outward form that I +would speak, but of the use that I can make of him. I have only +to mount him, and to wish myself in some special place, and no +matter how distant it may be, in a very few moments I shall find +myself there. It is this, Sire, that makes the horse so marvellous, +and if your Highness will allow me, you can prove it for yourself." + +The King of Persia, who was interested in every thing out of the common, +and had never before come across a horse with such qualities, +bade the Indian mount the animal, and show what he could do. +In an instant the man had vaulted on his back, and inquired where +the monarch wished to send him. + +"Do you see that mountain?" asked the king, pointing to a huge +mass that towered into the sky about three leagues from Schiraz; +"go and bring me the leaf of a palm that grows at the foot." + +The words were hardly out of the king's mouth when the Indian +turned a screw placed in the horse's neck, close to the saddle, +and the animal bounded like lightning up into the air, and was soon +beyond the sight even of the sharpest eyes. In a quarter of an +hour the Indian was seen returning, bearing in his hand the palm, +and, guiding his horse to the foot of the throne, he dismounted, +and laid the leaf before the king. + +Now the monarch had no sooner proved the astonishing speed of which the +horse was capable than he longed to possess it himself, and indeed, +so sure was he that the Indian would be quite ready to sell it, +that he looked upon it as his own already. + +"I never guessed from his mere outside how valuable an animal he was," +he remarked to the Indian, "and I am grateful to you for having shown +me my error," said he. "If you will sell it, name your own price." + +"Sire," replied the Indian, "I never doubted that a sovereign so wise +and accomplished as your Highness would do justice to my horse, +when he once knew its power; and I even went so far as to think it +probable that you might wish to possess it. Greatly as I prize it, +I will yield it up to your Highness on one condition. The horse +was not constructed by me, but it was given me by the inventor, +in exchange for my only daughter, who made me take a solemn oath that I +would never part with it, except for some object of equal value." + +"Name anything you like," cried the monarch, interrupting him. +"My kingdom is large, and filled with fair cities. You have only +to choose which you would prefer, to become its ruler to the end +of your life." + +"Sire," answered the Indian, to whom the proposal did not seem +nearly so generous as it appeared to the king, "I am most +grateful to your Highness for your princely offer, and beseech +you not to be offended with me if I say that I can only deliver +up my horse in exchange for the hand of the princess your daughter." + +A shout of laughter burst from the courtiers as they heard these words, +and Prince Firouz Schah, the heir apparent, was filled with anger +at the Indian's presumption. The king, however, thought that it +would not cost him much to part from the princess in order to gain +such a delightful toy, and while he was hesitating as to his answer +the prince broke in. + +"Sire," he said, "it is not possible that you can doubt for an +instant what reply you should give to such an insolent bargain. +Consider what you owe to yourself, and to the blood of your ancestors." + +"My son," replied the king, "you speak nobly, but you do not +realise either the value of the horse, or the fact that if I reject +the proposal of the Indian, he will only make the same to some +other monarch, and I should be filled with despair at the thought +that anyone but myself should own this Seventh Wonder of the World. +Of course I do not say that I shall accept his conditions, +and perhaps he may be brought to reason, but meanwhile I should +like you to examine the horse, and, with the owner's permission, +to make trial of its powers." + +The Indian, who had overheard the king's speech, thought that he +saw in it signs of yielding to his proposal, so he joyfully agreed +to the monarch's wishes, and came forward to help the prince to mount +the horse, and show him how to guide it: but, before he had finished, +the young man turned the screw, and was soon out of sight. + +They waited some time, expecting that every moment he might be seen +returning in the distance, but at length the Indian grew frightened, +and prostrating himself before the throne, he said to the king, +"Sire, your Highness must have noticed that the prince, +in his impatience, did not allow me to tell him what it was necessary +to do in order to return to the place from which he started. +I implore you not to punish me for what was not my fault, and not +to visit on me any misfortune that may occur." + +"But why," cried the king in a burst of fear and anger, "why did +you not call him back when you saw him disappearing?" + +"Sire," replied the Indian, "the rapidity of his movements took me +so by surprise that he was out of hearing before I recovered my speech. +But we must hope that he will perceive and turn a second screw, +which will have the effect of bringing the horse back to earth." + +"But supposing he does!" answered the king, "what is to hinder +the horse from descending straight into the sea, or dashing him +to pieces on the rocks?" + +"Have no fears, your Highness," said the Indian; "the horse has +the gift of passing over seas, and of carrying his rider wherever +he wishes to go." + +"Well, your head shall answer for it," returned the monarch, "and if +in three months he is not safe back with me, or at any rate does +not send me news of his safety, your life shall pay the penalty." +So saying, he ordered his guards to seize the Indian and throw him +into prison. + +Meanwhile, Prince Firouz Schah had gone gaily up into the air, +and for the space of an hour continued to ascend higher and higher, +till the very mountains were not distinguishable from the plains. +Then he began to think it was time to come down, and took for granted +that, in order to do this, it was only needful to turn the screw +the reverse way; but, to his surprise and horror, he found that, +turn as he might, he did not make the smallest impression. +He then remembered that he had never waited to ask how he was to get +back to earth again, and understood the danger in which he stood. +Luckily, he did not lose his head, and set about examining the +horse's neck with great care, till at last, to his intense joy, +he discovered a tiny little peg, much smaller than the other, +close to the right ear. This he turned, and found him-self dropping +to the earth, though more slowly than he had left it. + +It was now dark, and as the prince could see nothing, he was obliged, +not without some feeling of disquiet, to allow the horse to direct +his own course, and midnight was already passed before Prince Firouz +Schah again touched the ground, faint and weary from his long ride, +and from the fact that he had eaten nothing since early morning. + +The first thing he did on dismounting was to try to find out where +he was, and, as far as he could discover in the thick darkness, +he found himself on the terraced roof of a huge palace, with a +balustrade of marble running round. In one corner of the terrace stood +a small door, opening on to a staircase which led down into the palace. + +Some people might have hesitated before exploring further, but not +so the prince. "I am doing no harm," he said, "and whoever the owner +may be, he will not touch me when he sees I am unarmed," and in dread +of making a false step, he went cautiously down the staircase. +On a landing, he noticed an open door, beyond which was a faintly +lighted hall. + +Before entering, the prince paused and listened, but he heard +nothing except the sound of men snoring. By the light of a lantern +suspended from the roof, he perceived a row of black guards sleeping, +each with a naked sword lying by him, and he understood that the hall +must form the ante-room to the chamber of some queen or princess. + +Standing quite still, Prince Firouz Schah looked about him, till his +eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, and he noticed a bright light +shining through a curtain in one corner. He then made his way softly +towards it, and, drawing aside its folds, passed into a magnificent +chamber full of sleeping women, all lying on low couches, except one, +who was on a sofa; and this one, he knew, must be the princess. + +Gently stealing up to the side of her bed he looked at her, and saw +that she was more beautiful than any woman he had ever beheld. +But, fascinated though he was, he was well aware of the danger +of his position, as one cry of surprise would awake the guards, +and cause his certain death. + +So sinking quietly on his knees, he took hold of the sleeve of +the princess and drew her arm lightly towards him. The princess +opened her eyes, and seeing before her a handsome well-dressed man, +she remained speechless with astonishment. + +This favourable moment was seized by the prince, who bowing low +while he knelt, thus addressed her: + +"You behold, madame, a prince in distress, son to the King of Persia, +who, owing to an adventure so strange that you will scarcely +believe it, finds himself here, a suppliant for your protection. +But yesterday, I was in my father's court, engaged in the celebration +of our most solemn festival; to-day, I am in an unknown land, +in danger of my life." + +Now the princess whose mercy Prince Firouz Schah implored was the eldest +daughter of the King of Bengal, who was enjoying rest and change in the +palace her father had built her, at a little distance from the capital. +She listened kindly to what he had to say, and then answered: + +"Prince, be not uneasy; hospitality and humanity are practised +as widely in Bengal as they are in Persia. The protection you ask +will be given you by all. You have my word for it." And as the +prince was about to thank her for her goodness, she added quickly, +"However great may be my curiosity to learn by what means you +have travelled here so speedily, I know that you must be faint +for want of food, so I shall give orders to my women to take you +to one of my chambers, where you will be provided with supper, +and left to repose." + +By this time the princess's attendants were all awake, and listening +to the conversation. At a sign from their mistress they rose, +dressed themselves hastily, and snatching up some of the tapers which +lighted the room, conducted the prince to a large and lofty room, +where two of the number prepared his bed, and the rest went down +to the kitchen, from which they soon returned with all sorts +of dishes. Then, showing him cupboards filled with dresses and linen, +they quitted the room. + +During their absence the Princess of Bengal, who had been greatly struck +by the beauty of the prince, tried in vain to go to sleep again. +It was of no use: she felt broad awake, and when her women entered +the room, she inquired eagerly if the prince had all he wanted, +and what they thought of him. + +"Madame," they replied, "it is of course impossible for us to tell +what impression this young man has made on you. For ourselves, +we think you would be fortunate if the king your father should +allow you to marry anyone so amiable. Certainly there is no one +in the Court of Bengal who can be compared with him." + +These flattering observations were by no means displeasing to +the princess, but as she did not wish to betray her own feelings she +merely said, "You are all a set of chatterboxes; go back to bed, +and let me sleep." + +When she dressed the following morning, her maids noticed that, +contrary to her usual habit, the princess was very particular about +her toilette, and insisted on her hair being dressed two or three +times over. "For," she said to herself, "if my appearance was not +displeasing to the prince when he saw me in the condition I was, +how much more will he be struck with me when he beholds me with all +my charms." + +Then she placed in her hair the largest and most brilliant diamonds +she could find, with a necklace, bracelets and girdle, all of +precious stones. And over her shoulders her ladies put a robe of the +richest stuff in all the Indies, that no one was allowed to wear except +members of the royal family. When she was fully dressed according +to her wishes, she sent to know if the Prince of Persia was awake +and ready to receive her, as she desired to present herself before