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diff --git a/24473.txt b/24473.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed49688 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1396 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Cat and the Mouse, Edited by Hartwell +James, Illustrated by John R. Neill + + +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 Cat and the Mouse + A Book of Persian Fairy Tales + + +Editor: Hartwell James + +Release Date: January 31, 2008 [eBook #24473] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAT AND THE MOUSE*** + + +E-text prepared by Michael Gray (Lost_Gamer@comcast.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 24473-h.htm or 24473-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/4/7/24473/24473-h/24473-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/4/7/24473/24473-h.zip) + + + + + +Persian Fairy Tales + +Altemus' Fairy Tales Series + +THE CAT AND THE MOUSE + +A Book of Persian Fairy Tales + +Edited with an Introduction by + +HARTWELL JAMES + +With Forty Illustrations by John R. Neill + + + + + + +Philadelphia +Henry Altemus Company + + * * * * * + +Altemus' +Illustrated +Fairy Tales Series + + +The Magic Bed + A Book of East Indian Tales +The Cat and the Mouse + A Book of Persian Tales +The Jeweled Sea + A Book of Chinese Tales +The Magic Jaw Bone + A Book of South Sea Islands Tales +The Man Elephant + A Book of African Tales +The Enchanted Castle + A Book of Tales from Flower Land + +Fifty Cents Each + + * * * * * + +Copyright, 1906 +by Henry Altemus + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +Persia is rich in folk lore. For hundreds and hundreds of years the +stories in this book, and many others as well, have been told to the +wondering boys and girls of that country, who, as they hear them, +picture their native land as one of roses and tulips, where beautiful +fairies build their castles in the rosy morn, and black gnomes fly +around in the darkness of midnight. + +A land, too, where the sun gleams like a fire above the blue mountains, +and the water lilies are mirrored in the deep lakes. A land where the +eyes of the tigers gleam through the reeds by the riverside, and +dark-eyed, sunburned people are quick to love and quick to hate. + +The belief in the "Ghool," or "Old Man of the Desert," is still +prevalent in Persia, which probably accounts for the popularity of the +story of "The Son of the Soap Seller." The other stories selected for +this volume are great favorites, but the story of "The Cat and the +Mouse" is perhaps the most popular of all. + +The frontispiece to this volume is a reduced facsimile of a whole page +in a Persian book, showing both the pictures and the reading as they +were published in Persia. The other illustrations for "The Cat and the +Mouse" are copies of drawings by a Persian artist. + +"Two friends on one carpet may with contentment sleep; + Two monarchs in one kingdom the peace can never keep. + While earth revolves, and little children play, + Cats over mice will always hold the sway." + + H. J. + + + +CONTENTS + + The Cat and The Mouse + The Son of the Soap Seller + The King's Treasure + The King and The Fisherman + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + Frontispiece + "Nobody was happier than this cat" + "'Now will you take off my head?'" + "The cat had a rosary of beads" + "The mice began to make merry" + "Discreetly they bore their gifts" + "And they went forward trembling" + "Five mice he caught" + "The King was sitting on his throne" + "The armies fell upon each other" + "So he mounted his elephant" + "The lion sprang upon the Princess" + "'O brothers, buy my pure soap'" + "Things became blacker and blacker" + "Leading a fine lion by a chain" + "They set forth on their journey" + "The rain fell in torrents" + "'Give me a drink of water'" + "They ran here and there" + "'Sleep, my son, while I keep watch'" + "A beautiful young woman appeared" + "Every morning Ahmed looked in the cup" + "Ahmed sprang upon the figure" + "'Ask for anything in reason'" + "A brass vessel full of round white stones" + "Lived in a sheltered valley" + "Abdul Karim was lost in wonder" + "Priests were calling the people to prayer" + "The noise and bustle of the crowded streets" + "'Two hundred krans!' repeated Abdul Karim" + "'Get out of my shop!'" + "'Here are eight krans'" + "Came in sight of his cottage" + "He hid most of the treasure" + "'Is this fish male or female?'" + "Begged that he would accept the fish" + "'The matter is closed'" + "'Are you a human being or a beast?'" + "The fisherman fell on his knees" + "His bag laden with money" + + + +THE CAT AND THE MOUSE + + + + +PERSIAN FAIRY TALES + + +The Cat and the Mouse + + +Showing how one may be lost in wonder at the story of the cat and the +mouse, when related with a clear and rolling voice, as if from a +pulpit. + + +ACCORDING to the decree of Heaven, there once lived in the Persian city +of Kerman a cat like unto a dragon--a longsighted cat who hunted like a +lion; a cat with fascinating eyes and long whiskers and sharp teeth. +Its body was like a drum, its beautiful fur like ermine skin. + +Nobody was happier than this cat, neither the newly-wedded bride, nor +the hospitable master of the house when he looks round on the smiling +faces of his guests. + +This cat moved in the midst of friends, boon companions of the +saucepan, the cup, and the milk jug of the court, and of the dinner +table when the cloth is spread. + +Perceiving the wine cellar open, one day, the cat ran gleefully into it +to see if he could catch a mouse, and hid himself behind a wine jar. At +that moment a mouse ran out of a hole in the wall, quickly climbed the +jar, and putting his head into it, drank so long and so deeply that he +became drunk, talked