him. + +When the princess's messenger entered his room, Prince Firouz Schah +was in the act of leaving it, to inquire if he might be allowed to pay +his homage to her mistress: but on hearing the princess's wishes, +he at once gave way. "Her will is my law," he said, "I am only +here to obey her orders." + +In a few moments the princess herself appeared, and after the usual +compliments had passed between them, the princess sat down on a sofa, +and began to explain to the prince her reasons for not giving him +an audience in her own apartments. "Had I done so," she said, +"we might have been interrupted at any hour by the chief of the eunuchs, +who has the right to enter whenever it pleases him, whereas this +is forbidden ground. I am all impatience to learn the wonderful +accident which has procured the pleasure of your arrival, and that +is why I have come to you here, where no one can intrude upon us. +Begin then, I entreat you, without delay." + +So the prince began at the beginning, and told all the story of the +festival of Nedrouz held yearly in Persia, and of the splendid spectacles +celebrated in its honour. But when he came to the enchanted horse, +the princess declared that she could never have imagined anything +half so surprising. "Well then," continued the prince, "you can +easily understand how the King my father, who has a passion for +all curious things, was seized with a violent desire to possess +this horse, and asked the Indian what sum he would take for it. + +"The man's answer was absolutely absurd, as you will agree, when I +tell you that it was nothing less than the hand of the princess +my sister; but though all the bystanders laughed and mocked, +and I was beside myself with rage, I saw to my despair that my +father could not make up his mind to treat the insolent proposal +as it deserved. I tried to argue with him, but in vain. He only +begged me to examine the horse with a view (as I quite understood) +of making me more sensible of its value." + +"To please my father, I mounted the horse, and, without waiting +for any instructions from the Indian, turned the peg as I had seen +him do. In an instant I was soaring upwards, much quicker than +an arrow could fly, and I felt as if I must be getting so near +the sky that I should soon hit my head against it! I could see +nothing beneath me, and for some time was so confused that I +did not even know in what direction I was travelling. At last, +when it was growing dark, I found another screw, and on turning it, +the horse began slowly to sink towards the earth. I was forced +to trust to chance, and to see what fate had in store, and it was +already past midnight when I found myself on the roof of this palace. +I crept down the little staircase, and made directly for a light +which I perceived through an open door--I peeped cautiously in, +and saw, as you will guess, the eunuchs lying asleep on the floor. +I knew the risks I ran, but my need was so great that I paid no +attention to them, and stole safely past your guards, to the curtain +which concealed your doorway. + +"The rest, Princess, you know; and it only remains for me to thank you +for the kindness you have shown me, and to assure you of my gratitude. +By the law of nations, I am already your slave, and I have only +my heart, that is my own, to offer you. But what am I saying? +My own? Alas, madame, it was yours from the first moment I +beheld you!" + +The air with which he said these words could have left no doubt +on the mind of the princess as to the effect of her charms, +and the blush which mounted to her face only increased her beauty. + +"Prince," returned she as soon as her confusion permitted her to speak, +"you have given me the greatest pleasure, and I have followed you +closely in all your adventures, and though you are positively +sitting before me, I even trembled at your danger in the upper +regions of the air! Let me say what a debt I owe to the chance +that has led you to my house; you could have entered none which +would have given you a warmer welcome. As to your being a slave, +of course that is merely a joke, and my reception must itself have +assured you that you are as free here as at your father's court. +As to your heart," continued she in tones of encouragement, +"I am quite sure that must have been disposed of long ago, to some +princess who is well worthy of it, and I could not think of being +the cause of your unfaithfulness to her." + +Prince Firouz Schah was about to protest that there was no lady +with any prior claims, but he was stopped by the entrance +of one of the princess's attendants, who announced that dinner +was served, and, after all, neither was sorry for the interruption. + +Dinner was laid in a magnificent apartment, and the table was +covered with delicious fruits; while during the repast richly +dressed girls sang softly and sweetly to stringed instruments. +After the prince and princess had finished, they passed into a small +room hung with blue and gold, looking out into a garden stocked +with flowers and arbutus trees, quite different from any that were +to be found in Persia. + +"Princess," observed the young man, "till now I had always believed +that Persia could boast finer palaces and more lovely gardens +than any kingdom upon earth. But my eyes have been opened, +and I begin to perceive that, wherever there is a great king +he will surround himself with buildings worthy of him." + +"Prince," replied the Princess of Bengal, "I have no idea what +a Persian palace is like, so I am unable to make comparisons. +I do not wish to depreciate my own palace, but I can assure you +that it is very poor beside that of the King my father, as you +will agree when you have been there to greet him, as I hope you +will shortly do." + +Now the princess hoped that, by bringing about a meeting +between the prince and her father, the King would be so struck +with the young man's distinguished air and fine manners, +that he would offer him his daughter to wife. But the reply +of the Prince of Persia to her suggestion was not quite what she wished. + +"Madame," he said, "by taking advantage of your proposal to visit the +palace of the King of Bengal, I should satisfy not merely my curiosity, +but also the sentiments of respect with which I regard him. +But, Princess, I am persuaded that you will feel with me, that I +cannot possibly present myself before so great a sovereign without +the attendants suitable to my rank. He would think me an adventurer." + +"If that is all," she answered, "you can get as many attendants +here as you please. There are plenty of Persian merchants, and as +for money, my treasury is always open to you. Take what you please." + +Prince Firouz Schah guessed what prompted so much kindness on the part +of the princess, and was much touched by it. Still his passion, +which increased every moment, did not make him forget his duty. +So he replied without hesitation: + +"I do not know, Princess, how to express my gratitude for your obliging +offer, which I would accept at once if it were not for the recollection +of all the uneasiness the King my father must be suffering on my account. +I should be unworthy indeed of all the love he showers upon me, +if I did not return to him at the first possible moment. For, while I +am enjoying the society of the most amiable of all princesses, he is, +I am quite convinced, plunged in the deepest grief, having lost all +hope of seeing me again. I am sure you will understand my position, +and will feel that to remain away one instant longer than is +necessary would not only be ungrateful on my part, but perhaps +even a crime, for how do I know if my absence may not break his heart? + +"But," continued the prince, "having obeyed the voice of my conscience, +I shall count the moments when, with your gracious permission, +I may present myself before the King of Bengal, not as a wanderer, +but as a prince, to implore the favour of your hand. My father has +always informed me that in my marriage I shall be left quite free, +but I am persuaded that I have only to describe your generosity, +for my wishes to become his own." + +The Princess of Bengal was too reasonable not to accept the explanation +offered by Prince Firouz Schah, but she was much disturbed at his +intention of departing at once, for she feared that, no sooner had he +left her, than the impression she had made on him would fade away. +So she made one more effort to keep him, and after assuring him +that she entirely approved of his anxiety to see his father, +begged him to give her a day or two more of his company. + +In common politeness the prince could hardly refuse this request, +and the princess set about inventing every kind of amusement for him, +and succeeded so well that two months slipped by almost unnoticed, +in balls, spectacles and in hunting, of which, when unattended +by danger, the princess was passionately fond. But at last, one day, +he declared seriously that he could neglect his duty no longer, +and entreated her to put no further obstacles in his way, promising at +the same time to return, as soon as he could, with all the magnificence +due both to her and to himself. + +"Princess," he added, "it may be that in your heart you class me with +those false lovers whose devotion cannot stand the test of absence. +If you do, you wrong me; and were it not for fear of offending you, +I would beseech you to come with me, for my life can only be happy +when passed with you. As for your reception at the Persian Court, +it will be as warm as your merits deserve; and as for what concerns +the King of Bengal, he must be much more indifferent to your welfare +than you have led me to believe if he does not give his consent to +our marriage." + +The princess could not find words in which to reply to the arguments +of the Prince of Persia, but her silence and her downcast eyes spoke +for her, and declared that she had no objection to accompanying +him on his travels. + +The only difficulty that occurred to her was that Prince Firouz +Schah did not know how to manage the horse, and she dreaded +lest they might find themselves in the same plight as before. +But the prince soothed her fears so successfully, that she soon +had no other thought than to arrange for their flight so secretly, +that no one in the palace should suspect it. + +This was done, and early the following morning, when the whole palace +was wrapped in sleep, she stole up on to the roof, where the prince +was already awaiting her, with his horse's head towards Persia. +He mounted first and helped the princess up behind; then, when she +was firmly seated, with her hands holding tightly to his belt, +he touched the screw, and the horse began to leave the earth quickly +behind him. + +He travelled with his accustomed speed, and Prince Firouz Schah guided +him so well that in two hours and a half from the time of starting, +he saw the capital of Persia lying beneath him. He determined +to alight neither in the great square from which he had started, +nor in the Sultan's palace, but in a country house at a little +distance from the town. Here he showed the princess a beautiful +suite of rooms, and begged her to rest, while he informed his father +of their arrival, and prepared a public reception worthy of her rank. +Then he ordered a horse to be saddled, and set out. + +All the way through the streets he was welcomed with shouts of joy +by the people, who had long lost all hope of seeing him again. +On reaching the palace, he found the Sultan surrounded by his ministers, +all clad in the deepest mourning, and his father almost went out of his +mind with surprise and delight at the mere sound of his son's voice. +When he had calmed down a little, he begged the prince to relate +his adventures. + +The prince at once seized the opening thus given him, and told +the whole story of his treatment by the Princess of Bengal, +not even concealing the fact that she had fallen in love with him. +"And, Sire," ended the prince, "having given my royal word that you +would not refuse your consent to our marriage, I persuaded her +to return with me on the Indian's horse. I have left her in one +of your Highness's country houses, where she is waiting anxiously +to be assured that I have not promised in vain." + +As he said this the prince was about to throw himself at the feet +of the Sultan, but his father prevented him, and embracing him again, +said eagerly: + +"My son, not only do I gladly consent to your marriage with the +Princess of Bengal, but I will hasten to pay my respects to her, +and to thank her in my own person for the benefits she has +conferred on you. I will then bring her back with me, and make +all arrangements for the wedding to be celebrated to-day." + +So the Sultan gave orders that the habits of mourning +worn by the people should be thrown off and that there +should be a concert of drums, trumpets and cymbals. +Also that the Indian should be taken from prison, and brought before him. + +His commands were obeyed, and the Indian was led into his presence, +surrounded by guards. "I have kept you locked up," said the Sultan, +"so that in case my son was lost, your life should pay the penalty. +He has now returned; so take your horse, and begone for ever." + +The Indian hastily quitted the presence of the Sultan, and when he +was outside, he inquired of the man who had taken him out of prison +where the prince had really been all this time, and what he had +been doing. They told him the whole story, and how the Princess +of Bengal was even then awaiting in the country palace the consent +of the Sultan, which at once put into the Indian's head a plan +of revenge for the treatment he had experienced. Going straight to +the country house, he informed the doorkeeper who was left in charge +that he had been sent by the Sultan and by the Prince of Persia to +fetch the princess on the enchanted horse, and to bring her to the palace. + +The doorkeeper knew the Indian by sight, and was of course aware +that nearly three months before he had been thrown into prison +by the Sultan; and seeing him at liberty, the man took for granted +that he was speaking the truth, and made no difficulty about +leading him before the Princess of Bengal; while on her side, +hearing that he had come from the prince, the lady gladly consented +to do what he wished. + +The Indian, delighted with the success of his scheme, +mounted the horse, assisted the princess to mount behind him, +and turned the peg at the very moment that the prince was leaving +the palace in Schiraz for the country house, followed closely by the +Sultan and all the court. Knowing this, the Indian deliberately +steered the horse right above the city, in order that his revenge +for his unjust imprisonment might be all the quicker and sweeter. + +When the Sultan of Persia saw the horse and its riders, he stopped short +with astonishment and horror, and broke out into oaths and curses, +which the Indian heard quite unmoved, knowing that he was perfectly +safe from pursuit. But mortified and furious as the Sultan was, +his feelings were nothing to those of Prince Firouz Schah, when he +saw the object of his passionate devotion being borne rapidly away. +And while he was struck speechless with grief and remorse at not +having guarded her better, she vanished swiftly out of his sight. +What was he to do? Should he follow his father into the palace, +and there give reins to his despair? Both his love and his courage +alike forbade it; and he continued his way to the palace. + +The sight of the prince showed the doorkeeper of what folly he +had been guilty, and flinging himself at his master's feet, +implored his pardon. "Rise," said the prince, "I am the cause of +this misfortune, and not you. Go and find me the dress of a dervish, +but beware of saying it is for me." + +At a short distance from the country house, a convent of dervishes +was situated, and the superior, or scheih, was the doorkeeper's friend. +So by means of a false story made up on the spur of the moment, +it was easy enough to get hold of a dervish's dress, which the +prince at once put on, instead of his own. Disguised like this +and concealing about him a box of pearls and diamonds he had intended +as a present to the princess, he left the house at nightfall, +uncertain where he should go, but firmly resolved not to return +without her. + +Meanwhile the Indian had turned the horse in such a direction that, +before many hours had passed, it had entered a wood close to +the capital of the kingdom of Cashmere. Feeling very hungry, +and supposing that the princess also might be in want of food, +he brought his steed down to the earth, and left the princess +in a shady place, on the banks of a clear stream. + +At first, when the princess had found herself alone, the idea +had occurred to her of trying to escape and hide herself. +But as she had eaten scarcely anything since she had left Bengal, +she felt she was too weak to venture far, and was obliged to +abandon her design. On the return of the Indian with meats of +various kinds, she began to eat voraciously, and soon had regained +sufficient courage to reply with spirit to his insolent remarks. +Goaded by his threats she sprang to her feet, calling loudly +for help, and luckily her cries were heard by a troop of horsemen, +who rode up to inquire what was the matter. + +Now the leader of these horsemen was the Sultan of Cashmere, +returning from the chase, and he instantly turned to the Indian +to inquire who he was, and whom he had with him. The Indian rudely +answered that it was his wife, and there was no occasion for anyone +else to interfere between them. + +The princess, who, of course, was ignorant of the rank of +her deliverer, denied altogether the Indian's story. "My lord," +she cried, "whoever you may be, put no faith in this impostor. +He is an abominable magician, who has this day torn me from the +Prince of Persia, my destined husband, and has brought me here on +this enchanted horse." She would have continued, but her tears +choked her, and the Sultan of Cashmere, convinced by her beauty +and her distinguished air of the truth of her tale, ordered his +followers to cut off the Indian's head, which was done immediately. + +But rescued though she was from one peril, it seemed as if she +had only fallen into another. The Sultan commanded a horse to +be given her, and conducted her to his own palace, where he led +her to a beautiful apartment, and selected female slaves to wait +on her, and eunuchs to be her guard. Then, without allowing +her time to thank him for all he had done, he bade her repose, +saying she should tell him her adventures on the following day. + +The princess fell asleep, flattering herself that she had only +to relate her story for the Sultan to be touched by compassion, +and to restore her to the prince without delay. But a few hours +were to undeceive her. + +When the King of Cashmere had quitted her presence the evening before, +he had resolved that the sun should not set again without the princess +becoming his wife, and at daybreak proclamation of his intention was +made throughout the town, by the sound of drums, trumpets, cymbals, +and other instruments calculated to fill the heart with joy. +The Princess of Bengal was early awakened by the noise, but she did +not for one moment imagine that it had anything to do with her, +till the Sultan, arriving as soon as she was dressed to inquire +after her health, informed her that the trumpet blasts she heard +were part of the solemn marriage ceremonies, for which he begged +her to prepare. This unexpected announcement caused the princess +such terror that she sank down in a dead faint. + +The slaves that were in waiting ran to her aid, and the Sultan +himself did his best to bring her back to consciousness, but for +a long while it was all to no purpose. At length her senses +began slowly to come back to her, and then, rather than break +faith with the Prince of Persia by consenting to such a marriage, +she determined to feign madness. So she began by saying all +sorts of absurdities, and using all kinds of strange gestures, +while the Sultan stood watching her with sorrow and surprise. +But as this sudden seizure showed no sign of abating, he left +her to her women, ordering them to take the greatest care of her. +Still, as the day went on, the malady seemed to become worse, +and by night it was almost violent. + +Days passed in this manner, till at last the Sultan of Cashmere +decided to summon all the doctors of his court to consult together +over her sad state. Their answer was that madness is of so many +different kinds that it was impossible to give an opinion on +the case without seeing the princess, so the Sultan gave orders +that they were to be introduced into her chamber, one by one, +every man according to his rank. + +This decision had been foreseen by the princess, who knew quite +well that if once she allowed the physicians to feel her pulse, +the most ignorant of them would discover that she was in perfectly +good health, and that her madness was feigned, so as each man approached, +she broke out into such violent paroxysms, that not one dared to lay +a finger on her. A few, who pretended to be cleverer than the rest, +declared that they could diagnose sick people only from sight, +ordered her certain potions, which she made no difficulty about taking, +as she was persuaded they were all harmless. + +When the Sultan of Cashmere saw that the court doctors could do +nothing towards curing the princess, he called in those of the city, +who fared no better. Then he had recourse to the most celebrated +physicians in the other large towns, but finding that the task +was beyond their science, he finally sent messengers into the other +neighbouring states, with a memorandum containing full particulars +of the princess's madness, offering at the same time to pay +the expenses of any physician who would come and see for himself, +and a handsome reward to the one who should cure her. In answer +to this proclamation many foreign professors flocked into Cashmere, +but they naturally were not more successful than the rest had been, +as the cure depended neither on them nor their skill, but only on +the princess herself. + +It was during this time that Prince Firouz Schah, wandering sadly +and hopelessly from place to place, arrived in a large city of India, +where he heard a great deal of talk about the Princess of Bengal who +had gone out of her senses, on the very day that she was to have been +married to the Sultan of Cashmere. This was quite enough to induce +him to take the road to Cashmere, and to inquire at the first inn +at which he lodged in the capital the full particulars of the story. +When he knew that he had at last found the princess whom he had +so long lost, he set about devising a plan for her rescue. + +The first thing he did was to procure a doctor's robe, so that his dress, +added to the long beard he had allowed to grow on his travels, +might unmistakably proclaim his profession. He then lost no time +in going to the palace, where he obtained an audience of the +chief usher, and while apologising for his boldness in presuming +to think that he could cure the princess, where so many others +had failed, declared that he had the secret of certain remedies, +which had hitherto never failed of their effect. + +The chief usher assured him that he was heartily welcome, and that +the Sultan would receive him with pleasure; and in case of success, +he would gain a magnificent reward. + +When the Prince of Persia, in the disguise of a physician, was brought +before him, the Sultan wasted no time in talking, beyond remarking +that the mere sight of a doctor threw the princess into transports +of rage. He then led the prince up to a room under the roof, +which had an opening through which he might observe the princess, +without himself being seen. + +The prince looked, and beheld the princess reclining on a sofa +with tears in her eyes, singing softly to herself a song bewailing +her sad destiny, which had deprived her, perhaps for ever, +of a being she so tenderly loved. The young man's heart beat fast +as he listened, for he needed no further proof that her madness +was feigned, and that it was love of him which had caused her to +resort to this species of trick. He softly left his hiding-place, +and returned to the Sultan, to whom he reported that he was sure +from certain signs that the princess's malady was not incurable, +but that he must see her and speak with her alone. + +The Sultan made no difficulty in consenting to this, and commanded +that he should be ushered in to the princess's apartment. +The moment she caught sight of his physician's robe, she sprang +from her seat in a fury, and heaped insults upon him. The prince +took no notice of her behaviour, and approaching quite close, +so that his words might be heard by her alone, he said in a low whisper, +"Look at me, princess, and you will see that I am no doctor, +but the Prince of