very stupidly, and fancied he was as bold as a +lion. + +"Where is the cat?" shouted he, "that I may off with his head. I would +cut off his head as if on the battlefield. A cat in front of me would +fare worse than any dog who might happen to cross my path." + +The cat ground his teeth with rage while hearing this. Quicker than the +eye could follow, he made a spring, seized the mouse in his claws, and +said, "Oh, little mouse, now will you take off my head?" + +"I am thy servant," replied the mouse; "forgive my sin. I was drunk. I +am thy slave; a slave whose ear is pierced and on whose shoulder the +yoke is." + +"Tell fewer lies," replied the cat. "Was there ever such a liar? I +heard all you said and you shall pay for your sin with your life. I +will make your life less than that of a dead dog." + +So the cat killed and ate the mouse; but afterwards, being sorry for +what he had done, he ran to the Mosque, and passed his hands over his +face, poured water on his hands, and anointed himself as he had seen +the faithful do at the appointed hours of prayer. + +Then he began to recite the beautiful chapter to Allah in the Holy Book +of the Persians, and to make his confession in this wise: + +"I have repented, and will not again tear the body of a mouse with my +teeth. I will give bread to the deserving poor. Forgive my sin, O great +Forgiver, for have I not come to Thee bowed down with sorrow?" + +He repeated this so many times and with so much feeling that he really +thought he meant it, and finally wept for grief. + +A little mouse happened to be behind the pulpit, and overhearing the +cat's vows, speedily carried the glad but surprising news to the other +mice. Breathlessly he related how that the cat had become a true +Mussulman; how that he had seen him in the Mosque weeping and +lamenting, and saying: + +"Oh, Creator of the world, put away my sin, for I have offended like a +big fool." Then the mouse went on to describe how that the cat had a +rosary of beads, and made pious reflections in the spirit of a true +penitent. + +The mice began to make merry when they heard this startling news, for +they were exceedingly glad. Seven chosen mice, each the headman of the +village, arose and gave thanks that the cat should at last have entered +the fold of the true believers. + +All danced and shouted, "Ah! Ah! Hu! Hu!" and drank red wine and white +wine until they were very merry. Two rang bells, two played castanets, +and two sang. One carried a tray behind his back laden with good +things, so that all could help themselves; some smoked water-pipes; +another acted like a clown; others played various tunes on different +instruments of music. + +A few days after the feast, the King of the mice said to them, "Oh, +friends, all of you bring costly presents worthy of the cat!" Then the +mice scattered in search of gifts, but soon returned, each bearing +something worthy of presentation, even to a nobleman. + +One brought a bottle of wine; another a dish full of raisins; others +came with salted nuts and melon seeds, lumps of cheese, basins of +sugar-candy, pistachio nuts, little cakes iced with sugar, bottles of +lemon juice, Indian shawls, hats, cloaks and many other things. + +Discreetly they bore their gifts before the King of the Cats. When in +the royal presence, they made humble obeisances, touching their +foreheads on the ground, and saluting him, said: + +"Oh, master, liberator of the lives of all, we have brought gifts +worthy of thy service. We beseech thee to deign to accept of them." + +Then the cat thought to himself, "I am rewarded for becoming a pious +Mussulman. Though I have endured much hunger, yet this day finds me +freely and amply provided for. Not for many days have I broken my fast. +It is clear that Allah is appeased." + +Then he turned to the mice, and bade them come nearer, calling them his +friends. And they went forward trembling. So frightened were they that +they were hardly aware of what they were doing. When they were close +the cat made a sudden spring upon them. + +Five mice he caught, each one the chief of a village; two with his +front paws, two with his hind ones, and one in his mouth. The remaining +mice barely escaped with their lives. + +Picking up one of their murdered brothers, they quickly carried the sad +news to the mice, saying: "Why do ye sit still, oh mice? Throw dust on +your heads, oh young men, for the cruel cat has seized five of our +unsuspecting companions with teeth and claws and has killed them." + +Then for the space of five days they rent their clothes as do the +mourners, and cast dust on their heads. Then they said: "We must go and +tell our King all that has befallen the mice. We must not fail to tell +him this calamity." + +Whereupon they all rose up and went their way in deep sorrow; one +beating the muffled drum, one tolling the bell; all had shawls around +their necks; their tears the while running in little streams down their +whiskers. + +Arrived where the King was sitting on his throne, the mice paid homage +to him, saying: "Master, we are subjects and thou art King. Behold the +cat has treated us cruelly since he became a pious follower of Mahomet. +Whereas, before his conversion he was wont to catch only one of us in a +year, now that he is a sincere Mussulman his appetite has so increased +that only five at a time will satisfy him." + +Whereupon the King fell into such a violent rage that he resembled a +saucepan boiling over. But to the deputation of mice he spoke very +kindly, calling them his newly-arrived and welcome guests, and to +comfort them vowed that he would give the cat such a chastisement that +the news of it should circulate through the world. + +Then, observing their grief, he commanded that the dead mouse should be +buried with all pomp and