Persia, who has come to set you free." + +At the sound of his voice, the Princess of Bengal suddenly grew calm, +and an expression of joy overspread her face, such as only comes +when what we wish for most and expect the least suddenly happens +to us. For some time she was too enchanted to speak, and Prince +Firouz Schah took advantage of her silence to explain to her all +that had occurred, his despair at watching her disappear before +his very eyes, the oath he had sworn to follow her over the world, +and his rapture at finally discovering her in the palace at Cashmere. +When he had finished, he begged in his turn that the princess would +tell him how she had come there, so that he might the better devise +some means of rescuing her from the tyranny of the Sultan. + +It needed but a few words from the princess to make him acquainted +with the whole situation, and how she had been forced to play the part +of a mad woman in order to escape from a marriage with the Sultan, +who had not had sufficient politeness even to ask her consent. +If necessary, she added, she had resolved to die sooner than permit +herself to be forced into such a union, and break faith with a prince +whom she loved. + +The prince then inquired if she knew what had become of the +enchanted horse since the Indian's death, but the princess could +only reply that she had heard nothing about it. Still she did +not suppose that the horse could have been forgotten by the Sultan, +after all she had told him of its value. + +To this the prince agreed, and they consulted together over a plan +by which she might be able to make her escape and return with him +into Persia. And as the first step, she was to dress herself +with care, and receive the Sultan with civility when he visited +her next morning. + +The Sultan was transported with delight on learning the result +of the interview, and his opinion of the doctor's skill was raised +still higher when, on the following day, the princess behaved +towards him in such a way as to persuade him that her complete +cure would not be long delayed. However he contented himself with +assuring her how happy he was to see her health so much improved, +and exhorted her to make every use of so clever a physician, +and to repose entire confidence in him. Then he retired, +without awaiting any reply from the princess. + +The Prince of Persia left the room at the same time, and asked +if he might be allowed humbly to inquire by what means the Princess +of Bengal had reached Cashmere, which was so far distant from her +father's kingdom, and how she came to be there alone. The Sultan +thought the question very natural, and told him the same story +that the Princess of Bengal had done, adding that he had ordered +the enchanted horse to be taken to his treasury as a curiosity, +though he was quite ignorant how it could be used. + +"Sire," replied the physician, "your Highness's tale has supplied me +with the clue I needed to complete the recovery of the princess. +During her voyage hither on an enchanted horse, a portion of its +enchantment has by some means been communicated to her person, +and it can only be dissipated by certain perfumes of which I possess +the secret. If your Highness will deign to consent, and to give +the court and the people one of the most astonishing spectacles they +have ever witnessed, command the horse to be brought into the big +square outside the palace, and leave the rest to me. I promise that +in a very few moments, in presence of all the assembled multitude, +you shall see the princess as healthy both in mind and body as ever +she was in her life. And in order to make the spectacle as impressive +as possible, I would suggest that she should be richly dressed +and covered with the noblest jewels of the crown." + +The Sultan readily agreed to all that the prince proposed, +and the following morning he desired that the enchanted horse +should be taken from the treasury, and brought into the great square +of the palace. Soon the rumour began to spread through the town, +that something extraordinary was about to happen, and such a crowd +began to collect that the guards had to be called out to keep order, +and to make a way for the enchanted horse. + +When all was ready, the Sultan appeared, and took his place on +a platform, surrounded by the chief nobles and officers of his court. +When they were seated, the Princess of Bengal was seen leaving +the palace, accompanied by the ladies who had been assigned +to her by the Sultan. She slowly approached the enchanted horse, +and with the help of her ladies, she mounted on its back. +Directly she was in the saddle, with her feet in the stirrups +and the bridle in her hand, the physician placed around the horse +some large braziers full of burning coals, into each of which he +threw a perfume composed of all sorts of delicious scents. Then he +crossed his hands over his breast, and with lowered eyes walked +three times round the horse, muttering the while certain words. +Soon there arose from the burning braziers a thick smoke which almost +concealed both the horse and princess, and this was the moment for +which he had been waiting. Springing lightly up behind the lady, +he leaned forward and turned the peg, and as the horse darted up into +the air, he cried aloud so that his words were heard by all present, +"Sultan of Cashmere, when you wish to marry princesses who have +sought your protection, learn first to gain their consent." + +It was in this way that the Prince of Persia rescued the Princess +of Bengal, and returned with her to Persia, where they descended +this time before the palace of the King himself. The marriage +was only delayed just long enough to make the ceremony as brilliant +as possible, and, as soon as the rejoicings were over, an ambassador +was sent to the King of Bengal, to inform him of what had passed, +and to ask his approbation of the alliance between the two countries, +which he heartily gave. + + + +The Story of Two Sisters Who Were Jealous of Their Younger Sister + + +Once upon a time there reigned over Persia a Sultan named Kosrouschah, +who from his boyhood had been fond of putting on a disguise and seeking +adventures in all parts of the city, accompanied by one of his officers, +disguised like himself. And no sooner was his father buried +and the ceremonies over that marked his accession to the throne, +than the young man hastened to throw off his robes of state, +and calling to his vizir to make ready likewise, stole out in the simple +dress of a private citizen into the less known streets of the capital. + +Passing down a lonely street, the Sultan heard women's voices +in loud discussion; and peeping through a crack in the door, he saw +three sisters, sitting on a sofa in a large hall, talking in a very +lively and earnest manner. Judging from the few words that reached +his ear, they were each explaining what sort of men they wished to marry. + +"I ask nothing better," cried the eldest, "than to have the Sultan's +baker for a husband. Think of being able to eat as much as one wanted, +of that delicious bread that is baked for his Highness alone! +Let us see if your wish is as good as mine." + +"I," replied the second sister, "should be quite content +with the Sultan's head cook. What delicate stews I should +feast upon! And, as I am persuaded that the Sultan's bread is used +all through the palace, I should have that into the bargain. +You see, my dear sister, my taste is as good as yours." + +It was now the turn of the youngest sister, who was by far the most +beautiful of the three, and had, besides, more sense than the +other two. "As for me," she said, "I should take a higher flight; +and if we are to wish for husbands, nothing less than the Sultan +himself will do for me." + +The Sultan was so much amused by the conversation he had overheard, +that he made up his mind to gratify their wishes, and turning to +the grand-vizir, he bade him note the house, and on the following +morning to bring the ladies into his presence. + +The grand-vizir fulfilled his commission, and hardly giving +them time to change their dresses, desired the three sisters +to follow him to the palace. Here they were presented one by one, +and when they had bowed before the Sultan, the sovereign abruptly +put the question to them: + +"Tell me, do you remember what you wished for last night, when you +were making merry? Fear nothing, but answer me the truth." + +These words, which were so unexpected, threw the sisters into +great confusion, their eyes fell, and the blushes of the youngest +did not fail to make an impression on the heart of the Sultan. +All three remained silent, and he hastened to continue: "Do not +be afraid, I have not the slightest intention of giving you pain, +and let me tell you at once, that I know the wishes formed by +each one. You," he said, turning to the youngest, "who desired to +have me for an husband, shall be satisfied this very day. And you," +he added, addressing himself to the other two, "shall be married +at the same moment to my baker and to my chief cook." + +When the Sultan had finished speaking the three sisters flung +themselves at his feet, and the youngest faltered out, "Oh, sire, +since you know my foolish words, believe, I pray you, that they were +only said in joke. I am unworthy of the honour you propose to do me, +and I can only ask pardon for my boldness." + +The other sisters also tried to excuse themselves, but the Sultan +would hear nothing. + +"No, no," he said, "my mind is made up. Your wishes shall +be accomplished." + +So the three weddings were celebrated that same day, but with a +great difference. That of the youngest was marked by all the +magnificence that was customary at the marriage of the Shah of Persia, +while the festivities attending the nuptials of the Sultan's baker +and his chief cook were only such as were suitable to their conditions. + +This, though quite natural, was highly displeasing to the elder +sisters, who fell into a passion of jealousy, which in the end +caused a great deal of trouble and pain to several people. +And the first time that they had the opportunity of speaking to +each other, which was not till several days later at a public bath, +they did not attempt to disguise their feelings. + +"Can you possibly understand what the Sultan saw in that little cat," +said one to the other, "for him to be so fascinated by her?" + +"He must be quite blind," returned the wife of the chief cook. +"As for her looking a little younger than we do, what does that matter? +You would have made a far better Sultana than she." + +"Oh, I say nothing of myself," replied the elder, "and if the +Sultan had chosen you it would have been all very well; but it +really grieves me that he should have selected a wretched little +creature like that. However, I will be revenged on her somehow, +and I beg you will give me your help in the matter, and to tell +me anything that you can think of that is likely to mortify her." + +In order to carry out their wicked scheme the two sisters met +constantly to talk over their ideas, though all the while they +pretended to be as friendly as ever towards the Sultana, who, +on her part, invariably treated them with kindness. For a long +time no plan occurred to the two plotters that seemed in the +least likely to meet with success, but at length the expected +birth of an heir gave them the chance for which they had been hoping. + +They obtained permission of the Sultan to take up their abode in the +palace for some weeks, and never left their sister night or day. +When at last a little boy, beautiful as the sun, was born, they laid +him in his cradle and carried it down to a canal which passed +through the grounds of the palace. Then, leaving it to its fate, +they informed the Sultan that instead of the son he had so fondly +desired the Sultana had given birth to a puppy. At this dreadful +news the Sultan was so overcome with rage and grief that it was with +great difficulty that the grand-vizir managed to save the Sultana +from his wrath. + +Meanwhile the cradle continued to float peacefully along the canal till, +on the outskirts of the royal gardens, it was suddenly perceived +by the intendant, one of the highest and most respected officials +in the kingdom. + +"Go," he said to a gardener who was working near, "and get that +cradle out for me." + +The gardener did as he was bid, and soon placed the cradle +in the hands of the intendant. + +The official was much astonished to see that the cradle, which he had +supposed to be empty, contained a baby, which, young though it was, +already gave promise of great beauty. Having no children himself, +although he had been married some years, it at once occurred to him +that here was a child which he could take and bring up as his own. +And, bidding the man pick up the cradle and follow him, he turned +towards home. + +"My wife," he exclaimed as he entered the room, "heaven has denied +us any children, but here is one that has been sent in their place. +Send for a nurse, and I will do what is needful publicly to recognise +it as my son." + +The wife accepted the baby with joy, and though the intendant saw +quite well that it must have come from the royal palace, he did +not think it was his business to inquire further into the mystery. + +The following year another prince was born and sent adrift, +but happily for the baby, the intendant of the gardens again +was walking by the canal, and carried it home as before. + +The Sultan, naturally enough, was still more furious the second time +than the first, but when the same curious accident was repeated +in the third year he could control himself no longer, and, to the +great joy of the jealous sisters, commanded that the Sultana should +be executed. But the poor lady was so much beloved at Court that not +even the dread of sharing her fate could prevent the grand-vizir +and the courtiers from throwing themselves at the Sultan's feet +and imploring him not to inflict so cruel a punishment for what, +after all, was not her fault. + +"Let her live," entreated the grand-vizir, "and banish her +from your presence for the rest of her days. That in itself +will be punishment enough." + +His first passion spent, the Sultan had regained his self-command. +"Let her live then," he said, "since you have it so much at heart. +But if I grant her life it shall only be on one condition, which shall +make her daily pray for death. Let a box be built for her at the door +of the principal mosque, and let the window of the box be always open. +There she shall sit, in the coarsest clothes, and every Mussulman +who enters the mosque shall spit in her face in passing. Anyone that +refuses to obey shall be exposed to the same punishment himself. +You, vizir, will see that my orders are carried out." + +The grand-vizir saw that it was useless to say more, and, full of triumph, +the sisters watched the building of the box, and then listened to the +jeers of the people at the helpless Sultana sitting inside. But the poor +lady bore herself with so much dignity and meekness that it was not long +before she had won the sympathy of those that were best among the crowd. + +But it is now time to return to the fate of the third baby, +this time a princess. Like its brothers, it was found by the +intendant of the gardens, and adopted by him and his wife, +and all three were brought up with the greatest care and tenderness. + +As the children grew older their beauty and air of distinction +became more and more marked, and their manners had all the grace +and ease that is proper to people of high birth. The princes had +been named by their foster-father Bahman and Perviz, after two of +the ancient kings of Persia, while the princess was called Parizade, +or the child of the genii. + +The intendant was careful to bring them up as befitted their +real rank, and soon appointed a tutor to teach the young princes +how to read and write. And the princess, determined not to be +left behind, showed herself so anxious to learn with her brothers, +that the intendant consented to her joining in their lessons, +and it was not long before she knew as much as they did. + +From that time all their studies were done in common. They had the best +masters for the fine arts, geography, poetry, history and science, +and even for sciences which are learned by few, and every branch seemed +so easy to them, that their teachers were astonished at the progress +they made. The princess had a passion for music, and could sing +and play upon all sorts of instruments she could also ride and drive +as well as her brothers, shoot with a bow and arrow, and throw +a javelin with the same skill as they, and sometimes even better. + +In order to set off these accomplishments, the intendant resolved +that his foster children should not be pent up any longer in the +narrow borders of the palace gardens, where he had always lived, +so he bought a splendid country house a few miles from the capital, +surrounded by an immense park. This park he filled with wild beasts +of various sorts, so that the princes and princess might hunt as much +as they pleased. + +When everything was ready, the intendant threw himself at the +Sultan's feet, and after referring to his age and his long services, +begged his Highness's permission to resign his post. This was granted +by the Sultan in a few gracious words, and he then inquired what reward +he could give to his faithful servant. But the intendant declared that +he wished for nothing except the continuance of his Highness's favour, +and prostrating himself once more, he retired from the Sultan's presence. + +Five or six months passed away in the pleasures of the country, +when death attacked the intendant so suddenly that he had no time +to reveal the secret of their birth to his adopted children, +and as his wife had long been dead also, it seemed as if the princes +and the princess would never know that they had been born to a +higher station than the one they filled. Their sorrow for their +father was very deep, and they lived quietly on in their new home, +without feeling any desire to leave it for court gaieties or intrigues. + +One day the princes as usual went out to hunt, but their sister +remained alone in her apartments. While they were gone an old +Mussulman devotee appeared at the door, and asked leave to enter, +as it was the hour of prayer. The princess sent orders at once that +the old woman was to be taken to the private oratory in the grounds, +and when she had finished her prayers was to be shown the house +and gardens, and then to be brought before her. + +Although the old woman was very pious, she was not at all +indifferent to the magnificence of all around her, which she +seemed to understand as well as to admire, and when she had +seen it all she was led by the servants before the princess, +who was seated in a room which surpassed in splendour all the rest. + +"My good woman," said the princess pointing to a sofa, "come and sit +beside me. I am delighted at the opportunity of speaking for a few +moments with so holy a person." The old woman made some objections +to so much honour being done her, but the princess refused to listen, +and insisted that her guest should take the best seat, and as she +thought she must be tired ordered refreshments. + +While the old woman was eating, the princess put several questions +to her as to her mode of life, and the pious exercises she practiced, +and then inquired what she thought of the house now that she had +seen it. + +"Madam," replied the pilgrim, "one must be hard indeed to please +to find any fault. It is beautiful, comfortable and well ordered, +and it is impossible to imagine anything more lovely than the garden. +But since you ask me, I must confess that it lacks three things +to make it absolutely perfect." + +"And what can they be?" cried the princess. "Only tell me, and I +will lose no time in getting them." + +"The three things, madam," replied the old woman, "are, first, +the Talking Bird, whose voice draws all other singing birds to it, +to join in chorus. And second, the Singing Tree, where every leaf +is a song that is never silent. And lastly the Golden Water, +of which it is only needful to pour a single drop into a basin +for it to shoot up into a fountain, which will never be exhausted, +nor will the basin ever overflow." + +"Oh, how can I thank you," cried the princess, "for telling me of +such treasures! But add, I pray you, to your goodness by further +informing me where I can find them." + +"Madam," replied the pilgrim, "I should ill repay the hospitality +you have shown me if I refused to answer your question. The three +things of which I have spoken are all to be found in one place, +on the borders of this kingdom, towards India. Your messenger has +only to follow the road that passes by your house, for twenty days, +and at the end of that time, he is to ask the first person he meets +for the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water." +She then rose, and bidding farewell to the princess, went her way. + +The old woman had taken her departure so abruptly that the Princess +Parizade did not perceive till she was really gone that the directions +were hardly clear enough to enable the search to be successful. +And she was still thinking of the subject, and how delightful it +would be to possess such rarities, when the princes, her brothers, +returned from the chase. + +"What is the matter, my sister?" asked Prince Bahman; "why are you +so grave? Are you ill? Or has anything happened?" + +Princess Parizade did not answer directly, but at length she raised +her eyes, and replied that there was nothing wrong. + +"But there must be something," persisted Prince Bahman, "for you +to have changed so much during the short time we have been absent. +Hide nothing from us, I beseech you, unless you wish us to believe +that the confidence we have always had in one another is now +to cease." + +"When I said that it was nothing," said the princess, moved by +his words, "I meant that it was nothing that affected you, although I +admit that it is certainly of some importance to me. Like myself, +you have always thought this house that our father built for us was +perfect in every respect, but only to-day I have learned that three +things are still lacking to complete it. These are the Talking Bird, +the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water." After explaining the peculiar +qualities of each, the princess continued: "It was a Mussulman +devotee who told me all this, and where they might all be found. +Perhaps you will think that the house is beautiful enough as it is, +and that we can do quite well without them; but in this I cannot +agree with you, and I shall never be content until I have got them. +So counsel me, I pray, whom to send on the undertaking." + +"My dear sister," replied Prince Bahman, "that you should care +about the matter is quite enough, even if we took no interest in +it ourselves. But we both feel with you, and I claim, as the elder, +the right to make the first attempt, if you will tell me where I +am to go, and what steps I am to take." + +Prince Perviz at first objected that, being the head of the family, +his brother ought not to be allowed to expose himself to danger; +but Prince Bahman would hear nothing, and retired to make the needful +preparations for his journey. + +The next morning Prince Bahman got up very early, and after +bidding farewell to his brother and sister, mounted his horse. +But just as he was about to touch it with his whip, he was stopped +by a cry from the princess. + +"Oh, perhaps after all you may never come back; one never can tell +what accidents may happen. Give it up, I implore you, for I would +a thousand times rather lose the Talking Bird, and the Singing Tree +and the Golden Water, than that you should run into danger." + +"My dear sister," answered the prince, "accidents only happen +to unlucky people, and I hope that I am not one of them. +But as everything is uncertain, I promise you to be very careful. +Take this knife," he continued, handing her one that hung sheathed +from his belt, "and every now and then draw it out and look at it. +As long as it keeps bright and clean as it is to-day, you will know +that I am living; but if the blade is spotted with blood, it will be +a sign that I am dead, and you shall weep for me." + +So saying, Prince Bahman bade them farewell once more, and started +on the high road, well mounted and fully armed. For twenty days he +rode straight on, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, +till he found himself drawing near the frontiers of Persia. +Seated under a tree by the wayside he noticed a hideous old man, +with a long white moustache, and beard that almost fell to his feet. +His nails had grown to an enormous length, and on his head he wore a +huge hat, which served him for an umbrella. + +Prince Bahman, who, remembering the directions of the old woman, +had been since sunrise on the look-out