ceremony. Accordingly they made lamentation +for a whole week, as though it had been for one of royal degree; and +having prepared delicious sweetmeats, they placed them in baskets and +carried them with streaming eyes to the grave. + +After the burial service, the King ordered the army to assemble on a +given day on the great sandy plain that stretches as far as the eye can +see around the city. Then he addressed them, saying: + +"Oh, men and soldiers, inasmuch as the cat has so cruelly ill-treated +our countrymen, he being a heretic and an evil doer, and brutal in +nature, we must now go to the city of Kerman and fight him." + +So three hundred and thirty thousand mice went forth, armed with +swords, guns, and spears; and with flags and pennons bravely flying. A +passing Arab from the desert, skilfully balancing himself on the back +of a swift-traveling camel by means of a long pole, spied the great +army in motion, and was so overcome with astonishment that he lost his +balance and fell off. Several regiments of mice were put out of action +by his fall; but nothing daunted, the army pressed on. + +When the army was ready for battle, the King again addressed them +saying: "O young men, an ambassador must be sent to the cat, one who is +able, discreet, and eloquent." Then they all shouted: "The King's +orders shall be carried out! Upon our heads be it." + +Now, there was present a learned and eloquent mouse, the ruler of a +province, and he it was that the King commanded to go as an ambassador +to the cat in the city of Kerman. Almost before his name was out of the +King's mouth, he had jumped out of his place in the ranks, and, +traveling swiftly as the winds of the desert, he went in boldly before +the cat and said: + +"As an ambassador from the King of the Mice am I come, bowed down with +grief and fatigue. Know this, my master has determined to wage war, and +is even now come with his army to take off your head." + +The cat roared out in reply, "Go tell your King to eat dust! I come not +out of this city except at my good pleasure!" Then he sent messengers +to bring up quickly some fighting and hunting cats from Khorassan--the +land of the sun--to Kerman. + +As soon as the cat's army was ready, the King of the Cats gave them +marching orders, promising to come himself to the battle on the next +day. The cats came out on horseback, each one like a hungry tiger. The +mice also mounted their steeds, armed to the teeth, and boiling with +rage. Shouting "Allah! Allah!" the armies fell upon each other with +unsheathed swords. + +So many cats and mice were killed that there was no room for the +horses' feet. The cats fought valiantly, their fierce attacks carrying +them through the first line of the mice, then through the second, and +many Ameers and chiefs were killed. The mice, thinking the battle lost, +turned to flee, crying out: + +"Throw dust upon your heads, young men!" + +But afterwards, rallying again, they faced their pursuers and attacked +the right wing of the cat's army, shouting their battle cry of "Allah! +Allah!" + +In the thickest of the fray a mounted mouse speared the King of the +Cats, so that he fell fainting to the ground. Before he could rise, the +mouse leaped upon him and brought him captive to the King. So the cats +were defeated on that day and sullenly retreated to the city of Kerman. + +Having bound the cat, the mice beat him until he became unconscious. +Then the plain echoed with the beating of tom-toms and shouts of joy. +Then the King of the Mice seated himself on his throne and ordered the +cat to be brought before him. + +"Scoundrel!" he said to him, "Why hast thou eaten up my army? Hear now +the King of the Mice." The cat hung his head in fear, and remained +silent. After a few minutes, he said: "I am thy servant, even to +death." Then the King replied: + +"Carry this black-faced dog to the execution ground. I will come in +person without delay to kill him in revenge for the blood of my +slaughtered subjects." + +So he mounted his elephant, and his guard marched proudly before him. +The cat, with his hands tied together, stood weeping. Upon arriving at +the execution grounds and discerning that the cat was not yet executed, +the King said angrily to the hangman: "Why is it this prisoner is still +alive? Hang him immediately!" + +At that very moment a horseman came galloping furiously from the city +and besought the King, saying: "Forgive this miserable cat; in future +he will do us no harm." However, the King turned a deaf ear to his +entreaties, ordering that the cat be killed at once. The mice +hesitated, being unwilling, through fear, to carry out the order. + +Of course, this made the King very angry. "O foolish mice!" he cried, +"Ye will all take pity on the cat, in order that he may again make a +sacrifice of you." + +Directly the cat saw the horseman, his courage revived. With one bound +he sprang from his place as does the tiger on his prey, burst his bonds +asunder, and seized five unfortunate mice. The other mice, filled with +dismay and terror, ran hither and thither, crying wildly: + +"Allah! Allah! Shoot him! Cut off his head, as did Rastam his enemies +on the day of battle!" + +When the King of the Mice saw what, had happened, he fainted; whereupon +the cat leaped on him, pulled off his crown, and placing the rope over +his head, hanged him, so that he died immediately. + +Then he darted here and there, seizing and slaying, and dashing mice to +the earth, till the whole army of mice was routed, and there was none +left to oppose him. + + + + +THE SON OF THE SOAP SELLER + + +PERSIAN FAIRY TALES + + +The Son of the Soap Seller + + +Cleverly proving that a princess with a necklace can frustrate the +intentions of a Ghool, and that every king should have near his person +the