for some one, recognised the +old man at once to be a dervish. He dismounted from his horse, +and bowed low before the holy man, saying by way of greeting, +"My father, may your days be long in the land, and may all your wishes +be fulfilled!" + +The dervish did his best to reply, but his moustache was so thick that +his words were hardly intelligible, and the prince, perceiving what +was the matter, took a pair of scissors from his saddle pockets, +and requested permission to cut off some of the moustache, as he had +a question of great importance to ask the dervish. The dervish made +a sign that he might do as he liked, and when a few inches of his hair +and beard had been pruned all round the prince assured the holy man +that he would hardly believe how much younger he looked. The dervish +smiled at his compliments, and thanked him for what he had done. + +"Let me," he said, "show you my gratitude for making me more +comfortable by telling me what I can do for you." + +"Gentle dervish," replied Prince Bahman, "I come from far, and I +seek the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water. +I know that they are to be found somewhere in these parts, but I am +ignorant of the exact spot. Tell me, I pray you, if you can, so that I +may not have travelled on a useless quest." While he was speaking, +the prince observed a change in the countenance of the dervish, +who waited for some time before he made reply. + +"My lord," he said at last, "I do know the road for which you ask, +but your kindness and the friendship I have conceived for you make +me loth to point it out." + +"But why not?" inquired the prince. "What danger can there be?" + +"The very greatest danger," answered the dervish. "Other men, +as brave as you, have ridden down this road, and have put me +that question. I did my best to turn them also from their purpose, +but it was of no use. Not one of them would listen to my words, +and not one of them came back. Be warned in time, and seek to go +no further." + +"I am grateful to you for your interest in me," said Prince Bahman, +"and for the advice you have given, though I cannot follow it. +But what dangers can there be in the adventure which courage and a good +sword cannot meet?" + +"And suppose," answered the dervish, "that your enemies are invisible, +how then?" + +"Nothing will make me give it up," replied the prince, "and for +the last time I ask you to tell me where I am to go." + +When the dervish saw that the prince's mind was made up, +he drew a ball from a bag that lay near him, and held it out. +"If it must be so," he said, with a sigh, "take this, and when +you have mounted your horse throw the ball in front of you. +It will roll on till it reaches the foot of a mountain, and when it +stops you will stop also. You will then throw the bridle on your +horse's neck without any fear of his straying, and will dismount. +On each side you will see vast heaps of big black stones, +and will hear a multitude of insulting voices, but pay no heed +to them, and, above all, beware of ever turning your head. +If you do, you will instantly become a black stone like the rest. +For those stones are in reality men like yourself, who have been on +the same quest, and have failed, as I fear that you may fail also. +If you manage to avoid this pitfall, and to reach the top of +the mountain, you will find there the Talking Bird in a splendid cage, +and you can ask of him where you are to seek the Singing Tree and +the Golden Water. That is all I have to say. You know what you +have to do, and what to avoid, but if you are wise you will think +of it no more, but return whence you have come." + +The prince smilingly shook his head, and thanking the dervish +once more, he sprang on his horse and threw the ball before him. + +The ball rolled along the road so fast that Prince Bahman had much +difficulty in keeping up with it, and it never relaxed its speed +till the foot of the mountain was reached. Then it came to a +sudden halt, and the prince at once got down and flung the bridle +on his horse's neck. He paused for a moment and looked round him +at the masses of black stones with which the sides of the mountain +were covered, and then began resolutely to ascend. He had hardly +gone four steps when he heard the sound of voices around him, +although not another creature was in sight. + +"Who is this imbecile?" cried some, "stop him at once." "Kill him," +shrieked others, "Help! robbers! murderers! help! help!" "Oh, let +him alone," sneered another, and this was the most trying of all, +"he is such a beautiful young man; I am sure the bird and the cage +must have been kept for him." + +At first the prince took no heed to all this clamour, but continued +to press forward on his way. Unfortunately this conduct, instead of +silencing the voices, only seemed to irritate them the more, +and they arose with redoubled fury, in front as well as behind. +After some time he grew bewildered, his knees began to tremble, +and finding himself in the act of falling, he forgot altogether +the advice of the dervish. He turned to fly down the mountain, +and in one moment became a black stone. + +As may be imagined, Prince Perviz and his sister were all this +time in the greatest anxiety, and consulted the magic knife, +not once but many times a day. Hitherto the blade had remained +bright and spotless, but on the fatal hour on which Prince Bahman +and his horse were changed into black stones, large drops of blood +appeared on the surface. "Ah! my beloved brother," cried the princess +in horror, throwing the knife from her, "I shall never see you again, +and it is I who have killed you. Fool that I was to listen to the +voice of that temptress, who probably was not speaking the truth. +What are the Talking Bird and the Singing Tree to me in comparison +with you, passionately though I long for them!" + +Prince Perviz's grief at his brother's loss was not less than that of +Princess Parizade, but he did not waste his time on useless lamentations. + +"My sister," he said, "why should you think the old woman was deceiving +you about these treasures, and what would have been her object in +doing so! No, no, our brother must have met his death by some accident, +or want of precaution, and to-morrow I will start on the same quest." + +Terrified at the thought that she might lose her only remaining +brother, the princess entreated him to give up his project, +but he remained firm. Before setting out, however, he gave her a +chaplet of a hundred pearls, and said, "When I am absent, tell this +over daily for me. But if you should find that the beads stick, +so that they will not slip one after the other, you will know that +my brother's fate has befallen me. Still, we must hope for better luck." + +Then he departed, and on the twentieth day of his journey fell +in with the dervish on the same spot as Prince Bahman had met him, +and began to question him as to the place where the Talking Bird, +the Singing Tree and the Golden Water were to be found. As in the case +of his brother, the dervish tried to make him give up his project, +and even told him that only a few weeks since a young man, +bearing a strong resemblance to himself, had passed that way, +but had never come back again. + +"That, holy dervish," replied Prince Perviz, "was my elder brother, +who is now dead, though how he died I cannot say." + +"He is changed into a black stone," answered the dervish, "like all +the rest who have gone on the same errand, and you will become one +likewise if you are not more careful in following my directions." +Then he charged the prince, as he valued his life, to take no heed +of the clamour of voices that would pursue him up the mountain, +and handing him a ball from the bag, which still seemed to be half full, +he sent him on his way. + +When Prince Perviz reached the foot of the mountain he jumped from +his horse, and paused for a moment to recall the instructions the +dervish had given him. Then he strode boldly on, but had scarcely +gone five or six paces when he was startled by a man's voice +that seemed close to his ear, exclaiming: "Stop, rash fellow, +and let me punish your audacity." This outrage entirely put +the dervish's advice out of the prince's head. He drew his sword, +and turned to avenge himself, but almost before he had realised +that there was nobody there, he and his horse were two black stones. + +Not a morning had passed since Prince Perviz had ridden away without +Princess Parizade telling her beads, and at night she even hung +them round her neck, so that if she woke she could assure herself +at once of her brother's safety. She was in the very act of moving +them through her fingers at the moment that the prince fell a victim +to his impatience, and her heart sank when the first pearl remained +fixed in its place. However she had long made up her mind what she +would do in such a case, and the following morning the princess, +disguised as a man, set out for the mountain. + +As she had been accustomed to riding from her childhood, she managed +to travel as many miles daily as her brothers had done, and it was, +as before, on the twentieth day that she arrived at the place +where the dervish was sitting. "Good dervish," she said politely, +"will you allow me to rest by you for a few moments, and perhaps you +will be so kind as to tell me if you have ever heard of a Talking Bird, +a Singing Tree, and some Golden Water that are to be found somewhere +near this?" + +"Madam," replied the dervish, "for in spite of your manly dress your +voice betrays you, I shall be proud to serve you in any way I can. +But may I ask the purpose of your question?" + +"Good dervish," answered the princess, "I have heard such glowing +descriptions of these three things, that I cannot rest till I +possess them." + +"Madam," said the dervish, "they are far more beautiful than +any description, but you seem ignorant of all the difficulties +that stand in your way, or you would hardly have undertaken +such an adventure. Give it up, I pray you, and return home, +and do not ask me to help you to a cruel death." + +"Holy father," answered the princess, "I come from far, and I should +be in despair if I turned back without having attained my object. +You have spoken of difficulties; tell me, I entreat you, what they are, +so that I may know if I can overcome them, or see if they are beyond +my strength." + +So the dervish repeated his tale, and dwelt more firmly than before +on the clamour of the voices, the horrors of the black stones, +which were once living men, and the difficulties of climbing +the mountain; and pointed out that the chief means of success +was never to look behind till you had the cage in your grasp. + +"As far as I can see," said the princess, "the first thing is not +to mind the tumult of the voices that follow you till you reach +the cage, and then never to look behind. As to this, I think I +have enough self-control to look straight before me; but as it is +quite possible that I might be frightened by the voices, as even the +boldest men have been, I will stop up my ears with cotton, so that, +let them make as much noise as they like, I shall hear nothing." + +"Madam," cried the dervish, "out of all the number who have asked me +the way to the mountain, you are the first who has ever suggested +such a means of escaping the danger! It is possible that you +may succeed, but all the same, the risk is great." + +"Good dervish," answered the princess, "I feel in my heart that I +shall succeed, and it only remains for me to ask you the way I am +to go." + +Then the dervish said that it was useless to say more, and he gave +her the ball, which she flung before her. + +The first thing the princess did on arriving at the mountain was +to stop her ears with cotton, and then, making up her mind which was +the best way to go, she began her ascent. In spite of the cotton, +some echoes of the voices reached her ears, but not so as to trouble her. +Indeed, though they grew louder and more insulting the higher she climbed, +the princess only laughed, and said to herself that she certainly +would not let a few rough words stand between her and the goal. +At last she perceived in the distance the cage and the bird, +whose voice joined itself in tones of thunder to those of the rest: +"Return, return! never dare to come near me." + +At the sight of the bird, the princess hastened her steps, and without +vexing herself at the noise which by this time had grown deafening, +she walked straight up to the cage, and seizing it, she said: +"Now, my bird, I have got you, and I shall take good care that you +do not escape." As she spoke she took the cotton from her ears, +for it was needed no longer. + +"Brave lady," answered the bird, "do not blame me for having joined +my voice to those who did their best to preserve my freedom. +Although confined in a cage, I was content with my lot, but if I +must become a slave, I could not wish for a nobler mistress than +one who has shown so much constancy, and from this moment I swear +to serve you faithfully. Some day you will put me to the proof, +for I know who you are better than you do yourself. Meanwhile, tell me +what I can do, and I will obey you." + +"Bird," replied the princess, who was filled with a joy that seemed +strange to herself when she thought that the bird had cost her the +lives of both her brothers, "bird, let me first thank you for your +good will, and then let me ask you where the Golden Water is to be found." + +The bird described the place, which was not far distant, and the +princess filled a small silver flask that she had brought with her +for the purpose. She then returned to the cage, and said: "Bird, +there is still something else, where shall I find the Singing Tree?" + +"Behind you, in that wood," replied the bird, and the princess +wandered through the wood, till a sound of the sweetest voices told +her she had found what she sought. But the tree was tall and strong, +and it was hopeless to think of uprooting it. + +"You need not do that," said the bird, when she had returned +to ask counsel. "Break off a twig, and plant it in your garden, +and it will take root, and grow into a magnificent tree." + +When the Princess Parizade held in her hands the three wonders +promised her by the old woman, she said to the bird: "All that is +not enough. It was owing to you that my brothers became black stones. +I cannot tell them from the mass of others, but you must know, +and point them out to me, I beg you, for I wish to carry them away." + +For some reason that the princess could not guess these words seemed +to displease the bird, and he did not answer. The princess waited +a moment, and then continued in severe tones, "Have you forgotten +that you yourself said that you are my slave to do my bidding, +and also that your life is in my power?" + +"No, I have not forgotten," replied the bird, "but what you ask is +very difficult. However, I will do my best. If you look round," +he went on, "you will see a pitcher standing near. Take it, and, as you +go down the mountain, scatter a little of the water it contains +over every black stone and you will soon find your two brothers." + +Princess Parizade took the pitcher, and, carrying with her besides +the cage the twig and the flask, returned down the mountain side. +At every black stone she stopped and sprinkled it with water, +and as the water touched it the stone instantly became a man. +When she suddenly saw her brothers before her her delight was mixed +with astonishment. + +"Why, what are you doing here?" she cried. + +"We have been asleep," they said. + +"Yes," returned the princess, "but without me your sleep would +probably have lasted till the day of judgment. Have you forgotten +that you came here in search of the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, +and the Golden Water, and the black stones that were heaped +up along the road? Look round and see if there is one left. +These gentlemen, and yourselves, and all your horses were changed +into these stones, and I have delivered you by sprinkling you with +the water from this pitcher. As I could not return home without you, +even though I had gained the prizes on which I had set my heart, +I forced the Talking Bird to tell me how to break the spell." + +On hearing these words Prince Bahman and Prince Perviz understood +all they owed their sister, and the knights who stood by declared +themselves her slaves and ready to carry out her wishes. +But the princess, while thanking them for their politeness, +explained that she wished for no company but that of her brothers, +and that the rest were free to go where they would. + +So saying the princess mounted her horse, and, declining to allow +even Prince Bahman to carry the cage with the Talking Bird, +she entrusted him with the branch of the Singing Tree, while Prince +Perviz took care of the flask containing the Golden Water. + +Then they rode away, followed by the knights and gentlemen, +who begged to be permitted to escort them. + +It had been the intention of the party to stop and tell their +adventures to the dervish, but they found to their sorrow that he +was dead, whether from old age, or whether from the feeling +that his task was done, they never knew. + +As they continued their road their numbers grew daily smaller, +for the knights turned off one by one to their own homes, and only +the brothers and sister finally drew up at the gate of the palace. + +The princess carried the cage straight into the garden, and, as soon +as the bird began to sing, nightingales, larks, thrushes, finches, +and all sorts of other birds mingled their voices in chorus. +The branch she planted in a corner near the house, and in a few +days it had grown into a great tree. As for the Golden Water it +was poured into a great marble basin specially prepared for it, +and it swelled and bubbled and then shot up into the air in a fountain +twenty feet high. + +The fame of these wonders soon spread abroad, and people came +from far and near to see and admire. + +After a few days Prince Bahman and Prince Perviz fell back into +their ordinary way of life, and passed most of their time hunting. +One day it happened that the Sultan of Persia was also hunting +in the same direction, and, not wishing to interfere with his sport, +the young men, on hearing the noise of the hunt approaching, +prepared to retire, but, as luck would have it, they turned +into the very path down which the Sultan was coming. They threw +themselves from their horses and prostrated themselves to the earth, +but the Sultan was curious to see their faces, and commanded them +to rise. + +The princes stood up respectfully, but quite at their ease, +and the Sultan looked at them for a few moments without speaking, +then he asked who they were and where they lived. + +"Sire," replied Prince Bahman, "we are sons of your Highness's +late intendant of the gardens, and we live in a house that he +built a short time before his death, waiting till an occasion +should offer itself to serve your Highness." + +"You seem fond of hunting," answered the Sultan. + +"Sire," replied Prince Bahman, "it is our usual exercise, +and one that should be neglected by no man who expects to comply +with the ancient customs of the kingdom and bear arms." + +The Sultan was delighted with this remark, and said at once, +"In that case I shall take great pleasure in watching you. +Come, choose what sort of beasts you would like to hunt." + +The princes jumped on their horses and followed the Sultan +at a little distance. They had not gone very far before they +saw a number of wild animals appear at once, and Prince Bahman +started to give chase to a lion and Prince Perviz to a bear. +Both used their javelins with such skill that, directly they arrived +within striking range, the lion and the bear fell, pierced through +and through. Then Prince Perviz pursued a lion and Prince +Bahman a bear, and in a very few minutes they, too, lay dead. +As they were making ready for a third assault the Sultan interfered, +and, sending one of his officials to summon them, he said smiling, +"If I let you go on, there will soon be no beasts left to hunt. +Besides, your courage and manners have so won my heart that I will +not have you expose yourselves to further danger. I am convinced +that some day or other I shall find you useful as well as agreeable." + +He then gave them a warm invitation to stay with him altogether, +but with many thanks for the honour done them, they begged to +be excused, and to be suffered to remain at home. + +The Sultan who was not accustomed to see his offers rejected +inquired their reasons, and Prince Bahman explained that they did +not wish to leave their sister, and were accustomed to do nothing +without consulting all three together. + +"Ask her advice, then," replied the Sultan, "and to-morrow come +and hunt with me, and give me your answer." + +The two princes returned home, but their adventure made so little +impression on them that they quite forgot to speak to their sister +on the subject. The next morning when they went to hunt they met +the Sultan in the same place, and he inquired what advice their +sister had given. The young men looked at each other and blushed. +At last Prince Bahman said, "Sire, we must throw ourselves on your +Highness's mercy. Neither my brother nor myself remembered anything +about it." + +"Then be sure you do not forget to-day," answered the Sultan, +"and bring me back your reply to-morrow." + +When, however, the same thing happened a second time, they feared +that the Sultan might be angry with them for their carelessness. +But he took it in good part, and, drawing three little golden +balls from his purse, he held them out to Prince Bahman, saying, +"Put these in your bosom and you will not forget a third time, +for when you remove your girdle to-night the noise they will make +in falling will remind you of my wishes." + +It all happened as the Sultan had foreseen, and the two brothers +appeared in their sister's apartments just as she was in the act +of stepping into bed, and told their tale. + +The Princess Parizade was much disturbed at the news, and did not +conceal her feelings. "Your meeting with the Sultan is very honourable +to you," she said, "and will, I dare say, be of service to you, +but it places me in a very awkward position. It is on my account, +I know, that you have resisted the Sultan's wishes, and I am +very grateful to you for it. But kings do not like to have their +offers refused, and in time he would bear a grudge against you, +which would render me very unhappy. Consult the Talking Bird, +who is wise and far-seeing, and let me hear what he says." + +So the bird was sent for and the case laid before him. + +"The princes must on no account refuse the Sultan's proposal," +said he, "and they must even invite him to come and see your house." + +"But, bird," objected the princess, "you know how dearly we love +each other; will not all this spoil our friendship?" + +"Not at all," replied the bird, "it will make it all the closer." + +"Then the Sultan will have to see me," said the princess. + +The bird answered that it was necessary that he should see her, +and everything would turn out for the best. + +The following morning, when the Sultan inquired if they had spoken +to their sister and what advice she had given them, Prince Bahman +replied that they were ready to agree to his Highness's wishes, +and that their sister had reproved them for their hesitation about +the matter. The Sultan received their excuses with great kindness, +and told them that he was sure they would be equally faithful to him, +and kept them by his side for the rest of the day, to the vexation +of the grand-vizir and the rest of the court. + +When the procession entered in this order the gates of the capital, +the eyes of the people who crowded the streets were fixed on the two +young men, strangers to every one. + +"Oh, if only the Sultan had had sons like that!" they murmured, +"they look so distinguished and are about the same age that his sons +would have been!" + +The Sultan commanded that splendid apartments should be prepared for the +two brothers, and even insisted that they should sit at table with him. +During dinner he led the conversation to various scientific subjects, +and also to history, of which he was especially fond, but whatever +topic they might be discussing he found that the views of the young +men were always worth listening to. "If they were my own sons," +he said to himself, "they could not be better educated!" and aloud +he complimented them on their learning and taste for knowledge. + +At the end of the evening the princes once more prostrated themselves +before the throne and asked leave to return home; and then, +encouraged by the gracious words of farewell uttered by the Sultan, +Prince Bahman said: "Sire, may we dare to take the liberty of asking +whether you would do us and our sister the honour of resting for +a few minutes at our house the