owner of a crystal cup. + + +THERE once dwelt a poor but worthy man named Abdullah in Meshed, the +Holy City, the place of pilgrimage, whose beautiful mosque with the +golden dome is the glory of the kingdom of Persia. He barely managed to +get a living by the sale of soap. + +All day long, from sunrise to sunset, he tramped the city, crying out: +"O brothers, buy my pure soap. There is none better in the city, as +every one knows. Even the little babes would say so if they could but +speak." + +Still, if you looked closely at it, you would never guess it to be +soap; it was black and coarse, and more like wood than anything else. +If any unlucky pilgrim used it on his face or hands, it would make his +skin burn like fire. But this did not often happen, for the people in +Persia do not use much soap on themselves, or their clothes, and sand +does very well for cleaning cooking pots and pans. So it was that there +were many days when poor Abdullah did not sell enough to buy sufficient +bread for himself and his little boy Ahmed. + +At such times, the father would creep sadly into his wretched mud-built +hovel, and bury his face in his hands, so that he might not see his son +trying to keep back the tears caused by hunger. The little fellow, +however, now ten years of age, would comfort his father by saying: + +"Inshallah"--if God wills--"to-morrow you will sell more soap than you +have done for weeks past." And the father, looking into the bright, +open face of his boy, would take courage, and pray that this might be +so. + +But the days went on and things became blacker and blacker, when one +day an adventure befell little Ahmed. He was on his way to school, and +as the sun was very hot, he sought the shelter of the big plane-trees +that lined the banks of the stream flowing down the center of the +principal street. + +Women were filling their water jugs, or washing clothes; a string of +camels were drinking; several donkeys were rolling playfully over and +over in the water, and some dyers were wringing out newly-dyed +garments, causing waves of many colors to flow past. + +Just as Ahmed had stopped to look, a dervish, leading a fine lion by a +chain, and some runners with curious hats and coats rushed past, +shouting: + +"Make way for the King! Turn your faces to the wall!" And there was the +great King, seated on a beautiful Arabian horse, surrounded by +soldiers. Then there passed a palanquin borne on the backs of four +mules. + +The party stopped just opposite to Ahmed, and from the palanquin there +alighted a lady closely veiled, evidently wishing to inspect some +beautiful Meshed silver work. Before she could reach the shop, a great +tumult arose among the people. The lion had broken his chain and was +madly leaping here and there, tearing and rending and dashing people to +the ground. Women fainted, men fled, little children stood still and +cried pitifully, some jumped into the stream; the frightened horses +dashed madly through the crowd. All was terror and confusion. + +Then with a roar the lion sprang upon the princess, and bore her to the +ground; but ere he could tear her to pieces, Ahmed had sprang forward, +seized a piece of iron, one end of which was red hot, from the shop of +a blacksmith, and thrust it furiously into the face of the lion. With a +cry of pain and rage the lion left the princess and bounded off to the +bazaars, where he did great damage. + +As soon as the princess had recovered from her fright, she beckoned to +Ahmed to come near, and removing her veil, told him he was a brave +little fellow, and ordered one of her servants to give him a purse of +gold. Ahmed had never seen anyone so beautiful, and was so lost in +wonder, that before he could find words of thanks, the party had passed +on. + +But when the money was spent, Ahmed and his father began to be in want +again. A Jewish pedlar having told him how much better trade was in the +capital, they determined to set forth to that city, though the way was +long and full of danger. "Better to die in the desert, than in the +heart of a great city," said Ahmed. + +So they set forth on their journey, sometimes climbing up winding paths +among the mountains, at other times traversing the desert, footsore, +and weary almost to death, often hungry and thirsty, tormented by the +thought that they would fall into the hands of the man-stealing robbers +who haunted this great pilgrim road. + +On account of the intense heat and the cruel robbers, they traveled by +night. In every shadow cast by the moon upon the ground, they thought +they saw a robber on his big horse. During the day they slept at +wayside inns, and in return for little services rendered by Ahmed to +the muleteers, they would give him a handful of rice or bread, or a few +dried fruits which kept them from starvation. + +So it went on until one night, when searching for the bridge that +crosses the Salt River, the sky became suddenly overcast, the rain fell +in torrents, and soon the river was in flood. There was nothing to be +done but to sit down and wait until the moon should rise. The fierce +wind buffeted them, the rain drenched them; they had lost their way, +and were at the mercy of wild beasts. + +Once, when the wind dropped for a little, out of the darkness came a +groan. "Keep still as death, my son," said the father to Ahmed, "for it +is the Old Man of the Desert." + +Now Ahmed had never before heard of the Old Man of the Desert, and +therefore knew no fear, so despite his father's warning, he got up and +went in the direction from whence came the groans. As he reached the +spot, the moon came out from behind a bank of clouds, and Ahmed saw a +poor dervish lying on the sand. He had a leopard skin thrown over his +shoulders; by his side lay a big stick studded with sharp nails, and a +basin made of the outer skin of a pumpkin in which he collected alms. + +"For the sake of the Prophet," he moaned when he saw Ahmed, "give me a +drink of water." And Ahmed, filling his pitcher from the river gave him +to drink, though the water was somewhat salty. + +The water revived the dervish, and he said: "I am Ali, the dervish, and +am known throughout Persia. Two months ago I left Mazandaran to go to +Meshed. But yesterday the fever seized me. This is the third attack, +and, as you know, it is always fatal. + +"Stay with me, my son, in this dark hour when I shall pass through the +valley of the shadow of death. And when my soul shall have crossed the +Bridge of Death, take this little leather bag hanging round my neck, +and therein you shall find a tiny cup, cut from a crystal, which if +used rightly, shall lift thee to great power and wealth. + +"Each morning when you rise, place a drop of pure water in the cup, and +look intently therein, and should any danger threaten you or those near +and dear to you, it will be made manifest. And if--" but here his +strength failed him, his head fell back, and he passed away. Ahmed +found the bag and the beautifully cut crystal, just as the dervish had +said, and returning to his father, told him all that had happened. + +Ahmed did as the dervish had directed him for several mornings, but +seeing nothing in the crystal, he dropped the practice. There came a +day, however, when they were overtaken by a dreadful dust storm. From +across the wide stretch of sand, the wind raged, the sky and sun were +blotted out, the air was laden with dust, and the small pebbles and +stones carried in the wind cut them until they cried with pain. Shelter +there was none. + +In fear and pain they ran here and there, and when after several hours +of misery, the storm had passed, they could not see each other. They +were lost in the cruel desert, with no food, and worse still, no water. +Sobbing in despair, Ahmed straggled on. He went like one in a dream. +Time after time he fell tripping over rocks and bushes, but he pressed +onward. Then came a time when he could go no further, and he lay down +to die. + +For a long time he slept, and then he was awakened by being shaken. +Looking up, he saw an old man smiling and saying: "Why, it's little +Ahmed, the son of Abdullah, the Soap Seller. Don't you know me, Ahmed? +I am your uncle. Don't cry because you have lost your way. Come, take +my hand and we will soon find your father." + +Now Ahmed wondered why he had never seen or even heard his father speak +of this particular uncle, but he took the old man's hand, and together +they set forth. Mile after mile they went, but no trace of his father +could be found. Then he sat down crying, and said: "I am so tired, I +can go no further." And the old man replied: "Sleep, my son, while I +keep watch." + +But just as Ahmed was closing his eyes, the old man turned, and Ahmed +saw that he had thin legs like those of a sheep. "The Ghool! the +Ghool!" he shrieked, and fainted. Then this wicked ogre of the desert +began to open Ahmed's coat in order to suck his blood. + +But another cry answered that of the boy, and then appeared on the +scene a beautiful young woman, carrying in her harid a necklace of gold +and silver beads. Casting but one glance at the beads, the old man flew +swifter than the wild sheep of the mountains, for the sight of metal +rendered him powerless to do harm. + +Of course, it was the princess whose life Ahmed had saved in Meshed. +The King, her father, happened to be returning from a pilgrimage, and +to give a fright to her servants, she had scampered off the track, and +thus had found Ahmed. At her request, Ahmed became one of the King's +followers, and together with his father, whom they found the next day, +they journeyed to the capital. + +Some three days' march from the capital, in the mountains near Kazveen, +there lived the Old Man of the Mountains, or as he is generally known, +the King of the Assassins, with his followers. So great was his power +that he had but to say the word and any of his men would throw +themselves from the topmost crags to the valleys beneath and be dashed +to pieces, or at his bidding, they would travel forth to the most +distant parts of the world in order to kill any persons, however great +they might be. + +When he heard that the King of Persia was collecting an army to destroy +both him and his tribe, he became very angry, and said to one of his +followers: "Go, rid me of the King of Persia;" and the mart-took bread +and water and a sharp dagger, and went. + +Now after his narrow escape from the Old Man of the Desert, Ahmed took +pains every morning to place a drop of water in the crystal cup and +look therein. Nothing appeared until one morning he saw in the bead of +water a vision of the King asleep, and standing by him a robber with an +uplifted dagger, about to strike. Hurrying to the King's presence, he +warned him of the danger, but the King only laughed, for he trusted his +guards. + +Nevertheless, Ahmed determined to keep watch. Darkness came, and the +guards slept. The palace was silent. The hours slipped by, and Ahmed, +weary with much waiting was about to retire, when he perceived a dark +shadow creeping into that part of the palace where the King slept. + +The figure noiselessly made its way to the very threshold of the King's +room, when Ahmed sprang upon it, at the same time giving the alarm. The +whole palace was aroused and the murdered secured. + +When the messenger did not return, the Old Man of the Mountains sent a +second, and then a third, and finally the most daring and skilful of +all his followers; but thanks to Ahmed's crystal cup, all attempts upon +the life of the King failed. + +Then the King sent for Ahmed, and