first time the hunt passes that way?" + +"With the utmost pleasure," replied the Sultan; "and as I am +all impatience to see the sister of such accomplished young men +you may expect me the day after to-morrow." + +The princess was of course most anxious to entertain the Sultan +in a fitting way, but as she had no experience in court customs +she ran to the Talking Bird, and begged he would advise her +as to what dishes should be served. + +"My dear mistress," replied the bird, "your cooks are very good +and you can safely leave all to them, except that you must be +careful to have a dish of cucumbers, stuffed with pearl sauce, +served with the first course." + +"Cucumbers stuffed with pearls!" exclaimed the princess. "Why, bird, +who ever heard of such a dish? The Sultan will expect a dinner he +can eat, and not one he can only admire! Besides, if I were to use +all the pearls I possess, they would not be half enough." + +"Mistress," replied the bird, "do what I tell you and nothing +but good will come of it. And as to the pearls, if you go at dawn +to-morrow and dig at the foot of the first tree in the park, +on the right hand, you will find as many as you want." + +The princess had faith in the bird, who generally proved to be right, +and taking the gardener with her early next morning followed out +his directions carefully. After digging for some time they came +upon a golden box fastened with little clasps. + +These were easily undone, and the box was found to be full of pearls, +not very large ones, but well-shaped and of a good colour. +So leaving the gardener to fill up the hole he had made under the tree, +the princess took up the box and returned to the house. + +The two princes had seen her go out, and had wondered what could have +made her rise so early. Full of curiosity they got up and dressed, +and met their sister as she was returning with the box under her arm. + +"What have you been doing?" they asked, "and did the gardener come +to tell you he had found a treasure?" + +"On the contrary," replied the princess, "it is I who have found one," +and opening the box she showed her astonished brothers the +pearls inside. Then, on the way back to the palace, she told them +of her consultation with the bird, and the advice it had given her. +All three tried to guess the meaning of the singular counsel, +but they were forced at last to admit the explanation was beyond them, +and they must be content blindly to obey. + +The first thing the princess did on entering the palace was to send +for the head cook and to order the repast for the Sultan When she +had finished she suddenly added, "Besides the dishes I have mentioned +there is one that you must prepare expressly for the Sultan, and that +no one must touch but yourself. It consists of a stuffed cucumber, +and the stuffing is to be made of these pearls." + +The head cook, who had never in all his experience heard of such +a dish, stepped back in amazement. + +"You think I am mad," answered the princess, who perceived what was +in his mind. "But I know quite well what I am doing. Go, and do +your best, and take the pearls with you." + +The next morning the princes started for the forest, and were soon +joined by the Sultan. The hunt began and continued till mid-day, +when the heat became so great that they were obliged to leave off. +Then, as arranged, they turned their horses' heads towards the palace, +and while Prince Bahman remained by the side of the Sultan, +Prince Perviz rode on to warn his sister of their approach. + +The moment his Highness entered the courtyard, the princess flung +herself at his feet, but he bent and raised her, and gazed at her +for some time, struck with her grace and beauty, and also with the +indefinable air of courts that seemed to hang round this country girl. +"They are all worthy one of the other," he said to himself, +"and I am not surprised that they think so much of her opinions. +I must know more of them." + +By this time the princess had recovered from the first embarrassment +of meeting, and proceeded to make her speech of welcome. + +"This is only a simple country house, sire," she said, +"suitable to people like ourselves, who live a quiet life. +It cannot compare with the great city mansions, much less, +of course, with the smallest of the Sultan's palaces." + +"I cannot quite agree with you," he replied; "even the little +that I have seen I admire greatly, and I will reserve my judgment +until you have shown me the whole." + +The princess then led the way from room to room, and the Sultan examined +everything carefully. "Do you call this a simple country house?" +he said at last. "Why, if every country house was like this, +the towns would soon be deserted. I am no longer astonished +that you do not wish to leave it. Let us go into the gardens, +which I am sure are no less beautiful than the rooms." + +A small door opened straight into the garden, and the first object +that met the Sultan's eyes was the Golden Water. + +"What lovely coloured water!" he exclaimed; "where is the spring, +and how do you make the fountain rise so high? I do not believe there +is anything like it in the world." He went forward to examine it, +and when he had satisfied his curiosity, the princess conducted him +towards the Singing Tree. + +As they drew near, the Sultan was startled by the sound of +strange voices, but could see nothing. "Where have you hidden +your musicians?" he asked the princess; "are they up in the air, +or under the earth? Surely the owners of such charming voices +ought not to conceal themselves!" + +"Sire," answered the princess, "the voices all come from the tree +which is straight in front of us; and if you will deign to advance +a few steps, you will see that they become clearer." + +The Sultan did as he was told, and was so wrapt in delight +at what he heard that he stood some time in silence. + +"Tell me, madam, I pray you," he said at last, "how this +marvellous tree came into your garden? It must have been brought +from a great distance, or else, fond as I am of all curiosities, +I could not have missed hearing of it! What is its name?" + +"The only name it has, sire," replied she, "is the Singing Tree, +and it is not a native of this country. Its history is mixed up with +those of the Golden Water and the Talking Bird, which you have not +yet seen. If your Highness wishes I will tell you the whole story, +when you have recovered from your fatigue." + +"Indeed, madam," returned he, "you show me so many wonders that it +is impossible to feel any fatigue. Let us go once more and look +at the Golden Water; and I am dying to see the Talking Bird." + +The Sultan could hardly tear himself away from the Golden Water, +which puzzled him more and more. "You say," he observed to +the princess, "that this water does not come from any spring, +neither is brought by pipes. All I understand is, that neither +it nor the Singing Tree is a native of this country." + +"It is as you say, sire," answered the princess, "and if you +examine the basin, you will see that it is all in one piece, +and therefore the water could not have been brought through it. +What is more astonishing is, that I only emptied a small flaskful +into the basin, and it increased to the quantity you now see." + +"Well, I will look at it no more to-day," said the Sultan. +"Take me to the Talking Bird." + +On approaching the house, the Sultan noticed a vast quantity of birds, +whose voices filled the air, and he inquired why they were so much +more numerous here than in any other part of the garden. + +"Sire," answered the princess, "do you see that cage hanging in one +of the windows of the saloon? that is the Talking Bird, whose voice +you can hear above them all, even above that of the nightingale. +And the birds crowd to this spot, to add their songs to his." + +The Sultan stepped through the window, but the bird took no notice, +continuing his song as before. + +"My slave," said the princess, "this is the Sultan; make him +a pretty speech." + +The bird stopped singing at once, and all the other birds stopped too. + +"The Sultan is welcome," he said. "I wish him long life +and all prosperity." + +"I thank you, good bird," answered the Sultan, seating himself +before the repast, which was spread at a table near the window, +"and I am enchanted to see in you the Sultan and King of the Birds." + +The Sultan, noticing that his favourite dish of cucumber was placed +before him, proceeded to help himself to it, and was amazed to and +that the stuffing was of pearls. "A novelty, indeed!" cried he, +"but I do not understand the reason of it; one cannot eat pearls!" + +"Sire," replied the bird, before either the princes or the princess +could speak, "surely your Highness cannot be so surprised at beholding +a cucumber stuffed with pearls, when you believed without any +difficulty that the Sultana had presented you, instead of children, +with a dog, a cat, and a log of wood." + +"I believed it," answered the Sultan, "because the women attending +on her told me so." + +"The women, sire," said the bird, "were the sisters of the Sultana, +who were devoured with jealousy at the honour you had done her, and in +order to revenge themselves invented this story. Have them examined, +and they will confess their crime. These are your children, +who were saved from death by the intendant of your gardens, +and brought up by him as if they were his own." + +Like a flash the truth came to the mind of the Sultan. +"Bird," he cried, "my heart tells me that what you say is true. +My children," he added, "let me embrace you, and embrace each other, +not only as brothers and sister, but as having in you the blood +royal of Persia which could flow in no nobler veins." + +When the first moments of emotion were over, the Sultan hastened +to finish his repast, and then turning to his children he exclaimed: +"To-day you have made acquaintance with your father. To-morrow I +will bring you the Sultana your mother. Be ready to receive her." + +The Sultan then mounted his horse and rode quickly back to the capital. +Without an instant's delay he sent for the grand-vizir, and ordered +him to seize and question the Sultana's sisters that very day. +This was done. They were confronted with each other and proved guilty, +and were executed in less than an hour. + +But the Sultan did not wait to hear that his orders had been +carried out before going on foot, followed by his whole court to +the door of the great mosque, and drawing the Sultana with his own +hand out of the narrow prison where she had spent so many years, +"Madam," he cried, embracing her with tears in his eyes, +"I have come to ask your pardon for the injustice I have done you, +and to repair it as far as I may. I have already begun by punishing +the authors of this abominable crime, and I hope you will forgive +me when I introduce you to our children, who are the most charming +and accomplished creatures in the whole world. Come with me, +and take back your position and all the honour that is due to you." + +This speech was delivered in the presence of a vast multitude of people, +who had gathered from all parts on the first hint of what was happening, +and the news was passed from mouth to mouth in a few seconds. + +Early next day the Sultan and Sultana, dressed in robes of state +and followed by all the court, set out for the country house +of their children. Here the Sultan presented them to the Sultana +one by one, and for some time there was nothing but embraces and +tears and tender words. Then they ate of the magnificent dinner +which had been prepared for them, and after they were all refreshed +they went into the garden, where the Sultan pointed out to his wife +the Golden Water and the Singing Tree. As to the Talking Bird, +she had already made acquaintance with him. + +In the evening they rode together back to the capital, the princes +on each side of their father, and the princess with her mother. +Long before they reached the gates the way was lined with people, +and the air filled with shouts of welcome, with which were mingled +the songs of the Talking Bird, sitting in its cage on the lap of +the princess, and of the birds who followed it. + +And in this manner they came back to their father's palace. + + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Arabian Nights Entertainments + diff --git a/old/old/arabn11.zip b/old/old/arabn11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7b2d64 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/arabn11.zip |