said: "Ask for anything in reason, +and it shall be given thee." And though he was trembling in every limb, +Ahmed replied: "Neither wealth nor power does thy slave desire, save +the hand of thy daughter." + +"If she loves you, it shall be so," replied the King, and she did love +him; they were married, and Ahmed became the King's Prime Minister. + + + +THE KING'S TREASURE + +PERSIAN FAIRY TALES + + +The King's Treasure + + +Accurately relating how a marked advance in material and political +prosperity accrued to Abdul Karim, and the part played by a monarch +whose philosophy included the immediate advancement of a worthy +subject. + + +A LABORING man named Abdul Karim, with his wife, Zeeba--"the beautiful +one"--lived in a sheltered valley, surrounded by hills, the sides of +which were covered with fine gardens, in which the peach, the grape, +the mulberry, and other delicious fruits grew in great profusion. + +Although his wife's name was Zeeba, as a matter of fact, she was very +plain in appearance. But from having been named Zeeba, she really +thought she was beautiful, and thus it came about that, moved by +vanity, her two children were named, the boy, Yusuf, or Joseph, who as +you know, was sold by his brethren into Egypt and became next to the +King; and the girl, Fatima, after Fatima, the favorite daughter of +Mahomet, and the wife of the famous Ali. + +Now Abdul Karim was only a laborer on the land, receiving no wages, +merely being paid in grain and cloth sufficient for the wants of +himself and family. Of money he knew nothing except by name. + +One day his master was so pleased with his work that he actually gave +him ten "krans," equivalent to about a dollar of our money. To Abdul +Karim this seemed great wealth, and directly his day's work was done, +he ran home to his wife and said: "Look, Zeeba, there's riches for +you!" and spread out the money before her. His good wife was delighted, +and so were the children. + +Then Abdul Karim said: "How shall we spend this great sum? The master +has also given me a day's holiday, so if you don't mind, I will go to +the famous city of Meshed, which is only twenty miles from here, and +after placing two krans on the shrine of the holy Imam, I will then +visit the bazaars and buy everything you and the children desire." + +"You would better buy me a piece of silk for a new dress," said Zeeba. + +"I want a fine horse and a sword," said little Yusuf. + +"I would like an Indian handkerchief and a pair of gold slippers," said +Fatima. + +"They shall be here by to-morrow night," said the father, and taking a +big stick, he set off on his journey. + +When he had come down from the mountains to the plain below, Abdul +Karim saw stretched before him the glorious city, and was lost in +wonder at the sight of the splendid domes, where roofs glittered with +gold, and the minarets, from the tops of which the priests were calling +the people to prayer. + +Then coming to the gate of the shrine, he asked an old priest if he +might enter. "Yes, my son," was the reply. "Go in and give what thou +canst spare to the mosque, and Allah will reward thee." + +So Abdul Karim walked through the great court, amidst worshipers from +every city in Asia. With open-mouthed astonishment he gazed on the +riches of the temple, the jewels, the lovely carpets, the silks, the +golden ornaments, and with humility he placed his two pieces of money +on the sacred tomb. Then through the noise and bustle of the crowded +streets, he went until he found the bazaars. + +He found the sellers of fruits in one place, in another those who sold +pots and pans, then he came to the jewelers, the bakers, the butchers, +each trade having its own part of the bazaar, and so on, until he +reached that part where there were only those who sold silks. + +He entered one of the shops and asked to see some silks, and after much +picking and choosing, fixed upon a superb piece of purple silk with an +embroidered border of exquisite design. "I will take this," he said. +"What is the price?" + +"I shall only ask you two hundred krans, as you are a new customer," +said the shopkeeper. "Anybody else but you would have to pay three or +four hundred." + +"Two hundred krans," repeated Abdul Karim, in astonishment. "Surely you +have made a mistake. Do you mean krans like these?" taking one out of +his pocket. + +"Certainly I do," replied the shopkeeper, "and let me tell you it is +very cheap at that price." + +Abdul Karim pictured the disappointment of his wife. "Poor Zeeba," he +sighed. + +"Poor who?" said the silk merchant. + +"My wife," said Abdul Karim. + +"What have I to do with your wife?" asked the merchant, getting angry +because he saw that all his trouble was in vain. + +"I will tell you about it," said Abdul Karim. "Because I did my work +well, my master gave me ten krans, the first time I ever have had any +money. After giving two krans to the shrine, I intended to buy a piece +of silk for my wife, a horse and sword for my little boy Yusuf, and an +Indian handkerchief and a pair of gold slippers for my little girl +Fatima. And here you ask me two hundred krans for one piece of silk. +How can I pay you and buy the other things?" + +"Here I have been wasting my time and rumpling my beautiful silks for a +fool like you," cried the angry merchant. "Get out of my shop! Go home +to your stupid Zeeba and your stupid children. Buy them some stale +cakes and some black sugar, and don't put your head in my shop again, +or it will be worse for you." + +Then he took off his slipper, and with many blows drove poor Abdul +Karim out into the street. Then Abdul Karim went to the horse market, +only to find that the lowest-priced horse would cost two hundred and +fifty krans. + +The horse dealer mocked him when they found he had only eight krans, +and suggested that he buy the sixteenth part of a donkey for his little +son. As for a sword, he found that it would cost at least thirty krans; +while a pair of golden slippers would run into many hundreds of krans; +and for an Indian handkerchief, the price was twelve krans. + +As poor Abdul Karim bent his weary way home, he met a beggar crying: +"Dear friend, give me something, for to-morrow is Friday"--the +Mahommedan Sunday. "He that giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord, +and of a certainty the Lord will pay him back a hundredfold." + +"Of all the men I have met to-day, you are the only one with whom I can +deal," said simple Abdul Karim. "Here are eight krans. Use them in the +service of God, and don't forget to pay me back a hundredfold." + +Wrapping up the eight krans very carefully, the cunning beggar promised +some day to return them a hundredfold. + +At last Abdul Karim came in sight of his cottage, and little Yusuf, who +had been all day on the look-out for him, ran breathlessly to meet him. +"Where's my horse and sword, father?" he cried. And Fatima, who had +just come up, called out, "And my handkerchief and golden slippers?" +And Zeeba asked for her bit of silk. + +Poor Abdul Karim looked so confused, that his wife said: "Be quiet, my +dears. Your father could not bring them all with him, so he has packed +them on Yusuf's horse and left him in charge of a servant, who will be +here presently." But when she heard his story, and above all that he +had given eight krans to a beggar, she got very angry, and marched off +and told the master. + +But the master was still more angry, and said: "What! the blockhead +gave his eight krans to a beggar? Send him to me." And when Abdul Karim +came before him, he said scornfully: "You must fancy yourself a big +man, Abdul. I never give more than a copper coin to a beggar, but your +Excellency gives them silver. The beggar promised that you should be +repaid a hundredfold, did he? And it shall be so, even now." Then as +Abdul's face brightened, he laughed and said: "Not in money, but in +stripes." And his servants threw Abdul on the ground and gave him one +hundred blows on his bare feet. + +The next day, Abdul's master sent for him again, and after calling him +a fool, said: "I have a nice little job for you, that will bring you to +your proper senses. Go into the field and dig for water, day after day +until you find it." + +So for many days Abdul labored under the scorching sun, until he had +dug down to a depth of about thirty feet, and then he came upon a brass +vessel, finely chased, full of round white stones, which fairly dazzled +his eyes in the fierce sunlight. He put one in his mouth and tried to +break it with his teeth, but could not. + +Then he said to himself, "The master has planted some rice and it has +turned into stones. Perhaps there are some more." And going down a few +feet lower, he found another pot filled with sparkling stones of +various colors. + +Then he remembered that he had seen pretty pieces of glass like these +for sale in Meshed, and made up his mind that on the first opportunity +he would again visit the city and take the stones with him. Meanwhile, +he would hide them, and say nothing. + +Abdul did not have to wait long for a holiday, for on finding water a +little lower down, his master was so pleased that he gave him a +well-deserved rest, and then Abdul set off for Meshed. But before +entering the city, he hid most of the treasure at the foot of a tree +under a big stone. Then with still a pocket full, he went straight to +the shop where he had seen such stones, and spoke to the shopkeeper who +was seated at the entrance to his shop, calmly smoking his water-pipe. + +"Do you want to buy any more stones like those?" he asked, pointing to +some in a brass tray. "Yes, have you got one?" replied the merchant, +for Abdul did not look like a man who was likely to have more than one, +if any. + +"I have a pocket full of them," said Abdul. + +"You have a pocket full of pebbles, more likely," said the jeweler. But +when Abdul took out a handful and showed him, he was so astonished that +he could hardly speak. Trembling in every limb, he bade Abdul wait a +minute, and leaving his apprentice in charge, he hastily left the shop. +When he returned, the chief of the police was with him. + +"I am innocent," cried the jeweler. "There is the man. His pockets are +filled with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls of great price. +Without doubt he has found the long-lost treasure of Cyrus." + +Then Abdul was searched; the precious stones were found upon him; and +when they had brought Zeeba and the children, the whole family were +sent under a guard of five hundred soldiers to the capital. + +While all these things were taking place, the King saw in his dreams, +for three nights, one after the other, the Holy Prophet, who, looking +steadfastly at him, exclaimed: "Abbas, protect and favor my friend." +And on the third night, the King took courage and said to the Prophet: +"And who is thy friend?" And the answer came: + +"He is a poor laboring man, Abdul Karim by name, who of his poverty +gave one-fifth to the shrine at Meshed, and now, because he has found +the King's treasure, they have bound him, and are bringing him to this +city to oppress him." + +So the King went forth two days' journey to meet Abdul. First came one +hundred horsemen. Next, poor Abdul, seated on a camel, with his arms +bound tightly. Walking behind the camel were the weeping children and +their mother. Then came the foot soldiers guarding the treasure. The +King made the camel kneel down, and with his own hands undid the cruel +bonds. + +Then with tears running down his face, Abdul knelt before the King and +pleaded for his dear ones, saying: "If thou slay me, at least let these +innocent ones go free!" + +Lifting Abdul from the ground, the King then said: "I am come to honor, +not to slay thee. When thou hast rested, thou shalt return to thine own +province, not as a prisoner, but as the Governor thereof." And smiling, +he added: + +"Already is the silk dress prepared for Zeeba; the horse and sword for +Yusuf; and the Indian handkerchief and the golden slippers for Fatima +have not been forgotten." For the King had read in the report of the +chief of police all the details of Abdul's case. + +And so it was that Abdul's piety and gift to the shrine had come back, +not a hundredfold, but beyond his wildest dreams, and the shrine and +the poor benefited greatly thereby. + + + +THE KING AND THE FISHERMAN + + +PERSIAN FAIRY TALES + + +The King and the Fisherman + + +Illustrating the advantage of being able to formulate a judicious reply +to an embarrassing question, especially when material plenitude may +ensue. + +THE countries washed by the great rivers Tigris and Euphrates were once +ruled by a certain King who was passionately fond of fish. + +He was seated one day with Sherem, his wife, in the royal gardens that +stretch down to the banks of the Tigris, at the point where it is +spanned by the wonderful bridge of boats; and looking up spied a boat +gliding by, in which was seated a fisherman having a large fish. + +Noticing that the King was looking closely at him, and knowing how much +the King liked this particular kind of fish, the fisherman made his +obeisance, and skilfully bringing his boat to the shore, came before +the King and begged that he would accept the fish as a present. The +King was greatly pleased at this, and ordered that a large sum of money +be given to the fisherman. + +But before the fisherman had left the royal presence, the Queen turned +towards the King and said: "You have done a foolish thing." The King +was astonished to hear her speak in this way, and asked how that could +be. The Queen replied: + +"The news of your having given so large a reward for so small a gift +will spread through the city and it will be known as the fisherman's +gift. Every fisherman who catches a big fish will bring it to the +palace, and should he not be paid in like manner, he will go away +discontented, and secretly speak evil of you among his fellows." + +"Thou speakest the truth, light of my eyes," said the King, "but can +not you see how mean it would be for a King, if for that reason he were +to take back his gift?" Then perceiving that the Queen was ready to +argue the matter, he turned away angrily, saying: "The matter is +closed." + +However, later in the day, when he was in a more amiable frame of mind, +the Queen again approached him, and said that if that was his only +reason for not taking back his gift, she would arrange it. "You must +summon the fisherman," she said, "and then ask him, 'Is this fish male +or female?' If he says male, then you will tell him that you wanted a +female fish; but if he should say female, your reply will be that you +wanted a male fish. In this way the matter will be properly adjusted." + +The King thought this an easy way out of the difficulty, and commanded +the fisherman to be brought before him. When the fisherman, who by the +way, was a most intelligent man, stood before the King, the King said +to him: "O fisherman, tell me, is this fish male or female?" + +The fisherman replied, "The fish is neither male nor female." Whereupon +the King smiled at the clever answer, and to add to the Queen's +annoyance, directed the keeper of the royal purse to give the fisherman +a further sum of money. + +Then the fisherman placed the money in his leather bag, thanked the +King, and swinging the bag over his shoulder, hurried away, but not so +quickly that he did not notice that he had dropped one small coin. +Placing the bag on the ground, he stooped and picked up the coin, and +again went on his way, with the King and Queen carefully watching his +every action. + +"Look! what a miser he is!" said Sherem, triumphantly. "He actually put +down his bag to pick up one small coin because it grieved him to think +that it might reach the hands of one of the King's servants, or some +poor person, who, needing it, would buy bread and pray for the long +life of the King." + +"Again thou speakest the truth," replied the King, feeling the justice +of this remark; and once more was the fisherman brought into the royal +presence. "Are you a human being or a beast?" the King asked him. +"Although I made it possible for you to become rich without toil, yet +the miser within you could not allow you to leave even one small piece +of money for others." Then the King bade him to go forth and show his +face no more within the city. + +At this the fisherman fell on his knees and cried: "Hear me, O King, +protector of the poor! May God grant the King a long life. Not for its +value did thy servant pick up the coin, but because on one side it bore +the name of God, and on the other the likeness of the King. Thy servant +feared that someone, not seeing the coin, would tread it into the dirt, +and thus defile both the name of God and the face of the King. Let the +King judge if by so doing I have merited reproach." + +This answer pleased the King beyond all measure, and he gave the +fisherman another large sum of money. And the Queen's wrath was turned +away, and she looked kindly upon the fisherman as he departed with his +bag laden with money. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAT AND THE MOUSE*** + + +******* This file should be named 24473.txt or 24473.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/4/7/24473 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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